Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 1012: Farewell

Gu Jinli looked at Master Qi’s gloomy expression and smiled, "Master Qi, actually, we’re only business partners, we could part ways at any time. I don’t mind that your family is avoiding mine for fear of getting dragged down."

Master Qi gave a skeptical look, as if to say, "Who are you kidding?" If she wasn’t mad, why would she refuse his visit? Why would she come to his shop to cut ties?

However, he was also worried about Gu Jinli’s suggestion that they could part ways anytime, and hastily said, "Gu Family’s daughter, we can’t split up. This business is hard-earned; if we part ways, what will your uncle’s family do?"

The spice business was truly lucrative. In just three years, his family had accumulated quite a bit of silver from it. Even if something happened in Great Chu in the future, having this silver would give his family a better chance to survive difficult times.

Therefore, this business must not be disrupted.

"Master Qi, don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for you." Gu Jinli looked at Master Qi and said, "Avoiding danger is human nature. You don’t need to apologize; my family doesn’t mind much about it. It’s just that, after cooperating for three years, I didn’t expect Master Qi still wouldn’t trust us, thinking we are such a malicious and unfilial family."

Master Qi’s face turned pale at this, and he hurriedly tried to explain, "Gu Family’s daughter, you..."

"Master Qi, listen to me first." Gu Jinli interrupted Master Qi and said, "I’m not trying to put on airs or make things difficult for you. But Master Qi should know, our family has always treated yours very well. In the past three years, we’ve met plenty of people more influential than your family, and replacing you would be easy. Yet, we never did, remembering the relationship we’ve had over the past three years. But it seems Master Qi doesn’t value this friendship."

She continued, "If it’s not valued, there’s no need to apologize, just be ordinary partners at best."

And ordinary partners can part ways at any time.

"So, Master Qi shouldn’t come to apologize and make amends afterward, but should think in advance whether my family is worthy of your trust. If we are, then trust us; if not, don’t bother doing these useless things afterward." Gu Jinli concluded.

Master Qi felt deeply ashamed as he listened. He clearly understood that Gu Jinli was admonishing him for not trusting her family’s integrity and was transparently telling him that there are two types of cooperative relationships: one maintained by trust like old friends, and the other just business dealings, which can end at any time.

He needed to choose one in order to continue and not keep vacillating, clinging to the Gu Family when it benefitted him but running away as soon as trouble arose for them.

In essence, one needs to be sincere, and his behavior was almost like that of a scoundrel.

"Gu Family’s daughter..." Master Qi wanted to say something but didn’t know how to, especially since he was the one who left the Gu Family in difficult times.

Gu Jinli also didn’t want to hear Master Qi’s nonsense and simply said, "Master Qi, no need to say more. Our cooperation will continue, but how far our families’ relationship goes, we’ll have to see in the future."

She wanted to find a reliable backer in the Prefecture comparable to Elder Wu, but the current Qi Family wasn’t good enough, so she could only take it one step at a time.

However, if the Qi Family continued to be cowardly, fleeing as soon as her family encountered trouble, she wouldn’t hesitate to replace them.

Pointing to the things in the shop, she said, "There’s too much stuff, it would be too much trouble for us to take it all back. Master Qi, could you help us send it back to the village?"

Master Qi quickly replied, "Oh, don’t worry, I’ll definitely have it sent back to your hometown."

He added, "Gu Family’s daughter, your uncle would like to host you and your family for dinner tomorrow at his residence, how about it?"

Master Qi still wanted to make amends, but Gu Jinli declined, "No need, we’re leaving for the village tomorrow, no time for a banquet."

"You’re leaving for the village tomorrow?" Master Qi exclaimed, "Why leave so soon?"

Gu Jinli replied, "It’s not that soon. Other students go back home to pay respects to their ancestors as soon as the results are announced. My family has already stayed in the Prefecture for quite a while."

If they didn’t return soon, they’d miss the college examination in June after the ancestor rituals.

They could have waited until after becoming a Scholar to pay respects, but her brother was a student from Tianfu County, came here on its behalf, and topped the county exam, he had to go back and meet with the County Magistrate; otherwise, it would be considered impolite, so they had to return.

After saying that, Gu Jinli didn’t stay longer and left with Qin San Lang.

Master Qi hurriedly called after them, "Your uncle will come to see you off tomorrow!"

Gu Jinli didn’t turn back, leaving Master Qi helpless as he asked the old housekeeper, "Should I not have been so snobbish back then?"

At the time, the rumors in the Prefecture were rampant, saying that not only did Gu Dashan not respect his stepmother, but he also didn’t support his biological father, who ended up suing him in the government office.

Being accused of such a grave sin as unfilial conduct by your own father would ruin the family’s reputation for life, and Gu Jin’an could forget about taking the exams.

But who could’ve thought the true villains were the Old Gu Family, and Gu Dashan even counter-sued Granny Gu for attempting to harm his mother?

The old housekeeper sighed, "Second Young Master, it’s too late to say this now. We should be sincere with the Gu Family from here on out. The Gu Family’s daughter is reasonable, as long as we sincerely treat them well, she won’t cut off business with us."

Master Qi sighed, having no other choice.

He then instructed the shopkeeper, "Wrap up the fabrics they picked and send them to Da Feng Village, Qingfu Town, Tianfu County, Gu Family. Send them today."

"Yes, I’ll have someone prepare the cart to deliver it right away," the shopkeeper saw how much Master Qi cared about the Gu Family and promptly had people ready the cart to load the goods.

After speaking, Master Qi told the old housekeeper, "Prepare a generous gift, accompany me tomorrow to see the Gu Family off."

...

While Master Qi was thinking of various ways to make amends, Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang had already arrived at Qingshan Medical Hall, starting to select various good medicinal herbs.

Doctor Xiao was scared by her arrival, regretting giving her those promises because of his gratitude for her discovering Miss Ran’s poisoning.

Seeing Gu Jinli happily picking herbs, he said, "Take it easy, those pearl powder, Dendrobium, ginseng, Lingzhi, and Red Abdomen poison aren’t cheap."

Gu Jinli gave Doctor Xiao some face, replying, "I’ll buy less of the pearl powder then, and leave some for you."

As for pearl powder, Brother Qin had plenty; those flawed pearls were all ground into powder for her scar removal ointment.

Doctor Xiao was half-relieved, but then saw her choose several expensive herbs, almost fainting.

Not wanting to infuriate Doctor Xiao, Gu Jinli put some of the herbs back and smiled, "Don’t worry, I won’t let you lose too much."

Doctor Xiao waved his hand, saying, "Hurry and choose, finish soon and hurry back."

Every moment she lingered, his heart was on edge, fearing all the good medicinal herbs would end up in her hands.

Gu Jinli laughed and finally left with only three big bags of herbs.

These herbs were discounted, cheaper than buying at Xuanhu Fang; not buying them would be a loss.

They wandered around, buying quite a lot of things.

Seeing they had bought too much, Qin San Lang sent a young beggar to inform Erqing at the Gu Family to bring the mule cart to pick them up.

Seeing it was getting late, Gu Jinli decided to wait for Erqing and returned with him on the mule cart.

Just as they arrived at the house, they saw Gu Jin’an and Brother Cheng sending off guests.

The two guests were Yao Youqian and Lv Bai, who had come to bid farewell.