He Cui’er’s family is poor, and her mother dotes on her son, unwilling to let him fulfill the labor duties, so she wants He Cui’er to quickly get attached to Gu Daya’s house, and then deduct money from the Gu Daya’s house to pay off her son’s labor duties with silver coins.
"I understand." He Cui’er, dissatisfied, pushed away the daughter of her Brother Er and went into her own room, thinking about how to win over Qi Kangping.
...
Gu Jinli’s family was unaware of the He family’s intentions, and they were joyfully preparing for the festival.
Third Grandma made two types of rice dumplings with sticky rice, and that evening’s dinner consisted of at dumplings and sweet dumplings.
Gu Jinli loves at, he ate three at dumplings and after a bowl of wild hawthorn tea, he blissfully went to sleep.
The next morning, they put on the Five Poison Pouches made by Gu Jinxiu.
When noon ca, Third Grandma took them to the yard, and lined them up.
Third Grandma dipped lemongrass in realgar water and splashed it on them saying, "After the noon water, disaster is averted and evil is expelled, ensuring a stable sumr."
While splashing the noon water, Third Grandma kept reciting the words to ward off the five poisons.
Luo Huiniang saw from her own courtyard and also ca over saying, "Third Grandma, I want the noon water too."
Third Grandma laughed and replied: "Sure, I won’t forget you, young lady."
Brother Wu carried festival gifts and followed Luo Huiniang into Gu Jinli’s house. When Third Grandma saw him, she happily said, "Brother Wu is back, co on over and line up."
"Eh." Brother Wu deliberately stood next to Gu Jinxiu, causing Gu Jin’an and Gu Jinli to squint their eyes simultaneously.
Brother Wu has beco more and more bold; although he used to want to get close to Gu Jinxiu and would avoid doing so when many people were around, now he did not avoid it at all, and would always join wherever Gu Jinxiu was.
Third Grandma quickly finished splashing the noon water on them: "Done, go and play."
Then she looked towards Brother Wu and asked, "Did Er Lang and San Lang not co back?"
Brother Wu shook his head: "No, they are on duty this round."
Like the Military Office, not everyone gets to co back every break, they have to take turns, and last ti Brother Wu had already been on duty during his break, so he was able to co back for the festival this ti.
Third Grandma felt it was a pity: "The gathering isn’t complete without everyone, the festival feels a little less joyful."
Then to Brother Wu she said, "When you go back to the county tomorrow, bring so food for them."
"Alright, Third Grandma, pack the things up and I’ll bring them to them when I go back to the county." Brother Wu said, and took out a gift he brought, handing it to Third Grandma: "Third Grandma, this is silk rope from the county cloth shop, keep it for tying your hair."
Gu Jinli snickered, what a change of tactics.
Third Grandma looked at the pile of colorful silk rope, and said with a laugh: "Third Grandma is too old for these things, don’t waste them; you take them back for Hui Niang to use."
Luo Huiniang raised her hand and pointed to the silk rope tied around her wrist, saying: "Third Grandma, I have so already, these are gifts from my brother to you and Sister Xiu, Xiao Yu, please accept them."
The smile on Brother Wu’s face widened as he joined the conversation, "Yes, Third Grandma, please keep it. It’s nothing expensive, and I can afford it with my pay."
Without waiting for Third Grandma to respond, he also called out to Gu Dashan and Third Grandpa who were sitting inside the house: "Third Grandpa, Uncle Dashan, this is the wine I bought for you. Try it and see if you like it; if it’s good, I’ll bring more next ti."
Gu Dashan, who liked Brother Wu and approved of him as a potential son-in-law, happily accepted the wine and started chatting with Brother Wu.
Brother Wu was more than happy to talk with Gu Dashan and Third Grandpa, sharing many stories about his work at the county governnt: "Master Tian, who works closely with County Magistrate Xu, thinks highly of , and things have been going smoothly working at the county governnt."
Due to handling the case at Village Chief Sun’s family last ti, he caught the eyes of Master Tian.
Third Grandpa furrowed his brows upon hearing this, and asked, "Is this Master Tian one of Lord County Magistrate’s n? How is his relationship with County Magistrate Zou?"
Luo Wu knew what Third Grandpa was worried about and explained, "Master Tian is the confidant of Lord County Magistrate, and he isn’t close with County Magistrate Zou."
"That’s good," Third Grandpa said with relief and reminded him, "Our families follow under the County Captain Jiang’s Family, and you were introduced by Jiang Family. Make sure to clear up allegiances; do not neglect Jiang Family just because of Master Tian."
Luo Wu replied, "Don’t worry, Grandpa, I understand. I definitely won’t neglect Jiang Family because of anyone else."
He wasn’t foolish; he wouldn’t make the mistake of cooling relations with Jiang Family because of Master Tian.
Hearing this, Third Grandpa was reassured and continued to talk with Luo Wu for a long ti, until Luo Wu took Luo Huiniang back ho in the afternoon.
Before leaving, he looked at Gu Jinxiu several tis, which was promptly blocked by Gu Jin’an, saying, "Brother Luo Wu, let escort you out."
After saying this, he pulled Luo Wu out of his house.
Third Grandpa noticed Luo Wu’s intentions and waited until Gu Jinxiu and the others went to the kitchen to help before he asked Gu Dashan, "What did Tie Zhu tell you?"
Brother Wu is not young anymore.
Gu Dashan said, "Brother Luo Er and his wife are afraid Brother Wu can’t protect Sister Xiu well. They want Brother Wu to gain so experience in the county governnt for two to three years, make a na for himself, gain skills, and build connections, then co to our house to propose marriage."
Hearing this, Third Grandpa breathed a sigh of relief, "It’s good that Tie Zhu and his wife have a plan."
When the matchmaker Lao visited, Sister Xiu had already declared that she would observe three years of mourning for the deceased villagers of Gu Family Village, a noble act that, once announced, could not easily be undone.
But a girl’s age doesn’t withstand delays, and Third Grandpa worried that after three years, Jinxiu might rush into a marriage and choose the wrong person. So, he still felt that matching with Luo Family was best.
After all, how Brother Wu felt about Jinxiu was clear to see; he was truly devoted to her.
But Brother Wu is already eighteen this year, and in three years, he will be twenty-one. At such an age, if it were anyone else, they might already have several children, and he worried that Luo Family couldn’t wait that long.
Now, hearing these words, he felt relieved.
After a while, Gu Jin’an returned and directly went to the backyard chicken coop to mix chicken feed.
Gu Jinli followed him to the backyard and asked, "Did you beat up Brother Luo Wu?"
Gu Jin’an glanced at her and while adding water and mixing the husks in the trough, said, "Your brother is a gentleman, not the kind of rough person who resorts to violence."
He relied on his brains.
Gu Jinli heard this with disdain, "Then what did you say to Brother Luo Wu?"
Gu Jin’an added two bowls of bean dregs to the trough and continued mixing, "Brother Luo Wu said that he will restrain himself from now on, and until his family formally proposes, he will not do anything that might cause gossip, nor will he reveal his feelings to elder sister, so as not to trouble her."
Gu Jinli, hearing the satisfying answer, nodded, "That’s good."
This isn’t the modern era; if rumors spread, Gu Jinxiu’s life would be ruined.
Gu Jin’an put the trough into the chicken coop, cooing softly while waiting for the chickens to co and feed. He then said, "You don’t need to worry about this matter, I’m here. Co on, today’s a holiday, let’s make so sweet and sour pork, it’s delicious."
Gu Jinli shook her head, "Brother, you’re a guy, how can you also love sweet food?" A dark persona should reject sweet treats.
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