He Was More Useful Than a Donkey

Later, the young man married a girl who also knew how to sing folk songs, and she was heartbroken.

Fang Tingxiu tried to comfort her, but she retorted fiercely, "Even if he doesn't want me, I won't want you."

Later, when Fang Tingxiu went to Beijing, she gave him all the fifty-odd taels of silver she had saved over the years.

"Please, whether you pass the exam or not, don't come back. I don't want to marry you."

Fang Tingxiu accepted the money, looked at the girl he liked, and said "Okay."

"You say she's unreasonable and capricious, yet she gave you so much of her savings." Gu Anqi sighed, unsure how to comment. "Are you still waiting for her to change her mind?"

"I don't know either," Fang Tingxiu said. "I think I'll consider my own affairs after she gets married."

In truth, he was always dreaming that one day she would fall in love with him, though it was very likely because he was Tanhua.

As long as he doesn't go back and isn't rejected, he can keep dreaming.

Does she know that you came in third place in the imperial examination?

"They should know," Fang Tingxiu said. "They'll probably go home to share the good news."

"But I think we should find out as soon as possible; dragging it out like this isn't a solution. Maybe that girl is already married."

"Let's wait a little longer."

When she's no longer so important to him, when time has faded his feelings, and when he finally has the courage to face the outcome he least wants to face, then he can ask her again.

Perhaps when they meet again, he will already be preparing gifts for her children.

It wasn't heartbreaking, but I felt a deep sense of regret.

She was the only girl he had ever loved, and who had stayed in his heart for so many years.

Gu Anqi patted his shoulder. "If you change your mind in the future and take a fancy to a girl, just tell me."

It's impossible for my sister.

He changed his mind.

He didn't want his sister to marry a man who had once loved another woman.

No matter how outstanding you are, it's not worth it. You can find someone who is devoted to you; there's no need to settle for second best.

Gu Wanning and her aunts played for most of the day, and the two children were quite tired, so everyone reluctantly waved goodbye.

Fourth Concubine said, "Sister, you're not busy during the first month of the lunar year, are you? We'll all come to your house to play another day!"

She deliberately shouted loudly, actually speaking to Xu Weibei.

Xu Weibei surprisingly agreed, saying, "You can go whenever you want; there's no need to ask me."

Go, go quickly.

If you don't go, how can I legitimately appear in front of her under the pretext of picking her up?

If he doesn't make his presence felt soon, even the most insignificant person will want to take his place.

"Let's go now." Gu Wanning waved her hand. "See you next time."

She was going to visit her second sister-in-law at the Princess's Residence in a couple of days, and planned to take these troublemakers with her.

Since we're all free anyway, let's get together for a game of mahjong.

She'll be incredibly busy once spring arrives.

However, she was busy with something right now.

"Gu Wanning, let's go back too," Gu Anqi said.

"Brother, go buy me a truckload of sugarcane, I need it. I'm going to talk to someone for a bit."

Gu Anqi: "A cartload of sugarcane?"

"Yes, a whole cartload. You go buy it. Here's the money. I'm going to talk to someone for Er Ya, then I'll go home. Er Ya, come with me. Zhi Nu, you go with your father to pick out the sugarcane. Make sure you pick the good ones."

"Okay, Auntie, I'll pick the best! I'm good at choosing things!"

"Yeah, I knew you could do it. Go ahead, go ahead."

Gu Wanning went to find Xu Qiaoqiao again.

"Qiaoqiao, how's business today?" she asked with a smile.

Xu Qiaoqiao her head. "Not very good. People in the Capital don't really recognize rice noodles."

"Can you earn one or two taels of silver a day?"

"It's a bit difficult."

"Then I'll buy you two days' time, two taels of silver, and you can come to my house to find me, how about that?" Gu Wanning directly revealed her identity this time, "My surname is Gu, and my father is the Chief Grand Secretary, you should have heard of him, right?"

In crucial moments, to prove he wasn't a fraud, he had to bring his father along for a spin.

Good reputation, useful!

At this point, you shouldn't mention Xu Weibei, as it might scare people away.

Chapter 157 He's more useful than a donkey

Xu Qiaoqiao exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, you're the daughter of Chief Grand Secretary Gu? Then, then you just got divorced..."

"Yes, it's me," Gu Wanning said with a smile. "Qiaoqiao news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast. Don't worry, Qiaoqiao, I'm not like the Marquis. Oh, actually, the Marquis is quite nice too. I'm not saying I'm bad... Anyway, believe me, I mean no harm, I just wanted to ask you how to make sugar."

"Making sugar? Sister, we don't grow sugarcane here, and sugarcane is so expensive. It's not worth it for you to make sugar," Xu Qiaoqiao said earnestly.

"It's nothing, I'm just trying it out, I'm not trying to make sugar to sell for money. Are you coming?"

"If my sister needs help, I'm happy to assist her; I don't need the money."

"No, I'd feel bad if you didn't accept the money. After all, this might be a family secret! I'd be the one getting the better deal."

"No, sister," Xu Qiaoqiao, "Where we're from, almost everyone knows how to do it; it's not a secret."

"Anyway, we've agreed, right? Come see me whenever you're free these next few days. Just tell me what I need you to prepare, and I'll buy it all today."

Xu Qiaoqiao mentioned a few things, Gu Wanning noted down one by one.

After returning home, Gu Wanning started busying herself around the house during the Lunar New Year.

First, they put the sugarcane into the side room, and then had someone help carry the stone mill they bought into the yard.

The stone roller was so heavy that it took a whole day of effort to carry it inside on the second day of the lunar new year.

The eldest sister-in-law, Madam He Shi, added, "If you decide not to rent a room later, will you really carry the stone mill to the new house again? That's too much trouble."

"No, I've already discussed it. We'll buy the house, and once the government offices open after the fifteenth, we'll transfer the ownership."

The house wasn't large, but given the prices in the Capital, it still cost a full thousand taels of silver.