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

Chapter 409 Breach of Trust
"Grandpa, you're even taking advantage of this little bit of money?"

Gu Daqiang laughed angrily; he had already given Old Master Gu a lot of face today.

"Uncle Youtian, you haven't said anything yet. What do you have to say about this? Grandfather keeps saying that your business has lost money and you have no money at home. If you have no money, how can Aunt Honglian and Ruinian still be eating and drinking so much at Fenglelou?" Gu Daqiang looked up and saw Gu Ruinian and Gu Honglian, and raised his voice to speak.

Many people from Qinghewan go to town every day, and someone has already told Gu Daqiang that Gu Ruinian and Gu Honglian are having a big meal at Fenglelou.

Gu Daqiang did not believe that Old Master Gu and Gu Youtian had no money.

Gu Ruinian and Gu Honglian looked embarrassed, and the satin that Gu Honglian was holding made Gu Daqiang even angrier.

"Uncle You Tian, ​​what do you say about this?"

You can't reason with Gu Daqiang and Grandpa Gu.

Gu Youtian remained silent, but Gu Daqiang kept pressing him for answers.

Under Gu Daqiang's intense gaze, Gu Youtian spoke up, saying, "If that's how you put it, then we've got a lot to say. Why did your great-grandfather rent the land to you instead of other nephews or cousins ​​in the clan, or even to someone from another family in the village for a higher rent? Wasn't it because your family had many children and was struggling financially that he rented the land to you? If it weren't for my five mu of fertile land, would your family be able to afford food now? Would your son be able to go to school?"

Gu Youtian's words are even less reasonable than those of Old Master Gu.

Gu Daqiang was absolutely furious.

Gu Daqiang said, "Uncle Tian, ​​we can't be unreasonable. I paid money to rent these five acres of land, you didn't give them to me for free. I took good care of them to get a harvest, so how come you say I'm the one who benefited?"

"You just want to take my wheat this season. Grandfather, Uncle Tian, ​​I'm a junior. You think you can bully me just because you're of higher seniority? What do you say about this, clan chief?"

Gu Daqiang then asked the clan chief to uphold justice.

The clan chief hesitated and stammered under Old Master Gu's gaze.

Old Master Gu had played a significant role in enabling him to become the clan chief, so it was not appropriate for him to speak up for his nephews and nieces at this time.

“Daqiang, you are still a junior, so we can’t push them too far. Your great-grandfather and Uncle Youtian still need to eat. How about this, we’ll buy the wheat in this field as your great-grandfather suggested, and calculate the price based on the harvest. The rent and payment for the wheat will be extended to you in the fall,” the clan chief said.

Grandpa Gu originally wanted to bargain until the end of next year to pay, but seeing Gu Daqiang's face turn red with anger, he stopped trying to bargain.

“Okay. But I have one condition: I can’t give you all the harvest from the five mu of wheat; I’ll only give you three mu.”

In the end, Gu Daqiang was forced to compromise and let Grandpa Gu buy back the three acres of wheat fields at the market price.

“Ruinian, you write a contract.”

Grandpa Gu was not comfortable with verbal promises. He had successfully taken back the land by renting it to Gu Daqiang without a contract. How could he repeat Gu Daqiang's mistake? He beckoned his grandson to draft a contract.

Gu Ruinian took a pen and paper and wrote a contract.

Gu Daqiang angrily pressed his handprint and said, "We're all from the same clan. If you betray us like this, who in the village will associate with you in the future?"

Gu Ruinian felt extremely uncomfortable.

"Brother Daqiang," Gu Ruinian suppressed his anger and said calmly, "You're being too harsh with the word 'betrayal.' We could have taken back the land you rented from us at any time. Besides, we won't withhold the six years' rent and the wheat payment. Don't worry, next month when I pass the imperial examination, I'll receive eight bushels of rice every month. With that status, I can become a tutor in a wealthy family's private school, earning at least a hundred taels of silver a year. I'm telling you this to let you know that I can repay what I owe you very soon."

Gu Daqiang gritted his teeth and said, "You'd better keep your word."

Gu Ruinian maintained a calm expression and said, "My promises are never empty words."

"You'll see what happens after you do it. Becoming a scholar isn't easy," Gu Daqiang said sarcastically, taking the contract and turning to leave. Gu Daqiang's reaction surprised Gu Ruinian.

Shouldn't Gu Daqiang be impressed by his courage in taking on the responsibility of debt at this point?

Shouldn't Gu Daqiang submit to his impending status as a scholar at this point?

Despite his displeasure at Gu Daqiang's sarcasm, Gu Ruinian maintained a calm demeanor.

You don't believe I can pass the imperial examination? Just wait and see, I'll slap you in the face.

"Ruinian is so ambitious at such a young age, and he took on the debt. Brother, what are you afraid of with a grandson like him? He'll turn things around sooner or later."

"The greatest hope for a family is that its descendants will be successful. Ruinian's success is a blessing for our entire Gu family."

The clan chief and other members of the clan praised Gu Ruinian in front of Old Master Gu.

Grandpa Gu's face relaxed.

Many villagers said in private that he had returned from the south in disgrace, which made him feel resentful. Fortunately, he had a promising grandson.

"I'm not exaggerating, but Ruinian is not only the most promising of my grandsons, but also the most promising of his generation in the Gu family. He is a few months younger than Jingzhe, but he passed the imperial examination at the same time as Jingzhe. He is even more mature and filial than Jingzhe."

Grandpa Gu praised Gu Ruinian with a smile, while taking a jab at Gu Jingzhe, the grandson of the eldest son.

Standing beside Grandpa Gu, Gu Ruinian's calm face betrayed no emotion, yet he reassured Grandpa Gu with a firm voice, "Grandpa, I feel deeply ashamed. If I hadn't been so mischievous as a child and had woken up sooner to study hard and pass the imperial examination a year earlier, you wouldn't be in this predicament today. But don't worry, I will definitely earn you a degree next month. Don't worry about the money I owe Brother Daqiang; your health is the most important thing. Leave everything to me."

Gu Ruinian's eloquent words of filial piety once again won everyone's praise.

As everyone continued talking, Gu Ruinian took out a storybook with a new cover of the Analects from his bag and sat down next to Grandpa Gu to read it.

Grandpa Gu looked very pleased.

Originally, Grandpa Gu wanted Gu Ruinian to go back to his room and study, but the envious looks from his other brothers in the clan made him reluctant to let Gu Ruinian leave his side.

"Brother," the clan chief asked, "has your eldest daughter-in-law's attitude changed these past few days?"

The clan head had already convened Tong Huaqiong and the second branch of the family to discuss the issue of Old Master Gu and Old Madam Gu's care. Tong Huaqiong's attitude remained the same as when the second branch of the family opened the ancestral hall, promising to take care of the two elders. She could cover part of their food and clothing expenses, and she would not let them starve to death.

No more than that would be impossible.

Old Master Gu and the members of the second branch of the family were dissatisfied with this, as was the clan leader.

Grandpa Gu said, "They send us a bowl of vegetables every now and then, and two bolts of cloth for my wife and me to make clothes. Isn't that enough to make us feel ashamed?"

The clan chief nodded, indicating his agreement with Old Master Gu's idea.

The clan chief said, "Just now when you took back the land from Daqiang, I thought of the land in your eldest son's house. Brother, last time I asked your eldest son to discuss your retirement, I forgot to mention the land to you. Actually, your eldest son bought those fifty acres of fertile land at the foot of the mountain, and now it is managed by Dahan. Several families in our village are renting land from your eldest son's family to cultivate."

Grandpa Gu frowned.

He still knows too little about the first wife.

For example, this place was a first for him.