Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Yujiang County is the closest county to He'an Prefecture, and the county is very prosperous with many visiting merchants. Zou Hai chose a good place indeed, hiding in such a bustling area means not too many people would notice him.

Only...

"This Sun Dazhu is fifty years old, much too old to be Zou Hai, since this household registration was made ten years ago, Sun Dazhu should be at least sixty now, it couldn't possibly be Zou Hai... Could it be that he paid to create a father for himself?" County Magistrate Xu said incredulously while looking at the register.

Zou Jiang laughed upon hearing this: "Zou Hai is quite scheming and also helps Zou Youlian with some unscrupulous tasks. He prefers to go to the trouble of ensuring his safety, so paying for a father is no big deal for him."

County Magistrate Xu's face was indescribable, how could a small Zou family be sick from master to servant, and even goddamn buying a father, is that reasonable?

Steward Yu, who was beside them, asked in confusion: "County Magistrate Zou has already arranged three different household registrations for him, why would he need to get one himself?"

Zou Jiang replied: "It's naturally due to distrust. Zou Hai does not trust Zou Youlian, even feeling that what Zou Youlian has given him is too much, beyond what should be provided between master and servant, fearing that he might suffer at Zou Youlian's hands in the future, that's why he went to get a new household registration himself."

He continued: "Actually, Zou Hai need not worry so much, as he became Zou Youlian's confidant because of his mother's relationship. Zou Hai is very likely Zou Youlian's illegitimate son, if not for this relationship, given Zou Youlian's personality, he would never trust Zou Hai so deeply."

Zou Hai's mother was a pretty widow, she got involved with Zou Youlian while her husband was still alive, and shortly after her husband died, she became pregnant. Zou Hai's mother claimed the child was Zou Youlian's, but Zou Youlian, being suspicious by nature, feared raising someone else's son and never acknowledged Zou Hai, only buying him to serve as a servant in the Zou family.

Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Xu turned an unmistakable shade of green and cursed Zou Youlian's ancestors in his heart.

Damn it, he just wanted to quickly close the case of the Zou family's fire, how could it lead to digging up this old gossip? Will it never end?

It's also because Mrs. Zou is useless, if he dared to do what Zou Youlian did, his own wife would chop him up with a knife.

County Magistrate Xu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said: "Quick, let's go arrest him in Yujiang County, it's not far from here, Zou Hai is likely hiding in Yujiang County."

He needed to quickly arrest Zou Hai and close the case of the Zou family fire and the murder of Gu Yumei, otherwise once Ming Shaoqing arrives, he would surely be punished.

County Captain Jiang immediately gave orders to Jiang Qi to lead the soldiers from the Military Office to Yujiang County to arrest the suspect, and also commanded Squad Leader Jiang to lead a group of Government Officials together with Luo Wu and blockade the roads from Tianfu County to Yujiang County and from Yujiang County to He'an Prefecture, preventing Zou Hai from escaping.

"Er Lang, San Lang, you two go with Luo Wu." Luo Wu was young, and although County Captain Jiang wanted to give him an opportunity, the matter of capturing Zou Hai could not afford any mishaps, so he had the formidable Qin Brothers accompany him, capable of taking action if anything arose.

"Yes." The Qin Brothers complied and left with the group of Government Officials led by Luo Wu.

Upon learning that there were new developments in the fire case at the Zou family, Squad Leader Zhu became anxious as he saw Jiang Qi, Squad Leader Yang, and Luo Wu leading teams of men out one after the other. Especially with Luo Wu, who led his former Government Officials, his heart was especially unsettled.

Unable to contain himself and knowing that County Captain Jiang and County Magistrate Xu were behind the Punishment Room, Squad Leader Zhu waited outside. As soon as he saw them come out, he knelt down and said: "Lord County Magistrate, Lord County Captain, I request to be put in charge of capturing Zou Hai, please grant your approval!"

County Magistrate Xu became furious upon hearing this and pointed at Squad Leader Zhu: "Arrest him for this official and put him in the prison. After Zou Hai is captured and the case is closed, then release him."

Squad Leader Zhu was shocked and urgently asked: "My Lord, why are you imprisoning me?"

County Magistrate Xu snorted coldly, too lazy to bother with him, and walked away with Master Tian and the others.

County Captain Jiang felt that Squad Leader Zhu was incredibly stupid. The matter of capturing Zou Hai was only known to those in the Punishment Room. How did Squad Leader Zhu come to know this? How many people had he planted inside the county government?

"In light of our many years of working together, I'll warn you: Be honest and you might end on a good note. If you keep hopping around, County Magistrate Xu will definitely not let you off."

The likes of Zou Youlian and Secretary Chi selling household registrations without permission had thoroughly infuriated County Magistrate Xu. Once Zou Hai was captured, County Magistrate Xu was determined to purge the county government. By then, the clerks subordinate to County Magistrate Zou, including some unclean Government Officials, would all be in trouble. They should pray for their own luck.

Squad Leader Zhu became even more panicked upon hearing this and wanted to plead with County Captain Jiang, but County Captain Jiang had already left with his men.

...

In a two-courtyard residence in Huaining Lane of Yujiang County county, Zou Hai was hiding two jars of gold that he had dug up from the Zou Family's graveyard. With these two jars, even if Yang Laoda and the others failed, and the property in Luchang County was lost, he would still be in profit.

Most importantly, this act gave him peace of mind; otherwise, he would dream every night of Zou Yuzhen coming back to claim his life.

"Old Master, your concubine has stewed a bowl of cubilose for you. I have brought it to you, please open the door for your concubine," a young and beautiful woman supported by a Maid said, standing outside the study door, feeling both joy and apprehension.

Old Master only came back three or four times a year. The neighbors said that surely Sun Tianxi had a wife and children back in his hometown, and she, Zhang Yan'er, was just a secret mistress Sun Tianxi quietly kept on the side. Otherwise, why would Sun Tianxi spend less than a month at home over the course of a year?

She had no children yet. In a few more years, when her beauty faded, Sun Tianxi would certainly sell the properties in Yujiang County and return to his hometown to enjoy his family life with his wife and children. By then, she, Zhang Yan'er, would be an abandoned woman—and a childless one at that.

Yujiang County was close to the Prefecture and was more prosperous than other county towns. Many wealthy Old Masters would come here to keep a mistress.

Furthermore, Sun Tianxi was over a decade older than her, so it was very likely that he had a wife and children back in his hometown. Zhang Yan'er was extremely anxious about this and wanted to take advantage of Zou Hai being at home to have a child with him, so she could have some support in the future.

When Zou Hai heard Zhang Yan'er's voice, he immediately hid the two jars of gold well, came out of the inner room, opened the door of the study, and with a smile said to Zhang Yan'er, "Wife, what brings you here?"

Zhang Yan'er's eyes reddened, and she spoke with a sense of grievance, "Your concubine naturally missed her husband."

She took over the food box from the Maid's hand and said, "Xia Xiang, go guard the entrance of the courtyard, and don't let outsiders come in."

Having said this, she pulled Zou Hai into the study and then turned to close the door.

Zou Hai was already in his thirties and had children elsewhere. How could he not understand Zhang Yan'er's thoughts?

He had been on the run lately and had abstained for quite a while. Seeing that Zhang Yan'er was taking the initiative, he was not going to play coy, but directly embraced her and started to make his move.

Zhang Yan'er was overjoyed, hoping that this time she could conceive a son and have support for the rest of her life. She cooperated enthusiastically, but before anything happened, Xia Xiang's voice came from outside the study, "Hey, who are you people? This is Sun's Tea House of the Sun Mansion; you cannot just barge in here."

Jiang Qi didn't care and led the county soldiers straight into the courtyard, and with a kick, the door of the study burst open. Seeing Zou Hai still embracing Zhang Yan'er, he disdainfully rolled his eyes, pointed at Zou Hai, and commanded, "Catch him!"