The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Buy Mountain

Editor: Atlas Studios

With money in hand, Gu Jiao was contemplating what to do next.

The next day, when Xiao Liulang returned home from school, the family of three sat down for their meal in the hall.

They were considered a family of three, despite lacking familial ties. The trio shared an oddly harmonious rapport.

As the old lady gnawed on a large chicken leg, she glanced at Gu Jiao and said: “Speak up!”

Gu Jiao wondered, how did the old lady know she had something to say?

“I want to buy a mountain,” Gu Jiao pronounced.

“A winter coat or an autumn coat?” The old lady shot Gu Jiao a speechless look. She criticised Gu Jiao for dawdling over such a small matter.

“I’m not talking about clothes, but a real mountain—the one behind our village,” said Gu Jiao. She often picked fungus and mushrooms on that mountain and noticed its abundance of good stuff. If she could buy it, she could gather mountain products, herb-picking, logging, and hunting… In short, the whole mountainside was a valuable asset. It would definitely be a profitable venture.

“Go buy it!”

To their surprise, the old lady didn’t hesitate at all. When it came to spending money, the old lady was undeniably generous.

If it were the original owner’s biological mother, Mrs. Wu, she would probably jump up and scold Gu Jiao: “You disaster star, the spendthrift! Even a mountain you want to buy, do you think money is blown by the wind?”

In the eyes of most villagers, the mountain was worthless. At most, they could chop some firewood or pick some wild vegetables. Although there were mountainous fruits and game, nobody would buy the entire hill for these reasons.

Gu Jiao, with impressive knowledge of mountain goods and the ability to handle any danger deep in the mountains, saw the mountain as a treasure trove.

In the past, she would make the decisions. Xiao Liulang would never interfere with her decisions, but ever since the old lady came, there seemed to be a subtle shift in their interactions.

“You’re talking about the mountain behind Uncle Luo’s house, right?” Xiao Liulang asked.

“Mm-hm,” Gu Jiao nodded.

Qingquan Village was surrounded by mountains on three sides. The mountain that Gu Jiao had her eye on was situated in the middle. It was a mountain that villagers frequently visited, with Uncle Luo’s house located at its foot.

“Alright, I’ll go ask Lizheng later,” said Xiao Liulang without any hesitation.

Scratching her head, Gu Jiao wondered why Xiao Liulang needed to ask Lizheng, her grandfather; she could have asked him herself. She had not shared her intentions only to have him running around for her.

After dinner, Xiao Liulang headed to the Gu family’s old mansion.

Zhou and Liao families had been flogged thirty times each by the Yamen and had been staying obediently at home to recover. Hence, the mansion was relatively peaceful.

“Brother-in-law! Why are you here?” The door was opened by Gu Xiaoshun.

“I came to find Lizheng,” Xiao Liulang replied.

Despite being married with Gu Jiao, he always addressed Lizheng by his title.

“Oh,” Gu Xiaoshun was merely surprised that his brother-in-law had come to visit but not about his address for the old man. After all, the Gu family had compelled his sister to marry, and subsequently exploited money from Xiao Liulang. Each incident was a debt in itself.

“Grandpa, my brother-in-law is here!” Gu Xiaoshun led Xiao Liulang to the old man’s room.