Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 851: Fool?

Ms. Zhang’s eyes lit up after hearing this. She pushed Gu Chengli out as well and said, "Dad, Lord Lai, Chengli grew up with Good Brother An. Let Chengli go along too, he can chat with Good Brother An."

Gu Dagu felt sour and mocked, "Ms. Zhang, what a load of nonsense you’re spouting. Back in our hometown, your brothers Chenghua and Chengli bullied Good Brother An a lot. If it wasn’t for that Luo Family boy protecting him, they could have beaten Good Brother An to death!"

If it weren’t for her son Chengcai having contracted venereal disease and being unable to leave the courtyard, would it be Ms. Zhang’s turn to say this?

Ms. Zhang sneered, "Sister-in-law, you’re wrong. It was your sons Qian Chenggui and Qian Chengcai who bullied Good Brother An the most back then. Not only did they bully Good Brother An, but also tried to have designs on Sister Xiu. Have you seen how Sister Xiu looks like? How could she be interested in your two sons?"

Gu Dagu, infuriated by Ms. Zhang’s mockery, retorted angrily, "Oh, Ms. Zhang, how dare you openly criticize my Chenggui and Chengcai! Because you see my mother paralyzed and unable to hit you, you think you can be arrogant, is that it? Say one more word, and I’ll smack you to death!"

Gu Jinxiu was beautiful. Back in the day, Qian Chenggui really fancied Gu Jinxiu and wanted to marry her. But Gu Dagu refused, looking down on Gu Dashan’s lack of ability. Her son was to marry a daughter of a wealthy family. What was Gu Jinxiu worth? Making her a concubine would be a favor.

"Enough!" Lord Lai was nearly driven mad, pointing at Ms. Zhang, addressing Elder Gu, "What’s wrong with your Gu Family’s daughters-in-law, behaving so improperly, daring to argue with the sister-in-law like this? Aren’t you, as the head of the family, going to do something?"

In principle, this was an internal affair of the Old Gu Family, one that Lord Lai, an outsider, shouldn’t meddle in. But Elder Gu, like a coward, didn’t dare refute Lord Lai and scolded Ms. Zhang harshly.

Lai Zhuang stood off to the side, stunned. Who was the head of the Old Gu Family anyway? Lord Lai or Elder Gu?

Elder Gu also knew it was inappropriate for Lord Lai to meddle in his family affairs like this, but as a mere farmer, how dare he complain to an official? He would do whatever Lord Lai instructed, without daring to contradict.

However, after scolding Ms. Zhang, he said, "Now that Youwen and Youlu are both ill, visiting Gu Dashan’s family alone wouldn’t look good. Let Youfu’s family accompany us."

Hearing this, Ms. Zhang was delighted, feeling the scolding was worth it.

Lord Lai didn’t want to delve into these matters, nodded and agreed, "No time to waste, you should set off for Tianfu County at dawn tomorrow. The Protectors of the Lai Family will drive you there."

He also reminded them, "Now that Gu Dashan’s family is wealthy and Gu Jin’an has made progress, if you want to get his family’s business, you can’t beat or curse them anymore; you’ll need to be more considerate."

Elder Gu, upon hearing this, felt his pride wounded and stubbornly said, "As his father, how dare he refuse to hand the business over if I ask for it?"

Lai Zhuang listened and sneered, thinking Elder Gu considered himself the Emperor, that he could just open his mouth and take away his son’s business?

But he hoped Elder Gu would succeed in seizing the estate, for only then could the Lai Family rid themselves of this Old Gu Family inconvenience.

Thus, whether Elder Gu resorted to making a scene or threatening through suicide, as long as he could obtain Gu Dashan’s family business, and stop using the Lai Family’s silver for medical expenses, Lai Zhuang would stay silent.

After finishing with these matters, Lord Lai teased Gu Chengzhi a bit before he got up and left.

Granny Gu, seeing this, screamed at his back like a madwoman, but Lord Lai left without turning his head.

He blamed Granny Gu in his heart, feeling it was her poor teaching of Gu Youwen and his brothers that led them to their current state... Balancing merits and faults, the contribution she made to the Lai Family was now gone. Were it not for Gu Youwen and his brothers, he would have had someone kill her long ago.

Gu Chengzhi liked Lord Lai very much. Seeing Lord Lai leave, he followed, grabbing Lord Lai’s hand and asked, "Grandpa Lai, do you have anything tasty in the mule cart? Brother Zhi wants to eat, Brother Zhi is hungry, hungry!"

Lord Lai smiled and led him to the mule cart, handing him a food box, "There are some snacks inside, take it back and eat."

Gu Chengzhi’s eyes sparkled, and after accepting the box, he immediately squatted down and gobbled it up next to the mule cart.

Lai Zhuang watched with a frown, thinking that after the new year, Gu Chengzhi would be nine, yet this child squats like a dog by the roadside eating, and—vomited!

Yes, Gu Chengzhi ate and suddenly started vomiting, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve and grinned, "If I vomit, my belly feels empty again and I can eat the good stuff, not wasting it."

Lai Zhuang was dumbfounded. Was there something wrong with Gu Chengzhi’s brain? Would a normal person do or say such things?

But Lord Lai noticed nothing strange about Gu Chengzhi, only noting how much the boy ate, his robust health, and his lack of illness. He even praised him, "Brother Zhi is a good child, even knowing not to waste food. Eat slowly, there’s no rush."

Ms. Zheng came rushing out of the house, seeing Gu Chengzhi squatting on the ground eating. She hurried over to pull him up and, with a smiling face, apologized to Lord Lai, "I’m sorry you had to witness this; Brother Zhi starved during the famine, so he cherishes food like this. Please don’t mind him."

Lord Lai, hearing this, was all the more convinced not to suspect anything about Gu Chengzhi, feeling only pity for his previous famine hardships.

Ms. Zheng hurriedly added, "Brother Zhi, quickly bow and see your Grandpa Lai off."

Gu Chengzhi obediently bowed to Lord Lai, "Grandpa Lai, take care."

Lord Lai nodded in satisfaction and left in the mule cart.

But he didn’t see that soon after getting in the cart, Gu Chengzhi actually picked up a piece of meat he had vomited out and put it back into his mouth, laughing at Ms. Zheng, "Hehe, Mom, it’s delicious."

Ms. Zheng’s face turned pale and she quietly scolded him, "How many times has Mom told you? You can’t eat back the vomit, and don’t eat like a dog. You must sit at the table and use chopsticks. If Grandpa Lai sees you eating like this, he won’t like you."

Gu Chengzhi spoke while munching, "Mom’s lying. Grandpa Lai saw just now, and he likes me."

Ms. Zheng snapped, "Nonsense, just do as Mom says, or Mom will hit you!"

Ms. Zheng was very troubled, as she was the only one who knew about Gu Chengzhi’s issues. She discovered Gu Chengzhi’s problem because of one of her brothers.

She had a younger brother who died early, just like Gu Chengzhi, with a... not too bright mind. He lived until he was twelve yet was even sillier than Gu Chengzhi. Eventually, that brother vanished.

Initially, she didn’t understand and asked where the second brother went.

Her grandparents said that the second brother was eaten by wolves in the mountains.

She only realized after growing up that her second brother had a mental problem, and her grandparents were afraid this would implicate her eldest, third, and fourth brothers, so they abandoned the second brother.

If they didn’t abandon him, others knowing about the second brother’s issue would mean her elder brothers couldn’t even get a wife.

The family was already poor; which girl would marry a family that is both poor and mentally challenged?