Chapter Fifty-Seven: Taking Over Zhang Ge Lao's Estate
The carriage slowly drove away from the county magistrate's residence. Qin Zhining lifted the curtain and looked at the street receding outside the window, making a silent vow in her heart.
From now on, she will investigate the cause of her mother's death for the original owner of this body and make those who hurt her and her mother pay the price.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the county magistrate's office, Qin Youming looked at Aunt An with a face so dark it could drip water. "Qinghe, tell me honestly, is what Chengxuan said true? Were those men in black hired by you?"
Aunt An hurriedly denied it, "Master, I really didn't do it! Please believe me, how could I do such a thing? It must be Chengxuan and Zhining who conspired to frame me!"
"Master, I've raised Chengxuan for nothing. Waaah—what kind of son is this, betraying his own mother?"
Aunt An knew that even if Qin Youming hated Qin Zhining so much that he wanted to get rid of her, she was, after all, his own flesh and blood. He would not be able to do it for a while and would instead blame others for treating his daughter badly.
Therefore, she understood perfectly well and refused to admit that she had hired someone to rob and kill Qin Zhining.
Qin Zhiyu stood aside, watching her mother cry incessantly, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice. She felt both annoyed and confused, her thoughts in turmoil.
Although she didn't know why Aunt An hired someone to kill Qin Zhining, she was extremely angry that Qin Chengxuan questioned his own mother and treated her so ruthlessly.
Now that Qin Zhining has severed ties with her family and left, she feels that things are not as simple as she thought, and she won't just let it go.
Qin Zhining, along with a few of her subordinates, first had Qin Zheng and the others wait for them deep in the dense forest, and then took Qin Xiaoxiao, Jin Chun, and Jin Qiu to buy meat and grain.
Chen Erlang and Chen Xiaomei then took their leave and went home, expressing their gratitude.
Qin Zhining gave the siblings ten taels of silver to help them settle down first, and said she would visit them for tea when she had the chance.
Chen Erlang and Chen Xiaomei initially refused to accept any money, but Qin Zhining insisted, so they had no choice but to accept and leave.
After the brother and sister left, Qin Zhining, Qin Xiaoxiao, Gu Jingchun, and Gu Jingqiu went to the meat stall and bought five catties of the best pork belly.
Foreleg meat is also the first choice, as the meat is so firm that it can spring back your knuckles.
The butcher even forced a few bones into my hand.
The intestines and other internal organs were sold for a mere ten or so coins as a courtesy.
The grain store had 100 jin each of wheat flour and refined rice, the bags tightly sealed, with moisture mixed with the aroma of wheat wafting out. This was no ordinary purchase; it was clearly a preparation to support a family.
"Miss, how...how do I take this?"
Jingchun stared at the mountain of things, feeling a headache coming on.
Miss, you're a big spender!
Although she knows some martial arts, her strength is still limited.
Qin Zhining, however, had already made up her mind. She raised her hand and waved to the donkey cart waiting for passengers not far away. A wide-stacked donkey cart came running over with a "clatter".
The old cart driver, seeing how generous she was, spending ten coins at once, smiled broadly and shook his bell as he delivered the goods to the outskirts of town.
As the cart tracks rolled over the bluestone slabs of Zhang Gelao's estate in the suburbs, Jinqiu couldn't help but nudge Jinchun's arm and whisper, "Sister, look at the bluestone bricks of the estate. They're even more orderly than the main hall of the previous Geng Da Caizhu's house."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the donkey cart stopped in front of the vermilion gate of the manor.
Qin Zhining jumped out of the car, her fingertips brushing against the faded carvings on the lintel. "This estate used to belong to Grand Secretary Zhang, but now—it belongs to your young lady. Of course, it belongs to you too."
Before Qin Wenzheng and the others, including Jin Chun and Jin Qiu, could react, Qin Zhining pushed open the door.
The courtyard was paved with blue bricks, and the birdcage hanging under the eaves was still swaying. The steward, Zhou Fuquan, hurriedly came out.
"It's...it's Miss Qin? You...you've come?"
He stepped forward with an embarrassed expression and an unfriendly tone, bowing and saying, "Yesterday, Steward Zhang from the Grand Secretary's residence came early in the morning and informed us that the estate has changed hands."
Speaking of the change of ownership, he was almost gritting his teeth, and the account book in his hands seemed to weigh a ton.
When they saw the eight maids and servants behind Qin Zhining, their eyes turned even colder.
Qin Zhining slammed the land deed, house deed, and the transfer document personally written by Zhang Gelao onto the stone table. Even the county government's filing documents were laid out neatly. Zhou Fuquan's face turned pale instantly, and his fingers gripped the edges of the documents, his knuckles turning blue.
He knew that it was a done deal that Grand Secretary Zhang would gift the county magistrate's daughter the estate.
"From this day forward, this estate is my private property."
Qin Zhining didn't stand on ceremony. Her voice carried an undeniable force as she turned to the maids behind her, "Qin Zheng, Jin Chun, Jin Qiu, from now on, this estate will be managed by you."
"Miss?"
Jin Chun was so startled that she took a half step back, her skirt brushing against the stone steps. She was both excited and flustered. "This servant... this servant can't even recognize all the account books, how can I bear this responsibility?"
Jinqiu nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with fear.
Qin Zhining didn't say much, but turned to instruct Steward Zhou, "Go and gather everyone in the manor to the outer courtyard. I have something to say."
"Oh, right, also bring the entire register of names from this estate. I'll handle the rest."
Manager Zhou was extremely dissatisfied, but he didn't dare to say a word and hurriedly did as he was told.
Qin Zhining led the group of people inside, and when they passed through the covered corridor, they suddenly stopped in front of the moon gate.
In front of the moon gate, a dozen or so boys dressed in shorts leaned against the wall.
The leader was a man with a sharp, clean-cut face, who appeared somewhat effeminate. Upon seeing Qin Zhining, he quickly straightened up and respectfully greeted her as "Miss Qin."
It seems that these dozen or so people knew Qin Zhining and had met her before, otherwise they wouldn't have called her Miss Qin upon their first meeting.
Qin Zhining nodded. "Go to the outer courtyard, I'm calling a meeting. You can all go and listen."
"Yes." The boy with the sharp features remained respectful, but when he looked up, he glanced at Qin Wenzheng and the others out of the corner of his eye, his lips tightened, and he lowered his eyes to hide the jealousy in them.
"They are the Scarface Brothers, you probably all know them, right?" After all, Lincheng County is only so big, and everyone has lived on this land for more than ten years. You see each other all the time, how could you not know each other?
Qin Zhining looked at the dozen or so teenagers in front of her and said calmly, "What did Scarface and the others do before? As long as there are no murders, I am willing to take them in, give them a stable home, and let them live a good life."
Therefore, this estate, which Grand Secretary Zhang gifted to me, will henceforth be managed and operated by them. They will be responsible for all the chores and night patrols."
These words were like a pebble thrown into calm water, and Zhou Fuquan's face darkened completely.
He quietly retreated behind a pillar and winked at a farmer not far away.
The farmer understood and turned to run to the kitchen. Soon after, several farmers carrying hoes gathered in the corner and began to whisper among themselves.
“Steward Zhou, these two maids are barely out of school, and they brought a bunch of wild boys with them. From now on…”
A burly farmer gritted his teeth, almost breaking the handle of his hoe.
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