CHAPTER 487: CHAPTER 487: CAN’T LET YOU OFF THAT EASILY

Elder Qin said, "Alright, I’ll go another day to teach him some military grappling techniques. Those he should be able to learn."

Although Gu Dashan was older, in the Northwest, there were those who joined the military at forty. These people couldn’t match those who practiced martial arts from a young age, but with a year or two of strong effort, results could still be achieved.

Gu Jinli was very pleased to hear this, and thanked Elder Qin. Brother Cheng, mimicking her, also gave his thanks nearby.

Listening to Brother Cheng’s childish voice, Elder Qin’s smile grew even brighter.

Qin Er Lang came out of the kitchen, saw Elder Qin smiling so happily, and gave Brother Cheng a not-so-kind look, snorting, "Hmph!"

Unexpectedly, Brother Cheng wailed out loud, directly bursting into tears, which left Qin Er Lang stunned. What did he do? He just snorted, yet this little kid cried—and cried so pitifully.

Brother Cheng sobbed straight into Elder Qin’s embrace, saying, "Brother Er Lang is so scary... Did I do something wrong... to make Er Lang dislike me... wah wah wah..."

Elder Qin also got angry, and for the first time reprimanded Qin Er Lang in public, "How can you, at your age, scare little kids? Coming home all fierce, who are you trying to intimidate?"

He then comforted Brother Cheng, "Don’t cry, Brother Cheng. Grandpa Qin has already scolded your Brother Er Lang. He just has a temper and doesn’t show a friendly face to anyone."

Brother Cheng cried and asked, "Why? Is Brother Er Lang sick? Third Grandma said those with rabies act like this to everyone they meet... wah wah wah, I don’t want Brother Er Lang to have rabies. Third Grandma said, once you have it, you can’t get better and will die."

Elder Qin replied, "...Your Brother Er Lang is just in a bad mood."

Brother Cheng asked, "Why is he in a bad mood, did someone beat him up outside? Uncle Er Miao’s son was beaten up outside the village, so he came home in a bad mood and scolded his sister."

Elder Qin realized that Brother Cheng was intentionally messing with Er Lang and helplessly chuckled, "Maybe so. He was injured by river bandits, feeling upset and just venting on others."

Qin Er Lang’s face turned dark as he listened, veins throbbing on his forehead. Indeed, there’s nothing good about the Gu family—one Gu Jinli with deep schemes and another who feigns innocence to harm others, Gu Jincheng!

Qin Er Lang, face sullen, went into the main room and slammed the door shut.

Brother Cheng immediately stopped crying and asked Elder Qin to tell him a story.

Gu Jinli, on the other hand, was stifling her laughter the whole time. Brother Cheng, well done; this tactic made Qin Er Lang so mad he could spit blood.

Soon after, the main room door opened, and Qin San Lang came out, saying to Gu Jinli, "My injury is no big deal, you don’t have to worry. I’ll go clean the fish first, and you help with the roasting once I’m done."

"Okay." Gu Jinli nodded, getting up to help clean the fish.

Qin San Lang had excellent knife skills, efficiently knocking out the fish with one strike, then quickly scaling it. He then made a slit down the fish’s back and easily opened it up, removing the insides and scraping away the black membrane from its belly before placing the fish in a wooden basin.

Gu Jinli proceeded to wash the fish.

The pair worked swiftly, soon finishing the preparation of a bucket of carp.

After washing her hands, Gu Jinli took a small porcelain bottle from her waist pouch and poured a little liquid onto Qin San Lang’s hands. "I made this fragrance, it can remove the fishy smell."

She said, also dripping a few drops on her own hands and spreading it evenly.

Qin San Lang followed her example, rubbing his hands together. "You keep it for yourself. I’m a big man and don’t use fragrance."

The fragrance she made was novel, not an incense powder, but a liquid. He had never seen such a fragrance before.

Gu Jinli pocketed the porcelain bottle, saying, "What’s wrong with a man? Men can use fragrance too."

She then handed him two bottles of scar removal ointment, "Take these, use them once the scabs fall off from your injuries."

Qin San Lang accepted them, listening as Gu Jinli explained the method and dosage for their use.

Elder Qin watched from the yard, a smile on his face as he observed the two working together, caring for one another. It made him happy and reminded him of San Lang’s parents.

Han Liu had finished applying medicine to Qin Er Lang and came out excitedly, "Young Master, San Lang and Er Lang’s injuries have healed remarkably well. The flesh beneath the scabs hasn’t festered or suppurated, and it’s only been ten days. The wounds have healed, this antiseptic medicine is incredible. Young Master, we must produce this antiseptic medicine in large quantities, it’s a life-saving drug."

If this antiseptic medicine could be used on the Great Chu soldiers, it would surely speed up their recovery. Moreover, the ingredients for this antiseptic medicine aren’t expensive; mass production would only be beneficial for Great Chu.

Gu Jinli knew Han Liu was eager to mass-produce the antiseptic medicine, and after thinking it over, she agreed.

"But for now, we can’t produce it in large quantities. Once things with the Zou family settle down, we can go to the Prefecture to hire more workers and start mass production of the antiseptic medicine."

The river bandit case caused a massive uproar, shaking the Jianghuai and Jiangnan regions. Since the case involved County Magistrate Zou, recently, many officials from the Capital, the Prefecture, and even Jiangnan had poured into Tianfu County, causing chaos. She didn’t want to leave home to go to the Prefecture at such a time.

Han Liu, seeing Gu Jinli agreed, cheerfully said, "Alright, Young Master, we will do as you say."

Han Liu didn’t linger long at the Qin family and soon left.

Qin San Lang picked up the prepared carp and took them to Gu Jinli’s house, with Brother Cheng tagging along home.

Only then did Qin Er Lang come out, his face filled with discontent.

Elder Qin saw him and said, "Being so visibly emotional will cause you trouble in the future. Er Lang, you need to reflect on yourself. You weren’t like this before, and agitation can destroy a person, cripple a leader."

He knew Er Lang felt frustrated and wanted revenge, but before seeking vengeance, you must become someone who can stand against your enemies.

Qin Er Lang reflected on all he had gone through since fleeing, and his attitude softened, "Yes, Grandson knows his faults."

However...

"I still think San Lang shouldn’t get too close to the Gu Family’s daughter. He won’t gain any benefits from it."

Elder Qin, seeing him bringing up old topics again, waved his hand and said, "No point in saying meaningless words."

With that, he got up and went to Gu Jinli’s house, leaving Qin Er Lang alone.

Qin Er Lang was stunned, not expecting his grandfather to side with Gu Jinli so much.

Elder Qin, in fact, understood that Qin Er Lang made a valid point. Rich and Powerful Nobles always considered family alliances to be of matching status and a means of support, not affection.

But Elder Qin was a man of experience and had witnessed the relationship between San Lang’s parents, believing that a happy marriage would lead to better lives than one based purely on status and support.

Someday, when Er Lang meets someone he truly loves, perhaps he will understand.

Or maybe he never will, because Er Lang was different from San Lang.

San Lang valued passion and cared for emotions, while Er Lang pursued power and influence. Even if he found someone he loved in the future, if that person lacked power and status, he would abandon them and pursue a marriage into a high-class family instead.

As for the one he favored, in all likelihood, he would bestow upon them the position of a concubine after his achievements and fame.

The two children were different, and Elder Qin wouldn’t blame them, nor did he want Er Lang’s influence to shadow San Lang.

In the heart of an aged elder, there was always a preference for children who were sentimental and loyal.