Chapter 1336: The Person Behind

Even something as valuable as ham, they were given ten plates every month to take to the restaurant to attract customers.

The ham is too expensive, they couldn’t afford a whole one, but the Gu Family valued their friendship and spared them ten plates, which made their restaurant even more famous.

Gu Jin’an said, "That’s right, Manager Feng’s conscience has been eaten by dogs."

After saying this, he called to Manager Lin and, with Luo Wu, carried Manager Feng away to the workshop estate.

There were many people at the workshop estate, all villagers from nearby villages who came to drink wedding wine. Seeing Manager Feng passed out, they only thought he was drunk and didn’t think much of it.

After greeting the villagers, Gu Jin’an smoothly took Manager Feng into a woodshed at the workshop estate and locked him up.

They’ve been locked up until today.

...

Brother Cheng, being dragged by his elder brother, looked up and asked, "Big brother, do I have to go too?"

Gu Jin’an nodded, "Yes, your second sister and Brother San Lang are going to the Northwest, and many people want to take the opportunity to stir up trouble. Manager Feng has already put his neck under our knife like a chicken; it would be a waste not to slaughter him to make an example."

Brother Cheng shivered a little and said, "Big brother is really scary."

Using Manager Feng like a chicken to be slaughtered.

Gu Jin’an glared at Brother Cheng, saying, "You must toughen up too. When big brother goes to the examinations, you’ll have to hold up the fort."

Brother Cheng wanted to cry. He was the youngest son and should be pampered, but big brother wanted him to run the household!

"Also, your father and mother need to stand up too. They must learn some methods; otherwise, if I’m not around and you can’t handle it, this family fortune might not be preserved." Gu Jin’an said, then turned to Mrs. Cui, "Mother, come here. Your son has something to discuss with you."

Mrs. Cui, upon hearing, glanced at the red silk ribbon hanging on the door before catching up with Gu Jin’an to ask, "Good Brother An, what’s the matter?"

Gu Jin’an explained what Manager Feng had done. "Take Aunt Miao, and call for Big Sister and Sister Li. You all come with me to the workshop estate; you don’t need to do anything, just listen in the next room."

He added, "Mother, I know you’re timid, but the family can’t always rely on Xiao Yu and San Lang; we must stand up."

Mrs. Cui, just hearing about this, was bewildered. Coming to her senses, she said, "Mother listens to you, and I’ll follow you to the workshop estate later."

Gu Jin’an nodded and smiled, "Mother, go get Father. I’ll take Brother Cheng to change clothes, and once we’re done, we’ll head to the workshop estate."

"Okay." Mrs. Cui responded, standing bewilderedly for a moment before rushing to call Gu Dashan and Gu Jinxiu.

Gu Dashan knew about Manager Feng’s matter since yesterday, and Gu Jinxiu had also been informed by Luo Wu.

Gu Jin’an told Luo Wu that the eldest sister shouldn’t be overly protected, nor should anything be hidden from her. She should be informed to understand the severity of matters.

Luo Wu, having learned enough from Master Xia’s lessons, took Gu Jin’an’s advice. Yesterday, he found an opportunity to tell Gu Jinxiu about it.

Although Gu Jinxiu was scared, she was glad Luo Wu told her about these matters, saying to Luo Wu, "I’m not afraid, thank you, Brother Luo Wu, for telling me this."

After some thought, she added, "In the future, whatever happens, just tell me straight away, don’t hide it. If too many things are hidden, I’ll overthink and be scared."

Luo Wu was stunned, wishing he could slap himself twice, and, summoning courage, hugged her, promising, "Yes, in the future, I’ll tell you everything. We won’t guess anymore."

That’s exactly what Gu Jin’an wanted. Luo Wu and his eldest sister were both introverted, and for their good and the good of the whole family, he had to make them change this reticent nature.

Ah, being the eldest son is so painful; in the next life, he wanted to be the youngest son!

After a bit more than a quarter of an hour, the Gu Family gathered in the front courtyard guest hall and headed to the workshop estate.

Luo Wu was waiting for them at the workshop estate. Seeing them arrive, he glanced at Gu Jinxiu, handed her a sheepskin water bag filled with hot water, and then led the Gu Family into the workshop.

"Aunt Dashan, you, Third Grandma, and Sister Xiu will stay in this room; after it’s over, we’ll come back to pick you up." Luo Wu, following Gu Jin’an’s instructions, specially found this room for Mrs. Cui and the others.

Mrs. Cui nodded, "Alright, we know, you all go ahead, don’t worry about us, we’re not afraid."

She was a bit worried about Brother Cheng, who would only turn nine next month, but Good Brother An wanted to take him along to interrogate Manager Feng.

"Mother, don’t worry. I’ve grown up, become strong, not afraid at all." Brother Cheng, seeing Mrs. Cui’s concern, comforted her with a word before being taken away by Gu Jin’an.

With a bang, the door of the side room was shut.

A moment later, Manager Feng and the others were brought to the next room.

Manager Feng yelled at Gu Jin’an as soon as he saw him, "Gu Jin’an, you little bastard! How dare you lock me up? You’ve violated the Great Chu Criminal Law; I’m going to report you!"

Gu Jin’an smiled, "Go ahead, see who will die, you or me? Talking to me about the Great Chu Criminal Law, you must have had it too good these past years; your brain’s got clogged with fat."

He coldly sneered, "You’re a mere merchant, an unknown small trader. I am the second Small Three-Yuan Scholar in Jianghuai, a Scholar with court credentials, and a guest of the Magistrates of Linhe and He’an. When framed by you, what’s wrong with locking you up for a few days? Feng, let me tell you, not only can I lock you up, I can also beat you up, and even if I beat you to death, I can ask Master Ouyang for a pardon."

He leaned down, staring at Manager Feng, his smile more chilling than the ice and snow outside, "Your life, I can easily snuff out without spending a single cent!"

This is why everyone is desperate to obtain an official position; the difference it makes in difficult situations is immense between having and not having one.

Gu Jin’an was not just talking; he immediately called Qiu Lang, "Hold him down, and start with twenty strikes."

"Yes." Qiu Lang received the order and, together with his men, pinned down Manager Feng and started hitting.

Manager Feng was shocked; he never imagined Gu Jin’an would dare to really hit him. While screaming in pain, he warned, "Gu Jin’an, you’re talking nonsense, it was clearly your family’s feast that was poisoned, killing Chai Sanfu and the others. I’m not wrong! Ah!"

Manager Feng did not know that Chai Sanfu and the others were not dead. The strong poison was secretly replaced by him, and Chai Sanfu only thought it was a sickness-inducing toxin that would get better in half a month. To create the setup, he himself also ate the poisoned food. How could he know Manager Feng was so vicious, even wanting to kill him.

Manager Feng howled a few times before saying again, "Stop, if you beat me to death, you’ll also have to pay for it!"

"Heh, I told you, I can take your life without spending a single cent. If I beat you to death here today, all narratives will go according to me, not only will I be fine, but I can also seize your Feng Family’s assets as a penalty for your crimes." Gu Jin’an leaned with one arm on his leg, eyes cold, looking down at Manager Feng like a beast drinking water, "So, don’t worry about dying; the rest, you don’t have to worry about."

Manager Feng shuddered in fear, "You, you’re a scholar?!"

So cruel, disregarding human life, what kind of scholar is so ruthless?!

Gu Jin’an: "Sitting in the government office, who isn’t a scholar? Who hasn’t tried cases and sentenced people to death? If you think all scholars are soft-hearted, then you’re stupid."

He called to Qiu Lang, "Beat him to death, and it’ll be settled!"

"Yes!" Qiu Lang personally took the stage, using all his strength on Manager Feng.

After just a few strikes, Manager Feng felt the fear of death, screaming, "Stop, stop, you can’t kill me, my relatives are high officials!"

Gu Jin’an laughed, his purpose in putting on this show was to draw out the people behind Manager Feng.