After traveling through time, she still led the villagers to make money as a county magistrate

Bai was so happy chatting with her daughter that she forgot the time. When they were almost done chatting, it was already midnight. Gu Niannian still didn't feel satisfied and wanted to ask her mother to sleep with her.

How could Bai let her act like this? She insisted on returning to her own courtyard, thinking that she would be alone in her empty room today just like every other day.

She had gotten used to it over the years, so she thought it wouldn't matter if they chatted later. But when she entered the room, she saw Gu Bole sitting on a stool with an angry look on his face. The teacup on the table was empty.

Bai was a little puzzled. It was rare for her husband to wait for her for so long. If you said that Gu Bole had any friendship with her, she didn't believe it. He must have something to ask her! Bai thought about it and walked forward, apologetically saying, "Why didn't you tell me that the master was coming? You've been waiting for so long. You must be thirsty! Let me pour you a glass of water."

Bai picked up the teapot and found it was empty. She called Hehua and said, "Add some water."

Gu Bole had something to ask of Bai Shi, so he didn't get angry. He just waved his hand and said, "No need. I'm not thirsty."

After Gu Bole signaled everyone to go out, he told Bai about his plan to marry into the Zhou family. After he said this, Bai understood the general idea.

Bai: "Master, do you want me to go with you to the Zhou family tomorrow to negotiate peace?"

Gu Bole nodded and said, "Of course. According to etiquette, the marriage of children should be arranged by the mistress of the family. The Zhou family is a wealthy family. I am afraid that you can't handle it alone, so I will go with you."

Bai Shi was puzzled and asked, "Then why did the Master only need to agree to the Ma family's matter?"

Gu Bole coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment. "It was that Ma family kid who didn't know the etiquette and passed you by. I agreed directly for Nian Nian's sake. Besides, hasn't your husband called off the engagement now? What else are you dissatisfied with?"

If Mrs. Bai had heard this before, she would have thought that her husband was really doing it for the good of their daughter and that she was being unreasonable. She would have rushed to apologize and explain.

But why does it sound so off-putting today? An idea suddenly struck Bai: "Could this be what my daughter calls PUA?"

Mrs. Bai talked so much with her daughter today, although she still couldn't accept what her daughter said, such as women hold up half the sky and men and women are equal.

But when my daughter said that Gu Bole was best at PUA, I gave her some relevant examples to help her understand what he meant. She didn't understand what he meant at the time, but now she understands a little bit based on what Gu Bole said.

This was shifting the blame onto herself for her own mistakes, making her feel guilty. This time, she listened to Gu Niannian and decided not to continue the conversation, but just watched her husband perform quietly.

Seeing her unusual reaction, Gu Bole felt a little guilty, and softened his tone rarely, saying, "Madam, my dear madam, we are all doing this for Nian'er's good. You also want Nian'er to have a good home, right?"

Bai Shi felt a little warm in her heart when he said this, and she softened her heart and replied, "I do want Nian'er to find a good home, but the person's character is the most important thing, family background is secondary, and my daughter also needs to like him. I used to think Nian'er wouldn't live for many years, so I wanted her to stay with me for a while longer. But you actually want to marry her off to someone with such bad character, how can I not be angry?"

Bai was crying with grievance as she spoke. This was the first time she had spoken to her husband so firmly since her parents' death, and there was a hint of blame in her words. Not only was Gu Bole shocked, but she herself couldn't believe it.

Seeing his wife crying like a pear blossom in the rain, Gu Bole could only step forward to comfort her: "I know you love your daughter and don't want her to leave you, but the second child is not under the control of the mother! If you like children, we can have another one."

Although Bai was in her early thirties, she still looked like she was twenty-five or twenty-six because of her good foundation. When Gu Bole first saw this jade-like girl, he really liked her.

Bai's cheeks flushed red as she bit her lower lip and asked, "How can you give birth at your age?"

Her tone revealed a rare shyness of a young girl. Seeing her like this, Gu Bole recalled the first time they met and couldn't help but feel a heat rising in his lower abdomen.

Gu Bole picked her up and put her on the bed. He took off Bai's clothes and said jokingly, "Madam, you will know whether you can give birth after trying."

A charming room

The rare intimacy was like a blessing after a long drought for Bai, and her face was flushed when she woke up in the morning. Bai had also heard of the Zhou family. She heard that the eldest son of the Zhou family had good character, so she was willing to get to know him better.

The two were getting dressed and preparing to go out to visit the Zhou family. Before they even reached the door, they heard the sound of gongs and drums, followed by a knock on the door: "Gu Rujun, is this Mr. Gu's home?"

The Gu family was not considered a wealthy family in Lin'an, and they only had a doorman. When someone came, they would just knock on the door and ask questions. Gu Bole would signal the servant beside him to open the door.

The person who came was from the county government office. As soon as he came in, he started to congratulate Mr. Gu and threw out congratulations as if they were free.

Gu Bole and Bai Shi knew what was going on and asked, "What did you congratulate me for, sir?"

The county magistrate asked in confusion, "Your son, Gu Rujun, has passed the imperial examination and will be taking up his post in Qingshan County in twenty days. Isn't Mr. Gu aware of this?"

The Gu couple stared at each other in confusion. How did they know this? Their son had not been seen or heard from since then, and they didn't even know where he had gone. And what kind of place was Qingshan County?

But they couldn't tell anyone that their son was missing. If the government took back the position and the son came back, they would be in trouble. They had to find an excuse and say, "My son went out to play with his friends some time ago and will be back in a few days."

The yamen runners congratulated him. Gu Bole was also a businessman, so he knew a little bit about this. He took out some silver and sent the yamen runners away.

Now Gu Bole had no intention of going to the Zhou family. "Jinshi! His Gu family can also produce an official. Let's see who dares to look down on his Gu family." Gu Bole said happily.

Mrs. Bai was more worried about her son. She just wanted her son to return home safely. Any official position was just an external thing to her and was not as important as her precious son.

Gu Niannian received a letter from Gu Rujun, which said that she got separated from her servant on the way home and had a sudden heart attack. She was saved by a female doctor. It might take three to five years to fully recover. She wanted to see if Gu Niannian could take over as the county magistrate for a few years and then come back to take over when he was cured.

At the same time, Gu Bole also received a letter from his son, but the difference was that the letter ended with him asking his father to decline his official position and wait for him to come back.

Gu Bole was unsure when he saw this. His Gu family had never produced a Jinshi. If he refused, he wouldn't know if there would be a position for his son when he returned. What if he died without being cured? Wouldn't his official position be gone? He understood that for a family doing business, it was easier to get things done with connections in the officialdom.

The letter didn't say where the person was, and it seemed like they were intentionally concealing the truth, otherwise he could have just asked someone to come back and treat him.

Gu Bole really couldn't think of what to do, so he could only pull Bai to discuss a solution. Bai was also at a loss. As a woman, how could she know the ins and outs of officialdom?

As the two of them stared at each other, Gu Niannian, wearing Gu Rujun's men's clothing, walked up to them. The couple was stunned for a moment, then walked over and said excitedly, "Jun'er, you're back?"

Bai even turned Gu Niannian over and over again: "Is she okay? Is she healed?"

Gu Bole also stood beside him with an excited look on his face, thinking: His official position of the Gu family is saved.

Until Gu Niannian called out: "Mother"

Gu Bole's smile froze on his face, replaced by anger. He asked, "Why are you wearing Jun'er's clothes?"

Gu Niannian didn't care about his tone and smiled, "I'm going out for a walk, and it's inconvenient to wear women's clothes. I thought my brother's clothes would fit me, so I found some and put them on. How about it? Does it look good?"

"Mom and Dad, did you just acknowledge me as your brother?" Gu Niannian added, smiling innocently.

Bai Shi was relieved to see her daughter more lively and cheerful than before. Gu Bole couldn't show it in front of her, so she patted Gu Niannian symbolically and said, "You are such a poor girl, aren't you?" Gu Niannian said, "Mom and Dad, do you think others will think I am their brother if I wear this?"

"I think so. After all, my brother and I look exactly like each other. My parents made a mistake just now, let alone someone else!" Gu Niannian seemed to be talking to herself or to Gu Bole.

Gu Bole had a flash of inspiration and slapped his head: "Why didn't I think of this! Isn't this a ready-made method?"

Hearing Gu Bole say this, Gu Niannian knew that the fish had taken the bait, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.

Only Bai Shi was still confused. She looked at Gu Bole with doubt and asked, "Master, what is the method? I don't understand."

Gu Niannian had already gotten used to her mother's naiveté, so she could only pretend not to understand: "Father, what method are you talking about?"

Gu Bole's problem was solved. He showed a rare smile and said in a good-tempered manner: "Let's go to the room to talk."

When Gu Bole said that Gu Niannian would take over the position in place of Gu Rujun, the mother and daughter were surprised and said in unison: "How can that be possible?"

Of course, Gu Niannian was pretending.

Bai kept waving her handkerchief in her hand, her voice a little frightened: "Nian'er is a girl, how can she go to such a place? If the government finds out, it will be a capital crime."

Gu Niannian agreed: "Yes, yes! It's too dangerous. Although I look a lot like my brother, and he will be back in a few years, it's too risky for me, a girl, to go there. There are only men there."

Gu Nian's thoughts shook like a rattle: "No, no."

Gu Niannian knew what kind of person Gu Bole was. The more she and her mother opposed him, the more determined he would become. He was just a jerk.

Besides, it is impossible for him to give up since his Gu family has produced such an official over the years.

Seeing her daughter's reaction, Mrs. Bai thought she really didn't want to go, so she started to persuade her, "That's right! Didn't the master say he would arrange a marriage for Nian'er? If she goes, she won't be able to get married for several years."

Gu Bole glanced at Bai and said disdainfully, "Women are so long-haired but so short-sighted. When Ru Jun gets promoted, I'm worried that Nian'er won't be able to find a good husband. Others will be begging to marry the girls from our Gu family. Then her concubine sisters will also have a good home!"

Turning around, he said to Gu Niannian in a friendly manner, "Nian'er, if you think a woman like you is not suitable, why don't you let your mother accompany you, give her more maids and servants, and bring more money? What do you think?"

Gu Niannian saw that her purpose of putting on this show had been achieved. Her purpose was twofold: one was to avoid getting married now, and the other was to keep her mother by her side. Otherwise, without her by her side, her naive mother would be bullied to death by Gu Bole's concubines and daughters.

Gu Niannian pursed her lips, reluctantly agreeing with Gu Bole's idea.

Gu Niannian also inquired about the position in Qingshan Village. The place where she was appointed was located in the Jiangnan West Road area, which was her home in the 21st century. It was not far from Lin'an City, a total of more than 300 kilometers away, and it only took one or two days to get there by horse.

Seeing that his daughter agreed, Gu Bole felt relieved. He could not force his daughter to do this. He could not do it without Gu Niannian's consent. Then he patted Gu Niannian's shoulder with satisfaction and said, "My daughter knows the current situation, unlike your mother."