The Grand Secretary’s Pampered Wife - Chapter 193-1

Gu Jinyu watched as his eldest brother unexpectedly gave something to Gu Jiao, and she felt more and more unpleasant in her heart.

She had given her eldest brother so many gifts, and all she got was a thank you from him. Don’t think she didn’t know. Concubine Ling was the one who prepared her birthday gifts every year, and her eldest brother himself didn’t even know what he had gifted her.

Although she couldn’t see what was inside the box from her point of view, could something handpicked by eldest brother be any worse?

Gu Jinyu was really not interested in the contents of the box, what she wanted was her eldest brother’s affection.

Gu Jiao was just a girl who grew up in the countryside. In terms of looks, she had a flawed appearance; in terms of talent and learning, she was very much lacking; and in terms of temper, she only knew how to beat people up. What exactly did her eldest brother like about her?

Gu Jinyu didn’t go to see Yao shi and instead went back to the Marquis Estate in a gloomy mood.

On the other hand, the dispute between the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War finally came to an end today. The victor was the Ministry of War, and as the loser, the minister of the Ministry of Works was harshly rebuked by His Majesty.

This threw the minister of the Ministry of Works in an irate mood. When he returned to the yamen, he summoned Marquis Gu and questioned him how he had handled things at the beginning, “The Ministry of War said that they had looked for you many times, but you repeatedly put it off on the grounds of disbelief?”

Marquis Gu defended himself, “Not many times, and they didn’t make it clear at first. They simply asked me to produce such a large number of weapons within a month. At that time, the year was coming to an end, and the Ministry of Works had a lot of things to do. It really couldn’t be done in time!”

In the former dynasty, weapon manufacturing wasn’t within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works. After the beginning of the current dynasty, the responsibilities of the six ministries were redivided, among which the Ministry of Works had the biggest change.

All of a sudden, the Ministry of Works had to deal with a lot of trifling matters, but the official’s salary wasn’t good enough, and the status even less. Among the six ministries, they could be regarded as the workhorse.

Minister Zhao was certainly aware that Marquis Gu wasn’t lying. The Ministry of Works was in charge of wasteland reclamation, water conservancy, construction, transportation and government-run industries in the whole State of Zhao, including but not limited to weapon manufacturing…

During the end of the year, it was true that their ministry would be so busy that one person had to split himself into three or four.

But what exactly was he angry about?

Marquis Gu, without even sending someone to check things, asserted that the common people couldn’t possibly have a more powerful bellows technology than the imperial court. As a result, there happened to be something like that among the common folks and it was brought by the Ministry of War!

Now, their entire Ministry of Works had to pay the Ministry of War a visit to learn the new bellows technology!

Was this something they were supposed to do?

Was there still any room for his old face?

On the way back from the court meeting, he received the mocking laughter of his colleagues!

“I don’t even know whether to call you stupid or conceited!”

Minister Zhao was seething with anger!

Marquis Gu twisted his lips and said, “Would Lord believe it if Lord is in my shoes?”

Minister Zhao choked up.

Marquis Gu had an expression of ‘I knew it was like that’, saying, “See, who can believe such a thing?”

“I, I, I… How could I not believe it?” In hindsight, who wouldn’t? Minister Zhao said solemnly, “You didn’t mention anything about it to me at that time, otherwise I would have told you to send someone to the county town to invite people over!”

Marquis Gu looked up at the sky: You’re making it up. Just keep making it up.

Minister Zhao: “…”

How did the valiant Old Marquis give birth to such a foolish son?

But then again, he himself couldn’t believe it either.

When the minister of the Ministry of War told him about the bellows technology of the common people, he also merely scoffed at it. That old man of the Ministry of War was also a very nasty character. He knew that the piston bellows were on its way but he didn’t inform him.

At that time, he thought that the Ministry of War was just exaggerating things, hence he didn’t hesitate to answer back sarcastically and throw him a lot of malicious remarks. In the end, every word that he uttered slapped his own face.

Minister Zhao asked, “I heard that it was invented by a 14-year-old girl. Weren’t you in the county at that time? Have you ever heard of such a girl?”

There were simply a lot of young girls in the county, there was even one in his family! Unfortunately, she was born to go against him!

“What’s the matter? Do you know her?” Minister Zhao looked at Marquis Gu’s dignified look and asked.

Marquis Gu waved his hand and said, “There are too many fourteen-year-old girls out there. It’s impossible to randomly run into her.”

Minister Zhao nodded his head, “That’s true, but according to the people of the iron shop, she’s a peasant girl. Our Ministry of Works has suffered a big loss this time. If we can find her, we will certainly be able to preserve our face in front of His Majesty.”

A peasant girl in the county?

It wasn’t that girl, was it?

Soon, Marquis Gu shook his head decisively.

That girl was illiterate, at most she could feed pigs and work the land. But to say she invented the piston bellows that could leave the water-powered furnace technology of the State of Liang in the dust? How was that possible?

Marquis Gu said, “My Lord, in my opinion, that girl must be a disciple or a family member of some master who had withdrawn from the mundane world. She didn’t reveal her identity because she didn’t want to engage with secular society.”

Minister Zhao pondered for a moment before saying thoughtfully, “Ah, by the way, I heard from the people of the iron shop that the girl’s surname seems to be Lu… or Gu?”

……

As it was getting late, Gu Jiao concluded the last diagnosis and treatment for the day and finally went to check Gu Chenglin’s condition.

Gu Chengfeng had something to ask her.

Nowadays, as long as there was meat on the table, he would think of the scene of Gu Chenglin’s operation, frame by frame… It was really such a ghastly sight!

If he went on like this, he feared he would have to be a monk someday! He hoped to know if there was any medicine for this sickness.

However, Gu Jiao never gave him a chance to speak; she turned and left without stopping!

“Hey, you’re really just going to leave like that?” Gu Chengfeng asked grumpily.

Gu Jiao faintly looked at him.

Gu Chengfeng straightened his face and said, “In case my brother is in any danger.”

“There’s still Physician Song.” Gu Jiao replied.

Gu Chengfeng wanted to say something but felt hesitant.

This Physician Song was obviously a novice at first glance. When he was injured from the collapse of the music hall, it was this Physician Song who stitched up his wound. His handiwork was simply crooked and ugly! His wound hurt for a long time!

“If you’re dissatisfied, you can transfer to another medical hall.” Gu Jiao said indifferently, went to the door and let Physician Song take over. Before going away, she gave Physician Song an encouraging look, “Critically ill patients like this with injury near the heart is rare. You should cherish this opportunity to practice your skills.”

Physician Song was full of ambition, “I will!”

Gu Chengfeng’s face was covered with black lines, “…”

Was it really fine for your medical hall to bully people like this?