Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 99 - 0 Kidnapped

"County Governor’s Yue Family?" Gu Jinli laughed: "She’s merely a concubine, yet dares to claim herself as the County Governor’s Yue Family. Since when can a concubine’s family be treated as a legitimate in-law’s family?"

Lu Laosan’s face turned green with anger. Ever since his sister became a concubine of the County Governor, their family has regarded themselves as the County Governor’s in-laws. The common folks within ten miles and eight villages would compliment him as the County Governor’s uncle by marriage. No one had ever dared to mention in front of him that his sister was a concubine and their family not truly the County Governor’s in-laws.

"Shut up, I am speaking with Scholar Shang; what business is it of yours? Stand aside," Lu Laosan scolded Gu Jinli.

Gu Jinli was not afraid at all; she wanted to make a big fuss today, to let everyone in the village know that their few families were not to be bullied: "It’s indeed not the time for discussion. Whatever needs to be said, let’s take it to the government office."

Having said that, Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang stepped forward and floored He Dacai and his men, who were blocking Ah Jiu, with a few moves.

Ah Jiu was quick on his feet; as soon as he got free, he darted off and informed Old Luo, who was driving the carriage.

In a little while, Ah Jiu came back and said to Scholar Shang, "Master, Old Luo has already gone to handle it; let’s wait here."

He Dacai and the others got a scare, realizing that a report was actually filed to the officials.

But thinking about the relationship between the Lu Family and the County Governor, they grew bolder again.

Lu Laosan, whose face had been smacked down by Scholar Shang repeatedly, pointed at him angrily and said: "You lowly scholar, do you really intend to oppose our Lu Family and the County Governor?"

He sneered, "Heh, calling on the officials, is it? Suit yourself. My Lu Family is not afraid."

Their Lu Family had been tyrants in this area for twenty years and had been reported by countless families, but each time his elder brother had suppressed it with his influence.

His elder brother worked beside the County Governor and was very well-informed if someone was going to accuse the Lu Family, he would just use the County Governor’s name to give the county government a heads-up, or have someone beat those poor souls who filed the report, scaring them to the point they’d run home and never dare to sue again.

Therefore, Lu Laosan was not afraid, just angry that the families of Qin, Gu, Luo, and Luotian were so tough as to actually report to the government.

He was also annoyed by Scholar Shang, who had meddlesomely emerged halfway through.

"Phooey! You pauper scholar, let’s see if the county’s government officials will arrest you or me, Lu San, the Third Master," Lu Laosan spat towards Scholar Shang, his words brimming with arrogance.

Ah Jiu quickly stepped in to prevent the saliva from landing on Scholar Shang.

Scholar Shang was trembling with rage; he had only heard tales of the Lu Family’s tyranny, but never imagined it to be to this degree, akin to mountain bandits.

Seeing Scholar Shang’s quivering anger, Lu Laosan felt his own anger alleviate considerably, and he beckoned to his two servants: "Let’s go."

Gu Jinli blocked him: "Thinking of leaving? It’s not that easy, wait until the county’s government officials arrive."

"Filthy girl." Lu Laosan was so infuriated at Gu Jinli’s audacity to block him that he raised his hand to slap her, but Gu Jinli parried with a dagger, causing Lu Laosan to scream in pain, his palm bleeding.

Qin San Lang hurried over, kicked Lu Laosan to the ground, then twisted his arm and used the rope from his waist to tie him up quickly.

Lu Laosan was bewildered; he’d lived for over thirty years and no one had dared to tie him up before. He immediately started cursing loudly: "You scoundrel, let me go at once! If you dare tie me up, the County Governor will not let you off."

The two servants of the Lu Family were terrified, they couldn’t believe that this lad from the Qin Family actually tied up their Third Master.

Oh no, this is turning the world upside down.

The two servants from the Lu Family glanced at each other, split up and ran towards the low mud walls of the courtyard from both sides. The walls were short, not even as tall as a man, and they could climb over to seek help.

Qin Er Lang and Luo Wu had already been watching them and saw them run in different directions. They each pursued one, leaping forward in a pounce, tackling the two servants to the ground. They punched them fiercely several times and after knocking them out, they tied them up with straw ropes.

Before long, Lu Laosan along with the two servants, He Dacai, He Shanwa, and a few other scoundrels, a total of eleven people, were all tied up and detained in Gu Jinli’s courtyard.

Scholar Shang did not intervene to stop them from tying people up, just stood by and watched.

The commotion at the Gu’s was too big, people from the village heard it and immediately spread the word. In just over a quarter of an hour, the outside of the Gu’s courtyard was filled with people coming to watch the excitement.

"Oh, it’s over, it’s all over, the Gu’s have really tied up Third Master Lu. That’s it, these families can’t continue living in the village anymore."

What kind of family is the Lu Family? They are the officials’ in-laws, Lu Laosan is the officials’ brother-in-law; by tying up Lu Laosan, they are asking to be arrested and thrown into the government prison.

Some villagers, thinking they were being helpful, clung to the courtyard walls, persuading the families inside: "Elder Gu, Third Madam Gu, you should quickly release Third Master Lu. His brother-in-law is the County Governor, very powerful indeed. You dare to capture the County Governor’s brother-in-law; this is calling for the ruin of your family."

"Yes, you should really release Third Master Lu quickly. Otherwise, when the government officials from the county arrive, you will be the ones captured."

The neighbor, Xu Chunhua, did not want to become a maid at the Lu Family. When the Lu Family came to capture someone from her household, Xu Chunhua’s father went to report it to the officials, accusing the Lu Family. What happened? Xu Chunhua’s father was immediately thrown into the county prison. Only after Xu Chunhua herself went to the Lu’s, became a maid, and slept with Elder Lu, was her father released.

But no matter what they said, the families were determined to report to the officials.

...

At the Lu Family, Old Master Lu had already heard about Lu Laosan not getting the recipe and being tied up by the Gu Family, and he was fuming with anger, pounding the ground with his walking stick, cursing: "Troublemakers, a bunch of troublemakers, really rebellious."

But he was not hurried about rescuing them, only called two servants and instructed them: "Go to the county, send a message to the young miss, tell her that the Gu Family are not disaster victims but mountain bandits masquerading as such. Now they have kidnapped her Third Brother and are extorting our Lu Family for Silver Coin. Tell her to inform the County Governor, to dispatch people to capture these mountain bandits. Once these bandits are caught, the County Governor could gain great merit for suppressing bandits."

"Yes, this servant will go at once." The two servants of the Lu Family were not flustered either; they calmly left, prepared the carriage in the back courtyard, and headed to the county to inform the young miss of the Lu Family.

In these twenty years, many people have accused the Lu Family, but what happened in the end? It was still those poor wretches who reported to the officials that ended up in the prison.

Old Master Lu also sent a servant to Village Chief He’s house to send a message, asking Village Chief He to take people and surround the Qin, Gu, and Luo families, to make sure those families couldn’t escape.

Village Chief He’s face looked very unpleasant when he heard the words from the Lu Family’s servant. He had already heard about Lu Laosan being captured by the Gu Family people, but he really didn’t want to get involved. Yet, Old Man Lu was forcing him to play the part of the Evil Man.

"Go back and tell your Old Master that I am aware of the matter," said Village Chief He, dismissing the servant from the Lu Family, then couldn’t help smashing a teacup, "Old Man Lu goes too far."

It was bad enough he led their He family’s sons astray; each time they committed a misdeed, he forced Village Chief He to be an accomplice.

He Dacang, whilst picking up the fragments of the teacup, asked, "Dad, are we really going to surround the Gu Family’s house?"

"Surround what? Our He Family is no thug for their Lu Family," retorted Village Chief He angrily.

He Dacang, troubled, said: "If we don’t surround them, can our family escape the Lu Family’s vengeance?"