Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1653: Xiao Yu, I’m Back

Ji Zhenniang has always loved to flatter Mrs. Han. As she got off the carriage, she came over to hold Mrs. Han’s hand: "Sister-in-law Zhang, don’t worry, Company Commander Zhang will definitely return safely."

These words were spoken in a by-the-book manner, and there was nothing wrong to be heard. But Xie Cheng returned safely and followed the triumphant army into the city, and Ji Zhenniang was beside herself with joy. When comforting Mrs. Han, the joy on her face couldn’t be contained, making it look like she was deliberately mocking Mrs. Han.

Fortunately, everyone knew Ji Zhenniang’s character and didn’t think she was doing it on purpose.

Mrs. Han forced out a smile: "Sister-in-law Xie is very kind. I’m fine."

"Sister-in-law Zhang, the poisonous insects are rampant outside the city now. All the soldiers entering the city today need insect repellent. There will definitely be a lot of people coming for medicine later, and Granny Lei is not here. We really don’t have enough people, so we still need you to manage the general affairs." Gu Jinli saw that Mrs. Han was still worried, so she simply found something for her to do to distract her from overthinking.

She then looked at Sister Yu and Brother Yi, saying: "The two children are still young. They’ve been outside once. To avoid them catching any poisonous insects, let’s take them to get rid of the insects first."

Mrs. Kuang, standing nearby, said: "San Lang’s Wife is right. Let’s not just stand here; we better set aside the insect attractant we’ll need, lest General Liang and the others empty it out later."

After speaking, she pulled Mrs. Han and called Sister Yu and Brother Yi inside.

Because of this, Mrs. Han became busy and had no time to feel sad about Zhang Yan not entering the city.

Ji Zhenniang choked up and said: "Sister-in-law Zhang is really pitiful..."

"Please, if you can’t speak properly, just don’t say anything." Gu Jinli had had enough of Ji Zhenniang. Although she was unintentional, she always had to say something whenever she saw something wrong at others’ homes, which was typical of someone without ill intentions but unable to control their mouth.

Ji Zhenniang felt wronged once again and was angry: "Gu Xiaoyu, don’t look down on people just because you’re capable. I’m just worried about Sister-in-law Zhang."

Gu Jinli replied: "Don’t feel wronged here. I’m not Company Commander Xie, and even if you died of grievance, I wouldn’t feel sorry."

She added: "Your Company Commander Xie is back, so you can rest easy. Hurry up and help in the medicine storeroom; otherwise, your Company Commander Xie and his soldiers might not get any insect attractant."

Ji Zhenniang was quite useless. During the time when Rong soldiers surrounded the city, everyone just prayed she wouldn’t cry or cause trouble, and there was no work for her. But now that Xing’an Prefecture’s crisis has been resolved, she has to do some things within her abilities.

"I’m a Company Commander’s Wife, why should I have to work?" Ji Zhenniang didn’t want to go, but on second thought, the insect attractant is scarce, and many people are fighting for it, so she has to go to the medicine storeroom to oversee securing a few boxes of insect attractant and knife injury medicine for Xie Cheng, lest he runs out.

"Alright, I’ll go work." Ji Zhenniang left with Xie Huaihua.

Gu Jinli said to Danian: "Go to the government office and ask the people around the master if there’s any news of Company Commander Zhang? Sister-in-law Zhang is very worried about him."

She added: "Also, ask You Ping and the others if Liugou and the others have returned? Any injuries? If there are no injuries, arrange for Liugou and the others to deliver a message to Company Commander Zhang, telling them to avoid the Rong people and not to run into the retreating Rong soldiers."

"Alright, I’ll take care of it right away." Danian drove off on a horse-drawn carriage.

"Should we go make medicine, madam? Don’t go; you’ve been working night and day making medicine recently. You’re too tired; you need to rest." Nanny Tao looked at the much thinner Gu Jinli, feeling very concerned. For the first time, she thought marrying Qin San Lang wasn’t that good as it involved coming to the Northwest and enduring many hardships.

Gu Jinli nodded with a smile: "Mm, I’m not going to make medicine anymore; I need to rest while waiting for Brother Qin to return."

With that, she smiled and walked towards a guesthouse next to the main courtyard.

This courtyard was given to her to live in by Ms. Gao Lei. However, with the fighting going on recently, Ms. Gao Lei worried for a young daughter-in-law without a mother-in-law accompanying her and allowed her to stay in the main courtyard, sharing a room.

Ms. Gao Lei left with General Liang and Magistrate Hao to welcome Luo Ying, instructing her to move back to the guesthouse instead of returning to the main courtyard because she didn’t want her smelly purse making her dizzy and wanting to vomit.

Gu Jinli laughed upon hearing this, knowing Ms. Gao Lei intentionally said so, actually wanting to give her and Brother Qin some time alone, as Ms. Gao Lei mumbled before leaving: "With all this chaos, Company Commander Qin is working on a knife’s edge, still needing a posterity."

Unexpectedly, she was urged to have children just like that.

"Madam, the room has been tidied up, hot water is in the side room, meals are ready, and the medicine is prepared. Once the master returns, they can eat." Xiao Ji and two servants busied themselves in the courtyard here, seeing Gu Jinli return, reported to her.

"Well done, our Xiao Ji has improved." Gu Jinli commented with emotion; after a great battle, many people became capable and sensible.

Gu Jinli was delighted and joyously went to bathe, even removing the acne patch from her face as she didn’t want Brother Qin to see her looking ugly.

Just as she finished and hadn’t dried her hair, Erqing came to report: "Madam, the master has fainted and was brought back by Danian!"

"Fainted? How could he faint? Is he injured?" Gu Jinli hurriedly got up and rushed out, but Erqing stopped her, handing her a hat with a veil: "Madam, cover your face!"

Without the acne patch on her face, rushing out like this would expose it.

"Grab my medicine box, let’s go." Gu Jinli put on the hat with a veil, ran out of the courtyard, and soon saw Danian, Feng Jin, and the others carrying Qin San Lang inside.

"What’s wrong with Brother Qin?" Gu Jinli asked from a distance.

Feng Jin said: "Madam, don’t worry. The master just fainted from exhaustion, nothing serious."

Gu Jinli, upon hearing this, still felt uneasy and ran over, grabbed Qin San Lang’s hand, and checked his pulse... it was indeed a sign of exhaustion.

But...

Why was her other hand being held by a supposedly unconscious person?

She looked down at Qin San Lang, noting his eyelashes fluttering several times. There was no need to guess; he was awake.

Gu Jinli sighed in relief and quickly said: "Indeed it is exhaustion-induced fainting. Quickly get the master back to the courtyard."

"Alright." Danian and the others responded, carrying Qin San Lang into the main courtyard before being dismissed by Gu Jinli.

As soon as she closed the door, Qin San Lang sat up, looked at her, and said: "Xiao Yu, don’t be afraid. I didn’t faint; General Cheng and the others were too bothersome, constantly pulling me to talk. I wanted to come back earlier and had to pretend to faint."

After explaining, he reached out to her and smiled: "Xiao Yu, I’m back safely."

He had not broken his promise; he returned in one piece to see her.

Gu Jinli approached him, placing her hand in his palm. His arm retracted, clearly wanting to embrace her, but he stopped in time upon thinking of the blood stains on him: "Let me go wash up."

After speaking, he quickly got up to leave but was pulled back by Gu Jinli: "Stop."

"Xiao Yu?" Qin San Lang stopped, looking back at her.

Gu Jinli stood on tiptoe, encircled his neck, kissed him and seriously said: "Remember, I won’t despise you; the bloodstains on you are not terrifying. They are the marks of your fight against oppression for the people."