I was a stepmother in ancient times, and I led my whole family to wealth.

Chapter 49 Gu Chenglin's Heart Flutter

Thinking of this, I recall the late emperor's reign, when he accepted all women without hesitation, holding a minor selection every three years and a major selection every five years. In his later years, he became even more unrestrained, taking men into his harem.

Those noble families, princes, and other high-ranking officials all sent him gifts, all in an effort to curry favor with the late emperor…

With the border situation critical and no one in the court willing to go, those people pressured the Crown Prince to lead the campaign personally. Cang Liyuan had no choice but to go into battle.

His actions played right into their trap.

Before Cangli Yuan's men even reached the border, the late emperor, due to excessive indulgence... passed away.

Then came the chaos...

Seeing that the young master was deep in thought, Ah Dong tentatively asked, "Young master, may I tell the young lady about this person?"

Lu Yunqing remained silent for a while before decisively refusing: "No need, but you can go to the teacher and report her situation to him truthfully."

The teacher had some dealings with Master Fakong. If the teacher has any instructions, please bring them back as well.

"Alright, then please call Axi back. That way, I can leave with a clearer mind."

"I understand. He's helping out with his senior brother, so he should be back in a day or two."

"Alright, I'll leave now and try to return as soon as possible."

Seeing that he was even more anxious than she was, Lu Yunqing finally agreed: "You...you be careful."

"Yes."

……

In a secluded courtyard behind the county government office, Feng reported the day's events to Elder Chu and Gu Chenglin.

Chu Xiong stroked his beard, looking inscrutable, and chuckled as he looked at Gu Chenglin: "Your wife is quite something, isn't she? You've made up your mind about her?"

You must understand that you will have to go back sooner or later. Although you cannot inherit the title, you are still the second legitimate son of the Gu family.

When Gu Chenglin saw him praising his wife, a long-lost smile appeared on his face: "She is very good, I will not give up on her."

Even if I go back, I won't give up, Grandpa Chu. To be honest, I don't plan to go back.

Yes, he didn't want to go back, even though his stepmother was his mother's half-sister and she had only given birth to two daughters for his father.

But his elder brother has already inherited the title, and if he goes back, it might cause his elder brother to have inappropriate thoughts.

At that time, he will be caught in the vortex of struggle again; he is really not suited for that kind of wealthy yet stressful life.

I don't want to live in constant fear.

He just wanted his family to be together and live a simple, ordinary life.

And then there's Dongfang Jin. She's really wonderful; she's somehow already taken up residence in his heart.

He had only been gone for less than a day when he began to miss her; her every smile and gesture was deeply etched in his mind.

Every time he thought of her, his heart would involuntarily beat a little faster.

Her unintentional playfulness and annoyance made him itch with desire.

For no other reason than that he didn't want to ruin this beautiful moment.

Besides, he's already twenty-six, and so many years have passed; he doesn't want to disturb his older siblings' lives.

Seeing his expression, Chu Xiong knew perfectly well what the kid was thinking; he was smitten.

It seems we should put aside the matter of their divorce. The current situation is not suitable for them to return to the capital. It seems we need to find a more appropriate time.

This child grew up in a farming family and was abused by the Gu family for many years, even though he served in the army for five years.

But after all, he didn't grow up in that strategically important central area, so he's not too cunning.

This gesture... but it pleased him greatly. He wasn't power-hungry, so it seemed Hua Yutang's worries were unnecessary.

Feng looked at Gu Chenglin, hesitated, and finally spoke up: "What do you think of Madam's sesame paste and hot pot?"

Seeing his reaction, Gu Chenglin understood his thoughts and shook his head: "Since she gave it to the magistrate, you can forget about it. I'll talk to her when I have time."

He will talk to Xiao Jin about it, but not now; he doesn't want to reveal his identity at the moment.

Seeing the situation was getting tense, Chu Xiong changed the subject and stopped dwelling on it: "I heard she also sold quite a few recipes to Ping An Restaurant?"

Gu Chenglin nodded: "Yes, I haven't asked about the specifics yet."

Chu Xiong frowned: "She has recipes, why don't you open your own restaurant?"

Gu Chenglin listened to his words with tenderness in his eyes: "She complained that it was too tiring, saying that selling recipes was more reliable and less stressful. Besides, neither of us are cut out for business."

How many recipes does she have to sell? How long can she keep going like this? If she opened a restaurant, at least she would have income every day. Chu Xiong didn't ask these questions.

Feng looked at them, listened to their conversation, and then recounted what had happened when Dongfang Jin went to Yonghetang.

Chu Xiong looked surprised: "You mean she rattled off the names of more than twenty kinds of medicinal herbs?"

That's right, otherwise how would she know so much? She can name both "one penny" and "one-time joy" medicine off the top of her head... Heh, he underestimated her.

Feng looked at the two of them and continued, "Yes, the young pharmacist also said that what she was filling wasn't a prescription and couldn't be put together with other medicines."

Chu Xiong perked up immediately: "Did you get the prescription?"

Feng looked dejected: "No, I'm too far away, and she's accompanied by a master. We're afraid of being exposed, so we can't get too close."

However, someone will deliver something to the lady tomorrow, and the farmer said that they have plenty of what the lady wants on the mountain.

We did find out the couple's address; they were villagers in Fengling Village, Jing'an Town.

Behind Fengling Village lies the Phoenix Ridge area of ​​Guangling Prefecture, which is all mountainous.

After hearing Feng's words, Gu Chenglin also knew about that area and said, "Tomorrow you can see what he gave Xiao Jin. Now that she's in the county government, you can forget about getting anything you want."

With the county magistrate in charge, do you think those things could possibly end up in your hands?

Feng looked reluctant: "Master, Madam said that the sesame paste should be given to the Lin family in Lingwu Village, so why can't it be given to the old master? The Hua family also has a restaurant."

Chu Xiong looked at his anxious face and laughed, "You little rascal, your wife is right next to your master. If she can come up with one prescription, she can come up with two."

Think about it, why did she give the sesame paste recipe to Lu Yunqing and then to the Lin family?

He thought to himself, "This child is with Gu Chenglin. If he were with that young Duke Gu Yunxiao of Rongguo, he probably wouldn't live long."

The wind was confused and looked bewildered: "Why?"

"Hehe, she's doing this to repay a debt of gratitude and to find a backer for your master."

Lu Yunqing is the magistrate of Ling'an County, and he has just taken office, and he is in Yan Zhiyuan's territory.

Although the magistrate's three-year term has expired, given the relationship between that person and Lu Yuyan, do you think Lu Yunqing will stay here for a few more years if he just whispers in her ear?

And...so you just wait and see, those families who helped your master will eventually find her a job to make a living.

The wind asked, puzzled, "Why? If it's about repaying a debt of gratitude, wouldn't it be more practical to give some silver?"

Chu Xiong shook his head at him: "You, I don't know how Yu Tang chose you as the leader. Your brain isn't good enough, it's completely inadequate."

Gu Chenglin looked at Chu Xiong with a puzzled expression: "Could you please enlighten me?"

Chu Xiong smiled at them, but didn't answer their questions directly: "Tell me, if we're repaying a debt of gratitude, is it better to give a limited amount of silver, or to give you a business that can be passed down through generations?"

Gu Chenglin's eyes were deep and bright: "Of course it's a business transaction. No matter how much money you have, it will eventually run out. Moreover, giving money might make people lazy and greedy."

Even a sudden windfall might bring trouble to the family.

Feng looked at Gu Chenglin, then at Old Chu who was nodding repeatedly: "You know what, it really is."