Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 1115: Uncharacteristic

Therefore, when Ouyang Ming returned with the medicine chest, he saw Gu Jin’an standing there looking weak but forcing himself to stand tall.

Ouyang Ming thought, this scholar’s shoulder must be really painful, feeling quite guilty, he immediately dismounted and took out the ointment from the medicine chest, handing it to Gu Jin’an: "Quickly apply it, it’ll hurt less in thirty minutes."

Gu Jin’an smiled, the girl was indeed concerned.

He took the ointment, and said gently: "Thank you, benefactor, for going through the trouble."

Ouyang Ming was stunned, why did the address change from girl to benefactor?

"You should just address me as girl, no need to call me benefactor."

But Gu Jin’an was somewhat troubled and said: "I don’t know your surname, addressing benefactor simply as girl seems a bit disrespectful."

He then made a gesture of respect towards her: "I am Gu Jin’an, a student from Da Feng Village, Qingfu Town, Tianfu County in He’an Prefecture. I am on my way to Linhe Prefecture to take the college examination. May I ask the girl’s noble surname?"

He didn’t ask for her given name, so he wasn’t being improper.

Gu Jin’an’s question was straightforward, which did not offend Ouyang Ming, who already felt some guilt towards him, and she replied: "My improper surname is Ouyang."

"So it’s Miss Ouyang." Gu Jin’an was delighted to hear this. The surname Ouyang with the accompaniment of Shadow Guards certainly indicated she was a lady from a noble family. Throughout Great Chu, such a grand presence was only associated with Mr. Ouyang Hu’s family.

Knowing Ouyang Ming’s identity, Gu Jin’an was very pleased, his smile deepened, but he was restrained and quickly said: "Thank you, Miss Ouyang, I’ll go apply the medicine now."

Saying this, he turned and left, hiding behind the overturned mule cart to lift his clothes and apply the ointment to his arm.

He wasn’t being squeamish as a man; he did this out of respect for Ouyang Ming, as undressing in front of someone else’s girl would not be appropriate.

After applying the ointment, Gu Jin’an went to help Scholar Shang bandage Scholar Qu’s wound. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Scholar Shang asked: "Were you hit silly? Why are you acting a bit strange?"

Previously he was afraid of getting entangled with girls, avoiding women whenever he saw them, and would rather die than talk to them without necessity. But today he seemed to actively seek conversation.

Gu Jin’an blushed a little, denying: "Master has misunderstood, I am normal."

Scholar Shang was taken aback, then looking at Gu Jin’an’s slightly red face, he thought he looked like someone experiencing first love but trying hard to restrain himself. Could it be that he has... taken a liking to this girl?

Scholar Shang laughed, feeling gratified, good fellow, finally learning to pursue a girl: "Well, if it’s as I think, then that’s indeed normal."

Previously Scholar Shang worried that his disciple, who was too good-looking and avoided women intensely, might... But now he was relieved.

Just...

"Her status and position are probably not ordinary, you should be aware of that."

He shouldn’t get too deeply involved, or else he might hurt himself later.

Gu Jin’an nodded, and said: "Yes, I understand, Master, rest assured."

Although their statuses were worlds apart, he still wanted to try hard, as she was the girl closest to his ideal wife. If he gave up without trying, he would regret it.

Even if after all his efforts he still couldn’t marry her properly, he wouldn’t persist, nor would he let this matter affect him for a lifetime. There were numerous things one encounters in life; he wouldn’t let this one be the end of him.

Scholar Shang felt reassured after hearing this, and the two quickly helped bandage up Scholar Qu.

After Scholar Qu thanked them, he pulled Good Brother An over to check on Qu Wenliang: "Good Brother An, your family is acquainted with Doctor Wu, you know about medicine, take a look at Wenliang, he can’t have anything happen to his hand."

Gu Jin’an said: "Uncle Qu rest assured, I’ve already checked Brother Wenliang, he hasn’t injured his bone, it’s just that his arm was cut by a piece of wood from the broken mule cart. As long as there’s no infection or fever, it’ll be fine."

Scholar Qu trusted Gu Jin’an, and upon hearing this he felt much more at ease, and he asked Qu Wenliang how he was feeling.

Seeing that everything was fine here, Gu Jin’an went over to check on Xu Zhao Ming and Elder Xu, handing a calming pill to Elder Xu: "The bandits have been captured, don’t worry, take this pill, it will help you sleep without being startled at night."

Xu Zhao Ming quickly took the pill and gave it to his grandfather.

Seeing Xu Zhao Ming’s face drained of color, unable to look at the bandits’ corpses, Gu Jin’an also gave him a pill: "Brother Zhao Ming, take one too."

"Ah, th-thank you." Xu Zhao Ming stammered, clearly shaken by the day’s events.

Lv Bai was even more useless; seeing the bandits being hacked to death, he fainted in fright, and Yao Youqian was kneeling beside him, trying to revive him by pressing his philtrum. With difficulty, he woke him, but as soon as he turned his head and saw the Shadow Guards cleaning up the remains, with a howl, he fainted again.

Gu Jin’an said: "Brother Yao, let’s carry him to the mule cart, otherwise, he might faint again."

"Yes." Yao Youqian responded, and with Gu Jin’an carried Lv Bai onto the mule cart.

After giving Yao Youqian two calming pills, Gu Jin’an went back to help He Jinseng, who couldn’t walk: "Brother Jin Sheng, don’t be afraid, those bandits have been captured."

He Jinseng nodded and said: "I’m not afraid."

But as soon as he finished speaking, he bent over and retched.

At this moment, He Jinseng finally understood his grandfather’s efforts to associate with Good Brother An. Traveling for the exams truly was not peaceful. Having grown up without ever seeing so many corpses, it was unbearable.

Once He Jinseng finished retching, Gu Jin’an supported him onto the mule cart, gave him a pill, and then ran to help the Ouyang family’s Shadow Guards.

Seeing the situation, Ouyang Ming was impressed that this scholar was quite brave, as he wasn’t afraid of corpses. However, Ouyang Ming couldn’t stay long, as Mrs. Han, having learned the bandits were captured, came to escort her back to the carriage.

Girls had to adhere to propriety and couldn’t continue staying amongst a group of men.

Gu Jin’an felt a bit disappointed, but he understood that there were strict rules for women, so he put the thought aside and continued helping with the cleanup.

More than an hour later, County Magistrate Chen from the nearby county rushed over with all the government officers. Seeing the bandits’ corpses, he sighed in relief.

Success, then the Miss from the Ouyang family must be unharmed.

County Magistrate Chen expressed his gratitude to the Ouyang family repeatedly, then said: "I am at fault for letting the bandits disturb Miss Ouyang’s carriage. May I meet Miss Ouyang to apologize personally?"

The Shadow Guard replied: "No need to meet, the Third Miss said she is just a girl from a noble family, not a court official, and dares not meet Lord County Magistrate. Just please have the officers patrol more along the roads to protect the examinees traveling for the exams."

Hearing this, County Magistrate Chen felt anxious. The Ouyang family’s Ouyang Hong was a veteran official in the court, and Ouyang Hu was a renowned scholar throughout Great Chu. If the girl from his jurisdiction got into danger, and he didn’t personally apologize to Miss Ouyang, she might complain to Ouyang Hong or Ouyang Hu, and the Ouyang family would hold him accountable.

Noticing County Magistrate Chen’s concern, the Shadow Guard said: "County Magistrate Chen can rest assured; today’s matter will only bring you merit, not trouble."

He continued: "The Ouyang family’s housekeeper has already reported to the Prefecture garrison, County Magistrate Chen can wait here until the soldiers arrive to escort the bandits away."

"You informed the Prefecture garrison too?" County Magistrate Chen was displeased; involving the Prefecture garrison made the matter difficult to handle.