Chapter 106.1
At dinner, when the family saw Little Jing Kong playing with a golden abacus, they all felt their eyes were going blind.
Little Jing Kong didn’t know much about gold. The only currency he knew was copper and silver, because at present, his family had only spent these two kinds of money.
As he said, he liked this golden abacus simply because it looked awesome.
Gu Jiao: Perhaps every child had a natural fondness for glittery and shiny objects?
If torn down and sold, any bead on the golden abacus was enough to put food on their family’s table for a year, but they still had moral integrity and no matter how poor the family was, they would never try to set their eyes on Little Jing Kong’s abacus.
At night, Gu Jiao helped Little Jing Kong to sort out all his things again, and found that there were no other valuables aside from the golden abacus and books such as Buddhist scriptures. All the rest were just worn-out gadgets and didn't seem to be worth much money.
Gu Jiao breathed a sigh of relief and muttered, "Of course. Wouldn’t it be scary if a monk is too rich?"
But it seemed that Little Jing Kong's master loved him very much. Despite being poor, because Little Jing Kong liked the golden abacus so much, he still did everything he could to get it for him.
The private school provided the students with an abacus, so students didn’t have to bring their own, thus Little Jing Kong would only take out the golden abacus when reviewing at home and never took it to the private school.
An uproar was thus prevented from happening.
The next day, Xiao Liulang headed for school together with the “eldest child”, “second child”, and “third child” of the family as usual, while Yao shi came to visit again with the gifts from Gu Jinyu.
Not surprisingly, Gu Jiao accepted none of them.
Yao shi didn't force her either.
Grannie Fang whispered, "Madame, you should persuade the eldest young miss. Although the second young miss is not her own sister, she should at least pretend to accept some of the gifts."
Grannie Fang didn’t really want to defend Gu Jinyu. She wasn’t her Madame’s own blood daughter. Just sparing her a glance was already showing her great regard, but sometimes people must do things for everyone to see.
The eldest young miss should have the bearing of the eldest daughter.
Yao shi, on the other hand, said in a warm voice, "It’s fine as long as JiaoJiao is happy. There is no reason to force others to accept anyone’s kindness."
Grannie Fang only let out a sigh.
After Yao shi left, Gu Jiao headed to town to order iron tools.
The State of Zhao had a very strict control over iron and salt. Gu Jiao needed a lot of farm tools. But before that, she needed to register with the county yamen and get an acquisition permit first.
Gu Jiao went to the county yamen.
The county magistrate personally received Gu Jiao.
He asked with a smile, "Why did Lady Xiao come to the yamen today? Is anyone in the village being restless again?"
Gu Jiao was momentarily stupefied by his question.
Without his reminder, Gu Jiao would have completely forgotten the existence of those so-called restless people in the village.
The Gu Family was suppressed by Marquis Gu and the county magistrate was his first blade. He was the one who removed Old Mister Gu from his position. Afterwards, he was also the one to fully arrange the matter of sending the grains to Xiao Liulang.
In fact, he still didn’t know Gu Jiao's real identity, only that she had a little connection with the Marquis Estate, and that she was Xiucai Xiao’s wife, so he treated her with special courtesy.
"This official offended Lady Xiao at that time. I hope Lady Xiao doesn't blame this official."
He was talking about that time when he arrested Gu Jiao and Little Jing Kong and sent them to a prisoner carriage at the orders of Marquis Gu.
Gu Jiao said, "It's fine. I'm here today because I want to buy some iron tools. Is it convenient for the county magistrate to give me an official permit?”
The county magistrate hurriedly replied, "It's convenient! Convenient! I wonder how many tools Lady Xiao is planning to get?"
Gu Jiao reported the number.
The county magistrate was shocked, "So many? Can I ask what Lady Xiao is using them for?"
Gu Jiao took out her land deed and showed it to him, saying, "I bought a mountain, they’re necessary to cultivate the land."
With that said, the county magistrate understood. Land reclamation was no small matter, it required a lot of manpower and material resources, and it was understandable to be in need of so many agricultural tools.
Normally, it would take several days for this kind of document to go through the process, but because the county magistrate personally accepted the request, it didn't take long for Gu Jiao to receive it.
Before she left, the county magistrate said to Gu Jiao with a smile, "If there is anything that needs the help of the yamen, Lady Xiao can ask anytime."
Gu Jiao nodded slightly, said her thanks and left.
As soon as she got out of the gate of the county yamen, she saw Second Owner running breathlessly towards her, "Gu... Gu girl... I found you... We just went to the village... Grandaunt said you came to the county yamen... Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I want to get iron tools and asked for an official permit." Gu Jiao said, giving him a strange look, "What’s the matter? Why did you go to the village early in the morning?"
Second Owner rubbed his hands and found it hard to speak.
Gu Jiao said, "So, where is the patient?"
"Cough!" Second Owner motioned Gu Jiao to give him the permit with the official seal in her hand first.
Gu Jiao gave it to him.
Second Owner then asked, "What iron tools should I order? How many of them do you need?"
Gu Jiao gave him the list.
He took it to the coachman and said, "Go to the iron shop later and get things done!"
"Yes!" The coachman took both the permit and the list.
"Let's talk about the matter in the carriage." Second Owner then said to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao got into the carriage with him.
"Go to the Rejuvenation Hall first." Second Owner ordered the coachman.
The coachman responded, waved his whip and drove the carriage forward.
The coachman went to send the two to the Rejuvenation Hall first and then he would head for the iron shop next.
On the way, Second Owner wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed, "We have a patient and his condition is a bit tricky. I didn't plan to find you until I had no other choice. I owe you one this time."
Gu Jiao paused and said, "It’s fine, this will be my treatment job for this month."
Second Owner was stunned, "Ah? Are you not planning to go to Young Master Gu’s place?"
Gu Jiao nodded and said, "En, I won't go." He already lives in my house actually.
Gu Yan went to private school today and Second Owner only saw Grandaunt. Naturally, he didn't know that Gu Yan was already living in Gu Jiao's house.
Second Owner nodded thoughtfully, "I think the young master’s condition has improved a lot, so it should be fine even if you don’t go this time, you can go again next month."
Gu Jiao didn't speak.
In a moment, they arrived at the Rejuvenation Hall.
It was only when Gu Jiao entered the lobby that she understood why Second Owner had brought her here in such a hurry.
The entire medical hall was cleared of patients, and all the physicians and staff, including Shopkeeper Wang, were held by a group of guards dressed in grand clothes. There was a dangerous and quiet atmosphere in the lobby.
A young man in his early twenties, with handsome eyebrows and grave and stern facial features, came over with a sword at his waist.
He glanced coldly at Second Owner, and also swept Gu Jiao a look from the corner of his eyes, but he didn't take Gu Jiao to heart at all. He asked, "Where's the physician you went to get?"
Second Owner tried to be calm as he looked at Gu Jiao and said, "That's her."
The young guard frowned, "An ugly girl?"
Gu Jiao had changed into clothes made by Yao shi, which was no longer shabby as compared to her original clothes. Even so, she still looked like a commoner, and it was hard for people to connect her with physicians who saved people’s lives.
Besides, she was still so young.
"It's her!" Second Owner wiped a cold sweat and said, "She's the best physician in our Rejuvenation Hall. If she can't cure it, then no one else in the town can."
The young man took a skeptical look at Gu Jiao.
She was still young, but possessed a pair of eyes that seemed to see through life and death, cold and ruthless.
The young man frowned and ultimately said, "Come with me."
Gu Jiao, carrying her back basket, went to the wing room in the backyard with the young man.
There were dozens of guards in the backyard, almost every five steps, so that the whole backyard was crowded.
Gu Jiao also noticed that there were several hidden guards hidden on the roof and in the alleys too.
With such a tight protection, the other party was probably a real big shot.
However, Gu Jiao didn't ask anything and simply remained calm from beginning to end.
"You, just wait outside." The young man seemed to be a trusted bodyguard. In a bad tone, he stopped Second Owner at the door and only let Gu Jiao in.
Just as the young bodyguard was about to step in, Gu Jiao suddenly said to him, "You also wait outside."
Young bodyguard: "..."
Before the young bodyguard could respond, Gu Jiao slammed the door shut!
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