The Young Master Dou’s face improved considerably upon hearing she would add more silver later.

However...

"Great Chu is so vast, relying on just our little silver won’t work even if we add more later. At most, it can only stabilize Anfu River."

But Great Chu has over a hundred prefectures, and having only Anfu River stable wouldn’t be enough.

"No, as long as we stabilize Anfu River, Great Chu can be stabilized." Gu Jinli looked at Young Master Dou and said, "What we’re doing is a beacon of hope. Great Chu has so many talented individuals; as long as they see this beacon of hope and understand that such deeds are feasible, those from wealthy and powerful families will follow suit to ensure the stability of their prefectures. Once enough people follow, farmers across Great Chu will be able to borrow silver to pay taxes, and this calamity will pass."

Ouyang Ming chimed in, "The so-called spark can ignite a prairie fire; it’s just like that. We’re just a spark."

Young Master Dou, listening, looked at Gu Jinli, furrowing his brows again... The Young Marquis truly has a good eye; this choice of a wife is not bad!

Young Master Dou has always felt that Gu Jinli wasn’t a match for Qin San Lang, but now he changed his opinion. Such intelligence from a country girl, not bad at all. He doesn’t need to feel pity for the Young Marquis anymore.

Thinking of the Young Marquis, Young Master Dou asked, "Little Boss Gu, how has Company Commander Qin been lately?"

Gu Jinli: "Brother Qin is quite well."

What are you scheming again?

Young Master Dou: "Has Company Commander Qin returned recently? I heard he didn’t attend Scholar Gu’s banquet; did he encounter something?"

A major occasion where the brother-in-law becomes a scholar, and the Young Marquis didn’t attend, haha, perhaps he’s about to abandon this farmer girl?

Gu Jinli looked at Young Master Dou, whose face was almost smiling away, and coldly said, "My Brother Qin had official duties to attend to, not to mention we’ve grown up together, and our families are still neighbors; there’s no need to read too much into it. It’s just a banquet, whether Brother Qin attends or not doesn’t affect the relationship between our families."

Punk, don’t be suicidal. What do you mean by that? Do you wish for a fallout between me and Brother Qin? Do you believe I’ll butcher you to feed the wolves!

Young Master Dou, hearing this, smiled with deeper meaning: "So Company Commander Qin really didn’t attend."

"Young Master Dou, why are you so concerned about my Brother Qin? Have you been in Jiangnan for too long and picked up some Immortal Lord’s hobbies?" Gu Jinli was tired of dealing with him, so she delivered a killer blow directly.

As expected, upon hearing this, Young Master Dou turned pale with anger: "Stop spouting nonsense; this young master does not like Immortal Lords. I purely respect Company Commander Qin, so don’t let your imagination run too wild!"

His verbal jabs were simply because he felt Gu Jinli unworthy of the Young Marquis. If the Young Marquis no longer liked her, he would promptly find a well-bred lady for him; he had no other hobbies.

Moreover, regarding the Young Marquis’s status—how could he dare have different thoughts?

Gu Jinli knew Young Master Dou didn’t mean that, but she was displeased by his constant probing into Brother Qin’s affairs.

When it’s appropriate for you to know or meet him, Brother Qin will naturally seek you out. Your excessive eagerness might indeed ruin Brother Qin’s plans.

"Douzi, stop dawdling and come quickly. Let’s put our fingerprint on the contract, and then each of us can go about our business." Master Ouyang beckoned him over, first producing a private seal from the Duan Family and stamping it on the contract.

Upon hearing this, Young Master Dou hurried over and stamped his private seal.

As for Gu Jinli and Gu Jin’an, they remained motionless. Master Ouyang said, "The Gu Family is just rural farmers; they can invest privately but shouldn’t leave any names on the contract. This contract may eventually land in the hands of the Emperor, and the Gu Family doesn’t have the capability to withstand the court disputes right now."

Thus, on this contract, only the seals of the Ouyang and Dou Families were present.

After hearing this, both Gu Jinli and Gu Jin’an bowed and said, "Thank you, Master Ouyang, for the protection."

Master Ouyang was indeed protecting them. If they were to leave fingerprints and names on the contract, they’d likely become cannon fodder.

Young Master Dou, after hearing this, didn’t say much. While he looked down upon Gu Jinli’s status, as long as she was the Young Marquis’s fiancée, he had to protect the Gu Family.

"It’s done, it’s getting late. You all should head back. Leave the remaining matters to the old man and Douzi." After securing the contract, Master Ouyang said, looking at the darkened sky.

"Alright, the juniors will take their leave first," Gu Jin’an and Gu Jinli said.

Gu Jinli glanced at her elder brother and approached Ouyang Ming, bowing, "Thank you, Third Sister, for the help. If not for your righteousness in persuading Master Ouyang, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly."

Ouyang Ming returned her bow, "I should be the one thanking Sister Gu Er; your idea saved the citizens of Great Chu. Otherwise, who knows how many farmers would have died from this."

Gu Jinli smiled and said, "Third Sister, you’re overpraising. I’m not one with grand ambitions; I never thought of the world or the citizens of Great Chu. I was just trying to protect my family’s little plot of land, which is how I came up with this idea."

Ouyang Ming laughed, "Sister Gu Er is too modest."

"Third Sister, stop calling me Sister Gu Er. You should call me Xiao Yu; it sounds more intimate," Gu Jinli added, "Third Sister is such a heroic woman. I love interacting with heroic women. If I’m free, can I come to visit Third Sister?"

Her elder brother, being an adult male, had little chance to meet Miss Ouyang. As a sister, she had to work hard to keep her brother from being single!

Ouyang Ming smiled and said, "I indeed have the same wish... Xiao Yu, you can visit me anytime you want. If I have time, I also wish to visit your home; is that okay?"

"Of course, why wouldn’t it be? I’m eager for Third Sister to come." Gu Jinli’s eyes lit up, "I have many new delicacies at home that are not available outside, and they taste quite good. When Third Sister visits, I’ll prepare them for you; let Third Sister feast."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ming looked at the girl describing her various dishes and smiled, "Xiao Yu, your words are making me hungry."

Gu Jinli said, "In that case, I’ll come by again tomorrow and bring some food for Third Sister, would that be alright?"

Ouyang Ming agreed, "Alright."

Gu Jinli became pleased, glancing at Gu Jin’an and raising her eyebrows, see, ain’t your sister impressive?

Gu Jin’an, feeling his face slightly redden, hurriedly lowered his head to avoid losing his composure and bowed toward Master Ouyang, saying, "Master, it’s getting late, I’ll take my leave... and come back tomorrow to help."

Gu Jinli: "..."

Brother, you’re something, silently ensuring tomorrow’s visit with the Ouyang Family.

Master Ouyang said, "That’s fine too; indeed, I have tasks that need your attention."

Gu Jin’an, happily thanking Master Ouyang, took Gu Jinli and left.

Before departing, he bowed to Miss Ouyang, "Thank you, Miss Ouyang, for your help."

Ouyang Ming smiled and returned the bow.

Seeing this, Gu Jin’an took Gu Jinli and left. Just as they stepped out of the Ouyang Family’s gate, they saw Qin San Lang.