CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 404: DRIVEN AWAY IN ANGER

After the Lu Family met with disaster, it was not only Old Master Lu who perished, but also Lu Laosan.

Old Master Lu was sentenced to be cut in half at the waist, while Lu Laosan, already paralyzed, relied on tonic herbs to sustain his days. Once in prison, to speak of tonics to extend his life was out of the question—getting a bite of rotten steamed bun was lucky enough.

Lu Laosan didn’t even last until the day Old Master Lu was executed; he died in prison.

Old Master Lu loved Lu Laosan the most. Upon hearing the news of his death, he fainted twice.

"Village Chief, please don’t be sad. Now that the Lu Family is finished, they can never bully us again. Now with the support of Gu’s Workshop, many of our He Family have prospered. Our days ahead will be even better, no need for further worries," He Wanli said, his heart full of gratitude for Gu’s Workshop. In less than six months, his family had saved several dozen taels of silver by selling soy products and spices made by Gu’s Workshop.

Several dozen taels of silver—enough to build a big house with green bricks and tiles. Given a few more years, his family would surely become one of the wealthiest in the region thanks to Gu’s Workshop, and buying shops and land would be within easy reach.

Those who had not managed to get work at Gu’s Workshop, upon hearing this, felt both envious and resentful, and seized the opportunity to ask the village chief: "Village Chief, when can our family start working in the workshop? It’s been almost half a year, and we’re still eagerly waiting."

He Cui’er’s mother perked up immediately, raising her voice to call out to Village Chief He: "Yeah, when can we start working at Gu’s Workshop, Village Chief? You promised before that you would definitely get us into Gu’s Workshop to prosper together. It’s been half a year, and we’re still waiting. Are you going to let us in or not? If not, just say it early! Isn’t this deceiving us?!"

Hearing this, Village Chief He trembled with anger, pointed at He Cui’er’s mother and said: "He Dashu’s wife, when did I ever promise that all He Family People would work at Gu’s Workshop? I’ve always said that if Gu’s Workshop is short of hands, I would plead for jobs on your behalf. But whether they need people, and how many, is up to Gu’s Workshop to decide."

He Dazhuang’s wife, spirited and one who worked at Gu’s Workshop herself, was very grateful to the Gu Family. Upon hearing this, she immediately stood up, pointed at He Cui’er’s mother, and berated her: "Cui’er’s mother, how old are you now? Have some shame! With your lazy, gluttonous, ungrateful ways, who would dare to hire you?"

"I’ll lay it out clearly, Gu’s Workshop needs honest, hardworking people with no ill-intentions. With your attitude, you can forget about working there in this lifetime."

Who is the Young Master? Such a wise person saw through what kind of family the He Dashu’s family was long ago—it’s impossible for them to hire her family.

He Cui’er’s mother yelled: "Why not hire us? Why? Are we not also part of the He Family? If other He Family People can work at Gu’s Workshop, why not my family?"

"Haha, you make me laugh, He Dazhuang’s wife," she laughed, "why they wouldn’t hire your family, don’t you have any self-awareness?" She continued, "to put it bluntly, even if Gu’s Workshop agreed to let you work, we, the old workers, wouldn’t consent."

If there’s an issue with the spices, all the workshop workers would bear the consequences together. They dare not work with the women from He Dashu’s family.

Furious upon hearing this, He Cui’er’s mother pointed at He Dazhuang’s wife and accused: "Dazhuang’s wife, you heartless thing! A lowly worker like you, on what grounds do you forbid us from working at the workshop? Is the workshop owned by your family?"

"Pah! You old devout woman, who are you calling lowly?" He Tugou’s wife, He Dasu’s wife, He Dagu’s wife, He Tieshu’s wife, and the other He Family women who ground spices at Gu’s Workshop all became furious, pointing at He Cui’er’s mother they scolded: "Calling us lowly, who is more lowly than your family? Men are lazy bums and the women... tsk, tsk, always dreaming about marrying into a high-class family without even considering whether those upper-class households would even look at your family?"

After speaking, they glanced over at He Cui’er, turning her face deathly pale with anger.

Today was the village chief’s house inviting people over for a feast of pork, but not all of the He Family People came. Girls over thirteen who could be engaged didn’t come to partake in the feast.

But He Cui’er’s family was poor, she craved meat, and her mother had said that one less attendee meant missing out on two bowls of meat. She had to go and eat those two bowls’ worth back, otherwise, her family would be at a loss.

He Cui’er’s mother was fuming, pointing at them and exclaiming, "Well, well, once each of you joined Gu’s Workshop and became workers, you started to straighten your backs. Just you wait, just wait..."

"Mom, please don’t say any more!" He Cui’er hurriedly interrupted her mother, fearing if she voiced her inner thoughts, she wouldn’t be able to show her face around others.

Seeing He Cui’er’s mother making a scene, Village Chief He slammed his fist on the table and shouted at He Dashu, "Dashu, are you even a man? Can’t you control your own wife? If you can’t, the clan will help you divorce her to prevent any trouble that might bring shame upon the entire He Family People in the future."

Village Chief He wasn’t just talking nonsense; He Cui’er’s mother was indeed a troublemaker. In the past few months, she had eyed the establishment of both Gu’s Workshop and shop with envy, practically seeing green with jealousy, surely concocting some nefarious scheme.

Thinking this, Village Chief He immediately stood up, swept his gaze over the He Family People present, and told them, "The old man has a few words to say to you today. First, don’t be envious of the Qin, Gu, and Lu families of Luotian. They built their fortunes on their own capabilities, and your envy won’t get you anywhere."

"Second, it’s already been said that Gu’s Workshop only hires those who are honest, diligent, and clean of heart. Those who couldn’t get in shouldn’t blame others but should take a good look at themselves."

"Third, our He family owes our wealth to the Qin, Gu, and Lu families. Anyone who dares to cause trouble for them, anyone who dares to scheme against them, the old man... the old man will expel them from the He family to fend for themselves! I mean what I say, don’t think I will be soft-hearted!"

Village Chief He had reasons for his words, not only did his family rely on Gu’s Workshop for a good life, but he also knew about the downfall of the Lu Family, with the Gu Family’s involvement.

Looking at the Gu Family, now possessing the ability to silently bring down the Lu Family, how could their own He Family dare to provoke them?

He Family People, hearing Village Chief He speak so gravely, all felt a trace of fear.

He Dazhuang and Old Guo, who worked for Gu’s Workshop and depended on the Gu Family for a living, stood up first, assuring, "Village chief, rest assured, we won’t be jealous of Qin, Gu, and Luotian, nor will we scheme against them. We are only grateful. If anyone in the clan dares to plot against them and jeopardizes our livelihood, we’ll beat them to death!"

The rest of the He Family People, seeing this, all voiced their agreement about not scheming against the Qin, Gu, and Lu families.

Only He Cui’er’s family and a few other poor households were extremely displeased... especially He Cui’er. Without scheming against those families, how could her own family rise up?

He Cui’er felt discontent deep inside, listening to Village Chief He’s lecture with a glum face. After what felt like the time it takes for a cup of tea to brew, Village Chief He finally announced the start of the feast, and everyone began to eat.

But just as He Cui’er picked up a piece of succulent fat meat and was about to swallow it, the voice of He Dazhuang’s wife rang out.