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

Chapter 402 Chaos at the Dinner Table
"Go inside and get one tael of silver for Ruinian," Old Master Gu said to Old Madam Gu.

Grandma Gu went into the house, opened the box, took out a tael of silver, and handed it to Gu Ruinian with a pained expression.

Gu Fengnian's wife, Wei, sneered inwardly, thinking, "What kind of book could cost one or two taels of silver?"

This younger brother-in-law, by some stroke of luck, passed the imperial examination and became arrogant, constantly asking for money under the guise of studying.

Wei couldn't help but sarcastically remark to Gu Ruinian, "If the family business hadn't gone bankrupt, why would you be so stingy about buying a few books?"

This is a veiled criticism of Gu Ruinian's idea, which resulted in the family losing everything.

Gu Ruinian held the silver in his hand, feeling resentful.

Gu Fengnian scolded Wei Shi, saying, "Isn't your second brother studying so that our family can have a better life?"

Ms. Wei stopped talking and angrily put a large spoonful of scrambled eggs into her son's bowl.

Gu Honglian was dissatisfied and raised her voice, "These eggs belong to me and Ruinian."

Grandma Gu glared fiercely at Madam Wei.

Wei angrily put down her chopsticks and said, "Do you know how hard it is for me? I followed you to live in this godforsaken place, and it's already mid-February and it's still so cold. There's not a single piece of meat on the table. Today, I only picked up one egg and you gave me a hard time. Otherwise, no one can eat."

The more Wei thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Why are the best things in the house always given to my aunt and Ruinian? Doesn't my son deserve to eat them?"

While crying, she pulled Gu Honglian to her side and knocked the scrambled eggs to the ground.

Gu Honglian angrily threw down her chopsticks.

Grandma Gu scolded, "You've gone too far! How can you be so vicious? You can't eat yourself, so you won't let your aunt and Ruinian eat either."

Madam Wei raised her voice and said, "I cooked dinner. Can't my son even eat a single egg? I can't stop you from favoring your aunt and Ruinian, but my son can't do without eggs. Otherwise, no one else can eat. Your aunt and Ruinian do nothing all day but stuff all the good food into their bowls. If they want to eat so much good food, why don't they live with the eldest son's family? Why don't they earn their own money?"

Grandma Gu pointed at Wei and trembled with anger.

Apart from Gu Honglian, no one in this family dared to speak to her like that.

Gu Honglian had never been spoken to harshly before, and at this moment she couldn't take it anymore. She pointed at Gu Fengnian across from her and shouted, "Fengnian, you hit your wife! You hit her!"

Gu Fengnian gritted his teeth, met Wei's tearful eyes, and finally let go of her hand.

Gu Ruinian pursed his lips and lowered his head to hide the disappointment in his eyes.

My elder brother is too soft-hearted; he can't bring himself to do it.

Someone like my sister-in-law is just an ordinary businesswoman who has caused trouble at home time and time again. What right does she have?
He was puzzled. What happened to the traditional virtues of obedience and submission for women in this era? How come his aunt and sister-in-law were so shrewish?

When Yaojia saw his mother crying, he opened his mouth wide and wailed loudly.

The whole dinner table was in chaos.

Sobbing, Gu Honglian vented her anger on Gu Ruinian, who was sitting next to her, and yelled, "It's all your fault! If you hadn't wanted money to buy books, would my eggs have been smashed on the ground?"

Jia was displeased, but in front of her parents-in-law, she suppressed her anger and said to Gu Honglian, "Sister, your nephew bought the books so that you could have a better life."

She was not so polite to Wei, and said loudly, "Ruinian is the only scholar in our family. You are unhappy that he eats something good. How can he use his brain if he doesn't eat well? What do you mean he does nothing all day? His greatest achievement is reading books."

Grandpa Gu slammed his hand on the table and said, "Alright, stop arguing."

Gu Ruinian put down his chopsticks. The food, which was low in salt, oil, and meat, already made him lose his appetite, and this commotion made him even more disgusted.

When they lived in the south, all the good food and clothes at home went to him and his aunt, and no one ever said a word of complaint.

The reason for this is that family conflicts have arisen.

Ultimately, it all comes down to the family being too poor.

Gu Ruinian felt no remorse whatsoever for eating well while his family ate meager meals; on the contrary, he took it all for granted. He was the only hope for the second branch of the Gu family.

Sister-in-law, really, why the rush? Once he's achieved success, won't he protect the Yao family?
"Ruinian, aren't you going to eat?" Jia asked with concern.

Gu Ruinian ignored Jia Shi, glanced at everyone at the table, and said calmly, "I will definitely pass the county-level imperial examination next month. I guarantee you, passing the county-level examination is just the first step. In the future, I will pass the provincial-level examination, the imperial examination, and become a high-ranking official. You are all my family, and all my efforts are for you to live a good life."

After saying that, he stood up and walked out calmly without turning his head.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Jia and Grandma Gu, were deeply moved.

Equally moved, Grandpa Gu said, "Ruinian's ambition is a blessing for our Gu family."

Then he said to Old Madam Gu, "Give Ruinian another tael of silver. I've noticed he's lost weight lately. He can't go to town without eating, so let him have a good meal there to replenish his energy."

Grandma Gu took out some silver and handed it to Gu Honglian, telling Gu Honglian and Ruinian to go to town for a feast.

"No one should say that the old man and I are biased. Honglian is our precious young lady, and Ruinian is our golden egg."

Wei sneered.

Gu Ruinian has quite the arrogance, claiming to be a scholar, a provincial graduate, and a metropolitan graduate.

Is it really that easy to pass the exam?

He never reads books, and she pretends she doesn't know that he stays up all night with the lamp lit but doesn't read a single book.

Besides, why don't you pay for the exams?
Who will pay for it?

"Grandpa, Grandma, I brought you something." Gu Taohua came in with a smile.

Gu Taohua witnessed everything that happened at the dinner table.

A few days ago, Tong Huaqiong was called to a "meeting" by her clan. Although she did not budge on the issue of her in-laws' care, she did back down a bit.

You should show her the respect she deserves, such as giving her a bowl of good food or treating her illness when she's sick. Don't expect her to take anything else from you.

She kept her word and started sending a bowl of vegetables to the old house from time to time from today onwards, since it wasn't a big deal anyway.

This time, Gu Taohua brought over a bowl of chicken.

"This is to show respect to my grandparents."

Gu Taohua placed the chicken on the table.

The room was instantly filled with the aroma of meat.

Everyone swallowed hard.

They haven't eaten chicken since they came to Qinghewan.

Gu Honglian wouldn't give way to anyone, and used her chopsticks to pick up the tenderest piece of meat.

Grandma Gu put a piece of meat on Grandpa Gu's plate.

Madam Jia then picked out most of the good meat from the bowl, intending to take it to Gu Ruinian's room.

Gu Taohua reminded Jia Shi, "Second Aunt, this chicken is for Grandpa and Grandma, not for Ruinian."

Gu Taohua didn't want all the meat to end up in Gu Ruinian's dog belly.

Jia paused in her hand, which had been picking up meat.

This peach blossom in the valley is too nosy.

Grandpa Gu said, "Since this meat is a tribute to your grandmother and me, it's our business who gets to eat it."

Gu Taohua rolled her eyes.