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

Chapter 502 The cooperation was thus achieved.
After the meal, Gu Ruinian had his hands washed by a maid.

After drinking another cup of tea with Xu Zaohua, Xu Zaohua leisurely asked someone to prepare a carriage.

Gu Ruinian was overjoyed; he was finally going to take him to see the Second Young Master Lian.

Soon, Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua boarded the carriage.

Since being tricked and having his manhood severed by Lu Zhaoyang, the Second Young Master Lian has completely let loose. Before, he was indulging in the pleasures of women, but after his manhood was severed, he could no longer indulge in such behavior and turned to a new way of having fun—gambling.

He would sleep until noon every day, then go to the casino after lunch and gamble until midnight.

When Gu Ruinian followed Xu Zaohua to the largest casino in Pingchuan County, the Second Young Master Lian had already placed two bets.

"Don't look around," Xu Zaohua said to Gu Ruinian.

Xu Zaohua, familiar with the place, led Gu Ruinian to a private room. Looking out the window at the venue, she saw that even the Second Young Master had lost two rounds.

Xu Zaohua had a smile playing on her lips.

It's good that she lost; losing will help her succeed.

"Ruinian, do you gamble?" Xu Zaohua asked.

Gu Ruinian shook his head, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.

He wanted to experience such a den of iniquity, but unfortunately he didn't have any money.

Xu Zaohua seemed to see through his thoughts and said to him, "Go and play with Young Master Lian later."

Gu Ruinian said, "I have no money."

Gu Ruinian knew that Xu Zaohua wanted him to go to the gambling table and get close to the second young master of the Lian family.

But he only had five taels of silver in his pocket, not enough to place a bet.

Gu Ruinian gritted his teeth, suspecting that Xu Zaohua had deliberately set a trap for him to come to the casino and swindle him out of his money.

He had heard that once you get to the gambling table, it's hard to get off. If you don't have money, don't worry, the casino will lend you money at high interest rates, and you can pay it back later.

Those rich young masters can do that, but he can't. If he borrows money at exorbitant interest rates to gamble, even Old Master Gu will have to give up on him.

Xu Zaohua smiled and said, "Would your sister ever ask you to spend money?"

He then beckoned a waiter over, whispered a few words in his ear, and instructed the waiter to take Gu Ruinian to keep the Second Young Master Lian company.

Gu Ruinian went with a stiff upper lip.

After leaving the private room, he subtly extracted information from the waiter, thus understanding why Xu Zaohua, a woman, could move freely in the casino and why the waiter treated her with utmost respect.

This casino belongs to the Zheng family, and everyone gives the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zheng family some face when she comes to the casino.

Gu Ruinian made up his mind. Once he stepped onto the gambling table, winning or losing was not something he could control. Making the Second Young Master Lian happy and gaining his trust was the most important thing.

Following the waiter to the gambling table, Gu Ruinian sat down opposite the second young master of the Lian family.

Even the Second Young Master has been losing madly these past few days.

Although Gu Ruinian was not an expert in gambling, he understood the rules. These rules were similar to those for gambling in villages during the New Year in later generations. However, while gambling in villages was just for fun and people didn't care how much they lost, here it was a matter of real money and even life and death.

Gu Ruinian thought to himself that since Xu Zaohua was the young mistress of the casino, it was impossible for him to be stuck at the gambling table. Since he wanted to gain the trust of the second young master Lian, he naturally had to make him happy.

How could this possibly make the Second Young Master Lian completely happy? Of course, we should let him win.

Gu Ruinian deliberately lost to Lian Er Gongzi three times in a row. Lian Er Gongzi, who was blinded by defeat, became happy.

In the end, he won one thousand taels of silver from Gu Ruinian.

Gu Ruinian pushed the cards away and spread his hands. The Second Young Master was naturally unwilling; he was having a lucky streak, so how could he just quit?

What angered him even more was that Gu Ruinian said he had no money.

Just as the second young master was about to hit someone, the waiter intervened and brought the second young master and Gu Ruinian to Xu Zaohua.

Xu Zaohua said with a smile, "I heard that the Second Young Master lost all his money and even borrowed a thousand taels from our casino. Losing money is a small matter, but if Master Lian finds out, wouldn't he come to our house to kill us? I deliberately sent my cousin down to gamble with you, hoping you would win back the money you lost. My cousin is an honest man, and he didn't want to lose a thousand taels. You owe our casino a thousand taels, and my cousin will give you a thousand taels back. Our two families will be even."

Only then did the second young master realize that the eldest young mistress of the Zheng family had deliberately helped him pay off his debts.

Coming from a wealthy family, they were most prone to scheming and infighting; even the second young master didn't believe that Xu Zaohua was trying to help him out of kindness.

Xu Zaohua is a widow. Her family line has been severed, and her business is controlled by her elder brother and half-sister. What benefit would she get from helping him?
“Second Young Master, there are no outsiders here. I have my reasons for helping you. The Lian family and the Zheng family want to form a marriage alliance, so I want my brother-in-law to marry your half-sister.” Xu Zaohua saw through the Second Young Master Lian’s thoughts and revealed her plans.

"If they get married, will there still be a place for my widow and her orphan in the Zheng family?" Everyone in Pingchuan County knew that the second young master's posthumous child was a son, and Xu Zaohua didn't mince words with the second young master. "I don't want the Lian and Zheng families to marry. Not only do I not want it, but I'm sure the second young master doesn't want it either. Your half-sister has the influence of her aunt, she has business acumen, and she has a powerful husband's family. Will there still be a place for you in the Lian family?"

When Xu Zaohua mentioned Lian Hengruo, the Second Young Master Lian's eyes turned gloomy.

The person he hated most in his life was his half-sister.

She and her wretched mother coaxed her father into taking a large chunk of the Lian family's business, but they weren't satisfied and wanted more.

In truth, the business his half-sister acquired didn't cost him his place in the Lian family. As a son, even if his lineage ended, the Lian family would still carry on the family name, and they couldn't possibly deny him any inheritance. But he just couldn't stand Lian Hengruo's arrogant attitude. What girl wouldn't live and die for her brothers? Yet, she was always ambitious and competitive from a young age. Whenever her brothers had something, she would cause trouble. And when she grew up, she even took action against the three brothers.

He suspected that his marriage to Huang Jingshan was ruined by his half-sister, even though he had no evidence; he just suspected it.

Now that my half-sister is just a young lady in her boudoir, what will she be like when she gets married and has a good husband to help her? Won't she trample the three brothers under her feet?

He had indeed heard from his mother these past few days that Lian Hengruo was discussing marriage with the second son of the Zheng family.

No, Lian Heng cannot marry into the Zheng family.

A heartless person like her should marry a farmer or Pudding in white.

"Do you have a way?" the Second Young Master asked.

Xu Zaohua smiled and said, "Isn't this to discuss something with Young Master Lian?"

"Oh, let's discuss it. What good ideas does the eldest young mistress have?" The second young master crossed his legs.

Xu Zaohua nudged Gu Ruinian and said, "This is Gu Ruinian from my maternal village. Last time, the Second Miss's carriage splashed mud all over him. The Second Miss not only didn't say he was blocking the way, but also handed him a handkerchief. It's only fate that we have this connection. Ruinian still remembers the Second Miss and wants to ask the Second Young Master Lian to help him out."

The Second Young Master looked at Gu Ruinian, who was dressed in coarse cloth, with an unfathomable gaze.

He knew that Xu Zaohua's family was from the countryside, which meant that this guy was a farmer from the countryside.

Isn't this the fate he hoped Lian Hengruo would have?

Gu Ruinian gave the Second Young Master Lian a fawning smile: "Please grant my request, Second Brother."

He's being obsequious now, but once he gets Lian Hengruo, he'll join forces with her to drive this good-for-nothing out of the Lian family and avenge today's humiliation.

After thinking for a moment, the Second Young Master Lian said, "Your card skills pleased me today, so you can stay with me for now. Whether you can be my brother-in-law depends on your abilities."

Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua exchanged glances, their hearts filled with joy.

And so, their treacherous collaboration was achieved.