"I paid up the taxes according to the master's instructions, and the shops have returned. I listed six of them. The money is all here. Please check it, master."

Father Gu held the five silver notes in his hand, each of which had a face value of one hundred taels of silver.

Father Gu's hands were shaking.

Half of the fertile land has been reduced, and only one shop is left.

The antiques were fake, the jewelry was stolen, and 70% of the entire net worth was lost. Fortunately, there was still 30% left.

"Hitch the carriage and bring all the servants at home. I will go to Qing'an County to rescue Zhihua!"

Driving a carriage at night was extremely inconvenient. Gu's father had suffered a blow before and was not in good health, so the carriage drove slowly.

Rushing to the outside of Qing'an County City overnight, the city gate was closed.

"Sir, I just went to inquire. The officers and soldiers guarding the city said that they can't open the city gate until three quarters to three."

"Ah? Then there are still more than two hours?"

"Yes, sir."

Father Gu looked at the tall city gate in front of him, feeling worried.

The night was not cold at all, but rather hot. There was no harm in spending the night outside the city.

What he was afraid of was that when the city gate opened and it was already the fourth day, would Lai Touhua and the others use this to cause trouble?

Two long and torturous hours finally passed. With the cumbersome sound of the city gate being pushed open, long lines of people lined up both inside and outside the city waiting to enter or exit the city gate.

Father Gu was the first one to enter the city. When he entered the city, he didn't bother to buy some steamed buns to comfort his long-empty internal organs. Instead, he went straight to Zhihua's house in Qing'an County.

Because they had agreed to meet and trade there, even if those two cheap maids Xiaoqing and Xiaohong took the deed to the house and ran away, the place of transaction would still be there.

Father Gu and others were at the door of the small house. The iron lock on the door was still the same as when he helped Gu Zhihua replace the house. The key was still in Father Gu's pocket.

But Father Gu didn't dare to take the key to open the door and go in.

Why?

It's because there is a pair of seals crisscrossed on the courtyard door, with the official seal on them.

During this period, what did Father Gu see the most?

Government seal.

What are you most afraid of seeing?

Or a government seal.

The seals of several shops were only torn off yesterday. When he saw the seals on the courtyard door, Father Gu's knees were spinning. Fortunately, Uncle Gen was there to hold him.

"Master, are you okay?"

Father Gu looked at Old Uncle Gen vaguely, and I couldn't stand still. Do you think I'm okay? The old guy really doesn't have any eyesight. After getting over this difficulty, all these servants will be sold and replaced with new ones.

.

"Where's the dead Chinese?" Gu's father waited for a while, but didn't see anyone coming, so he started to feel anxious.

Several servants brought over from Wanghai County shook their heads.

Just when Father Gu was at his wits' end, a carriage came creaking towards him.

The driver had a toothpick in his mouth and a scar hanging on his nose, which made him look unpleasant.

"Are you from the Gu family?"

Father Gu was hesitating whether to go up and ask, but the other party took the initiative to speak.

"Yes, yes, you are?"

"Yes, that's fine. Where's the money? Have you brought it?" the other party asked.

Father Gu was helped to stand up by Old Uncle Gen.

"There's no shortage of money, but I need to see my son first!"

Father Gu closed his pocket tightly. After experiencing the previous deception, Father Gu was now particularly sensitive to money transactions.

The man with the scar who was driving the car didn't say anything nonsense. He turned around and gave instructions to the people in the car behind him.

The tied-up Gu Zhihua was pushed out of the car and fell to the side of the road.

"Zhihua, Zhihua!"

Father Gu shouted to go over and check on Gu Zhihua, but was stopped by two burly men holding iron rods who jumped out of the carriage.

"Where's the money?" the other party yelled gruffly.

"I want to see my son first!"

"Old man, if I don't give you any money, I'll tie you up together!"

"Master, the young master is alive." Uncle Gen called out.

Immediately, Gu Zhihua's weak voice came: "Dad..."

Father Gu turned his head, and Gu Zhihua was lying on the ground, trying to look up here.

"Give me money, five hundred taels of silver, not a penny less!" the sturdy man shouted again.

Father Gu really wanted to default on his debt. He held five banknotes in his hand but couldn't hand them over.

"Bring it!"

The sturdy man grabbed it, took a look, and cursed: Old thing!

He turned around and jumped on the carriage and drove away.

Looking at the carriage running away, Father Gu's heart was bleeding. My money, fifty acres of land, six shops...

"Master, the young master is calling you."

Father Gu just came back to his senses. He staggered to Gu Zhihua. Gu Zhihua had already been helped up, and his body was still tied up.

"You traitor!"

Father Gu raised his hand to slap him, but when he saw the bruised and swollen face in front of him, Father Gu threw the slap on his face.

"It's the fault of a son who doesn't teach his father, I deserve to die for raising a prodigal and rebellious son!"

Gu Zhihua pursed his lips and drooped his head. He didn't have the courage to say what he wanted to be honest about right now.

"Master, the young master is still young. He just took some detours and straightened himself out. The most urgent thing is to take the young master away first!" Old Uncle Gen bent over and advised carefully.

"Dad, I'm so tired. I haven't had a full meal or a good night's sleep in the past few days. Let's go back to the house first..." Gu Zhihua suggested boldly.

Father Gu was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He almost jumped up from the ground: "Go back to the house? Which house are you going back to? Open your dog eyes and see clearly whether you still have a house!"

"I, I can't see clearly..." One of Gu Zhihua's eyes was swollen and he couldn't open it. The other squinted eye was not swollen, but that eye was short-sighted and he couldn't see clearly.

Father Gu was so angry that he didn't even bother to untie the rope. He grabbed his collar and dragged him to the courtyard, pressing his face against the courtyard door.

"See clearly, see clearly, those two bitches next to you stole the deed of the house and sold it. Now the government has put a seal on it. Before the new owner moves in, the original owner will not be able to take away anything left inside. You come in

Do you have to go?"

Gu Zhihua's ears were buzzing. He never dreamed that Xiaoqing and Xiaohong would have such courage!

"Well, what about my cousin? The yard has been sold. Where does my cousin live?"

A slap fell on the back of Gu Zhihua's head. Father Gu hated the iron and said, "How long have you been thinking about those warblings and Yanyans? You worthless thing!"

Feeling angry, Gu's father ordered someone to buy Gu Zhihua a hot roast goose to eat in the car.

"Why are you still wearing gloves on your right hand when you are eating? Is it okay?" In the turbulent carriage, Father Gu looked at Gu Zhihua who was choking, and frowned.

Gu Zhihua paused and glanced at his right hand, a trace of panic flashing across his eyes.

"It's okay." After saying that, he buried his head and continued to eat.

Father Gu shook his head. He didn't want to see his son again. He really had an enemy.
Chapter completed!