Chapter 835: Out of Luck
Yun Jiao smiled and said, "Thank you, aunts and ladies, but there’s really no need for these chickens, ducks, and eggs."
"Lunch at home is almost ready, we don’t need these."
"The chairs and tables, however, could be useful, please place them in the courtyard."
The people carrying the tables and chairs quickly placed them inside.
Yun Jiao looked back and saw Cai Ping coming out, then said, "Xu Lizheng, I have something to entrust to you."
She pointed to the silver note in Cai Ping’s hand, "Here are three hundred taels of silver. You can use this silver to buy some land."
"From now on, in our village, any elderly widows, orphans with lost parents, or children who pass the children’s exam and want to continue studying, the income from this land will support them."
"If anyone goes to join the army, their parents at home will be given two taels of silver each year."
Yun Jiao continued, "Here are another two hundred taels. When I came here today, I noticed the bridge in our village had become quite dilapidated. It’s dangerous for children and the elderly. Use this silver to either repair the bridge or build a new one, whichever is better."
After Yun Jiao spoke, Cai Ping handed over the silver note.
Xu Lizheng knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, "Madam, you are compassionate, a Bodhisattva. On behalf of the villagers of Dayangshu Village, I thank you greatly."
Some villagers followed suit, kneeling and kowtowing, expressing their gratitude vocally.
Yun Jiao waved her hand repeatedly, then smiled at the villagers, "Everyone, please rise and hurry back home, it’s time for lunch too."
Most of the villagers dispersed, discussing joyfully along the way.
Someone said, "I’ve watched Doctor Gu’s second daughter since she was little. She has always been promising; she has good-looking forehead and chin. Now she’s even more distinguished, a lady like her deserves to be the wife of an official."
Another said, "That’s not all. Didn’t you hear just now? The Divine Doctor Gu of Xiang City is her. It must be because of this that she gained the favor of a noble."
Someone asked suspiciously, "Is she really the Prime Minister’s wife? Could she just be a concubine?"
A nearby person glared at him, "What nonsense are you spouting? I heard she’s the official wife."
"It’s just a pity she didn’t wear the phoenix crown or official court dress, otherwise, we would have had a good look."
Someone whispered, "Doctor Gu’s two daughters are like night and day."
Someone waved their hand, "The person is gone, why bring that up?"
"Mentioning it again, you might offend someone important."
An older woman said, "Oh right, does Er Gui’s wife even know yet?"
Another responded, "How can she not know, I heard Er Gui just dragged her back from the Gu Family."
Everyone burst into laughter, "That woman really has no luck. If she had endured a few more years, her life would be completely different now."
"Isn’t that the truth?"
"I heard that the Prime Minister’s wife personally kicked her out, saying that she used to bring her to Xiang City for a good life, giving her fine food and clothes, but the woman couldn’t bear the loneliness and started an affair, so she was sent back to her family."
The older women summed up, "She only has herself to blame for being fickle, no blessings."
These people talked all the way home.
Zhou Ergui, having finished his work in the fields, was walking home when he heard people discussing the Prime Minister’s wife. Upon realizing Yun Jiao was the Prime Minister’s wife, he rushed home in shock.
When he got home, he scolded Mrs. Li, "You’ve got a lot of nerve, how dare you speak to the Prime Minister’s wife that way?"
"Luckily, she didn’t bother with you. Otherwise, you’d be taken to the government and beaten with a stick."
The melon seeds fell from Mrs. Li’s mouth in fear.
That girl has become the Prime Minister’s wife now?
How did she have such fortune!
She looked at Zhou Ergui and suddenly started crying again. This time, she cried more heartbreakingly and genuinely than ever before.