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

Gu Taohua Valley, Jingzhe, and Lu Zhaozhao returned home.

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen; Tong Pandi and Liu Yue'e had already cooked several dishes.

The aroma of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) wafted from the kitchen.

The zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) that were cooking in the big pot have been taken out of the pot.

Tong Huaqiong brought out freshly cooked meat dumplings and handed them to Lu Zhaozhao.

Of course, we eat zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) during the Dragon Boat Festival.

"This meat-filled rice dumpling is so delicious," Lu Zhaozhao exclaimed after peeling it open and taking a bite.

The aroma of meat, egg yolk, and glutinous rice explodes between your lips and teeth.

Tong Huaqiong's zongzi uses the best glutinous rice, the best meat wrapped around salted egg yolk, and is wrapped in the freshest reed leaves. It is then put into a wood-fired pot, brought to a boil over high heat, then simmered over low heat overnight. Naturally, it is incomparable to other zongzi.

Since Tong Huaqiong brought meat-filled rice dumplings here last year, many shops and vendors have imitated her this year for the Dragon Boat Festival.

But imitations can never match the authenticity of originals.

In addition, the pork used this year was from castrated pigs, so the meat is tender and fresh. Therefore, the meat dumplings made by Peach Blossom Desserts are even tastier than last year.

It sold out as soon as it was launched.

Compared to the desserts at Peach Blossom Dessert Shop, the ingredients used in the homemade desserts are more substantial and cost-insensitive.

Naturally, it could conquer Lu Zhaozhao's stomach, which had tasted delicacies before.

"If it's delicious, have a few more," Tong Huaqiong said.

Then Tong Huaqiong asked, "When you went to see Jingzhe's grandparents, did they give you any trouble?"

Lu Zhaozhao smiled and said, "No."

But they didn't say anything nice either.

Gu Taohua said, "Grandpa and Grandma were not happy. Second Aunt couldn't get over Gu Ruinian's failure to pass the exam, but Feng Nian's sister-in-law was very polite to Zhao Zhao."

That's pretty much what Tong Huaqiong thought.

Tong Huaqiong said to Lu Zhaozhao, "I won't hide it from you, our relationship with the old family home isn't good. The reason is that Jingzhe's grandparents favor the second branch of the family, and I'm the kind of person who holds grudges and doesn't forgive, so the relationship is just so-so. When you and Jingzhe got engaged, I didn't let them get involved. After you get married, I'll just invite them for a drink at most."

Tong Huaqiong felt it was better to explain things clearly to Lu Zhaozhao.

To prevent a repeat of the incident today where Gu Honglian took advantage of Lu Zhaozhao.

Lu Zhaozhao nodded and said, "I understand. In that case, I will definitely stand with Aunt Tong."

Gu Taohua picked up a rice dumpling, peeled it open, and then repeated to Tong Huaqiong what Gu Ruinian had said to her.

Lu Zhaozhao listened from the side, completely bewildered.

Tong Huaqiong naturally understood and said to Gu Taohua with a smile, "Next time, say it the way I taught you."

It's estimated that Gu Ruinian has now begun to confirm that Gu Taohua is the time traveler.

Tong Huaqiong was deliberately trying to mislead him.

If Gu Ruinian were to find out later that the time traveler was not Gu Taohua but Tong Huaqiong, I wonder how devastated he would be.

When Gu Ruinian returned home, he heard his grandmother's loud and forceful scolding.

Naturally, they were criticizing the eldest son's wife for disrespecting the old house, and for not respecting her and Grandpa Gu.

This time, Gu Jingzhe brought Lu Zhaozhao to the old house, which made Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu very angry.

Jia was trapped in the inner demon that "if Gu Ruinian was the top suspect, then all of this was his doing."

Moreover, this inner demon intensified after he met Gu Jingzhe.

Only Gu Honglian remained unaffected. Before the meal, she showed off the satin to Old Madam Gu and the others. "Jingzhe's wife is very sensible; she gave me a bolt of fine fabric. This kind of fabric wouldn't be cheap, costing at least five taels of silver. Mother, feel it."

Gu Honglian handed the satin to Old Madam Gu.

Grandma Gu touched the fabric and said, "It's a good piece of fabric, but it's nothing to that Miss Lu. If she really valued you as her aunt, shouldn't she have given you the hairpin in your hair and the bracelet on your wrist? What's a piece of satin?"

"Don't be swayed by these small favors."

Gu Honglian pouted and said, "The hairpin she wore was made in the Shengjing Imperial Palace. I praised it and was going to give it to me, but she took it off. I guess she was afraid that my sister-in-law would be angry, so she took it back."

Gu Honglian blamed Tong Huaqiong for Lu Zhaozhao not giving her the hairpin.

That's true, my sister-in-law is not easy to get along with.

Lu Zhaozhao definitely needs to consider her future mother-in-law's opinion.

Grandma Gu believed this and cursed, "That's a vicious woman, what good could she possibly have?"

Gu Honglian draped the satin over her body. When she shook it out, it looked light and soft, with shimmering glints like the sunset reflected on the water.

Extremely Beautiful.

The old lady Gu, Jia, and the two generations of the Wei family, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, were dumbfounded.

Even in such a wealthy place as the south, they had never seen any young lady wear this material.

The Lu family are imperial merchants, so their fabrics are probably from the palace. No wonder they say a bolt of cloth is worth five taels of silver.

Wei couldn't resist touching it and said, "It's so beautiful."

"Don't touch it and get it dirty."

Gu Honglian took the satin back from Wei Shi's hand and patted it.

Wei looked embarrassed.

Gu Honglian said happily, "This satin is so good, I have to go to town to find a tailor to make clothes. I can't make it at home, otherwise if I ruin it, there won't be a second piece."

She had already decided to make a dress, and then use the remaining fabric to make a single-piece skirt.

Wearing such an outfit, all the girls in Qinghe Bay would envy her.

She also had met Fan, a scholar from the town's private school, several times and quite fond of him; this satin dress would surely catch his eye.

Gu Honglian felt increasingly pleased with herself and decided to go to town to have clothes tailored after lunch.

At this moment, Madam Jia frowned, suddenly remembering that her son had recently wanted to buy books but didn't have the money.

This satin is a waste to wear on Gu Honglian. If it were sold to a pawnshop for five taels of silver, it would be enough for Ruinian to buy books, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

Thinking of this, Jia said, "Sister, this satin is so precious. No one in our village can work in it. Besides, the village is full of weeds and thorns. It would be a pity if it got snagged."

Gu Honglian said, "I don't do any work."

Jia raised her eyelids and said, "I wouldn't dare say anything if my sister didn't do any work, after all, an unmarried aunt is a precious guest in the family. But my sister should always think about the family. Right now, our family is short of money. Ruinian doesn't even have money to buy books, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones. How will he continue to take the provincial examination next year? Since your satin is valuable, why not pawn it for five taels of silver? Firstly, it can help with household expenses, and secondly, it's proper to buy books for Ruinian."

Gu Honglian was stunned. She never expected that Madam Jia would make such an outrageous request as pawning the satin.

Gu Honglian said to Jia Shi, "Second sister-in-law, you just can't stand to see me doing well. I finally have a piece of satin and you want to pawn it to get money for your son's education. What does your son's education have to do with me? If you want to support your son's education, then you should learn from your eldest sister-in-law and make money."

Old Mrs. Gu was also unhappy with Jia's scheming against Honglian, and scolded, "Why are you just like the eldest son's wife, always scheming against people? Your sister just got a nice thing and you can't stand it. Do you think I don't know you're just complaining that your sister doesn't work? Honglian is a member of the Gu family. She eats and drinks from the Gu family's food. How dare you, a woman surnamed Jia, talk about her?"

Grandma Gu was furious.

In Grandma Gu's heart, her grandson was more important than her daughter when it mattered most.

If Gu Youtian suggests pawning the satin, she will consider it.

When her daughter-in-law brought it up, Old Madam Gu felt that Jia was scheming against her daughter. (End of Chapter)