Chapter Sixteen: Gu Juren, You Truly Are Ruthless

“I will reclaim everything the Gu family has lost!”

Gu Zhengchen sat upright with solemnity, his gaze steady and filled with immense confidence and an unshakable will.

Zhao Ya’er watched this scene, her red lips parted in astonishment.

At this moment, the once detestable image of Gu Zhengchen suddenly shattered, and all the ugly impressions completely dissolved.

From this former fiancé burst forth dazzling rays of light—the endurance he showed in silence, his calm composure in the face of the Wang family’s pressure, his fearless resolve in danger, his decisive choice to sacrifice wealth to avoid punishment—all these stunning displays left her deeply moved.

So, he was not as despicable as she had thought...

A strange pang swept through Zhao Ya’er’s delicate heart.

Zhang Shiping swallowed hard, his face particularly grim. He glanced sideways at Zhao Yaowen, a trace of hidden fear flickering within.

Gu Zhengchen was nothing like the rumors suggested—weak, incompetent, timid, or foolish. He possessed astonishing intelligence, extraordinary means, an indomitable will, and a relentless spirit to see things through to the end!

This was a man not to be trifled with. Just look at Wang Youcheng’s embarrassed state and Wang Fugui’s sullen expression to know the truth!

If the Zhang family truly allied through marriage with the Zhao family, obeying their parents’ wishes for him to marry Zhao Ya’er, he would have to consider whether this would offend Gu Zhengchen, since Zhao Ya’er once had a binding marriage contract with him.

If Zhao Ya’er was Gu Zhengchen’s treasured possession, would Gu Zhengchen, with his current capabilities and methods, turn the Zhang family into enemies if they dared to lay a hand on her?

Indeed, Gu Zhengchen’s power was limited now, but he stood behind the Liang family and was himself an outstanding figure. Who could say where he would be in ten years?

Was it worth offending a promising scholar for the sake of one woman?

County Magistrate Li Yi frowned slightly as he observed Gu Zhengchen and Wang Fugui.

Advisor Yan Bin remained silent.

Liang Fengyang looked anxiously at Gu Zhengchen, who was forcibly holding Wang Fugui back. “Young man, what exactly are you up to? The debt has been cleared; why stir up trouble?”

Wang Fugui clenched his fist then relaxed it, folding his hands behind his back as he sneered coldly at Gu Zhengchen. “Heh, Gu Scholar, one must know their own limits.”

Gu Zhengchen lifted his head slightly, expression grave. “Back then, you took away the old ox of the Gu family and forced us to mortgage ten acres of land. Now, I’m taking them back.”

Wang Fugui laughed heartily, then threw back his head in wild laughter that seemed endless, suddenly fixing sharp eyes on Gu Zhengchen. “What right do you have to take them back?”

Gu Zhengchen stood and stepped forward, closing the distance to barely a foot. “Old Master Wang, haven’t you heard the saying: it’s better to deceive an old man with white beard than to bully a poor young man?”

Wang Fugui stared coldly at Gu Zhengchen, refusing to yield. “And if I do bully you?”

A faint smile curved Gu Zhengchen’s lips. “You don’t have that qualification.”

Wang Fugui snorted dismissively. “Whether or not I have that qualification aside, I want to see how you intend to take back your family’s ox and ten acres from me!”

Gu Zhengchen turned his gaze toward the crowd at the door.

Wang Fugui’s heart sank. Slowly he turned around, only to see the crowd swaying and shouting angrily. A corpulent man, sweating profusely, emerged, rubbing his swollen belly with one pudgy hand.

“Master Sun!”

Wang Fugui recognized the man.

Sun Bing gasped for breath, took a sweat towel from a servant, wiped his face, and called out to Gu Zhengchen, “Gu Scholar, you really are ruthless.”

Wang Fugui’s eyes brightened; it seemed Master Sun had come to cause trouble for Gu Zhengchen.

Liang Fengyang looked at Gu Zhengchen. This fellow had borrowed money from Master Sun’s family, but what had he done to provoke such wrath? Was it not just borrowing money but some deceit or trickery?

That seemed unlikely—Master Sun was a shrewd and stingy merchant. What tricks could fool him? But then again, Gu Zhengchen was cunning and patient, with ample means; it was hard to say...

Wang Fugui stepped forward to greet Master Sun. “Master Sun.”

“Oh, Old Master Wang is here too,” Sun Bing said with a glance, tossing the towel to a servant without further pleasantries. He then fixed his gaze on Gu Zhengchen and took a step forward. “I walked five miles all the way here. Do your words still hold?”

“What?”

Liang Fengyang and Wang Fugui looked stunned.

Zhang Shiping, Zhao Yaowen, and Zhao Ya’er were all dumbfounded, and even Magistrate Li Yi was taken aback.

What was going on?

Gu Zhengchen seemed to have “coerced” Master Sun into walking five miles to come here!

Everyone in Teng County knew Master Sun preferred quiet and disliked moving around. Besides his excessive obesity, he rarely left his home, and when he did, it was the donkeys pulling carts that bore the hardship.

What means had Gu Zhengchen used to make the usually reluctant Master Sun unwillingly walk five miles?

Liang Fengyang’s eyes held a hint of awe as he looked at Gu Zhengchen. The man seemed unfathomable, with astonishing methods. It appeared that even if the Liang family did not intervene, Gu Zhengchen would not fall into the Wang family’s hands!

Wang Fugui’s face grew even darker. From Master Sun’s words, it was clear that Gu Zhengchen had not provoked him; rather, he was the one who owed something to Gu Zhengchen!

How could this be?

Master Sun’s family owned numerous enterprises—over a thousand acres of land, and twelve different shops—making them the wealthiest household in Teng County. Gu Zhengchen was a poor scholar with no possessions. Why would Master Sun have any need of him?

Gu Zhengchen looked at Master Sun and nodded slightly with a smile. “Naturally, my words stand.”

Sun Bing grinned broadly, his face wobbling with flesh. Turning to Wang Fugui, he said, “Old Master Wang, return the Gu family’s ox and the deed to the land. Whatever the cost, the Sun family will cover it.”

“You all…”

Wang Fugui’s lips trembled.

Everything had unfolded beyond his expectations. He had thought Gu Zhengchen an easy opponent to crush, but instead, the latter had upended the situation and left him staggering!

Gu Zhengchen looked at the speechless Wang Fugui and reminded him, “The ox and the deed to the ten acres—I want them back today!”

Seeing Gu Zhengchen unwilling to wait, Sun Bing pulled Wang Fugui aside and warned in a low voice, “What concerns Gu Scholar concerns the Sun family. Old Master Wang, please arrange for the deed to be brought here, and bring the ox back as well.”

Wang Fugui’s hands trembled slightly.

What had caused such a close relationship between Sun Bing and Gu Zhengchen?

He had to relent now.

The Wang family could disregard Gu Zhengchen’s face, but not Master Sun’s!

“Accountant, make a trip back,” Wang Fugui said reluctantly, bowing his head.

“Brother Zhengchen, what is going on?” the Gu family watched with lingering unease.

Today had been a series of crises and surprises; yet each time, they had been averted, and peace restored.

Gu Zhengchen smiled slightly at his mother. “Mother, I’ve checked the fields. The wheat is nearly ripe. This year, I’ll be the one to sharpen the sickle.”