Chapter 280: Becoming a Landlady

"Brother San Lang." A few little kids lined up and called out to Qin San Lang.

Qin Er Lang looked at them, snorted in dissatisfaction, and complained internally. While people usually rest and relax, San Lang was taking these little kids to catch fish.

Brother Cheng and the others were somewhat afraid of Qin Er Lang, and seeing his cold face, they all bowed their heads and didn’t dare to speak.

Qin San Lang took out a pack of caramel, handed it to Brother Cheng, and said with a smile, "I bought these for you guys. Go ahead and share them."

"Candy, it’s candy, thank you, Brother San Lang." The little ones immediately lit up with joy and shared the caramel.

Qin Er Lang watched Gu Dewang and Gu Defa eating messily to the point of drooling everywhere, his face twisting in disgust at the boorish group, yet San Lang spent every day with them.

Unable to stand it, Qin Er Lang turned and walked away.

Qin San Lang did not mind Qin Er Lang, and called out to the kids, "Let’s go, let’s go catch some fish."

He carried a wooden bucket and led the little ones out of his yard, running into Gu Jin’an who had just arrived.

"San Lang, when will you be returning to the Military Office?" asked Gu Jin’an.

Qin San Lang answered, "We’ll return in the evening."

Gu Jin’an smiled and said, "Then I’ll head to school first and come back in the afternoon to join you for a meal."

The Qin Brothers and Brother Luo Wu had secured positions at the Military Office and county government, which was a cause for celebration. The families had decided to have a meal together at the Luo Family’s house this afternoon to celebrate.

Gu Jin’an noticed Gu Dewang and asked him, "Why aren’t you going to school?"

Holding his head high, Gu Dewang said proudly, "My mother said that now Brother San Lang and the others are officials, we must ingratiate ourselves with them. She asked me and Brother Dexing to take a leave yesterday, saying we should keep good company with Brother San Lang and the others, to foster relations for future favors."

Gu Jin’an’s expression became slightly wry, sighing inwardly that indeed that was something Mrs. Chen could orchestrate.

He corrected Gu Dewang, "San Lang and the others are just working at the Military Office and county government, they are not officials. Don’t spread rumors outside; it could bring them trouble."

Frightened, Gu Dewang quickly nodded and promised, "I won’t say it; I was just feeling a bit proud inside."

Gu Jin’an felt helpless, gave a few instructions to Brother Cheng to be careful, and then turned to help at the workshop.

Excited about the Qin Brothers returning home, several families got up early to prepare, setting up their stalls earlier than usual just to finish earlier and have a meal with San Lang and the others.

After noon, several families started to gather at the Luo Family’s house.

Seeing Gu Jinxiu come to help cook, Luo Wu was overjoyed and presented her with a piece of one-foot-long brocade he had bought at a cloth shop in the county town. "The county government issued the pay evenly. Although I joined later, County Captain Jiang also issued me my pay. I bought this with the pay. Since you like embroidering, you can use this brocade to make a pouch or a handkerchief."

Gu Jinxiu looked at the brocade, shook her head, and didn’t accept it. "Brother Luo Wu, it’s too valuable, I can’t accept it. This thing is costly."

A foot of brocade could cost at least two hundred copper coins.

Luo Wu became anxious when she refused and reassured, "Don’t worry about wasting the money. It’s not that expensive, just keep it."

"Brother Luo Wu, have you heard about what happened with Huiniang?" Gu Jinli suddenly burst out, heartily annoyed, thinking, ’My sister isn’t even engaged to you, what do you mean by giving her a piece of brocade?’

Luo Wu frowned and asked, "What happened to Huiniang?"

That girl seemed fine. She was excited to see him return home this morning and continuously asked him what delicious food he bought for her. She even gladly ate two of the salted meat pastries he brought back.

Gu Jinli told Luo Wu about the incident with Wenhao and Village Chief Sun.

After hearing it, Luo Wu’s expression darkened. He put away the brocade and went to find Father Luo and Ms. Chu to inquire about the incident.

Knowing that Hui Niang didn’t suffer any losses, her mood lightened a bit and she said to Luo Huiniang: "You silly girl, don’t be so kind in the future, stay away from strangers."

Luo Huiniang felt wronged and retorted: "He bumped into me himself, what does that have to do with me?"

"After returning to the county, I will look into that Wenhao," Luo Wu added, and asked about Village Chief Sun, relaxing upon learning that Village Chief Sun did not have any significant backing.

Qin San Lang and the others had already caught fish and were grilling them in the Luo Family’s courtyard. Hearing this, Qin San Lang asked Gu Jinli: "What do you plan to do about that Village Chief Sun? Do you need my help?"

"Don’t worry, Big Brother has already thought of a way to deal with Village Chief Sun. In a few days, Village Chief Sun will be done for," Gu Jinli shared what Gu Jin’an was planning with Qin San Lang.

Qin San Lang’s eyes lit up, praising: "Brother An is really capable."

How did he come up with such a strategy?

Does he realize what a great merit this is?

It’s just a shame that, with Brother An’s background and lacking an official position, such a great merit won’t fall upon him.

Qin San Lang felt pity for a while and then said to Gu Jinli: "In the future, if anything happens at home, you must tell me."

Last night I asked if there were any issues at home, and she said all was well, yet now suddenly there’s a Village Chief Sun.

He knew she didn’t want to worry him, but hiding things made him even more concerned.

"We escaped the famine together, we share a bond of life and death, shared prosperity, and shared loss. Whatever happens, let’s lay it out open, don’t hide it."

Gu Jinli nodded: "Okay, I will tell you everything from now on."

She handed him the sauce she had prepared.

Qin San Lang took it, spread it on the grilled fish, and asked about her aunt’s family.

Gu Jinli responded: "My aunt’s family is doing well, my cousins’ injuries are healing well too, no worsening. In a few days, I plan to make a new dish for them to sell in their shop."

Speaking of this, she told Qin San Lang: "I bought land in town, now I’m a landlady with fifteen acres."

She said, teasingly raising her eyebrows, with a smug look.

Qin San Lang laughed: "Do you like buying land?"

Gu Jinli nodded firmly: "I love it, I love buying land most. Once I have the land, it will continuously generate silver coins for me, and then I can live my days counting money."

What is land?

It’s even better than gold!

Speaking of buying land, Jinli’s eyes sparkled; she was virtually drooling. As a modern person, who could know how much she loved buying land?

"Buying land, lots of it, that’s my dream."

Qin San Lang laughed hearing this: "Good, then buy lots of land, become a little landlady."

Since she liked buying land, he would keep an eye out for her, and if someone was selling land in the future, he would let her know first so she could buy it... and if she didn’t have the money, he could help her buy first.

"The fish is ready, Brother San Lang," Brother Cheng called from the side, pointing to the grilled fish on the iron plate.

Qin San Lang quickly used the spatula to scoop the grilled fish into a plate and handed it to Gu Jinli: "You guys eat first, we caught a lot of fish today, plenty to eat."

Gu Jinli happily took it and called out to Brother Cheng and the others: "Come on, let’s go eat grilled fish."