Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside
Chapter 200 Bite [Happy New Year ^0^]

Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Bite [Happy New Year ^0^]

"`Xiao Yu, I’m sorry.`" Qin San Lang felt very guilty, but he knew that no matter how much he apologized, it couldn’t make up for the fact that they had caused harm to several families.

Gu Jinli looked at Qin San Lang with mixed feelings, wanting to punch him flat, yet remembered the kindness he had shown to their families on the road.

Fleeing from famine was hard, people died every day. If it weren’t for the help of Elder Qin and his grandson, it wouldn’t have been possible for all their families to survive; at least several of them would have died on the road.

In the end, she was feeling conflicted and wanted to roar!

Grinding her teeth and trying to suppress the anger within, Gu Jinli failed to hold it in. She grabbed Qin San Lang’s arm, rolled up his sleeve, and bit down hard on his wrist.

"Hiss~" Qin San Lang winced in pain but dared not pull his hand back. It was already a good outcome that she hadn’t chopped him up in a rage, and it was just a bite, even though it was quite fierce, it wasn’t a big deal.

After a while, Gu Jinli let go of his arm, and looking at his bleeding wound, she finally felt a sense of relief.

"You and your grandson better be careful, don’t drag our families down to death. Otherwise, I won’t let you off even as a ghost!" Having said that, she dropped Qin San Lang’s arm and quickly left, feeling upset with every additional glance at him.

Worried that Third Grandpa and the others might notice something, Qin San Lang quickly pulled down his sleeve to cover the wound on his wrist and hurried back to the front courtyard.

In the front courtyard, Gu Jin’an was asking Gu Jinli in confusion, "Why are you following me to the teacher’s house, what are you going to do?"

Gu Jinli said, "It was so busy before that I forgot. I just remembered last night that the elderly man who taught me painting had instructed me not to pass on this painting technique."

The excuse was lame, but it was the best she could come up with for now.

Fortunately, in ancient times, unique skills were highly valued and generally not passed on; the excuse was passable.

Upon hearing this, Elder Qin and Qin Er Lang both heaved a sigh of relief.

Qin Er Lang gave a smile to Qin San Lang, who had walked out of the back courtyard, but Qin San Lang didn’t respond.

Hearing Gu Jinli’s words, Third Grandma reprimanded her, "You child, how could you forget something so important? This family’s traditional skill is meant to be handed down for generations. The old master took such trouble to teach you, if you pass it on, how could you face him?"

Third Grandpa nodded, "The old woman is right. We are lucky to learn something passed down in other’s families. We must not let this skill be taught to outsiders. After all, it’s not our own possession. If it’s passed on, we’ll have a guilty conscience."

Gu Jin’an was quick-witted and knew that Xiao Yu bringing this up suddenly must be related to Qin San Lang.

Following Third Grandpa and Third Grandma’s words, he said, "Since it was the elderly teacher’s specific request, we shall go and inform the teacher today that the matter with teaching the new painting technique to the painters at the government office is cancelled."

Third Grandpa called out to Gu Dashan, "Dashan, let’s go along and apologize to Wenyuan."

The two children were still young, so it was appropriate for the elders to handle apologies.

"Okay," Gu Dashan responded, immediately turning back to change into his clothes.

Mrs. Cui followed into the room, prepared a gift for the apology, and handed it to Gu Dashan, "When you arrive at Shang Family Village, speak well to Scholar Shang and don’t impact the children."

"Eh, I know, don’t worry." Gu Dashan took the gift, and the group of seven people swiftly made their way towards Shang Family Village.

Four hours later, they arrived at the Shang Family Village and met with Scholar Shang. Third Grandpa explained that Gu Jin’an was unable to go to the county government to teach the painters the new painting technique.

He apologized to Scholar Shang with Gu Dashan and his sons in tow: "Wenyuan, I am really sorry. The child is young and has been startled by fleeing the famine all the way here. Recently, the household has been busy, and we forgot the instructions given by the old teacher, causing you trouble."

Scholar Shang felt a great pity; this could have been a fine opportunity for Gu Jin’an to make a name for himself, and it was just missed like that.

"Teacher, this matter not coming to fruition is, in the end, a good thing for this student," Gu Jin’an said with a candid smile. "The student wishes to make a name in the community of scholars on his own merit, not by picking up others’ leftovers."

Originally feeling regret, Scholar Shang was quite relieved to hear this, "Good, the teacher indeed did not misjudge you."

Scholar Shang turned around, and bowed to the County Captain Jiang standing beside him: "Father-in-law, the matter of the new painting technique has fallen through, please forgive us."

County Captain Jiang replied, "No matter, this has nothing to do with you."

He just found it strange that the matter that had been agreed upon had suddenly been retracted.

Gu Jinli acutely sensed that County Captain Jiang harbored doubts and was contemplating a countermeasure when Ah Ji, who had come with County Captain Jiang, suddenly spoke up: "Uncle Jiang, in Da Rong, Ah Ji learned a novel painting technique called Jin’s painting which bears some resemblance to the new technique drawn by Brother An. Ah Ji can teach Jin’s painting to the painters of the county government, equally effective for capturing fugitives, so you need not worry."

"Oh, Da Rong has such an impressive painting technique?" County Captain Jiang became interested and asked Ah Ji, "Do you have any of those Jin’s paintings with you?"

"Last year, I went back home and painted a portrait of my father using Jin’s painting. I have it right here to show Uncle Jiang." Ah Ji unfastened a pouch from his waist, retrieved a wax-sealed pellet, opened it, and took out a rolled up piece of paper. Unfurling it, there displayed was a lively old man.

Master Wu, having seen Old Man Ning, sighed upon seeing the small painting: "It bears a five-parts resemblance to Elder Ning."

County Captain Jiang had seen the portraits painted by Gu Jin’an, and now seeing the Jin’s paintings, he felt something amiss. Jin’s painting, though fine, could not compare to Gu Jin’an’s new technique.

But it was better than nothing. Since Gu Jin’an was not willing to teach the new technique at the county government, having Ah Ji teach Jin’s painting was also very good.

"Alright, let’s drop the matter of the new painting technique," County Captain Jiang declared, putting an end to the issue.

Nevertheless, Gu Jinli looked at Ah Ji, wondering about his origins. How could he master a painting technique akin to modern fine brush sketching?

Could it be... he’s also a time-traveler?

It couldn’t be that melodramatic, could it?

Ah Ji, sensing Gu Jinli’s gaze, looked back at her and smiled warmly: "Little girl, there’s no need to be so surprised. The world is vast and strange wonders abound. Ah Ji once thought the Capital was the entire world. Only after traveling around and reaching Da Rong did I realize that the Capital is just a corner of the world."

Gu Jinli smiled innocently: "What Uncle Ah Ji said is true."

Ah Ji felt a bit queasy looking at her smile, as if remembering something unpleasant, but quickly suppressed the slight fear from the depths of his heart.

After the discussion about the portraits, Qin Er Lang and Qin San Lang fist-palmed towards County Captain Jiang, "Lord County Captain, we brothers wish to join the Military Office as soldiers, please grant us your permission."

"Did you brothers come over to Wenyuan’s family today for this purpose?" asked County Captain Jiang.

Before he could finish speaking, laughter erupted from Jiang Qi outside the study: "Haha, Qin family’s young men, you’ve finally come to your senses."

Then, turning to County Captain Jiang, he added, "Dad, I finally managed to recruit two good young men, please don’t ask too many questions and scare them away."