Gu Jinli trusted Qin San Lang deeply. He never acted without cause, and after reading Qin San Lang’s letter, she imdiately burned it.
She made a trip to the Qin family and asked Elder Qin, "Has Brother Qin sent you any ssages? Has there been any discovery regarding Zhang Niu?"
Since mid-June, Elder Qin had been keeping an eye on Zhang Niu of Yushu Village, all the way up to now.
Elder Qin said, "San Lang has sent so ssages, which should be similar to the ones he sent you. Since the matter has not been resolved yet, we dare not pass too many ssages for fear they might be intercepted on the way. Zhang Niu and his gang are still in Yushu Village, but as soon as there is any movent from Zou Jiang’s end, Zhang Niu and his people will definitely take action. It is enough that I am watching them."
Elder Qin found an excuse to go into the hills every day, but in reality, he took the shortcut through the mountains to keep an eye on Zhang Niu in Yushu Village. It seed that Zhang Niu and his n must have received orders from County Magistrate Zou, as they had recently been overly obedient, not leaving the village day or night.
Gu Jinli felt sowhat disappointed, but she trusted Qin San Lang. Since Qin San Lang had asked Elder Qin to watch Zhang Niu and his n, it ant that he knew sothing and had determined that Zhang Niu and his group were in contact with Zhang Hu.
"Grandpa Qin, it’s too exhausting for you to watch Zhang Niu and his n alone. I’ll have Uncle Xiao Liu go and help you," Gu Jinli said. "Uncle Xiao Liu has good skills with a knife and knows so martial arts—not highly skilled, but another pair of eyes to watch with you is always a good thing."
Elder Qin declined, shaking his head, "San Lang said there’s no need for you to worry. He’s already arranged everything. Keep your people close in case County Magistrate Zou becos desperate and resorts to dirty tricks."
There were many won and children at the end of the village, and it would be catastrophic if anything happened. People like Wang Yongfu, Old Zhu and his son, Han Liu, were left to Gu Jinli’s house to bolster the safety of her household.
Gu Jinli: "What about you, Elder?"
Elder Qin said, "You don’t have to worry about an old man like . San Lang has already made arrangents with Jiang Qi. Jiang Qi has transferred four soldiers from the Military Office to take turns with in keeping an eye on Zhang Niu and his gang. Rest assured."
San Lang was a child who handled affairs ticulously. He had long convinced Jiang Qi, asking him to assign people to help him.
Jiang Qi was also quite willing, seeing it as an opportunity to train the soldiers from the Military Office and enhance their skills.
After listening to all of this, Gu Jinli finally felt reassured and went ho.
That evening, as soon as darkness fell, Elder Qin ca to Gu Jinli’s house, had a al with her family, and afterwards asked Third Grandpa to call the adults from a few households over, and he solemnly inford them about the recent unrest that might be occurring.
The adults from the few households were quite alard and hastily inquired of Elder Qin, "What do you an by that? Why has it suddenly beco so unrestful?"
Elder Qin didn’t specify the details, only ntioning, "San Lang and the others have received information that a gang of bandits has infiltrated Tianfu County. All your households have daughters; you must be vigilant. Should you encounter any strangers, do not engage with them, and promptly call for others."
The matter with County Magistrate Zou was complicated, tangling with river bandits from neighboring prefectures; it was a scenario where one has to guard against the least probable risks, so it was imperative to warn these families in advance.
"Eh eh eh, we got it, please rest assured, Elder." After the adults went ho, they called the children over and exaggeratedly told them about the bandits, urging them to be careful.
Gu Jinli also took the opportunity to talk to Gu Dashan and Gu Daya, "Dad, aunt, it’s been uneasy lately, let’s not go to the Prefecture for now. We can talk about it after the Double Ninth Festival."
Both Gu Dashan and Gu Daya were frightened by Elder Qin’s words and nodded in agreent, "Eh, let’s not go to the Prefecture for now; we can talk about it after so ti."
However, Gu Daya ntioned Mo Kui to Gu Jinli, "Auntie, you know about Auntie’s arrangent with the Mo Family. Third Grandma has been diating until now, and it’s almost settled. It’s just that Mo Kui can’t continue working at Auntie’s place. Auntie wants to ask you a favor, to let Mo Kui work at the workshop. Do you think that would be alright?"
Gu Jinli also hoped that Mo Qinzi’s match with Qi Kangping would be successful, and since Mo Kui was a good man, she agreed, "Sure, I’ll have Aunt Kui Zi call Uncle Kui Zi tomorrow and talk to him about working in the workshop."
"Eh, then I’ll leave this to you. You really did a big favor for your aunt," Gu Daya left joyfully.
The next morning, when Gu Jinli went to the workshop, she called Ms. Zhang over to talk about letting Mo Kui work in the workshop.
Ms. Zhang’s family had been waiting since before the Mid-Autumn Festival, and they were eager for Mo Kui to switch jobs; there was no way they would refuse. She imdiately agreed, "Young Master, I will go back and call Sister Qin’s father right now, he will co over in a mont, please wait."
Ms. Zhang hurried off, and in just a short ti, she brought Mo Kui with her.
Mo Kui was very excited. Before Gu Jinli could even ntion the salary, he said, "Young Master, I’m willing to do miscellaneous tasks in the workshop, and I can sign the contract right now."
Getting to work in the workshop would fix the marriage between his daughter Sister Qin and Brother Ping.
Seeing how eager Mo Kui and his wife were, Gu Jinli couldn’t help but smile with a mix of amusent and empathy; they seed very pleased with Qi Kangping. She took out the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone from the workshop and wrote a contract on the spot.
After she finished writing, she read the contract to Mo Kui, "Apart from doing miscellaneous tasks for the tofu workshop, you also have to curdle the tofu. If there’s any issue with the products, as a worker of the workshop, you’ll have to take responsibility together with everyone. The monthly salary is 800 cents, and if you do well, I will increase it by fifty cents every three months, with no ceiling. Are you willing?"
The n from several families can’t be making tofu for a lifeti; now, Gu Jinli was slowly training He Dayuan and others to curdle tofu and make soy sauce. As for the brine, it was still prepared by her family, then brought to the workshop so they could curdle the tofu, thus preventing the tofu recipe from leaking.
"Sure, sure, that’s not a small amount of money," Mo Kui was very happy. He and Ms. Zhang had already planned it all. For Sister Qin’s sake, even if he had no job, he wouldn’t help the Qi Family anymore. Now that Gu Daya kept her promise and found him a job in the workshop, a monthly salary of nearly one tael of silver was more than enough.
Mo Kui happily pressed his handprint on the contract.
Gu Jinli stored the contract and told Mo Kui, "You can go back to slaughtering ducks for now, and when Gu Daya’s house finds soone to take over, then you can start working in the workshop."
"Eh, then I’ll leave now, many thanks Young Master," Mo Kui’s face was filled with smiles as he thanked her step by step and left the workshop.
He Sigu, the fourth daughter of the He Dalian Family, learned that Mo Kui was going to work at the workshop doing miscellaneous tasks. Thinking that the duck slaughtering job at Gu Daya’s house might still be open, she boldly approached Gu Jinli and begged, "Young Master, has Qi Family found the person to slaughter ducks yet? If not, if Young Master and the Qi Family don’t mind, could my dad try it for a few days? If my dad does a good job, is it possible to give the duck slaughtering work to him?"
The He Dalian Family was not only poor but also had no sons. The couple had six daughters and, to support them, He Dalian and his wife worked from dawn till dusk relentlessly. However, due to having little land, their household still lived an austere life.
User Comments
0 comments from readers