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

Chapter 299 The Reason for Not Marrying into the Lu Family

Lu Zhaoyang coughed anxiously beside him.

He was afraid that if Gu Taohua agreed, he wouldn't be able to handle the situation.

The next second, Old Master Lu was proven wrong.

Gu Taohua said, "Grandpa Lu, you think I'm very good, but I think I'm even better than you think."

Tong Huaqiong chuckled to herself, thinking that Gu Taohua, raised by Tong Dajiao, was probably the most confident girl in the entire Ningcheng.

Gu Taohua glanced at Tong Huaqiong and continued, "Grandpa Lu, you think I'm suitable to marry into the Lu family, but that's just your opinion. My marriage isn't like marrying livestock, where height, weight, and age are all that's needed. My marriage depends on whether I like it or not."

Gu Taohua looked at Lu Zhaoyang and said, "I don't like Brother Zhaoyang."

Lu Zhaoyang almost spat out his water.

Gu Taohua is being way too direct.

Grandpa Lu asked incredulously, "What's wrong with my grandson?"

Gu Taohua spread her hands and said, "He looks weak, like a snowman that would melt in the wind. I don't like such a frail scholar. Secondly, Zhaoyang and I don't have anything in common. He's a scholar and I'm a peasant girl. He talks about classical Chinese, while I talk about the pigs in the yard, the crops in the field, and the snacks in the shop. Also, your Lu family has been a single-son family for generations. There's pressure to have a son after marrying into the family. My mother said that whether it's a boy or a girl is a man's business. What if Zhaoyang can't have a son? Then the world will blame me."

All of the above factors determined that I could not marry into the Lu family.

Gu Taohua laid out all the disadvantages of marrying Lu Zhaoyang in one go.

The more Old Master Lu listened, the darker his face became.

So his enormous fortune held no appeal for Gu Taohua, and his proud grandson meant nothing to her.

Grandpa Lu opened his mouth to refute, but didn't know what to say.

He wouldn't force Gu Taohua to marry Lu Zhaoyang, would he?

At the same time, Old Master Lu felt a surge of resentment towards Tong Huaqiong. What kind of girl was she? She even blurted out that men couldn't have sons. Wasn't she ashamed?

But if there were any girls who were too shy to even look at him, Old Master Lu wouldn't be interested.

Gu Taohua's words also dealt a blow to Lu Zhaoyang.

Lu Zhaoyang is the most outstanding student in Wanliu Academy. Although he is not as handsome as Gu Jingzhe, his noble air, which he has cultivated since childhood, combined with his gentle and refined scholarly demeanor and his sickly appearance, constitute the unique elegant temperament of Wanliu Academy.

Young women often went boating on the river outside Wanliu Academy just to catch a glimpse of his handsome appearance.

She's physically weak, easily blown away by a gust of wind, and speaks in a way that's detached from reality. Also, she might not be able to have a son.
Lu Zhaoyang never imagined that he would have so many flaws.

To the surprise of Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, Gu Taohua's words inspired Lu Zhaoyang to vow never to be a sickly, delicate person again, and from then on, he practiced swordplay and boxing every day to strengthen his body. It is said that many years later, Lu Zhaoyang, who had become the Grand Secretary, accompanied the Emperor on a personal expedition and killed the enemy general with a single arrow, thus turning the tide of the battle and shocking the entire court.

Back at the dinner table, Lu Zhaozhao was happy when she realized that her grandfather wanted to betroth Gu Taohua to Lu Zhaoyang.

It's always better for Gu Taohua, her best friend, to be her sister-in-law than for anyone else.

From now on, there's no need to worry about the relationship between sisters-in-law.

She was quite disappointed when Gu Taohua refused.

Gu Taohua laid out Lu Zhaoyang's shortcomings, which displeased Lu Zhaozhao. She said, "Taohua, you only see my brother's faults, but you ignore his good points. You can go and ask around how many young ladies in Ningcheng admire my brother. If you don't believe me, come to my rouge shop and see how many young ladies come to buy rouge just to find out about my brother."

As Lu Zhaozhao spoke, she began to sound a little aggrieved.

Her brother was such a good person, yet someone dared to nitpick at him like that. If it weren't for Gu Taohua, she would have thought it was a deliberate humiliation.

Gu Taohua argued confidently, "So many young ladies admire Brother Zhaoyang, he can just choose one of them and not worry about my opinion." "Taohua!" Tong Huaqiong coughed twice, interrupting Gu Taohua.

Gu Taohua's straightforward words dashed Old Master Lu's hopes of getting married.

A fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl can speak so bluntly to Old Master Lu's face about his beloved grandson's shortcomings and refuse a marriage proposal, and Old Master Lu won't hold it against her. But if Gu Taohua continues to be so straightforward, she will only anger Old Master Lu.

This is refusing to form a marriage alliance, not making an enemy.

“Grandpa, I’ve spoiled my daughter Taohua since she was little, and she always speaks without thinking. Please don’t mind her. Marriages are all preordained by fate. It’s not up to us to decide who the matchmaker brings together. Thank you for valuing my daughter Taohua, but her temperament is really not suitable for her to be your daughter-in-law,” Tong Huaqiong said.

Grandpa Lu still looked unhappy.

Tong Huaqiong gritted her teeth and said, "Grandpa, your Zhaoyang is a good boy. You often go out to do business and there are no elders at home. If you trust me, I will keep an eye out for good girls in other families and help Zhaoyang find a match."

Lu Zhaoyang said, "Aunt Tong, there's no need to trouble you."

Old Master Lu turned his anger towards Lu Zhaoyang and said, "No need for anything. You're not getting any younger, and you'll be going to the capital next year. Do you know that when the results are announced, princesses and wealthy families will try to find a husband for you? What if you get snatched away by an ugly princess or a princess with a bad temper? So you must finalize your marriage before you go to the capital."

Grandpa Lu was very confident that his grandson would definitely be among the top three in the exam.

With Lu Zhaoyang's looks and talent, who wouldn't want to take him as a son-in-law?

Furthermore, since the Lu family are merchants and not involved with any political forces in the court, there is even less pressure in arresting them.

"Master Tong, you said it yourself. I'm going to sea at the end of the year, so I'm entrusting my grandson's marriage to you," said Old Master Lu.

Tong Huaqiong: "."

She was just being polite, but it actually happened to her.

How to do?
"Okay, I'll keep it in mind."

Tong Huaqiong had no choice but to take on the task. She didn't have a suitable girl around her, so she planned to go to Pingchuan County to discuss it with Magistrate Liu's mother, Madam Han, as soon as she got back. Madam Han probably preferred to be a matchmaker.

Lu Zhaoyang remained silent.

Someone like him is bound to get married.

He had no reason to refuse the engagement.

Seeing that Lu Zhaoyang was sullen, Gu Taohua said, "Brother Zhaoyang, what I just said wasn't really a flaw of yours. It's just a flaw to me, but it's nothing to others. You're rich, good-looking, and talented. Didn't you hear Zhao Zhao say that all the young ladies in the city admire you? You're sure to find your ideal girl."

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua rejected the marriage proposals from both the Gu and Lu families, leading to a brief stalemate at the dinner.

After the meal, Tong Huaqiong, along with Gu Taohua and the others, hurriedly took their leave.

Tong Huaqiong had just stepped out the door when Old Master Lu called her to stay.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, "They still haven't given up?"

After sending Lu Zhaoyang and the others away, Old Master Lu asked, "Are you familiar with Mother Mo now?"

Tong Huaqiong's eyes widened.

It's not that Old Master Lu disliked women of the night; the fact that he didn't have a single concubine shows that he was a man of integrity.

Why did he ask Mom Mo?

Tong Huaqiong couldn't help but think of a rule: homophobia is synonymous with being closeted.

What does it signify that Old Master Lu so despises women involved in prostitution?