I was a stepmother in ancient times, and I led my whole family to wealth.

Chapter 292 Going to Anyang Prefecture

He didn't think that woman was kind-hearted, like Xiao Jin treated those children.

And that peddler wasn't a good person either. He went from street to street, and if he could seduce one woman, he could seduce other women too.

Dongfang Jin looked incredulous: "She didn't know before?"

Going to nice places with others is fine, but if the place is worse than the previous ones, then you feel...

She already felt that the woman was psychologically twisted and abnormal, and if there was a significant discrepancy...

Gu Chenglin stared at the roof with his deep eyes and said quietly, "Who knows? That peddler was always out selling goods, and his wife got together with a married man in their local town."

Once, he was cornered by someone's wife and the police were called.

When the peddler learned of this and returned home, his wife had already been sent to the local state's ironworks.

I heard that the peddler's wife was also involved in this, which shows that she wasn't easy to get along with either...

Later he came to find that woman, ha! That "ha" contained a lot.

Let's see if that man will treat her well after he spends all the money in her hand.

Dongfang Jin lay on the quilt, tilting her head to look at Gu Chenglin: "So, her jumping into the river was premeditated?"

"It must be, otherwise... never mind, let's not talk about this, it's a downer."

Does that peddler have children?

"Yes, a son and a daughter, that's what Li Xiuwen and his brother said."

She can treat her own children that way, so what about those who aren't her own? Besides, she's not necessarily having an easy time either.

When Dongfang Jin heard him mention the Li brothers, she asked, "I didn't expect them to be so capable. How's their dried goods store doing?"

Gu Chenglin turned to the side, looking at Dongfang Jin's eyes full of love, and said gently, "It's great. My wife taught me that herself. How could a business that makes money not be good?"

After saying that, Gu Chenglin sighed again: "Back then, when I went to serve in the army, I knew that the chance of returning was slim. I happened to run into these brothers at the county government office."

He then told them about another place where he had hidden the money and asked the brothers to look after the house.

If that woman really can't make ends meet, then they should cooperate with Third Brother to get rid of her. They have enough money for her and Shi Tou to live on. I never expected this…”

Dongfang Jin felt a little jealous. She turned around, lay down with her back to Gu Chenglin, and said coldly, "You arranged things well, but you ran into someone who doesn't know what's good for him."

Seeing her like this, Gu Chenglin was delighted and leaned closer to whisper in her ear: "Our Xiao Jin is the best in the world. She is extraordinary and selflessly makes up for the debts of gratitude owed to her husband."

Every business opportunity they offered would generate profit.

Dongfang Jin was held in his arms, and without turning around, she reached out and slapped Gu Chenglin's restless hand: "Go away, that business won't make money."

"You should have a good talk with Shi Tou when you have time. As for Cai Wei, let's leave it at that. It's best not to mention her affairs if possible."

Such a background would be awkward even in modern times, let alone in ancient times. And since she was a girl, it was better not to tell anyone. It was better to just let things remain as they were.

While Dongfang Jin was still thinking about the two children, Gu Chenglin started getting restless again: "What are you doing?"

"young married woman……"

"I'm worried about the stone, and you're just... "

"young married woman……"

Gu Chenglin simply couldn't control himself. He couldn't remain calm and composed while holding his wife.

"Okay, I'll talk to him later. I miss you now, I really miss you."

"you……"

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Lizheng and his group had lunch before leaving. When they left, the oxcart was loaded with more things than when they arrived.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Ma Wencai and his four friends came to Lu Yunqing's house to formally pay their respects and celebrate the New Year. On the sixth day, Lu Yunqing went to the county government office to prepare for the official opening of the office on the eighth day.

Starting from the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Dongfang Jin and Gu Chenglin, along with their three children, visited each of Ma Wencai's five families to offer New Year's greetings.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Ma Wencai and his four companions moved into the Gu family's house and stayed there until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

They don't have a festival called "Lantern Festival" here; they call the fifteenth day of the first lunar month "Flower Lantern Festival".

However, not all places celebrate this "Lantern Festival." Small counties like Ling'an County do not have a Lantern Festival.

She said there was a temple fair in Anyang Prefecture on that day, where lanterns were sold. She also heard that in some places, people release lanterns into the river on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month to pray for their families' well-being.

Every place has its own customs and culture.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Gu Chenglin's family of four, along with Yang Wenwen and Shen Qihui, and Jun's family of three, followed Ma Wencai's convoy of five to Anyang Prefecture.

On February 19th, Ma Wencai and his four classmates took the first exam at the Anyang Prefecture examination center. After that, they went to the Jeju examination center for the final exam and then waited for the results to be released.

During this period, all students who were candidates for the imperial examinations and were under the jurisdiction of Anyang Prefecture this year were required to live and study at the Anyang Academy.

The teacher would guide the students on the key points and precautions for the exam, and check their omissions and deficiencies.

Students who are too far behind and fail the test at Anyang Academy cannot participate and must return to their original academy.

Dongfang Jin also listened to Lin Min's opinion and planned to send Gu Jingye to Anyang Academy in the prefectural city.

She also found out that children from surrounding counties, towns, and villages who come to Anyang School to study are required to stay at the school for six days, with one day off. On that day, the students can either go home or continue to stay at the school.

If students stay at school on this day, teachers will still be teaching as usual, but they will have to pay a separate fee.

Although tuition was paid monthly at twelve taels of silver per child, the school provided paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones during the school term.

So, twelve taels of silver isn't much.

She planned to buy a house in the prefectural city and then select a few clever children from the county to move to the prefectural city to keep Gu Jingye company.

Yuhua Street

"Who are you?" It's not even the end of the first month of the lunar calendar yet, and customers are already coming to the door. Granny Sun is a little unsure of herself.

Dongfang Jin looked at the brokerage firm's proprietress, who was dressed in a gorgeous outfit and had a large rose-red flower in her hair. If she had a mole on the corner of her mouth, she would definitely look like a matchmaker.

Dongfang Jin smiled and said, "Boss lady, we need people, houses, and shops. The people need to know how to farm, be literate, be good at embroidery, be good at cooking, and preferably be artisans. We need as many as you can."

"The house needs to be near Anyang Academy, and the shop needs to be a prime location in the prefectural city."

Granny Sun looked at Dongfang Jin very seriously when she heard her ask for so much, and she thought that this person did not seem like a troublemaker.

But it's not even the end of the first month yet! The wealthy families here have a rule: they don't buy people during the first month of the lunar calendar; they buy other things only after the first month has passed.

He asked seriously, "Young lady, are you sure you're not making fun of this old woman? It's not even the end of the first month of the lunar calendar yet! Are you sure you want this much?"

Dongfang Jin looked at her with a serious expression: "Boss lady, my son and nephew need to go to school, so we need to buy a house close to the school. Do you think that's a lie?"

She then pulled Gu Jingye and Shen Qihui in front of her, gesturing for her to look, implying that since her child was young, she really needed to buy a house near the school.

"I bought a house near Anyang School so that my child could come and go safely, live in a quiet place, and eat well."

If the school in Anyang had dormitories, eight children would live in one room. Some parents would bring their children to sleep on the floor, which was unacceptable.

After saying that, she pointed to Jun Qixian and Gu Caiwei and Yang Wenwen beside her: "My sister-in-law has become my adopted daughter, and my two daughters are also grown up and need to prepare dowries."

"Do you want to buy this shop, house, estate, or anything like that? Are the people I'm asking for qualified?"

"My aunt needs someone with her, someone who can sew and cook, is that okay?"

Jun Wenhui waved her hand: "I don't need anyone around me."

Dongfang Jin was somewhat displeased: "That won't do. You need at least six people by your side: four maids and two old women. That's the minimum standard."