Chapter 1023: Changing the Candidate

However, Gu Dashan and the others were still here. Elder Xu tolerated his anger and continued to host them, even mentioning Gu Jin’an’s marriage proposal, "The boy is growing up; he should marry early. Traveling outside is dangerous; if you encounter bandits, it would be troublesome. It’s best not to go."

Gu Dashan was intimidated by Elder Xu, not knowing how to respond. Fortunately, Qin San Lang arrived quickly and said to Gu Dashan and the others, "Third Grandpa, Uncle Dashan, the mule cart is here. Let’s leave through the back door."

He then clasped his fist towards Elder Xu and said, "Old Master Xu, thank you for your family’s help today. We’ve had a long journey and will take our leave."

Qin San Lang had a notorious reputation; wherever he stood, with his face stern, not even Elder Xu dared to stop him and could only smile, "Then let me escort you."

He stood up and personally saw Gu Dashan and Third Grandpa out of Xu’s Shop, casually inquiring about Gu Jin’an, "Has Brother An returned from the government office after some time?"

Qin San Lang replied simply, "No."

Elder Xu was hitched and could only stop asking, instead smilingly sending off Gu Dashan and the others.

After Gu Dashan left Xu’s Shop, he felt completely at ease, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and breathed a sigh of relief. That Elder Xu was too hospitable, so much so that he was overwhelmed. He spoke so plainly, almost expressing he wanted to marry his granddaughter to Brother An.

Nonetheless, seeing his eldest son so well-liked, Gu Dashan was very happy.

In the past, back home, he often worried Brother An wouldn’t find a wife because he had no silver and was under Old Gu Family’s influence, which meant no good families within ten miles and eight villages would marry their daughters to them.

Now things are better, and his family’s Brother An is promising.

"Uncle Dashan, get in the car. Let’s return to the escort agency. The escort agency has prepared food, so let’s eat first. Once the road clears, we’ll head back to the village," Qin San Lang helped Third Grandpa onto the mule cart and then turned to assist Gu Dashan.

"Eh." Gu Dashan was very happy, feeling that his two sons-in-law were excellent; he returned to the escort agency joyfully, while Elder Xu was furious enough to flip a table.

With a bang, in Xu’s Shop, the table fell, spilling tea and snacks all over the floor. Elder Xu cursed, "Girl Ling dared to say such things; she’s utterly rebellious!"

Earlier, the second brother had briefly told him that the girl Xu Ling had misspoken and angered the Gu Family’s female relatives.

He had thought at the time, what offensive words could a little girl say? He imagined the matter was minor; as long as it was remedied promptly, it would be fine.

But after carefully listening to the second brother’s story, he was eager to slap Xu Ling several times.

"Where is Girl Ling?" Elder Xu asked angrily.

Xu Er replied, "She’s already returned to the mansion."

Seeing his father so angry, he advised, "Father, the matter has already happened; please calm down."

Being angry is useless.

Furthermore, Girl Ling has always been proud and spoiled; she’s feeling aggrieved. If the father reprimands her, Girl Ling will definitely threaten to hang herself before them.

"Calm down? A perfectly good marriage was ruined by her, and she totally offended people. If I don’t teach her a lesson this time, she’ll truly think she’s a lady from a prominent family." Elder Xu was far from calm, and further cursed the eldest with his wife, "It’s all their fault. They’ve stayed in Jiangnan too long, got their heads high, and what have they turned their child into? Each one is bothering the old man. If I don’t discipline that couple, I’m not the Xu surname!"

After Elder Xu finished scolding, he immediately had someone prepare a car to return to the mansion.

Upon returning, he rushed to the ancestral hall and shouted at Xu Er, "Go, have your wife bring Girl Ling here!"

Xu Er shivered nervously; the father intended to enforce family discipline, but Girl Ling is a girl and couldn’t endure the beating.

"Are you deaf? Hurry up. If you keep stalling, I’ll beat you first!"

"Yes, yes, yes, I’ll go, please calm down." Xu Er wiped cold sweat as he ran off but didn’t immediately seek his wife. Instead, he had a servant look for Xu Zhao Ming.

At this time, only Brother Ming could save Girl Ling.

Once the servant departed, Xu Er went to his wife and instructed her to lead people to escort Xu Ling to the ancestral hall.

However, Xu Er instructed, "I’ve already sent someone to find Brother Ming. Take your time."

Too quickly, he feared that by the time Brother Ming arrives, Girl Ling will have been knocked unconscious.

"Eh, got it, don’t worry." Xu Er’s wife was also exhausted. Girl Ling had caused such trouble, and they had to protect her. What was all this?

But Xu Ling was very stubborn. When she heard Elder Xu intended to bring her to the ancestral hall, she said defiantly, "I’ll go, I am not wrong. I’m not afraid to face the ancestors in the ancestral hall."

How bold!

Xu Er’s wife was frustrated, her expression slightly cold, "Then change your clothes, we will leave shortly."

She added, "Remember to wear a few more thick clothes."

Even if Girl Ling wasn’t punished, she had to kneel in the ancestral hall all night. Wearing more clothes would lessen her cold.

Yet Xu Ling was ungrateful, didn’t change her clothes, and rushed out of the courtyard, heading to the ancestral hall. Xu Er’s wife couldn’t catch up with her, so she instructed the maids, "Quick, catch up, don’t let her run so fast!"

Is she running so fast to get beaten?

"Eh." The maids followed, catching up with Xu Ling, but got slapped twice by the cheeky Xu Ling, who cursed, "Dog slaves, dare to block this lady, are you rebelling? Believe it or not, I’ll sell your families!"

The maids, beaten, didn’t dare block Xu Ling and let her run to the ancestral hall.

Luckily, Xu Zhao Ming returned home after leaving the government office, and upon Xu Ling rushing into the ancestral hall, he arrived too, immediately pressing Xu Ling to kneel but did not plead for her, "Grandfather, Sister Ling is ignorant. Punish her."

Girl Ling, just like he used to, looks down on farming families, unaware of talented agricultural family descendants, not as inferior as they assume.

Xu Ling cried, "Brother, do you think I’m wrong? I only wish to marry into a good family, not an agricultural family. What’s wrong with that?"

Stubbornly, she yelled, "I will never marry into the Gu Family, you can give up!"

On hearing this, Elder Xu nearly struck her with rattan but Xu Zhao Ming looked at Xu Ling and said, "You’ve overthought it; Gu Jin’an never showed an interest in you. Besides, it seems the Zheng Family has shown interest in him. Today, Lord County Magistrate reminded him not to rush into an engagement, saying after passing the scholar exam, good proposals will come."

Xu Ling was stunned. Gu Jin’an didn’t fancy her? A muddy boy, how could he reject her?!

Elder Xu was astonished, "Brother Ming, what did you say? Did Lord County Magistrate really say this?"

Xu Zhao Ming nodded, "Yes, that was Lord County Magistrate’s original words, and he said this only to Brother An, presumably because Zheng Family has an interest."

Further persuaded, "Grandfather, it’s better to forget about the engagement with the Gu Family; Zheng Family is a noble family we cannot contend with."

Brother An has no intention towards their family, why force it?

Elder Xu didn’t dare to compete for people with the Zheng Family, but not Gu Jin’an; they could choose another candidate instead.