Jiang Yushu was relieved to learn that the scammer had been caught. She whispered, "Where's Zhou Mengsheng? Where is he?"
"Inn."
Jiang Yushu thought for a moment, "Inn? There's a lot of people coming and going. Will he take advantage of the chaos to escape?"
"Don't worry. I've arranged for strict interrogation and day and night surveillance."
Guo Honglei suppressed his anger and revealed, "Actually, his name isn't 'Zhou Mengsheng' at all, but 'Chen Xijin.' Furthermore, he's not the son of a wealthy businessman or a refined scholar, but a scoundrel who makes a living by deceiving others."
Jiang Yushu wasn't surprised at all. She sighed and said, "Huh, he really was using a fake identity to defraud people. How despicable! Alas, my sister-in-law trusted him so easily. Not only was all her money swindled out, but she also got pregnant with Zhou and Chen's child. The loss was so severe that it's hard to recover."
"We can't come to any conclusion right now. The most urgent thing is to follow the clues and catch the accomplices of the scammer. After we have thoroughly investigated the matter, we can go home and make long-term plans." Guo Honglei was deeply troubled by his eldest sister-in-law's actions.
Jiang Yushu nodded in agreement. "Okay. Now that things have come to this, don't worry too much. There will always be a solution."
"I can hold on, but I'm worried that mother can't withstand this blow." Guo Honglei was extremely worried and said in confusion, "My eldest sister-in-law has been favored since she was young. My mother has always loved her very much. She decided for my eldest brother to marry her, and they have been together for more than ten years... At the beginning, when the mourning period was over, no one forced her, and she voluntarily remained faithful to her husband. I never expected that she would, actually--" He was speechless and frowned without saying a word.
Jiang Yushu sighed and suggested, "It's obvious that although the old lady is very angry, she can't bring herself to punish my sister-in-law harshly. After all, we have a family relationship of more than ten years and have shared hardships. When the time comes, we should act according to the circumstances and try our best to follow the elders' wishes to prevent the old lady from accumulating resentment and becoming ill."
"I understand." Guo Honglei also sighed, "Even if she is no longer 'sister-in-law', she is still my cousin. More importantly, the family must consider Yu'er. If the scandal gets out, it will inevitably implicate the child."
"Yeah. Alas, Yu'er is the most pitiful."
The two men walked towards the carriage while negotiating, stopping and starting, and the confidants of both sides scattered and gathered around them.
In a short while, the important matter was settled. Jiang Yushu stood in front of the carriage and asked with concern: "How is Ye'er? Is he well behaved at home?"
Guo Honglei was stunned. "It should be good."
Jiang Yushu asked helplessly: "Should it be? Didn't you see him?"
Guo Honglei explained, "When I received your letter, I happened to be busy with military duties and couldn't leave. I asked someone to secretly investigate for two months and just recently took leave. When I heard there was a clue, I didn't even bother to go home and rushed straight here to arrest the person and take you home."
"Oh! That's fine. I'm almost done with my work. Let's go back to Heqin together in a couple of days."
Jiang Yushu looked up and looked into his slightly bloodshot eyes. "Look at you, your eyes are bloodshot. Did you rush here?"
Guo Honglei acquiesced and said in a deep voice, "If we don't catch the culprit, I'll be inconsolable. That gang of charlatans not only harmed my sister-in-law, but also trampled on my reputation. They are unforgivable."
Jiang Yushu understood the head of the family's rage and quickly consoled him, "Luckily, we caught one. If we keep tracking them down, we'll surely catch them all! Calm down, calm down, go back to the inn and rest. I'll come find you as soon as I'm free. Which inn?"
"Shengping Inn."
"Okay!" Jiang Yushu thought for a moment and pushed him into the car. "What a coincidence! I'm going to the warehouse, so it's on my way. Don't ride the horse, get in the car and rest for a while."
Guo Honglei was indeed tired. He nodded, threw the whip to his follower, bent down and pulled the car, and the two sat side by side.
Soon, the wheels rumbled and drove into the bustling streets of the city.
Jiang Yushu asked softly, "How long can you stay for this visit?"
"Twenty days. The next trip probably won't be until the end of the year." Guo Honglei put his arm around her, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes. "Let's take care of my sister-in-law's affairs first, and then celebrate Mother's birthday."
"Um."
Outside the car window, the vendors' eager calls echoed in a bustling atmosphere. Jiang Yushu suddenly had an idea and turned to ask, "It's halfway across the city from Shengping Inn to where I live. You're busy and tired, so why not send someone to deliver a message? I'll come find you."
Guo Honglei closed his eyes and spoke in a low voice, "Actually, I didn't choose the Shengping Inn. It was Chen's place. When I first caught him, I was furious... His accomplices haven't been caught yet, and Chen Xijin must be alive. So, I came out to get some fresh air and come to you to have a chat."
Jiang Yushu nodded suddenly, gently stroked his chest, and comforted him: "Calm down, calm down. That kind of despicable and shameless thing is not worth getting angry at all."
"Yes." Guo Honglei took a deep breath, raised his hand, pressed her hand against his chest, and gradually calmed down. "I'm not angry." He calmed down and asked gently, "How is the workshop you always mentioned in your letters going?"
When talking about official business, Jiang Yushu immediately became excited and answered happily, "We've already made several batches of potato flour! Unfortunately, it's not as fast as I expected, and it's quite crude. Fortunately, the government is willing to listen to suggestions and is making improvements. They are urging the blacksmith to make a batch of ironware for the workshop."
Guo Honglei smiled and praised: "It sounds great, let's wait and see."
Jiang Yushu was excited. "Currently, potatoes have spread all over Xicang. Unless something drastic happens, they'll fill up granaries everywhere sooner or later. Then, the workshop will be very useful. We can make potato flour, vermicelli, and other foods from the grain that doesn't store well, which will be easy to store and sell."
"Madam, you have worked so hard. If the government forgets your contribution when you succeed in the future, I will definitely remind them." Guo Honglei said seriously.
Jiang Yushu rested her head on his shoulder and said cheerfully, "I'm happy with it! I don't care whether it's a credit or not. I just enjoy it and want to do something that makes me happy."
The wheels rumbled, but no one responded for a long time.
She was puzzled and looked up: Guo Honglei had his eyes closed and his breathing was steady. He was actually asleep from exhaustion.
Jiang Yushu stared intently, sighing quietly. She could fully imagine him: far away in Tuning Guard, after completing military duties, he rushed back to Xicang at full speed, and at one point, he was so angry that he personally rushed to the provincial capital to hunt down the swindler who bullied his relatives...
——Compared to when we first met, the handsome and extraordinary nobleman still had the air of a scholar. Gradually, he grew into a brave and courageous captain, becoming more and more trustworthy.
Jiang Yushu accompanied him quietly, changing from snuggling up to him to carefully holding his body steady.
Two days later, government-run workshop
The government recruited a group of people to put their knowledge into practice and devoted themselves to studying the production of potato flour.
Amidst the commotion, Jiang Yushu picked up a bundle of potato vermicelli tied with silk thread. After carefully examining it, she waved it towards her companions. "Here, look! This is potato vermicelli! Compared to noodles, it has a different flavor."
Guo Honglei took it, sniffed it curiously, and, as always, praised his wife, saying, "It looks good."
"Can this pile be used as tribute?" Pei Wenfeng, his official robe straight, picked up a bunch and took a closer look. He hooked the red silk thread with his little finger and pulled it tentatively.
Jiang Yushu replied cautiously, "Yes. But if we wait a little longer, we should be able to make something better."
"Oh? I'll tell His Majesty. He'll decide when to present the tribute." Pei Wenfeng put the item back where it belonged. "The emperor's word is golden. If he just praises it, this item will be famous all over the capital. It's infinitely more effective than the government's promotion."
Guo Honglei nodded in agreement, "Indeed."
After the inspection, the three of them headed out. Jiang Yushu jokingly said, "There's no one else here, so what's 'Prefect'? He's already 'Father-in-law'! Could you please tell Prefect Ji that my mother-in-law's birthday is coming up soon, and I have to go back to Heqin and leave tomorrow morning?"
"I understand." Pei Wenfeng glanced at her steadily, then paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, saying seriously, "The tribute cannot be wrong. I have to arrange for a few more people to monitor the workshop day and night."
Guo Honglei took the opportunity to apologize, "When Brother Pei got married in May, I happened to be busy and couldn't make it to the wedding. It's really a pity."
"That's fine." Pei Wenfeng looked straight ahead and said calmly, "When you got married, I didn't even go to the wedding. We're even now."
“…” The couple looked at each other, seeming to want to say something but stopping themselves.
Pei Wenfeng's expression remained calm, and without even turning his head, he invited, "It's just a drink, anytime is fine. How about a few drinks tonight and some conversation?"
Guo Honglei answered readily: "Okay!"
Late Night Inn
The Guo family booked the third floor of Shengping Inn.
"Mmmm! Mmmmm..." A fair and gentle young man, blindfolded and bound in an armchair, sobbed and begged, his face bare of any injuries. This man was Chen Xijin.
Several of Guo Honglei's trusted confidants were in charge of guarding the scammer and whispered, "Shut up!"
"You want a beating?"
"If you keep yelling, I'll cut off your tongue!"
Chen Xijin was frightened by the beating, and hurriedly shut up and trembled.
Alas, he looked so gentle and refined, but it turned out that appearances are not to be judged! Jiang Yushu observed for a moment, pondered for a long time, and then quietly left, followed by Cuimei.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the group stepped out of the door, they saw two personal soldiers escorting Guo Honglei towards them.
Jiang Yushu hurried to greet him, "You're back? You reek of alcohol. How much did you drink?"
"Not much."
Guo Honglei reeked of alcohol. As he stood still, a trusted aide whispered in his ear, "Sir, the interrogation has revealed the truth. According to Chen Xijin's confession, the man who paid him and instructed him to commit the fraud was a middle-aged man nicknamed 'Qian Laoliu.' Qian Laoliu also made a living by swindling and scamming people. He had no fixed abode, but Chen Xijin knew several of his whereabouts."
Guo Honglei thought for a moment and then made a quick decision, ordering, "It's been a while since the incident happened. They might think the storm has passed. Start a secret investigation tomorrow morning. Be careful not to alert the enemy."
"Yes!" The confidant received the order and quickly returned to the temporary "cell" to discuss the capture strategy with his companions.
Jiang Yushu supported him and said, "Let's go back to the room and drink some hangover tea. We have to get up early and travel tomorrow."
"Hmm."
Guo Honglei put his arm around her and leaned half of his body against her, almost knocking her down, but he quickly came to her rescue.
"Slow down!" Jiang Yushu staggered, Cuimei covered her mouth and laughed, then she made some hangover tea and left, closing the door.
At this moment, Heqinguo Mansion
"well."
"I really can't believe my cousin's wife is that kind of woman."
Afterward, Liao Xiaodie curled up in her husband's arms, her arms and shoulders exposed outside the quilt. She sneered inwardly and frowned as she asked, "What she did really broke the old lady's heart! Besides, she's about to give birth. What if she gives birth to a bastard?"
Gong Yipeng sighed, "That's the Guo family's family affair. Outsiders shouldn't interfere without permission. We should just pretend we don't know anything about it. The old lady's birthday is coming soon. When Honglei comes back, he will make the decision."
Liao Xiaodie gloated over the misfortune and said with regret: "Before, my mother-in-law loved me and my relatives and friends respected me, but my cousin's wife didn't know how to appreciate it and dared to cheat on a wild man——"
Gong Yipeng was kind-hearted and interrupted, saying, "Okay, okay, let's stop talking about this!"
"What?" Liao Xiaodie's face changed. "Are you worried about her?"
Gong Yipeng was stunned and quickly denied it: "What nonsense are you talking about? I, I - she is the wife of my old friend, stop talking nonsense!"
Liao Xiaodie burst out laughing and said angrily, "Silly boy, I didn't say anything, why are you so anxious!"
"Alas, she made a mistake and deserves to be punished, but to be fair, the one who deserves the most punishment is actually that 'Mr. Zhou'. He deliberately seduced the widow, cheated her of her money and sex. He is despicable and hateful to the extreme! I hope we can catch him soon to prevent him from continuing to hurt innocent people." Gong Yipeng said seriously.
Liao Xiaodie bit her lip, panicking for a moment before calming down and sighing, "It's hard. He's been successful for almost a year now. He's done something so immoral, he must be feeling guilty and afraid of being held accountable, so why wouldn't he run away? Now, who knows where he's gone to?"
"It's like finding a needle in a haystack. It's really difficult. Nine times out of ten, you won't find it." Gong Yipeng felt very sympathetic. "It seems that the Guo family is destined to suffer a great loss."
Liao Xiaodie reminded him, "When Honglei comes back, comfort him more to prevent him from getting too angry. Be grateful and repay the favor. He helped you get your job in Yongzhou. We can't stand idly by when something happens to the Guo family."
"Of course!" Gong Yipeng said seriously, "That's why I took a special leave to come and celebrate my aunt's birthday. If Honglei asks, I will definitely help him with all my strength."
The so-called "juren Zhou Mengsheng", Chen Xijin, has been arrested. Liao Xiaodie is completely unaware of this and is immersed in the pleasure of revenge. She comforts Wang all day long and wins a lot of praise from her.
In the blink of an eye, early July
"Whoa!"
The driver pulled the reins, and a procession of carriages and horses stopped outside the mansion gate, announcing loudly: "Sir, Madam, we've arrived!"
Guo Honglei accompanied his wife in the car. The couple got out of the car one after another. As soon as they stood firm, they saw Guo Yu running towards them, shouting joyfully:
"Second Uncle!"
"Aunt!"
Jiang Yushu bent down and touched her nephew's head. "Good boy, you've grown taller."
"How's your homework?" Guo Honglei asked with a smile.
Wang had strictly forbidden him to keep it a secret, so Guo Yu remained unaware of his mother's misfortune and remained unfazed. He scratched his head and replied sheepishly, "Hehehe, no, not really." He finished his words crisply, "But my third uncle passed the imperial examination and had a celebration a while ago. It was a lively affair. It's a shame my fourth uncle didn't pass."
Coincidentally, Gong Yipeng, Guo Hongzhe, and Guo Hongxuan approached. The unsuccessful candidate felt awkward and cleared his throat, calling out, "Second brother, second sister-in-law."
"Honglei, did you have a smooth journey?" Gong Yipeng asked with concern.
The couple responded one by one and walked into the house chatting and laughing.
Guo Honglei let go of his nephew, patted his third brother's arm with his left hand, and praised: "Scholar, not bad!" He patted his fourth brother's arm with his right hand, "It's okay, see you next time!"
The two younger brothers respect their elder brother and obey his orders.
The unsuccessful candidates were present, so Jiang Yushu was inconvenient to say anything. She clasped her fists and mouthed, "Congratulations!"
Guo Hongzhe understood and hurriedly returned the greeting, still looking shy.
When the prince of the Marquis of Jingyang was sentenced to death by the emperor, his son was less than three years old. Therefore, Guo Yu had no memory of his "father" and subconsciously regarded his tall and majestic second uncle as his father.
Guo Yu was overjoyed to have his second uncle visit. He was led by his second uncle and second aunt, sitting in the middle. He couldn't help but jump and chatter, then said distressedly, "Grandpa's birthday is coming soon, and everyone has returned, but my mother is still staying in the nunnery, praying for my grandmother."
"How long does it take to pray?"
Guo Yu looked up at his uncle and asked earnestly, "Uncle, can you send someone to pick up my mother? Ask her to go home and pray for blessings, okay? I swear: while she prays, I will be quiet and will also persuade my sister Baozhu and my brother to stop making noise."
"Alas, I haven't seen her for a long time." Guo Yu pouted in dissatisfaction.
All the adults paused.
Jiang Yushu sighed secretly and touched her nephew's cheek with pity. Guo Honglei picked up the child and solemnly promised:
"Don't worry. The uncles are working on a solution and will definitely do their best to take care of you!"
The author has something to say: Potato vermicelli is deliciousヽ(￣▽￣)?
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