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

Chapter 496 The story of talented scholars and beautiful women is too cliché.

While Tong Huaqiong and Lian Hengruo were discussing business and marriage, Gu Ruinian was not idle either; he was keeping a close eye on Jufulai.

He lingered near the Lian family's house for many days, risking being chased away by the gatekeeper, but he did not run into Lian Hengruo again.

He couldn't believe his luck was that bad.

When he couldn't sleep because he missed Lian Hengruo, he finally saw Lian Hengruo's carriage drive into Jufulai.

Heaven did not fail him.

Gu Ruinian looked down at the unfinished storybook in his hand, a tale of talented men and beautiful women overcoming family barriers to be together, and smiled.

Inspired by the storybooks of Tong Pandi and Li Ji from the teahouse next door, he also planned to write a story about his chance encounter with Miss Lian Er and their eventual marriage, which he would then have a storyteller perform.

Such stories have been enthusiastically received from ancient times to the present, especially since the people depicted in his storybooks are well-known in Pingchuan County. These days, who doesn't love to hear gossip? Moreover, the characters corresponding to this gossip can spark a heated discussion. This story will definitely be more sensational than the story of Tong Pandi's divorce.

He was confident that his storybook would reach Miss Lian's ears.

He had only written half of his storybook when he showed it to the storyteller, who threw it at him, complaining that the story was too old-fashioned.

"Young Master Gu, have you heard any stories of talented scholars and beautiful women in the teahouses of Pingchuan County?"

Gu Ruinian thought about it and realized that there really wasn't one.

That's perfect; his pen just happens to fill the blank space.

The storyteller said, "You're clearly young and naive. Once, our late Empress held a banquet in the palace. A scholar from a poor family, who had just passed the imperial examination, coveted the daughter of a Duke's family. He wrote the exact same story as you and had the storyteller perform it. The Empress commented that it was just a cunning and scheming man's fantasy about a girl. She said, how could a pure and innocent girl possibly be willing to pledge her life to a man based on a handkerchief and a poem? It's too naive of young women. From then on, teahouses stopped welcoming such stories. They were too rustic, too vulgar, and too calculating."

Gu Ruinian's face turned pale.

The storyteller was filled with disdain, unaware that this cunning young man was using the story to covet Miss Lian.

Nothing in the city escapes the storyteller's ears; the storyteller knew perfectly well how Gu Ruinian had his chance encounter with Miss Lian Er.

There's no way around it; to create stories and find inspiration, you have to be on the front lines of gossip and stay informed about the hottest news that nobody in the city knows about.

The storyteller thought to himself, "Gu Ruinian truly lives up to the late Empress's description of him as a cunning and treacherous person."

Gu Ruinian looked away from the storybook and continued to stare at Jufulai.

He touched the handkerchief in his pocket.

He washed the handkerchief that Miss Lian had given him to wipe away mud, put it in his pocket, and planned to return it to her when he met her again.

I haven't found an opportunity yet.

The opportunity is right in front of us today.

Tong Huaqiong saw Lian Hengruo out the door.

Lian Hengruo's carriage passed by the depression where he had last met Gu Ruinian. The water in the depression had long since been evaporated by the scorching sun.

As soon as Lian Heng stepped out of Jufulai, he saw Gu Ruinian and felt a wave of nausea wash over him.

"Miss, that scoundrel dares to covet you; he's like a toad lusting after a swan!" Lian Hengruo's maid, Ruhua, cursed, wishing she could jump off the carriage and tear his face off.

Lian Heng smiled faintly.

"Second miss."

Tong Huaqiong watched from afar at the entrance of Jufulai. She had underestimated Gu Ruinian's cunning; he had directly stopped Lian Hengruo's carriage.

Lian Heng wanted to see what tricks Gu Ruinian was up to, so he stopped the carriage and lifted the curtain.

Ru Hua asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"

Lian Heng was stunned when he saw Ru Hua. Even the second young lady's maid was so beautiful. Wasn't this the matchmaker who made the bed for Cui Yingying?

The maid is the young lady's ally; if she can be won over, things will be much easier. Lost in thought, Gu Ruinian was interrupted by Ruhua: "How dare you block my young lady's carriage in broad daylight! Be careful, or I'll have your legs broken."

Gu Ruinian glanced at Ruhua; what a hot young woman.

Just like Cui Yingying.

His gaze swept past Ruhua and then fell upon Lian Hengruo. He raised the handkerchief in his hand, his heart pounding, and said, "Second Miss, my name is Gu Ruinian. Thank you for lending me this handkerchief to wipe the mud last time."

Gu Ruinian deliberately spoke loudly, hoping that people would hear that he and Lian Hengruo had an unusual relationship.

This move certainly attracted a lot of onlookers.

Gu Ruinian was secretly pleased and continued to call into the carriage: "I came here today specifically to return it."

Lian Hengruo looked puzzled, as if she had no recollection of who the person in front of her was.

I don't even remember the handkerchief in his hand.

too disgusting!

Gu Ruinian took out a handkerchief and wanted to spread rumors about her.

Let alone a handkerchief, she cannot be manipulated even by wearing a bellyband or bitter tea leaves.

Lian Heng glanced at Gu Ruinian, flung down the carriage curtain, and said in a beautiful voice, "What kind of dirty handkerchief has been touched by a stinky man, daring to wave it in front of Miss?"

Tong Huaqiong took in this scene and laughed so hard she wanted to fall over.

Did Gu Ruinian watch too many ancient costume dramas in later generations? Did he think that he could hold a woman's innocence by holding a handkerchief?
Does he know the rules of this world? Even if it's unfriendly to women, it's not something you can control just by putting on a handkerchief or a bodice.

Women who lose their chastity are forced to marry their abusers, and women whose arms are touched are threatened with having their arms cut off. These are things that only happen in plays and are rarely seen in reality.

On the contrary, women who have been wronged can go to court to seek justice, and widows, divorced women, and women who have been divorced can remarry.

In such an atmosphere, Gu Ruinian's ambition to become the Lian family's son-in-law based solely on a handkerchief was nothing short of a pipe dream.

If a handkerchief could force a marriage into a relationship, how could Lian Hengruo have casually tossed a handkerchief to him to wipe away the mud?

Tong Huaqiong really wanted to rush over and see Gu Ruinian's expression; it would definitely be quite a sight.

Gu Ruinian only came to his senses after the carriage disappeared around the street corner.

He was momentarily shocked, unable to believe that Lian Hengruo was so indifferent to the handkerchief. His eyes were filled with unfamiliarity, and when he saw the handkerchief in Lian Hengruo's hand, it was as if he had seen something disgusting and filthy.

That's not how it is. Even the Second Miss wasn't like that when they first met.

Even the Second Miss's gaze stung him, and he didn't know where the problem lay.

Perhaps even the second young lady didn't recognize him.

Perhaps even the Second Miss recognized him, but pretended not to know him in front of the maids.

Another possibility is that even the Second Miss knew about the Wu family and that he was involved in Wu Ji, so she disliked him as well.

Otherwise, if he had mentioned that he was Gu Ruinian, even the Second Miss's eyes would have immediately revealed her disgust.

Even the Second Miss Lian almost got engaged to him, how could she not remember his name, Gu Ruinian?

Perhaps even the Second Miss knew he was Gu Ruinian from the beginning. She would visit Jufulai from time to time, and inevitably mention him to Tong Dajiao Gu Taohua. Tong Dajiao Gu Taohua certainly wouldn't say anything good about him.

Gu Ruinian was extremely flustered and harbored resentment towards Wu Ji and Tong Huaqiong.

"Is this Ruinian from Uncle Tian's family?"

As Gu Ruinian was reviewing the whole incident, he didn't notice a carriage stopping in front of him until a woman's voice brought him back to his senses.