Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 195 Ah Ji Visits the Qin Family

Ms. Zhang was in disbelief, completely stunned.

Mrs. Chen yelled angrily: "Are we really going to let the Mo Family girl work in our workshop? She is from the Mo Family after all. If we bring her in, Old Man Mo’s family will surely seize the opportunity to interfere!"

Mo Qinzi hurriedly said: "We have already rented a house and will move out tomorrow. We won’t live with my elder uncle’s family anymore. My parents have seen their true faces and won’t be soft-hearted anymore. Aunt Gu, please rest assured."

Ms. Zhang regained her composure, holding onto Mrs. Chen’s sleeve: "Gu Family’s sister-in-law, don’t worry, our family will no longer associate with the elder uncle’s family, please, please don’t stop Sister Qin from working in the workshop."

Mrs. Chen pulled her sleeve back, giving Ms. Zhang a disdainful look: "Tch, just because you said it we should believe it? You’re all from the Mo Family, kin and tribe. Can you really sever ties that easily?"

It’s not that she didn’t want Mo Qinzi to work in the workshop; she was just upset that Mo Qinzi had talked back to her and feeling annoyed, she wanted to give Mo Qinzi a hard time.

Mrs. Chen’s dissatisfaction was evident on her face, and Gu Jinli saw right through it, but what Mrs. Chen said was not without reason.

"Let’s do this. We’ll add a clause in the contract. If the Elder Mo’s Family comes harassing our workshop because of you, one harassment – a deduction of a month’s salary; two harassances – expulsion from the workshop," Gu Jinli said to Mo Qinzi. "Think it over. If you agree, come sign the contract at the workshop tomorrow morning. If not, then forget it."

"I agree, I agree, there’s no need to think about it." Mo Qinzi loathed Elder Mo’s family and was eager to sever ties, not about to give up the opportunity to work in the workshop.

"Alright, you can go back now, come back tomorrow," Gu Jinli said.

"Ah, thank you, Young Miss Gu! I will come early tomorrow," Mo Qinzi was ecstatic. Ms. Zhang’s eyes reddened, almost to the point of tears, and the mother and daughter took the return gifts from Mrs. Chen and headed home happily.

Mrs. Chen was uncomfortable, lifted her eyelids, staring at Gu Jinli and said: "Xiao Yu, there are so many people in the village, why do you have to employ the Mo Family girl? She’s so fierce, hasn’t even started working yet but dared to talk back to me. Once she truly starts working, won’t she become even more arrogant?"

"Elder Mo has always looked down on Mo Kui’s family. If our workshop hires Mo Qinzi, hearing the news will surely infuriate Elder Mo to the point of death," Gu Jinli remarked, bringing a smile to Mrs. Chen’s face.

"Ah, aunt said you were clever, so this was your plan all along. It’s a brilliant idea, ideally, it’ll anger Old Man Mo to death so that he won’t cause any more trouble," Mrs. Chen, now appeased, cheerfully returned to the workshop’s main house and continued to supervise Mrs. He Yang and the others in their work.

As it was getting dark, Mrs. He Yang and the others finished their work, and Ms. Yan weighed their spices.

"Sister-in-law Dazhuang ground two tael two liang of cinnamon."

Mrs. He Yang, being a strong and able worker, managed to grind two tael two liang of cinnamon despite its difficulty.

"Sister-in-law Tu Gou ground two tael of cardamom."

"Aunt Yang ground one and a half liang of cloves."

"Dao Sui ground two tael half liang of cinnamon leaves."

He Daosui, He Shengzi’s younger sister, only eight years old but brisk at work, ground two tael half liang of cinnamon leaves in half a day.

Gu Jin’an was responsible for recording their quantities. After noting down each person’s spice weight, he had her press her handprint in the ledger to confirm she ground the spices herself, which would serve as evidence should any issues arise.

After a busy quarter hour, Gu Jin’an had finished recording the spice weights they had ground.

Fourteen people, in half a day’s work, ground twenty-six tael four liang of spices, nearly two tael per person. Given a full day, each could have ground at least three and a half tael.

Gu Jin was very satisfied with this speed.

"All the spice weights have been properly recorded for all the aunties, there are no mistakes. It’s getting late, everyone should head home," Gu Jinli said, handing out the prepared return gifts to Mrs. Chen and Ms. Yan: "Take these bean dregs cakes home."

Mrs. He Yang and her group saw a basket full of bean dregs cakes, their smiles so wide they could hardly close their mouths: "These sell for a good price in town; you’ve really gone to some expense for us."

Ms. Zhang held her chin up, quite smugly saying: "Expense? No matter how expensive, our workshop can afford to give it away."

While Gu Dagui was outside with Gu Dafu, weighing soybeans for Old Guo and his group for the next day, he heard this and inwardly cursed Ms. Zhang, thinking: Can’t she be less arrogant? Must she show off?

"That’s right, your families are really on the rise; we’ll be depending on you to make our living from now on." Knowing Ms. Zhang’s temperament, Mrs. He Yang said a few nice words then picked up her goods and left.

After Mrs. He Yang and her group left, Gu Jinli, along with Ms. Zhang, Ms. Yan, and Mo Chunyue, packed the spices they had ground into wooden boxes inside the room and locked them up with a big lock.

After finishing with the spices, Gu Jin’an put away the ledger, then rushed to the courtyard to register the weight of the soybeans for those collecting them.

"Uncle Guo’s family has taken two hundred fifty catties of soybeans."

Because Old Guo and his four sons were all grinding soybeans together, they took two hundred fifty catties.

"He Dazhuang’s family has taken one hundred thirty catties of soybeans." He Dazhuang came with his son to grind the beans, and they took one hundred thirty catties.

He Tugou also came with his son, also taking one hundred thirty catties of soybeans.

He Shengzi alone was grinding beans, yet he took eighty catties of soybeans.

"Brother Shengzi, can you actually grind all these soybeans? If you can’t finish, our workshop can’t wait for you to finish before closing." Gu Jin’an reminded him.

Grinding soybeans is not as easy as imagined; the weight they were given was for dry soybeans. Once the beans are soaked, the weight isn’t eighty catties anymore; it can swell to several hundred catties. It’s tiring to grind the beans and then filter the soy milk all by oneself.

He Shengzi, wiping the sweat from his forehead, laughed: "No worries, I am young and have the strength. I can handle it."

His grandparents were old, and he was not young anymore; he needed to earn more money. How else to provide for their old age, build a house, marry a wife, and save a dowry for his sister?

Hearing this, Gu Jin’an felt obligated to remind him again: "If you don’t finish grinding today’s soybeans by tomorrow, you won’t be able to take as many then."

This was a rule clearly stated to them early on. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"Eh, alright, Brother An, don’t worry, I understand." He Shengzi cheerfully replied, carrying his share of soybeans to soak in the big tank assigned to him.

The task of soaking the beans was also something they had to do themselves, including fetching water; Gu Family’s Workshop would not hire extra help for soaking the beans.

After Old Guo and his group had soaked their beans, they too left the workshop.

Ms. Zhang and Ms. Yan went home to work, and went their separate ways.

"Brother An, Xiao Yu, you two go ahead and leave; we will wait here for Brother Luo and Brother Wu."

The Luo family father and son were skilled in martial arts. With large quantities of tofu and spices stored in the workshop - all valuable - it was essential to have someone stand guard at night.

It had been agreed that the Luo family father and son would take turns with the Qin brothers to guard at night, but today Qin Er Lang mentioned he had to go to the Military Office, so it seemed likely they would need to arrange for someone else in the future.

"Then we’ll head back first; thank you, uncles, for your efforts." Gu Jin’an, carrying the ledger, led Gu Jinli back home to eat dinner.

While they went home for dinner, one person was hurriedly making his way towards Da Feng Village.