Proofread by Peter Gong
Soon, the case of transporting private salt was settled. Hu Family, as the mastermind with other crimes, would be brought to trial by the central judicial office. Tian Family was accused of the same crime, but they were only fined to repatriate the profits of trafficking private salt because they gave a report and Tian Ronghua was dead. Guo Qi was exempted from punishment because Tian Ronghua took all the charges.
The business of Tian Family was managed by Tian Fugui since Tian Ronghua’s two children were still young. He and Ma Tian’en had always got along well, so the two Zhas became harmonious.
But Guo Qi was still living out, and many members of Ma Family complained that Mrs. Ma could not accept him. While Guo Family wanted him to take over the business of Ma Family so that they could control it.
“Master said that you should not think yourself clever. It was Master who helped you get rid of the crime this time. You have to go back to Ma Family as soon as possible. Ma Tian’en is a woman, so let her get married early and then you will have the whole Ma Family in your hand. Master will help you if you need. However, Master also said that if you wanted to kick down the ladder, you might fall down to death.” The man from Guo Family said bluntly. Guo Qi had been refusing to return to the Ma Family, so naturally he could not be recognized by Ma Family and he failed to formally manage Ma Family.
“Master, you have worried too much. The reason I don’t return to Ma Family is that I’m not willing to call that woman mother. I’m outside Ma Family now, but I can still work for Master.” Guo Qi knew that it was not time to turn against Guo Family, and as the private salt case had just ended, Guo Family would not let him do anything wrong at this moment, so he could still master the situation.
“Master has also thought of it, but Master hopes you focus on more important things and don’t lose major gains for the small ones. If you take control of the Ma Family, isn’t it easy to retaliate against that woman?” Obviously, the man of Guo Family had taken into account all his thoughts.
“Okay, go back and tell your Master, I will move back to Ma Family.” Hearing Guo Qi’s
affirmative agreement, the man left with satisfaction.
Guo Qi sighed. There were some things that seemed inescapable.
June 28th of the lunar calendar was auspicious and advisable to sacrifice, pray for blessings, and move into new house. The door of the Ma Family’s ancestral hall opened, and the tribesmen had gathered in front of the ancestral hall. When the time came, the firecrackers were fired and the genealogy was taken out. As the patriarch, Ma Chaorong presided over the ceremony of Guo Qi’s recognition. Of course, this was the result of Guo Qi’s promise to give part of the business to him. When his name was written on the genealogy, the name of Guo Qi became a thing of the past. After the ceremony, the Ma clan left behind to attend Guo Qi’s recognition banquet.
Because it was still in Ma Chaosheng’s funeral period, the banquet was very simple. Originally, when everyone went back after the banquet, all would be settled. Unexpectedly, just at the banquet, something went wrong. On such occasions, women were not allowed to attend, but Ma Tian’en in man’s clothes came and was drunk.
“Why are you here? Don’t you know that women are not allowed on such occasions?” asked
Guo Qi with a worried expression.
“What’s wrong with women? When you were still Guo Qi, wasn’t it that I took charge of Ma Family? If there were no women, who gave birth to you?” Ma Tian’en said without any timidity.
Someone hurried up to smooth things over, “Tian’en is also happy to see her elder brother be recognized, so she forgot the rules for a while. Tian’en, did you drink? Go back early, or your mother will worry about you. ” Said a cousin of Ma Chaosheng. Ma Tian’en should call him uncle, and their relationship was always good.
“I’m here to congratulate my elder brother. With a little effort, Ma Family’s property is all yours, congratulations. But didn’t you say you never cared whether you are the son of Ma Family or not? Why have you changed so soon? Ma Qi, hawhaw!” Ma Tian’en apparently drank a lot and started talking nonsense.
Guo Qi’s expression changed, “I am the father’s son, so I naturally want to recognize my ancestors. You are a dove in a magpie’s nest, twenty years ago, if it were not your mother … ”
“Bah, my mother? Isn’t she your mother, too? Remember, in the future you will only have one mother, and she is my mother, your juristic mother!”
“Get back, don’t make a fool of yourself here.” Guo Qi said in a rage after hearing her words.
“No way.” Ma Tian’en said, sitting on the table with carelessness, picked up the jug, and continued to nag while drinking: “Really thick-skinned. You said you never covet our Ma Family’s wealth, then go away, far away. You made my father die in a rage, and you want to grab his money, are you a reincarnation of debt collector? ”
Ma Tian’en became more and more ridiculous, so Guo Qi couldn’t help but stretch out her hand and dragged her off the table. Who knew that Ma Tian’en might have drunk too much wine and fell to the ground all at once.
“Guo Qi, how dare you bully my daughter!” Mrs. Ma came in angrily. When Ma Tian’en saw her mother coming, she stood up from the ground and ran towards Mrs. Ma.
“Mom, he beat me.”
“You such an ingrate! I promised to recognize you as my son, but then you bullied Tian’en. Do you want to drive us out and dominate Ma Family with Aunt Zhao?” People around were all shocked by Mrs. Ma’s heavy words.
“I am the father’s son, the only son. It’s not to dominate Ma Family. It is you who are a jealous liar, replacing the son of my father with a dead baby girl. You’re not virtuous, so what right do you have to teach me! ”
“Bastard! How did you dare to bully your sister first and abuse your juristic mother! You are just a son of a concubine, not the must of the Ma Family. I can recognize another son, and you will get nothing.” As soon as Mrs. Ma said that, some people’s eyes lit up. Then Mrs. Ma took Ma Tian’en and left the banquet angrily. All people naturally were in no mood to eat anymore, so they also left.
As a big family that had much been troubled of late, Ma Family was watched by many people. So the farce was spread quickly to the whole Datong River, and everyone said that Ma Family would never be peaceful. Sure enough, the wharves managed by Guo Qi were watched every day by people sent by Ma Tian’en, who would come up unpacking and checking the goods, on the grounds that someone might hide private salt. And Ma Tian’en’s shops, from time to time, were checked by people sent by Guo Qi. The fight between the two was also detrimental to Ma Family’s business. All members of Ma Family lived on its business. If they continued fighting like this, they would lose everything. However, Mrs. Ma and Ma Tian’en did not give in. They said they wanted to find a son-in-law or recognize another son. Anyway, they would no accept Guo Qi. Guo Qi was officially recognized, so he refused to give in, too.
Even though he was reluctant, Ma Chaorong, as the patriarch, still came to mediate their disputes at the urging of everyone. Calling them over, Ma Chaorong first said a lot that they needed to focus on the interests of the Ma Family, and then ordered them to discuss and settle the issue today. Maybe they were tired of quarrel these days, and the final decision was that the business of Ma Family would be run by the people sent by Guo Qi and Ma Tian’en, and they could check each other. Ma Chaorong also demanded a copy of the account.
Guo Qi promised to the man from Guo Family that he would make Ma Tian’en get married as soon as possible, which would not affect his work for Guo Family. Although Guo Family was extremely dissatisfied with this result, they were not willing to take risks for their backer in the chaotic government was just Wudinghou’s nephew. If something happened, they would be revealed and sacrificed.
Ma’s compound was divided into two parts. In the east lived Mrs. Ma and Ma Tian’en, and in the west lived Guo Qi and Aunt Zhao. Meddlesome people nearly squatted by the gate of Ma Family to see if the two sides would fight someday.
“Brother, I’m really impressed by your good acting skills.” Ma Tian’en who held a chess piece was playing chess with Guo Qi. She said: “This stinky chess, how is this chess so bad.” Guo Qi was completely immune to her low-level language abuse.
“Mr. Wu is so good at chess, how did he teach you like this? Really, I won’t play with you next time even if you give me money. ” “It doesn’t matter if you play chess badly, but you love to regret, which is a poor quality.” Guo Qi said.
“But you said the same thing last time, did you? Brother … brother …” Ma Tian’en intentionally lengthened his voice, and then Guo Qi felt cold because of her tone. “My younger sister may never get married.” He thought.