Eldest son of Old Master Xue. Passed the tongsheng (licentiate) imperial examination at twenty, making him one of the most educated men in the surrounding villages. Initially ambitious, he failed the provincial exam multiple times and eventually opened a private school in the village to teach local children. He promised his dying brother Xue Qingsong to support Gouzi's education and initially treated him like a son, but over time the attitude in the first branch shifted due to self-interest. He brought up the matter of sending only one boy to the town academy, creating family tension.
