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

Chapter 501 Single-mindedly Seeking Wealth and Status
Xu Zaohua ate two pieces of honeydew melon and then sent all the maids and servants away from the room.

Gu Ruinian's gaze lingered on the maid's departing figure, which naturally did not escape Xu Zaohua's notice. Xu Zaohua secretly rolled her eyes and cursed the shallow-minded scoundrel in her heart.

"Sister Zaohua, will you let me see Young Master Lian here?" Gu Ruinian asked impatiently, concerned about Lian Hengruo.

Xu Zaohua frowned. This fool, how could she possibly let the Second Young Master Lian into her room?

She saw that Gu Ruinian was obsessed with climbing the social ladder, so she made him come to the Zheng family to see for himself, so that she could shut down his ambitions and make him work for her.

If Gu Ruinian backs out at the last minute, her plan will fail.

Xu Zaohua smiled and said, "What's the rush? Let's talk first, and then we'll make plans after lunch."

Gu Ruinian had no idea what Xu Zaohua was planning.

He couldn't wait a moment longer to have a good time with Lian Hengruo, wasn't Xu Zaohua just being a jerk?
Suddenly, he realized that Xu Zaohua was a young widow. Could it be that Xu Zaohua had feelings for him and deliberately tricked him into coming here?
The more I look at Xu Zaohua's smiling eyes, the more they resemble her.

It's not impossible for Xu Zaohua to become Zheng's confidante with the Zheng family's wealth, but he can only develop a further relationship with Zaohua after he successfully marries Lian Hengruo.

Gu Ruinian asked cautiously, "Sister Zaohua, will Master Zheng be angry if he finds out I came to the Zheng family?"

He wanted to remind Xu Zaohua that as a widow, she shouldn't be afraid of the Zheng family's disapproval of her meeting with an outsider. He urged her to leave the Zheng family immediately and go see the Second Young Master Lian.

Xu Zaohua said nonchalantly, "I have already informed my parents-in-law that you are my cousin and that you came to see me and the child today."

Gu Ruinian believed that it was unacceptable for relatives from the bride's family to enter through a side gate.

It is clear that Xu Zaohua was lonely as a widow and deliberately deceived him.

Seeing that Gu Ruinian didn't believe her, Xu Zaohua said, "Are you trying to say that since my parents-in-law know you're a guest, why didn't they let you use the main entrance? The Zheng family is just looking down on people. Even my parents have to use the side entrance when they come to the Zheng family, let alone my cousin."

Gu Ruinian felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

I felt slighted again.

Xu Zaohua chatted with Gu Ruinian, the topic revolving around Qinghe Bay. When she learned from Gu Ruinian that Gu Jingzhe had betrothed to Miss Lu from the Fucheng family, she was so angry that she almost tore her handkerchief to shreds.

Could it be that Xu Zaohua harbors hatred towards Gu Jingzhe because of love?

Gu Ruinian stopped talking and rolled his eyes.

Never underestimate a woman's hatred; that hatred can extinguish reason and become a weapon to stab at the enemy.

He also hated Gu Jingzhe.

He could make good use of Xu Zaohua's hatred.

“Sister Zaohua, Gu Jingzhe is the top scholar in the imperial examination, and my brother-in-law is the top scholar in this year’s examination. He will have money and a bright future. My aunt and others will be even more proud and trample the entire Qinghewan under their feet.”

"Bullshit. She might as well have the ability to step on me." Xu Zaohua's anger was indeed ignited.

Alright, now that Widow Tong has expanded her business to Pingchuan, then don't blame her for being impolite.

She needed to think carefully about how to deal with Widow Tong. Since she couldn't be Widow Tong's daughter-in-law, she would become her enemy.

Gu Ruinian watched with delight, finally stirring up Xu Zaohua's hatred for Widow Tong and her brood of children.

Gu Ruinian continued, adding fuel to the fire, "I only found out when I came to the village that Uncle Xu was framed by my aunt. It's a pity I wasn't home at the time."

Xu Zaohua thought to herself, "What could you have done at home back then? You're still being beaten down by Widow Tong now."

However, he had not yet avenged his family.

"Sister Zaohua, once I marry Miss Lian the Second, let's join forces to deal with my aunt. We can't let her be too smug in Qinghe Bay." Gu Ruinian brought up Miss Lian the Second again. He didn't want to chat idly with Xu Zaohua. He wanted to see Young Master Lian the Second immediately and then see Miss Lian the Second through him.

Xu Zaohua said, "What's your hurry?"

As noon approached, Gu Ruinian suddenly wondered why Xu Zaohua would help him deal with Miss Lian Er in this way. Was it because of the friendship she had built with the original owner when they were young, when they fought against Gu Taohua together? He wasn't that naive.

He was so eager to see Miss Lian that he forgot about this.

Could Xu Zaohua really be lonely and want to use him to relieve her desires? Not now. He has no foundation right now. If the Zheng family finds out, he's finished.

Xu Zaohua sneered; she wouldn't mind telling Gu Ruinian.

She said, "I don't want Miss Lian to marry my brother-in-law."

Oh, I got it!

Gu Ruinian thought to himself that Xu Zaohua was really shameless, actually seducing her own brother-in-law.

However, she quickly became angry and embarrassed at herself for misunderstanding that Xu Zaohua wanted her to be her lover. It was all because that woman Xu Zaohua didn't explain things clearly, causing her to overthink things.

Xu Zaohua had no idea that this country boy from Qinghewan, whom she looked down upon, had hated her several times since he entered her home.

"After lunch, I'll take you to find Young Master Lian. It has to be in the afternoon, because Young Master Lian doesn't get up in the morning."

Xu Zaohua clapped her hands as she spoke.

There was a rustling sound outside, and Gu Ruinian saw maids and servants appear out of nowhere and start bustling about.

Set the table, pull out the tablecloth, pour water.

Xu Zaohua led Gu Ruinian to the table and sat down. A maidservant helped them wash their hands.

Then, the maids and servants outside brought lunch boxes into the room. One of the servants handed the lunch boxes to a maid, who then placed them in front of Xu Zaohua and opened the lids to introduce the dishes one by one.

"Young mistress, this is braised deer antler."

"This is stewed baby pheasants."

"This is steamed sea bass."

Xu Zaohua waved her hand, signaling the maid to place the dishes in front of Gu Ruinian.

Look at how greedy Gu Ruinian is.

Was the Gu family really that poor?

"This is braised pork. The pork is said to come from your village, young mistress's hometown, and it has no gamey or fishy smell at all. Young mistress, would you like to try some?" The maid placed the braised pork in front of Xu Zaohua.

Pork from Qinghewan?

Xu Zaohua's face was gloomy. This pig was raised by Widow Tong, and no matter how delicious it was, she wouldn't eat it.

"Withdraw."

The maid didn't understand why the young mistress suddenly got angry, but she was used to it; the young mistress was just like that, unpredictable.

"Sister Zaohua, let me have this meat," Gu Ruinian said.

He was already craving it.

He knew the pork came from Widow Tong's pig farm, but so what? Xu Zaohua wouldn't eat it because she had a grudge against Widow Tong, but he would.

It's such a waste to throw away such good meat.

Xu Zaohua instructed her maid to place the braised pork in front of Gu Ruinian.

The table full of delicacies whetted Gu Ruinian's appetite.

Such a sumptuous meal was something Gu Youtian had never prepared for him even when he was wealthy. This was the first time he had ever eaten such a lavish family feast since he transmigrated into this world.

What made him even more elated was that beautiful maids stood by his side, serving him, handing him handkerchiefs to wipe his hands and serving him food. Such a life was truly intoxicating.

You came to the right place! You came to the right place!
This is what it's like to be a superior person!
If Xu Zaohua, the eldest daughter-in-law of a local gentry, could live such a wealthy life, then how extravagant and decadent must the lives of the top figures in feudal society be? He vowed to experience it for himself.

"After you and Miss Lian get married, you can live like this every day." Xu Zaohua saw through Gu Ruinian's thoughts and smiled faintly.

With his mouth full of meat, Gu Ruinian nodded and said, "Sister Zaohua, you're right, I'll listen to you."