Chapter 23: Lin Mo

Su Hehua hurriedly made her way to the fields to call the others back. Gu Tingzhi had spent the entire morning digging up a substantial amount of sweet potatoes and seemed to have found great joy in the task; when Su Hehua arrived to summon him, he stubbornly refused to leave, determined to unearth every single sweet potato in the field.

Zhen Mi'er and Gu Qinghe stayed behind to accompany him, while the rest of the group hurried back home. Upon their return, Gu Qingbai introduced Uncle Quan to the family. After the initial greetings, they wasted no time and headed straight to the kitchen to examine the king crab. Uncle Quan was taken aback by its sheer size when he first laid eyes on it.

The Gu family had already untied the vines that bound the creature and provided their largest vat as a temporary home, yet the vessel appeared cramped compared to the crab's massive frame. It huddled at the bottom of the vat, legs tucked in, unable to stretch out properly. Every time it shifted, the water sloshed violently over the rim, and within moments, a large patch of the kitchen floor was soaked.

"My good man, what do you think of this king crab?" Gu Lizong asked, stroking his beard.

Uncle Quan’s eyes gleamed with excitement. Presenting this king crab to his master would surely earn him favor with the higher-ups; the mere thought was thrilling, though he maintained a composed expression. "This king crab is truly magnificent. Rest assured, Master Gu, once our master sends men to collect it, you will be handsomely rewarded."

Hearing this, the Gu family finally let out a sigh of relief.

An hour and a half later, another ox cart slowly entered the Gu family’s courtyard. Lin Zhengkang had not sent a horse carriage, intending to avoid attracting the villagers' attention, but he had underestimated the extent of the Gu family’s poverty. Earlier that day, Gu Qingbai’s return with an ox cart had already caused quite a stir; in Maoping Village, while not exorbitant, an ox cart was certainly not cheap. Apart from the village head’s household, only about a dozen families owned one. For the Gu family, known as the poorest in the village, to suddenly have the money for such a purchase was a shock to everyone.

However, thinking of the wild boar and fish Gu Sanlang had caught, the villagers figured it was plausible. Envy and jealousy burned within them—why weren't they as fortunate? They decided they would have their own sons try their luck at Changyun River again later.

Little did they know, shortly thereafter, a second, far more prestigious ox cart pulled into the Gu residence. Not only was the ox strong and sturdy, but the carriage canopy also looked solid and elegant. The curious villagers followed it to the gates to see what was happening. Mrs. Zhou recited the prepared explanation—that a classmate of Gu Tingzhi’s from town had come to visit—and the crowd eventually dispersed.

Once the gates were bolted shut, the family learned that the visitor was Lin Mo, the eldest son of the county magistrate. Lin Mo, the same age as Gu Tingzhi, bore a striking resemblance to his father: sharp brows, a high nose, and a handsome, piercing gaze. He was dressed in snow-white silk, his dark hair tied with a green ribbon, and a white jade pendant hung from his waist. He looked every bit the refined gentleman.

The Gu family, having never encountered someone of such status, felt a bit awkward and unsure of where to place their hands. Naturally, the house lacked fine tea or wine, or even a decent plate of fruit to offer him. Lin Mo sensed their tension and had no intention of lingering. His purpose was twofold: to bring the money to purchase the king crab for his father, and to finally meet Gu Tingzhi, the man who had overshadowed him for years.

If Gu Tingzhi was the perennial top student, Lin Mo was the eternal runner-up. Through his father’s position, he had studied many of Gu Tingzhi’s essays and exams, and he could not help but admire the man’s profound knowledge. He had long wished to meet him, but while they both studied in the same academic circles, their paths had never crossed. When he heard that Gu Tingzhi had suffered a brain injury, he felt no joy at the loss of a rival, but rather sincere regret. Had the accident not occurred, Gu Tingzhi would have surely passed the exams this year. Missing this opportunity meant that even if he recovered and passed the county examination next year, he would have to wait another two years for the provincial examination, as the latter occurred only every three years unless the Emperor decreed an extra session.

"May I ask where Brother Gu Tingzhi is at the moment?" Lin Mo asked, scanning the room and pausing on Gu Qingbai.

"My younger brother went to the fields and has not yet returned," Gu Qingbai replied quickly. "Is there something you need, Young Master Lin? Please, wait a moment, and I shall fetch him immediately."

Lin Mo waved a hand to stop him. "It seems we were not destined to meet today. We shall leave it for another time." His primary goal was to secure the king crab, so he dared not delay further. He instructed his attendants to lift the vat containing the crab onto the cart, left behind one hundred and twenty taels of silver, and took his leave.

After he departed, the hearts of the Gu family members beat with joy. They were breathless and trembling with excitement—so much money! A full one hundred and twenty taels! Mrs. Zhou took the silver to her room, hid it carefully, and after checking the locks multiple times, finally secured the door.

In the afternoon, everyone returned to the fields. Gu Qingbai refused to rest, and seeing this, Su Hehua changed into her hempen clothes and followed them. Mrs. Zhou smiled, heartened by her family’s diligence and harmony. Knowing they were now wealthy, she decided not to skimp on food. She quickly made a dozen large, mixed-grain pancakes in the kitchen, stuffed them with eggs and shredded potatoes, and added a touch of homemade chili sauce. She set three aside in a clean basket and brought the rest to the main room for everyone to eat and regain their strength.

Out in the fields, the harvested sweet potatoes had formed a small mountain. This year, they were exceptionally large, the smallest being the size of an infant’s fist. Seeing many other families harvesting, Gu Tingzhi compared their crops to his own and beamed with pride. He chose the largest one, wiped off the dirt, and held it out to Yibai. "Eat."

Yibai: "..." *Stupid human!*

Just then, Mrs. Zhou and the others arrived, their faces lighting up at the sight of the harvest. "The three of you, wash your hands and have a pancake," Mrs. Zhou commanded. Zhen Mi'er led Gu Tingzhi to the river to wash his hands, and the three of them sat together on the edge of the field, enjoying their meal.