Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 887: Don’t Die Yet, There’s a Big Gift Waiting for You

Inside the box, there was not only the family genealogy, but also the letter of appointment left by Village Chief Gu. The letter was stamped with the fingerprints of the heads of each household in Gu Family Village, proving that the people of Gu Family Village recognized Gu Dafu as the new Clan Leader.

The Gu Family’s private seal was also there, leaving no doubt about Gu Dafu’s status as Clan Leader.

Apart from these, there was also a book of Gu Family clan rules.

Magistrate Gu flipped through it, finding that the Old Gu Family had violated many clan rules, such as: conspiring against the legitimate wife who bore children, failing to properly educate their children and bringing shame to the Gu Family, marrying an ill-natured woman—any of these violations warranted expulsion from the clan.

Magistrate Gu had the government official return the box to Gu Dafu, saying, "Since you are the Gu Family Clan Leader and Gu Shengxiang has violated the clan rules, you may write a clan expulsion document yourself, and this office will stamp it with our seal."

When a clan expels members, it’s not necessary to seal it with the government office’s stamp, but since Elder Gu’s family is difficult to deal with, a stamp would ensure future troubles are avoided.

"Yes, commoner thanks the lord official," Gu Dafu expressed his gratitude to Magistrate Gu and began drafting the expulsion document, but as he was not familiar with many characters, he dictated it to Gu Jin’an, who penned a well-crafted expulsion document in no time.

After Gu Jin’an finished that, he also drafted a divorce paper on behalf of Gu Dashan. It was beautifully written, not only robust in style but also exquisitely worded.

Magistrate Gu read it and repeatedly nodded in approval. If this child could achieve a small three yuan, his political achievements this year would look promising, bringing him considerable credit.

Magistrate Gu quickly sealed both the divorce paper and the expulsion document with the government office’s stamp, stating, "Gu Shengxiang, being cold-hearted and ungrateful, not only bullied Mrs. Fei but was also manipulated by his second wife to conspire against Mrs. Fei. With no marital affection remaining, Gu Dashan, son of Mrs. Fei, hereby divorces on her behalf. According to the law of Great Chu, Gu Shengxiang must return all of Mrs. Fei’s dowry. If it has been spent, he must compensate with double the amount in Silver Coin."

Mrs. Fei’s dowry likely included many items used by Granny Gu, such as fabrics, chests, and beds. Those that couldn’t be retrieved had to be compensated with double the Silver Tael.

Elder Gu had been gagged, and upon hearing Magistrate Gu truly ruled to divorce him from Mrs. Fei, he was both furious and enraged, incessantly grumbling with hatred in his eyes, glaring at Gu Dashan.

Gu Dashan didn’t even glance at him, only holding Mrs. Fei’s memorial tablet and kneeling to thank Magistrate Gu.

After ruling on the divorce, Magistrate Gu addressed the expulsion of Elder Gu’s branch from the clan: "Gu Shengxiang’s branch repeatedly violated Gu Family clan rules, and today I sentence them to expulsion from the clan. As the houses and land in the Gu Family Village of Gaoshui County, Northwest Long’an Prefecture, belonged to Mrs. Fei’s dowry, Gu Shengxiang’s branch is not to take a thing. The house deeds and land deeds must be returned to the clan, to be handed back to Mrs. Fei’s son, Gu Dashan."

Elder Gu upon hearing this, was not overly agitated, his main concern was that Mrs. Fei was divorced from him.

That woman was meant to be his wife forever, to be bossed around and beaten as he pleased, but Gu Dashan dared to divorce her on her behalf!

Granny Gu was most furious that the house and land back home were awarded to Gu Dashan. Over the years, she’d long considered Mrs. Fei’s belongings as hers. Now, Magistrate Gu awarding the house and land to Gu Dashan was like taking them from her in broad daylight.

Granny Gu wished to explode in anger, but her case being concluded, her mouth remained gagged, unable to utter a word.

Gu Jin’an observed her reaction, unable to restrain a smile.

After he and Gu Dashan thanked Magistrate Gu, he called Brother Cheng over and whispered in his ear.

Brother Cheng’s eyes lit up after listening, though he appeared a bit afraid.

Gu Jin’an sternly said to him, "Remember what our big brother told you before we came? You’ve grown up, you’re a man now, no longer that little child bullied by Granny Gu. Remember, you must face what scares you to defeat it, or else you’ll be haunted by it forever."

Brother Cheng harbored dark fears of the Old Gu Family, having spent a long period plagued by nightmares, waking in fright.

He wasn’t originally meant to attend the court, given his age, but had been brought forcibly to face Granny Gu, so she wouldn’t shadow his life forevermore. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Brother Cheng obeyed Gu Jin’an, nodding despite being a little scared, "Alright, I’ll go speak."

He ran over to Granny Gu, and as her sharp eyes glared at him, he halted, but again stepped forward, meeting her murderous gaze. He approached, crouching beside her, whispering in her ear, "Big brother says, be careful not to bite your tongue in jail... he has a big gift for you, it’s about Lord Lai. If you die, you won’t see what happens to Lord Lai."

"Mmm! Mmm!" Lord Lai was Granny Gu’s white moonlight in her heart; she couldn’t bear anyone plotting against him. Hearing this, she almost died of anxiety, glaring at Brother Cheng, wanting to ask what Gu Jin’an knew and how he planned to deal with Lord Lai.

But really, she couldn’t utter a word.

Brother Cheng looked at Granny Gu, bound hand and foot and gagged, suddenly feeling, "You look like a zongzi."

Saying this, he laughed, "You were quite fierce before, I was so terrified I’d cry in my dreams, but now, I’m not afraid. I’m studying with a Great Scholar and will earn an official position, becoming more accomplished than all your children and grandchildren."

"Mmm! Mmm!" Granny Gu almost went mad. Gu Jincheng, this little bastard she tormented, she believed Gu Jin’an might achieve success, but Gu Jincheng, almost driven to witlessness by her torment, would never amount to anything.

Yet now, the person she looked down upon most dared to lift his head, addressing her boldly.

He then... recited an essay before her, one from the university.

Such a young age, and he already could recite university-level essays?

In contrast, thinking of Gu Chengzhi, getting dumber as he grew, unable even to recite the Three Character Classic.

Granny Gu feared death, but more feared her descendants achieving nothing; comparing the two, she was so angered she couldn’t catch her breath, fainting again.

Brother Cheng was taken aback, quickly slipping away to find Doctor Xiao, "Grandpa Xiao, Granny Gu fainted."

Doctor Xiao frowned, "Fainted again?"

He didn’t want to treat her, so he called Doctor Liu, "Didn’t you see Granny Gu fainting? Hurry and save her, she’s not been executed yet, we can’t let her die."

Doctor Liu was very annoyed, but this offered a chance to showcase his medical skills, so he could only lead the attendant to help Granny Gu with acupuncture.

Lord Lai’s gaze shifted from Granny Gu to Gu Jincheng; this child was extremely clever, knowing how to play mind games at such a young age, and as for Gu Jin’an, Gu Dashan’s two sons were indeed extraordinary.

Lord Lai bowed his head, eyes gathering a gloomy, cold light, fearful of these brothers, Pan Shuangniang was right, these brothers couldn’t be allowed to remain. If they grew successful, what if they acted against Chengzhi?

On Pan Shuangniang’s side, only Chengzhi remained healthy and sound, he must protect him well, and eliminate Gu Family’s descendants to root out future threats.