Chapter 224: Chapter 224

Huang Ming kept encouraging at the drinking table and finally went with Gu Wanhua, arm in arm, to the alley behind the inn. Huang Ming and Gu Wanhua each chose someone, and Gu Wanhua chose Yan Bi, the girl who was washing hair, and from then on, things got out of control.

"Of course! Yan Bi said that as long as she could shake off her stepmother, she would willingly follow me. I didn’t think much at first, but today I figured it out. I think Yan Bi is a pitiful girl, and besides, she’s so gentle and understanding, how could I leave her behind? I’m a man, after all, I can’t just abandon her, right?"

The more Gu Wanhua spoke, the more pitiful he found Yan Bi. Last night, Yan Bi pleaded so pitifully with him and tried hard to please him. How could he harden his heart?

Huang Ming looked at Gu Wanhua in astonishment, doubting if Gu Wanhua’s brain was waterlogged. Can the words of a girl from a pleasure house be trusted? How naive! Although he thought this way, he still schemed for Gu Wanhua.

"Actually, I have an idea! But? Not sure if you dare to try it!" Huang Ming seemed hesitant, speaking a bit haltingly.

"What idea? Dear Senior Brother! Hurry and tell me!" Gu Wanhua’s eyes brightened upon hearing there was a plan, asking urgently.

"Borrow silver from the Money Shop! The Gou in our village works for Manager Qi in the Prefecture. Manager Qi is the manager of the Money Shop, and two hundred taels of silver is a small matter!"

"Really? But if I go to borrow silver, will they lend it to me? Besides, I can’t pay it back!" Gu Wanhua was a bit skeptical. He seemed to have heard of this so-called usury, where borrowed silver accrues interest upon interest. Could he afford to repay it? Besides, he had nothing to pledge.

"Are you dumb? I’m here for you! I’ll go to Gou, and he will surely lend it to you!" Huang Ming patted his chest, looking as if it was all on him.

"But? I really don’t have the silver to repay!" Gu Wanhua hadn’t been blinded by Huang Ming’s words. He knew how much silver his family had. They struggled to afford his education, and two hundred taels were definitely beyond reach, not to mention the interest!

"Actually, I thought of a way. As long as you help me, you won’t have to repay the silver!" Huang Ming smirked, his deep eyes looking at Gu Wanhua, who was momentarily stunned.

"How many people are in your Little Uncle’s family? Tell me in detail!" Huang Ming was in no rush now, pouring himself a cup of tea, drinking leisurely.

Although Gu Wanhua didn’t understand the purpose of Huang Ming’s question, he still recounted the situation in Gu Chengyu’s family, including the family division.

Huang Ming analyzed while listening. It seemed Gu Chengyu’s family had been divided into several branches, and the family’s silver wasn’t much, yet Gu Chengyu didn’t seem like someone without silver.

"My Little Uncle has his enterprises, I don’t know exactly what, but he earns quite a bit. Just the other day, he was out talking business!" Gu Wanhua lived in the same inn as Gu Chengyu, so of course, he knew some of Gu Chengyu’s matters. Moreover, Gu Chengyu felt no need to hide anything.

"That makes sense. I see your Little Uncle is pretty lavish. Besides, the exams are over, and your Little Uncle hasn’t gone back yet, so he must have a way to make money in the Prefecture."

Huang Ming’s eyes shone with greed. To gain Gu Chengyu’s financial support, he had to choose Gu Wan, the other family members were nieces and had already divided, Gu Chengyu wouldn’t pay attention to them!

"You help me do one thing, and I’ll find a way to repay those two hundred taels of silver for you!" As long as he married Gu Wan, why worry about not being able to repay two hundred taels of silver?

Gu Chengyu treats his nieces so well, he would treat his second elder sister even better, right? A mere two hundred taels surely mean nothing to Gu Chengyu. Huang Ming was already imagining how much dowry Gu Wan would bring when she comes, as for his wife at home, he had already completely disregarded. Marry her or take her as a concubine, wasn’t that all up to him?

"What thing?" In fact, by this time, Gu Wanhua somewhat realized that Huang Ming definitely intended to scheme against his Little Uncle’s family. It seemed his Little Uncle was right; Huang Ming approached them with an ulterior motive.

"When you go home this time, take me with you, just say we have a good relationship and I want to go to Changling Mountain for a break. Once I get there, find a chance for me to meet Gu Wan. As for what happens next, we’ll see!" Huang Ming planned to visit the Gu Family first, then figure things out.

"No! That won’t do, Second Aunt is going to get engaged, and it’s said to be with Sun Xian, no way! This is something I can’t do!" Gu Wanhua still had a conscience. This was about ruining a match, plus Huang Ming was already married. Would the Gu family’s girl be a concubine? He intended to pursue the imperial examination and become an official; how would he face people in the future?

"Don’t you want to rescue Yan Bi from hardship? Yan Bi is still waiting! She’s wholeheartedly waiting for you to save her, and you want to abandon her?"

Huang Ming deliberately said this. If he said redemption, Gu Wanhua might not be so eager, but he portrayed Gu Wanhua as a savior, making him feel like Yan Bi was waiting for his rescue, triggering his protective instincts.

"You are already married! You want my Second Aunt to be your concubine?" Gu Wanhua was still hesitant, knowing Gu Chengyu would never agree. If he knew he assisted in such a thing, he might even swallow his heart whole.

"What are you thinking! If I truly marry your Second Aunt, of course, my current wife will be divorced. How could I let your Second Aunt be a concubine? My marriage was arranged by matchmakers. Before the wedding, I didn’t even know what she looked like. After the wedding, sigh! My wife is a bit dull."

In any case, Huang Ming felt he must pacify Gu Wanhua at this moment, saying only the pleasing words.

Upon hearing this, Gu Wanhua thought of his own marriage. He and his cousin grew up together, meeting frequently as children. They were too familiar, seeing her as a sister, but his grandmother insisted he marry his cousin, shattering his fantasies about his future wife. It’s not that Yang was bad; she was pretty and dignified, but like his grandfather, she loved to nag.

Gu Chengyu felt Huang Ming was just like him, perhaps even worse off. They were indeed sharing the same fate!

But Yan Bi was different. With Yan Bi, he felt something different, a feeling he never had with Yang. In short, being with her made him feel at ease, full of energy!

"Well! You have to keep your word! But, what about Sun Xian? He’s my senior brother, after all. How can we snatch the bride-to-be from him?"

"You just said they aren’t engaged yet! Why worry? Besides, Sun Xian’s family is impoverished, with his old mother needing constant medication. If your Second Aunt marries there, she would have to serve her mother-in-law and manage the household. How is that a good match?"

After such words from Huang Ming, Gu Wanhua really felt Sun Xian wasn’t suitable for Second Aunt anymore. The two continued their discussion for a while before Huang Ming took Gu Wanhua to find Gou.

Unbeknownst to Gu Chengyu, still engrossed in his plans to visit Vice Magistrate Wang’s mansion with Manager Niu, these two plotted behind his back.