Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 958: Prefecture Examination Results Released

She purchased a lot of land, and generally had Feng Jin handle the transactions, rarely getting involved directly.

Old Lady Zhou said, "It’s about the land. That piece of land isn’t Zhou Family’s, it’s Chang Family’s, where the graves of my grandparents and parents are located. I thought, if you want to buy that land, you have to help this old woman look after the family graves. I was afraid you wouldn’t be willing, so I wanted to see you and talk about this matter."

Old Lady Zhou was an only daughter, but Old Man Zhou didn’t want to be the live-in son-in-law. Moreover, Old Lady Zhou’s father, being an old friend of Father Zhou, didn’t want his friend’s son to become one either, so he suggested if two sons were born, one should be adopted by the Chang Family.

Old Man Zhou agreed, but he had a short life; he died before the second son was born.

When he died, he left a final wish that Zhou Laoda, the eldest, should return to Central State when he grew up, as Central State is their ancestral land.

Therefore, Zhou Laoda gave up everything in He’an Prefecture and went to Central State according to Old Man Zhou’s will.

Old Lady Zhou was very angry, as this matter caused a rift with her son for over a decade. Now, with old age catching up and after being ill last year, she finally came around and decided to sell her house to Gu Jinli, intending to join her son in Central State.

Selling the house and land was Old Lady Zhou’s goodwill gesture towards her son.

But her grandparents’ and parents’ graves couldn’t be relocated quickly; they had to choose an auspicious day to move them, so she wanted Gu Jinli to help look after them.

Old Lady Zhou started crying, "This old woman is unfilial, wronging her own grandparents and parents, but the living cannot live for the dead."

She had been stubborn with her son for over ten years; fearing she might not even see him once more if the stubbornness continued.

After listening, Gu Jinli felt very angry at Old Lady Zhou’s son; he treated his own mother poorly for his father, which wasn’t filial at all.

But since Old Lady Zhou had decided to join her son, she didn’t say much and could only agree, "Rest assured, I will send people to pay respects to the Chang ancestors during festivals until your family relocates the graves. You can peacefully go to Central State."

There was still one thing Gu Jinli didn’t quite understand...

"Granny Zhou, Central State isn’t too stable. Selling all your assets in He’an and if unexpected events happen later, it would be difficult to return to He’an Prefecture."

Old Lady Zhou, hearing this, was very gratified, "Girl, you reminding this old woman shows your conscience, but you’re young and don’t understand what those noble families are thinking... My grandfather and father belonged to the former dynasty, they knew, those noble families are eagerly anticipating chaos, they’ve been prepared for a long time, don’t worry about this old woman."

Her son worked as a guest for the noble families, and told her three years ago: if chaos really ensues, only under the nobility’s protection could one survive; staying here would mean losing everything despite having assets.

After hearing that, Gu Jinli didn’t say more, she had reminded them already.

The piece of Zhou Family’s land on the outskirts of the city, with a good location; the front was connected to a main road, the back with a small hill, over which lay deep mountains—front a path, back an exit. Building a fortress would ensure temporary safety in chaos, offering a chance to escape into the mountains if resisted long enough.

Zhou Family’s land was vast, totaling 800 acres, but mainly dry and mountainous, which was why the rich families of Jianghuai and Jiangnan, who preferred paddy fields, hadn’t seized it.

Old Lady Zhou was very grateful to Gu Jinli, setting a fair price at just three taels of silver per acre; for 800 acres, it amounted to 2,400 taels. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Gu Jinli was overjoyed. After paying the silver, she immediately sent Erqing to transfer the title deeds, happily bringing them home before noon.

But just as she rejoiced, Daqing reported, "Young Master, four groups in the city contacted Lv Bai, wanting him to continue criticizing the First Young Master using filial piety."

Within those groups, one was a retired old Hanlin scholar, rather pedantic, believing although Elder Gu and Granny Gu were wrong, Gu Dashan not acknowledging them was also considered highly unfilial.

Gu Jin’an, being a grandson, watched Elder Gu expelled from He’an Prefecture without aiding him, deserving divine retribution!

A Mr. Shi, who prided himself as a noble scholar, disdainful of Gu Jin’an, considered him a mere refugee and didn’t want him acclaiming the small three yuan title.

The other two were the Xue Family and the Ge Family from Prefecture City, both with candidates for the Prefecture Examination also aiming for the top scorer, hoping to discredit Gu Jin’an’s morality upon learning of his scholarly talent.

Gu Jinli felt speechless, "It’s merely a Prefecture Exam, not even the Imperial Examination, is it worth such?"

Gu Jin’an, upon hearing, laughed, "Do you remember why Zou Jiang’s family faced catastrophe years ago? Wasn’t it because their reputation aroused County Magistrate Zou’s jealousy? Exams mean everything to everyone. Every family wants a spot, naturally using every possible means; each exam sees candidates suffering senselessly—either ill or physically harmed."

These are often human actions, meant to eliminate talented candidates, preventing them from taking the exams, thereby increasing one’s own prospects. Given the limited quota for passing, eliminating one might mean winning a spot for oneself.

Hearing this, Gu Jinli sneered, "Since that’s the case, don’t blame us then."

Attempting to suppress others with filial piety, she refused to believe that every member of those four households was truly dutiful!

Gu Jinli was never one for easy talk; she immediately had Daqing investigate the dirty secrets within those four families’ inner courtyards, discovering a heap within just three days.

That old Hanlin scholar favored his concubine over his wife, in the Capital, even neglecting his critically ill father-in-law for a concubine’s pregnancy issue, missing his father-in-law’s last moments and funeral—a great unfilial act indeed!

Though father-in-law wasn’t a biological parent, sons-in-law should also show their obligations.

This matter, once relayed by storytellers, spread throughout the Prefecture City, everyone denouncing the Hanlin as infatuated by his concubine, neglecting his father-in-law’s fate—a hypocritical scoundrel!

Mr. Shi, assuming his prestigious background, engaged in madman acts, forced a maiden in Jiangnan, though he settled it with silver, it didn’t stop storytellers recounting it, letting his misdeeds be talked about for several days.

The Xue Family and the Ge Family weren’t better; Young Master Xue impregnated his cousin yet planned marriage with the Yu Family in the Prefecture City.

The intended bride was Lord Yu’s granddaughter, enraging him to the point of canceling the engagement. The Xue Family pleaded tearfully but was driven away by the Yu Family.

The Ge Family had many brothers, each eyeing more inheritance, each family fearing imbalance, aggressively hoarding the common silver, eventually angering Old Master Ge to illness.

Their infamy was also discussed by the storytellers.

The four families’ scandals rotated in discussion, making them wish for death, still talked about till April 19, the results announcement day.

Gu Jinli eagerly listened to the gossip for several days, but on April 19, she had no time to listen, rising early to await the results.