Chapter 582 -583: Homeowner

“Look, those are the new owners of this house. You can tell at a glance they’re from out of town.”

“They really are two big suckers. That house has changed hands so many times in such a short period—do you think there’s a story behind it?”

The father and son wanted to know the reason too. Over the past few days, they had secretly asked around, but they hadn’t found a single problem with the place. Hearing these people chatting about it now, they both pricked up their ears.

“Heh, you guys don’t know the half of it. One of my regular customers lives two doors down from them. I heard that every day this month, there’s been a CLINK CLANK coming from that house. Who knows what they’re digging up.”

“That matches the news I heard. Rumor has it there’s treasure hidden inside. Everyone wanted a piece of it, so they tracked down this courtyard.

“But even though they closed the doors and dug away, they didn’t leave a single trace. We haven’t been inside, but I’m afraid they’ve probably turned the whole place upside down by now.”

“That’s way too exaggerated. Turned the place upside down? Those are probably just rumors. I’ve told you guys, rumors can’t be trusted…”

“That’s true. Just a few days ago, word was going around that a fat pig gave birth without anyone even noticing it was pregnant…”

The Gu Family father and son didn’t dare speak another word on the way. Once they arrived at the inn, Gu Kaichen gulped down two mouthfuls of water. After the waiter left, he finally spoke. “Father, I think we’ve been scammed.

“This house is a hot potato right now. If people come looking for treasure in the future, wouldn’t they end up breaking into our home?

“It would be fine if they were ordinary folks, but what if they’re desperate outlaws? Our whole family’s lives wouldn’t even be enough for them to use as target practice.”

Gu Baijiang was dumbfounded. “It wouldn’t go that far…”

“How could it not? This is an untold amount of treasure. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have taken me to dig in the courtyard all day, Father.

“Father, how about we just leave? For some reason, staying in this place gives me the creeps.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? We’ve already spent the money; we can’t just leave as we please.

“Don’t think you can rest easy just by going to Shao County. Don’t forget that the County Magistrate used to be the Third Prince’s aide. It’s only a matter of time before he makes things difficult for us.

“Why else do you think I gave up a good life and insisted on running all the way here? It’s because this is a remote seaside county, and Rong Ruiyuan wouldn’t even spare it a glance.

“Besides, after so many people have tried digging, they either didn’t find anything or they found it and left feeling guilty.

“If we move in openly and honestly, others will only assume we were scammed too.”

Gu Baijiang also made up his mind that once they settled in, they absolutely had to do a thorough search of the courtyard again. He wondered what would happen if they actually found something. Even though the possibility was slim, it was still a sliver of hope.

The father and son later went out onto the street. Today wasn’t market day, so the entire area seemed exceptionally deserted. Having shopped around over the past few days, they were somewhat familiar faces, and a few people still greeted them.

“Father, we’ve been eating dry steamed buns every day lately. What do you say we treat ourselves to a good meal?”

Gu Baijiang looked at the restaurant not too far away, feeling somewhat tempted. However, as soon as his hand touched his chest, he firmly refused. “I say no. We’ll buy some provisions to take back later; we’re cooking at home today.”

“But I don’t know how to cook.” Gu Kaichen wanted to put up a final struggle. “Father, do you know how?”

Gu Baijiang’s expression turned ugly. “Of course I know how to cook.”

Back in the day when he was studying, his mother hadn’t let him stay idle. When he returned home, he had to help with matters big and small. He hadn’t shied away from kitchen chores either. It was just that ever since he went to the capital and his mother passed away, he had never stepped foot into a kitchen again. Despite not having cooked for so long, he felt his memory was still intact, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.

Gu Kaichen looked as if he had discovered a New Continent. His face was filled with surprise. “Father, I didn’t expect you to actually know how.”

“There are plenty more things your father knows how to do. Follow me closely and learn a thing or two in the future.

“I can’t protect you for the rest of your life; you still need to stand on your own two feet.”

The words went in one ear and out the other for Gu Kaichen, though he nodded repeatedly. “You’re absolutely right, Father. I’ll listen to you…”

They entered a grain store, bought some provisions, had the Shopkeeper arrange for someone to deliver them, and then walked over to the adjacent market. They wanted to buy some vegetables but found that the stalls were overflowing with seafood.

“Father, we’ve been here for so long, let’s eat something fresh.

“In the past, when we were in the capital, we only ate dried goods. An opportunity like this is rare.”

Gu Baijiang shook his head. “I don’t know how to cook these. Wait until your wife and the others arrive, then let them learn how to make it properly.

“I see the vegetables over there look decent. Let’s pick some up and go back to cook a bowl of noodles.”

After saying that, Gu Baijiang walked off on his own. Of course, he also wanted to enjoy a good meal, but boiling rice was already his limit. Making him handle these seafood products was out of the question, not to mention he knew nothing about them.

The father and son returned home carrying bags large and small. The grain store had already delivered the provisions and various seasonings. After organizing all these things in the kitchen, the two of them finally realized that the firewood previously left in the house had been completely used up from boiling water over the past few days.

“We don’t even have any firewood. Are we supposed to gnaw on this raw?”

Gu Kaichen reminded himself inwardly that the man in front of him was his own biological father and he couldn’t lose his temper. He held it back, but Gu Baijiang directly smacked him upside the head with his palm.

“You knew there was no firewood, so why didn’t you remind me earlier?

“Hurry up and go outside to figure something out. Go ask the neighbors and see who delivers their daily firewood.”

Gu Kaichen still managed to maintain a respectable facade outside. Sporting his polite and refined expression, he actually managed to dig up some information.

“Every day, there are people carrying firewood on shoulder poles to sell at the market. If we think the quality is good, we can set up a long-term arrangement.

“But we just came from the market and didn’t see anyone selling firewood.”

“Isn’t that completely normal?” Gu Baijiang scoffed. “They just set up their stalls in the morning; the rest of the time they have to go up the mountain to chop wood.

“Go borrow some from the neighborhood first, and we’ll return it to them tomorrow. Let’s just get through tonight before worrying about anything else.”

Gu Kaichen wasn’t very eager to move. The neighbors around here were all too gossipy; he had only asked a single question, and those people had a thousand questions waiting for him.

“Father, I can’t handle those women. How about we just make do for these next few days? It’ll be fine once my brother’s wife and the others arrive.”

The household chores were supposed to be managed by women anyway; how could he possibly do them?

“What can you even do? All you know how to do is eat all day!” Gu Baijiang stood up angrily, preparing to go borrow some firewood from the next-door neighbors himself. He didn’t mind giving them a bit more Silver; at least it would be more cost-effective than eating out.

However, he forgot about the scar on his face. When he knocked on the neighbor’s courtyard gate, a young child opened it. Upon seeing the sudden appearance of a twisted, mangled face, the child instantly burst into tears with a loud WAIL. A woman from inside rushed out wielding a cleaver. “My precious grandson, what’s wrong? Who’s bullying you?”

Hearing the knock earlier, she had worried that child traffickers had come…

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