Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Wan Lifang earnestly said, "Father, you know our family's situation. Life gets harder every year, and if we don't have any income, we won't be able to continue our studies. With Miss Gu's dowry and the continuous dividends from Gu's Restaurant and Gu's Workshop, our life can surely improve."

Scholar Wan knew that his family was struggling. After listening to Wan Lifang, he pondered for a moment and nodded slightly, "My son makes sense. Pursuing studies and scholarship is impossible without money."

"However... Father still feels unreconciled. Our Wan Family by your generation ought to marry an official's daughter, but now we can only marry a girl from a wealthy family."

Scholar Wan beat his chest and stomped his feet, lamenting their poor fate; despite efforts for two generations, they still hadn't become an official family.

Wan Lifang was cunning, and to comfort Scholar Wan, he said with teary eyes, "Father, marrying Gu Dafu's daughter is just a temporary measure to financially support our studies. In a few years, once I attain an official position, I'll demote her to concubine and seek to marry an official's daughter to elevate our family's reputation."

Scholar Wan was startled, feeling that his son's words were somewhat excessive, "That... doesn't seem right?"

Yet Wan Lifang spoke righteously, "Father, matters of marriage should always match in social status. If your son gains an official title, naturally he should marry an official's daughter. Gu Dafu won't be able to say anything, as by then, your son will be a man of official rank."

Scholar Wan thought about it and felt it made sense, nodding in agreement.

Seeing his agreement, Wan Lifang immediately said, "Father, you must talk to mother about this. I'm afraid she won't agree."

Scholar Wan's expression turned cold, he snorted, "I am the head of this family, how dare she not agree? If she doesn't, I'll write a divorce paper and divorce her."

It wouldn't matter if they didn't contribute to the Wan family, and dared to use the Wan family's money to support her maternal family. Such a wife might as well be dispensed with.

…

Gu Yumei was unaware that she had been targeted by Wan Lifang, and was currently dining with Mrs. Yuan.

Meanwhile, Gu Jinli and others were very busy, only managing to eat in shifts in the kitchen. After eating, they had to serve the guests again, extremely busy.

In the midst of this, Liang Zhuzi came with two restaurant managers.

Wang Yongfu recognized Liang Zhuzi, welcomed him into the shop directly, and shouted towards the private room, "Boss, Brother Liang is here."

Gu Dashan, hearing this, quickly came out, stunned to see Liang Zhuzi, "Brother Liang, it's been over a month, you've changed a lot, I almost didn't recognize you at first glance."

Now, Liang Zhuzi was dressed in a new brown long robe, wearing a towel hat, had grown plump, his face radiant and looked completely different from the exhausted appearance he had a month ago.

Liang Zhuzi laughed heartily, "Brother Gu, look at what you're saying, no matter how much I change, am I not still Liang Zhuzi?"

He quickly introduced to Gu Dashan, "Brother Gu, this is Manager Feng from Changfeng Building in Hukang County; this is Manager Lin from Yongxing Building in Daxing Town. They really enjoy the marinated dishes and roast duck from your shop and have come specially to place orders with you."

Gu Dashan had heard of Manager Lin from Yongxing Building. However, it was his first time hearing about Manager Feng from Changfeng Building.

Manager Feng was just over forty years old, but he was thin and gaunt, with deep nasolabial folds on his face that made him look like he was fifty. Seeing Gu Dashan, he bowed and said, "Boss Gu, I am the manager of Changfeng Building in Hukang County. After tasting your roast duck and marinated dishes in Daxing Town, I found their flavors truly extraordinary. I have come today to request these goods, and I hope, for Brother Liang's sake, you can spare some marinated dishes and roast duck for our Changfeng Building."

Manager Lin, standing beside him, also said, "Boss Gu, I, Lin, have also come specifically to request goods. Brother Liang must have mentioned our Yongxing Building to you. Our Yongxing Building is a century-old shop, existing since the former dynasty. You can be completely assured doing business with us."

Gu Dashan wouldn't refuse Manager Lin. They had thought about doing business with Yongxing Building since the beginning of their marinated dish venture. Manager Lin is honest, and having done business with Liang Zhuzi and the others for so long without ever underpricing them, and even lending a hand when they encountered issues in Yongxing Town, he was a reliable person.

But Manager Feng...

Being a manager, Feng was no fool. Seeing Gu Dashan's concerns, he immediately took out his household registration and handed it to Gu Dashan, "Boss Gu, please have a look. This is my household registration. My family background is clean. Although I am not a native of Tianfu County, you can rest assured doing business with our Changfeng Building."

Gu Dashan, who couldn't read much, was also unable to understand the official seal from the county government on the registration.

Gu Jin'an had been watching this situation and had already invited Scholar Shang and Village Chief Shang over.

"Let this old man have a look," Village Chief Shang took over Manager Feng's household registration, squinting his old eyes for a while before handing it to Scholar Shang, "My eyes aren't what they used to be. Wenyuan, you scholar, take a look."

Upon hearing this, both Manager Feng and Manager Lin were startled and bowed to Scholar Shang, "It turns out that this gentleman is Scholar. We apologize for any disrespect."

Scholar Shang said, "Just a minor scholar, not worth mentioning. Both of you gentlemen need not be so polite."

Village Chief Shang chuckled and agreed, saying, "Just a minor scholar indeed, not comparable to your father-in-law, who is the Lord County Captain of our Tianfu County."

Suppressing a chuckle, Gu Jin'an knew Village Chief Shang could hold his position for a reason; those words certainly gave Manager Feng and Manager Lin a start.

Still, Gu Jin'an underestimated Village Chief Shang, who followed up by saying, "Speaking of which, your father-in-law is just a County Magistrate, an Assistant Officer at best, not comparable to Lord County Magistrate Xu, the chief official of our Tianfu County. However, the Lord County Magistrate does know his food. Because of his love for the marinated dishes and roast duck from your shop, when he learned of its opening today, he even sent Master Tian to deliver a plaque, making him a truly devoted and passionate patron."

Not only Manager Feng and Manager Lin were astonished; Liang Zhuzi also could not believe it and asked, "Brother Gu, did the Lord County Magistrate really send someone to deliver a plaque to your shop?"

Gu Dashan smiled and nodded, "Yes, he sent a plaque for Gu's Restaurant, and it is already hung up on the door."

In the hall, there were many customers waiting to pick up items, and someone who lived in town said, "Indeed, this morning when Master Tian and Lord Jiang came to deliver the plaque, everyone in town saw it. People came to watch the excitement for a long time. Brother Gu and the others truly gained face; everyone who runs a shop in town is envious now."

As this was being discussed, Gu Qingtian came out carrying a basket and handed it to the man who had just spoken, "Uncle Hong, this is your two jin of marinated fish pieces, one jin of fried tofu, and eight bean dregs cakes. Go to the counter to pay, Grandpa Qin is there collecting money."

Today being the opening day of the shop, everything was in chaos, and being old, Elder Qin didn't like to attend to the customers, so he simply sat at the counter taking money.