Chapter 1697: Chapter 1697: A Huge Profit

Mrs. Chen was pleased and made a dismissive noise, saying, "If you’d agreed earlier, it would all be over. Still holding out against the old woman."

She glanced at Gu Dagui and said, "Look, you’ve lost weight. Wait, I’ll get you some tonic soup and meat later so you’ll have energy!"

Gu Dagui’s old face turned red as he quietly scolded, "You should watch your words considering the place we’re in. Have some decency, would you?"

"Bah, still pretending in front of the old woman. The business between a couple in bed doesn’t need decency. Just get it done," Mrs. Chen said dismissively. She added, "Don’t worry about silver. When the old lady goes to ask for tonic soup and meat, surely Futai Building won’t charge me!"

She was planning to swindle food and drink from Futai Building again.

"I’m going to pack. You better start organizing things at the workshop," Mrs. Chen said, then turned and left, throwing a flirtatious glance at Gu Dagui.

Um, Gu Dagui shivered in fright, thinking he must quickly visit Doctor Wu for some tonic, or else fear this woman might exhaust him to death.

News of Qin San Lang and Gu Jinli achieving great feats in the Northwest, and earning the Emperor’s praise, spread like wind throughout the Prefecture.

Gu Dagui and the others hadn’t left yet, but nobles and the wealthy families of the Prefecture sent their children or housekeepers carrying gifts to the Gu’s Workshop in the north of the city to offer congratulations and request Gu Family consider putting their shops under their name to evade the ten percent tax.

Thump thump thump!

"Manager Gu, Manager Gu’s wife, please open the door! Our Prefecture’s Shi Family is here to congratulate your family."

"Our Prefecture’s Yu Family is here too, bringing Jinling satin worth ten taels a piece and fifty-year-old ginseng. Manager Gu’s wife, please open the door so we can deliver the gifts!"

The entire Prefecture, young and old, knew Mrs. Chen was stingy and loved money. The families bringing gifts saw the Gu’s Workshop door closed and tried to entice with their words.

Mrs. Chen inside was itching with greed, thinking of all the valuable gifts slipping away made her nearly weep. She wanted to rush to open the door for the outsiders but was stopped by Ah Feng and the workers.

Ah Feng said, "Manager’s wife, Young Master and Young Master Gu instructed not to covet ill-gotten gains. Causing trouble for Gu’s Workshop may result in cutting family ties, leaving you to continue living a meager life eating boiled wild vegetables without oil."

Uh, Mrs. Chen thought of the days of eating wild vegetables and her face turned green as her stomach rumbled in response. She stubbornly said, "I never said I’d help them. Am I stupid? Just want their gifts, won’t help them indeed!"

Mrs. Chen was cunning, but Ah Feng said, "Manager’s wife, where in the world can you just take things without helping? Taking gifts and leaving, people will ruin your reputation and maybe even go to the government office against you, affecting the name of the entire Gu’s Workshop."

"Old woman isn’t a teenager scared of reputation being ruined!" Mrs. Chen retorted hands on hips, pointing at Ah Feng, "And you, whose side are you on speaking like this? I’m your manager’s wife, yet a servant dares criticize the Dong Family? Do you have a death wish?"

Ah Feng acted as if he hadn’t heard her, knowing the master, Young Master, and Young Master Gu would protect them, and those sent to the Prefecture City Workshop wouldn’t face trouble. Mrs. Chen wouldn’t dare genuinely act against them, only had a foul mouth prone to saying offensive things.

Mrs. Chen was furious seeing Ah Feng ignore her: "You brats have grown bold, I pay your wages!"

Proud of mentioning the hundred cents wage?

"What are you shouting about? Don’t just stand here acting like a hands-off manager. Go check if we’re missing anything before heading to the village, so you won’t blame me later," Gu Dagui said, having packed their belongings after listening to Mrs. Chen showing off.

"What’s missing? Old woman is missing several carts’ worth of valuable stuff!" Mrs. Chen felt heartache bargaining with Gu Dagui, "Dagui, we should bring some gifts to a few families when we return to the village. Buying gifts with silver is too expensive, and outside there’s a whole street of people sending gifts. Can we open the door and get some?"

Gu Dagui: "No way, don’t be foolish. Otherwise, I’ll tell Good Brother An in the village. If he gets upset, we won’t be able to manage the workshop in the Prefecture."

Mrs. Chen was furious hearing this: "A young one could kick us two elders from the workshop?"

Gu Dagui: "He frankly could. Try it if you don’t believe me."

Um, Mrs. Chen was stifled by this and just as she was about to retort, Ah Ling from the back door arrived: "Manager, Manager’s wife, Boss Hu, Master Qi, the people from the Xu Family, second housekeeper from Boss An’s family, and a housekeeper from the Ji Family are at the back door, all brought congratulatory gifts saying they want to see you and promise not asking for help."

He added: "I’m afraid too many people seeking favor might see them, so I took initiative to bring them inside."

Gu Dagui: "It’s alright, these are families we know well, they won’t harm us."

Mrs. Chen brightened up, asking, "They brought gifts? What gifts? Any ginseng, cubilose, or ten-tael-a-piece silk?"

"You greedy woman, always asking such questions. Let’s hurry and meet the guests," Gu Dagui pulled Mrs. Chen along, reminding her: "Take it easy, don’t make a fool of yourself, or you’ll disgrace our Gu’s Workshop!"

"Got it, got it, you don’t need to tell me," Mrs. Chen replied casually, then went to the back home guest hall to meet the families.

The Xu Family’s shopkeeper, upon seeing them, immediately said: "Congratulations to Uncle-in-law and Aunt-in-law! The Emperor’s reward to the Gu Family is a grand event bringing glory to the family!"

"Hahaha, indeed a grand event, but since our families are in-laws, the Xu Family shares in the joy," Mrs. Chen said proudly and confidently.

The Xu Family’s shopkeeper was delighted, this favor granted to the Gu Family could also extend to the Xu Family, and the Chen was indeed rude yet simple and protective. Marrying into the Xu Family turned out to be advantageous.

Now it’s beyond advantageous; it’s a huge gain!

Gu Jin’an is a Small Three-Yuan Scholar from Jianghuai, the Gu Family receives the Emperor’s favor, Qin Company Commander achieves tremendous merits, surely to be appointed as a high official thus benefiting all relatives too.

"Joyful, joyful," the Xu Family shopkeeper said, containing his joy, and quickly handed over the gift list, "Today’s a rush, so only small gifts were prepared, larger gifts will be sent from the county family."

Mrs. Chen couldn’t read, took the list, and passed it to Gu Dagui: "What’s written?"

Gu Dagui read out the items, Mrs. Chen was happy hearing, three pieces of brocade, selling them can get her dozens of taels in private money, not bad.

Master Qi couldn’t wait, saying, "Brother Dagui, Sister-in-law Dagui, I’ve come to advise you, best not stay in the Prefecture, go back for a while to avoid trouble."

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