Chapter 575: Chapter 575: Lady Xia
Qin Er Lang, after hearing the news, reluctantly went out to meet Luo Huiniang just to get rid of her. He even dragged Qin San Lang along to ensure Luo Huiniang, the rustic maid of the Luo Family, didn’t scheme to have him marry her; this way, Qin San Lang could serve as a witness.
Luo Huiniang was overjoyed to see him coming out and eagerly handed over the gift she had prepared: "Brother Qin Er, this is the farewell gift I made for you. Please take it... and come back safely."
Qin Er Lang didn’t accept it but instead asked with a sneer, "What are you giving? A sachet or a handkerchief?"
If she really was giving such items, it would only prove that Luo Huiniang was a despicable woman trying to marry above her station.
Luo Huiniang said, "No, no, it’s a pair of leather palm guards, to protect your palms, so the hilt of a sword doesn’t chafe them."
She had stayed up all night for two days to make them, pricking her hands full of needle holes.
Qin Er Lang didn’t believe her and said, "Open the bag."
Luo Huiniang quickly opened the bag, holding it open for him to see: "There, see it clearly, it’s really just a pair of leather palm guards. This piece of sheepskin even cost me half a tael of my private savings, it was very expensive."
After hearing this, Qin Er Lang snatched the bag and walked away.
But he hadn’t walked far when he stopped, turned back to Luo Huiniang and said, "I dislike you... A country girl like you should rightfully marry a country man, that would be your proper place. High branches are not so easily climbed."
Luo Huiniang, hearing his words, cried with anger and shouted back, "Brother Qin Er, you are sick! I am just grateful that you saved me, nothing more. You are too bullying!"
Afterwards, she ran away crying.
Qin Er Lang watched her fleeing figure and turned back into the room, yet he couldn’t help but wonder... had he overthought things? Or perhaps he shouldn’t have spoken such hurtful words... Luo Huiniang might not be a match for him, but she was a good girl after all.
Gu Jinli waved to Qin San Lang as a greeting, then immediately ran after Luo Huiniang.
Luo Huiniang had not cried long before Gu Jinli caught up with her; she had already wiped away her tears and said, "Xiao Yu, you were right, there are many ways to express gratitude. I won’t be kind to Brother Qin Er anymore; I’ll save him to repay the debt when he’s in trouble."
She quickly spat a few times, adding, "No, no, that’s wrong. I never said that. I hope Brother Qin Er is well and does not encounter any danger... I will work hard to make money, and when I’ve earned enough silver, I will give it to him as repayment for saving my life."
Gu Jinli laughed on hearing this: "Good, you work hard and earn money. When you’ve saved up ten taels of silver, send it to him to settle the debt of gratitude."
Luo Huiniang: "Ten taels? That might be too little, right?"
Gu Jinli, holding her hand and walking back home, said: "That’s too much; buying a servant only costs three taels of silver. Our Hui Niang is not a servant, so giving him three times the amount for a servant, he should be more than pleased."
However much it might be, it would still be like feeding a wolf. Even ten taels were too much for her.
"You two, where on earth did you run off to so late at night? Hurry up and go back to sleep." Gu Jin’an, carrying a torch, came out looking for them. Seeing them, he sighed with relief and said to Gu Jinli, "If we don’t go back now, mom and dad will start worrying again."
Gu Jinli smiled: "We’re going back now." She pulled Luo Huiniang into the house and they went to sleep.
The next day, several families got up earlier than usual; they were up before dawn to see off Qin Er Lang at the Qin family’s house. Only after seeing Qin Er Lang off did they return to their own homes to get on with the morning’s chores.
Third Grandma really didn’t want to see Qin Er Lang go and wiped away tears saying, "Just like that he’s gone. I’ve heard it’s not as peaceful in Central State as it is here. Er Lang won’t encounter any danger, will he?"
Third Grandpa scolded, "You old woman, can’t you say something auspicious? Why say such things?"
After hearing this, Third Grandma quickly uttered a few more words asking God to bless and protect Qin Er Lang.
After sending Brother Qin Er off, Qin San Lang also had to return to the Military Office, so he would spend less time at home.
Gu Jinli made a lot of delicious food for him to take to the Military Office, which Qin San Lang accepted gratefully. He shared some news with her: "Uncle Jiang Qi might become the County Magistrate."
Gu Jinli was startled, "Then what about County Captain Jiang?"
Qin San Lang said, "The River Bandit Case made those above feel that there is a problem with the current system for the County Magistrate and County Captain; they reckon that in the future, these positions will no longer be inherited from father to son like in the former dynasty. They will be like the County Magistrate, being replaced every few years. County Captain Jiang wants to pass on the position to Uncle Jiang Qi before the court officially reforms the system. Having Uncle Jiang Qi as the County Magistrate can continue to protect us all."
Otherwise, if a new County Magistrate came, one whose temperament was unknown, a disadvantageous one could spell disaster.
He then consoled Gu Jinli, "Don’t worry, County Captain Jiang has planned this long ago. Even without the River Bandit Case, he would have petitioned to pass his position to Uncle Jiang Qi after a few years. Now, it’s just a few years ahead of schedule."
Gu Jinli understood and nodded, "That’s good then."
She also inquired about the new County Magistrate, "County Magistrate Zou was arrested, so when is the new County Magistrate coming?"
Qin San Lang shook his head, "Not very clear. Now, the higher-ups are very cautious about appointing a new County Magistrate. If they do not send someone from the Ministry of Personnel, they will transfer someone from a nearby county. But no matter who comes, they wouldn’t dare engage in corruption for personal gain. All eyes are watching; they don’t have the guts to do so."
The case of County Magistrate Zou could be said to have implicated all the County Magistrates across Great Chu. They cursed County Magistrate Zou, wishing they could catch him and flay him a thousand times.
After hearing this, Gu Jinli felt relieved. After sending Qin San Lang off, the family began to get busy preparing for Brother Cheng’s education.
Gu Jinli did not like Master Xia, but her family respected him greatly.
"It’s a blessing for Brother Cheng to be taught by Master Scholar. He must study hard," Third Grandpa advised Brother Cheng.
Brother Cheng smiled and nodded, "Yes, I will study hard and not waste the family’s silver."
Master Xia did not wish the Gu Family People to know his purpose, so he still insisted on receiving tuition fees, which were quite expensive, ten taels of silver a year.
Now that Gu Jinli’s house was living comfortably, the annual tuition fee of ten taels of silver was not a big deal for them, so they promptly paid it.
Gu Dashan made a special trip to the county to purchase the tuition fee gifts. The next day before dawn, he took Brother Cheng, Good Brother An, and Gu Jinli to the Xia Family’s house in the town.
Brother Cheng carried a small cloth bag embroidered by Gu Jinxiu, dressed anew, and rode the mule cart to the Xia Family’s house.
Unexpectedly, when they arrived at the Xia Family, they learned that Lady Xia had come.
Lady Xia liked them very much. Upon seeing the three siblings, she had a tearful eye and looked them over again and again before asking, "I heard that you also have an elder sister?"
Gu Jinli nodded, "Yes."
Seeing that Gu Jinli wasn’t talkative, Lady Xia took it upon herself to say, "I heard she has a good hand at embroidery."
Gu Jinli smiled, "The Lady seems to know a lot about our family."
Lady Xia smiled gently, "I also heard it from Brother An."
She then instructed a maid to fetch a booklet and handed it to Gu Jinli, "I have a booklet here, and I would like your elder sister to help embroider a piece according to what is written inside."
She feared Gu Jinli might refuse, so she added, "I will pay for the embroidery work; I won’t let your elder sister be busy for nothing."