Chapter 1488: New Year’s Celebration (5)
Chapter 1488: Chapter 1488: New Year’s Celebration (5)
Sun Village Chief jumped in fright when he saw Gu Jinli. Oh my God, how did the Young Master get to look like this? It’s too scary.
But the previous village chief was cut down by Lord Feng for making a mistake. Sun Village Chief, who has been village chief for two years, personally witnessed the killing of his predecessor, and he clearly understood the rules of the Gu family — no matter how the master behaves, the servants must always respect them.
Therefore, Sun Village Chief steadied his mind, accepted the disappointing appearance of the Young Master, and stood respectfully beside Uncle Mu Tong, ready to perform the welcoming ceremony and wait for Uncle Mu Tong to introduce him to the Young Master.
Seeing Uncle Mu Tong frightened, Gu Jinli laughed and looked at Qin San Lang riding nearby, winking at him, "Did you see? My acne patch is a huge success!"
Qin San Lang sensed her gaze, turned around, and started smiling.
Tsk, the surrounding women shivered twice. This Mrs. Qin is so ignorant; she’s so ugly, yet she’s winking at Company Commander Qin. When beautiful women wink at men, it’s enchanting; but you, being unwatchably ugly, winking at men is like giving them a death sentence!
It’s New Year’s Eve, don’t do this, spare Company Commander Qin.
Seeing the disdainful looks of the women, Gu Jinli snorted and looked at Uncle Mu Tong: "Uncle Mu Tong, we’re here!"
The carriage stopped beside Mu Tong. Mu Tong smiled and said, "Madam and Sir have finally arrived. The manor is all tidied up and not much different from home. Once you enter, you can rest and have the New Year’s Eve dinner by early evening."
Gu Jinli nodded: "We trust Uncle Mu Tong with the preparations."
This journey was fortunate to have Uncle Mu Tong leading the way, saving them much trouble. Whether it was medicine, food, or local situations, Uncle Mu Tong was responsible for preliminary inquiries and supplying materials.
Uncle Mu Tong laughed and pointed to Sun Village Chief beside him: "Madam, this is Sun Village Chief. He and his wife work in the manor with two sons, and they married a daughter to Peng Er of Xiao Yang Village last year."
Xiao Yang Village is also a manor bought by Gu Jinli, not located in Old Gu Town, but along the official road to the next prefecture.
"Servant greets Madam and Sir, and wishes Madam and Sir well." Sun Village Chief knelt down, solidly kowtowing three times to Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang.
Gu Jinli said, "No need for formalities, Sun Village Chief, stand up quickly."
Qin San Lang added: "The rules of the Qin family and Gu family are clear to you all. Serve the masters faithfully; the Qin Gu families won’t let you suffer losses. But if you’re disloyal, there’s the Thirty Punishments, and you can choose one to end yourself."
Sun Village Chief shuddered upon hearing the Thirty Punishments. These punishments were established by the Qin and Gu families, known for their severity. The former village chief died under the ninth punishment.
Sun Village Chief said: "Servant understands, I will surely serve the masters loyally and dare not betray."
Sun Village Chief’s family were also servants, but as the Northwest got more chaotic, the master decided to move the entire family to Zhili to seek relatives. However, they encountered bandits on the way, and the master fled with the Protector, leaving the servants to scatter and escape for their lives.
His family was fortunate to be saved by the Gu family, and since then they have lived in the manor, finally finding stability.
Sun Village Chief’s family all loved Old Guzhuang and dared not betray the master.
The women from Niu Family Camp couldn’t wait and shouted: "Company Commander Qin, don’t say anymore, hurry into the manor. The whole place smells like stewed meat, and our stomachs are growling with hunger."
Hurry into the manor and start eating!
Qin San Lang just wanted to warn Sun Village Chief, as Old Guzhuang had incidents of village chiefs betraying the master, but not wanting to spoil the New Year’s celebration, he said: "Sun Village Chief, lead the way."
"Yes." Sun Village Chief was very frightened; this young master lived up to his role as a commander, truly exuding a murderous aura. Just speaking, his dominance made people not dare to raise their heads.
Sun Village Chief respectfully and carefully led the way ahead.
Uncle Mu Tong sat on the front carriage board and followed into the manor.
"Whoa, oh God, this manor even has a blue-brick wall. How many green bricks are needed for such a long wall? The Gu family really knows how to waste Silver."
Some of the manors bought by Gu Jinli were built like former dynasty’s fortresses, but fortresses of the former dynasty were built by noble families and high-ranking officials. Her family’s Silver couldn’t compare to noble families, so places like Old Guzhuang only had walls built, traps dug, and Poison planted for defense, far from real defensive fortresses.
However, building long defensive walls for the manor was enough to shock those present.
After entering the manor gates, everyone was amazed again: "Look, aren’t those all blue-brick large tile houses? Oh heavens, the Gu family truly has money, such construction! Even the manor has so many blue-brick tile houses, better than our homes back there."
It’s worth it, Company Commander Qin truly eats soft rice in style!
The women were extremely jealous, wishing Gu Jinli would divorce Qin San Lang and let their sons become Gu Jinli’s live-in husbands.
Other Company Commanders and Chief Commanders were also astonished. Company Commander Jin and Company Commander Cao, who previously didn’t want to submit to Qin San Lang, decided it was better to follow Qin San Lang after seeing the Gu family’s manor and recalling his fierceness the night of bandit slaying.
A Commander not only needs the talent to lead, but also Silver to support the troops. Qin San Lang had the leading talent and the Gu family had the money to support, making the couple unbeatable, superior to them.
With the Northwest in chaos, it’s better to follow someone formidable than risk one’s life alone.
"Company Commander Qin, your family’s manor is indeed remarkable, we’re taking advantage and can enjoy life." Company Commander Jin hastily flattered Qin San Lang.
Qin San Lang, cold as frost, merely nodded coldly: "Hmm."
Uh, this guy’s flattery is hard to deliver.
"San Lang, San Lang! Aunt’s camp people stay in which courtyards? Hurry and tell Aunt, so she can lead them to clean up." Mrs. Kuang knew there were more people than courtyards and feared their camp wouldn’t have a place to stay, so she rushed to ask Qin San Lang.
Niu Dabao felt embarrassed and shouted: "Mrs. Kuang, asking about houses before even dismounting, do you understand courtesy or not? Hurry back, there will be a place for you tonight!"
"A place to stay for the dame? Another tent next to the carriage? That carriage is so short I can’t stretch my legs, no way as comfortable as a house!" Mrs. Kuang shouted back, ignoring Niu Dabao, and continued to Qin San Lang, "San Lang, we’re so familiar, let’s not waste time, hurry and assign us houses."
Sun Village Chief hurriedly stepped in to resolve: "You’re Mrs. Niu, correct? Announcing to Mrs. Niu, we’ve already divided the manor’s courtyards, and soon old servant families will escort you to respective courtyards."
"Divided, huh, then it’s settled." Mrs. Kuang immediately ignored Qin San Lang and called for the three elderly Jin from her family to follow Sun Village Chief, afraid he might run away.