Gu Yu helped Chen Min get off the carriage.

It was amazing that Chen Min, with a big belly, ran to the Wei River to join in the fun despite the long journey.

"I saw my cousin's wife."

Chen Min pointed to a place not far away.

"I'll help you get over there, be careful."

Gu Yu supported Chen Min and walked straight towards Gu Jiu.

Gu Jiu greeted the two, "Sister Minmin, Fourth Brother Gu, why are you here today? Come and sit down. Is Sister Minmin about to give birth?"

Chen Min sat down on the cushion, holding her belly, and said, "I'm only two months away from giving birth. I hope you won't laugh at me for running out to play with such a big belly."

"Of course not. Fourth Brother Gu is free today?" Gu Jiu asked him with a smile.

Gu Yu smiled embarrassedly, "To be honest with you, Xiaojiu, I have something to ask of you."

"Oh?" Gu Jiu was surprised.

Gu Mei and the others took the initiative to stand up and said, "Let's go for a walk by the river. Sister Jiu, you guys can chat slowly."

"I'll come find you guys later."

Everyone had left, leaving only Gu Jiu, Gu Yu, and Chen Min.

Gu Jiu said, "Sister Minmin ran out despite being pregnant. It seems that something is serious. Could it be related to Princess Huyang? Or did something happen in Xinmin County?"

The latter possibility is relatively small.

If something really happened in Xinmin County, Deng Cunli would have sent someone to tell her immediately. He wouldn't have waited for Gu Yu to come in person.

She didn't make any guesses about Gu Yu's family.

Because she never interfered with Gu Yu's family affairs. If there was anything wrong with the Gu family, Gu Yu would not come to her.

After much guessing, the most likely person is Princess Huyang.

"Sister Xiaojiu is really good at predicting things." Gu Yu smiled bitterly.

Chen Min felt a little guilty, "It's all my fault that I'm incompetent and can't help my husband with his worries."

"Don't say that. It's not your fault for something like this." Gu Yu comforted Chen Min.

Gu Jiu poured Chen Min a glass of water and told her not to worry.

Then he asked Gu Yu, "Brother Gu, you should tell me."

Gu Yu sighed, "Since the New Year, my mother-in-law has been looking for me and asking me to help her."

"How is it convenient?" Gu Jiu smiled, it was indeed all about benefits.

Gu Yu talked about several things in detail.

From large projects to small lawsuits, Huyang wanted to get involved. Fortunately, the land over there had already been bought by Gu Jiu, and Huyang might also intervene in the land sale.

But even if he couldn't interfere in land transactions, Huyang would secretly interfere in house transactions.

The prices of the first, second, and even third phase projects have been rising rapidly in recent years.

Many people have set their sights on real estate in Xinmin County.

Fortunately, Sihai Trading Company had taken preventive measures early on, and with the cooperation of the county government, they were able to block the surging influx of capital.

It is necessary to ensure that ordinary people can afford to buy houses, and also to ensure that their houses will not be maliciously speculated.

If everyone is speculating in real estate, who will still work honestly to earn money?

Gu Jiu was sure that if she allowed real estate speculation, those poor people would use the money from selling their houses to become regular customers of the gambling house.

At most half a year, everyone will be back to poverty and owe money for gambling.

Such things are not uncommon in later generations.

So much so that later, when some local governments carried out demolition, they only provided houses but not money.

Money is the root of all evil, especially for those who have been poor for a long time and have suddenly become rich, it is the root of all evil.

Money comes too easily. As soon as a house is sold, a large sum of money can be earned. How many young people would work honestly?

Now that I have money, I feel free!

There are few entertainment options these days and traveling is not popular.

What can we do?

Just gambling!

Hu Yang wanted to obtain the house purchase and sale deeds from Gu Yu, and ask Gu Yu to endorse her so that she could speculate on the properties in Phases 1, 2, and 3.

As for Phases 4 and 5, they are all high-end properties, priced out of reach for most people. Even if capital speculation is allowed, it will not have much impact on ordinary people.

What Gu Jiu needs to be wary of are the properties in Phases One, Two, and Three.

For this purpose, a strict house buying and selling system was specially formulated to strictly prevent all kinds of capital.

Hu Yang not only wanted to interfere in the sale of houses, but according to Gu Yu, she also sent people to Xinmin County and asked Gu Yu to settle them down.

Gu Yu said, "It's obvious that those people are not from legitimate backgrounds. I can't refuse my mother-in-law, so I simply sent someone to keep them under guard and tell them not to contact the outside world."

Gu Jiu pinched his chin and laughed.

"Aunt Huyang is indeed a double-edged sword. Fourth Brother Gu, do you know what Aunt Huyang is like?"

Gu Yu shook his head.

Gu Jiu smiled and said, "When you are strong, she is weak, and when you are weak, she is strong. If you respect her as your mother-in-law, she will naturally act like a mother-in-law to you and ask you to do things for her.

"What you've said is all official business, and Fourth Brother Gu should handle it in a businesslike manner. Although it may be embarrassing for relatives, it will effectively prevent her from getting further ahead."

After saying that, Gu Jiu looked gently towards Chen Min.

Chen Min said hurriedly, "It's all my fault. I went to see my mother three times, but she chased me away every time."

Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Fourth Brother Gu is usually quite decisive in his actions, so why is he so timid when facing Princess Huyang? Or is he afraid of Princess Huyang's status and power?"

Gu Yu felt a little ashamed.

Gu Jiu took a sip of tea, then said slowly, "Tell me, Hu Yang's status and power are worthless. If you dare to interfere in Xinmin County's official affairs, just fight back. If you extend your left hand, I'll chop off your left hand, and if you extend your right hand, I'll chop off your right hand!"

Gu Yu and Chen Min's expressions changed at the same time.

Chen Min swallowed subconsciously.

It was the first time that Chen Min heard someone say that his mother's identity and power were shit. He felt a little embarrassed, but also inexplicably excited.

Only with an attitude like that of my cousin's sister-in-law can one control a domineering mother.

Gu Yu wiped his face and said, "I am confused."

Gu Jiu snorted and said bluntly, "Fourth Brother Gu is not only confused, he's downright pedantic. In the eyes of the world, Xinmin County is a goose that lays golden eggs. Apart from anything else, as long as the county government is willing to slightly relax the number of real estate transactions, a large amount of capital will flow in, and the county government will also collect a substantial amount of deed tax.

Not to mention that Xinmin County is the only county in Dazhou without a registered farmer, where everyone works and pays taxes. Among these business opportunities, even a small leak between your fingers can be a fortune.

But precisely because Xinmin County is a hen that lays golden eggs, countless eyes are staring at Xinmin County and at Fourth Brother Gu.

"Brother Gu, if you make a single misstep, even with Princess Huyang protecting you, you'll have to give up your position. Once someone else becomes the magistrate of Xinmin County, my plans will have to be adjusted. It's like a chain reaction."

After a pause, Gu Jiu emphasized again: "Brother Gu, you must remember one thing, even though you were able to be re-elected as the magistrate of Xinmin County, Princess Huyang made great contributions.

But the foundation still lies in you. It is because you are honest and dedicated to serving the people, and you do not show favoritism or bend the law that Princess Huyang can protect you.

If you abuse your power and bend the law to seek personal gain for Huyang, then even if there were ten Huyangs, it would not guarantee that you would continue to be the magistrate of Xinmin County. The cause and effect here must not be reversed."

Gu Yu stood up and bowed.

"Thank you, Xiaojiu, for your advice. I know what to do now."

Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Help them to the end. You have already established a weak image in front of Princess Huyang. Now that you are suddenly tough, she will most likely not buy your tricks. She may even hold a grudge against you and try to sow discord between you and your husband."

I'll be the villain. Tomorrow I'll have a drink with Hu Yang and give her a good beating. After that, Fourth Brother Gu should stand up in front of Hu Yang. And Min Min, if you don't want to drag Fourth Brother Gu down, you have to stand up too. You can't let Hu Yang control you."

Huyang is a person who is both likable and annoying.

When facing the outside world, she is the hardest armor and the sharpest spear, able to kill all enemies without leaving a single piece of armor.

Internally... hehe!

When Hu Yang treats someone as her own, she will naturally cross the line and step into that person's living space. She will directly interfere with that person's personal and official affairs, and act bossy in various ways, which is very annoying.

The reason why Hu Yang and Empress Pei couldn't get along well was largely due to Hu Yang's personality.

The only exception is Gu Jiu.

It’s just because, whenever Hu Yang has the idea of ​​crossing the line, Gu Jiu will beat her back hard, so that she dare not step into his living space.

Both Gu Yu and Chen Min ignored the importance of boundaries in life, and even more so the importance of private space.

Give in step by step, and in the end, you will reach a point where you can no longer retreat and cannot tolerate anything more.

I hope that after this reminder, Gu Yu and Chen Min can stand up and stop booing Hu Yang.

Hu Yang is just a paper tiger, and it is easy for Gu Jiu to deal with her.

The next day, the spring weather was beautiful.

Gu Jiu came to the Princess's Mansion carrying a bottle of rice wine.

Princess Huyang was beaming with joy.

"My nephew's wife, you are a rare guest. What brings you here today?"

Gu Jiu smiled and said, "The wind is blowing from the southeast today, so I came here. Auntie, do you welcome me?"

"Welcome, welcome. I've been waiting for you to come. Come, clean up the pavilion. It's a nice day today, let's have a drink in the pavilion. What do you think, nephew and his wife?"

Gu Jiu nodded, "I'll listen to my aunt."

The two of them walked hand in hand and came to the pavilion.

After three rounds of drinks, Gu Jiu asked, "What has my aunt been busy with lately?"