Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 898: How Many Sins Did That Old Woman Commit?
The Yuan Family People were fetched by Qin San Lang and Gu Daya’s family, but to avoid suspicion, they didn’t stay at the residence of Gu Jinli’s house in the Prefecture, instead, they stayed in an old half-collapsed house in the city.
This place is near the West City Gate, with many such old houses now occupied by beggars.
Qin San Lang and Gu Jinli’s subordinates mixed with the beggars here to protect the Yuan Family.
After settling the Yuan Family, Qin San Lang brought Gu Daya’s family back to the residence of Gu Jinli’s house.
Gu Jinli heard they were back and hurried to greet them.
Just as she reached the door, she saw Qin San Lang looking dusty and tired, along with Gu Daya’s family: "Aunt, Uncle, Cousin Ming, Cousin Le."
After greeting everyone, she ran to Qin San Lang and smiled at him: "Brother Qin, you’re back. Was it tiring? I thought you wouldn’t make it back."
Qin San Lang and his group rushed back as fast as they could, feeling a bit weary at the moment, but upon seeing her, he felt invigorated, smiled down at her and said: "Not tiring, we’ll definitely be back before the nineteenth."
March nineteenth is her birthday, turning fifteen, her coming of age, this is a once-in-a-lifetime big day, how could he miss it?
Only...
"This time it’s been hard on you."
Gu Jinli was a bit surprised upon hearing this, and after realizing it, she laughed: "Why are you saying this too? What’s so hard about it? It’s just a birthday."
Ancient customs emphasize the coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen. Mrs. Cui had been saying since last year how to organize the coming-of-age ceremony for her. She said when Gu Jinxiu came of age, they were too poor to hold one; now it’s her turn, they should go big, with the guest list and menu all planned out, but the matter with the Old Gu Family came up.
"It’s alright, getting rid of the Old Gu Family is more important than having a coming-of-age ceremony."
If the Old Gu Family isn’t dealt with, she won’t have peaceful days. Only by removing them can she live steadily.
Besides, she doesn’t like holding a coming-of-age ceremony. If it really happened, she’d be watched like a monkey by the village women... Hmm, having a birthday surrounded by women watching her like a monkey, she’d rather not have that.
Qin San Lang, feeling somewhat sorry, reached out wanting to touch her hair, but since this was in the courtyard with many people around, he retracted his hand, saying: "I have prepared a gift for you."
Gu Jinli was very happy, her eyes lit up, she said: "Then give me the gift tomorrow, anything you send is fine."
Seeing that he was a bit tired, she urged: "Quickly go take a bath and have your meal first, then talk about the Yuan Family’s matters."
Qin San Lang nodded and returned to the courtyard where Gu Jin’an and Brother Cheng lived.
Doctor Du and others were brought by Luo Wu to act as witnesses. Because the house was crowded, the guesthouse he was used to was assigned to the Du Family People, and Luo Wu, like him, lived in the courtyard of Gu Jin’an and Brother Cheng.
Mrs. Cui watched complacently, feeling assured about her second daughter’s situation with San Lang, but she couldn’t help pulling Gu Jinli aside to quietly instruct: "Xiao Yu, you and San Lang aren’t engaged yet, some words shouldn’t be said publicly, talking about bathing, aren’t you embarrassed."
Gu Jinli didn’t blush at all, nodded: "Hmm, understood, Mother. I’ll pay attention next time."
She even helped Brother Qin take off his clothes and applied medicine, what’s wrong with talking about bathing?
But this is ancient times, she understands the rules and keeps them in mind when there are many people around.
Mo Qinzi is pregnant, her belly already big now. She and Qi Kangping just arrived at the Prefecture yesterday. Knowing Gu Daya’s family returned, they also came out to greet them, inviting them to wash up and eat.
After bustling around for an hour, Gu Daya’s family finally tidied up and enjoyed a meal of hot tea and rice, then talked with Gu Jinli and the others about the Yuan Family’s matters.
"Yuan Jiagui and Tian Xiwang’s families suffered a lot, escaping to the Central State with no other option, they sold themselves as servants. But Elder Dai’s family they were sold to also had bad luck, as the chaos in the Central State lasted longer than in Jianghuai or Jiangnan, many of Elder Dai’s family’s businesses couldn’t continue, so he took them to Linhe Prefecture, to seek refuge with relatives."
"When Elder Dai’s family sought relatives, they sold some servants, and Yuan Jiagui’s two sons were sold just like that. Yuan Jiagui had skills in veterinary medicine, allowing him to be kept by Elder Dai’s family, now living a hard life with a grandson and granddaughter."
"Originally, he didn’t want to get involved in this mess, but San Lang promised him to redeem his family, arrange twenty acres of good land and a house for them, and help find his two sold sons."
Tian Xiwang’s family did it for their daughter, Elder Dai wanted Tian Xiwang’s daughter to be a maid, and Tian Xiwang’s family didn’t want their daughter to suffer, seeing that Qin San Lang was willing to redeem them, they agreed to testify.
As for Elder Dai, his family fell on hard times, more silver would make him agreeable to selling people.
And Gu Jinli’s house learned of the Yuan Family’s existence by continually searching for Gu Fuya’s family over the years, collecting many names of refugees from government offices, private slave market, and found people from Yuanjia Town.
After Gu Daya’s family recounted the Yuan Family’s story, they went back to rest.
The next day, before the doors of the Prefecture Government Office opened, the Yuan Family People went and beat the drum of injustice.
Thud, thud, thud!
Early risers on the street were attracted by the drum sounds, standing by asking disinterestedly: "Why are you beating the drum? What injustice do you have? Is it significant?"
Is it exciting?
Having seen the good drama with the Old Gu Family, now they are quite particular, uninterested in minor stuff like Zhang family kid stealing a Li family cow.
Yuan Jiagui, unaware of He’an Prefecture’s people’s disposition, hesitated, hunched and turned to them and said: "We are people from Northwest Long’an Prefecture, Gaoshui County, Yuan Family Village. We heard that Mrs. Gu Pan was arrested, and came to accuse her... of murdering her husband!"
The Qin family youth said not to directly accuse Lord Lai, for citizen accusing officials involves punishment; accuse Granny Gu to avoid punishment.
With these words, the sleepy He’an Prefecture people immediately perked up, asking Yuan Jiagui: "Is it true? You’re accusing Granny Gu of murdering her husband?!"
Yuan Jiagui nodded: "Yes, I, Yuan Jiagui, accuse the poisonous woman Pan Shi of murdering her husband on behalf of the Yuan Family clan."
The people on the street, hearing this, became very excited, couldn’t believe there’s a sequel to Granny Gu’s gossip?
They shouted: "Come, people! Someone from Northwest Yuan Family Village is here to accuse Granny Gu of murdering her husband Yuan Jiaman!"
Yuan Jiaman’s name had been mentioned several times in court the past couple of days, so everyone knew.
The voices of He’an Prefecture people are powerful, running and shouting all the way, within 30 minutes, half the Prefecture knew.
The government official at the government office, upon hearing a murder case, immediately opened the doors, welcomed the Yuan Family People in, and sent someone to notify Magistrate Gu and Judge Tang.
Upon hearing the news, Magistrate Gu was so fed up he almost vomited: "Why is someone accusing Granny Gu again? How much sin has this old woman committed to wanting to die multiple times?"
But fed up is fed up, Magistrate Gu still said: "Where are the Yuan Family People? Bring them to the courthouse, I will be there shortly."
