CHAPTER 488: CHAPTER 488: WAN LIFANG REFUSES TO GIVE UP

"Brother Qin is here, please have a seat. The kids are grilling fish, we’ll be able to eat soon," Third Grandpa sat in the courtyard, in front of a newly made table that already had some marinated dishes and a pot of wine on it.

"Village Chief He brought some reed wine, let’s have a good drink, just us old brothers."

Brother Qin walked over with a smile: "With Xiao Yu’s grilled fish, reed wine, and marinated dishes, I’m in for a treat today."

Third Grandpa said, "There’s also roast duck and marinated pork and sheep tripe. That tripe is rare, Village Chief Shang reserves it daily at the marination shop. Knowing we love it, Daya didn’t sell it at the shop today and kept all three sets of tripe for us, so we can have enough. I bet Village Chief Shang is cursing us at home right now."

Brother Qin chuckled, "Village Chief Shang has been so busy lately, I bet he doesn’t even have time to scold us."

Due to the matters of Yushu Village, Village Chief Shang has been running to the county every day, coordinating with the officials’ inquiries.

In a corner of the courtyard, Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang were grilling fish, with only Brother Cheng nearby. Hearing Brother Qin’s words, she quietly asked Qin San Lang, "About Yushu Village, could Grandpa Qin be summoned by Junior Minister Ming?"

If he is summoned, that would be trouble.

Qin San Lang shook his head: "No, Grandpa has already talked with Uncle Jiang, saying he’s old and doesn’t want any credit, so there’s no need to mention him. Uncle Jiang agreed and told the officials that he always knew Zhang Niu was Zhang Hu’s own brother, hence he sent people to watch over Yushu Village."

And the matter of her making poison was blamed on Doctor Wu. The claim was that Scholar Shang and Doctor Wu were acquainted, and fearing Jiang Qi might get injured in bandit suppression, pleaded with Doctor Wu to concoct the poison, without bringing her to the forefront.

After all, a young girl making poison, though it greatly aided the government, would still attract criticism and potentially dangerous attention.

Reassured by this, Gu Jinli devoted herself to grilling fish with Qin San Lang, and the two busied themselves for two hours, finally finishing grilling a bucket of carp.

By evening, Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui returned from the workshop, and as soon as they entered, they smelled the aromatic scent of grilled fish and laughed, "San Lang went fishing again, we are in for a treat tonight."

Seeing them return, Gu Jinli hurriedly said, "Dad, Mom, it’s time to wash up for dinner; big sister and Cha Hua have already prepared the meal."

Cha Hua, Old Zhu’s daughter, who had practiced some boxing under him, was kept by Gu Jinli day by day to accompany Gu Jinxiu for fear of danger at home.

Cha Hua carried out the dishes, placing them one by one on the table in the courtyard.

Gu Jinxiu asked Gu Jinli for two grilled fish, also took two bowls of the marinated meat, packed them up in a food container, and handed them to Cha Hua, "Cha Hua, there are grilled fish and marinated meat inside, take them back to the workshop residence, keep half for our family, and give the other half to Uncle Wang’s family."

Cha Hua gladly accepted and smiled, "My dad and Uncle Wang both love grilled fish, saying it’s great with drinks."

She even said, working as a servant for the Gu Family was their family’s good fortune. The Gu Family People were kind, never abused them, and they were like working for the Gu family, even able to go home to eat and sleep on time, which was much better than working as a Protector for someone else.

After thanking Gu Jinli and the others, Cha Hua took the grilled fish and marinated meat back home.

Gu Jin’an and Scholar Shang were still not back from Jinling Prefecture. Scholar Shang said, seeing more of the world with Zheng Ying and Shangguan Zhuo was beneficial for him, so they were one person short at dinner.

...

When it was dinner time at Gu Jinli’s house, Gu Yumei just came back from the tofu workshop. She had been behaving much better recently, but still complained, "When will Xiao Yu hire someone to make tofu? If we don’t hire someone soon, my hands will be beyond saving."

Since frying tofu, her hands were constantly blistered by oil splashes, leaving behind small scars.

Dad said that when the monthly dividend comes, he would buy her scar removal ointment, and assured her she won’t have scars; he urged her to continue working hard.

But mentioning this frustrated her: "Scar ointment for Qi Kangle, scar ointment for Qin San Lang, why not for me? Still need to spend money to buy it, Gu Xiaoyu have you become obsessed with money? I am your clannish sister!"

Although Gu Yumei was unhappy with Gu Jinli’s ill treatment towards her, she dared not complain openly. Her father told her that Gu Jinli’s house was getting more capable by the day, and advised her to get along well with Gu Jinli and Gu Jinxiu; being clannish sisters, when she gets married in the future, she could rely on this kinship to better her day-to-day life.

Despite feeling defiant and not wanting to bow down to Gu Jinli’s sisters, after the incident with the Wan Family, she became fearful, occasionally finding excuses to visit Gu Jinli’s house to connect with Gu Jinli and Gu Jinxiu.

Gu Yumei was hurrying towards the end of the village when suddenly a little boy ran out and stuffed a purse into her hand: "For you! It’s from the young master at the village entrance, saying he acknowledges his mistake and wants you to meet him there."

Gu Yumei knew this child belonged to the Lu Family in the village, she frowned and said: "No, tell him to get lost, if he dares send me things again, I’ll have my father and second uncle break his legs!"

After saying that, she threw the purse at the child, and threatened: "Take this to him, if you don’t, I’ll have my second aunt make trouble at your house, then you’ll be sorry."

Mrs. Chen was famously fierce in the village, even the He Family and Lu Family People were afraid of her. Hearing this, the child quickly picked up the purse and scampered to the village entrance.

Wan Lifang, seeing the child, asked excitedly: "How is it? When will Gu Yumei come out?"

The child returned the purse to Wan Lifang: "Gu Yumei won’t come, she told you to get lost and also said she would send her father and second uncle to beat you."

Wan Lifang turned pale hearing this: "Still not agreeing, what does she really want?’

He had been here several times already, had spent nearly a tael just on bribing kids to deliver messages to Gu Yumei, being so humble already, and she still dares to play hard to get?!

Seeing Wan Lifang still not giving up, that smart kid turned his eyes and suggested: "Young master, how about you give me ten more copper coins, I’ll trick her into coming out, how about that?"

Wan Lifang’s eyes lit up and he promptly gave the child ten copper coins: "Go ahead, hurry."

The child ran off quickly and didn’t come back; Wan Lifang waited until it was dark, finally having to accept that he was deceived.

"Damn it, that brat, daring to fool me, just wait, I won’t let you off!" But Wan Lifang couldn’t enter Da Feng Village, and could only curse as he walked away.

Now the Wan Family’s mule cart was gone, Wan Lifang and Shuzi walked four hours before they returned to town.

As soon as he walked into his house, Ni Ruiniang mocked him: "Oh, what’s this, chased back again, huh? Serves you right!"

After learning that Wan Lifang intentionally caused her miscarriage, Ni Ruiniang wasn’t pretending anymore and mocked Wan Lifang every day; if Wan Lifang dared to hit her, she would run into the streets tearing her hair and crying, giving Scholar Wan and his family a lot of trouble, they dared not provoke her.

Ms. Ni, hearing their quarrel, angrily ran over and scolded: "What are you two quarreling about? Shut up right now! If you disturb the guests upfront, and our family loses income, I’m not finished with you2

After the Wan Family’s issues became public, their private school had to shut down, they could only convert the front schoolroom and student lodging into a Carriage Inn to provide lodging for travelers.

Wan Lifang rejoiced hearing there were guests: "Mom, we have guests?"