CHAPTER 808: CHAPTER 808: THE POISON FINALLY COMES IN HANDY

"Tomorrow, you go find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for Fu Niang. Don’t keep competing with the ones from the Chang family. Just find a groom from a decent family who’s simple and honest," Squad Leader Yang instructed as he realized he couldn’t let his daughter continue like this, instructing his wife to quickly find someone for Yang Funiang.

Miss Yang stopped crying upon hearing this, and looked at Squad Leader Yang in disbelief: "Father, are you casting me aside and trying to drive me out?"

Squad Leader Yang scoffed: "Considering what you did today, why wouldn’t I cast you aside? Do you realize how awful your actions look today? You’re offering yourself to others and they still don’t want you."

"Old man!" Squad Leader Yang’s wife quickly scolded him: "Are you crazy? How could you say such things to your daughter?"

What kind of talk is that.

Squad Leader Yang was indeed furious, hence why he spoke harshly.

Miss Yang was hurt by Squad Leader Yang’s words, covering her face and wailing: "I know you all think I’m too old to find a good match and can’t bring any help to the family. But do I wish for this? It’s the Chang family’s lack of sincerity, preferring wealth over us, delaying my marriage and making me a laughingstock in the county!"

Miss Yang actually wasn’t as indifferent as she claimed; she cared too much. After the marriage with the Chang family fell through, she vowed to find a husband richer and more accomplished than Scholar Chang.

But Tianfu County is only so large, and her family is just that of a squad leader, not like the Luo or Gu families who also have other businesses. They rely only on the support of the Jiang family—how could they reach a family with a higher status than Scholar Chang?

She searched tirelessly for two years, finally finding Squad Leader Luo as a suitable match, yet the Luo family...

Miss Yang collapsed into her mother’s embrace, crying so hard she almost fainted: "Mother, is my fate so bitter? Must I truly marry an ordinary man and live a lifetime like this? Is it impossible for me to marry an accomplished man?"

Squad Leader Yang’s wife comforted Miss Yang: "My child, don’t cry, don’t talk like that. Your mother will surely find a groom with good family, character, and skill for you."

Yet Squad Leader Yang scolded his wife: "Stop spoiling her. If you hadn’t coddled her after the failure with the Chang family, would she have done what she did today?"

He pointed at Miss Yang: "Moreover, frankly speaking, our Fu Niang only has a pleasant look, yet her age is advanced. If we delay further, she’ll end up marrying a widower! If you truly care for her well-being, quickly find her a match, or regret later when it’s too late."

Squad Leader Yang gave Miss Yang a thorough scolding, but afterward felt sympathetic, speaking earnestly to her: "Fu Niang, your father knows you harbor resentment, but you can’t let it ruin you. Consider: if you’d heard of anyone else doing what you did today, wouldn’t you have criticized that shameless girl mercilessly?"

"Fu Niang, I don’t need you to marry exceptionally well—I just wish for you to be upright and generous like before. Don’t let the Chang family issues ruin your life."

Yang Funiang listened to Squad Leader Yang’s words, feeling disoriented, recalling the days before the engagement with the Chang family was broken... back then she truly was praised as a valiant girl from a military family, but now...

"Father, Mother, I’m sorry, your daughter lost her mind and brought shame upon you." Yang Funiang wailed bitterly, kneeling and apologizing to her parents.

Squad Leader Yang and his wife, seeing she hadn’t completely lost her way, felt relieved, lifting her up and saying: "Acknowledging your mistake is good—Luo Family has been generous, and they covered up what you did today well, it won’t be spread around for others to laugh at."

"Furthermore, don’t approach Brother Luo Wu anymore. He only has eyes for the eldest daughter of the Gu family, everyone in the government office knows he won’t marry another woman in his lifetime."

...

While the Yang family was counseling Miss Yang, Luo Wu, after hearing from Luo Huiniang about Gu Jinxiu striking Miss Yang, immediately returned to the inner residence to find Gu Jinxiu.

"Sister Xiu, I’m sorry for the grievance you suffered." Luo Wu wished for Gu Jinxiu to suffer no grievance, yet today, Miss Yang spoke such words to her—he failed to protect her well.

Gu Jinxiu smiled: "I’m fine. In life, it’s impossible to avoid encountering any misfortunes. Besides, Miss Yang’s already been struck by me—her arrogance is high, I estimate she’ll never appear before me again."

Luo Wu, listening, still felt guilty: "I won’t go to the Yang family anymore..."

Gu Jinxiu replied: "You shouldn’t act like that—you still serve in the county government, you can’t fall out with Squad Leader Yang. Squad Leader Yang holds integrity, he will handle Miss Yang’s matters properly. Continue to get along well with Squad Leader Yang, avoid gossip."

Luo Wu felt a stab of pain, realizing Sister Xiu was willing to endure grievance for his sake.

He held Gu Jinxiu’s hand and said: "I will listen to you, but I will speak plainly with Squad Leader Yang—if Miss Yang repeats this, I won’t spare her."

Considering what Miss Yang did today, if he spread the news, Miss Yang’s reputation would be ruined.

Gu Jinxiu smiled and nodded: "Yes, Brother Luo Wu, that’s a good approach."

...

The Yang family matters didn’t drag on for long. That afternoon, at the time between three and five, Squad Leader Yang brought generous gifts to the Luo Family Escort Agency, to apologize to both the Luo and Gu families, declaring he would promptly find a match for Miss Yang, and that Miss Yang acknowledged her mistakes and would no longer visit the Luo Family Escort Agency or interact with the Luo Family People or Gu Family People.

Father Luo and Ms. Chu left this matter to Brother Luo Wu to handle, and Brother Luo Wu also conveyed his boundaries to Squad Leader Yang. Once the matter was aired between them, it was considered settled.

Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the matter resolved, they settled into the mule cart to head back to the village.

Qin San Lang was busy today and did not come to the Luo Family Escort Agency, so Gu Jinli was a bit disappointed not seeing him.

But she wasn’t disappointed for long, because on the evening of February fourth, he returned on horseback, bringing her shocking news.

"What did you say? Liu Bin knew about my family’s affairs because of Gu Youfu?" Gu Jinli, upon hearing the name Gu Youfu, was momentarily confused, remembering that Gu Youfu was Granny Gu’s son, then laughed aloud: "Ha, there’s a path to heaven you didn’t take, but you barged into the gate of hell."

To think the Old Gu Family People came back, now she wouldn’t need to keep the poison hidden in the warehouse, it would be put to use.

Qin San Lang, hearing her laughter, was somewhat startled, hastily saying: "Xiao Yu, don’t be angry, I will have You An deal with them, to avenge your family."

Qin San Lang had heard how the Old Gu Family People tormented Xiao Yu’s family, aware that Xiao Yu’s family suffered greatly under their hands—not only were they poorly fed but were also frequently beaten and scolded, Brother Cheng’s quietness as a child was due to being beaten by the Old Gu Family People.

Even worse, the Old Gu Family People wanted to sell Xiao Yu’s family.

Qin San Lang was incensed at the thought of Xiao Yu nearly being sold, wanting to charge to the Prefecture and drag the Old Gu Family People out for punishment!