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

Chapter 455 Pushing the envelope
That night, Lu Zhaozhao slept in the same room as Gu Taohua again.

Gu Taohua really liked this sister-in-law who wasn't even married into the family yet.

The next day was the Dragon Boat Festival.

Gu Taohua doesn't need to go to the shop; she'll celebrate the festival at home.

Early in the morning, Su Chengmin cleaned the yard spotlessly, and then led the children, including Man'er, Yaozu, Xiaolong, and Duo'er, to run around like crazy.

The brothers Gu Jingzhe and Gu Dahan placed the mugwort they had cut from the mountain on the door.

Tong Huaqiong and Tong Pandi got up before dawn, went to inspect the pig farm, and after delivering a sow, they were going to go home to rest.

Just after leaving the pig farm, I ran into the owner of a butcher shop in Pingchuan County who had been cooperating with me for a long time, and he came to buy live pigs.

After more than a year of scientific breeding, the pigs from our own pig farm have reached many pork shops.

Many pork shops now want to use pigs from Widow Tong's farm, but the number of pigs ready for slaughter cannot keep up with the amount of pork consumed.

As a result, some butcher shops would frequently go to Qinghewan to reserve live pigs in order to ensure their own pork supply.

The butcher had already brought in three pigs before the festival, saying that the Zheng family in Pingchuan County needed pork for their grandson's 100-day celebration after the Dragon Boat Festival.

A 100-day celebration for the Zheng family's grandson?

Then this grandson must be Xu Zaohua's child.

No wonder Xu Jin has been acting all high and mighty in the village lately; it turns out that Xu Zaohua gave birth to a son for the Zheng family.

Tong Huaqiong returned home after selling two pigs.

This year, quite a few people from the Gu family were celebrating the festival. Everyone except Gu Dashu was there, plus Master Su.

As usual, He Chao and his wife spent the holiday with Tong Huaqiong.

According to Hong, Tong Huaqiong's house was lively, and it wasn't very interesting for the two of them to celebrate the festival.

Hong brought fresh fruit from next door to Tong Huaqiong's house early in the morning, and then went into the kitchen to help cook.

Gu Honglian came from the old house and said that Grandpa Gu wanted Tong Huaqiong and the others to go to the old house to celebrate the festival.

Gu Honglian said, "Dad said that since we came to Qinghewan, our whole family hasn't had a meal together yet."

Knowing that her sister-in-law wouldn't be spending the holiday with the old house, Gu Honglian didn't understand why Grandpa Gu still made her come.

Although she didn't understand, she still invited Tong Huaqiong as requested by Grandpa Gu.

Anyway, she won't lose out.

Although her sister-in-law wasn't as kind to her as before, she could still enjoy pastries and meat whenever she came to her sister-in-law's house.

Even if she didn't dare to sit at her sister-in-law's table, when she went to her nephew Gu Dahan's house, her niece-in-law Chen Sufen felt embarrassed not to offer her food.

Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Honglian, "Go back and tell your father that we have too many people in our family to go over, so you won't have to spend extra money on groceries."

Tong Huaqiong understood what Grandpa Gu meant.

He had to save face in front of the whole village.

Sending Tong Huaqiong's whole family to the old house to celebrate the festival together is a matter of face for the village and the clan.

Especially with Lu Zhaozhao's arrival, Grandpa Gu was certain that Tong Huaqiong wouldn't refuse in front of her future daughter-in-law.

Gu Honglian said, "I already said that."

He didn't move his feet, his eyes fixed on the gorgeous fabric on the table.

In the past, she would have asked Tong Huaqiong for it long ago, but now she doesn't dare.

At this moment, Lu Zhaozhao and Gu Taohua entered.

Gu Honglian looked at the unfamiliar Lu Zhaozhao and knew that this was the beautiful wife of Gu Jingzhe that the villagers were talking about.

The dress she was wearing was made of the same fabric as the table.

It must have been brought by this girl.

"Sister-in-law, Father said that Jingzhe's wife has arrived, so he asked everyone to go to the old house for a reunion, and also to let Jingzhe's wife get acquainted with the place." Gu Honglian suddenly remembered the words of Grandpa Gu when she saw Lu Zhaozhao.

Tong Huaqiong said without changing her expression, "It's not too late to get married after the Jingzhe Festival and then formally acknowledge the family."

It's just an engagement; there's no need for formal family recognition.

"Hello, Auntie." When Lu Zhaozhao heard Gu Honglian call Tong Huaqiong "Sister-in-law," she knew that the person in front of her was Gu Jingzhe's aunt, so she greeted her politely.

Gu Honglian, who was usually simple-minded, suddenly had an idea and said, "Your clothes are so beautiful. I've never seen such fine fabric before."

Lu Zhaozhao said, "I'll give Auntie a bolt of silk."

Gu Taohua wanted to stop it, but it was too late.

Gu Honglian was overjoyed and said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Gu Honglian, and Lu Zhaozhao had already taken a piece of fabric from the table and handed it to Gu Honglian.

The fabric was brought by Lu Zhaozhao for Gu Taohua, Liu Yue'e, and the others, so Tong Huaqiong couldn't very well speak up and stop her.

Gu Honglian actually seized the opportunity.

Tong Huaqiong remained calm, thinking to herself that it was just a piece of fabric.

For Lu Zhaozhao, it was just the hair on her thigh.

Gu Honglian could only swindle Lu Zhaozhao out of a piece of satin and a hairpin; she couldn't swindle her out of anything more.

Since it doesn't affect the overall situation, Tong Huaqiong doesn't need to interfere.

As Gu Honglian stroked the fabric that Lu Zhaozhao had given her, she felt that this trip had not been in vain.

"Zhaozhao, the hairpin in your hair is so pretty."

Gu Honglian is a social butterfly and doesn't understand how others perceive her. If Lu Zhaozhao shows her even the slightest kindness, she will take advantage of it.

One rare piece of fabric wasn't enough; they also wanted the hairpin in Lu Zhaozhao's hair.

Gu Honglian wasn't stupid. Who was Lu Zhaozhao? She was the granddaughter of a wealthy imperial merchant. She could probably just pull out that hairpin and give it to her at will.

Besides, she is Gu Jingzhe's aunt, and even if Lu Zhaozhao, who is not yet married into the family, is unhappy, she will not refuse her.

Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Tong Huaqiong, then at Gu Taohua, and pulled the hairpin out of her hair.

Gu Honglian's face lit up with joy.

She knew it; Lu Zhaozhao would take off her hairpin for her just to save face in her husband's family.

Lu Zhaozhao said, "Auntie, you really know your stuff. This hairpin is a congratulatory gift that my sister-in-law sent from Shengjing by express courier when I got engaged. She said it was made in the palace and that we don't have this style in Ningcheng."

After saying that, he turned back to his seat.

Gu Honglian looked disappointed.

She also felt that Lu Zhaozhao was really stingy. This hairpin was a gift from her sister-in-law and she couldn't give it away. What about the bracelet on her wrist? What about the earrings on her ears?

Why not just pick one and give it to her?

Tong Huaqiong noticed Gu Honglian's disappointment and her fixed gaze on Lu Zhaozhao's jewelry.

Things that are superficial.

Tong Huaqiong couldn't help but curse inwardly, while thinking that Lu Zhaozhao was indeed different from the previous life. In the previous life, she was simply a money-spending girl, and anyone could squeeze a layer off her.

In this life, she will not tolerate others taking advantage of her kindness.

"Yaozu, go tell your great-grandparents that you're not going to the old house. I'll be staying at my sister-in-law's place for lunch too."

Gu Honglian's eyes darted around as she thought about how to get along with her rich and beautiful niece-in-law, Lu Zhaozhao.

So he instructed Yaozu to go to the old house, while he stayed behind.

Presumably, the sister-in-law wouldn't chase her away in front of her future daughter-in-law.

Although my sister-in-law is usually unreasonable, she cares a lot about her image in front of outsiders.

Gu Honglian's plan failed once again.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Honglian, I've prepared some holiday gifts for the old house. Why don't you come to our house and take them with you? Otherwise, you'll miss dinner."

Tong Huaqiong pointed to the gifts under the corridor.

Gu Honglian's smile froze on her face.

The elder sister-in-law humiliated her in front of her future daughter-in-law.

This doesn't follow the rules.