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

Chapter 438 Always Later
Grandpa Gu sighed.

As the person in charge of the family, how could he not know why his business failed?

He knew from the beginning that it was Ruinian's idea, but he pretended not to know.

Grandpa Gu said, "Two grains cannot be written in one stroke. The business matter is not entirely Ruinian's fault; the escort agency also has its reasons for deliberately deceiving us. There are only two brothers in the family, Fengnian and Ruinian. We must prioritize the one who studies hard and becomes successful, so that the successful one can help the others. I know you feel resentful about Ruinian's studies, but don't worry, I will definitely not treat you unfairly in the future."

Always later, always later.

Grandpa Gu gritted his teeth and said, "Don't mention things like sending Ruinian to work in the fields or looking for work outside to earn money. His main task is to study, to get ahead, and to change our family's fortunes. So, after a while, Ruinian will go to the private school in town. I've already decided. It would be best if you have no objections. If you do, just keep them to yourselves."

Wei was so angry she wanted to overturn the table.

Even after all this, Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu still defended him.

Okay, since Gu Ruinian is studying, her son should also study.

It's still uncertain who the family's hope will be.

Madam Wei said, "Alright, I agree that Ruinian should study, and Yaojia should also study. If Ruinian doesn't do well, it will all be for nothing. Letting Yaojia study will at least give them more hope."

Grandpa Gu did not expect the Wei family to propose such conditions.

However, his granddaughter-in-law's conditions were not excessive. If the family had money, he would take the initiative to let Yaojia go to school.

It's not that we don't have enough money at home, so we can only afford to support one person.

Grandpa Gu said, "Yao's family will definitely go to school, but he's still too young. We'll make plans when he's older."

After speaking, he looked at Gu Fengnian, hoping that his eldest grandson would agree with him.

Gu Fengnian remained silent.

Madam Wei insisted, "Yao must study. I will send him to the village private school tomorrow."

She still had hairpins and bracelets given to her by her family, which her husband's family would eventually pawn for Gu Ruinian. Since they were going to be pawned sooner or later anyway, she might as well spend the money on her son in advance.

There's also money I borrowed from my aunt's family that I need to repay.

Grandma Gu said, "We don't have any money at home, so we can only afford to support one child right now."

Grandpa Gu asked Gu Fengnian, "Fengnian, what do you say?"

Gu Fengnian was at a loss for words when Jia woke up, and coughing and the sound of asking for water came from the inner room.

Gu Fengnian and Gu Xiaoxue stood up and went into the inner room.

Wei also went along.

She didn't want to talk to Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu; there was no point in arguing any further, and she wouldn't change her mind.

Jia was stunned and tears streamed down her face as Gu Xiaoxue fed her the medicine.

"Where will the money for medicine come from?"

After taking two sips of her medicine, Jia looked gloomy as she thought about her family's situation.

Gu Xiaoxue said, "It was my sister-in-law who borrowed the money from my aunt."

When Jia heard about Tong Huaqiong, she thought of Gu Jingzhe, who had topped the list of successful candidates, and how her son had failed the exam. She was so upset that she burst into tears.

"Poor Ruinian, he must be feeling so bad today."

Wei looked disgusted.

The mother-in-law only thinks about her youngest son; since she was injured, he has shown her absolutely no concern.

The atmosphere at the Gu family's old house was somber, while Tong Huaqiong's place was filled with joy from head to toe.

Gu Jingzhe, in particular, can be described as riding high on the spring breeze.

Even Gu Ruinian's words did not change his bad mood.

He was the top scholar in the entire Ningcheng, the first scholar from Qinghewan, and more importantly, his mother had agreed to propose marriage to the girl he loved. Gu Jingzhe couldn't hide his excitement as soon as he returned from the old house.

This prompted Gu Taohua to say, "Third Brother, you should be happy that you did better than Gu Ruinian. When I think about how Second Uncle and Second Aunt are running around the village spreading the word that Gu Ruinian can pass the imperial examination but you can't, I just want to see them make a fool of themselves, hahaha."

The whole family shares the same thought, they just don't say it out loud.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Your third brother is so happy not because Gu Ruinian failed the exam, but because your third brother is getting engaged."

Gu Jingzhe's face flushed under the lamplight, and he wanted to escape.

The whole family gathered around and asked, "Who is this for?"

Gu Jingzhe usually spends more time reading. Many girls in the town and village have expressed their affection for him, but Gu Jingzhe never looks at them when he walks through them.

Gu Jingzhe is getting engaged, and they are very curious about whose daughter she is and why she was kept in the dark so well before.

Gu Taohua was a little unhappy. She knew that Lu Zhaozhao liked Gu Jingzhe. If Gu Jingzhe got engaged to another girl, Lu Zhaozhao would be heartbroken. It would be a question whether her friendship with Lu Zhaozhao could be maintained.

Although her third brother never revealed his feelings for Lu Zhaozhao to her, Gu Taohua still felt that Gu Jingzhe had betrayed Lu Zhaozhao.

"Third brother, who are you engaged to?" Gu Dahan asked. "Is it a girl you like?"

Liu Yue'e said, "It must be a girl from the Liu family. My third brother is highly sought after for being the top scholar. Which family in Pingchuan County wouldn't want him as their son-in-law? I guessed it when Magistrate Liu came to announce the results today. Since Magistrate Liu doesn't have a daughter, it must be a girl from his clan."

Liu Yue'e felt that her guess was correct.

If her family had a suitable daughter, she would also like to arrange for Gu Jingzhe to be given to a girl from the Liu family.

Unfortunately, a golden phoenix like Gu Jingzhe would never choose a village girl.

"Third Brother, is she a girl from the Liu family?" Gu Taohua asked anxiously.

Gu Jingzhe smiled helplessly, "What does this all mean?"

But she was too embarrassed to say it was Lu Zhaozhao.

Seeing her youngest son surrounded, Tong Huaqiong said to everyone, "It's not the Liu family's daughter, it's the Lu family's daughter."

Lu family girl?

The Gu family knew several girls from the Lu family, but only from the Lu family, the imperial merchant family of Fucheng.

Gu Taohua was both surprised and delighted and blurted out: "Is it Lu Zhaozhao? Is Lu Zhaozhao going to be my sister-in-law? I'm so scared, I don't want any Liu family girl to be my sister-in-law."

Tong Huaqiong said, "It's not settled yet. Our family is going to propose marriage, and we need to wait for news from the Lu family. Don't spread rumors outside."

Then Tong Huaqiong kicked everyone out; she wanted to have a serious talk with Gu Jingzhe.

Gu Jingzhe said, "Mother, Lu Zhaozhao will agree."

Tong Huaqiong said, "I know."

Gu Jingzhe looked surprised.

He thought he and Lu Zhaozhao could hide it from Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong wanted to laugh, but she was too embarrassed to say that during the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, the two of them were locked in a long, drawn-out gaze.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Since you two like each other, I will propose marriage. With Lord Liu acting as matchmaker and my kindness to Lu Zhaoyang, I believe the Lu family will not object."

Gu Jingzhe smiled.

Tong Huaqiong said with a serious expression, "Jingzhe, it is a blessing to be able to marry the person you love. What I want to tell you is that marriage does not mean that you will love her for a lifetime. I don't know if you and Lu Zhaozhao will be like that, but listen to me carefully. If one day you no longer love Lu Zhaozhao, then let her go and divorce her. Don't hide it from her or betray her."

Gu Jingzhe thought to himself that he would definitely like Lu Zhaozhao for the rest of his life, so why was his mother telling him these things?

Seeing Tong Huaqiong's serious face, he nodded and said, "I'll remember."

Tong Huaqiong added, "Furthermore, you are not allowed to take a concubine, nor are you allowed to divorce your wife and marry another in order to advance your career. If you do such a thing, I will turn you into a pig in our pigsty."

Gu Jingzhe was covered in goosebumps, which meant that if he betrayed Lu Zhaozhao, his mother would castrate him.