Chapter 1335: All Locked Up

...

Manager Feng was audacious enough to have Chai Sanfu poison the workers and servants who were dining at the same table during the wedding of San Lang and Xiao Yu, nearly poisoning the entire table to death.

That wasn’t all. In the afternoon of the same day, a group of people arrived at the village entrance, including an old woman and a middle-aged man who claimed to be Chai Sanfu’s mother and elder brother, a steward in a long gown, and four officers in government uniforms, saying that Chai Sanfu’s mother couldn’t find her son and had reported it to the authorities in Hukang County. They were there to investigate.

On such a joyous day, how could Gu Jin’an let them investigate?

He took Luo Wu and some escort agency guards, drove two mule carts to fetch these people, happily inviting them into the village. But before they could get on the cart, they were knocked out by Luo Wu and his men, stuffed into the mule carts, and taken back to the workshop residence, where they were locked up from yesterday until now.

After these people were detained, Gu Jin’an returned home, personally inviting Manager Feng, who was drinking at the wedding, with a cautious smile, saying, "Manager Feng, there’s a small issue at the workshop residence. Please come with me, and let’s discuss it to resolve the matter. Rest assured, the Gu Family will not treat you unfairly. Please give us some face and don’t make a fuss."

Hearing this, Manager Feng thought Chai Sanfu had succeeded and immediately became smug, looking at Gu Jin’an and saying, "First Place Gu, I’ve watched you grow up. Though you’ve become accomplished now, you still have to call me uncle. Don’t worry, as long as it’s not a big deal, Uncle will take care of it for you."

However, this matter concerned the entire livelihood of the Gu Family, an industry worth millions. He would not show mercy.

But...

Manager Feng sized up Gu Jin’an and asked, "I heard that First Place Gu wants to become a scholar before considering marriage?"

Gu Jin’an wanted to curse at that moment. What, are you interested in me? Too bad, I won’t marry a Feng family girl.

However, he maintained a smile and nodded, even feigning a bit of shyness, saying, "Yes, I was thinking I should establish a career first before settling down, having a respectable title would make marriage proposals easier."

Manager Feng laughed heartily, "That’s right, that’s right. A man should establish a career before settling down. Don’t worry about finding a wife. We Fengs have two daughters at home. Once you pass the scholar exams, come over to the Feng house and meet them."

But both were concubines’ daughters, daughters of concubines, and they wanted to marry someone with a prestigious title, yet with such a condescending tone, it was utterly disgusting.

Gu Jin’an listened, shaking his head internally at Manager Feng’s self-satisfied expression... How did his family ever do business with someone like Manager Feng?

Oh, it was Liang Zhuzi who introduced them. Looking back now, Liang Zhuzi’s judgment was really poor.

However, it’s also because Manager Feng hid his intentions deep, biding his time for years before revealing his desire to seize their family’s industry.

In fact, it wasn’t the first time Manager Feng tried to usurp the Gu family’s business. He had attempted it four years prior. The incident where Liang Zhuzi’s wife’s cousin, Chang Kang, from Hukang County came to demand goods was instigated by Manager Feng, who sent people to provoke Chang Kang’s mother and son.

Manager Feng intended to use this incident to test the Gu family’s limits. If the Gu family compromised due to the disturbance caused by Liang Zhuzi’s wife’s relatives, he wouldn’t be afraid and could boldly deal with the Gu family.

But Gu Jinli, that fierce girl, was too ruthless. She had people throw Chang Kang out of the house and beat him up, even threatening to revoke Lianghe Village’s right to take and sell goods.

Liang Zhuzi was scared to death, begging for mercy, almost resulting in a divorce. In the end, he used his own silver to appease Aunt Chang’s family, setting their business in Hukang County back quite a bit, which is why the Gu family continued to sell goods to Lianghe Village people.

Seeing the Gu family acting so decisively and knowing they had a penchant for reporting to the authorities, Manager Feng dared not make a move easily again. He waited for the opportunity, and when he finally heard the news of Gu Jinli getting married and going to the Northwest with Company Commander Qin, he was overjoyed, almost jumping with joy.

With the two ruthless people of Gu’s Workshop leaving, it was as if God was helping him.

He thought that during the chaos of Gu Jinli and Qin Sanlang’s wedding and their departure to the Northwest for a likely doomed journey, the Gu family would be too busy, and he could seize their business amidst the confusion. Fearing to ruin a joyful day, the Gu family would surely quickly compromise.

The more Manager Feng thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Upon learning of Gu Jinli’s impending marriage, he began to plan, even securing a powerful backer to assist him, convinced that he could at least seize half of the Gu family’s industry this time!

Thus, when Gu Jin’an came to invite him, Manager Feng’s confidence was sky-high. Yet, being cautious, he said, "Since Chai Sanfu was eating with Manager Lin’s invited guests, let’s call Manager Lin too."

Gu Jin’an chuckled at that moment, nodding, "Uncle Feng, you’re right, I’ll go invite Manager Lin now."

Manager Lin, grateful for the Gu family’s support, quickly followed Gu Jin’an out without asking much and walked with them towards the workshop residence.

Seeing Manager Feng’s commanding attitude towards Gu Jin’an, he frowned, speaking up, "Manager Feng, although Brother An is the younger generation, he has become accomplished, and is now a scholar."

A mere merchant barking orders at a Jianghuai Small Three-Yuan Scholar as if he were a grandson, are you insane? You might want to die, but I don’t!

Hearing this, Gu Jin’an was not too disappointed and hurriedly said to Manager Lin, "Uncle Lin, it’s alright. I’m the younger one. Uncle Feng is teaching me how to conduct myself, and I should feel grateful."

Upon hearing this, Manager Feng grew even more smug, snorting, he said to Manager Lin, "Old Lin, you heard what he said. What dissatisfaction do you still have?"

Humph, Lin, once I acquire the Gu family’s business, my next step is to swallow your restaurant. The Feng family will become like the Dou family, a Great Chu Imperial Merchant!

He then shouted to Gu Jin’an, "Brother An, the road in your village is terrible. When it snows, it’s filthy. Your family has made so much money, and you’re a First Place Scholar, yet you don’t think of spending money to build a good road for the village."

Just as he was feeling proud, Gu Jin’an knocked him unconscious with a hand chop.

Gu Jin’an didn’t want to knock Manager Feng out so soon, but Feng was too much of a hassle, even causing trouble when he was being compliant. So, he couldn’t blame Gu Jin’an for taking early action.

Luo Wu hurried over, and with Gu Jin’an, they supported Manager Feng, telling the stunned Manager Lin, "Manager Feng got drunk, we’ll help him rest at the workshop residence."

Manager Lin was so shocked that it took a moment to regain his composure upon hearing this, hurriedly saying, "Yes, yes, yes, Manager Feng got too happy and drunk, we’ll take him to rest at the workshop residence."

Seeing how frightened Manager Lin was, Gu Jin’an reassured him, "Uncle Lin, don’t worry, this matter doesn’t concern you. Our family won’t trouble you. But you might have to stay at the workshop for a couple of days."

Saying this, he quickly explained to Manager Lin what happened at the workshop residence when no one was around.

"Fortunately, no one died, Doctor Wu and the others saved them," Gu Jin’an said.

Manager Lin patted his chest, relieved, saying, "Thank God, it’s good no one died."

He then cursed, "How dare Manager Feng do such a thing? This is a matter of life and death! And his Changfeng Building thrives solely on the dishes and spices provided by the Gu family. He is utterly ungrateful!"