Chapter 1698: Chapter 1698: Two Laborers

Master Qi explained the dangers of staying in the prefecture to them.

The second housekeeper from Boss An’s family also came to remind them: "Manager Gu and Manager Gu’s wife, our boss also asked the old servant to remind you of this matter."

He further explained, "The officials from the three departments and one temple came to collect shop taxes, and the first house they would go to is the An Family. Our master is busy with calculating the taxes with the officials and couldn’t come over. Hope Manager Gu and his wife won’t mind."

As he spoke, he handed over a box: "This is a gift for Manager Gu’s family; the congratulatory gift for Company Commander Qin and Little Boss Gu will be sent to Da Feng Village later."

Mrs. Chen immediately took the box, opened it, and her eyes gleamed with the color of gold: "Boss An is too polite. I’m almost part of the family as a grand aunt, yet I wear such fine golden headpieces. Truly a waste."

Send more!

"It’s necessary." The second housekeeper from the An Family replied with a respectful smile, then stepped aside, waiting for several families to finish talking. They would all leave together through the back door to avoid being seen by the people at Gu’s Workshop.

Boss Hu also came to remind Gu Dagui and his wife to go home and avoid the limelight for now. Seeing someone had already mentioned it, he was relieved, knowing Mrs. Chen enjoyed good food, he gave her some wine and dishes from Futai Building as a gift.

Mrs. Chen seemed a bit disdainful but thought of all the times she went to Futai Building to eat for free and exploited their hospitality, so she happily accepted and added, "Boss Hu, when I pass by the Futai Building in the county, I’ll pick up some stew for myself."

Gu Dagui blushed and scolded Mrs. Chen: "You, woman, never get enough of taking advantage, do you."

Asking for stew, aren’t you ashamed.

Boss Hu had long resigned to it, nodding: "It’s just a few pots of broth, if you want them, help yourself, the shopkeeper will surely arrange it properly."

"Boss Hu is truly generous." Mrs. Chen was delighted, turning to the people of the Ji Family: "Housekeeper Ji, you’re here too."

Brought gifts, hurry up, we’re in a rush to go back.

Housekeeper Ji smiled and said: "Greetings to Manager Gu and Madam Gu, congratulations to both of you..."

After offering well wishes, he finally handed over a gift list, saying: "Thanks to the Gu Family, Linhe Prefecture avoided the calamity from the poisonous insect disease."

The Ji Family also gained a reputation from this, so after it spread that Qin San Lang made great achievements and the Gu Family was praised and rewarded by the Emperor, Housekeeper Ji immediately packed up two carts of congratulatory gifts for Mr. and Mrs. Chen.

Initially, three carts were intended, but Housekeeper Ji thought that with the great merits of Qin San Lang and the Gu’s commendation by the Emperor, the Old Master of the family might personally establish connections, so they removed one cart. Too many gifts would make them seem overly eager to curry favor with both the Qin and Gu families.

"So much!" Mrs. Chen exclaimed upon seeing the Ji Family’s gift list, then quickly closed her mouth, smiled and said: "The Ji Family is too polite, we were all fighting the Rong people together in the Northwest, there’s no need for such courtesy."

The polite words were spoken dryly, her eyes drifted towards the back door, eager to see those two carts of gifts.

Master Qi looked at Gu Dagui and said, "Brother Dagui, you should set off now; the people blocking you outside are increasing. If you delay, you might not be able to leave at all."

Gu Dagui said, "Master Qi is right, my wife and I will just instruct the employees and then leave."

Master Qi said, "Then go ahead, we’ll leave together through the back door once you’re done, to avoid being seen by people if you keep opening the door."

"Sure." Gu Dagui nodded and went to find Ah Feng and Ah Ling to give instructions.

After more than two quarters of an hour of busying themselves, they returned to the guest hall and said to the others, "I’ve given all the instructions, let’s leave together."

"Alright." Master Qi quickly got up, with a smile on his face that suggested he was about to succeed.

Mrs. Chen noticed something was wrong; this loading seemed to be another attempt to exploit the Gu Family!

Sure enough, when they reached the back door, Master Qi’s sons Qi Yun and Qi He were there, standing by a carriage. Seeing Mrs. Chen and her party approach, they hurriedly saluted: "Greetings Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu."

Mrs. Chen asked: "Why are you here?"

There was no need to ask; they must have heard of San Lang and Xiao Yu’s achievements and the Emperor’s praise, and were sent by the Qi family to curry favor with Brother An in the village.

Mrs. Chen guessed correctly, as that was precisely Master Qi’s intention: "These two aren’t proficient in their studies; I’d like them to follow Brother Dagui and Sister-in-law back to Da Feng Village to ask Brother An for guidance in academics."

"Guidance? That would require payment." Mrs. Chen was forthright, immediately asking for money, and doubly so: "Both my husband and I would have to provide for their food, lodging, and daily insect attractant, these all cost silver."

Good Brother An had set the rule that the Gu family would not accommodate scholars overnight. Anyone visiting for academic discussions had to leave the same day; if not, they would be sent to the town residence, as the family home was for family only, outsiders wouldn’t stay overnight... except for the Ouyang Family people.

Even bringing Qi Yun and Qi He to the village might annoy Good Brother An, so she dared not let them stay at his house.

Master Qi immediately handed over a bag to Mrs. Chen: "For the trouble, dear sister-in-law, this is a token of appreciation."

Mrs. Chen didn’t hold back, opening the bag on the spot to see how much silver was inside. Seeing three one hundred tael silver notes, she smiled, looked at Qi Yun and Qi He, and said: "These two dear nephews are so considerate, knowing it’s almost time to harvest the winter wheat, ready to return with aunt to do farm work, really understanding!"

Calling out to Qi Yun and Qi He: "Hurry up and get on the carriage, let’s go."

Qi Yun and Qi He felt like dying, hearing Mrs. Chen’s implication that they were expected to return to the village for farm work?

The two looked at Master Qi, pleading with their eyes: Dad, save us, don’t send us to the countryside. If we go, with Mrs. Chen’s tendency, she’ll definitely drive us to do farm work, we’ll be worked to death.

Master Qi glared at them, scolding: "Are you deaf? Hurry up and get on the carriage, don’t delay Uncle and Aunt Gu’s return to the village."

These ignorant kids, did they not realize how powerful the Gu family had become? Just with the Emperor’s commendation, and the close relationship between Mr. Ouyang Hu and Gu Jin’an, they should have been eager to curry favor with Gu Jin’an, thereby using Gu Jin’an’s network to associate with the Ouyang Family. This way, their Qi Family would have significant support in the Capital.

The two had no choice but to resign themselves and get on the carriage.

However, Master Qi gave them two money bags before they left, each containing silver notes worth over a thousand taels for their use in the countryside.

Mrs. Chen was greedy, but as long as she got silver, they could expect a life with enough meat in their meals at her place.

"Manager, we can go now." Ah Ling had already driven the mule cart over, with Mr. and Mrs. Chen’s luggage already in the cart, prepared to take them back before returning to the prefecture.

"Alright." Gu Dagui responded, instructing Ah Feng: "You’ve always been responsible, make sure to oversee the workshop properly, don’t let any mistakes happen."

"Yes." Ah Feng opened the back door, seeing them off.

Once they left, Ah Feng shut the back door.

But the back door had long been watched, seeing so many vehicles coming out, the crowd at the alleyway was in chaos, shouting: "Mr. and Mrs. Chen are here, everyone come quickly!"

Each carried congratulatory gifts and dashed in their direction.

Ah Ling was skilled, quickly steering the mule cart to escape through the alley: "Go back, there’s a small alley here, take it, and after running for a little more than a quarter-hour, you can reach the main street."

The vehicles sending gifts from the Ji Family quickly followed along.

Master Qi, Boss Hu, the second housekeeper from the An Family, and Manager Xu from the Xu Family did not leave, they let the mule cart block the alley, obstructing the others’ path.

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