Chapter 641: Chapter 641: The Legendary Female Bully
The Gu Family’s daughter often spends time with Qin Family’s third son and no one dares to gossip; what’s wrong with my Haitang speaking a few words with Qin Family’s third son?
If the group of gossiping women in the village dares to spread unfavorable rumors about my Haitang, I’ll go right to their doors and tear their mouths out.
Upon hearing this, Fang Haitang looked over at Gu Jinli, who was standing next to Qin San Lang, and was stunned. She asked her Grandma, "Grandma, who’s that girl? She’s so beautiful. I’m afraid I can’t compare."
"Pooh, don’t talk nonsense. You’re considered a beauty of Daxing Town, and everyone who sees you compliments your good looks... Even though you might be a bit less pretty than the Gu Family’s Second Girl, your temperament is better than hers," He Laoqiao said, struggling to compliment his own granddaughter while looking at Gu Jinli’s face.
How did the Gu Family’s four children turn out to be so attractive, one better-looking than the next?
But my Haitang has a mild temper, so gentle, and cries so attractively, like a pear blossom bathed in the rain; which man wouldn’t have his heart softened upon seeing her?
Now looking at Gu Jinli. Oh my, she’s known for being fierce, quick to draw a knife at the slightest provocation; what man could stand that? Too feisty, no matter how beautiful her face is, no one dares to marry her.
"What? This is the Gu Family’s Second Girl, that female bully?!" Fang Haitang felt weak in the knees when she heard this. Although she wasn’t from Da Feng Village, since her grandmother’s family was, she often heard from them just how fierce the Gu Family’s Second Girl was – she could actually brandish a knife and attack someone.
Fang Haitang was close to tears: "Grandma, if the Gu Family’s Second Girl is here, and I go over to speak with Company Commander Qin, she wouldn’t stab me with her knife, would she?"
It’s true that Company Commander Qin is a golden son-in-law, but I’m terrified of death.
He Laoqiao’s wife spoke, "What are you afraid of? You’re just going to speak a few words to Company Commander Qin about selling Mingya Grass, the Gu Family’s daughter won’t slash you for that, will she?"
It’s not like you’re climbing into bed or engaging in malicious plotting; it’s impossible for the Gu Family’s daughter to object.
"Besides, by what right would she object? She and Company Commander Qin are just neighbors who grew up together; there’s no engagement, so does she expect to monopolize him? When it’s our turn to sell our herbs later, just go ahead and don’t be afraid."
He Laoqiao’s wife whispered these encouraging words to Fang Haitang and managed to persuade her. Grandma is right, although the Gu Family’s daughter is fierce, she is not Company Commander Qin’s wife, and cannot forbid him from seeking marriage, can she?
Thinking this way, Fang Haitang tidied her hair and skirt, carrying a basket filled with Mingya Grass, and also clutching an embroidered handkerchief, lining up to sell the Mingya Grass.
"Village Chief He, this time your family has sold a total of one thousand catties of Mingya Grass, free of weeds and sediment, well dried, fetching top price, seven copper coins per catty, amounting to seven taels of silver."
In the beginning, when they started buying Mingya Grass, the Gu Family paid six copper coins per catty, which was cheaper than the price in pharmacies.
Later, to encourage everyone to properly dry the Mingya Grass to ensure quality, Gu Jinli modified the pricing: seven copper coins per catty for top-quality Mingya Grass, six for medium quality, and five for lower quality.
In the eyes of the farmers, there’s a big difference between seven copper coins and five copper coins, and for the sake of those extra two cents, they’d do a fine job.
Mai Dong and Mu Tong, after three years of training, had become very adept at handling the business affairs, and deftly counted out the silver, handing it to Village Chief He: "Please take the silver carefully, press your fingerprint on this ledger to confirm that you have received the silver, and that will be all."
"Hey, here it comes." Village Chief He took the silver, pressed his handprint on the register, joyously put the silver into his purse, and then turned to Gu Jinli, saying: "Little Xiao Yu, when do you collect the Mingya Grass from the people of other villages? Aunt Dazao and the others have their Mingya Grass ready, just waiting to bring it to our village."
Village Chief He has a daughter who is married in another town, and he also has two nieces. Life in his family isn’t particularly good or bad, but now they’ve also started growing and selling Mingya Grass.
And the women from the village who are married outside the village are also growing Mingya Grass. However, Gu Jinli obviously can’t collect herbs every day, so he set specific dates. After setting the dates, everyone wanting to sell their grass rushed over. Everyone was busy for two days, gathering the harvest, and then it was done.
Gu Jinli said, "For the villagers outside the village, the collection is on the first and second days of Dongyue. Please notify the villagers, so they can tell their married-off daughters. If they want to sell, they’d better get ready quickly; we won’t wait for latecomers."
Village Chief He eagerly replied, "Hey, I’ve got it. Once the herbs are sold, I’ll have Tongsheng go door to door to notify everyone; I assure you we won’t miss a single person."
Three years ago, He Jinseng passed the student exam, and although it was just the student level, it was enough to make Village Chief He very happy; he believed that his family’s ancestral graves were emitting green smoke - waiting for He Jinseng to take the exams next year, and hoping he would pass directly to become a Scholar and then an official.
Thus, these days in the village, the responsibilities are handled by He Tongsheng.
Village Chief He had already planned it, He Jinseng would become an official, and the position of village chief would be left to He Tongsheng.
"Old Laoyang grandfather, it’s your turn, come over." Mai Dong called out to He Laoyang.
He Laoyang hurriedly brought over his three nephews with their load of Mingya Grass, to have it checked by the pharmaceutical workshop’s staff and then weighed on the large scale.
"Old Laoyang grandfather, your Mingya Grass harvest this season is as much as Village Chief He’s, one thousand catties." Mai Dong counted out seven taels of silver for He Laoyang: "Top quality Mingya Grass, seven cents per catty, this is seven taels of silver, please take it and press your handprint."
He Laoyang was grinning ear to ear upon hearing this. He accepted the silver, pressed his handprint, and then turned to Gu Jinli, saying: "Gu Family’s daughter, thank you so much. Without you, I don’t know how long my family would have continued to suffer in poverty; I reckon I would’ve been buried by now."
He Laoyang is He Shengzi’s grandfather, and he has always been in poor health. But ever since his family’s life improved, he’s been eating better, and with Doctor Dai’s help with the medical care, his health has been steadily improving. Three years have gone by, not only has he not been buried, but he also seems more robust than ever.
He Laoyang and his wife think of Gu Jinli as a lucky star, expressing gratitude to her several times whenever they sell Mingya Grass.
Gu Jinli laughed and said, "What’s there to thank for? You were the one who grew the Mingya Grass, you should thank yourself."
Village Chief He felt envious upon hearing this; the barren land that He Laoyang’s family owned was not as extensive as his own. But for some reason, the Mingya Grass seemed to favor He Laoyang, growing exceptionally well. Though he cultivated less land, his harvest was more abundant than Village Chief He’s, much to the latter’s chagrin.
However, Village Chief He consoled himself with the thought that his eldest grandson was a Master Tongsheng, whereas He Shengzi was just a tofu grinder.
Gu Jinli, Qin San Lang, Mai Dong, Brother Cheng, and the rest, including Danian, busied themselves checking the Mingya Grass, weighing it, and distributing payment. After being busy for half an hour, it was finally He Laoqiao’s family’s turn.
He Laoqiao’s wife pushed her granddaughter forward immediately: "Haitang, hurry up, win over Company Commander Qin, and you’ll be the Company Commanders’ Wife."
Fang Haitang was originally scared, but after watching for half an hour and seeing how Gu Jinli treated the villagers kindly, she thought the rumors of her being a fierce bully were probably just gossip, and she approached with increased confidence.
The queue for collecting herbs was split into three groups. Originally, He Laoqiao’s family was supposed to go to Brother Cheng’s group, but they stubbornly refused and instead went to Qin San Lang’s line.