Chapter 844: Eating Meat Together

“Dashi, remember this. Business opportunities are endless under the skies. When you reach the border, the power you hold can indeed expand our family’s business, but you shouldn’t try to take all business for yourself. Only when other merchants also have meat to eat can we continue to enjoy meat,” Tong Huaqiong advised Gu Dashu.

Cooperation and mutual benefit, everyone eating meat together, this is also the principle of Tong Huaqiong’s business.

In his previous life, Gu Dashu had the ability to do business, but he was too greedy, which eventually led to a disastrous end.

Gu Dashu respectfully said, “I will remember mother’s teachings.”

Tong Huaqiong’s mouth twitched.

Who would have thought that the country boy Gu Dashu, would one day wear official attire and become a legitimate court official.

If this gets back to Qinghe Bay, it’s likely Gu Youtian and Mrs. Jia would be fuming with anger.

Mrs. Zhao and Tong Huaqiong seemed to have a telepathic connection as they said, “With such an accomplished son-in-law, when we return to Qinghe Bay in spring, we must spread the word well.”

Back when Liu Yueer married Gu Dashu, there was so much gossip.

During those years, Mrs. Zhao was always pointed at whenever she went out.

Now that her son-in-law has made them proud, not only earning money but also securing an official position earlier than Gu Jingzhe, it is indeed worth bragging about. When she returns, she will spread the news all across the villages, seeing who would still dare say her daughter was foolish to marry poorly.

“When I go back, I’ll tell Dashu’s grandparents and his second uncle and aunt, let everyone be happy for Dashu.”

Tong Huaqiong burst into laughter, Mrs. Zhao knew well how to poke the hearts of those at the old Gu Family residence.

“Mother.” Liu Yueer summoned all her courage to call out.

Tong Huaqiong did not respond, thinking she was calling Mrs. Zhao.

Liu Yueer mustered up her courage and said, “Mother, can I go to the border with Dashu?”

Only then did Tong Huaqiong realize Liu Yueer was addressing her.

Mrs. Zhao chimed in, “The border is tough; it’s hard to not worry about Dashu being there alone. Let Yueer go along for mutual care.”

Liu Yueer and Mrs. Zhao had a discussion last night.

Despite Shengjing’s prosperity, Liu Yueer was reluctant to leave it, but both mother and daughter agreed it would be better for Liu Yueer to accompany Gu Dashu to the border.

Currently, the border is not at war; Dasheng and Mo Bei are trading, and as the Customs Supervisor, Gu Dashu could easily attract rich merchants trying to send concubines his way. Being alone there, he might succumb to loneliness and be captivated by some enchantress, at which point it would be hard to reclaim his heart.

Mrs. Zhao’s words made Liu Yueer increasingly averse to staying in Shengjing, no matter how prosperous it is.

However, this matter required Tong Huaqiong’s consent.

Originally, she could come to Shengjing with Gu Dashu to pave the way for Jufu Supermarket, and Tong Huaqiong readily allowed her to come.

Now, going to the border is to stabilize her marital relationship with Gu Dashu, hence it’s uncertain if Tong Huaqiong would agree.

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said to Mrs. Zhao, “I have been planning to let Yueer go with Dashu, though I worry that Yueer might not adapt well to the harsh cold at the border as she hasn’t been there before.”

After all these years, anything that needed admonishing has been admonished, and now Liu Yueer is cautious but not malicious.

Tong Huaqiong doesn’t need her daughter-in-law to stay and serve her, so if Liu Yueer wants to go to the border, she can.

Liu Yueer was so moved she almost cried and assured without needing any instructions from Tong Huaqiong, “Mother, rest assured, even if Dashu’s official position is small, he is now a court official, and as an official’s wife, I will never disgrace Dashu.”

Liu Yueer’s trip is not only as Gu Dashu’s family member, but she also plans to conduct business.

“Xiaoxue and I will keep each other company on the journey.” Liu Yueer linked arms with Gu Xiaoxue.

Gu Xiaoxue smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, and said, “Not only on the journey, but once we reach the border, I will always be with my second sister-in-law.”

This time Gu Xiaoxue is going to the border too.

Going to the border wasn’t an impulse decision for Gu Xiaoxue; it was made when traveling from Qinghe Bay to Shengjing.

She did not want to stay in Qinghe Bay.

In Qinghe Bay, as long as Gu Youtian and Mrs. Jia are there, she can never break free from the Gu Family.

Gu Youtian and Mrs. Jia had control over her marriage, and ever since Tong Huaqiong left for Shengjing, they have increasingly coerced Gu Xiaoxue to marry.

Even though Gu Fengnian and Mrs. Wei resisted, and Gu Xiaoxue herself fought back, it seemed inevitable that, eventually, they might succeed.

Hence, Gu Xiaoxue decided to go to the border.

There, Liu Qingsong is waiting for her.

Liu Qingsong is already the Shopkeeper of Tong Huaqiong’s border store. Upon reaching the border, Gu Xiaoxue will assist Tong Huaqiong in setting up a Weaving Workshop to turn border wool into carpets and wool products for transport inland.

After they marry, they are likely to settle at the border, perhaps returning to Shengjing one day.

Of course, Liu Qingsong’s parents live in Qinghe Bay, so he will need to visit them.

At that time, Gu Xiaoxue will indeed encounter Gu Youtian and Mrs. Jia, but as Liu Family’s daughter-in-law, the old Gu Family has no right to interfere in her life.

Gu Honglian said, “Xiaoxue is going to the border, when can I also step out and take a look?”

Tong Huaqiong replied, “Once you have successfully raised the pigs and achieved some skills, you can go to the border whenever you wish.”

Gu Honglian is now full of vigor.

Her pigs are fat and white.

Gu Honglian never thought that one day she too could earn money with her own hands.

In Qinghe Bay, she always envied the girls at the Weaving Workshop; now she no longer envies them, because she too is earning money.

“By the way, has Fan Tong looked for you?” Tong Huaqiong asked.

Gu Honglian shook her head and said, “No, currently Chief Historian Deng is searching everywhere for him, so he doesn’t dare to show himself.”

Fan Tong has nowhere to go.

He survives by scavenging leftovers from wealthy families.

Scavenging leftovers is not easy; he has to compete with other beggars. Fan Tong’s slight frame cannot rival the beggars, and he was beaten black and blue.

His life has never been so bleak.

He even thick-skinnedly went to apologize to Tong Huaqiong’s house, but was chased away by the doorman.

He thought of Gu Honglian.

Even now, Fan Tong confidently believes Gu Honglian still has feelings for him, some kind of infatuated feelings.

Though both have separated, her situation is different from Tong Pandi’s who actively sought separation; she was forced to separate.

He believes that a mere beckoning from him, and Gu Honglian will return to him willingly.

The last time she attacked him, it was because seeing him go to the brothel provoked her resentment, which just shows that Gu Honglian still loves him.

Loves him enough to be unable to tolerate him stepping into a brothel or getting close to other women.

Early in the morning, Gu Honglian arrived at the piggery and saw someone squatting by its entrance, their ragged clothes fluttering in the wind.

Gu Honglian thought it was a beggar taking shelter by the pigsty’s entrance from the wind.

She even considered that if the beggar wasn’t lazy and had some strength, she wouldn’t mind persuading Tong Pandi to hire this beggar to work at the piggery.

Even if there wouldn’t be much pay, at least they wouldn’t starve and would have a place to stay.

Isn’t that better than wandering outside, suffering from hunger and cold?

If this beggar was lazy, then giving them a couple of buns to send them away would be sufficient.

This was what her sister-in-law repeatedly emphasized.

When Fan Tong saw Gu Honglian dismount from the carriage, he excitedly rushed to her side.

“Wife, I finally waited for you.”