Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Zou Jiang was utterly loyal to County Magistrate Zou. Upon receiving the news, he immediately went to see County Magistrate Zou and told him about Concubine Lu and the Lu family women being murdered by river bandits.

County Magistrate Zou merely responded indifferently, "I see."

Seeing this reaction, Zou Jiang could no longer hold back and said, "Old Master, have you covered your tracks? You can't let those people take a bite at you. Those are desperadoes who lick the blood off their knives. If..."

"Shut up!" County Magistrate Zou burst out shouting, his eyes, sunken from severe illness, fixed intently on Zou Jiang: "You dare to investigate me, Zou Jiang, you're quite bold."

Zou Jiang hastened to explain, "Old Master, I did not investigate you. I got the message from the county government and remembered the old farmer who brought the water chestnuts, and that made me suspect it was you."

He also assured, "Rest assured, Old Master, you have shown great kindness to me and even if I die, I would not betray you. I came to ask because I was afraid you hadn't covered your tracks and people might trace it back to our mansion."

County Magistrate Zou heard this, his expression still gloomy.

After so many years, Zou Jiang was still smarter than him; he guessed that he had bribed river bandits to harm Concubine Lu just from a letter and an old farmer delivering water chestnuts.

County Magistrate Zou felt irritated. Why, after he had tormented Zou Jiang for a lifetime, could Zou Jiang still handle matters calmly? Logically speaking, shouldn't a genius like Zou Jiang be unable to bear the humiliation of enslavement and choose suicide?

County Magistrate Zou looked at Zou Jiang and suddenly thought it was wrong to torment a genius with such slow-witted effort. It was because he himself wasn't living any better than Zou Jiang.

Zou Jiang had lost his mother and wife, would never remarry, and was cut off from progeny. But as for himself, he was drugged with an infertility drug, cuckolded by his son, became the laughing stock of the county, had worthless sons and a useless grandson; he was practically cut off from progeny as well.

"Hahaha~" County Magistrate Zou suddenly burst into laughter, scaring Zou Jiang quite a bit, who quickly stepped forward to support him, saying, "Old Master, if you feel uncomfortable, please speak out, don't bottle it up inside."

Zou Jiang genuinely feared that the recent events would drive County Magistrate Zou mad.

After hearing this, County Magistrate Zou immediately stopped laughing and pushed Zou Jiang away: "This official is fine; you may leave."

Then he added, "You're overthinking it. It's common for river bandits to haunt the Huai River. The matter of Concubine Lu is just a coincidence; you needn't worry too much. And when has this official ever handled affairs without cleaning up afterwards?"

County Magistrate Zou did not admit to having the river bandits torment Concubine Lu. Once some things are admitted, they become leverage, and County Magistrate Zou, who had begun to guard against Zou Jiang, would not reveal his secrets to him.

However, Zou Jiang's reminder was apt—Limp Six could not be spared; if Zou Jiang could discover this, so could others.

As for Zou Jiang… County Magistrate Zou did not wish for Zou Jiang to die so easily.

He kept Zou Jiang around to torment him; now, comparing their lives, he realized he was not living any better than Zou Jiang. He had to take full advantage of his remaining life to properly torment Zou Jiang, to completely trample the genius, once celebrated across the counties of He'an Prefecture, underfoot, to make this genius die in the utmost misery.

Seeing that County Magistrate Zou would not listen to reason, Zou Jiang could only leave helplessly.

…

In the county government, Steward Tian heard the news of Concubine Lu's murder by river bandits, and his face darkened.

He thought of Gu Jinli's warning from the other day and found the incident unusual. He looked at County Magistrate Xu and said, "My Lord, that person would not have the audacity or ability to conspire..."

"Steward Tian, watch your words," County Magistrate Xu interrupted Steward Tian, "This is a serious matter; without evidence, we shouldn't speak rashly… it's not worth it."

This sort of case of officials colluding with river bandits was not something he, a County Magistrate without backers, could handle. Moreover, as he was about to be transferred, he did not want to lose his life over such a matter before his departure.

Master Tian knew that County Magistrate Xu was timid and only wanted to achieve success without taking any risks. Seeing that he was unwilling to touch this matter, Master Tian felt it was a pity.

However, County Magistrate Xu was his superior, so he had no choice but to follow orders and let the matter rest.

But County Captain Jiang had been keeping an eye on the Zou family all along. Recently, though, County Magistrate Zou had become more cautious and low-profile. He did not leave the Zou Mansion himself and restrained the servants within, not allowing them to leave the mansion at will, let alone engage in misconduct.

He even released Mrs. Zou, who had been grounded, and had Steward Shao personally tutor Zou Yunkun's son, planning for him to inherit the Zou family.

Zou Yunkun's wife, who had originally made a fuss about divorcing Zou Yunkun, changed her mind when she saw her son being carefully educated, knowing that the Zou family would be passed onto her son. She stopped causing trouble and ignored Zou Yunkun, treating him as if he were dead.

Zou Yuqian had died long ago in Lianshan Manor. County Magistrate Zou did not announce his death but quietly had him buried, claiming to the outside that he was ill and recuperating in the Manor.

Not long after Concubine Lu had died, Limp Six, who occasionally delivered water chestnuts to the Zou Mansion, never came again. He spread the word that he was too old to work and had sold his house, fields, and the pond where he grew water chestnuts, taking the Silver Coin to seek refuge with a nephew in Jiangnan.

Limp Six was an old man with a disability and a nobody without children. His departure went unnoticed, as no one cared about him.

But he didn't go to join his nephew; instead, he went to a river bandit's stronghold and settled there.

…

Upon learning of Concubine Lu's murder by river bandits, Gu Jinli seized the opportunity when Qin San Lang was home for a break to ask him: "Isn't the Lord County Magistrate going to investigate this?"

A thorough investigation was bound to turn up something.

Qin San Lang shook his head: "County Magistrate Xu is too timid to investigate for fear of losing his life. County Captain Jiang is keen, but County Magistrate Zou is careful, and he's swept his tracks clean, so there's nothing for County Captain Jiang to find."

Gu Jinli frowned: "That makes things difficult."

Qin San Lang looked at her furrowed brow and reassured her: "Don't worry, I'll handle these matters. I'll definitely find evidence of County Magistrate Zou's collusion with the river bandits."

Qin San Lang spoke with sincerity, but realized that Gu Jinli seemed not to hear him, preoccupied with her thoughts, which disappointed him.

At the height of his disappointment, Gu Jinli looked up at him and noticed he had tanned and grown a lot taller: "You've grown again. If you keep growing at this rate, by the time you're fully grown, you might reach one meter ninety."

Qin San Lang was puzzled: "How tall is one meter ninety? I'm not a kid, I'm already grown up."

He was fifteen and officially an adult, ready to start his own household.

Gu Jinli looked at him and said: "Where have you grown up? You're just a little brat."

Just a middle school student, okay.

But now is not the time to discuss your height and age.

"If County Magistrate Zou is so cautious, how long will it take to investigate slowly? Don't you suspect that the tragic incident of the Zou Jiang's family years ago was done by County Magistrate Zou? Then let's write an anonymous letter and send it to Zou Jiang." Gu Jinli smiled cunningly: "Whether there's evidence or not, let's first sow discord between County Magistrate Zou and Zou Jiang."

"The incident back then must have been a huge blow to Zou Jiang, or he wouldn't have become disheartened and given up his good register to become a servant. Just one anonymous letter to make him doubt the past, and he will definitely become estranged from County Magistrate Zou."

"Having been with County Magistrate Zou for so many years, Zou Jiang must know many of County Magistrate Zou's secrets. As long as Zou Jiang reveals these secrets, it will be hard for County Magistrate Zou not to fall."