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

Madam Han glanced at Gu Ruinian and said to Tong Huaqiong, "You've severed ties with your second branch of the family and don't usually keep in touch. Don't mistake me for someone else."

Tong Huaqiong cast a grateful glance at Madam Han, who was helping her to distance herself from Gu Ruinian.

This means that the two families have severed ties, and Gu Ruinian can no longer be considered her nephew.

Gu Ruinian's actions have nothing to do with Tong Huaqiong.

When people first heard that Gu Ruinian was Tong Huaqiong's nephew, they had a negative opinion of Tong Huaqiong.

Hearing Han's words, she thought about it again and realized that it was no wonder Tong Huaqiong said in public that he was her nephew. What kind of nephew would do something shameful and still be so open and not cover it up?

That explains it.

It turns out that Tong Huaqiong and this madman were only relatives in name, and in reality they had no connection whatsoever.

Tong Huaqiong looked at it carefully again and said to everyone, "There's no mistake. Our second branch of the family has partnered with someone to open a shop called Wu Ji, which is right across from Jufulai. We've been running into Ruinian from time to time these past few days. There's absolutely no mistake."

Then Tong Huaqiong asked in surprise, "But why is Ruinian here?"

After saying that, he gave Xu Zaohua a meaningful look.

The plot twists in everyone's minds grew even more.

Since he is Tong Huaqiong's nephew, wouldn't he have grown up in Qinghewan? Xu Zaohua is also from Qinghewan.

The bond forged from growing up together in the countryside—there might be some hidden story behind it.

Gu Taohua blurted out without a care in the world: "Ruinian and Zaohua have been good friends since they were little. It's good that you two are good friends, but how come you two are stealing into Madam's room together?"

The ladies exchanged glances, and just as they had guessed, they were childhood sweethearts.

But soon everyone's doubts increased again. Even if the two were having an affair, how could they have done it in the bedroom of the matriarch of the Lian family?

The more I think about it, the less reasonable it seems.

Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua felt so ashamed and indignant upon hearing these words that they wished they could die.

Gu Ruinian raised his eyelids but quickly closed them again. He saw that Miss Lian Er, who was standing directly in front of him, was staring at him coldly. Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine. Miss Lian Er had always known about his intentions.

He thought that after today he would be a perfect son-in-law of the Lian family, but he never expected to become a clown.

Gu Ruinian doesn't regret wanting to marry Miss Lian the Second. What he regrets is that he shouldn't have trusted Xu Zaohua's words and shouldn't have cooperated with Young Master Lian the Second. It was the two of them who pushed him to the bottom.

If he had been more cautious, the outcome would have been different.

"You two, sigh, what can we say? It's so shameful, you've even come to steal from other people's houses. Sister Zaohua, you're the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zheng family, and you're still stealing? Ruinian, although your family isn't as well-off as the Zheng family, you don't lack food and drink. Why are you stealing? If word gets out, you'll completely disgrace Qinghe Bay." Gu Taohua finished her act and sighed as she ran to Tong Huaqiong's side.

Gu Ruinian hated Gu Taohua to death.

He hated Tong Huaqiong even more for her knowing and smug expression. The thought that she and her daughter had seen through his intentions made him feel ashamed and furious.

Hua was completely confused and trembling with anger.

She wanted to kill Xu Zaohua and Gu Ruinian on the spot.

He cheated on her with someone in her bedroom; how will she ever be able to hold her head up again?

If rumors spread, who knows how they might ostracize her.

Hua completely forgot about her second son's role in it.

“You country bumpkins, you’ve come to my house to have an affair. Why don’t you tie these two adulterous sluts up and report them to the authorities? I don’t care if she’s the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zheng family. No, no need to report to the authorities, let the Zheng family come and suppress her, open the ancestral hall, remove her from the list, and drown her in a pig cage.”

"Adulterous couple."

Hua went up and scratched Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua. Tang stood still.

The ladies looked at each other, and one of them said to Madam Tang, "Why don't you go and inform the Zheng family to come and take the person away?"

The Lian family has no right to interfere in the Zheng family's affairs. Even if the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zheng family is having an affair with the Lian family, the adulterer is not a member of the Lian family, so there is no way for them to interfere.

Tang was reminded to send someone to inform the Zheng family.

At this moment, Xu Zaohua suddenly jumped up, hugged Hua's leg and cried out, "Madam Lian, please, don't tell the Zheng family, don't tell the Zheng family, if you tell the Zheng family I'm finished."

Xu Zaohua wept bitterly.

She considered many countermeasures, but couldn't come up with a solution.

All she knew was that she couldn't hand her over to the Zheng family.

"Not telling the Zheng family? You and your lover were having an affair here, and you even beat my son. Since you won't let me tell the Zheng family, then I'll report you to the authorities." Madam Hua was so angry that her chest ached. The thought of her son made her even more furious.

What's the difference between reporting to the authorities and informing the Zheng family?

That old hag Hua is putting on a victim act, doesn't she have any idea why this happened in her yard?
Trying to shift the blame onto her now? No way.

Since she wouldn't let her have a good time, she decided to drag the Hua family and the Second Young Master Lian down with her.

Xu Zaohua looked at everyone, gritted her teeth, and said, "Ladies, think about it, which mistress's room is open to outsiders? I've come anyway. Recently, Miss Lian has been arranging a marriage for my brother-in-law. Because Miss Lian is capable, I don't want to become her sister-in-law. Young Master Lian said he has a way to cancel this marriage and invited me to discuss it in the ladies' courtyard during today's banquet. I just arrived here."

"How shameless! You're dragging my second young master and second young lady into your Zheng family's affairs. Do you think the Lian family is easy to bully? Knocking one person out wasn't enough, you're trying to drag the second young lady into this too. Gag her, don't let her spout nonsense and offend everyone's ears. What kind of talk is that if word gets out?"

A crisp, annoyed voice rang out.

As soon as Tang, the eldest daughter-in-law, woke up, she quickly had someone stuff a cloth into Xu Zaohua's mouth and tie her hands.

"That madman should be killed."

The old woman who had tied up Xu Zaohua then punched Gu Ruinian, knocking him unconscious.

Tong Huaqiong turned around and saw a woman dressed in plain, everyday clothes, whose appearance could only be described as pretty, walking hand in hand with a dignified middle-aged man.

Lian Hengruo called out "Father" and "Mother" in a wronged tone.

Tong Huaqiong immediately understood that the woman speaking was Aunt Tang, Lian Hengruo's biological mother.

Aunt Tang made a remarkable entrance, immediately sealing Xu Zaohua's mouth and knocking Gu Ruinian unconscious.

This approach is far superior to that of the Hua family. If Xu Zaohua were to finish speaking, it would solidify the fact that Deng Tu Zi Gu Ruinian was targeting Lian Hengruo, which would have a significant impact on Lian Hengruo if word got out.

Madam Hua and Madam Tang were completely taken aback. Why were Aunt Tang and the Master here?

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were in a bind. Whenever something unfortunate happened to the Lian family, Aunt Tang and Lian Hengruo always managed to profit from it. In this way, the mother and daughter gradually took control of the family's pearl business.

Aunt Tang bowed to the ladies, her gaze deliberately landing on Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua.

The ladies hurriedly avoided casting friendly smiles at Aunt Tang. Tong Huaqiong was surprised, knowing that in this era of clear hierarchy, these first wives were actually showing kindness to a concubine.

It's clear that Aunt Tang's methods are extraordinary.

Tong Huaqiong overthought it.

Even with clear social hierarchies, everyone is still human, and humans have emotions. As a concubine, Aunt Tang's attire was not flamboyant; she always presented herself as a virtuous woman, thus winning favor among the wives.

They all hoped their own concubines could be as pleasing to the eye as Concubine Tang. (End of Chapter)