Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 695: Settling Accounts with the Xia Family Couple

Luo Wu respected Gu Dashan greatly because of his affection for Gu Jinxiu. When he saw that Gu Dashan wanted to know, he told him about the incident where Mr. and Mrs. Xia came to talk to him.

"By the end of last year, a manor just outside the county reported the theft of a precious orchid, so I led a team to investigate. To my surprise, it turned out to be Mr. Xia’s manor..."

At that time, he was arranging a residence in the county, planning to go to the Gu Family to propose a marriage for Sister Xiu after the New Year. Since Mr. Xia was Brother Cheng’s teacher and it was the Xia Family’s manor that had been robbed, he naturally took the investigation very seriously.

In the end, it was a farmer who had come to work at the manor who was found responsible, but the orchid had already been destroyed by the farmer’s daughter. The farmer was poor and could not afford to compensate the Xia Family with five hundred taels of silver.

They all thought the farmer would be arrested and sentenced, but unexpectedly, the Xia Family showed kindness. After lecturing the farmer, they let him go.

All the government officials were shocked, praising Mr. Xia’s benevolence. If they had pursued charges, that family of farmers would not have survived.

They also marveled at the wealth of the Xia Family—how could a single orchid from their manor be worth five hundred taels of silver? What kind of family is this?

Because of this encounter, Luo Wu developed a good impression of Mr. and Mrs. Xia. Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Xia did not feel the same about him. After the case concluded, they invited him to their manor, put on an extravagant display, and left this country lad thoroughly overwhelmed.

They then started to explain how the families of nobles and civil servants lived their lives, mentioning that Sister Xiu had the grace of Fengyi and could have become the Empress if born to a better family. But now, she could only marry into a noble family, to be wedded to a legitimate son of a noble.

Initially, Luo Wu was angry and told Mr. and Mrs. Xia, "Sister Xiu is not the sort who despises the poor and craves wealth. We grew up together..."

Mr. Xia interrupted him: "We never said Sister Xiu despised the poor and craved wealth, only that her demeanor is suited to marrying into a noble family, that’s all."

With a look of disdain and scrutiny, Mr. Xia sneered and said, "You’ve grown up together, but that doesn’t mean she has to marry you."

"Brother Wu, you can’t harm Sister Xiu. She is someone who can marry a noble son and become an aristocratic woman. Do you really want her to suffer with you, a mere farmboy..." Lady Xia covered her nose, frowned, and asked, "What is that smell? Did you step in something filthy? Or did you just come from the punishment room at the government office? The stench of blood is unbearable. Do you really want Sister Xiu to tolerate someone like you? Don’t you dare taint her."

Luo Wu’s family was doing quite well. Back in his home village, he was a person held in high regard; on the road escaping famine, he was flattered by the villagers because he knew martial arts; after joining the government office, he quickly made achievements and became a squad leader. His family received quite a bit of silver from Gu’s Workshop, and their lives prospered like wind and water.

Feeling triumphant and ready to pursue the girl he loved, he was unexpectedly met with disdain and mockery, which unavoidably struck a blow to his heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Xia were adept at psychological manipulation, bringing up Gu’s Workshop: "That was charity given to your family by the Xiao Yu family, a dividend given out of past affection. The Xiao Yu family is righteous, but at your age, you should know how to repay those kindnesses. Do you really plan to use the Gu Family’s silver to marry a Gu Family girl? Have you no shame?"

These words hit Luo Wu deeply.

Mr. and Mrs. Xia continued to point out his impotence, and his family’s impotence: "Years have gone by, and your family still relies on the Gu’s Workshop for a living. Only your monthly salary can be considered self-earned, but that bit of silver can’t even buy a single tile from a rich family. How will you support Sister Xiu?"

They scoffed again: "To say that you could work at the government office, it was only with the help of the Xiao Yu family. Without the Xiao Yu’s debt of gratitude for saving the granddaughter of the Jiang Family, could a farmer boy who fled a famine like you have joined the government?"

They completely dismissed Luo Wu’s achievements in quelling bandits.

Finally, with tears in her eyes, Lady Xia said, "Brother Wu, it’s not that we want to criticize you, but as a person, you must understand gratitude. You can’t just take another family’s silver and then ruin their daughter, can you?"

Luo Wu, upon hearing these words, felt dizzy and unable to face himself, completely unaware of how he had left the Xia Family’s manor.

Later, Master Xia and his wife sent him a letter, first apologizing, and then explaining that since they came from a noble family, their relatives and friends were all from noble and high-ranking families. They would find a good husband from such families for Sister Xiu, assuring him to have peace of mind.

They also detailed the benefits of Sister Xiu marrying into such a family, stating that not only would Sister Xiu live a good life, but it would also elevate the Gu Family’s status. As a result, Good Brother An and Xiao Yu’s future marriages would benefit as well.

Gu Jinli heard this and wanted to curse. The Xia couple were using their whole family to pressure Luo Wu.

But...

"Are you an idiot? You believe whatever the Xia Family’s beasts say? Don’t you have a brain? Is this how you treat my sister? Do you even know what kind of disgusting family the Xia couple have found for my elder sister?"

Luo Wu was shocked and hastily asked, "What kind of family is it? Isn’t it a rare good family?"

Master Xia and his wife had promised him that they would find a man for Sister Xiu who had a gentle mother-in-law and kind sisters-in-law, a capable man with a good temper, and one who would not take a concubine.

"Indeed, it’s a rare good family," Gu Jinli said with a cold laugh, but she didn’t immediately mention the Zhan Family. Instead, she asked Luo Wu, "If you were to marry my elder sister, would you take a concubine?"

Luo Wu shook his head: "Of course not. Where is the reason for a farmer to take two wives?"

Gu Jinli found this somewhat satisfying, but just as she was about to speak, she was interrupted by Gu Jin’an: "Let me speak."

It wasn’t proper for a girl to talk about the affairs of the Zhan Family; it was too dirty.

"What exactly is going on? Is the family found by the Xia Family not good?" Luo Wu was very anxious. He didn’t want Sister Xiu to marry a non-human.

Gu Jin’an pulled Gu Jinli away and stood in front of Luo Wu, looking down at him and said, "Recently, the Xia Family had three visitors surnamed Zhan, relatives from a noble family in Jiangnan, who don’t wear jackets in winter and sport cloaks worth a thousand taels. The Xia couple intend to betroth my elder sister to the Second Young Master Zhan, but do you know what kind of person that Second Young Master Zhan is?"

He didn’t want Gu Jinxiu’s reputation to be tarnished. Squatting down, he grabbed Luo Wu’s collar and whispered into his ear so only the two of them could hear: "Zhan Er barged into our house and encountered my elder sister. After she knocked him out, he didn’t apologize the next day but came directly to our house to propose marriage. He claims he doesn’t want concubines, yet he sleeps with maids. On the very day he came to propose to my sister, he had slept with a maid; that’s the ’good family’ Xia’s have spoken of for my elder sister."

Luo Wu was startled by the revelation. Coming to his senses, he abruptly stood up and rushed out of the house.

Father Luo and the others saw him leave and hastily chased after him: "Brother Wu, where are you going? It’s late at night, and your clothes are still wet. If you don’t change them, you’ll get sick."

Father Luo reached out to grab Luo Wu, only to be violently shrugged off: "I’m going to the Xia Family manor to confront the Xia couple and ask them how they dare to abuse Sister Xiu like this!"

The girl he had loved for so many years; in order to ensure she had a good life, he had reluctantly offered her to someone else. But what had the Xia couple found? A lustful ghost?

Not only did he intrude upon the Gu Family and affront Sister Xiu, but the next day he came not to apologize but to propose marriage, pretending to be deeply in love, yet on the very day he proposed, he slept with another woman.

Just hearing about it made Luo Wu so angry that he shed tears. How could they treat Sister Xiu like that? How could they treat her like this?!