I was a stepmother in ancient times, and I led my whole family to wealth.

Chapter 62 Moving into a new home

So they went to Guanglin Prefecture to file a complaint. The prefect wanted to help them, but they didn't have enough evidence, so he was powerless to do anything about it.

He knew officials protected each other, but he never expected...

With no recourse, they had no choice but to return home. However, before they even left the city of Guanglin Prefecture, their only travel expenses were stolen by thieves...

Dongfang Jin: What bad luck! It feels like even drinking cold water is getting stuck in my teeth!

Gu Chenglin: "..." Why do I feel a sense of shared misfortune?

The family of three had no money to return home, so they had to beg along the way to get back to Guangling Prefecture.

And so, he led his mother and sister astray again, ending up in the north...

They then encountered a merchant caravan, who took them to Ling'an County. The merchant told them to take a boat back, but he took the wrong turn again...

Dongfang Jin: "..." When it rains, it pours; when sailing, you encounter a headwind!

Gu Chenglin: The dock is in the east of Ling'an County, and this is in the west...

When he got home, Gu Chenglin took out his key and opened the door. Fortunately, the place was still the same as when he and Feng left.

This was a two-courtyard house, but Master Tang didn't stay there for even a day. You could say they got a great deal.

Looking at the two-courtyard house, Dongfang Jin noticed that it resembled a modern traditional courtyard house.

The entire wall is towering, made of large blue bricks, and the thick gate gives it a scholarly air about it.

Opposite the main gate is a screen wall made of blue bricks, with a "福" (fortune) character carved in a floral pattern at the center.

At the four corners of the character "福" (Fu, meaning good fortune), there are auspicious cloud patterns and two corresponding upside-down bats.

The elegant scenery of the courtyard complements the surrounding natural environment, making it a truly quiet place for retirement.

Gu Chenglin looked at Jun Qirui who followed him in, pointed to the outer courtyard and said, "You, your mother, and your sister can stay here."

We're also moving in today, and we're not familiar with the place yet.

Jun Qirui listened blankly to Gu Chenglin's arrangements, and was told that they were to stay here.

His eyes welled up with tears of excitement; the tension he had felt these past few days, along with the uncertainty about the future, was released at this moment.

This small courtyard is enough for them to live in. The hardships they have endured over the past few years have made him no longer yearn for anything.

His only hope now is that his mother is healthy and that his sister will find a good home in the future.

Dongfang Jin looked at the stunned Jun Qirui and asked, "Where are your mother and sister?"

Hurry up and bring them back. If you don't mind, they can stay with us from now on.

Don't worry, we won't force your whole family to sell themselves, and don't even think about being idle.

Jun Qirui's lips trembled as he bowed deeply to the couple and stood up, saying, "I...I'll call my mother and sister right now."

He then strode out.

Watching him walk out of the courtyard gate, Dongfang Jin rubbed Gu Jingye's still furrowed brows and said, "Don't think about it anymore. Now you have a tutor, it's a freebie."

Look, this Uncle Qi Rui is a scholar who is about to take the imperial examination; he's qualified to be your tutor.

If he stays with us from now on, it will not only save us a lot of money, but it will also be a good opportunity for Caiwei to learn from him.

We don't need to hire a tutor anymore, and I'll also tell you that his mother and sister are literate.

You heard what he said. With their background, her mother and sister must have been proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Do you think it's a good deal for us?

Gu Jingye glanced at his father with a puzzled look, and only nodded when his father nodded.

Upon seeing this, Dongfang Jin continued, "Gu Jingye, did you see this Uncle Qi Rui? Even if he were to faint from hunger, he wouldn't steal anything."

This is true integrity; no matter how down on his luck he became, he did not lose his reason or his principles.

He adheres to his principles; just for that kind of character, he's worthy of being your teacher.

He's down on his luck now, but if we treat him with sincerity, he'll repay us even more.

We don't need to tell him; he will do it himself. His actions show that his mother is comparable to Mencius' mother.

Gu Jingye, remember this: offering help in times of need is far more touching than adding to someone's success.

Gu Jingye said firmly, "Little Mother, I understand. I will learn well from Uncle Qi Rui."

Gu Caiwei followed her brother with a serious expression and said, "Little Mother, and me too."

“Good, this way we can both benefit from each other, kill two birds with one stone, and save the money for hiring a tutor.”

Gu Jingye's eyes lit up when he heard her say that: "That's a good idea."

Look, as soon as this kid hears about saving money, his eyes light up like searchlights.

Oh dear! Is this what they mean by poor children having to learn to be independent early? No, this won't do, it has to be changed, it absolutely has to be changed.

The moment Gu Jingye showed that expression, she knew he was obsessed with money, and that wouldn't do.

She wanted to cut ties with this "stingy" man from now on; she didn't want people to say that she, Dongfang Jin, had raised a penny-pinching brat.

Shameful...

Dongfang Jin chuckled coldly, speechless: "Heh, of course. Let's go in and see our new home."

Gu Chenglin watched them enter the courtyard before driving the oxcart through a side gate.

He now feels that ever since he married Xiao Jin, good things have been happening one after another.

He had never heard what his wife was telling the child.

The gloom that had gathered in my heart has now vanished without a trace.

Dongfang Jin led the two children around the outer courtyard. There were three main rooms and two east wing rooms.

The middle room of the three main rooms is the reception room, another room looks like a study, and opposite it are a kitchen, a woodshed and a storage room. There is also a well in the corner of the room.

Seeing that each room was fully equipped, she felt much more at ease.

This place is enough for Jun Qirui, his mother, and his sister to live in, so it's not considered that they were being impolite.

After visiting the outer courtyard, Dongfang Jin led the two children through the hanging flower gate, which led to the second main courtyard.

The main house also has three rooms, but it looks much taller and more spacious than the three rooms outside.

It suits the owner's living conditions perfectly and can also be seen as a form of recognition of their status.

Hmph, just you wait, she's determined to build a three-story villa in this world.

This hope is somewhat wishful thinking, for she is a farmer's daughter! A farmer's daughter! She, a farmer's daughter, only deserves to live in a one-story house.

Oh, the evil ancient times...

In addition to the main house, the hospital also has two side rooms on the east and west sides, and on one side there is a kitchen, a woodshed, and a storage room.

The well here is much higher than the well in the outer courtyard, and there is a hidden passage under the eaves next to it that leads directly to the outside of the wall, which seems to be specifically for discharging sewage.

Gu Caiwei skipped around excitedly, looking here and there.

Seeing the smiles and struggles on his sister's and mother's faces, Gu Jingye gradually became more resolute.

This house must have been bought with the money her aunt made from selling cookbooks; she was so willing to spend it.

From a young age, he heard people in the village say that a woman's marriage is for food and clothing, but everything they have today is thanks to their stepmother.

Grandma Sun said that her father, being from a farming family, went to join the army, and it was already a miracle that he came back alive, let alone money.

His father's injuries and crippled leg were all because of this woman...

Thinking of that family coming to his door, where was his father? Just like he remembered, he didn't say a word.

But this young woman was different. Not only did that family not take anything from their home, they also suffered a lot of losses because of her.

Since that person is a scholar, and his mother asked him to be her tutor, he would certainly not let her down.

He couldn't let her be sad, upset, or disappointed. From now on, she would be his and his sister's mother, and he would take good care of her.

Composing himself, he looked at his sister, who was as lively as a little bee, and smiled along with her.