Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Wan's Private School, although being the only private school in town, didn't have many scholars, and Old Master couldn't earn much tuition fee annually. The household relied on the eighty acres of farmland in the countryside for livelihood, and since Old Master loved purchasing expensive stationeries and Young Master enjoyed frequenting the county for leisure, the family's income was insufficient to cover expenditures, forcing them to cut corners on food and ceremonial gifts.

Lifang also knew their prosperity was only superficial, but with Master Tian and the people from Jiang Family present, he couldn't afford to lose face. He turned and entered his father's study, took a copy of Analects and Three Character Classic from the shelf, and placed them in a basket.

Seeing him actually preparing to send books to Gu Family, Scholar Wan was anxious and tried to snatch them away, but Lifang hurriedly said: "Father, Master Tian is a scholar, and Lord County Magistrate is a double-list scholar, our family values education and farming, taking books as congratulatory gifts is more respectable than anything else."

After thinking it over, Scholar Wan felt Lifang made sense and nodded in agreement, "Alright, let's go then."

If they're late, Master Tian would have left.

"Hey, son, help your father." Lifang was a tactful man. In front of outsiders, he always acted as a modest and filial gentleman.

Father and son walked ahead, Shuzi carried the gifts behind them, and after walking for more than a quarter of an hour, they arrived at Gu Family's Shop.

Upon entering, Scholar Wan immediately looked at the sign above the door, and upon seeing the Seal of Lord County Magistrate truly engraved on it, he smiled and nodded, "Indeed, it's a gift from Lord County Magistrate."

Seeing too many people at the door of the shop, Shuzi pushed forward and said to Wang Yongfu, who was guarding the door, "Big brother, I'm from Wan's Private School in the town. Our scholar master heard about your shop's opening and especially brought the young master to offer congratulations."

Respecting scholars as society does, Wang Yongfu, hearing it was a scholar, didn't dare to neglect and shouted into the shop, "Boss, Scholar Wan from the town is here."

Gu Dashan was busy having a meal with Master Tian and didn't have time to greet Scholar Wan and his son; Gu Dafu came out, saw Scholar Wan and immediately greeted him with a bow, "It turns out to be Scholar Wan, please come in."

Seeing Gu Dafu treating him with respect, Scholar Wan felt quite pleased, "Boss Gu, congratulations on your new shop."

Scholar Wan glanced at Shuzi who quickly offered the congratulatory gifts, "Boss Gu, these are congratulatory gifts for your esteemed shop, a small token, please accept them."

He specifically took out the two books and said, "Our young master learned that someone in your family is studying; he personally picked out two books to send over."

Gu Dafu was both surprised and delighted to receive two books from Wan family, and hurriedly accepted them, saying to Lifang, "Young Master Wan is considerate."

Lifang, good with words, bowed and saluted Gu Dafu, then smiled, "Uncle Gu is too kind, if Gu Family Brothers have spare time, they can come to Wan's Private School and we can discuss academics together."

After hearing this, Gu Dafu further expressed his thanks, initially intending to lead them to the main hall to sit, but after receiving books from another scholar, he boldly took them into the private room, and said to Third Grandpa and others, "Third Uncle, Scholar Shang, Master Tian, this is Scholar Wan from the town's private school, and his son."

When Scholar Wan and Lifang saw Master Tian and the Jiang Brothers, they were very excited. Seeing Master Tian and others look over, the father and son quickly bowed in greeting.

Scholar Wan still carried a hint of aloof pride, and formally said, "Master Tian, Lord Jiang, fortunate to meet you."

The "Lord Jiang" he referred to was Jiang Qi, not Jiang Jiao.

"Turns out it's Scholar Wan, please take a seat," Master Tian saw him, his face unchanged but internally displeased, after speaking, he stood up and said to Third Grandpa, "Elder Gu, Tian has overstayed his welcome, and there's official business in the county to attend to, so I shall take my leave."

Although Scholar Wan was reasonably knowledgeable, he was bizarrely obstinate and lofty, which Master Tian had no desire to endure longer, lest he be vexed to the point of liver pain.

Third Grandpa stood up and said, "Since there is official business to attend to, we won't keep Master Tian any longer."

The entire table got up to see off Master Tian and his company.

Scholar Wan and his son had unpleasant expressions. It was just noon, and Master Tian was leaving already, which was clearly a snub to them.

On the spot, Scholar Wan wanted to leave too, but he did not have the courage to directly show displeasure to Master Tian and the Jiang Brothers, so he could only force a smile and follow Gu Dafu to see them off.

The servants brought by Master Tian had eaten and drunk their fill, and upon seeing Master Tian leaving, they hurriedly brought the carriage over.

Third Grandma and Old Mrs. Yan had already packed up four return gifts, which Gu Dalin carried, handing two of them to the servants brought by Master Tian.

"Master Tian, these are all foods made by our shop. Please take them for your journey, and there's also one for Lord County Magistrate… Please help us deliver it to Lord County Magistrate, thank you very much for his plaque." Third Grandma said these words with a bit of shiver; after all, Lord County Magistrate was the highest-ranking official in Tianfu County.

Master Tian, seeing Third Grandma so nervous, said with a bit of amusement, "Don't worry, I will definitely deliver it."

The remaining two return gifts were for the Jiang Family and Boss Hu.

The Qin brothers and Luo Wu, knowing that Jiang Qi and his group were leaving, stopped their work and came out to see them off.

Seeing them, Jiang Qi said, "If you three can't make it back to the county tonight, coming back tomorrow morning is fine too, just be there before the morning period; I and Squad Leader Yang won't punish you."

Luo Wu, thrilled, quickly thanked him with a fist salute, "Thank you, Lord Jiang, for your kindness."

Qin Er Lang, however, was displeased but wouldn't show any dissatisfaction in front of Jiang Qi, and followed with a fist salute in thanks.

Before Boss Hu left, he specifically reminded, "Elder Gu, around mid-morning tomorrow, someone from Futai Building will come to collect the goods. They will carry a plaque matching the one I gave you."

During their meal in the side room, Boss Hu gave the Gu Family a matching plaque from Futai Building, to recognize the person by the plaque.

"Ah, we understand, rest assured Boss Hu." Third Grandpa said and led Gu Dashan and the others to escort Master Tian and the others past the Gate Tower, not returning to the shop until the carriage was out of sight.

Scholar Shang and Village Chief Shang saw that it was still early and did not leave; instead, they returned to Gu's Restaurant to bolster the scene.

Seeing this, Scholar Wan, initially wanting to leave, also followed back.

Third Grandpa respects scholars and instructed Third Grandma to serve a new table of dishes to entertain the Wan father and son.

Village Chief Shang and Scholar Shang had already eaten and did not join the Wan father and son at the table. Only Gu Dafu and his son, Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan, accompanied them while Gu Jin'an went to chat with Scholar Shang, Village Chief Shang, and Shang Family's two grandsons.

The meal was somewhat suffocating for Scholar Wan and his son, but fortunately, soon after, a bout of hearty laughter sounded at the entrance of the shop: "Yo, the business isn't bad."

Turning towards the voice, Gu Jin'an saw Elder Yuan Laorong and his two sons, and behind them stood two women, one older and one younger, likely Elder Yuan Laorong's wife and daughter-in-law.