Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 542 - 476: The Gao Family Has Arrived

Although Sun Manhong didn’t particularly like the Gao Family, she still told Steward Liu that the Gao Family were her relatives and asked him to assign an easy job for them.

Steward Liu had already heard about the Gao Family from Fu Gui, and being an old and cunning man, he had indirectly inquired about Yu Xiaolian’s attitude towards the Gao Family.

Upon learning that Yu Xiaolian was angry at the Gao Family, yet exceptionally kind to their daughter, Steward Liu felt reassured.

He knew he couldn’t offend the Gao Family. Family ties were one thing, but relations between mother and daughter rarely held overnight grudges.

If Sun Manyue could say a few good words for the Gao Family at the County Magistrate’s Wife’s place, the Gao Family might regain her favor; perhaps the County Magistrate’s Wife would keep them around to serve her.

With a heart of offering gifts, Steward Liu assigned a light task to the Gao Family, having them help out in the kitchen.

Indeed, working in the kitchen was the easiest job at the Red Sausage Factory.

Whether they wanted to work or how much they worked was entirely up to the Gao Family themselves.

Considering that Sun Mansheng was literate, Steward Liu allowed Sun Mansheng to stay by his side, sometimes helping to jot things down or substitute for writing.

After arranging everything, Steward Liu took Sun Mansheng away, while Sun Manhong escorted the Gao Family to the kitchen, briefly introducing the surrounding environment to them.

On the fifth day of the first month, Yu Xiaolian received an invitation from Yu Zishu, inviting her to visit Yanghua Alley.

Yu Xiaolian was unwilling to go. The Cao family had previously clashed with her mother, and Yu Changfu was weak and indecisive. She had no sense of family ties with her uncle and aunt.

Yu Xiaolian rejected Yu Zishu’s invitation, claiming she wasn’t feeling well.

As the month passed, Sun Manyue’s burn scars had nearly healed, though some scabs were yet to fall off completely.

Yu Xiaolian didn’t have any scar-removing ointment in her space, so Sun Manyue had to continue using the ointment from Jin Family’s pharmacy; the effect was not noticeable, but the price was indeed high.

Now that Sun Manyue had money, she wouldn’t let Yu Xiaolian pay for the ointment and insisted on returning the money spent on her medical treatment before.

Yu Xiaolian couldn’t win the argument, so she let the stubborn girl have her way.

On the second day of the second month, Yu Xiaolian, Sun Manyue, and Su Jinghua were sitting around the kang table, enjoying a chat and meal when Fang Cao suddenly reported that someone from the Gao Family had arrived, looking for Sun Manhong.

Yu Xiaolian and Sun Manyue exchanged glances; they finally came.

Yu Xiaolian asked Fang Cao to invite them in. She could easily find an excuse to say the Gao Family’s mother and son weren’t with her, but she chose not to. She not only told the Gao Family their members were with her, but also intended to send them to the Red Sausage Factory to meet the Gao Family.

She particularly wanted to see the Gao Family’s reaction after knowing the two hundred taels of silver were all gone.

Would they be heartbroken or regretful?

After Su Jinghua and Sun Manyue went to the room next door, Fang Cao brought the Gao Family members inside.

It was Gao Laohan, the father of Gao Family, and his nephew Gao Dacheng.

Knowing that this was the county government’s back garden, Gao Laohan didn’t dare act out. As soon as he entered the door, he pulled his grandson Gao Dacheng and respectfully kowtowed to Yu Xiaolian.

If it were before, Yu Xiaolian would have personally helped Gao Laohan up, after all, he was a senior.

But at this moment, Yu Xiaolian rested her arm on the small kang table without moving.

Even if she weren’t the County Magistrate’s Wife, she was still a Seventh-rank official, deserving Gao Laohan and Gao Dacheng’s bow.

"Why have you come?" Yu Xiaolian spoke without using any respectful address for the elder.

Gao Laohan was taken aback. The last time in Canghe Village, this girl kept calling him Grandpa Gao, but now in her territory, she assumed the airs of the County Magistrate’s Wife.

Though the girl was young, her fate was extraordinarily good. Gao Laohan internally rolled his eyes but wore a cheerful expression, saying, "We shouldn’t bother you, but the family was robbed, and all our savings were stolen. We have no rice to cook with, which forced us to come."

"Oh!" Yu Xiaolian responded softly, waiting for Gao Laohan to continue.

Seeing Yu Xiaolian’s attitude, Gao Laohan knew she had already heard about their money being taken, but he chose not to mention it, instead saying, "Our village has long had ruffians eyeing our family’s money. The money must have been stolen by them. They used despicable methods, drugging us with confusing smoke at night, and stole not only the silver but also left no copper coin for us."

Yu Xiaolian raised an eyebrow, speaking slowly, "So you came to the county government to report the crime? Reporting requires following procedures; you have to report to your Village Chief, then the Village Chief reports to the Village Head. Generally, small thefts like these are handled by the Village Head as the County Magistrate doesn’t typically manage these matters."

"We’ve reported to the Village Chief, but the Village Chief said we didn’t know who the thief was, so he couldn’t help. I thought we have connections with the County Magistrate, so I shamelessly came to ask for help." Gao Laohan chuckled awkwardly.

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "Then I’ll have someone take you to the front yard. The Lord County Magistrate is working there. If you have evidence or want to accuse someone, you can tell him."

"Well..." He didn’t know the thief’s name. Wouldn’t the Lord County Magistrate send him away with just a word, telling him to wait for news?

Gao Laohan lowered his head, "Madam, the silver is lost and probably can’t be retrieved. The reason I came here isn’t to report the crime. We’re really out of food and it’s the slack season. Everyone in the family is hungry. I don’t know if my daughter is here at Madam’s place, so I can ask her to give us some help!"

Gao Laohan knew that if he asked Yu Xiaolian directly, she probably wouldn’t pay attention to him. However, if his daughter pleaded with Yu Xiaolian, she’d have to offer some silver.

This County Magistrate’s Wife’s ’some silver’ might be thicker than his hair!

Seeing that Gao Laohan didn’t openly ask her for charity, Yu Xiaolian thought to herself that this old man was cunningly wise.

"Your mother-in-law went to the Red Sausage Factory for work. It happens I need to go there later, you can come with me! Fang Cao, have Fu Gui prepare another cart." She didn’t want to squeeze into the same carriage with them.

"Come with me!" Fang Cao led the Gao family’s grandfather and grandson away.

Sun Manyue had been listening next door. When she noticed her grandfather was gone, she quickly came from the neighboring room.

"Xiaolian Jiejie, why do you want to see them? You should have just said you haven’t seen us. I get annoyed just seeing them!"

Sun Manyue thought her anger had mostly subsided over time, but today, upon hearing that the Gao family had arrived, it suddenly flared up again to the highest point.

"I’m curious to see if there’s still hope for your mother." Yu Xiaolian spoke while holding the hand warmer, "I’m going to the Red Sausage Factory; you wait at home. I’ll be back soon."