Chapter 1349: Chapter 1349: The Unstoppable Mrs. Kuang
Such wealth indeed.
Gu Jinli sighed, seeing so many carriages, mule carts, and servants; it must be Mrs. Xie Ji of Yujiang County, wife of Company Commander Xie.
In the booklet Qin San Lang gave her, it stated, Yujiang County’s Company Commander Xie, married Ji, from Linhe, a family with generations of trading and great wealth. Starting with Ji’s generation, the Ji family wanted to change their social standing by marrying into official families and having their children attend exams, but unfortunately, with little success.
This generation of descendants, nearly thirty people, only Mrs. Ji became the official wife of a military officer, and her elder brother passed the student exam but failed to become a Scholar.
However, it was enough for Mrs. Ji to hold her head high, as she was the only one marrying into an official family. Her marriage was truly grand, with countless fields, shops, silver, and servants as dowry.
Her grandparents secretly gifted her quite a sum of silver, making Mrs. Ji extremely proud. After a glorious wedding, she soon conceived and gave birth to a daughter.
For this reason, her family pressured her to accompany the military expedition to the Northwest.
The Old Master Ji said: "You are the only one in the family married to an official, and you don’t have a son yet; you must go to the Northwest and secure the status of an official’s wife. Don’t refuse because of fear of hardship."
Mrs. Ji was nearly in tears, thinking this wasn’t just hardship—this was risking her life!
The Rong people were so fierce, and she was still young. If she went to the Northwest and the Rong people breached the city, what would she do?
The Elder Ji saw her reluctance and said: "If you really fear hardship and don’t want to go, let your concubine sister go. If she bears a son, our ties with the Xie family will be solid."
Mrs. Ji listened, feeling both angry and scared, knowing that being treated so well by her natal family was all because she married a military officer and raised the family’s status. How could she let her concubine sister steal the position of Company Commanders’ Wife?
"Grandfather, do not worry, my husband treats your granddaughter very well; how could I let him go to the Northwest alone?" Thus Mrs. Ji followed Company Commander Xie to the Northwest.
However, the journey was long, and Mrs. Ji did not bring her daughter, leaving her with the Xie family, which was satisfactory to them.
The Ji family also seized the opportunity of Mrs. Ji joining the military expedition to the Northwest to boast about her greatly, portraying her as a strong woman willing to face danger alongside her husband, raising the reputation of both Mrs. Ji and the Ji family women significantly.
Mrs. Ji was spoiled since childhood, enjoyed hearing praises, and was extremely happy to hear people commending her as a virtuous role model when her reputation soared.
The Ji family generously gave Mrs. Ji many items to bring to the Northwest, which is why Gu Jinli saw so many carriages and mule carts.
Besides Mrs. Ji, there were two other Company Commanders’ Wives accompanying the military expedition to the Northwest.
One was Mrs. Cen, and the other was Mrs. Kuang.
The booklet noted Mrs. Cen was just twenty years old and a somewhat charming, delicate beauty.
Mrs. Kuang was twice their age, thirty-three; her husband Niu Dabao was initially a Chief Commander at the Military Office of Luan’an County. As the Company Commander Xu of Luan’an County was injured and couldn’t go to the Northwest, Niu Dabao was sent in his place.
Thus, Mrs. Kuang became Company Commanders’ Wife, and wary of Niu Dabao, she brought her children along.
The booklet noted Niu Dabao was truly skilled and a decent person, but the entry on Mrs. Kuang simply read "shrew."
"Xiao Yu, I need to bring the soldiers to join the others; you sit in the carriage and wait for me to return," Qin San Lang tapped the carriage and spoke inside.
Gu Jinli pulled aside the thick curtain from inside the window and said to him: "Hmm, you go quickly, don’t worry about me, I can manage."
Qin San Lang nodded, affectionately patting her head, instructing: "There are a few Company Commanders’ Wives here now; no need to rush to greet them. Wait until we set out. Sit quietly in the carriage; everyone is busy now, and many soldiers are bustling around. If you go out to greet them, you might get jostled."
Gu Jinli nodded: "Rest assured, I won’t go out. We’ll wait till after you offer sacrifices and then speak."
The military expedition is no child’s play; sacrifices to heaven and earth must be made first. They say departure is before dawn, but Gu Jinli observed, and if the army could set out two hours later, that would be good.
After hearing this, Qin San Lang left, instructing Feng Jin, You An, You Ping, and Daqing to guard the convoy to prevent anyone from crashing into them.
But he hadn’t been gone more than thirty minutes when Gu Jinli heard a shout: "Hey hey hey, ow ow ow, don’t twist my hand! I am the Company Commanders’ Wife of the Military Office in Luan’an County! And I’ve come with buns to greet the wife of Company Commander Qin!"
Gu Jinli frowned, looking toward Erqing: "Go check it out."
This person likely wasn’t lying; after all, there were soldiers outside and an ordinary impostor couldn’t get in.
"Yes." Erqing got up and went out, while Xiao Ji immediately drew a short knife, standing alert beside Gu Jinli.
Gu Jinli was quite pleased; Xiao Ji’s reaction was much quicker than before, though still not as sharp as Sanqing’s.
Sanqing, beside Gu Jinli, had already gripped the dagger in his sleeve upon hearing the commotion, one hand already shielding Gu Jinli, his eyes scanning through a lifted corner of the window.
Erqing managed Mrs. Gu Jinli’s affairs, while Sanqing was dedicated to protecting her, and Siqing and Wuqing were studying medicine. For this westward journey, she brought them all, with Sanqing sharing the carriage with her now.
Before long, Erqing reported to Gu Jinli: "Madam, it is indeed the wife of the newly appointed Company Commander of Luan’an County, Mrs. Kuang. She carries a knife for self-defense, has no poison, no combat skills, holds a child over one year old, and carries a basket of buns, claiming to greet Madam."
Erqing was thorough, confirming she was indeed Mrs. Kuang before coming to report to Gu Jinli.
Gu Jinli said: "Bring her over."
"Yes." Erqing responded, soon bringing Mrs. Kuang in.
Mrs. Kuang, a burly woman, felt unsettled being stopped by Erqing and the others, and upon seeing Gu Jinli, shrilled: "Oh, Mrs. Qin, worthy of being the daughter of a wealthy family, it’s truly difficult for us, who scrape by on the soil, to get a glimpse, like plowing land!"
Gu Jinli slightly raised her brows and directly handed a roasted duck leg from the carriage to the child in Mrs. Kuang’s arms: "In such cold weather at night, you must be hungry; take it and eat."
Seeing this, Mrs. Kuang immediately beamed, snatched the duck leg, stowed it in the basket, and said: "Qijin is still little and can’t eat this; I’ll take it back for his older brothers to enjoy."
Mrs. Kuang was indeed fertile, having birthed seven boys, all of whom survived; Niu Qijin was the youngest.
Though young, Niu Qijin was possessive of food; seeing the duck leg taken away, he began crying: "Meat, meat, eat, eat!"
Mrs. Kuang scolded: "What meat, I’ve nursed you, and you still want to eat? You never have enough, saving it for tomorrow to add to the meal!"
Gu Jinli wanted to cover her face; this child was over a year old and could speak, yet still being nursed?
