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

Grandpa Gu paused for a moment and said, "The charge of robbing Aunt is too serious. It's all because of poverty. When our village was in a famine, many families sold their daughters to buy food for their sons. You've seen it yourself. Who would sell their daughter if they weren't forced into it?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "Then why not sell your son? Since you've been forced into this situation, why only sell your daughter and not your son?"

Grandma Gu took the initiative to defend the men in her family, saying, "How can a daughter be compared to a son? A son is the continuation of the family line. If a son dies and is sold, the family line will end. Daughters belong to other families. If we have money, we will treat sons and daughters the same. If we are really forced to, we will definitely have to exchange a daughter for a son."

This is Grandma Gu's true attitude towards her daughter and son.

Tong Huaqiong looked at Gu Honglian with a sarcastic expression and said, "So Taohua wasn't wrong. Today you can exchange Honglian's satin for silver, and tomorrow you can exchange Honglian for Gu Ruinian's future."

Does Gu Honglian know? Her mother dotes on her only because she doesn't need to use her to pay off Gu Youtian and the two kids' debts for the time being. If selling Gu Honglian could bring about Gu Youtian's turnaround and Gu Ruinian's rise, the old lady of the Gu family would definitely not stop Gu Honglian from being sold.

Grandma Gu, her true feelings exposed, angrily retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think our Gu family is like the Tong family, using you to exchange for silver to give to Tong Fusheng?"

Gu Honglian was her darling, and Tong Dajiao harbored malicious intentions to sow discord between the mother and daughter.

Tong Huaqiong had a cold smile on her lips.

So there's no difference between Gu Honglian and Tong Dajiao.

"Okay, stop arguing."

Grandpa Gu weakly propped himself up and said to Tong Huaqiong, "I'll say it again: we're all family, no matter what. Jingzhe is the most promising student in the family right now, and Ruinian isn't bad either. He was just unlucky this year, getting thrown off his carriage and injured before the exam. Jingzhe is studying at Wanliu Academy now, and he'll become a Juren and then a Jinshi, pursuing an official career. But without connections or influence, he might not be able to support himself alone. As the saying goes, 'Father and son fight side by side, brothers fight tigers together.' You can trust your own brothers more than anyone else. Jingzhe and Ruinian are cousins, like fruit on the same branch. Why don't you support Ruinian's studies? It will also give Jingzhe a helper in his future career. Isn't that better than relying on others? If Dahan and Dashu were good at studying, I wouldn't have made this request. The key is that Ruinian and Jingzhe are the only two scholars in our family. You're all living such good lives now. If the eldest son were alive, he certainly wouldn't neglect Ruinian's studies. Just consider it fulfilling the eldest son's wish, and consider this my request to you."

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, "Grandpa Gu is testing me step by step."

First, they tried to get her to hand over the shop to the second wife, but to no avail; then they tried to get Gu Fengnian a job in the county government, but to no avail; now they're starting to ask her to support the second wife's son's education.

As long as Gu Ruinian still has a chance to continue his studies, Grandpa Gu will not give up.

Tong Huaqiong refused almost without hesitation, saying, "Grandpa, I don't know if Dahan's father's wish included supporting his nephew's education, and no one can ask him directly. He didn't mention supporting his nephew's education before he died, so I'll pretend he didn't. My second brother and sister-in-law are in their prime, and supporting Ruinian's education is their responsibility. If I take on all of this, wouldn't outsiders gossip about my second brother?"

Tong Huaqiong's refusal was within Old Master Gu's expectations.

He doesn't want to give up.

In Grandpa Gu's heart, he was willing to do anything for Gu Ruinian's success.

He stared straight at Tong Huaqiong and asked, "What would it take for you to support Ruinian's education?"

Tong Huaqiong pondered for a moment and then smiled, "Grandpa, you know I'm a rather selfish person. I don't want to do favors for others. Ruinian is just a nephew. You can't judge a book by its cover. No matter how much you emphasize that he has a conscience, I don't believe it. What if I support him to get into university and he doesn't repay me? Wouldn't I be left with nothing?"

"unless."

Grandpa Gu hurriedly asked, "Unless what?"

Gu Ruinian, who was hiding in the corner, raised his head, his eyes shining with hope. Jia Shi took a step from outside the threshold into the room.

They were all waiting for Tong Huaqiong's terms.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Unless Gu Ruinian is adopted by the eldest son of the main branch."

The room was completely silent.

Grandpa Gu's breathing became heavy.

Jia was the first to want to curse.

"Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? You have stepsons and your own children, and you still want to take my son away? What are you up to?"

Ms. Jia became emotional.

Her sister-in-law's jealousy remained unchanged. Ruinian was academically gifted and had a bright future ahead of her.

If she agrees, Ruinian will be the eldest son of the main wife. Once he finishes his studies, whether he is granted an official title or supported by the family will have nothing to do with her.

All the glory belongs to Tong Dajiao.

This is tantamount to severing her roots.

Gu Ruinian moved his lips.

He thought Tong Huaqiong's suggestion was a good one. It doesn't matter who you are the son of in this world; what matters is that you take advantage of every opportunity to become a superior person.

Anyway, he was originally a lonely soul from another world, and Gu Youtian and Jia Shi were not his parents.

If he becomes the son of the first wife, he can use Gu Taohua's money-making ideas, and he can also rely on Gu Jingzhe's connections in officialdom.

Not only will the resources of the eldest son's family be his, but also the resources of Master Huang, Magistrate Liu, and the Lu family of Fucheng. These resources will all be his support in the future.

He wanted to agree, but he had no say in the matter, and he didn't want to bear the negative public opinion of abandoning his "biological" parents.

It doesn't matter if Jia doesn't agree; the key lies with Old Master Gu.

Gu Ruinian looked intently at Old Master Gu, wishing that Old Master Gu would agree on his behalf.

Tong Huaqiong saw through Gu Ruinian's intentions. Even if the second wife was willing to give her such a wolf cub, she wouldn't want him.

But how could the second wife give Gu Ruinian to her? Gu Ruinian was the lifeblood of the second wife.

Tong Huaqiong said to Jia Shi, "Don't worry about what I'm up to. Just tell me whether you agree or not."

Jia's fingers trembled.

Nobody should even think about messing with her son.

After realizing what had happened, Old Madam Gu was furious and joined forces with Madam Jia, saying, "No wonder you didn't want to support Ruinian's education. You were just waiting for this. You forced your second brother's family into a corner and made Ruinian your son. As long as I'm alive, you can forget about it."

Gu Ruinian sighed inwardly, thinking that women were all short-sighted.

This was true of Jia Shi, and it was also true of Old Madam Gu.

What benefits could he possibly gain from following the second wife? He had no money, no connections, and even after pawning his aunt's satin, he would still be scolded by her.

Why can't we agree to let him be adopted by the eldest son's family? He can then use the eldest son's family's resources to gradually make his move.

Gu Ruinian looked at Old Master Gu again.

Actually, Old Master Gu initially wanted to scold Tong Huaqiong for her suggestion, but he managed to keep his composure. After thinking it over, he decided that having Gu Ruinian adopted by the eldest son's family was also a solution.

After all, Gu Ruinian's children are his grandchildren, whether they are from the first wife's family or the second wife's family.

But since Gu Ruinian's biological parents are still alive, he, as the grandfather, cannot make the decision. He will wait for Gu Youtian to arrive before making a decision.

Grandpa Gu opened his eyes and then closed them again.

Finally, he sighed and said, "Your second brother isn't home. We'll make a decision when he arrives."

Gu Ruinian was slightly disappointed; he hoped that Old Master Gu could make a decision immediately. (End of Chapter)