The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

"What the hell, daring to covet my sister?"

Gu Dashu stared intently at Tong Fusheng's family.

He knew Tong Zhijie better than anyone.

Tong Zhijie lived in the Tong family for a few years when he was young, and he would come to the Tong family for a period of time every year after he grew up. Whenever he came to the Gu family, the others would not have a good time.

They had to give him everything he ate and wore, and that little rascal was also up to no good, always trying to sow discord between his mother and his sister, Gu Dashu.

Gu Dashu had wanted to beat him up for a long time.

People like that are unworthy of coveting their sister; they deserve a good beating.

So Gu Dashu grabbed Tong Zhijie and threw a punch.

It hit Tong Zhijie on the forehead and swelled up.

Wang let out a howl and stood in front of Tong Zhijie, her neck stiff as she said to Gu Dashu, "Go ahead and hit me, hit me, kill me first."

Wang was, after all, an elder, so Gu Dashu withdrew his fist and cursed at Tong Zhijie: "You made your mother stand in front, you inhumane thing. From now on, I'll beat you every time I see you."

Tong Fu was so angry that he wanted to pound the rice stalks during the hottest part of summer, but he couldn't find a suitable tool.

"Tong Fusheng, do you think my house is a garbage dump? Let me tell you a secret. Have you seen the Yihong Brothel? There are handsome young men there who run a brothel business. Although Tong Zhijie is a bit sleazy, the madam there often orders pastries from my house. I can do you a favor and let Zhijie run a brothel business. Maybe he'll catch the eye of one of those wealthy families who like men, and they'll take him as their male concubine, and your whole family can live a life of luxury."

Tong Huaqiong's cursing was deafening, attracting a lot of attention from people in the nearby shops.

Tong Fusheng was so scolded that his face turned purple.

She actually said something like, "Let his son go to the brothel to do hook business."

Tong Fusheng pointed at Tong Huaqiong, trembling with anger, and said, "You unfilial and disrespectful person, the Tong family no longer has a daughter like you. You don't need to come to sweep the tombs and burn paper money for your parents during Qingming Festival."

Such a good thing!

Tong Huaqiong almost wanted to clap her hands; she couldn't believe such a good thing had happened.

Who would want to burn paper money for the two old men who sold their daughters to pamper their sons? Who would want to be a daughter of the Tong family in this era?

Anyway, Tong Huaqiong didn't want to.

"Alright, it's settled then. From now on, I'll go my separate ways with Tongjiaqiao and Tongjiaqiao Road, and we'll cut off all ties."

When Tong Huaqiong saw Gu Jingzhe return from the private school, she waved to him and asked, "Do I need a written document to sever ties with your uncle?"

After asking that question, Tong Huaqiong realized that this was ancient times.

The severing of ties between children generally refers to a son disobeying his parents and being removed from the clan register.

Women are expected to follow their husbands and sons after marriage. She thought that if there were any documents, she would ask Gu Jingzhe, as her son, to draw one for her.

Gu Jingzhe walked over and said, "Mother, if you don't want to associate with your uncle's family, then just close the door and live your own life."

Tong Huaqiong's eyes lit up.

She was so angry she fainted.

Gu Jingzhe is right. Tong Dajiao's parents are both dead, so she doesn't need to be filial to Tong's eldest brother.

She's now a member of the Gu family and has no obligation to care about the Tong family. Besides, if anyone outside says she's disrespectful to the deceased Tong family elders, it's not a big deal for her to burn a stack of paper money at their grave on Qingming Festival.

“Jingzhe, you are also a scholar. Look at how your mother disrespects your elder brother and how your brother disrespects his elders,” Tong Fusheng said to Gu Jingzhe.

Tong Fusheng believed that Gu Jingzhe, being a fellow scholar, would surely understand him.

They, uncle and nephew, usually had a good relationship, and he hoped that Gu Jingzhe could put in a good word for him and ease the tension between him and Tong Huaqiong.

“Uncle, you’re mistaken. All the expenses for your household, your education, the cost of taking the exams in the prefectural city, and the cost of raising your son over the years have all come from my mother. My mother almost gave you all the family’s savings, and she didn’t even get a word of gratitude in return. As for my brother not respecting you, that’s because you haven’t lived up to the expectations of an elder.”

"You call yourself a scholar? You're helping your good-for-nothing son scheme against my sister. You have no sense of propriety or shame. What respect do I have for you? Do you expect my brother to give you his sister for me to show you respect?"

With a solemn expression, Gu Jingzhe reprimanded his uncle in front of the onlookers.

When Gu Jingzhe was a child, he had a good impression of his uncle, who was the only one in the family who was educated. However, as he grew older, he developed resentment towards Tong Fusheng.

There was a scholar in their family, but Tong Dajiao gave all the family's belongings to her uncle and raised Tong Zhijie for several years.

My uncle spent his whole life taking the imperial examinations but only ever achieved the lowest rank of "Tong Sheng" (a student who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

My uncle has studied all his life, but he's still not as learned as him.

Ever since he passed the imperial examination, he has looked down on his uncle, who was ambitious but unwilling to face reality.

When Gu Jingzhe arrived at Rouge Lane, he saw his uncle's family. He was worried that his uncle would interfere with Peach Blossom Dessert and that Tong Huaqiong would let his uncle get involved in the shop's affairs.

Hearing Tong Huaqiong scold her uncle, he was secretly delighted.

It seems my mother is clearly severing ties with my uncle.

He's definitely going to add fuel to the fire.

"Dear neighbors, this is my uncle's family. Since my maternal grandfather passed away, my uncle's family has been supported by my mother. My uncle has been studying at a private school since he was young, and now that his children are almost married, my mother has paid for everything from his tuition to his household expenses. My mother has never complained. Now that my mother has opened a shop, my uncle wants my cousin and my sister to marry. But my cousin is utterly hopeless. If my mother were to marry my sister to him, it would be like pushing my sister into a pit. That's why we're arguing today."

"Everyone witnessed today's argument, and I believe everyone knows the truth. Whether my uncle's family wants to marry my sister or just use her to take over our shop, I think everyone knows perfectly well. If we agree to this marriage, we will be betraying my sister and wasting all the hard work my mother has put into the shop. All of you neighbors, please be our witnesses. If my uncle's family comes to Peach Blossom Dessert Shop to cause trouble or spreads any unpleasant rumors, please help us distinguish right from wrong."

Gu Jingzhe explained the ins and outs of today's dispute to the onlookers gathered in Rouge Lane.

Tong Huaqiong said, "My son is right. I am a widow raising a large family alone. I finally managed to open a shop, but my brother's family has their eyes on it. It's one thing for them to have their eyes on my shop, but they also have their eyes on my daughter. That's why I said I'm severing ties with them today."

Tong Huaqiong knows that public opinion is important in any era.

This is the principle behind the saying "public opinion can melt metal".

Filial piety is especially important in this era.

If the reasons for her severing ties with Tong Fusheng are not clearly explained to everyone, and if Tong Fusheng causes trouble at Peach Blossom Dessert Shop again and again, the uninformed masses will definitely be influenced to side with Tong Fusheng.

This will indirectly affect the business of peach blossom desserts.

So, taking advantage of Tong Fusheng's visit, they decided to make things clear right there in front of everyone at the entrance of Peach Blossom Dessert Shop.

Tong Fusheng's attempt to seize control of the shop by having his son marry Gu Taohua was doomed to failure.

So the family slunk away, beaten by Gu Dashu and scorned by their neighbors. (End of Chapter)