Chapter 259: Chapter 259: The Four Great Aristocratic Families of Qiyang County

“Hmm, go on down. Find a fresh fish, cook it properly, and bring it up. Go back and tell everyone in the kitchen they all need to be more careful from now on.” Xiao Yunjing waved his hand at him.

The head chef bowed and hurried away.

When only the two of them were in the room, Gu Qingli sighed, “Luckily, we discovered the issue in time, so no major problems occurred. By the way, Yunjing, who owns that Prosperity Reastaurant? How dare they oppose us?”

“We’ll know soon.”

Indeed, just as Xiao Yunjing finished speaking, Yun No. 800 returned. He bowed and said, “Master, the person has been dealt with. Additionally, the Prosperity Reastaurant is owned by the Lin Family of Qiyang County.”

Xiao Yunjing said gravely, “The Lin Family? Understood. Send a message to Yun No. 1 and have him handle it. It’s not that we forbid them from doing business; this world is vast, and no single person can monopolize the entire food industry. Tell the Lin Family to conduct their business with more decency and rely on genuine skill. If they resort to such tactics again, I’ll have the Lin Family’s name erased from Qiyang County. Also, after closing today, inform everyone about these matters. Similar incidents are not to happen again.”

“Yes, Master,” Yun No. 800 replied.

After Yun No. 800 withdrew, Xiao Yunjing then told Gu Qingli about the four great families of Qiyang County.

In Qiyang County, there were four great families: Zhao, Lin, Sun, and Qin. Their connections with influential figures in the Capital City were intricate and deep-rooted; they essentially served as overt wealth collectors for these figures.

What clandestine dealings they were involved in remained unknown.

Among these four families, the Lin Family had interests in various industries across Qiyang County. Their businesses spanned the entirety of Qiyang and even extended to other counties. They maintained the lowest profile among the four but possessed the largest business operations.

The Lin Family was affiliated with the Yong An Marquis House in the Capital City. This house had produced a Consort Yun, who had borne a prince for Chu Xiong. However, Qingchen had since brought about her demise.

Perhaps the Lin Family hasn’t yet received news of Consort Yun’s son’s death, Xiao Yunjing mused. Otherwise, why would they think of causing trouble for the Auspicious House Restaurant?

The Zhao, Sun, and Qin families were allied with officials in the Capital City. Their power was considerably less than the Lin Family’s, but they were still not to be underestimated.

Gu Qingli understood after hearing this.

Xiao Yunjing’s status in Qiyang County was not public, and few people were aware he was a general. This was why these people dared to recklessly court death by provoking him.

In her heart, Gu Qingli mentally offered condolences to the Lin Family. Of all people to provoke, they chose her man—a man who appeared harmless but was, in reality, a cunning and domineering individual.

Soon, the head chef returned with the recooked fish.

“Master, Mistress, would you please try this fish?” the head chef asked, standing respectfully to the side.

Xiao Yunjing nodded and once again picked up a piece of fish for Gu Qingli.

Gu Qingli took a bite. It was spicy, numbing, fresh, and tender—exactly the right flavor. This was authentic Szechuan boiled fish. She nodded. “This is more like it.”

Hearing this, the great stone in the head chef’s heart finally dropped.

This time, he had truly cooked with the best skill he had ever possessed. If he still failed to gain the master’s approval, his fate today would have been all too predictable.

Xiao Yunjing also took a bite and nodded. “This is how it should be done from now on. Treat the customers just as you would treat us. You may leave. What happened today must not happen again.”

He had been exceptionally lenient today.

“Yes, Master.” The head chef bowed and departed.

As he walked out the door, the head chef’s legs nearly gave way. What a close call! he thought. He knew that purchaser would face a grim fate. Fortunately, he truly hadn’t known about the matter; otherwise, he would have shared the same destiny. Never mind the Master; even the shopkeeper, who didn’t talk much, never went easy on people when he disciplined them.

Gu Qingli and Xiao Yunjing finally ate to their satisfaction. They then returned to the Gu Mansion, collected all the goods delivered by the shopkeeper, and, bringing the four maids, headed back to Qinghe Village.

It was already the Hour of Shen (3-5 PM) when they arrived back in Qinghe Village. As soon as they reached home, Gu Qingli and her husband went to see their three little ones.

After kissing each of them, Gu Qingli asked, “Wuqing, do they have enough milk?”

“Miss, they have enough,” Wuqing answered.

Gu Qingli sighed in relief. “That’s good.”

She had been worried all day, her thoughts constantly drifting to the three little ones whenever she had a spare moment. Gu Qingli discovered that her heart was now so full of her three children that even Xiao Yunjing had to take a step aside. A woman’s heart, it seemed, was truly thus: at home, her parents; in marriage, her husband; and once children were born, they became her everything. It felt as if she had never given much thought to herself. It echoed the old saying: a woman obeys her father at home, her husband after marriage, and her sons after her husband’s death. Even though her soul was from the modern era, in this, she was no different. Of course, she wouldn’t blindly obey anyone. Her thoughts were her own, her career was her own, and her wealth was her own. It was just that her heart was now more occupied by her sons and her husband.

On November 4th, it was noon when Gu Qingli finally put the items she had bought in Qiyang County into the storeroom and had the servants begin preliminary preparations.

In the afternoon, Ms. Wu, Ms. Qiao and her sisters-in-law, as well as Gu Qingmei, Ms. Niu, and Ms. Peng, all came to help.

The courtyard was large enough, so they set up stoves and tables there, busily making arrangements.

While they were bustling with activity on one side, on the other, Xiao Yuling and her two companions arrived at Yanshan Pass. Being women, they entered the city with ease.

Xiao Yuling had visited Yanshan City with Old General Xiao when she was a young girl. Upon entering the city, she headed straight for the main barracks.

At the barracks gate, Xiao Yuling stated her purpose. The soldiers on duty informed her that General Xiao was not present, but Deputy General Yun No. 3 was. A soldier immediately went to report to Yun No. 3.

When Yun No. 3 received the message, he wondered who these three women could be, coming to look for his master. He followed the soldier to the barracks gate.

Xiao Yuling had expected Xiao Yunjing to emerge. Seeing Yun No. 3, she scrutinized him. He’s about the right age, but why doesn’t he look like him? My son strongly resembled the late emperor.

Yun No. 3 also observed the three women. One of them, a beautiful lady, was frowning. He was certain he did not recognize them.

“May I ask why you are looking for General Xiao?” Yun No. 3 inquired politely, noting that all three were middle-aged women, one of whom was a nun.

Xiao Yuling asked, “You are not Yunjing?”

Hearing this beautiful woman call his master by his given name, Yun No. 3 thought, could they be relatives from the Capital City? He quickly said, “Madam, perhaps we should go to the City Lord’s Manor to talk?”

Xiao Yuling nodded. The entrance to the barracks was indeed not a suitable place for conversation. She glanced at Hui Jing and Yueniang, and the three of them followed Yun No. 3 to the City Lord’s Manor.

They all remained silent on the way. Conversations about Xiao Yunjing were sensitive, as the soldiers didn’t know his whereabouts. Furthermore, Xiao Yuling’s identity needed to remain secret.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the City Lord’s Manor.

Yun No. 3 summoned maids to attend to the three women. After they had rested for a while, he asked, “What is your relationship with General Xiao, and why are you here to see him?”

Xiao Yuling asked, “Isn’t he in the barracks?”

Yun No. 3 replied, “If you do not tell me the truth, Madam, I will not be able to disclose his whereabouts.”

These were tense times; who knew who these people really were? They had been assassins in the past, and assassins were skilled not only at killing but also at disguise. These three were clearly not simple. That beautiful woman had an air about her unlike ordinary women. The nun spoke for herself, and the old woman looked like a martial arts expert.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.