CHAPTER 744: CHAPTER 744: HAUNTED BY EVIL SPIRITS?

"Don’t even think about Company Commander Qin anymore. You’ve seen the Second Miss of the Gu Family yourself; she’s far prettier than you. With her around, do you think Qin would even give you a second glance?" Mrs. Lin said, "Don’t bother me with all this nonsense. Just stay home honestly and wait for your marriage. If you really upset Gu Xiaoyu, it would be terrible if she stopped buying our Mingya Grass."

No matter how much Lin Leniang cried, Section Leader Lin wouldn’t budge. Lin Leniang had thought about running away, but every time she tried, she’d inexplicably faint and wake up with countless bumps on her head. It hurt so much that she didn’t dare to try escaping again.

However, she secretly gave some Copper Coins to Mrs. Lin, asking her to find Company Commander Qin, saying that he must have feelings for her and once he learned of her difficulties at home, he would certainly come to rescue her like a hero on horseback!

As long as she could marry Company Commander Qin, she would surely help her elder sister-in-law’s family in the future.

Mrs. Lin was greedy and wanted to take every advantage. She sneaked out, trying to find Company Commander Qin at the Military Office. But just like Lin Leniang, as soon as she stepped out of the gate, she was inexplicably knocked out.

After the third time, Mrs. Lin directly set up an altar and prayed to God: "God, your faithful servant admits her mistakes. Please lift your noble hand and don’t kill me."

Being inexplicably knocked out three times was clearly not the work of humans. It was either being haunted by an Evil Man or punished by God.

Mrs. Lin was afraid of ghosts, so she didn’t want to admit that she was haunted by an Evil Man and instead felt that it was God who couldn’t stand to watch her do bad things, thus bringing disaster upon her.

Mrs. Lin prayed three times a day at home, and finally, no more accidents happened.

Seeing her belief in this, Section Leader Lin scared her: "Elder sister-in-law, God is watching. Company Commander Qin is the reincarnation of General Star; he is protected by God. If you plan against him, he won’t have to lift a finger. God will directly punish you and bring disaster to your family."

Frightened, Mrs. Lin let out a cry and fainted outright.

"Child’s mother, child’s mother!" Lin Da frantically pinched Mrs. Lin’s philtrum to resuscitate her. Only after pinching her philtrum till it bled did Mrs. Lin wake up.

Upon waking up, Mrs. Lin immediately swore to the sky: "God, I know I was wrong. From now on, I will be a good person and no longer scheme against Company Commander Qin and the Second Miss Gu. Please do not bring disaster to my family."

If disaster had to fall, let it fall upon Lin Er; it was he who first suggested marrying Lin Leniang off to Company Commander Qin. At most, she was an accomplice.

You Erxi and the others saw that Mrs. Lin had become honest and didn’t knock her out again, but they followed the Lin Family People whenever they went out to prevent them from causing trouble for the Gu Family.

...

Gu Jinli did not know about the affairs of the Lin Family as she had already returned home and informed her family about the downfall of the Xia Family.

Third Grandma’s eyes widened in shock: "Xia Gu is infertile? To hide his infertility, he even schemed against Lady Xia, found someone to father children, and even had all those parents killed? Oh geez, how could someone with the surname Xia be so merciless?"

She thought she had seen enough Evil Men in her life, but Xia Gu turned out to be worse than all the Evil Men she had ever known.

"Even Old Master Lu is better than Xia Gu. How could he be so wicked?" Third Grandma said and then pulled Brother Cheng over, "Fortunately, our Brother Cheng didn’t continue studying with him but followed Master Ouyang instead. Otherwise, who knows what kind of person he would have become?"

Then, anxious, she asked, "Good Brother An, Xiao Yu, with Xia’s ruined reputation, could it affect our Brother Cheng? He still needs to participate in the imperial examinations. If his reputation gets tarnished by Xia, what are we to do?"

Speaking of this, Gu Jin’an also felt that his family was very lucky to have encountered Mr. Ouyang Hu: "Third Grandma, rest assured, with Mr. Ouyang’s presence, Brother Cheng’s reputation will not be affected. Mr. Ouyang is indeed quite renowned, considered a great scholar. Moreover, Brother Cheng had severed ties with Xia Gu way back during Dongzhi, a month before Xia Gu’s scandal. Brother Cheng had stopped studying with him by then, so he was unaware and won’t be criticized."

They had arranged this deliberately to create a gap in time, so Xia Gu’s disgrace would not involve Brother Cheng’s reputation.

Brother Cheng also said, "Third Grandma, don’t worry. Everyone has known since after Dongzhi that I’ve been studying with Grandpa Ouyang, so Xia Gu’s matter won’t implicate me."

However, due to the elder brother and second sister going to settle accounts with the Xia Family, they missed his birthday.

"Big Brother, Second Sister, I’m eight years old now," Brother Cheng ran in front of Gu Jin’an and Gu Jinli and said, smiling at them before he respectfully bowed, "Thank you for looking after me this year, Big Brother and Second Sister. Please continue to do so next year."

Gu Jin’an and Gu Jinli couldn’t help but laugh.

Gu Jinli said, "You’re already eight years old; why should we still look after you? You should be taking care of us now."

Brother Cheng argued confidently: "I’m only eight, the youngest, and my siblings are so capable, do they need my care? Or are you saying Second Sister has lost her ability and needs me to take care of her? If that’s the case, then Brother Cheng will take care of Second Sister."

Immediately after, he ran behind Gu Jin’an, "Big Brother save me."

"Gu Jincheng, how dare you insult me, hiding behind Big Brother won’t help, come out here and let me pinch your cheeks!"

"No, I’m already eight years old, not a baby anymore, Second Sister, you can’t pinch my cheeks anymore." Brother Cheng tried to dodge Gu Jinli, but in the end, Gu Jinli caught him and pinched his cheeks until they were red.

"That’s enough, Xiao Yu," Gu Jin’an quickly stopped Gu Jinli, lest Brother Cheng would really be hurt, "Take out the birthday gift we brought for Brother Cheng."

"Alright." Gu Jinli fetched a box containing a jade inkstone carved with a rising sun and a jade paperweight carved with a crouching eagle: "Here, these are for you."

Brother Cheng was very pleased with these two birthday gifts, seeing them as his elder brother and sister’s expectations for him.

"Thank you, Big Brother, thank you, Second Sister," Brother Cheng happily hugged the box and ran back to his room. Not long after, he returned with a piece of embroidery and unfolded it for them to see, "Big Brother, Second Sister, look, this is the birthday gift from elder sister, an embroidery of me while writing. Does it look like me?"

Gu Jinli looked at the embroidery and saw that the image indeed closely resembled Brother Cheng, "It looks very much like you; our elder sister is really amazing."

Gu Jinxiu smiled and said, "There’s nothing amazing about it, this time it’s elder sister who has implicated you."

Hadn’t been for her, they wouldn’t have had to confront Xia Gu.

Gu Jinli shook his head, "How can this be elder sister’s fault? She was an innocent victim."

During their conversation, Third Grandpa came in with the Luo Family People: "Although it’s late today, Brother Wu still came to apologize to you."

Luo Wu had returned with them, but Gu Jin’an had not allowed him to enter the Gu Family’s gate. Third Grandpa had previously spoken a few words with them and then went to see Luo Wu at the Luo Family.

Gu Jin’an said, "Since he has come to apologize, let him come in."

Luo Wu’s behavior at the Xia Family had been satisfactory, and he held Gu Jinli in his thoughts, so letting him visit the house to see the elder sister was acceptable. But it was just a visit; if he thought of discussing marriage and taking the elder sister at this time, Luo Wu was dreaming.