The Gu, Qin, and Luo Families live at the end of the village. This ti, the families gathered to celebrate Qin San Lang’s success, without informing the villagers, but still many in the village found out.
Previously, everyone only vaguely heard rumors that the sons of the Qin and Luo Families had taken up positions in the governnt office, but it wasn’t until today that the villagers dared to affirm that it was true.
In an instant, the village was abuzz with excitent.
"Entering the governnt office is a trendous affair, akin to becoming half an official. We can’t go without expressing our congratulations. Let’s get ready and send them our gifts!"
From the front to the back of the village, those from the He and Lu Families who wanted to curry favor all ca bearing gifts, and before long, the Luo’s ho was filled with people.
Village Chief He, seeing so many people, was quite troubled and clamored, "What are you doing here? What for? Today is the only day off for the youths of the Qin and Luo Families, and they haven’t even had a peaceful al yet, and you’ve all co."
"Village Chief, the matter of the Qin and Luo Families’ youths entering the governnt service is of great importance. How could you keep it a secret? Logically, the village should organize a banquet and invite people from ten miles and eight villages to celebrate, so that people from other villages know that our village has produced officials."
"Lu Tiesheng, what are you doing here as soone from the Lu Family? Have you forgotten what happened to Lu Zhudan’s family? Leave at once, don’t co here and spoil their joyous occasion," jeered so people from the He Family, trying to drive away the Lu Family People.
"Ha ha, right, Lu Tiesheng, haven’t your Lu Family People always been doing things based on Lu Zhudan’s facial expressions? Why are you running to the Luo Family now? Isn’t this bootlicking a bit too late?" The He Family People roared with laughter, embarrassing the few Lu Family People who ca to congratulate them.
Lu Tiesheng shouted, "He Lao Shi, stop stirring up trouble here. The misdeed was committed by Old Master Lu’s family; what does it have to do with the rest of us Lu Family People?"
The rest of the Lu Family People nodded in agreent, "Exactly, that was the wrongdoing of Old Master Lu’s family; we’re innocent."
"Pah! Innocent my foot! Didn’t you all follow Lu Zhudan to surround the Gu Family’s courtyard door, refusing to let Master Kong take Lu Laosan away when he first ca to steal the tofu recipe? Now that the Lu Family has fallen, and seeing the Qin and Luo Families produce governnt officers, you flock to them. Have so sha, will you?" The He Family People weren’t afraid to weaken their stance, loudly revealing the Lu Family People’s past misdeeds.
Lu Tiesheng’s face turned green with anger and he yelled, "We were forced by Old Master Lu."
"Stop making excuses. What’s done is done. Get lost and don’t co here to look for discomfort," the He Family People said, reveling in their mont of righteousness. In the past, they had to be genial and respectful towards the Lu Family People, fearing that the Lu Family would go to Old Master Lu and speak ill of them, leaving them with nowhere to turn.
But now, oh, how the tables have turned.
Seeing their argunt getting out of hand, Village Chief He hurriedly intervened, "Stop your bickering! All of you shut up. Are you here to congratulate or to quarrel? You lack all sense of decorum! Those who are here to congratulate, leave your gifts and be quick to go; do not disturb the family’s celebration."
Village Chief He’s prestige had risen lately, and seeing his genuine anger, the He Family People quickly placed their gifts down and left one by one.
Seeing this, the Lu Family People knew that they shouldn’t overstay their welco. They left their gifts, announced their family na, and departed.
The news that the Lu Family People had gone to gift the Luo Family in celebration of the Qin and Luo boys entering governnt service quickly reached the ears of Zou Yuzhen and her siblings.
Zou Yuwan spoke disdainfully, "It’s just becoming a small soldier, a minor constable, not even a proper official – what’s there to celebrate?"
Despite the disdain, she turned to instruct Shuan Da’s wife, "Go, note down the nas of those Lu Family People who brought gifts to the Qin and Luo Families – a bunch of opportunists. The Zou family hasn’t fallen yet, and they dare to suck up to those few families who escaped from famine."
"Yes, this servant will see to it imdiately." Shuan Da’s wife hurriedly left the Lu Mansion, and soon she found out which families had sent gifts to the Luo Family. She took note of these families, intending to have Shuan Da look for Zhang Niu to give them a proper lesson.
In the guesthouse courtyard of the Lu Mansion, Zou Yuzhen was seated on a chair, and he ordered his servant, "Go, prepare a second-rate gift, and send it to the Luo Family in my na."
"Yes." The servant imdiately went to prepare the congratulatory gift.
"Third brother, what are you doing? Are you really intending to get on good terms with those few famine-escaping beggars?" Zou Yuwan was very confused about her own third brother: "We have suffered quite a lot because of them."
If it weren’t for those few families, their concubine mother would not have been punished, and they, her siblings, would not have been scolded, becoming the laughingstock of Zou Mansion and the wealthy households in the county.
Zou Yuzhen said, "Don’t rush, we need to get on their good side first. Only after they let down their guard, can we take them down in one fell swoop."
Zou Yuwan’s eyes lit up: "Third brother, are you planning to play the long ga to catch the big fish?"
Zou Yuzhen nodded: "Of course."
Otherwise, did you really think he wanted to get on good terms with those families who had escaped the famine?
Seeing that Zou Yuzhen had a plan in mind, Zou Yuwan was not as angry as before. She recalled the matter with Mrs. Zhong and asked Zou Yuzhen, "Third brother, is that Mrs. Zhong really pregnant? We can’t let her give birth to the child. Otherwise, father might favor the younger one and stop cherishing us siblings."
The County Magistrate was getting older. Since the birth of her, the Fifth Miss, he had not had any new children, and for many years, they, as siblings, had been the favored ones. If a late-born child suddenly ca into the picture, that would be bad.
Zou Yuzhen said, "A re concubine, there’s no need to take her seriously. Our mother will deal with her."
However, that Mrs. Zhong indeed was an extraordinary beauty... Zou Yuzhen recalled encountering her in the yard, her soft figure, touching her once almost broke his self-control.
Thirty minutes later, Zou Yuzhen’s servant delivered the congratulatory gift to the Luo Family.
Third Grandpa heard it was a gift from the Zou family and frowned tightly, not wanting to accept it at all. It was Elder Qin who took it and, seeing the gift, said, "There are also three daggers, Young Master Zou is thoughtful."
Qin San Lang ca over, looked at the three daggers, and laughed, "Uncle Jiang’s dagger has a nick, these three daggers can be given to Uncle Jiang just in ti."
The servant’s face turned a little pale, reminding him, "These are gifts my young master gave to the three young masters of the Qin family and Luo family."
How could they be given to soone else?
Qin San Lang and Elder Qin ignored the servant, just took out the gift and decided who to give this bolt of cloth and that piece of leather to.
In a nutshell, not a single item sent by the Zou family was kept; everything was given away.
The servant’s face was extrely unpleasant, unable to stay any longer, he could only turn around and leave.
After the servant left, Third Grandpa frowned and said, "What does the Zou family want to do?"
Elder Qin said, "Whatever they want to do? It’s all in vain; we just ignore them."
Qin San Lang reassured Third Grandpa: "Don’t worry, sir, County Captain Jiang has been keeping an eye on the Zou family. It’s best if the Zou family doesn’t commit any misdeeds, otherwise, County Captain Jiang won’t let them off."
Having heard this, Third Grandpa finally felt sowhat relieved. Seeing Gu Jin’an and the stallholders have returned, he called out to everyone, "Let’s start the feast, it’s getting late, and after eating, San Lang and the others still need to rush back to the county."
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