After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

When Wang Fugui saw Gu Minghai carrying Lin Xiaoxiao to the bed, the child was so frightened that he quickly covered his eyes with his paws.

Is this something you can watch without paying?

Bah! To indulge in lewdness in broad daylight.

Wang Fugui turned and flew away.

As soon as Wang Fugui flew back to the mansion, he started chattering incessantly.

What? They're doing this in broad daylight?

Su Xiuran and her three brothers, who were discussing whether to go to the academy, suddenly stopped and secretly glanced at Gu Linglong in her swaddling clothes.

What kind of sauce/grain?

A sauce made from grains?

Wang Fugui hovered above Gu Linglong's head, hands on his hips.

"Yes, and Lin Xiaoxiao said there will be another severe drought in the future, so they plan to stockpile food."

Hoarding grain? She remembered that the book mentioned that after three months without rain, everyone thought there would be a severe drought, and some people took advantage of this to speculate on grain prices and make a fortune.

But it started raining in the fourth month. Before that, the grain had not yet reached the heading stage, so the lack of rain had a relatively small impact on the grain harvest.

On the contrary, the weather was favorable during the heading stage, and the harvest was even better than last year. With more grain, the price dropped, and those who had hoarded grain lost everything.

[It's okay, let her hoard it. If only there were a way to make her hoard more and more, she'd lose a fortune.]

Wang Fugui: "Yes, she will definitely collect the grain slowly at first, so that no one will find out."

【What if there are even more people hoarding grain in the capital than she is?】

Wang Fugui: "I don't know."

[They'll definitely have to pay a higher price to buy it back, but the book mentions that this winter in Beijing is particularly cold; I wonder if that will affect the grain supply.]

Wang Fugui: I don't know, I've only heard that "a timely snow promises a good harvest".

Gu Linglong regretted that she didn't know how to speak properly; otherwise, she would have had her elder brother pretend to secretly hoard grain and then sell it to Lin Xiaoxiao.

That bastard Lin Xiaoxiao is a real pain.

【Hey……】

After listening to his younger sister's words, Gu Yu'an's eyes lit up. It was not appropriate for him to step forward and do this now, but there was someone who was very suitable.

Master Qiao...

Since Master Qiao was a businessman, his foresight in stockpiling grain in advance would not arouse suspicion.

Su Xiuran looked at Gu Linglong with eyes full of heartache; her daughter was truly a source of worry.

"You should still report to the academy tomorrow; you've taken so many days off."

Gu Yu'an: "Okay, we'll listen to Mother."

Gu Liyao glanced away: "I'm not going. Who knows how those people at the academy will laugh at us? I'm not going."

Gu Ziming teased the little turtle with foxtail grass. Ever since he learned that keeping a parrot would bring disaster to his family, he stopped keeping birds.

I've switched to playing with turtles.

Turtles can't talk and move slowly, so I hope they won't cause any trouble.

He held the little turtle in his palm, his lips pursed in a pout, "I'm not going either, I don't like studying."

Su Xiuran looked disappointed, and her tone was rather serious.

"Is this how I usually teach you?"

"Reading and learning are the backbone of a person; how can you not read? All three of you must go tomorrow."

"if……"

After pondering for a long time, Gu Yu'an finally asked the crucial question, "What if... what if we are expelled from Tianxing Academy?"

Su Xiuran's heart skipped a beat. Given the current situation of the Gu family and the fact that Tianxing Academy is the best academy in the capital, this was indeed a possibility.

“If Tianxing Academy kicks you out, it’s better not to go to such an academy. You can study at home from now on.”

"Yay... Does that mean we don't have to go to the academy anymore?" Gu Ziming cheered, almost jumping for joy.

Su Xiuran looked at him with a smile, "Don't worry, Mother will help you find a tutor to come to our house to teach you."

"what……"

Gu Ziming's excited head quickly drooped.

Back in his study, Gu Yu'an immediately wrote a letter to Master Qiao, stating that if the weather were exceptionally cold, what should be stockpiled was not grain but charcoal…

next day

The three brothers boarded a carriage and headed to Tianxing Academy.

Tianxing Academy was one of the best academies in the capital, attracting many children from high-ranking officials and wealthy families. It boasted renowned teachers and possessed numerous rare and ancient books that were not usually shared with outsiders.

The only institution comparable to it is Chengwei Academy. If Tianxing Academy is a gathering place for high-ranking officials and nobles, then Chengwei Academy is the gateway for learned but poor students to enter officialdom. There are relatively few children from high-ranking and noble families there.

The number of successful candidates graduating from this academy each year is second only to Tianxing Academy.

There were many students at the entrance of Tianxing Academy. The three brothers got off the carriage and headed to their respective classes.

Gu Yu'an was in Class A, and even in the best Class A, his usual behavior was relatively calm, without competing or vying for anything.

Because her father had previously suspected that the Gu family's title had been delayed and that the Gu family might be suspicious of her, she knew she must not stand out at the academy.

Everyone thought Gu Yu'an was talented, but he was clearly not good enough for the talented Tianxing Academy. However, Gu Yu'an was actually very eloquent and could speak fluently, and few people in the academy could surpass him.

Each assessment depends entirely on Gu Yu'an's mood. If he's in a good mood, he'll get an A; if he's in a bad mood, he'll get a B.

The professors at the academy were also puzzled by Gu Yu'an. Sometimes his writing was so excellent that he could even compete for a top-three spot, but at other times they felt that Gu Yu'an's writing might only barely pass the imperial examination.

Gu Liyao was in Class B next door. His grades weren't as good as his older brother's, and he was already struggling to get into Class B, so Gu Mingtang naturally didn't give him such instructions.

Gu Ziming, who was only six years old, was in a primary school class.

The three brothers attracted everyone's attention and whispers as soon as they entered the academy.

"Why are they here?"

"I thought they had dropped out of school."

"With their father in that state, they still dare to come to the academy? Aren't they afraid the teacher will kick them out?"

"Shh, keep your voice down, their father hasn't been sentenced yet."

"What's there to be afraid of? We can still turn things around, can't we?"

The classmates who had previously fawned over them stayed far away, and Gu Yu'an spotted Lu Li from a distance.

The uncle's cousin heard from his mother that his aunt had not been able to conceive for a long time, so he wanted to adopt Lu Li as his son.

If Lu Li becomes his aunt's son, then they will be cousins, which is why the two brothers have the best relationship at the academy.

Gu Ziyao waved his long arms in the air, "Lu Li..."

A classmate nudged Lu Li gently. "Hey, Lu Li, Gu Ziyao is calling you."

"You two are best friends, do you think this might implicate you?"

"Don't blame me for not warning you!"

Lu Li glanced at Gu Ziyao quickly, ignored him, and hid behind his classmate.

"You're joking, there's no such thing as 'best,' we're just ordinary classmates."

He spoke so softly, did the other side not hear him? When they ask why he didn't respond, he can just say he wasn't feeling well and didn't hear Gu Ziyao calling him.

Gu Ziyao's waving hands froze instantly.

In the past, Gu Ziyao and the others would not have been able to hear what Lu Li was saying, but now their bodies are nourished by Gu Linglong's spiritual spring water every day.

Both physical strength and sensory perception have improved several times over compared to before.

The three Gu brothers heard and saw clearly the little trick the classmate used to avoid them.