Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

"Master Qi is as generous as ever," Gu Jinli said with a smile.

Last time, Master Qi compensated Elder Lei Wu with a silver note worth ten thousand taels, and this time for her, he sent ten hundred-tael silver notes, plus a golden head face, which is quite valuable.

However...

"I come from a farming family, and we live simple lives. The luxury of wealthy households is a hassle for people like us. I just want to do business and make money, without the complications."

She looked at Master Qi and said, "This time, I'll give you face, but if there's a next time, I won't tolerate the trouble, and will cut ties for good."

Master Qi shuddered, knowing that by cutting ties she meant no longer doing business with the Qi Family regarding spice production, and quickly guaranteed, "Gu Family's daughter, rest assured, it's only this time, there won't be a next one."

Gu Jinli nodded her head, looked at Qi Yun and Qi He, and added, "Master Qi, the relationship between our two families is simple: just pure business. We don't need to consider other ties, like marriage alliances or recognizing relatives. Making things too complex could spoil the business."

An old lady from a grand household sending a challenging card her way, meant that other than the matter of marriage, there was no other source of grievance.

Qi Yun and Qi He were dumbfounded. Gu Jinli was so direct, blatantly speaking these words.

The two brothers were conflicted. It was clear that the Gu Family's daughter looked down on their Qi Family; it was their grandmother who misunderstood. They felt a mix of happiness and disappointment, feeling as if they were being rejected.

Master Qi, feeling ashamed, said, "I truly apologize for the incident the day before yesterday. We understand your stance and there won't be a next time."

Look, their family holds no appeal for the Gu's, and his mother is overly worried, fearing that the Gu Family wants a marriage alliance. What alliance? The Gu Family simply doesn't care.

Master Qi felt hot with embarrassment, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into. At that awkward moment, the gatekeeper reported that his servant Mo Song and the brothers San Xiong and Si Xiong had arrived.

Master Qi brightened up at this, telling Gu Jinli, "I know your workshop needs some suitable tools, so I've ordered a batch for you, and just as you're here in the Prefecture, we've brought them so you can take them back home with you."

Worried that Gu Jinli was still angry and might not accept these tools, Master Qi immediately followed the gatekeeper outside, and came back with Mo Song carrying the tools inside.

Medicine mill, medicine mortar, stone mortar, copper tools, small copper scales, and large iron scales, as well as five sets of small copper cups for measuring spices. The larger copper cups could hold half a pound of spices, and the smaller ones could hold a Ban Qian. They were finely made, excellent for measuring spices or powders, and very useful for the workshop. Gu Jinli liked them a lot.

She looked at the tools and smiled, "Since Master Qi specially ordered them, I will happily accept."

Hearing her words, Master Qi was greatly relieved, knowing that the spice business was safe.

Although Qi Yun and Qi He thought their father seemed a bit weak, lacking the usual imposing demeanor of a 'Madman', they were pleased that Gu Jinli stated there would be no marital ties, and their prior concerns and dissatisfaction dissolved.

"Master Qi, I have another favor to ask," Gu Jinli walked back into the main hall, took out five silver notes from a box, and said, "Please help me buy five more sets of tools like these."

Master Qi was stunned, "Isn't this enough?"

He had already sent a set of tools to Gu's Workshop before, and Doctor Wu had also sent a set. And now he had brought more, but Gu Jinli wanted to keep buying... How big exactly was Gu's Workshop's business?

Gu Jinli replied, "We still need a few more, and tools will always be of use. It's not a loss."

The pharmaceutical workshop needed a large number of these tools, and although Doctor Wu could also buy them, since Master Qi had access and offered a better price, she might as well let him help with the purchase.

Worried about losing the spice business with the Gu Family, Master Qi agreed. He didn't initially intend to take the five hundred taels of silver, but seeing the silver notes waving before him and the pang of reluctance to decline, he finally accepted, "Gu Family's daughter, be assured, Uncle Qi will certainly bring you at least five sets of these tools."

His words implied that he might bring a few extra sets.

Gu Jinli was delighted and said, "Thank you, Uncle Qi."

Master Qi, hearing Gu Jinli calling him uncle, was overjoyed and seized the opportunity to ask, "Girl, could you provide an extra thousand catties of spice each month to your uncle?"

Gu Jinli raised her eyebrows, questioning him, "Did you sell the spices to the Capital?"

Master Qi said with a smile, "My eldest brother holds an official position in the Capital, so I sent some spices there. We're selling them in a shop owned by our family, and the business is doing quite well."

Not just well, it was booming.

Last month, after he received a thousand catties of spices from the Gu Family, he immediately sent it to the Capital. It sold out in three days, making a good profit, which even astonished his elder brother who then wrote back urging more supplies.

But the Gu's Workshop only supplied him with a thousand catties per month, and he did not want to give up the markets in Jianghuai and Jiangnan, so he could only request more supplies from the Gu Family.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinli looked at Master Qi intently, making him so nervous his voice quivered, "Gu... Gu Family's daughter, what are you looking at?"

Why did her gaze make him feel as if he were approaching his grave?

Gu Jinli said with a smile, "Master Qi, what kind of First-rank official is your elder brother in the Capital? Which members of the royal family are your relatives?"

Master Qi turned uncomfortable at the question, "My brother is merely a junior Hanlin Official, and our relatives are mostly from Jianghuai, without notable noble connections."

Gu Jinli continued, "If you don't have any noble relatives, then showing off in the Capital is seeking death, isn't it?"

Master Qi's face turned green.

Gu Jinli went on, "My words might be harsh, but the Capital is full of high-ranking officials and nobles. How does the saying go... 'Officials in the Capital are as abundant as dogs, and nobles roam everywhere.' Making money from spices will attract the covetous attention of those powerful people. If your family doesn't have any noble connections, you should keep a low profile."

However...

"You needn't be angry, Master Qi. I'm just offering a reminder. Even if someone tampers with the spices you send to the Capital, causing a disaster that wipes out your family, it will have nothing to do with Gu's Workshop. Our workshop has an inspection certificate for every batch of goods before they are sent out."

Even if the Qi Family were to be framed, she could show the certificate to prove her innocence.

Master Qi started sweating coldly, realizing he had been blinded by silver and had forgotten this crucial point. He hastily said, "Gu Family's daughter, you've truly saved my family."

Otherwise, if his family was too flashy in the Capital without a strong backer, they could fall into a trap, leading to a catastrophe.

Gu Jinli laughed, "I'm just giving you a reminder. Whether you listen or not is up to you."