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

Chapter 442 I Must Be That Thunder

After hearing what Old Master Lu said, Madam Han felt awkward speaking. She glanced at her son, Magistrate Liu, and both mother and son were a little nervous.

Tong Huaqiong listened attentively.

If Grandpa Lu wants Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao to get married immediately, then we'll see.

Grandpa Lu addressed Tong Huaqiong as "in-law" and said, "It was your Taohua and my Zhaozhao who made a bet to do business."

Tong Huaqiong was puzzled, wondering what had happened and how peach blossoms had been dragged into this.

She glanced at the wealthy Huang family sitting to the side, grinning from ear to ear. She didn't want the Huang family to know that Old Master Lu had once wanted to pair Gu Taohua and Lu Zhaoyang together.

Grandpa Lu paused for a moment and said, "I thought it was just a little girl bickering, but I didn't expect her to take it seriously. First, she pestered me to give her a rouge shop. I thought she would get tired of it after a few days, but I didn't expect her to have such a good business sense. The shop is thriving, and now she has taken over all the cosmetics business in the family."

Tong Huaqiong listened quietly, unable to figure out Old Master Lu's approach.

Was he trying to explain Lu Zhaozhao's business acumen to her, and then take the opportunity to propose taking over Tong Huaqiong's business after marrying into the family?

But that doesn't seem right. Tong Huaqiong's current business isn't good enough for the Lu family, the imperial merchants.

As expected, Old Master Lu continued, "You know my son Zhaoyang is going for a career in government, so he can't take over any of the family business. I used to think about adopting a nephew from the same clan to train him to take over the family business, but now that I see Zhaozhao is doing well in the business, I've changed my mind. Rather than giving my hard work to someone else, it's better to let Zhaozhao take over the business and be the head of it. So I discussed it with my in-laws, and I want to keep Zhaozhao for a few more years to teach her to become familiar with all the family businesses."

Tong Huaqiong and Han Shi exchanged a glance, both seeing joy in each other's eyes.

Even before they could ask, Old Master Lu wanted to keep Lu Zhaozhao for a few more years.

Tong Huaqiong explained, "Since you put it that way, how could I refuse? My Jingzhe hasn't achieved any official rank yet, which is truly unfair to Zhaozhao. Let's settle the marriage first, and then we can welcome Zhaozhao into our family in style once Jingzhe has passed the imperial examination like Zhaoyang."

Grandpa Lu smiled and said, "I knew Manager Tong was an enlightened person, and it turns out he was right."

Grandpa Lu turned to look at Madam Han and said, "What were you going to tell me just now?"

Old Master Lu was afraid that Madam Han would ask the two of them to set a date immediately, so he interrupted her first.

At this point, after he voiced his request and received Tong Huaqiong's understanding and support, he asked Han what she had just said.

Madam Han said irritably, "I'm just reminding my uncle that since my son has acted as matchmaker for Zhaozhao, shouldn't he ask for a big reward?"

Grandpa Lu laughed heartily, "Of course, of course."

Grandpa Lu felt completely comfortable and quickly ordered people to prepare wine and dishes to invite Tong Huaqiong and others to dinner.

While Tong Huaqiong and the others were discussing the wedding arrangements inside the house, Gu Taohua accompanied Gu Jingzhe to the backyard to meet Lu Zhaozhao.

A few days ago, Lu Zhaozhao returned from the shop and learned that her cousin, who was the magistrate of Pingchuan County, had come to propose marriage to her. Her heart was in her throat.

Upon learning that it was about Gu Jingzhe, his heart pounded like a drum, but he dared not show it in front of Grandpa Lu, and only said that he would follow his grandfather's arrangements.

Lu Zhaozhao and Gu Jingzhe had already confessed their feelings to each other, but on the day of their formal engagement, she felt inexplicably flustered and hid in the backyard.

Turning past a clump of roses, Gu Jingzhe saw a beautiful figure standing under the rose trellis at the corner of the wall.

He knew it was Lu Zhaozhao and stopped in his tracks.

The two gazed at each other across the flowers.

Gu Taohua lifted the hem of her skirt and ran towards Lu Zhaozhao, calling out, "Zhaozhao."

Lu Zhaozhao reached out and grabbed Gu Taohua's hand. Gu Taohua said, "It's almost summer, why are your hands so cold?"

Lu Zhaozhao shook his head.

Gu Taohua had expected to see a Lu Zhaozhao who was overjoyed, but the Lu Zhaozhao in front of her looked preoccupied.

Gu Taohua asked directly, "You're going to be my sister-in-law, why do you look unhappy? Don't you like my third brother very much?"

As she spoke, she pulled Lu Zhaozhao toward Gu Jingzhe, saying, "Look, my third brother is right there." Lu Zhaozhao let go of Gu Taohua's hand and stopped, standing under a flowering tree.

Gu Jingzhe took a few steps forward and looked at Lu Zhaozhao. Even though they had met many times before, his heart was still pounding.

"Peach Blossom, you go over there first," Gu Jingzhe said to Gu Taohua.

Gu Taohua glanced at Gu Jingzhe, knowing that Gu Jingzhe had something to say to Lu Zhaozhao, so she obediently walked to a clump of cherry trees a little further away.

Gu Jingzhe asked Lu Zhaozhao, "Do you regret your engagement to me?"

Lu Zhaozhao shook her head and said, "I don't know why I've been feeling anxious these past two days. I had a dream that we got married, and that after you became the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination, you married another noblewoman from a high-ranking family in Shengjing."

When Lu Zhaozhao woke up, she didn't believe the dream because the Aunt Tong in the dream and the Aunt Tong now were completely different people.

She didn't believe the dream, but it felt so real that she felt anxious every time she thought about it these past few days.

Especially today, the day the Gu family came to arrange the engagement, she was even more flustered and confused.

Gu Jingzhe said softly, "I don't know how pathetic I am in your dream, but a dream is still just a dream."

Lu Zhaozhao stared blankly at Gu Jingzhe, suddenly feeling a sense of relief.

Gu Jingzhe said, "Don't worry. I swear, if I betray you, may I be struck by lightning."

Lu Zhaozhao smiled faintly and said, "If you betray me, I will kill you with my own hands."

Lu Zhaozhao thought that if it were Aunt Tong, she would definitely do the same thing.

What does being struck by lightning matter? You have to be the lightning yourself.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhaozhao's panic disappeared, and she smiled at Gu Jingzhe, saying coquettishly, "What do I have to worry about?"

Anyway, she wasn't as weak as she was in her dream.

Since she and Gu Jingzhe are now mutually attracted, let nature take its course and deal with the future later.

No one can guarantee that they will never change their hearts. Maybe one day she will be the one to betray him first.

Tong Huaqiong, Han Shi, and Old Madam Huang walked hand in hand through the front hall to the back garden.

Passing through the covered walkway and artificial hill, you can see Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao standing in front of the rose bushes not far away.

The two were talking and smiling.

The roses are in full bloom in early summer, and a gentle breeze carries their fragrance.

The wind billowed the hems of Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao's clothes.

The two of them were like a painting, with roses serving as the backdrop to set them off.

Tong Huaqiong could clearly see the fine downy hairs on Lu Zhaozhao's beautiful face.

Tong Dajiao's memories flashed before Tong Huaqiong's eyes one by one, the ill-fated relationship of the past life, hoping for a good ending in this life.

If Gu Jingzhe dares to betray Lu Zhaozhao, Tong Huaqiong's threat to turn Gu Jingzhe into the same kind of boar in her own pigsty is by no means a threat.

Madam Han exclaimed, "They are truly a perfect match; this marriage is a good match indeed."

Grandma Huang said to Tong Huaqiong with a happy smile, "After Zhaozhao marries into the family, you must not try to control her."

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "Of course."

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