Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 1044: You’re Out of Luck

So he managed to hide it, first telling the Shang Family people that he truly had the Shang Family’s interests at heart.

When he discovered Shang Laosi engaging in these illicit activities outside, he was indeed quite shaken. He initially intended to investigate the troublemakers within the Shang Family, so he would have a valid reason to refuse their proposal when visiting, but unexpectedly stumbled upon this big case, feeling utterly helpless.

Shang Shiliu bowed and thanked Gu Jin’an: "Good Brother An, Uncle Shiliu thanks you. You’ve saved the entire Shang Family clan."

The other Shang Family people were not foolish; seeing Shang Laosi’s grave misconduct, they dared not associate with him and immediately thanked Gu Jin’an.

Finally, they pleaded with him: "Good Brother An, this concerns the life and death of the entire Shang Family, so please, keep this confidential for now. Let’s wait until the Shang Family discusses it before making it public."

The clans in Great Chu were powerful, often resolving scandals in the village quietly by opening the ancestral hall and dealing with the evildoers without reporting to authorities; the Shang Family preferred this approach.

Gu Jin’an listened and frowned, turning to Village Chief Shang, "Village Chief, such matters can’t be kept hidden; only by sacrificing for justice can there be a way out."

Village Chief Shang was still bewildered, startled by these words. He knew Gu Jin’an was right but insisted, "If we sacrifice for justice, the Shang Family’s reputation will be ruined."

Solving it quietly could preserve the Shang Family’s reputation, making it seem as if this incident never occurred.

Scholar Shang was also shocked by this matter, but he knew it couldn’t be hidden, immediately telling Village Chief Shang, "Uncle, is reputation more important or the lives of the whole clan? When others find out, not only will our Shang Family’s reputation be gone, but lives will also be lost."

Upon hearing this, Shang Laosi got up and rushed over, trying to snatch the blood letter and the Jade Pendant, only to be knocked down again by Gu Jin’an.

With a bang, Gu Jin’an stomped on Shang Laosi’s back and said, "Don’t waste your energy; you’re finished."

"Gu Jin’an, I’ve no resentment toward you; why are you harming me?" Shang Laosi glared at Gu Jin’an in fury, "Aren’t you afraid of retribution for doing this?"

This retribution actually referred to Shang Laosi family’s revenge.

Gu Jin’an laughed, "We’ve already torn face today. Even if I spare you, once you return, will you not seek revenge? Since you’ll seek revenge regardless, why should I spare you? Isn’t it better to bring you to justice directly."

Shang Laosi, capable of such deceitful acts, is truly a venomous snake. When you can kill a venomous snake, you should kill it. Only a fool would let it go.

Gu Jin’an is no fool; he is quite smart.

Shang Laosi was silenced; indeed, he is vengeful and would make the Gu Family pay if he escapes safely this time. But he was still somewhat clever, seeing his schemes exposed, starting to feign pity, telling Village Chief Shang, "Clan Leader Uncle, nephew is truly wronged, you must not believe the outsiders’ words and harm your own family nephew."

He continued crying, "Shang Family’s Ancestral Precepts forbid aiding outsiders to harm Shang Family members; you must stand up for me."

By these words, Gu Jin’an was deemed an outsider; if Village Chief Shang believed Gu Jin’an’s words, it would go against the ancestral precepts, helping outsiders against him.

Village Chief Shang, though older and softer-hearted in recent years, wasn’t fool enough despite holding positions as village chief and clan leader. Seeing Shang Laosi still arguing, he picked up a tea bowl and smashed it at Shang Laosi.

With a bang, Shang Laosi’s arm ached in pain, uttering a miserable scream.

Village Chief Shang cursed, "You beast, even with evidence, you dare argue. Do you truly believe the clan eats grass? Whether these evidences are real or not, it’s clear by checking with the clan... No need to check; grab your sons and those women you have, beat them up, and they’ll spill the evil deeds you’ve done!"

After earning silver, Shang Laosi started imitating wealthy Old Masters, living with many wives and concubines. His many concubines were prostitutes, and even his current wife wasn’t good.

Knowing the nature of his family, Shang Laosi panicked inside, yet continued to argue, "Clan Leader Uncle, I’m a Shang Family member, you must believe me."

Gu Jin’an still needed to head to town to meet Master Ouyang, not having time to waste on Shang Laosi’s case. Seeing Shang Laosi still denying till death, he produced a booklet, handing it to Village Chief Shang, "Village Chief, this is a list of decent women Shang Laosi has harmed over the years, and the location of his secret kiln. Have the Shang Family people check these places, and they’ll get all the evidence."

When Village Chief Shang heard this, he immediately took the booklet, seeing it densely filled with many names, with some detailing the horrific experiences, he was so shocked he fainted backward.

Gu Jin’an quickly grabbed Village Chief Shang, supporting him, telling Brother Cheng, "Quickly, take out the smelling salts for Village Chief."

Brother Cheng promptly untied a bag from Gu Jin’an’s waist, taking out a bottle of smelling salts, uncapping it under Village Chief Shang’s nose for him to sniff, waking him with the pungent scent.

Village Chief Shang panted heavily, face pale, pointed at Shang Laosi, cursing, "Beast, you’re a beast... The evidence is conclusive; what else can you say?" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

After the curse, tears rolled down Village Chief Shang’s face, thinking of the Shang Family’s generation-spanning reputation, now destroyed by a beast.

After hearing Gu Jin’an’s words and looking at the booklet, Shang Laosi was thoroughly frightened, looking at Gu Jin’an like seeing a monster, "Who are you exactly? A mere village boy, how can you have the ability to investigate these matters? Where did you get your manpower?"

Gu Jin’an replied, "You don’t need to worry about where I got my manpower; you just need to know you’re finished."

His family has been purchasing people and training them for years, cultivating individuals like Feng Jin as capable scouts, and San Lang also maintains a group. Investigating several troublemakers within the Shang Family is as easy as turning a hand.

He continued laughing, "This matter was due to your bad luck. I originally wanted to investigate a few troublemakers in the Shang Family, to prevent them from troubling my master. But you offered yourself, first forcing marriage, then insulting my master; if I let you go again, am I a human?"

Gu Jin’an’s words filled Shang Laosi with despair, awakening other Shang Family members who promptly told Scholar Shang, "Wenyuan, don’t misunderstand, we’re not like Shang Laosi, and never held any ulterior motives concerning your family’s lack of descendants."

Second Old Master Shang also hurriedly said, "Wenyuan, though I am strict with you and occasionally speak harshly, I harbor no ill intentions toward your family, merely hoping to spur you to take the examination or accept a concubine to bear a son."

Pointing at Shang Laosi, he added, "Today bringing Laosi was tricked; otherwise, how could I bring such a beast into your home?"

Gu Jin’an gave a cold mocking laugh, "Ha!"