Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1227: You Have to Help Me

Hiding within the government office's jail, Gu Jin’an and He Jinseng remained with the bank's contracts secured from the farmers. He felt compelled to go and ascertain their safety, needing absolute certainty before he could find any peace of mind.

"Yes," Hong Dao and Zhang Zhong responded in unison.

"I'm accompanying you," Luo Wu declared, his own worries for Gu Jin’an evident.

"Company Commander Qin, kindly wait—I shall join you. Those contracts are intrinsically linked to my very existence; no mishap can befall them." Young Master Dou then turned, fixing a stern glare upon the injured villagers nearby. "Manager Dou will address your loan matters. Once you secure your Silver, proceed to the clinic for your wounds. Do not even contemplate lingering at the bank, or you'll find yourselves forcibly removed."

With another gesture, he summoned Manager Dou. "A collection of paupers, they likely lack the Silver for medical attention. Extend them a more generous loan, maintaining the current monthly interest rate but allowing a longer repayment period."

As he spoke, Young Master Dou's heart ached. Silver, his precious Silver—why was he engaging in ventures that might take over a decade simply to break even?!

"Yes, young master, rest assured. This old servant understands his duties," Manager Dou affirmed.

"Let's depart," Qin San Lang called to Luo Wu and Young Master Dou, leading the way toward the government office.

Along the route, they observed numerous rockets strewn across the ground. These projectiles, tipped with pine oil, had targeted houses within the county. Fortunately, the government officials were actively involved in extinguishing the fires, preventing any significant destruction.

...

Inside the county government, County Magistrate Zheng paced with an anxiety bordering on frantic. Upon seeing Qin San Lang and his companions return, he rushed forward, eager for an update. "Well? Did you apprehend them? What sort of individuals were they?"

His greatest concern was that the culprits might be nobles or high-ranking officials, individuals beyond the Zheng family's capacity to offend, or perhaps members of the Imperial family. The ramifications of such an incident tonight would be exceedingly difficult to resolve.

Qin San Lang responded, "My lord, please be at ease. They are not affiliated with any powerful clan. They were dispatched by Young Master Dou’s stepmother, Ms. Meng."

County Magistrate Zheng mused, "Mrs. Dou Meng? The concubine's daughter from Lord Meng’s household within the Imperial Censorate? She fears Young Master Dou's potential success and seeks to sabotage his endeavors?"

Qin San Lang nodded affirmatively. "Precisely. Therefore, my lord need not harbor excessive apprehension. This is not the machinations of an exceptionally potent force; the bank can withstand this."

In truth, those influential families harbored intentions to act, yet their apprehension of the Ouyang Family deterred them from initiating any moves, opting instead to utilize Ms. Meng as their unwitting instrument.

Should Ms. Meng succeed, all would proceed smoothly; should she falter, she would at least serve to gauge the bank's resilience.

"So, it is merely a domestic dispute among women. This official may now relax," County Magistrate Zheng exhaled a breath of palpable relief. The Meng family held official positions, but they were not considered high-ranking; at best, they were a notable local gentry, not a deeply entrenched, powerful noble lineage with extensive influence.

"However, the commotion tonight was considerable," County Magistrate Fang commented, his voice tinged with lingering apprehension. He had hurried from his home to the county government upon hearing of the bank's distress in the dead of night.

Young Master Dou emitted a cold snort. "Lord Fang, you may be assured. That shrew has created this immense disturbance—I shall undoubtedly ensure she faces retribution!"

*Uh...* He recalled that Mrs. Dou Meng seemed to hold some favor with Manager Dou. Could Young Master Dou truly make Mrs. Dou Meng pay the price he threatened?

To say nothing of Imperial Censor Meng himself; even for his sake alone, Manager Dou would likely hesitate to take any genuine action against Ms. Meng.

Yet, County Magistrate Fang dared not voice these thoughts. Young Master Dou possessed a volatile temper and maintained a strained relationship with Mrs. Dou Meng; to mention such a thing would undoubtedly provoke his immediate fury.

"My Lord Magistrate, esteemed County Governor, dawn approaches. It is unlikely further incidents will transpire. You both may retire with peace of mind. I shall go check on Good Brother An." After briefing County Magistrate Zheng on the bank's status, Qin San Lang, accompanied by Young Master Dou and Luo Wu, proceeded to the cells to visit Gu Jin’an and the others.

"Halt! Who goes there?" The prison guards, thoroughly shaken by the night's events, feared potential intruders intent on harming Gu Jin’an.

"It is I." Qin San Lang lifted the torch, pausing deliberately to allow the guards to recognize his face before advancing further.

Upon recognizing Qin San Lang, the prison guards breathed a collective sigh of relief. One guard rushed to unlock the cell door, assuring, "Commander, rest easy. First Place Gu and the others are perfectly fine. No one has bothered them in their cells." The student He, however, was still visibly shaken, his face ashen and showing no signs of returning to its normal color.

"San Lang, is the bank secure?" Gu Jin’an inquired, his hands clasped tightly before him until Qin San Lang’s arrival.

Qin San Lang gave a reassuring nod. "The ruffians have all been apprehended. The bank is completely secure."

"And the contracts?" Young Master Dou anxiously questioned, his entire future resting on those documents.

Gu Jin’an unclasped his hands and produced a cloth pouch from within his attire, presenting it to Young Master Dou. "They are all here, every single one accounted for." Young Master Dou snatched the pouch, eagerly opened it, and confirmed the authenticity of the contracts, finding them all present. "Phew, this young master's life has been spared," he exclaimed in relief.

However...

"These contracts are no longer safe at the bank. Once daylight breaks, you must retrieve them and entrust them to Old Ouyang for safekeeping." A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes; they couldn't always rely on him to handle these troublesome thugs. Old Ouyang, too, deserved a bit of a scare.

Gu Jin’an's brow furrowed upon hearing this suggestion, but he ultimately conceded, "Very well, I shall return the contracts to the Ouyang Family." Yet, Young Master Dou, ever the cunning strategist, added two more mule carts for Gu Jin’an to transport when day fully dawned and Gu Jin’an prepared to return to the village.

...Mid-July, by the Chen hour, the sun beat down relentlessly. Standing at the government entrance, Gu Jin’an eyed the two additional mule carts with displeasure. "What is in these? What trouble are you offloading onto the Ouyang Family?" He had no desire to burden the Ouyang Family, particularly since Third Miss was still residing in their town house, with any potentially dangerous items.

Young Master Dou offered a sheepish chuckle. "You truly have a way with words. What do you mean 'offloading trouble'? These are valuable assets within. If you doubt me, ask Commander Qin." He silently urged Qin San Lang to support his claim.

Qin San Lang affirmed, "There are witnesses secured within. While it presents some complications, transferring them to the Ouyang Family is indeed preferable to keeping them at the bank." Ms. Meng might treat Young Master Dou without mercy, but she would certainly hesitate to act against the Ouyang Family. Even if she dispatched assassins, they would likely refrain from storming the Ouyang household directly.

Gu Jin’an, however, remained unconvinced. The thought of the woman he admired sharing a compound with assassins was unbearable! His expression darkened as he fixed Young Master Dou with a stare that compelled him to take a few steps back. "Stop glaring at me like that. It's not as if I have a better alternative." Having worked alongside Gu Jin’an for several days, he understood that beneath the handsome exterior lay a deeply resolute individual.

"Solutions are born from ingenuity. If you're merely being indolent, just admit it. Spare me the pretense of having 'no other way,'" Gu Jin’an retorted, glancing at Qin San Lang before moving towards a secluded spot. Qin San Lang, sensing Gu Jin’an had devised a plan, followed closely. "What do you intend to do?"

Gu Jin’an laid out his strategy: "We shall dispatch them to the Military Office. There you have the water dungeon you constructed and the newly built Death Prison. We’ll have Feng Jin, You An, and the others provide covert surveillance. Should Ms. Meng dispatch more assassins to silence them, You An and his team can repel any such attempts. Furthermore, if the Meng Family's assassins dare to attack the Military Office, it would be construed as an act of rebellion, effectively sealing the Meng Family's fate. Any rational Ms. Meng, even if aware of the witnesses' location, would understand the severe repercussions of sending people to silence them there. It's considerably safer than entrusting them to the Ouyang Family." Upon hearing this, Qin San Lang considered it for a moment and concurred, "Very well, we shall proceed as you suggest." Initially, he had intended to send Meng Wu and the others to the Ouyang Family, trusting in their prominent standing and the capabilities of their Shadow Guards. However, if Gu Jin’an objected, he wouldn't press the matter. After all, the Military Office offered an exceptionally secure haven.