CHAPTER 753: CHAPTER 753: YEAR-END ACCOUNTING

By the end of October, due to the uproar over this marriage, it was finally agreed that both parties would give it some thought, and decide whether they want to marry only after they have come to a decision.

Now, nearly two months have passed, Chang Errui has already made up his mind, and today he brought Ms. Chang to the Gu Family.

Gu Daya was both excited and scared to see Ms. Chang arriving, hurriedly asking Xiao Min to help Mo Qinzi to Gu Jinli’s house, and then summon informed individuals like Gu Jinli, Gu Jin’an, and Gu Dashan.

When Gu Jinli and the others arrived at the Qi Family’s place, Chang Errui knelt on the ground and said to Qi Kangle, "I’ve made up my mind, you are still the bride I want to marry. I am not afraid of gossip, even if people know about your past, I can shoulder it with you, as long as you’re willing, we can live elsewhere."

He continued, "As the successor of the Chang family legacy, the Yuan Family has no right to do anything to us, and we could just live outside the village if necessary. As for the Chang Family, we’ve been estranged from the Chang Family clan since my grandmother’s generation, we can establish our own branch, and even if our matters become public, we don’t have to heed the Chang Family’s opinions."

In the end, Chang Errui added, "After the New Year, I’ll visit the Chang family’s ancestral home with my father and mother, to settle the matter of establishing a separate branch. When we get married, you will be the clan woman of our branch."

Qi Kangle did not expect Chang Errui to propose establishing a separate branch. Tears falling, she asked, "Has the Chang family agreed to this branch establishment?"

Ms. Chang said, "My father, due to not having a son, suffered a lot of grievances in the Chang Family, and he had argued for a branch separation before, but the Clan Leader refused, saying that if my father wanted to separate, it should be discussed after his death. Now the old Clan Leader is long deceased, and because we have not returned to the main Chang clan for many years, the matter was not pursued. But now, we can take this opportunity to settle the branch separation."

She went on to say, "Sister Le, our family truly cares for you. If you want to spend your life with Brother Rui, please accept this marriage proposal."

This time, Qi Kangle did not refuse, but nodded in agreement, and knelt to Ms. Chang, "Aunt Yuan, I apologize for the trouble caused, it’s my fault."

Ms. Chang, already worn out by Chang Errui’s antics, helped her up personally and said, "As long as you two live well together in the future, that’s enough. No need for thanks, we are all family."

Gu Daya was moved to tears, not knowing how to thank the Chang Family. She had thought Sister Le would not be able to marry, but the Chang Family treated Sister Le so well.

Ms. Chang laughed and said, "Old sister, don’t cry now. Now that Sister Le has accepted the proposal, we need to sit down and discuss when to formally request her hand in marriage, right?"

She added, "I originally planned to ask for her hand before the end of the year, but there’s simply not enough time, and I fear Sister Le would be slighted. How about we formally make the request after the New Year?"

Gu Daya replied, "It really is too rushed before the New Year, but afterwards is fine. As for the date after the New Year, once your family has chosen a good day, just let us know."

Ms. Chang was straightforward, and Gu Daya also wanted to hurry and marry Qi Kangle off, so they quickly settled on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month for the formal marriage proposal.

"The sixteenth of the first month is auspicious, just after the Lantern Festival. It’s neither hasty nor does it interfere with our work," Gu Daya was very pleased with this date, and the two women quickly agreed on it.

Chang Errui was very happy, and after standing up, he kept looking at Qi Kangle.

Even if Qi Kangle had a thick skin, being stared at like this made her blush, but she felt sweet inside, much more peaceful than the panic she had felt two months earlier.

Gu Jinli’s household was also delighted; Qi Kangle marrying Chang Errui was considered the best outcome.

Because of this joyous event, on the eve of Xiaonian (Small New Year), the two families gathered together for a meal.

That night, Qi Kangle did not return home, but stayed in Gu Jinli’s room, whispering to Gu Jinli, "When I entered Yingxian Square, I thought my life was over. I never expected to have such good fortune."

"Xiao Yu, I’m really happy. Although it’s not right to pressure Brother Chang Er like this, I’m afraid if we don’t urge him this time, he might not be able to withstand the pressures that come after getting married."

"Xiao Yu, I’m not a carefree person; I can’t let go of Brother Chang Er. I was selfish this time, but I wanted to fight for myself."

Gu Jinli said, "Cousin, you don’t need to talk like that. This isn’t really forcing, it’s just laying out all the bad things in advance for Brother Chang Er to see."

Although Chang Errui was heartbroken by Qi Kangle’s repeated rejections, he eventually became better and thought of a solution.

"It’s all in the past now, let’s live a good life." Gu Jinli chatted with Qi Kangle for most of the night and, after saying this, fell into a confused sleep.

The next day upon waking up, they began the year-end closing of the accounts, a major task that kept them busy for three full days until they finally finished on the twenty-seventh of the twelfth lunar month.

The tofu workshop and the spice workshop workers all gathered in the workshop buildings, queuing up to receive silver and New Year’s gifts.

"Grandpa Guo, your family’s wage for grinding tofu this month is fifteen taels of silver, and we’re giving an extra month’s wages at the end of the year, making it thirty taels in total," Gu Jin’an said while checking the ledger. "Go to my father to collect the silver, then after you’ve collected the silver, go to Zezi to get the New Year’s gift. Once you have received that, go to Da Tuan to leave a fingerprint."

"Eh Eh." Old Guo was so happy to hear that he could collect so much silver that his back straightened up. After receiving the silver, he took his sons to collect the New Year’s gifts and was over the moon to see that this year’s gift included half a sheep.

Last year the Gu Family had said that if this year’s business did well, they would give them half a sheep at the end of the year. Today, they really saw the mutton.

These sheep were brought back by Feng Jin and Mu Tong.

Feng Jin and Mu Tong were ordered to collect grain from the Gu Family’s manors throughout Great Chu. There were several hundred sheep being raised in a manor along the Central State official road. This time they hurried back with a hundred sheep, half for the workshop workers and half for gift-giving and their own consumption.

Today, Feng Jin and the others had started slaughtering sheep before dawn so that Old Guo and his family could receive mutton as New Year’s gifts at this moment.

Mrs. Chen saw that so much mutton was given to Old Guo and his family and was heartbroken, complaining, "Xiao Yu is really too extravagant. Why give such valuable New Year’s gifts? That’s half a sheep!"

Gu Dagui said, "Today’s a happy day, so you better not make thoughtless comments, or else you’ll anger Xiao Yu, and she won’t give our family any sheep."

While Xiao Yu was giving mutton to Old Guo and his family as New Year’s gifts, she also sent live sheep to several families, one to each.

After hearing this, Mrs. Chen immediately shut up: "It’s a good thing you reminded me, otherwise I would’ve missed out on this year’s New Year’s gift."

Last year, because of her stinginess, she made a snide remark during the gift-giving, and as a result, her family didn’t receive any New Year’s gift.

Xiao Yu is a fierce girl; you must never offend her.

Gu Dagui said, "Good that you know. Quickly go help in the spice workshop. The tofu workshop is a place for men; what are you looking at here for nothing?"

Mrs. Chen gave him a glare, but feeling that Gu Dagui was just jealous, she happily trotted off to help in the spice workshop.