Chapter 311 - 312: The He Shi Family

Chapter 311: Chapter 312: The He Shi Family

Deng Yuanhang certainly knew a good thing when he saw it. ’If it were me,’ he thought, ’I’d probably keep all of this under lock and key.’

"Thank you so much. Don’t worry, I’m just borrowing them to make a copy. I’ll take excellent care of them and return them in perfect condition."

Ancient Wen Heng asked, "Have you been to see Brother Liu yet?"

"Not yet," Deng Yuanhang said, knowing he had to visit both of them. "An escort team was heading this way, so I came to see you first.

I’ll have to shut myself in and refuse all visitors for the next while. Time to burn the midnight oil."

Ancient Wen Heng gave him a thumbs-up. "I’ve got high hopes for you."

"..."

&

After the escort team had disappeared into the distance, everyone was about to head back in small groups when they saw a figure staggering toward them.

Hong Da Ya whispered to Jin Qianqian, "That’s Widow He and her daughter. They must have heard that your father-in-law was heading back to the village and came running to intercept him."

Liu Liu gloated, "How can two legs possibly outrun four? By now, the carriage is probably already in the county town."

Many people recognized Shi Lingjiao. They had all heard the rumors about her and Gu Dashishi, but no one expected her to be this blatant about it.

Li Cuicui was holding Granny Song’s arm and about to head back, but the woman planted herself directly in their path.

Jin Qianqian and the other daughters-in-law exchanged a look, then moved in unison to stand right behind Li Cuicui.

Li Cuicui glanced back at them, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. Then she turned and looked down her nose at the two panting figures. "You’re in the way."

The daughter behind Widow He, He Meili, pointed at Li Cuicui and yelled, "Did you drive Uncle Gu back to the countryside? How can you be so wicked? You get to live in luxury here while you make him go back there to suffer."

"You have some nerve, little girl! Who do you think you are, pointing and shouting at the matriarch of an official family?" Liu Liu strode over and slapped her hand down. "Where did you come from? You have no manners whatsoever.

And who are you, anyway? Do we know you? Coming here and bossing everyone around."

Shi Lingjiao pulled her daughter behind her. "This is my daughter. She’s still young and doesn’t know how to speak properly. She was just worried about her Uncle Shi, that’s why she sounded a bit harsh."

Jin Qianqian feigned curiosity and looked at her quizzically. "You look very unfamiliar. You’re not from our village, are you?

Besides, from the looks of it, this young lady is older than I am. You can’t use ’she’s just a child’ as an excuse.

If you have no other business, please get out of our way. After all, this is private property."

Jin Qianqian wasn’t wrong. When they had built the house at the village entrance, they had acquired all the surrounding land. So the ground everyone was standing on was, in fact, Jin Qianqian’s property.

Seeing the dimples that appeared when she spoke, He Meili instantly guessed Jin Qianqian’s identity. She stared at her, her face a mask of jealous hatred. ’If it weren’t for this woman,’ she thought, ’I would be the Champion Scholar’s Wife right now.’

Jin Qianqian raised an eyebrow. ’So she recognizes me. She’s certainly done her homework.’

’But so what? It was all just their fantasy. If they refused to wake up from it, that was their problem.’

"I just want to know, why did Brother Dash leave in such a hurry? He promised me..." Gu Lingjiao’s voice trailed off as she looked at the crowd. Today, she was throwing all shame to the wind; she was determined to force the Gu family to give her an answer.

With that, it was no longer appropriate for Jin Qianqian and the others to interject. They all looked toward Li Cuicui with a trace of concern.

"So what?" Li Cuicui said, her gaze cool. The woman before her had to be nearly forty, yet she looked nothing like the village wives who were accustomed to farm labor.

Her smooth, fair skin was enough to distract from any flaws in her features. Dressed in pale widow’s weeds, the slightest furrow of her brow was enough to inspire pity.

But only three words floated through Jin Qianqian’s mind: ’Green tea bitch.’

"This has nothing to do with me," Li Cuicui said, even offering a suggestion. "Why don’t you chase after him now? If you hire a carriage in the county town, you might still be able to catch him."

Gu Lingjiao knew that was impossible. She looked at everyone, tears streaming down her face. "But he promised me! He said he would let me into the family! It’s because you, Elder Sister, look down on me..."

"Silence!" Gu Sanbu cut in sharply. "I remember you. You’re He Daniu’s widow, aren’t you? Stop making a scene and spouting nonsense. This is not the place for you to run wild."

But Gu Lingjiao dropped to her knees right in front of Gu Sanbu. ’If I don’t secure my status today,’ she thought desperately, ’by the time Gu Dashishi comes back, he’ll have forgotten all about our connection.’

Gu Sanbu said, "What do you think you’re doing?"

He then gestured to a few of the nearby women. "Help her up. What is the meaning of this?"

"Ancient Clan Leader, I beg you to seek justice for me! Brother Dash clearly told me he would take me as an equal wife. I don’t know why he suddenly left.

His leaving like this is a death sentence for me! How can I possibly go on?"

"So what is it you want?" someone shouted from the crowd. There are always people who love a good spectacle and don’t mind stirring the pot.

"Madam," Gu Kaishan said, stepping forward with a grin, "if that’s what you’re claiming, then it’s pure nonsense."

Seeing she was about to argue, Gu Kaishan held up a hand to stop her. "Let me finish first.

I’m afraid you weren’t aware of our clan rules when you said that. A man may only take a concubine if he is forty and still has no sons. And there is no such thing as an ’equal wife’ in the Gu Family.

Anyone who violates this rule will be expelled from the clan, and all his property will go to his legitimate wife and legitimate son."

"Impossible! Why didn’t Brother Dash ever tell me that?" Shi Lingjiao’s eyes widened. She was sure Gu Kaishan was just making this up to trick her.

Gu Kaishan gestured to the surrounding villagers from Gaoling Village. "There are plenty of people here. Go on, ask anyone. The entire village wouldn’t lie to you, would they?"

He Meili steadied Gu Lingjiao, who looked as if she might collapse. "Mother, don’t listen to their nonsense!" she shouted recklessly. "Uncle Gu would never lie to us!"

But Li Cuicui leaned in toward the mother and daughter with a smile. "Actually, I’d be thrilled if Gu Dashishi broke that clan rule. To be honest, I’ve been sick of that man for a long time. If you’ve got what it takes, go ahead and take him off my hands. I could use the peace and quiet."

Her son and grandson were grown now, and after everything that had happened, she had a new perspective. Her confidence no longer came from Gu Dashishi.

As for Gu Dashishi, if he were to leave this family, what would he even have left?

"This is all your fault," Shi Lingjiao hissed, clutching her chest and glaring at Li Cuicui. ’Two years of effort,’ she thought, ’all ruined.’

"...Alright, that’s enough. Everyone go home," Gu Sanbu said. "He Shi Family, you two should hurry back to your village as well." He was reminding her that she was still a widow of the He Family.

Watching the crowd disperse, Shi Lingjiao bit her lower lip fiercely. ’Since I can’t be an equal wife or a concubine,’ she vowed, ’then I’ll just have to be the official wife.’