Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1201: Throw Them Out

Think that? Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang are just fantasizing. They can't remain in the Gu Family no matter what; they'd get tossed straight into the workshop quarters.

Such foolish dreams of encountering the Gu Family sisters.

Zhou Dalang shot a glance toward his two cousins, recalling Zhou Erlang's earlier boast: This time, we'll snag silver, and I'll claim a wife too.

Back then, he felt baffled and replied: Laoer, you're spouting nonsense once more.

But Zhou Erlang shot back: Ha, nonsense? Watch and learn—soon you'll be wifeless and alone, while I grab both riches and a bride.

Thinking back on that now, a chill ran through Zhou Dalang; he sprang to his feet at once and declared: "In that case, let's head home and await First Place Gu’s good tidings first."

"Lao Da, what's gotten into you?" Zhou Erlang grew frantic, fixing a glare on Zhou Dalang as he snapped: "Head back? Grandpa hasn't said a word yet. If you're leaving, go alone."

"Zezi." Gu Jin’an had grown utterly intolerant of Zhou Erlang and ordered: "Toss him out."

"Yes, sir." Zezi advanced, seized Zhou Erlang by the collar, and hurled him into the courtyard with a loud thud.

Zhou Erlang took a brutal impact, his complexion draining to white.

At that sight, Zhou Laoer flew into a rage, jabbed a finger at Gu Jin’an, and bellowed: "Gu Family brat, how dare you strike our Erlang—pay up!"

"Pay up?" Gu Jin’an chuckled coldly: "Zhou Laoer, your Zhou clan shouldn't stoop to such shamelessness. Taking gifts in the village while using my name is a grave crime. Report it to the Shangguan Residence, and your whole family risks exile at minimum!"

He jabbed a finger toward Elder Lin next: "I've wasted words on you only for Elder Lin’s account; else you'd have been booted from the village ages ago, no chance even to sit and chat."

Zhou Laoer paled in shock, gazing at Gu Jin’an in sheer horror: "You—you know?!"

Impossible—Xiaolizi Village in Niugou Town lies so distant, a full day's trek, farther even than the county seat. Gu Jin’an never visited Niugou Town, so how could he learn of their family taking gifts there in his name?

Gu Jin’an eyed him, lips curling into a icy smirk, and uttered words that left Zhou Laoer drowning in regret: "All your deeds reached the county yamen already. Village heads, scribes, and officials aren't decorations—they've monitored you for ages."

Thanks to stellar exam results as Small Three-Yuan Scholar plus two recipes donated to the yamen, County Magistrate Zheng held him in high esteem, wary of imposters causing harm in his name. Thus, he directed Si Li Square agents to surveil anyone posing as the Small Three-Yuan Scholar for misdeeds and report swiftly to authorities.

Zhou Laoer hadn't done true harm, merely exploited chances for gifts; otherwise, arrest would have come long before.

Gu Jin’an warned Elder Zhou: "Elder Zhou, Niugou Town falls under Tianfu County as well. I know Lord County Magistrate... Leave some basic grains, return the pricey gifts; else if he rages, not even I can shield your family!"

Hearing that, cold sweat drenched Elder Zhou; spotting Zhou Erlang scrambling up to lunge at Gu Jin’an, he dashed out and booted him down: "Foolish lad, courting death by laying hands on a scholar? Crave jail grub at the yamen?!"

The kick nearly made Zhou Erlang cough blood, rain drenching him thoroughly, his figure utterly wretched.

Elder Zhou ignored him for the moment, wheeled around to face Gu Jin’an, and pleaded: "Dear Brother An, spare your anger. We never sought those gifts—the villagers forced them on us, aware of our ties to your house..."

Gu Jin’an glanced at Elder Zhou and sneered, sending shivers through the elder, who quickly added: "Fine, fine, if it displeases you, us elders will send the gifts back today. Just keep this from the County Magistrate!"

Gu Jin’an set him straight: "I’m not pushing for the County Magistrate to punish you—he keeps Si Li Square folks on your trail always. Crave peace? Shun law-breaking and name-dropping for ill deeds, or face the fallout!"

"Yes, yes, yes—we won't dare again." Elder Zhou quaked in fear, blurting it out fast.

Elder Lin stepped forth with assurances: "Fear not, Brother An; I'll oversee Brother Zhou and stop him taking gifts in your name henceforth."

Elder Lin had warned Elder Zhou earlier, but Elder Zhou dreaded poverty so intensely that he saw no harm in accepting gifts and ignored the advice. Consequently, gifts quickly accumulated within days, filling up an entire room.

The Zhou Family even schemed that since these folks offered gifts, if borrowing silver failed, they could just ask those same gift-givers for silver instead.

Upon learning this, Elder Lin rebuked Elder Zhou sharply, prompting Elder Zhou to finally reconsider and declare his intent to visit the Gu Family for a loan.

Yet now, securing the money seems secondary; the Zhou Family's main goal is to seize this chance to connect with the Gu Family and explore a possible marriage tie.

Elder Lin regretted this journey deeply, feeling truly pulled by the Zhou Family into wrongdoing.

"We’re leaving now." Ashamed to linger, Elder Lin summoned the Lin Family members and stood to depart.

Meanwhile, in the wing room, Mrs. Cui also ushered Mrs. Lin He and the others away.

Mrs. Zhou Hu resisted leaving, but Mrs. Chen dragged her right out of the house.

Mrs. Chen had eaten heartily in recent years and stayed robust from youth, overpowering Mrs. Zhou Hu—who hadn’t tasted meat in a month—and hauling her outside.

Spotting the door open here, Zhou Erlang craned his neck to peek at the Gu Family daughters. Regrettably, the wing room split into inner and outer sections, and Gu Jinli had already retreated inside. Zhou Erlang couldn’t catch sight of her no matter how hard he strained.

The Zhou Family departed in deep disgrace, booted from the residence by Gu Family servants.

The Lin Family recovered some honor, sharing a few words with Third Grandpa.

Elder Lin stated: "Old Brother, we’re truly sorry for today’s matter; we mishandled it and hope you won’t hold it against us."

Afterward, he guided his son and grandson to bow solemnly to Third Grandpa and the others in apology.

Third Grandpa sighed and replied: "You can’t be blamed for this; managing your own affairs is tough enough, let alone controlling him."

Amid the famine, Elder Lin remained fairly mild, while Elder Zhou proved sly and aggressive.

This only deepened Elder Lin’s remorse, as he still viewed it as his family’s failing: "If I’d reined him in better, it wouldn’t have come to this."

Third Grandpa waved it off: "Enough, no more talk of this."

Elder Lin quieted then, noting the Zhou Family’s expulsion, and cautioned Gu Jin’an: "Good Brother An, the Zhou Family’s eldest granddaughter didn’t marry Li Kuihu but became his mistress... Three years ago, due to County Magistrate Zou’s incident, Li Kuihu and his gang held back from extreme evils. But with these heavy taxes, Li Kuihu will surely risk it all for silver—your family must stay alert, report Li Kuihu to the county yamen and County Magistrate Zheng soon, to avoid his crew targeting you."

Gu Jin’an lifted his brows at this, his prior annoyance with Elder Lin fading greatly, and nodded: "Don’t worry, Elder Lin. Though Li Kuihu’s hooligans remain free, they’re blacklisted by the government office and under constant watch. The moment they act up again, the authorities will seize them all."