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

Chapter 407 Buying a Good Reputation

“Uncle Qian,” a clear, youthful voice rang out, “I’ll pay for this silver.”

Boss Qian and Gu Ruinian looked over at the same time.

They saw Gu Jingzhe and Su Fuzi coming down from upstairs.

Master Su loved the food at Fenglelou Restaurant, so Gu Jingzhe used his savings to treat Master Su to a big meal.

They heard the argument downstairs from upstairs, and when they went downstairs, they found out that Gu Ruinian and Gu Honglian couldn't pay for their meal.

"Uncle Qian, I'll pay for my cousin and aunt's meal," Gu Jingzhe said to Boss Qian.

Boss Qian waved his hand and said, "No need, no need, it's just a meal. Ruinian is my junior, it's not too much for me to treat him to a meal."

As a newly minted resident of Qinghewan, Mr. Qian doesn't mind getting along well with the villagers.

Moreover, this child is Tong Huaqiong's nephew. He usually greets her warmly when they meet in the village, and he has a very good impression of Gu Ruinian.

Gu Jingzhe untied his money pouch, took out some silver and handed it to the waiter, insisting, "Uncle Qian, I'll pay for this."

Mr. Qian had no choice but to let the waiter take the money.

Gu Honglian was overjoyed, thankful that she had met Gu Jingzhe.

"Jingzhe, if I had known you were here, I would have ordered a few more dishes. That sweet and sour pork ribs were so delicious, Ruinian ate most of them, and I still didn't get enough," Gu Honglian said.

She's gone to such lengths to remind me.

If Gu Jingzhe were sensible, he should have ordered a portion to be packed for her.

Gu Jingzhe, however, was not entirely sensible and did not tell the waiter to pack a serving of sweet and sour pork ribs for Gu Honglian.

He paid for the two of them, but he thought that in the eyes of outsiders, the Gu family was a unified entity, and he couldn't lose face.

Luckily, it's Mr. Qian's shop. If it were someone else's shop, they might have gone to Peach Blossom Dessert to demand money.

Gu Ruinian bit his lip, his face showing a humiliated expression.

Being suspected of freeloading by Gu Jingzhe and accepting Gu Jingzhe's help was even more unbearable than being ridiculed by the waiter.

He really wanted to throw that silver at Gu Jingzhe's head and tell him that just because he has a little money, he thinks he's something special and dares to put on airs in front of him.

Gu Ruinian learned the lesson that even a hero can be brought down by a penny.

"Cousin, Aunt, the money's paid, let's go," Gu Jingzhe said to Gu Ruinian and Gu Honglian.

He didn't care at all about the feelings of the two of them.

Gu Ruinian and Gu Honglian followed Gu Jingzhe out of Fengle Tower.

"Jingzhe, since you're so kind, why don't you help us hire a carriage?" Gu Honglian said.

She didn't want to take the oxcart back; the smell on the oxcart was too strong.

Gu Ruinian also didn't want to ride in an oxcart; he was hoping that Gu Jingzhe could hire a horse-drawn carriage for them.

The meal cost money, but hiring a carriage only costs a few yuan.

Gu Jingzhe directly refused, saying, "Auntie, how did you come to town? Go back the same way you came."

Gu Honglian stamped her foot and muttered, "I don't want to ride in an oxcart, it's too bumpy and smelly."

Gu Jingzhe said, "Then let's walk back. It's not far anyway, we can get home before dark."

Gu Honglian angrily retorted, "Gu Jingzhe, you're still as annoying as ever. It's just because I stole your milk when I was little that you've held a grudge until now."

Gu Jingzhe stared at Gu Honglian with a cold smile, making Gu Jingzhe feel uneasy. To be honest, she was still a little afraid of this nephew.

"Ruinian, don't you and your aunt know how much money you have in town? How could you order such a huge table of food without thinking? What would you two do if I wasn't there? Don't do this again next time." Gu Jingzhe lectured Gu Ruinian in the manner of an older cousin.

Gu Ruinian blushed after being reprimanded. In order to win over his cousin, he obediently accepted Gu Jingzhe's lecture and promised not to be so reckless in the future.

After stating his opinion, he suddenly asked out of the blue, "Brother Jingzhe, do you know Jay Chou?"

Gu Jingzhe asked in surprise, "Who is that?" He didn't expect an answer and simply turned and left.

Gu Ruinian stared at Gu Jingzhe's back, the young man's posture upright.

Gu Ruinian lowered his head, concealing the hatred in his eyes.

Whether Gu Jingzhe genuinely didn't know or was faking it, if he was faking it, he did it so convincingly.

Gu Jingzhe paying for him today wasn't about helping him out of a predicament at all.

He was using this incident to build a reputation for being charitable and generous.

Many people know that the two branches of the Gu family don't get along, but Gu Jingzhe didn't mind paying for his meal at all. If word got out, everyone would praise Gu Jingzhe for his magnanimity, while he would be seen as a villain.

You bastard Gu Jingzhe, whether you're from ancient times or a time traveler, I won't let you get away with this.

The provincial examination is next month, and he must pass it with top honors.

After saying goodbye to Master Su, Gu Jingzhe went to Peach Blossom Dessert Shop.

She then told Tong Huaqiong about how she had paid for Gu Ruinian's meal.

Tong Huaqiong said, "You did a good job. It's only a matter of one or two taels of silver. It's worth it to buy a good reputation."

Gu Jingzhe: "."

He wasn't doing it for his own reputation.

I just feel that even though I dislike this cousin, he is still a member of the Gu family.

Besides, there's my aunt. We can't let her, a young woman, embarrass herself by eating and drinking for free in a restaurant.

If word gets out, wouldn't that damage the reputation of the Gu family's girls?

"Did Ruinian say anything to you?" Tong Huaqiong asked.

Gu Jingzhe said, "He asked me if I knew someone."

Tong Huaqiong asked, "Who is it?"

Gu Jingzhe thought for a moment and said, "He asked me if I knew Jay Chou? I don't know what this person does. Could he be his teacher in the south?"

Gu Ruinian was able to go from being completely illiterate to becoming a student of the Imperial Academy, leading Gu Jingzhe to suspect that he must have received guidance from a renowned teacher.

This famous teacher is probably Jay Chou.

Tong Huaqiong almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.

It's confirmed that Gu Ruinian is from her hometown.

Gu Ruinian couldn't help but test whether Gu Jingzhe was a native or a time traveler.

Very well, Gu Ruinian calculated and calculated, but he didn't actually include her.

I fear that Gu Jingzhe's reaction will only deepen Gu Ruinian's doubts.

"Mother, do you think Gu Ruinian suspects that I also passed the imperial examination because of the guidance of this Master Zhou? Is he trying to trick me into saying something?" Gu Jingzhe asked.

These past few days, Gu Ruinian has been talking to him all the time, whether there's something to say or not.

He didn't feel that he was close enough with his cousin, whom he hadn't seen for several years, to have a heart-to-heart talk.

Tong Huaqiong said with a smile, "Maybe so. You don't need to worry about him. Just focus on preparing for the upcoming provincial examination."

Gu Jingzhe nodded.

As Tong Huaqiong checked the accounts, she thought to herself that Gu Ruinian must be going through a lot of trouble these past few days.

Many of the pastries from Peach Blossom Desserts are made with the same recipes as modern ones. Gu Ruinian's ability to quickly pass the imperial examination in this era shows that he was very talented, and it's impossible that he couldn't see that.

Then he would definitely be confused about who among Tong Huaqiong and Yiwo Daizhu was the time traveler.

Tong Huaqiong's goal was to confuse him.