Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1236: Helping Big Brother

A sense of smug satisfaction washed over the village chief, He, as he witnessed Mrs. Chen being reprimanded. He twirled his beard and chimed in, "Mrs. Da Gui, such concerns are typical of a woman's limited perspective. Da Fu speaks the truth; it's nothing to fret over. Do you truly believe those wicked individuals would appear daily?"

While Mrs. Chen harbored a degree of apprehension towards Gu Jinli, the village chief He elicited no such fear. In fact, she harbored resentment towards him, suspecting he habitually maneuvered He Jinseng into ingratiating himself with Gu Jin'an, thereby undermining Gu Dexing's standing. Upon hearing the chief's words, she retorted sharply, "Village Chief, my only worry is for Jin Sheng. He is rather delicate; if he experiences fright again tonight, his spirit might be irrevocably damaged. Should he then fail his future examinations..."

"Mrs. Chen, cease your prattling!" Gu Dagui's face was slick with cold sweat as he hastily pulled his wife aside, cutting her off. "You speak far too much. Enough now, lest you impede Brother An and the others from returning to the county."

He thought to himself, *'You truly dare to speak such words? Are you oblivious to the village chief He's most sensitive wound – He Jinseng's twice-failed Scholar exams?'*

*'It is said one should not expose another's vulnerabilities. Do you still wish to reside in this village?'*

*'Furthermore, Brother Xing is slated to collaborate with Jin Sheng and forge a brotherhood. If you, woman, insist on such absolute pronouncements, how are these nascent bonds to flourish?'*

The village chief He's countenance darkened to the hue of a burnt pot; his fury was palpable. This shrew, Mrs. Chen, had unequivocally implied that his Jin Sheng would never attain an official post. Such an insult was utterly unendurable.

But what recourse did he possess?

Jin Sheng had, in truth, failed the Scholar exam twice.

Hmph!

With a cold snort, the village chief He rapped his walking stick against the ground twice, a clear signal of his displeasure.

"Village Chief, rest assured, we shall ensure Jin Sheng's safety." Gu Dexing, also covered in a sheen of cold sweat, quickly softened his tone as he addressed the village chief He.

Only then did the village chief He's expression relax somewhat. He inclined his head toward Gu Dexing, then turned to Gu Jin'an with a smile, saying, "Good Brother An, I am entrusting Jin Sheng to your care. He is not like you – so astute and skilled in martial arts. You must afford him extra protection. The village chief thanks you."

Mrs. Chen let out a deep, nasal snort upon hearing this. *'Village Chief, what is the meaning of this? Clearly, Brother Xing was the one speaking to you, yet you express gratitude to Brother An. Are you now judging individuals based on their perceived status? Do you look down upon Brother Xing?'*

"Good Brother An, you and Brother Xing are kinsmen and brothers. His martial prowess doesn't match yours, so you must watch over him carefully. As for Zezi, Feng Lian, and the others, assign one to accompany him and provide protection," Mrs. Chen declared with a smile. *'Heh, do you imagine you're the only one, Village Chief He, who knows how to instruct Brother An to look after someone? I am equally capable.'*

Gu Jinli observed their exchange, momentarily speechless. *'Are these two truly vying for favor now?'*

Gu Jin'an felt a wave of exasperation. To prevent an argument from erupting, he swiftly had Zezi set the cart in motion. Before departing, however, he glanced at Brother Cheng and said, "Remember what eldest brother told you."

With another glance in Gu Jinli's direction, he finally left.

Brother Cheng felt a profound reluctance to part with Gu Jin'an. He chased after the mule cart, his voice carrying as he called out, "Big brother, don't worry, I remember. I'll tell Second Sister."

The little one pursued them all the way to the village entrance, only halting when Gu Jin'an called out to him.

"Awoo awooo!" Da Gou and Ergou ran alongside Brother Cheng, and upon his stopping, they howled in the direction of the departing mule cart.

Brother Cheng stood at the crossroads marking the village's edge. After a brief pause, he turned back towards home. "If only I could grow up instantly, I could go assist big brother."

Da Gou and Ergou: "Awoo, awoo!"

Brother Cheng cast them a glance and inquired, "Why are you howling? Do you even comprehend?"

Awoo, awoo!

Da Gou and Ergou didn't understand; they simply relished the act of howling.

Exasperated, Brother Cheng muttered, "Second Sister was correct; you two are truly a pair of dim-witted wolves, even less intelligent than Gan Changfa's mongrel from town."

Xiao Tuan, who had been diligently following Brother Cheng to ensure his safety, spoke up, "Second Young Master is already quite capable. You have rendered significant assistance to Eldest Young Master."

Hearing this, a realization struck Brother Cheng. He called out to Xiao Tuan and hurried back home.

Upon spotting his return, Mrs. Cui reached for a handkerchief to dab his brow. "As soon as your big brother departs, you begin to misbehave. You bathed just moments ago, and now you've run about until you're sweating again. What a waste of that bath."

Brother Cheng flashed a grin, looking up at Mrs. Cui. "Don't you fret, Mother, I'll just take another bath before sleeping, and all will be well. I won't go bad."

Third Grandma chided, "Children shouldn't be washing themselves multiple times a day; you'll catch a cold."

"Third Grandma, please don't worry, I'm quite robust, catching a cold is unlikely. Where is my Second Sister?" Brother Cheng's gaze drifted toward the dining area, spotting only Gu Daya and Mrs. Chen. Gu Jinli and Gu Jinxiu were nowhere in sight.

Third Grandma explained, "She returned to her quarters to handle the accounts. The pharmaceutical workshop recently dispatched two more shipments of goods. She's eager to tally up the Silver she's garnered."

"I'm off to find Second Sister then." With that declaration, Brother Cheng hastened to Gu Jinli's courtyard and knocked on her door. "Second Sister, Second Sister, open up!"

Gu Jinli, in the midst of concealing a contract Gu Jin’an had entrusted to her care, instructed Erqing, "Open it for him in a moment."

She retrieved an iron box, unlocked it with a key, and placed a large porcelain bottle inside. Subsequently, she covered the iron box with a layer of soil and reburied it within the hidden compartment beneath her bed.

The agreements with the farmers and the bank were all secured within the large porcelain bottle, nestled inside the iron box. This clandestine arrangement ensured that, even in the event of a flood or fire, the contracts would remain safe.

"Go open the door." Just as Gu Jinli finished speaking, Brother Cheng's persistent knocking sounded at her room's entrance. It transpired that Gu Jinxiu had already gone to unbolt the courtyard gate for him.

Brother Cheng called out, "Second Sister, are you in there counting Silver again? Don't worry, your Silver is safe from me. Please hurry and open the door, I have some major news to share."

Major news?

Gu Jinli smirked, signaling Erqing to admit him. Settling onto the plush sofa in the outer room and enjoying some pastries, she inquired, "You little rascal, what 'major' news could you possibly possess?"

Brother Cheng cast a glance at Erqing, seeming hesitant to speak.

"You can't even let Erqing be privy to it? Is it truly something significant?" Gu Jinli then said to Erqing, "Erqing, please head to the main room and attend to the accounts for now. I'll ascertain what he wishes to convey."

"Understood." Erqing retrieved the ledger from the table and proceeded to the main room of the courtyard to begin his accounting tasks.

Only after Erqing's departure did Brother Cheng lower his voice. "Second Sister, we need to assist Eldest Brother. Eldest Brother truly cherishes Third Sister. If he cannot wed Third Sister, he will be utterly heartbroken. I do not wish for Eldest Brother to suffer such sadness."

Earlier that day, upon inquiring about the matter in the courtyard, he had observed Eldest Brother's eyes welling up. Eldest Brother must harbor profound affection for Third Sister, which precipitated his near-tears desolation.

Gu Jinli felt a pang of wistfulness. "You heartless little thing, I dote on you, yet your affections lie solely with Eldest Brother."

Brother Cheng responded, "But Eldest Brother is very good to me too. Besides, I'm a boy; naturally, I should spend time with Eldest Brother. If I were to constantly trail after Second Sister, what if I end up like Lv Bai?"

Brother Cheng knew Lv Bai, having encountered him and heard numerous tales. He was aware of Lv Bai's mother's penchant for weeping and was resolute in his desire not to emulate Lv Bai—lest people mock him mercilessly.

Uh... Gu Jinli was momentarily speechless. His reasoning struck a chord, leaving her temporarily unable to formulate a rebuttal.

"Eldest Brother and Third Sister's situation is beyond our capacity to influence. The disparity in family standing represents an insurmountable chasm. While societal acceptance is generally lenient for a man marrying into a lower status, a noble lady descending the social ladder into a drastically inferior family invites severe criticism. Her character might be questioned, or her reputation tarnished."

This was precisely the outcome Eldest Brother desperately wished to avert.

What Eldest Brother abhorred most was any harm befalling Third Miss's reputation.

Brother Cheng listened, his lower lip trembling. "So, there's absolutely no solution?"

Gu Jinli declared, "Of course, there is a solution. Should Eldest Brother secure a place among the top three in the Imperial Examinations, subsequently achieve significant military accolades, and receive a personal imperial marriage decree from the Emperor himself, no one would dare cast aspersions upon Third Sister. Instead, their union would be lauded as a perfect match between a man of talent and a woman of beauty."