Chapter 29: 29 Cheating people

Editor: Atlas Studios

The day after, Gu Jiao woke up and sat at the edge of her bed, dazed for quite a time.

This time, she was not dazed by her own dream, but by her husband’s streak of bad luck.

Why is he such an unlucky teenager?

Is he really that unfortunate?

Moreover, this time it has damaged his beautiful face. This won’t work, absolutely not!

The whole issue started because of the meddling Gu Dashun. If it wasn’t for his false testimony, Xiao Liulang wouldn’t be late returning to the village in his attempt to prove his innocence. As a result, he got caught in the heavy snow, had an accident, and ruined his handsome face.

…

Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang finished their breakfast before dawn, while the old lady was still sound asleep in her room. Gu Jiao gently saw Xiao Liulang off.

“It’s going to snow today. Wear more layers.” Gu Jiao handed him a cloak.

Xiao Liulang looked at the stars in the night sky, doubting it would snow, but he still accepted the cloak she handed out. “Thank you.”

As usual, Gu Jiao escorted him to the edge of the village.

Xiao Liulang got on the oxcart, Gu Jiao stood beside him waiting until a drowsy Gu Xiaoshun came carrying his book bag, then she turned around and left.

Gu Jiao knew Xiao Liulang would go to the bookstore that afternoon and knew that he would be framed, but she didn’t remind him not to go.

She remembered the details of how Xiao Liulang solved the case, so she knew to where the thief took the stolen goods.

…

“I’ve left the food in the pot. Eat when you’re hungry, and remember to take your medicine. If you skip a dose, I’ll know.” Gu Jiao told the old woman inside the main hall.

Since the old lady wasn’t truly senile, there was no need to watch over her. She wasn’t contagious anymore, so there’s no fear of her hurting anyone, and as for someone hurting her? Unlikely.

The old lady snorted dismissively.

Gu Jiao left carrying her basket and happened to pass by Gu Yue’e who was emptying water outside the Gu’s mansion.

“Good morning, sister Yue’e.” She greeted.

Under the influence of her mother and the second wife, Gu Yue’e was distant from Gu Jiao. Seeing Gu Jiao taking the initiative to say hello, she didn’t respond and lowered her head and went back inside.

“Who’s talking?” Zhou Family inquired from inside.

“Jiao.” Gu Yue’e said softly.

Zhou Family swung open the door.

Gu Jiao greeted her as well: “Good morning, Auntie.”

“Uh … Good morning, good morning.” Zhou Family tried to maintain politeness. She glanced at Gu Jiao carrying the basket and asked with an awkward smile, “Jiao, where are you going this early?”

Gu Jiao smiled: “I am going up the mountain to pick some fresh produce and then sell it in the town.”

Zhou Family’s eyes flickered, “Does it sell well? I heard wild produce is poisonous …”

“I know which ones are not poisonous, my husband taught me.” If she said that it was her own knowledge, nobody would believe it.

Zhou Family saw the things in Gu Jiao’s basket a few days ago when she made a big fuss about it, seeds, candy, brown sugar, and peanuts. It must have costed a lot of money. This girl probably made a good amount of silver by selling the produce.

Zhou Family’s eyes flashed, she chuckled: “Can you take Auntie with you? You can’t pick that much by yourself, can’t you? Let Auntie help you!”

“Sure.” Gu Jiao readily agreed down.

Zhou Family chuckled to herself, thinking what a fool, so easy to fool. Once she recognises all the produce, then there wouldn’t be anything left for Gu Jiao to pick.

Zhou Family wouldn’t invite Liao Family to such a good thing, but Liao Family heard it herself, came out carrying a basket: “I’m also going with you!”

“Good.” Gu Jiao smiled.

Gu Jiao went to pick mushrooms in the mountains with the two aunts.

She could indeed easily trick them into picking some fungus and poisonous mushrooms and sell them, but that would end up hurting innocent people, which she wouldn’t stoop to.

She picked some normal winter mushrooms with them, enough to fill everyone’s baskets, before she was satisfied and left.

“Can this really be sold for money?” Zhou Family asked dubiously.

“Just follow me and you will see, they are really good sellers.” Gu Jiao said.

Zhou Family wanted to go by herself, so she could keep whatever she sold without handing it all over to the family. Unfortunately, Liao Family had the same idea, so in the end, both of them went with Gu Jiao.

“Miss Gu Jiao, this is not the way to the marketplace.” Halfway down the road, a member of the Liao family asked Gu Jiao curiously.

Gu Jiao said, “The marketplace would be closing by now. Let’s go to the market in the east of the town. The prices there are higher.”

As soon as they heard they could sell for more money, the two stopped questioning.

When they passed an alleyway, Gu Jiao suddenly said, “I need to use the restroom. Please wait for me.”

“Go, go,” said a member of the Zhou family.

Liao sneered, muttering, “Lazy people always need the toilet!”

Gu Jiao went through the alleyway to the back door of Huichun Hall and went inside.

A quarter of an hour later, Gu Jiao came back.

“What took you so long?” Liao complained.

Gu Jiao smiled vaguely, “I had a bout of diarrhoea.”

Zhou hurriedly said, “OK, Miss Gu Jiao, where’s the marketplace? let’s go sell our goods quickly; we wouldn’t want them to lose their freshness.”

“OK.” Gu Jiao nodded with a smile.

Gu Jiao led the two people on.

Suddenly, a figure darted out from an alleyway on the side. Gu Jiao didn’t dodge or avoid, and collided head-on with the person.

The man was knocked to the ground.

Gu Jiao immediately pulled out a sickle and said, “How dare you bump into me?”

The man was stunned, thinking, who exactly bumped into whom?

Gu Jiao didn’t care. She advanced on the man with her sickle, and they quickly became entwined in a fight. The man’s bundle was knocked off and fell to the ground. He could not pick it up in time, as Gu Jiao chased him several hundred meters with her sickle.

Zhou and Liao couldn’t help but open the bundle that had fallen on the ground and seeing the silver inside, they were immediately overcome with greed.

The silver was not stolen by them, nor was it robbed, they found it on the street.

What they found was theirs!

Without speaking, they decided to take the silver and leave, not leaving any for Gǔ Jiāo!

The two of them hastily started grabbing the silver. They even ended up in a physical fight over who could grab more!

—

Over at the Academy, after Xiao Liulang had finished his meal, he took his transcribed books to Yipin Pavilion.

There were many bookstores in Qingquan Town, but this one was the largest. So, even at noon, business was still very good.

The books written by Xiao Liulang sold the best, so the bookstore staff knew him well.

An attendant greeted him politely, “The shopkeeper is out. Could you please wait in the accountant’s office on the second floor?”

Just as Xiao Liulang was about to enter, a salesclerk called him from behind, “Are you Young Master Xiao?”

Xiao Liulang turned around.

“Do you remember me, Young Master Xiao?” the salesclerk asked, smiling.

“I remember. You’re from Huichun Hall. What can I do for you?” Xiao asked.

The salesclerk awkwardly explained, “It’s like this: last time, we mixed up a few of your prescriptions. The shopkeeper asked me to find you. Would you have time to come to Huichun Hall with me to pick up your medicine – and also, for a free check-up?”

Normally, if a mistake was made preparing a prescription, the correct one would just be delivered, but Huichun Hall was offering a free check-up as an apology.

Makes sense.

Xiao Liulang left with the Huichun Hall clerk, leaving Gu Dashun, who was hiding behind the bookshelves, watching contemptuously after him.

Xiao Liulang fetched his medication at Huichun Hall and got a check-up. The clerk personally escorted him back to the academy, but as soon they got off the carriage, they heard the students of the academy whispering.

“Have you heard? The bookstore was robbed, and they say the thief is a new student from our first tier class.”

“A new student from the first tier? What’s his name?”

“Gu Dashun!”