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

Chapter 361 The Huang and Lu Families Form a Marriage Alliance
The second young master of the Lian family, jealous of the Huang family's broken engagement, turned around and accused Huang Jingshan of being of bad character, which was why their Lian family broke off the engagement.

And he went all over Yanguan Town to spread the word.

Just as they were making their announcement, Gu Taohua caught them red-handed, put a sack over their head, and took them to the Huang family.

The annulment of the engagement caused a huge uproar. Although most people knew that the Lian family was at fault, Huang Jingshan's reputation was also ruined.

Rumors are circulating that Huang Jingshan was jealous and intolerant of others even before she got married. No wealthy young master would dare to take her as a concubine, otherwise it would be a hindrance.

When he learned that his daughter had been rumored to be jealous, Master Huang was so angry that he couldn't eat for several days and was worried about his daughter's marriage.

Huang Jingshan, on the other hand, remained calm and composed.

Just when Master Huang was so worried that his hair had turned a few strands white and he had no heart to celebrate the New Year, Tong Huaqiong came to the Huang family's door again.

This time, Tong Huaqiong formally proposed marriage to Huang Jingshan and Lu Zhaoyang.

Upon hearing that it was the Lu family of the prefectural city, Master Huang was first surprised for a long time. He then carefully inquired about Lu Zhaoyang's situation from Tong Huaqiong. In addition, his own mother had met Lu Zhaoyang and approved of him in terms of both appearance and character. Therefore, he immediately agreed to meet with the Lu family.

Tong Huaqiong immediately sent a letter to Lu Zhaoyang, who, upon receiving the letter, rushed to Yanguan Town with his grandfather.

When Master Huang saw Lu Zhaoyang, he immediately felt that he was his son-in-law. No wonder he always felt that young masters like Fan Tonglian were not a good match for his daughter. It turned out that they were destined not to be the sons-in-law of the Huang family.

As for Lu Zhaoyang not being able to eat noodles, so what? The Lu and Huang families have other things to eat.

After exchanging a few words, Old Master Lu and Master Huang felt an instant connection.

Thus, the Huang and Lu families hit it off immediately, and the marriage was arranged before the new year, with the wedding date set for springtime after the new year.

Of course, after the Huang and Lu families got engaged, they expressed their gratitude to the matchmaker, Tong Huaqiong.

Grandpa Lu, in particular, felt even more grateful to Tong Huaqiong.

First, she saved her own grandson, and then she arranged a good marriage for him. If Tong Huaqiong hadn't refused, Old Master Lu would have insisted that Lu Zhaoyang recognize Tong Huaqiong as his godmother.

Tong Huaqiong only hoped that Lu Zhaoyang, this brilliant talent, would one day become a high-ranking official. In case he and Gu Jingzhe became adversaries due to differing political views, she hoped that, out of consideration for her, Gu Jingzhe and Tong Huaqiong would be treated leniently.

When the news of the engagement between the Lu family, a royal merchant family in the prefecture, and the Huang family spread, the Lian family was furious.

The second young master of the Lian family actually went to Wanliu Academy in the prefectural city to find Lu Zhaoyang and tell him the whole story of Huang Jingshan breaking off the engagement with him. His ability to distort the truth amazed Lu Zhaoyang.

A refined person is one who doesn't get angry easily, but when they do, they can demolish the other person's old house.

So, while every household was preparing for the New Year, the second son of the Lian family got into trouble.

As the saying goes, good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast. The whole of Pingchuan County was buzzing with the rumor that the second young master of the Lian family had angered a nobleman from Shengjing at the Tianxiang Restaurant in the prefectural city, and that the nobleman had cut off his lineage.

This matter is so bizarre that it has topped the gossip list in Pingchuan County for several consecutive days. In any case, during the winter when people have nothing to do, they casually squat in a corner of a teahouse and discuss it enthusiastically.

The Lian family then closed their doors to visitors, further confirming the rumors that the second son of the Lian family had been estranged.

Those who knew the Lian family's background dug up the story and said that it was all because the maid Luo Qiuyu had come to claim his life. The second young master of the Lian family forced the pregnant Luo Qiuyu to her death, and Luo Qiuyu, even as a ghost, would not let him go, taking revenge by making him childless.

This is retribution for the Lian family.

As the story spread, everyone came to understand the real reason why the Huang and Lian families broke off their engagement.

It turns out the Huang family was forced to break off the engagement. Well, what family would break off an engagement for no reason? The Huang family risked ruining their reputation to break off the engagement, which shows that the Lian family's family values ​​and the things done by the second young master of the Lian family are even worse than what is rumored in the gossip.

As a result, Huang Jingshan was portrayed as a pitiful victim.

Later, an insider revealed that Widow Tong, the owner of Peach Blossom Desserts, was moved by Huang Jingshan's character and arranged a marriage for her with the Lu family, a wealthy merchant family in the prefecture.

The narrative shifts dramatically, portraying Huang Jingshan's hardship finally paying off. The story, full of twists and turns, even inspired the storyteller in the teahouse to write tales about Huang Jingshan's marriage.

When the news of the Lian family's second son's extinction reached Tong Huaqiong's ears, Tong Huaqiong, who was shoveling snow in the yard, felt that he deserved it.

At the same time, they were amazed by Lu Zhaoyang's ruthless methods, which directly prevented the second young master of the Lian family from turning the tables.

After another heavy snowfall, the Spring Festival has arrived.

On this land of China, the Spring Festival has always been a grand and lively occasion, regardless of the era.

This era is no exception.

The New Year's goods were all prepared long ago. The Taohua Dessert Shop in Yanguan Town and Fucheng settled accounts with Tong Huaqiong on the 25th of the twelfth lunar month and closed for the holiday from the 25th of the twelfth lunar month until the 16th of the first lunar month.

In this era, many shops, apart from those catering to banquets, did not reopen until the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

The village's private school and the town's private school were both closed for the holidays, and the children ran around the village, occasionally setting off firecrackers, adding a touch of liveliness to the quiet countryside that was made even more peaceful by the snow.

Deep-frying is an annual tradition before the New Year, including making sugar cakes, fried meatballs, and fried fish, filling the whole village with their aroma.

In addition to that, you also need to chop dumpling filling and steam buns.

The kitchen in Tong Huaqiong's house was expanded and was spacious and bright. Chen Sufeng was pregnant and Tong Huaqiong did not let her do any work, so Gu Taohua, Liu Yue'e and Tong Zhaodi took on the main responsibility and worked hard.

Of course, the men weren't idle either.

Su Chengmin chopped firewood, Gu Jingzhe lit the fire, and Gu Dahan kneaded steamed buns.

Gu Dashu, who had rushed back from the prefectural city on the 25th of the year, was not allowed to rest. He swept the courtyard inside and out.

For Qinghewan, the most important thing before the Lunar New Year is to write Spring Festival couplets.

There aren't many people in Qinghewan who can write well, and Gu Jingzhe is the most beautifully written scholar in Qinghewan. Every household comes to Gu Jingzhe to write Spring Festival couplets.

In the past, when writing Spring Festival couplets, Tong Dajiao and her children were the ones that the people of Qinghewan were willing to smile at.

After all, buying a couplet isn't cheap, and you have to brave the cold wind to go to town.

Having someone in the village who can write Spring Festival couplets is something every villager longs for during the New Year.

Tong Dajiao never missed an opportunity to show off her son in front of the villagers. Therefore, she, who was usually arrogant, could also show a rare friendliness to the villagers when it came to writing Spring Festival couplets.

Gu Jingzhe is promoted to Qinghewan’s darling every year before the Lunar New Year, and this year is no exception.

Early in the morning, Gu Jingzhe set up a table in the courtyard, ground the ink, laid out the brushes, and began writing Spring Festival couplets.

Write about your own family first, then about the villagers.

After breakfast, the villagers, carrying red paper cut from the town, all stepped into Tong Huaqiong's courtyard.

Before long, Gu Jingzhe's table was piled high with red paper, which shone brightly in the farmhouse courtyard under the post-snow sunlight, adding a festive touch to the New Year.

"Jingzhe, you have to write more for me. My family needs to put up decorations in the pigsty and chicken coop this year." Gu Guangkui happily brought over a stack of red paper.

Xu Si was exiled, but he was able to leave the village to make furniture and earn money. In addition, Gu Xiaocao worked at Taohua Dessert Shop, and there was also the harvest from the fields. This year, his income was quite good.

Therefore, I bought several extra rolls of red paper, intending not only to paste it on the door frame, but also on the roof beams, the stove, the chicken coop, and the pigsty.

Many people share Gu Guangkui's idea. This year's corn harvest was bountiful, and many families had extra money. With extra money, they wanted to have a festive New Year, so they wanted to paste the character "福" (fortune) on Spring Festival couplets both inside and outside their homes.