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

Chapter 441 Whose Nouveau Riche Family Has Two Scholars?
Since Magistrate Liu is willing to borrow a cotton loom or the blueprints for a cotton loom from Huating County, Tong Huaqiong no longer needs to worry so much.

Honestly, if she doesn't get the tools and processes needed to turn cotton hulls into cotton cloth sorted before autumn, her thirty acres of cotton will be a complete waste.

Having resolved the issue of the cloth loom, Tong Huaqiong arranged with Magistrate Liu to propose marriage to the Lu family in the prefectural city five days later.

Tong Huaqiong, along with Gu Jingzhe, Gu Taohua, and others, were to set off for the prefectural city ahead of schedule.

Besides the marriage proposal, Gu Jingzhe enrolled in Wanliu Academy and lived in the prefectural city thereafter.

Originally, Tong Huaqiong had Qin Qingyou drive the carriage with Nie Xiaofeng following, but Su Chengmin volunteered to be the driver, saying that he could subdue any bandits Tong Huaqiong and the others encountered on the road.

As for the private school, he simply gave it a holiday.

Tong Huaqiong felt that Su Chengmin was being too capricious, giving the private school a holiday whenever he wanted.

This has happened many times already, and Tong Huaqiong is worried that if this continues, the villagers will have to complain to the village chief, Liu Tielian.

Liu Tielian had previously subtly expressed his dissatisfaction with Su Chengmin's frequent granting of holidays.

Now that Gu Jingzhe has achieved the top score in the imperial examination as a farmer's son, the villagers are in an uproar and their hopes are rising. They are eager to push their sons to study as hard as they can.

Tong Huaqiong figured that with Su Chengmin giving away holidays so frequently, the villagers would eventually have to remove him from office.

Just as Tong Huaqiong disagreed with the private school's holiday, Master Su suddenly came to the house and said he wanted to give some advice to Gu Jingzhe, who was about to go to Wanliu Academy.

The master and apprentice talked inside the room for nearly an hour. When they came out, Gu Jingzhe's eyes were red.

When Master Su heard Tong Huaqiong and Su Chengmin arguing about the school's holiday, he offered to take Su Chengmin's place and teach for a few days.

Tong Huaqiong couldn't help but look at Tong Pandi in the courtyard, then turned to ask Master Su, "What about the private school in town?"

Master Su said, "The students in the private school in town can have a holiday."

Tong Huaqiong: "."

No, Master Su, what kind of logic is that?

He had to stop working in town so he could teach at the village private school.

Gu Jingzhe privately told Tong Huaqiong that a new teacher named Wan had arrived at the town's private school. However, Master Su's teaching philosophy differed from Master Wan's, and Master Su was considering resigning from the town's private school.

Tong Huaqiong felt that this was just an excuse for Master Su to come to Qinghewan to teach.

However, if Master Su really decides to teach at Qinghewan Private School, the villagers will probably praise him to the skies.

After all, in the eyes of the villagers, the teacher who could produce top students was even more capable than the teacher at Wanliu Academy.

If you can teach one top scholar, you can teach two, three. Your own child might be the next top scholar.

This time, Tong Huaqiong also invited Gu Baishuang to go with her.

The main purpose was to let Gu Baishuang meet Old Master Lu. After all, Gu Baishuang was now investing a large sum of money from Nie Mingyuan into the Lu family's maritime business. Meeting Old Master Lu would be more beneficial for her to have a complete grasp of the Nie family's business.

Then Tong Huaqiong and her entourage arrived in the prefectural city in a large group.

Gu Dashu welcomed the people to his residence in the prefectural city.

This house has three courtyards, enough for a large family to live in.

Liu Yue'e always wanted to come to Fucheng and live with Gu Dashu, but Tong Huaqiong refused her several times.

Upon arriving in the prefectural city, Tong Huaqiong immediately began purchasing gifts to propose marriage to the Lu family.

Fortunately, Gu Baishuang was brought along, as she had a comprehensive understanding of the betrothal gifts and etiquette of this era.

To show her sincerity, Gu Baishuang also asked Nie Xiaofeng to take Gu Jingzhe to hunt a pair of wild geese in the suburbs of Ningcheng.

Magistrate Liu arrived in the prefectural city shortly after, accompanied by his mother, Madam Han.

Han's mouth never stopped moving when she saw Tong Huaqiong. She was so happy. Her cousin was engaged to Gu Jingzhe, and her cousin was marrying her best friend's grandson. Although the relationship was a bit generational, it didn't stop her from being happy.

From now on, these relationships will be the connections that our son holds in his hands!
She had to come along, for fear that her unpredictable uncle would make things difficult for Tong Huaqiong and create obstacles on the road to marriage between Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao.

Besides the Liu family, the Huang family also came from Yanguan Town. Huang was thinking that Lu Zhaozhao was his daughter's sister-in-law, who had no parents. When it came to marriage, the eldest sister-in-law should have taken care of her, but unfortunately, she and her elder brother had gone to the capital. Therefore, Huang felt that he had an obligation to fulfill the responsibilities of the eldest sister-in-law on behalf of his daughter.

On the third day after arriving in the prefectural city, Tong Huaqiong, Gu Jingzhe, and others were led to the Lu family by Magistrate Liu and his mother.

This was my second visit to the Lu family, but since it was for a marriage proposal, I had to pretend it was my first time.

Grandpa Lu was already waiting at the door. Perhaps it was because his grandson had come out on top in the imperial examination, but Grandpa Lu was dressed in a flashy red shirt and stood at the door, looking very pleased with himself.

"Manager Tong, please."

When he saw Tong Huaqiong get off the carriage, Old Master Lu happily came to greet her.

His eyes glanced behind Tong Huaqiong, where Gu Jingzhe was carrying two geese.

My future grandson-in-law is even better looking than my grandson.

Gu Jingzhe bowed to Old Master Lu, and his thoughtful and considerate manner made Old Master Lu even happier.

Originally, there was no spark between Lu Zhaoyang and Gu Taohua, which was a regret in Lu's heart. Now that his granddaughter is married to the top scholar of the Gu family, it can be considered as making up for his regret.

Therefore, his gaze toward Gu Jingzhe became even more kind and gentle.

"Grandpa Lu." Gu Taohua greeted Grandpa Lu innocently.

"Peach Blossom has lost weight, I'll send you a truckload of tonics to help her recover."

Grandpa Lu felt a pang of heartache whenever he saw peach blossoms.

Grandpa Lu has always liked peach blossoms, especially plump ones. He thinks that plump peach blossoms are more festive and beautiful than thin ones.

Gu Taohua: "."

There's no need to worry. Gu Taohua isn't thin because of malnutrition, but because she gets a lot of exercise managing the shop every day and her body is growing taller, which makes her thinner. She really hasn't been eating less.

Tong Huaqiong and the others were invited to the main room by Old Master Lu.

The two sides sat down and exchanged their opinions.

Both parties were very satisfied with the marriage.

Grandpa Lu was especially happy. His grandson had won first place in the provincial examination, and his granddaughter was engaged to the top scholar in the provincial examination. Now, who in the whole city didn't envy the Lu family?

The Lu family used to be merchants, but now who would dare to look down on them as nouveau riche?

Which nouveau riche family has two educated people?

The second happiest person was Master Huang. His family were merchants, and he had always dreamed of having a scholar as his son-in-law. Now that his son-in-law was about to become the top scholar in the imperial examination, Gu Jingzhe's engagement to the Lu family was practically a marriage between him and his son-in-law.

Who has two sons-in-law who are top scholars in the imperial examinations?

"Where is Zhaozhao?" Han asked.

Gu Jingzhe's eyes were unfocused from the moment he entered the room, and he kept looking around for Lu Zhaozhao.

Logically speaking, the Lu family is not such a conservative family, so it would be normal for Lu Zhaozhao to be present when discussing the marriage, but she was not.

“The young lady is shy and has hidden herself,” said Old Master Lu. Then, with a wave of his hand, he pointed at Gu Jingzhe and said to the maid beside him, “Take the young master to find Zhaozhao.”

Gu Jingzhe blushed when she heard the word "son-in-law".

Tong Huaqiong smiled and nudged Tao Hua, saying, "Don't you miss Zhao Zhao? Go and see where she went."

This is so that Gu Taohua can stay with Gu Jingzhe. With Gu Taohua by his side, no one will gossip.

"Uncle."

After Gu Jingzhe and Gu Taohua left the main room, Han Shi spoke to the smug-looking Old Master Lu, looking somewhat flustered. How should she tell her uncle that Manager Tong wanted to wait until her son went to the capital to pass the imperial examination before getting married?
Will my uncle throw a tantrum, smash things, and chase people away?

Before Han could continue, Old Master Lu said, "I have something to say. I'll speak first, and then you can state your demands."

Thank you for your company. I wish you all a Happy New Year and may every day be a good one.