Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1601: Siege and Taking Over

"The Old Madam is sharp-tongued but tender-hearted; how could this be just okay? It’s clearly very clever." Nanny Gui Zhi found it amusing. The Old Madam was just being stubborn. Clearly, she liked Mrs. Qin very much and was worried that, being young, she would be scared during the war. She specifically had Peng Wen send her to the separate yard here instead of the main residence.

Ms. Gao Lei laughed coldly: "Far from clever; she’ll only know how tough life is in the Northwest after she sees blood on her hands."

However, Gu Jinli’s hands had already seen blood. She was only afraid of going bankrupt and having no money, scared of Qin San Lang dying, and of the pain of childbirth; she was not afraid of war at all.

Coming to the Northwest means war; is it possible to be afraid?

"Old Madam Gao." Feng Jin saw Ms. Gao Lei and bowed in greeting.

Ms. Gao Lei glanced at him and pointed at Ms. Xiao Ji: "Take her in; I have a few words to say."

Feng Jin hesitated but obediently took Ms. Xiao Ji back inside.

The relatives saw Ms. Xiao Ji returning, followed by Ms. Gao Lei’s group, thinking perhaps Ms. Gao Lei was going to speak up for Ms. Xiao Ji?

Even Ms. Xiao Ji thought so, staring through tearful eyes at Ms. Gao Lei, sobbing: "Granny Lei, sobbing~"

Nanny Gui Zhi glanced at her, furrowing her brows. Granny Lei is not someone for a concubine to call!

Ms. Gao Lei ignored Ms. Xiao Ji and instead marched toward Gu Jinli, glaring as she scolded: "You, young lady, are green and naive, that’s why you’re so soft-hearted. For scoundrels like this one, why hesitate to kill outright?"

Bang, Wang Dayou’s wife fell sitting on the ground, staring in terror at Ms. Gao Lei.

Oh God, Mrs. Qin is already ruthless enough, and now here comes someone even harsher... Is it that the older they get, the more vicious they become?

The other women were also frightened out of their wits because of Ms. Gao Lei’s words, not daring to lift their heads to look at her.

Gu Jinli laughed, suppressing her amusement: "It’s my fault, Granny Lei, please don’t be angry."

"Humph, you indeed did poorly." Ms. Gao Lei said, pushing aside Gu Jinli, and sat in her seat, pointing at Ms. Xiao Ji: "Bring out the whip, lash this wench ten times!"

"Yes." Peng Wen promptly produced a box, taking out a long whip. The whip was made of iron; with full force, it could fracture a man’s bones with one strike.

"This is the punishment whip of the Lei Family’s Trading Team, used to adjudicate those who err. Since Ms. Xiao Ji stayed in the yard of the Lei Family Trading Team and committed an offense here, she must undergo the punishment of the Lei Family Trading Team." Ms. Gao Lei finished speaking, casting a sharp gaze at the women present before saying to Peng Wen: "Administer punishment!"

Crack, crack, Peng Wen wielded the iron whip, striking Ms. Xiao Ji.

However, Ms. Xiao Ji must not die. Therefore, Peng Wen did not exert full force, but with ten lashes, Ms. Xiao Ji was beaten until her skin was torn, and she fainted.

Ms. Gao Lei did not let Ms. Xiao Ji off, instructing Peng Wen: "Douse her awake!"

Peng Wen quickly had cold water brought, mixed with salt, and it was poured onto the injured back of Ms. Xiao Ji, sharp pain waking her up, screaming: "Ahhh, stop, stop... Company Commander Jin, husband, please come save me, sobbing~"

Ms. Gao Lei laughed: "Do you still dare to bring up Company Commander Jin to scare us? Let me tell you, just for what you did today, Company Commander Jin will be punished! Now it’s wartime. A Company Commander’s concubine caused trouble during wartime; you’re not looking for death, you’re trying to drag Company Commander Jin into hell with you!"

Ms. Xiao Ji was unconvinced, thinking she merely schemed against Gu Jinli, forced her to acknowledge her identity, how could it be so serious?

But Ms. Gao Lei said: "Spreading rumors during wartime about the city being attacked by Rong people, inciting soldiers’ relatives to leave the city and court death, your scheme has already implicated military affairs, you still think it’s not serious? That’s because you’re stupid!"

And continued: "Remember, today it’s not only Miss Gu dealing with you, but I also will deal with you. If your Company Commander Jin is displeased, let him come and confront me, and confront the Lei Family Trading Team, if he dares!"

Ms. Xiao Ji was shocked, knowing deep down Company Commander Jin could not possibly argue with the Lei Family Trading Team for her, a widow. Should the Lei Family Trading Team address this matter with Company Commander Jin, that vile man might well abandon her on the spot.

The Northwest doesn’t lack pretty widows. That vile man had long been planning on having fun with fresh widows in the Northwest.

"Old Madam, I was wrong, please calm your anger, sobbing~" This time, Ms. Xiao Ji truly cried, crying pitifully: "I, a widow, with no children to support me, could only come up with such foolish ways to make everyone acknowledge my identity so I could stand firm... I was wrong, please spare me this time."

Ms. Gao Lei laughed: "Hah, stop selling your misery in front of me. The Northwest is full of widows. I was widowed as a teenager and never bore a child in my life, but I didn’t stoop as low as you, scheming against innocent people for personal gain... Living as a woman in this world is indeed difficult, so I don’t consider women with cunning to be bad people, but using your cunning to harm others, especially those I’m protecting, then don’t blame me for being ruthless."

Gu Jinli heard this and her eyes brightened. That an ancient like Ms. Gao Lei could speak such words, truly a rare sight, worthy of respect.

Ms. Gao Lei glanced at her, snorted, then looked at Ms. Xiao Ji, saying: "Rest assured, I’ll have a doctor treat your wounds, ensuring you live till Company Commander Jin’s return."

Then she looked to Peng Wen: "Lock her in the woodshed, assign our Lei Family Trading Team to watch her; from now on, this matter is for our Lei Family Trading Team to manage."

Taking over the mess involving Ms. Xiao Ji was Ms. Gao Lei’s intention. After all, Kid Qin is still a Company Commander, equal to Company Commander Jin; should Miss Gu publicly punish his concubine, it would be troublesome if he held a grudge.

However, should she take over, Company Commander Jin, even if dissatisfied, could only confront her and not Miss Gu nor Kid Qin.

"Yes." Peng Wen led the group to escort Ms. Xiao Ji away.

Ms. Gao Lei remained seated, looking at Gu Jinli standing aside and began to scold: "Why are you still dawdling? War has begun; shouldn’t you be arranging these women to do something? Why are you so daft?"

Gu Jinli: "..."

Indeed, Ms. Gao Lei can scold at any moment.

Nevertheless, she now understood Ms. Gao Lei’s temperament. This old lady is sharp-tongued but soft-hearted and dislikes idle talk; speak too much, and you’ll be scolded. You must act, do things well, and then she’ll be pleased.

"Hey." Gu Jinli responded, addressing the women present: "Chief Commander, Lady Section Leader stay behind; the other women return to your camps’ yards, fetch water buckets, and fill up every container that can store water. We’ll make all the grains into dry rations and prepare medicine."

"Hey." The women responded and left immediately.

Ms. Gao Lei frowned, asking: "Why make all the grains into dry rations? Everyone else is hiding raw grains; dry rations can’t last long, won’t they spoil and waste the food?"