CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 382: CURRYING FAVOR WITH THE TEMPLE MASTER

Upon hearing this, Scholar Wan quivered with rage as he pointed and cursed at Ms. Ni.

But Ms. Ni didn’t pay any attention to him and finally warned him, "Agree or not, if you don’t, I will take Ruiniang out right now and ruin the Wan Family’s reputation."

She added, "After all, my Ni Family is already in decline, and things can’t get much worse. But your Wan Family is respected by everyone within ten miles and eight villages. If such a scandal occurs, not only can you forget about becoming an official family, but even your Scholar title will be revoked!"

In the previous dynasty, the imperial examination system had just started, replacing the older recommendation system.

Because the imperial examination system infringed upon the interests of the noble Rich Families, these Rich Families set many restrictions on the exams to ensure their own sons could enter the court as officials, stipulating that anyone failing to uphold personal virtue or failing to manage their household strictly could have their official position revoked.

After the establishment of Great Chu, this Criminal Law was not abolished and continues to be in use today.

"You’re insane, Ms. Ni, you’ve truly lost it," exclaimed Scholar Wan, falling back into his chair in exasperation. But for the sake of the Wan Family, he could only agree: "Ni Ruiniang can become Brother Fang’s equal wife, but only after Miss Gu has entered the home. Ni Ruiniang can marry into our family after that."

Ms. Ni agreed to this: "Fine."

If Ruiniang were married first, the secret would definitely not be kept, and the Gu Family would certainly call off the engagement if they had any pride.

Their family was only superficially prosperous; they needed to secure the marriage with the Gu’s. Otherwise, not only would Brother Fang lack funds to take the exams, but the Ni Family would also face the hardship of a meager life.

Ms. Ni had already planned to liquidate thirty percent of Gu Yumei’s dowry into silver right after she entered the home, using it to support the Ni Family.

However...

"The betrothal gifts, asking the name, and Jie Ji need to be done first."

Jie Ji is crucial—it’s when the groom’s family gives the engagement letter to the bride’s family. Only with this letter can the bride’s family be presented with the marriage certificate after the wedding. Otherwise, it would be considered an illegitimate union without a matchmaker.

Scholar Wan, tired of the hassle, exclaimed, "Just handle it, as long as you don’t doom the Wan Family for the sake of the Ni’s!"

Scholar Wan left his study with a flick of his sleeves and returned to the front to continue teaching his students.

Ms. Ni, chin up and chest puffed out, triumphantly returned to the back courtyard.

Seeing her demeanor, Ni Ruiniang knew things had gone her way and was over the moon, although she pretended to be tearful and worried as she asked, "Auntie... did Uncle agree?"

With a sniff, Ms. Ni replied, "When your aunt takes action, how can he dare to refuse?"

That’s all the capacity Scholar Wan had after all, just make a bit of fuss and it’s done. Otherwise, Ms. Ni wouldn’t have been able to use the Wan Family’s silver to support her family for so many years.

Ni Ruiniang immediately embraced Ms. Ni, choking up, "Auntie, you’ve worked hard. For Auntie to do this for Ruiniang... Ruiniang can only repay you by striving to bear several grandsons for you."

What Ms. Ni wanted most was to have grandsons. Upon hearing this, she felt utterly relieved, but considering Ni Ruiniang’s pregnancy, she refrained from letting her overexert herself, urging her to return to the guest room to rest.

Finally, she promised, "Rest assured, Ruiniang. Your aunt will go find a matchmaker right away to settle your marriage with Brother Fang. Once we have the engagement letter, your marriage will be all set."

Bashfully, Ni Ruiniang replied, "Thank you, Auntie. I’ll go back to my room to rest, and I’ll come to serve you dinner later."

"All right, all right, hurry back and rest," responded Ms. Ni with immense satisfaction, finding her niece particularly considerate.

After returning to her room, Ni Ruiniang only rested briefly before starting to delicately apply makeup and dress herself with great care.

She had barely finished her adornment when Wan Lifang entered her room, less than half an hour later.

"Cousin, you’ve come. Your cousin here has been missing you terribly." Wan Lifang said as he eyed Ni Ruiniang, who had gone from delicate to stunning after getting dolled up. His desire growing uncontrollable, he immediately pounced at her like a ravenous tiger.

Ni Ruiniang was very smart and didn’t question Wan Lifang for breaking his promise to marry Gu Yumei.

She understood that being from a poor family meant being looked down upon was normal. If she were to question it, she would only anger Wan Lifang. It was better to serve him well and capture his heart so her future could be more secure.

Thus, Ni Ruiniang coyly protested, "Cousin, be gentle, won’t you? What if you hurt our son?"

Wan Lifang exclaimed in shock, "Really? You’re pregnant? You’re not tricking me, are you?"

With blushing cheeks Ni Ruiniang said, "I’ve missed my period this month, I suspect that I am."

Hearing this, Wan Lifang was displeased. He hadn’t had enough fun yet, and now he was going to be a father?

Seeing Wan Lifang’s unhappiness, Ni Ruiniang felt a sudden pang of fear and hastily embraced him, saying, "Cousin, Ruiniang has missed you so much, let me take good care of you."

Upon hearing these words, Wan Lifang was no longer preoccupied with any other thoughts and quickly became entangled with Ni Ruiniang.

Ms. Ni acted swiftly, obtaining Wan Lifang and Ni Ruiniang’s engagement letter in just two days, while the engagement papers for Gu Yumei had not yet been processed.

Looking at the date on the engagement letter, Ni Ruiniang’s heart blossomed with joy. With this document, it didn’t matter whether Gu Yumei entered through the door first—she would be the primary wife!

...

Gu Yumei was laboriously frying tofu in the workshop, completely unaware of how despicable the situation she had rejected from the Yuan Family had become.

Everyone in the Wan Family took her lightly, merely using her with the intent to suck her family dry.

Had Gu Yumei known the truth, she surely would have died of rage.

But having made her choice, she had to bear the consequences, no matter how dreadful her future days might be.

Meanwhile, Gu Jinli had harvested the patchouli plowed during the spring a few days earlier, processed it into medicinal herbs, and packed up a box of mosquito coils she had made herself. Along with the portrait of Elder Mi and his wife that Gu Jinxiu had embroidered, the workshops’ tofu products, and the soy oil sent from the Jiang Family, they borrowed Scholar Shang’s mule cart. With Wang Yongfu driving and Gu Jin’an accompanying, they set off for Hu Yun Temple in Daxing Town.

Hu Yun Temple had planted many precious medicinal herbs, and she coveted them greatly. It was imperative to win over the temple master to obtain the seeds for the herbs.

The three from the Gu Family had set out at dawn, reaching the village at the foot of Hu Yun Temple by mid-morning.

Having visited the village once before, the young man taking care of their cart recognized them. Seeing they had returned, he enthusiastically helped them unharness the mule cart, asking, "Are you leading the mules in again this time?"

Gu Jin’an nodded with a smile, "Yes, we’ve brought a lot and need the mules to carry it."

The mules couldn’t carry everything; luckily, they had Wang Yongfu, who shouldered a basket filled with soy oil and tofu products as he followed Gu Jinli and her brother into the mountains.

Wang Yongfu knew martial arts, and Gu Jin’an and Gu Jinli had been practicing fighting techniques with Elder Qin for the past half year. Their pace was swift; after traversing the mountainside for half an hour, they arrived at Hu Yun Temple.

It was Master Xiao Han who opened the door for them, as before. On seeing Gu Jinli, he joked, "It’s you again. Are you here to buy land?"

Gu Jinli shook her head, "Not buying land this time; I’ve come to deliver a gift."

Master Xiao Han blinked and questioned, "A gift? Why would you give a gift to Hu Yun Temple? We don’t accept overly valuable gifts."

Gu Jinli smiled, "Just go and notify the temple master that I have brought her an embroidered portrait; she will definitely want to meet us and accept the gift."