Chapter 659: Chapter 659: Beating Up
"Madman?" Lady Xia looked puzzled at Gu Jinli: "What do you mean by that, Xiao Yu?"
"What do I mean?" Gu Jinli laughed: "Lady Xia might not know how the people in our village talk about Zhan Er. They say he’s got a sick mind, that he’s a madman. On bitterly cold days, instead of staying at home, he rides an ox cart to the fields to watch the grass and plays the Konghou in the chilling wind. Is this something a normal person would do?"
Lady Xia replied: "Although the actions and behaviors of Second Young Master Zhan are unconventional, they are in line with the temperament of a Madman and aren’t too inappropriate."
When Master Xia was young, he was even more outrageous than Zhan Er, daring to submit a blank paper during the Imperial Examination. Zhan Er simply plays the Konghou in the field; compared to Master Xia, he’s much milder.
Hearing this, Gu Jinli laughed: "Zhan Er is indeed the nephew of Master Xia’s good friend; you all have the same odious taste."
Lady Xia’s face changed: "Xiao Yu, I know that Second Young Master Zhan was wrong in this matter, but however upset you are in your heart, you should not speak such disrespectful words."
Are these words suitable for a noble lady to speak?
Gu Jinli raised an eyebrow: "Is this disrespectful? Compared to the actions of Zhan Er, I think I’m quite polite."
She asked Lady Xia a question: "Lady Xia, if your own daughter was at home minding her business but then had a rogue barge in and affront her, what would you do? I suppose you’d be furious and head to their door in a rage."
Our family could bear it for one night, out of respect for Master Xia who had taught Gu Jin’an and Brother Cheng.
Lady Xia’s face turned crimson upon hearing this... Indeed, if her daughter had been affronted in such a manner, she would be furious and confront them; but...
Gu Jinli couldn’t be bothered with idle talk with Lady Xia and directly asked her: "Lady Xia, do you have anything else to say? If not, please leave."
Seeing that Gu Jinli was trying to dismiss her, Lady Xia hurriedly said: "Yes, apart from apologizing, I am here to share a joyful event."
Gu Jin’an frowned upon hearing this: "A joyful event? What joyful event?"
It couldn’t be what he was thinking, could it?
Lady Xia smiled and said: "Although Second Young Master Zhan has offended Sister Xiu, he has fallen for her at first sight. He has already informed his uncle of his wishes to propose to Sister Xiu for marriage. His uncle has already engaged my husband and me, and I am here to inquire about your plans for Sister Xiu’s marriage."
The second half of the sentence was directed at Mrs. Cui and Gu Dashan: "Sister Xiu will be nineteen next year; she can’t afford to wait. Second Young Master Zhan is twenty-three this year and has yet to take a wife. He is the legitimate second son of the eldest house of the Zhan Family in Jiangnan. Although he has no official position yet, his scholarship is excellent, and he has a high reputation among scholars and Madmen. He is deeply infatuated with Sister Xiu. If she..."
"Lady Xia, stop speaking!" Gu Jinxiu, now with her face flushed red, stood up and said to Lady Xia: "I won’t marry such an abnormal-minded rogue!"
He climbed over our wall, and when he saw me, he looked at me as a wolf looks at meat. He just met me once, and the next day, he sent someone to ask for my hand in marriage. Who does that so frivolously?
Lady Xia was shocked, not expecting the first objection to come from Gu Jinxiu. She hurriedly said: "Sister Xiu, although Second Young Master Zhan is somewhat whimsical, he is a good child, and he treats you well. If you marry him, you will not have to worry for the rest of your life."
Then she said to Mrs. Cui: "Sister Xiu is already of age, and she has not yet been engaged. You probably don’t have a better match in mind for her. Now that Zhan Er is the best option, you must think carefully and not miss out on a good man, lest you harm Sister Xiu’s entire life."
Mrs. Cui and Gu Dashan were actually worried about Sister Xiu’s marriage as well, and while the Zhan Family is indeed rich and noble, they didn’t like Zhan Er: "Today, the Zhan Family’s young man can climb over the walls of our yard and offend Sister Xiu, and tomorrow, he could climb over someone else’s yard and offend another family’s daughter. What then, is he going to marry another one back home? Our Sister Xiu is just a village girl, and we, her parents, are not greedy. We just want her to marry a well-known village lad, for the two of them to live a stable life together."
Lady Xia was startled upon hearing this, and the thing she could least tolerate was the idea of Gu Jinxiu marrying a peasant: "You, you actually want Sister Xiu to marry a farmer? Have you gone mad?"
"Shut your mouth!" Gu Jinli became angry: "You’re the one who’s gone mad! In my home, what right do you have to speak to my parents like that?"
If it hadn’t been for her older brother holding onto her sleeve, she would have beaten up Lady Xia already. She might not be a man, but she does not have a rule against hitting women.
Lady Xia, having been shouted at by Gu Jinli, finally came to her senses and quickly apologized: "Xiao Yu, I am sorry, I didn’t mean to, it was just a moment of desperation."
As she spoke, tears already began to fall: "Sister Xiu is such a good girl, I couldn’t bear to see her marry a farmer, that’s why I thought of helping the Zhan Family to find a suitable match, to give Sister Xiu a good home."
Gu Jinli laughed: "Lady Xia, are you sick? If you had a daughter, would you marry her off to a prowling playboy? What kind of man Zhan Er is, you must be clearer than us. To put it nicely, he’s a scholars’ Madman; to put it bluntly, he’s a selfish scumbag who only cares about himself! Zhan Er isn’t married, but he already has quite a few concubine maids in his home, doesn’t he? How could you have the nerve to suggest such a filthy creature to my older sister?!"
Back home, our older sister was the one who protected us with her life, and now we love her the most. The sister we cherish like a treasure, and yet Lady Xia dared to match her with the scum of a cesspit.
Gu Jinli could not hold back any longer and shouted at Gu Jin’an: "Stop pulling on my sleeve, I want to beat her!"
The old nanny from the Xia Family hurriedly stepped forward to block Gu Jinli, saying: "Miss Gu, the Second Young Master Zhan is a noble son, and it’s quite normal for a man of his age to have a few maids."
If he didn’t, that would be abnormal.
Lady Xia was also frightened by Gu Jinli’s explosive temper, hiding behind the nanny and said, "Xiao Yu, don’t be angry. If you dislike those maids, I will speak to the Zhan Family, and ask them to deal with those maids before the marriage."
Though Second Young Master Zhan from the Zhan Family had many concubine maids, he had no children. A noble son wouldn’t let maids bear children before marriage.
As long as there were no bastards, it wouldn’t affect the marriage proposals.
So there really were concubine maids!
Gu Jin’an’s expression darkened, holding onto Gu Jinli’s sleeve to stop her from getting physical, he said to Lady Xia: "Madam, we would like to take a trip to your home."
He had already given her a chance, and since Lady Xia didn’t want it, she couldn’t blame him.
Lady Xia was taken aback and asked Gu Jin’an: "Brother An, what business do you have visiting my home?"
She was very uneasy about them coming at this time.
Gu Jin’an curled the corners of his mouth and smiled at Lady Xia: "Since we’re discussing marriage, I should at least meet this Zhan Er, right? If he’s not suitable, how can I rest assured entrusting my older sister to him?"
Knowing how close the siblings of the Gu Family were, Lady Xia thought it was fine for Good Brother An to meet Zhan Er, she nodded and said, "It’s good for Brother An to come to my home and see Zhan Er. After meeting Zhan Er, you will surely admire him."
"Sister Xiu?" Gu Jinxiu called out worriedly.
Gu Jin’an looked back at her, smiled, and said: "Big sister, don’t worry, we won’t be at a loss."
Gu Jinxiu trusted her younger brother greatly, nodded her head upon hearing this, and did not obstruct him any further.
Gu Dashan was worried: "Dad will accompany you."
Saying that, he went to the livestock shed to prepare a carriage and soon drove the mule cart to the front gate.
Gu Jin’an, with Gu Jinli and Brother Cheng, boarded the carriage and headed to the Xia Family in town.
The mule cart moved quickly, arriving in just over half an hour.
The servant, hearing that the head of the Gu Family and the eldest son had arrived, hurriedly went to inform Zhan Er.
Zhan Er had woken up late and was eating breakfast in the dining hall. Hearing that Gu Dashan and Gu Jin’an had arrived, he was pleasantly surprised: "My father-in-law and young brother-in-law have come? Quickly help me tidy up my clothes, I need to greet them personally."
"No need to greet." Gu Jin’an had already burst into the Xia Family’s dining hall, his clenched fist swung straight into Zhan Er’s face with a heavy punch.