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

Chapter 497 Taking the bait

Gu Ruinian looked up and saw a young woman with a head full of jewels smiling at him from the carriage.

The woman was holding a child in her arms.

The woman looked so familiar, but Gu Ruinian couldn't recall having such a relative in Pingchuan County.

He didn't remember which of his cousins ​​had married into Pingchuan, so he didn't dare to go up and acknowledge her.

"What's wrong? Don't you recognize me? I'm your Sister Zaohua," Xu Zaohua said with a smile.

Xu Zaohua?
Gu Ruinian remembered that Xu Zaohua and Gu Taohua had never gotten along since childhood. Adhering to the idea that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, the original owner and Xu Zaohua had always had a good relationship.

When Gu Ruinian returned to Qinghe Bay, he heard that Xu Zaohua had married the eldest son of the Zheng family in Pingchuan. However, her husband died just a few months after the marriage. Fortunately, she was pregnant with the eldest son's child and gave birth to a son, which allowed her to gain a foothold in the Zheng family.

Seeing Gu Ruinian lost in thought, Xu Zaohua pouted and said, "Now that you've become a successful student, you don't recognize your sister Zaohua anymore."

Gu Ruinian came up to Xu Zaohua and apologized, saying, "Sister Zaohua, you're the one who's talking about me. Look at your current demeanor, you're the epitome of a young mistress from a wealthy family. Even the old folks in Qinghewan who have watched you grow up probably wouldn't recognize you."

Even if you wear it a thousand times, you will never wear it.

Xu Zaohua smiled.

Gu Ruinian said, "I heard in the village that Sister Zaohua married into a wealthy family and is now enjoying a life of luxury. I have been wanting to visit her since I came to Pingchuan, but I was too embarrassed to do so because I am a nobody and would not want to disgrace your family."

Xu Zaohua said, "Your words are disgusting. You make me sound like someone who fawns over the powerful and belittles the weak."

Gu Ruinian smiled to himself, thinking, "That's just how you are."

Don't think he doesn't know; Gu Taohua has never cared about anyone except Gu Jingzhe since she was a child.

Tong Huaqiong's Jufulai restaurant was very popular in Pingchuan County, and Xu Zaohua naturally heard about it, even sending her servants to visit it.

Having nothing to do today, she made a special trip to ride in a carriage with her child to see Jufulai in person and find out its weaknesses.

Anyway, she gets unhappy whenever Tong Huaqiong is smug.

While they haven't found any weaknesses in Jufulai yet, they have captured Gu Ruinian's intentions.

Xu Zaohua smiled; this trip hadn't been in vain.

The second branch of the Gu family and Tong Dajiao don't get along, which Gu Ruinian can exploit.

Xu Zaohua waved to Gu Ruinian, and as Gu Ruinian approached, she said softly, "I saw everything."

Completely baffled, Gu Ruinian asked, "Sister Zaohua, what did you see?"

Xu Zaohua sneered, "Don't play tricks on me. What are your thoughts about Miss Lian the Second?"

Gu Ruinian was nearly enraged when Xu Zaohua exposed his lie.

Xu Zaohua stared coldly at Gu Ruinian. She had seen clearly the scene of Gu Ruinian stopping Miss Lian when she came out of the shop.

Another toad trying to eat swan meat.

Xu Zaohua had a complete grasp of the logic behind Gu Ruinian's behavior. Xu Zaohua thought that when her mother came to visit during her postpartum period, she mentioned the Gu Youtian family who had returned from the south, saying that Gu Ruinian had become very smart and good at studying and doing things. In her opinion, he had not only not become smarter, but had become even dumber than before.

Who would brazenly return a handkerchief to a rich family's young lady in the street? They'd be lucky if their legs weren't broken.

He's from Qinghewan after all; no matter how many books he reads, the mud in his brain can't be washed away.

Seeing that he couldn't hide it from Xu Zaohua, Gu Ruinian smiled sheepishly, but his heart was filled with resentment.

He saw the contempt in Xu Zaohua's eyes.

Gu Ruinian said, "Sister Zaohua, I'm sorry you had to see this."

Xu Zaohua smiled brightly at Gu Ruinian and said, "We grew up together, so our bond is stronger than anyone else's. I won't laugh at you. Gu Jingzhe used to recite poems about how a graceful lady is sought after by a gentleman, so it's normal for you to want to pursue Miss Lian. But Miss Lian has a fiery temper. How can you possibly win her over with this method? She's not some pampered young lady who never sees men. She's favored by Master Lian and manages the Lian family's pearl business. Even the eldest son of the Lian family is wary of him."

Gu Ruinian is really something, going out of his way to stop people in the street with a handkerchief. What's the difference between that and flirting with a blind man?

Gu Ruinian took the bait and asked impatiently, "Sister Zaohua, what should I do?"

Gu Ruinian had heard in Qinghewan that the Zheng family was a prominent family in Pingchuan County and must have had dealings with the Lian family. It was normal for Xu Zaohua, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zheng family, to be very clear about the Lian family's situation.

Xu Zaohua lowered her voice and said, "It all depends on whether you're willing to go all out. What good is that handkerchief of yours? I'm not saying this to criticize you, but unless someone publicly blocks your intimate contact with Miss Lian, it won't do you any good even if you have her undergarment in your hand."

Gu Ruinian was stunned for a moment.

Xu Zaohua is really too bold to talk about physical intimacy.

Xu Zaohua said, "What's the big deal? As the saying goes, 'The timid are scared to death while the bold are overjoyed.' You are different from that madman. You truly love Miss Lian Er. If you and Miss Lian Er get together, you will respect and cherish her. Miss Lian Er is lucky to be with you. To put it bluntly, who knows what might happen if she were with someone else."

Gu Ruinian thought that what Gu Taohua said made sense.

If someone like Miss Lian were to follow Chun Guren, it would be a waste of her talent, confining her to the inner quarters and leaving her fading into obscurity. But if she were to follow him, he could allow her to continue her business.

Seeing that Gu Ruinian had been persuaded, Xu Zaohua added fuel to the fire, saying, "I heard that this Wu Ji shop is a joint venture between you and the Wu family. Since it's called Wu Ji, you'll be kicked out sooner or later. What will you do then? Are you willing to go back to Qinghe Bay? I've also heard that you have a talent for studying. This year, your performance in the spring examination was affected by your horse being startled and falling, which I feel sorry for you. If you give up your studies, you'll be wasting your potential. If you continue studying, your family won't have enough money to support you. If you become the son-in-law of the Lian family, you can concentrate on your studies. When you graduate, you can earn an imperial title for Miss Lian, which will be a fitting reward for her."

"Look at Widow Tong's Jufulai, and Gu Jingzhe, they're so successful, are you content with that?"

Xu Zaohua pointed towards Ju Fulai, and Gu Ruinian's eyes filled with gloom.

Xu Zaohua makes a good point.

He was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to accept it!

He then thought that even the second young lady ignored him, so how could he approach her and confirm their physical intimacy?
"Sister Zaohua," Gu Ruinian said, frowning, "but how can we get in touch with Miss Lian the Second?"

Xu Zaohua said that his method of using a handkerchief to meet someone by chance wouldn't work. If he had a better way, why would he use this trick?

The storyteller is right, that trick is so cliché!

Hooked.

Xu Zaohua smiled and said, "Miss Lian Er is in charge of the family business, and her three half-brothers hate her to death, especially Young Master Lian Er. I have a way to let you get in touch with Young Master Lian Er."

Xu Zaohua whispered these words in Gu Ruinian's ear.