"Brother Gu, is this Gu Daya’s niece and her family?" Village Chief He leaned on a cane, watching Gu Daya’s family. Although they looked emaciated, their deanor differed from that of ordinary farrs. They seed to know the proper etiquette, and their posture was excellent. Every movent... it was as if they were from a wealthy family, especially the two children, who resembled the young master and young miss of a rich family.
Third Grandpa chuckled, "Exactly, it’s Daya’s family. I was just about to take them to visit the village chief’s house, and here you are."
Third Grandpa inford Village Chief He that Gu Daya’s family registration had already been transferred to Da Feng Village.
Normally, to transfer a family registration to Da Feng Village, the village chief must be inford first, but Daya had a letter from the Prefecture Governnt Office, which ant bypassing Village Chief He and directly registering at the county governnt.
It was not their fault, but it might still upset Village Chief He.
Village Chief He, who wanted to make a fortune through the Gu Family, would not mind such things. Hearing this, he waved his hand, "It’s not a big deal. It was arranged by the Prefecture Governnt Office, just follow their procedure."
Gu Jinli saw that Village Chief He was giving them this favor, so he told him about their family buying four old clay houses in the county governnt office, and also handed a bag of silver coins to Village Chief He, "Village Chief, this is the money for those four houses, please take it."
"No need, no need. Those four clay houses are nearly collapsed. You just need to pay for the house deed and land deed at the county office, the village won’t take your silver coins."
Seeing that he refused to accept it, Gu Jinli did not insist. Her family was sowhat poor now, and saving so money was appreciated, "Alright, thank you very much."
"You’re welco, you’re welco." Village Chief He was very pleased; the more the Gu Family was involved with him, the more tofu and spices the He family could get.
"Wow, it’s quite lively, so many people are here." A loud voice rang out at the courtyard gate, and an elderly man with graying hair stood at the entrance of Gu’s Workshop with five or six people.
Gu Jinli looked up and saw that the newcor was an old man. She frowned, wondering who this old man was. She had never seen him before.
Wang Yongfu was quite diligent, standing at the workshop entrance blocking him, "Old Master, please stop, this is a restricted area of the workshop, outsiders are not allowed."
The old man’s expression turned unpleasant upon hearing this, and he looked toward Village Chief He with a slightly cold voice, "Old He, has the village beco prosperous enough that even I, as the village chief, need to be stopped?"
Village Chief He was also stunned when he saw the visitor. Hearing this, he quickly stepped forward to greet him, "It turns out to be Village Chief Sun, my apologies for not welcoming you from afar. What brings you here?"
Village Chief Sun’s position was higher than his; he managed the affairs of six nearby villages. Although he had visited Da Feng Village before, he always went to the Lu Family; he never ca to the side where the He family people lived.
The He family was poor, and there was nothing to gain by visiting. Village Chief Sun wouldn’t waste his effort for no benefit.
"I heard that your village has opened a workshop; it’s a major event for the neighboring villages, I’ve co to see." Village Chief Sun’s heart harbored dissatisfaction. The Gu Family, who had fled famine to co here, not only started a workshop but didn’t even invite him, the village chief, which was utterly outrageous.
Hearing this, Village Chief He’s heart sank; Village Chief Sun was clearly here to cause trouble.
He bowed, putting on a smile for Village Chief Sun, "It’s just a small workshop opening, it doesn’t warrant troubling you, Village Chief Sun."
He added, "During the New Year, my second son brought back a jar of fine wine, it was transported from Jiangnan, reed wine, delicious and a bit sweet. How about you co to my house, sit for a while, and have a few drinks?"
As he spoke, he tried to pull Village Chief Sun along.
Yet Village Chief Sun remained unmoved, his eyes on the people inside the workshop.
Following Village Chief Sun, a man in his forties, dressed in a blueish linen shirt, asked, "Who’s in charge of Gu’s Workshop? The village chief graces us with his visit, why isn’t anyone coming out to greet him?"
Gu Jinli laughed, who do you think you are? Expecting us to greet you?
She stood in the workshop courtyard, looking at Village Chief Sun, and asked, "Esteed Sir, what brings you to our workshop?"
Village Chief Sun looked at her, seeing that she was a young girl, his expression grew even darker.
Upon hearing this, the man in the linen shirt, dissatisfied, asked, "Little girl, Village Chief Sun is looking for the head of the Gu’s Workshop, not for a young lady like you to answer. Are all the bosses of Gu’s Workshop dead? Why are you sticking your nose into this?"
Gu Jinli narrowed her eyes, staring at the rude man, and said, "The owners of our workshop are all busy and have no ti to deal with troublemakers."
"You, you little wench..." That man nearly burst into curses but was stopped by Village Chief Sun, "Shut your mouth. You’re old enough, yet bickering with a child, it’s disgraceful."
It’s unclear whom that disgrace remark was really directed at.
Village Chief Sun looked at Gu Jinli, "Young lady, we’ve co to discuss business with Gu’s Workshop, considering ourselves as guests. It’s not polite to turn guests away at the doorstep, right?"
Gu Jinli smiled, "You want to do business with Gu’s Workshop? How so?"
Seeing the arrogance in Village Chief Sun’s deanor, would he really conduct honest business with them? More likely, it’d be coercion.
Sure enough, Village Chief Sun said, "I am the village chief for several villages, managing taxes, local disputes, and the livelihoods of the villages. I’ve heard that Gu’s Workshop has good tofu and spices. I ca personally to talk about having you sell these items to the villages, letting the villagers sell them on behalf of Gu’s Workshop."
Gu Jinli laughed, "We already signed a contract with County Captain Jiang as sworn brothers, and we don’t have the capacity to take any new orders lately."
Village Chief Sun frowned upon hearing this, "I know about this arrangent. The villages have agreed not to collect goods before April 26th, but you will need to distribute the tofu and spices made after April 26th to the villages for sale."
Gu Jinli couldn’t help but laugh out loud, "Ha~"
Did she hear this wrong? Where did Village Chief Sun get the face to say such things?
"Sorry Village Chief Sun, we just went to the Prefecture a few days ago and completed a deal with the Qi Family. Starting April 26th, we’re to sell our tofu and spices to them. We cannot go back on our word."
"What?!" Village Chief Sun finally beca frantic, "You went to the Prefecture to save soone? How did it turn into doing business?"
Gu Jinli’s smile turned icy, this Village Chief Sun ca prepared, knowing so much.
Gu Jinli couldn’t bother arguing anymore, she straightforwardly said, "We went to rescue and do business. Anyway, our Gu’s Workshop’s tofu and spices will not be sold to Village Chief Sun. If you have complaints, you can go to the county and speak with County Captain Jiang, or go to the Prefecture and consult with the Qi Family."
"Forgetting to ntion, the Qi Family’s eldest son holds an official position in the Capital, and the Qi Family is very strict. If Village Chief Sun visits, rember to prepare a proper invitation, and bring a generous gift, or the Qi Family might not even open their door."
And who do you think you are?
Thinking you’re sothing big just because you’re a village chief?
Coming here acting superior, wanting to do business yet putting on airs as if doing us a favor, you’re really sick.
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