Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 96 - 0 Lu San Visits

Gu Jinli was very satisfied with He Sanlai’s words, but she still raised the stick and, to He Sanlai’s horrified gaze, struck him and knocked him unconscious with a bang.

After He Sanlai was knocked unconscious, Qin San Lang untied him and threw him in the kitchen.

Then, Gu Jinli picked up the old hen that He Sanlai had plucked clean of feathers and ran towards the dilapidated house at the edge of the village with Qin San Lang.

When the two returned, several families were still discussing matters at Gu Jinli’s house, each with a worried expression.

Seeing Qin San Lang and Gu Jinli come in, holding a featherless old hen, everyone was startled and asked, "Where did you go? Where did this old hen come from?"

None of their families raised chickens.

"It’s a gift from He Sanlai," Gu Jinli said with a smile as she handed the old hen to Mrs. Cui, "Mother, we’re hungry. Please stew this old hen so we can have some soup."

After all, the old hen was stolen by He Sanlai and had nothing to do with her.

Mrs. Cui, frightened, took the old hen. Hearing this, Gu Jin’an sensed something was off and quickly asked, "A gift from He Sanlai? Did you go find He Sanlai?"

Everyone was quite scared upon hearing this.

Third Grandma ran over and after seeing that Gu Jinli had no injuries, she said with relief, "You are too bold. How could you go looking for He Sanlai? He’s a ruffian. What if something had happened?"

Gu Jinli grabbed two small stools, handed one to Qin San Lang, and sat down on the other. Heaven must have pitied them; after sitting on straw mats for half a month, their house finally had stools.

"Don’t worry, Third Grandma. He Sanlai couldn’t beat us, and we even gave him a beating," Gu Jinli told everyone about their encounter with He Sanlai.

The families listened with trepidation. Ms. Chu anxiously asked, "He Sanlai won’t bring the village ruffians to settle scores with us, will he?"

Qin San Lang replied, "Aunt Luo, don’t worry. He Sanlai was terrified and daren’t bother us anymore."

Bullies like He Sanlai abuse the weak and only dare to bully those weaker than themselves. Since Xiao Yu had threatened his life, even if he resented them, he wouldn’t dare risk his own life.

Ms. Chu felt somewhat relieved upon hearing this. freёnovelkiss.com

Gu Jinli said, "He Sanlai mentioned that the County Magistrate and Lord County Captain are enemies, and the County Magistrate has kinship with the Lu Family, who want our recipe. Let’s go to the County Captain; we can offer the recipe straight to him, ensuring neither the Lu Family nor County Magistrate Zou can get their hands on it!"

Mrs. Chen exclaimed, "Why give it to the County Captain? What kind of officer is he? Isn’t the County Magistrate the highest in the county? Why don’t we go to the County Magistrate?"

Elder Qin, familiar with Great Chu’s administrative system, explained, "The County Magistrate is the chief officer, rotating every three years. We’ve settled in Tianfu County and plan to stay here for more than three years, whereas the County Magistrate and County Captain are assistant officials, less strictly overseen by the court. If they perform well, they can serve for life, possibly even passing the position to capable descendants. Thus, approaching the County Captain is better than the County Magistrate."

Father Luo nodded in agreement, "Xiao Yu and Elder Qin are right. Regarding our issue, it’s better to approach the County Captain. Since he has a feud with the County Magistrate, he might be inclined to protect us because of their enmity."

Gu Dafu, however, was somewhat worried, "We are just a group of refugees who fled famine. Would the County Captain really help us?"

Father Luo responded, "We have the tofu recipe, a novel food product. If we offer the recipe to the County Captain, he should be willing to protect us."

Mrs. Chen, distressed, said, "The tofu recipe is our livelihood. Do we really have to give it away? Can’t we keep it?"

Third Grandpa sighed, "If the County Magistrate really comes to seize it, we won’t be able to keep the recipe anyway. It’s better to hand it over to an enemy of the County Magistrate in exchange for protection."

Gu Jinli said, "We only know that the County Magistrate and the County Captain are enemies. We don’t know what kind of person the County Captain is. We need to investigate first. If he has a good character, we can partner with him in the tofu business. If not, we’ll consider other ways to deal with the County Magistrate."

She certainly didn’t want to fail killing a wolf only to invite a tiger.

Mrs. Chen was still very worried: "If the County Magistrate doesn’t help us, and the County Magistrate confiscates our tofu recipe, what should we do?"

She continued: "We are famine refugees and we can’t change our household registration within three years. Without the tofu recipe, we cannot leave, and we’ll be bullied to death. Oh, why is life so difficult?"

Mrs. Chen became more and more agitated as she spoke, jumping up and cursing the Lu Family and the County Magistrate’s family.

Gu Dagui grabbed her, scolding: "What are you howling about in the middle of the night? We’re still thinking of solutions, don’t speak such inauspicious words."

Gu Jinli knew that this matter had distressed several families, and said: "Don’t worry, even if we can’t make tofu, we can still make other things to sell. I can make more than just tofu."

And she would not let the tofu business fail nor allow anyone to snatch it from her hands. If needed, they would pay with their lives!

Mrs. Chen’s eyes brightened upon hearing this, and she quickly asked Xiao Yu: "Really? What other good things can you make? Tell auntie quickly."

Third Grandpa interrupted Mrs. Chen: "Enough, let’s talk about this later. Let’s first discuss what needs to be done tomorrow."

After some discussion, Third Grandpa and Elder Qin decided to divide the people into four groups.

One group would continue to set up their stall tomorrow; another would stay at home making tofu and keep watch; Qin San Lang and Elder Qin would go to the county to inquire about the County Magistrate; Third Grandpa would take Gu Jin’an to Shang Family Village with a letter from Doctor Wu, to visit Scholar Shang.

Although they encountered troubles, Gu Jin’an’s education must still be handled.

After the families finished discussing, it was already the time of Hai. Each drank a bowl of chicken soup brewed by Mrs. Cui along with a bean dregs cake before heading home.

The next day, before they had even left their homes, a woman in her fifties with drooping eyes and a sharp chin came to Gu Jinli’s house banging on the courtyard gate, shouting into the yard: "Gu Family, our Third Master has matters to discuss with you, let the head of your family come out, and follow this old woman to see our Third Master."

Qin San Lang and Elder Qin were preparing to go to the county to gather information. Hearing the old woman’s words, they set aside what they were doing and stood in their yard watching.

Soon, they saw Third Grandma and Third Grandpa come out to open the gate and speak softly to the old woman.

The old woman became furious upon hearing what Third Grandma and Grandpa said, pointing at them she shouted: "Don’t be ungrateful, go ask around in the village - when Third Master calls someone, who dares not go?"

Third Grandma frowned and sternly said: "We still have work to do, we don’t have time to see your Third Master right now, let’s go after we finish our work."

"After you finish your work?" The woman sneered: "What work do you have? Making tofu, right? You better stop that, from now on it will be our Lu Family’s business."

Her words were excessive, showing how arrogant the Lu Family was normally; even a servant dared to openly speak about seizing other’s property.

Gu Jinli, holding a broom, thrashed the old woman: "Hurry and leave, don’t hinder our cleaning."

"Hey, you stinky girl, where are you sweeping?" The old woman quickly retreated, dodging Gu Jinli’s broom, and after she moved out of the courtyard, Gu Jinli slammed the gate shut.

The old woman left fuming wildly, hand on her hip, the other pointing at Gu Family’s dirt courtyard, cursing: "A bunch of famine refugees acting high and mighty, just you wait, our Third Master won’t let you off!"

Offending the Lu Family, they couldn’t expect to continue living in this village.

The woman stomped off huffing and puffing.

All the families ran to Gu Jinli’s house to ask about the incident. Thinking the Lu Family would send someone else, they dared not leave and all gathered at Gu Jinli’s house waiting.

But instead of waiting for the Lu Family’s servants, they waited until Lu Laosan arrived.