Chapter 444: The Reason for the Hidden Shame

Gu Yumei was brought back in a mule cart with an injury on her head and her clothes soaked in blood on one side.

Third Grandpa, Third Grandma, Gu Dafu, Gu Dagui, and Mrs. Chen were sitting in the mule cart, watching over Gu Yumei.

Brother Dafu looked deeply worried, while Mrs. Chen and Third Grandma were fuming with anger. Third Grandpa’s face was gloomy. Throughout the ride back, several times, he had wanted to throw Gu Yumei out of the mule cart; this child was just too troublesome!

The mule cart stopped in front of Gu Dafu’s family’s courtyard gate. Third Grandpa got off first and said to Gu Dafu, "Let’s get Sister Mei inside first... We can’t let her have her way with the marriage with Wan Family. Being just a young girl, she doesn’t understand these matters. If she marries into a family like Wan Family, she’ll suffer for a lifetime. When she wakes up, you need to talk to her properly. While Wan Family is still at fault, quickly call off the marriage."

Gu Dafu nodded: "Uncle can rest assured, my family will definitely call off the marriage with Wan Family... but we’ll need to wait some time to avoid Mei doing something foolish again."

Third Grandpa, too, felt weary. Hearing this, he grunted a response and said no more, standing with his hands clasped at the back outside Gu Dafu’s family home, unwilling to go inside and wait.

Brother Dafu could only stand outside the gate to accompany him.

Third Grandma and Mrs. Chen had already carried Gu Yumei back to her room and started to change her blood-stained clothes. After bustling around for 30 minutes, Third Grandma finally came out.

Third Grandpa said to Gu Dafu, "You brothers can go back. I will be returning home with the old lady... If there’s anything, come inform us at home."

Ultimately, Third Grandpa was still considerate of the kinship ties. He left them with these words before departing.

When Third Grandpa and the others were heading home, Gu Jinli was still busy in the new workshop.

She divided the five-entry mansion of the Lu Family into three parts: the first two entries were used for tofu and spice workshops.

The third entry was made into living quarters for the servants. Now, the families of Wang Yongfu, Old Zhu, and Mu Tong, among others, occupied the five small courtyards of the third entry, each courtyard forming its own household. Everyone had ample and convenient space to live in.

The fourth and fifth entries were used for the pharmaceutical workshop. Once Master Yuan had finished building the third shop in town, Gu Jinli would have them create a large back door for the mansion to serve as the main entrance for the pharmaceutical workshop. From then on, all deliveries for the workshop would go through the new back door.

Mu Tong, looking at the mansion, was very satisfied and said, "This mansion isn’t bad at all, the rooms are bigger than those in town, more than enough for making medicines, and there’s still plenty of space left."

In the countryside, there’s no lack of land, so houses are generally built larger than those in town.

Gu Jinli said, "Uncle Mu Tong, since you’re skilled in medical practices, herbs, and administration, I’ll leave the management of the pharmaceutical workshop to you. Take a few days to look around the estate and plan the arrangement of these courtyards and rooms. Once you’ve organized your plan, write it down for me to review."

"Ey, Young Master, don’t worry. In two days at most, I’ll get this sorted out for you." These administrative tasks were tedious, but Mu Tong was used to them from Xuanhu Fang, and he didn’t find them bothersome at all.

Gu Jinli nodded and then said, "Mai Dong and San Qi, here is a prescription for making mosquito incense. Take it and buy the necessary herbs from Xuanhu Fang tomorrow."

"Da Kou and Jingzi, once the herbs are bought, I will teach you how to make mosquito incense. This August, you will focus on making mosquito incense."

"Uncle Xiao Liu, you’re also knowledgeable in medical practices. In some time, I will make two kinds of Convenient Medicine, one for treating colds and one for coughs, and I’ll need your help then."

Despite Han Liu’s burly and unsophisticated appearance, he was not as adept at administration as Mu Tong, nor as clever, but having been with Doctor Wu the longest, he not only had excellent skills in preparing herbs but also knew medical practice and how to handle medicinal materials.

Han Liu said, "Young Master, whatever you need me to do, just order me."

He also asked, "Young Master, that scar removal ointment is a good thing, aren’t we making it anymore?"

Gu Jinli smiled and replied, "Since it’s a good product, we will certainly continue to make it. Uncle Xiao Liu, are you interested?"

Han Liu sincerely nodded: "When I first heard about it, I wanted to ask Young Master, but it’s the Young Master’s secret recipe, so I shouldn’t inquire too much, that’s why I held back."

Now that he has become a servant of the Young Master, with the indenture in the Young Master’s hands, he naturally doesn’t have this concern anymore.

"I was thinking, how about, before making Convenient Medicine for the Young Master, I learn to make the scar removal ointment, so we can produce more to sell and also earn a good sum, what does Young Master think?" Han Liu asked.

Gu Jinli said: "Sure, Aunt Wu sent over a batch of herbs of which half are still unused, Uncle Xiao Liu, you can use them to make the scar removal ointment. I will teach you tomorrow."

"Ah, thanks for giving me work, Young Master," Han Liu smiled and said.

Gu Jinli smiled, pointing to the third courtyard, and said: "Uncle Mu Tong, Uncle Xiao Liu, how would you like to still live together in one courtyard?"

When they were at Xuanhu Fang, Mu Tong and Han Liu used to live in the same courtyard.

"That would be great, just like before, we’ll also get used to it quicker," Mu Tong smiled and said.

Mu Tong and Han Liu shared one courtyard, Mai Dong, San Qi, and Ye Dakou lived in another courtyard, and since Ye Jingzi is a young lady, she lived alone in a separate courtyard.

However, Doctor Wu said that he will send her more people after a while, and among those people, there should be women who can then be assigned to stay with Ye Jingzi.

"There’s a large kitchen in the third courtyard for you all to use. From now on, you’ll need to prepare your own meals, I’ll give you some Silver Coin every month for you to buy vegetables and food supplies."

"As for your monthly salary, it will be the same as when you were at Xuanhu Fang, but..." she blinked and smiled: "If you do well, I’ll raise your monthly salary once a year."

Mu Tong smiled and said: "Then we thank the Young Master in advance."

Mrs. Cui had already brought their grain to the large kitchen, and when she saw them, she said: "I’ve brought you the grains and greens, along with a basket of dried tofu and fried tofu, a basket of vegetarian stew, a basket of meat stew, and a roast duck. Don’t skimp, enjoy a good meal tonight."

After hearing this, the six Mu Tong people gave Mrs. Cui their thanks: "Thank you, Dong Family’s Madam."

Mrs. Cui smiled and nodded her head, then turned to Gu Jinli and said: "Xiao Yu, I’m going to the front to tally today’s spices with Mrs. He Yang, after you’re done here you should head home. Before you leave, remember to give some Silver to Uncle Mu Tong and them, let them buy some household goods needed for their daily lives."

Gu Jinli responded: "Eh, I know, Mom, I won’t forget."

After staying for a short while in the third courtyard, Gu Jinli went to help in the spice workshop.

At dusk, she went back home with Gu Jin’an and Mrs. Cui.

As there weren’t enough mule carts, Gu Dashan and some other men had walked back and were currently on their way to greet them.

Upon seeing Gu Dashan, Gu Jinli asked: "Dad, how is the matter with the Wan Family going?"

Gu Dashan sighed: "Not too well. Let’s get home first and discuss it there."

After getting home, Gu Dashan explained the situation to them.

Gu Jinli narrowed her eyes: "Gu Yumei would rather hit the wall than call off the engagement; did she and Wan Lifang... already cook the rice?"

If there wasn’t some scandalous reason, would Gu Yumei go as far as hitting the wall to help the Wan Family?