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

Chapter 516 Asking for Help Without the Attitude of Asking for Help
As soon as Gu Honglian finished speaking, Liu Yue'e spoke up.

"No wonder everyone in the clan praises Ruinian for his abilities, saying that even the studious and promising Jingzhe is not as good as him. Tsk tsk tsk, Jingzhe is indeed not as good as him. Who is so capable that he can seduce the young mistress of a wealthy family in just a few days in Pingchuan? Jingzhe can't, Dashu can't, and my elder brother certainly can't. Can you, Brother Fengnian?"

Liu Yue'e asked Gu Fengnian, who was sweating profusely and embarrassed, feeling for the first time in his life that he hated Gu Ruinian to the core.

Before Gu Fengnian could speak, Liu Yue'e continued her tirade.

"With Ruinian's abilities, Second Uncle and Second Aunt don't need to worry. A wife will come to you on her own, and she might even bring a dowry that's overflowing. I think Xu Zaohua is quite good. She's young and can have children. Why don't you go and propose to the Zheng family? Maybe the Zheng family will be willing to let Zaohua go. Then Second Uncle and Second Aunt will get a daughter-in-law for free. Wouldn't that be great?"

"What if the Zheng family is generous and packs up their son and lets Xu Zaohua take him away? Uncle and Aunt will get a free grandson. How wonderful!"

"Xu Jin used to complain that his family couldn't produce a scholar. Now that he has a son-in-law, no one has. They don't even need to train him from scratch. Ruinian can just get ready to take the imperial examination for the lowest degree."

Liu Yue'e's mouth, when she opens it, can absolutely choke a lot of people.

Normally, only Tong Huaqiong can keep her in check.

Grandpa Gu was speechless after being criticized.

Liu Yue'e's words reminded Grandpa Gu that Gu Ruinian was currently being held by Xu Zaohua's in-laws, while Xu Zaohua's own family was unaware of it.

Even if Ruinian leaves the Zheng family and returns to Qinghewan, the Xu family will likely cause trouble.

We'll have to deal with the Xu family then.

Grandpa Gu closed his eyes briefly; Ruinian's mess had only just begun.

He couldn't understand why Ruinian, who had always been filial and sensible, had become like this after returning to Qinghewan.

When he asked his own brother for money to pay for Ruinian's schooling, his younger brother and sister-in-law pointed out in public that Ruinian was selfish by nature and always only cared about himself and never cared about the life or death of his family.

Even now, Old Master Gu doesn't believe that Gu Ruinian is inherently bad. He firmly believes that Gu Ruinian was tricked by the Second Young Master Lian and by Xu Zaohua.

After Liu Yue'e finished spitting out her food, she continued eating, and the table fell silent again.

Grandma Gu couldn't stand Liu Yue'e's sarcasm.

Her grandson wasn't that kind of person; he was ruined by Xu Zaohua, who couldn't control her groin.

If she could see Xu Zaohua, she would kill this vile woman who harmed both herself and others with a single blow.

Things couldn't remain at this stalemate, so Old Master Gu mustered his courage and continued to urge Gu Dashu and Gu Baishuang to find a way to rescue Ruinian from the Zheng family.

The brother and sister ate a meal they found utterly tasteless and refused to eat.

"Boss, boss, open your eyes and look at yourself. You've given birth to a bunch of good-for-nothing children who only know how to annoy me."

"I'm so unlucky. Why did I have to end up with these bastards? You might as well take me away tonight."

"How can you be so heartless? That's your own cousin! If you don't save him, I'll smash my head against the Zheng family's door and die. What business will you be doing then? You'll all be going back to Qinghe Bay to mourn for me tomorrow."

"Waaaaah... Why is my life so miserable? I've never enjoyed a single day of happiness, only suffering from the mistreatment of my children and grandchildren."

It's difficult to talk to Gu Dashu and Gu Baishuang.

Grandma Gu couldn't take it anymore and resorted to her ultimate weapon: crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide.

Gu Dashu and Gu Baishuang were already almost unable to resist Old Master Gu's pleas, and with Old Madam Gu's commotion, they finally relented and said they would try to find a way to inquire about the situation at the Zheng family.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Baishuang said to Gu Dashu, "Second brother, don't worry about this matter. Jufulai's business is more important. One of the aunts of the Nie family has a sister-in-law who is very close to Madam Zheng. I'll ask someone to put in a good word for her and see if that works."

Grandma Gu's eyelids twitched, and she cursed Gu Baishuang in her heart for not mentioning this relationship earlier, making them have to be humble for so long.

You probably won't find another family like yours in the entire Qinghewan area if you ask their grandchildren for a favor.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Old Master Gu suggested that he go to the Zheng family to meet with the Zheng family patriarch in person. Gu Baishuang pondered for a long time, neither agreeing nor refusing, only saying that it would depend on the situation.

"Fengnian, take your grandparents back and wait for news."

Gu Baishuang waved her hand to send the person away.

If she had known, she would have gone to the prefectural city with her stepmother, and wouldn't have been controlled by the two old people here.

They were my grandparents after all, and I couldn't bear to see them crying and complaining in front of me.

Having received Gu Baishuang's promise, Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu went with Gu Fengnian to Wu Ji to wait for news.

While crying, Jia muttered curses under her breath.

They cursed Xu Zaohua and Tong Huaqiong.

"Are we still waiting for news?"

"Tong Dajiao is already a Lady of the Township, bestowed by the Emperor himself. Why not use her title to pressure the Zheng family? I think they're doing this on purpose; they don't want Ruinian to have a good life."

Grandpa Gu finally couldn't hold back any longer and scolded, "Shut up! What do women know? They only cause trouble. You even let your eldest daughter-in-law use the title of village magistrate to pressure others, just because your nephew stole someone else's wife. Wouldn't that be incredibly shameful if word got out?"

"You think the eldest son's family is slow? The Zheng family is a local tyrant in Pingchuan County. Do you think they're so easy to get into? Stop crying and waiting for news at home all day. You've spoiled Ruinian so much. You've spoiled such a good child."

Tears welled up in Jia's eyes from fright. She gritted her teeth and swallowed the words she used to curse the eldest son's wife, and instead continued to curse Xu Zaohua.

Grandpa Gu shook his head.

He never realized before that his second son's wife was so clueless.

Grandpa Gu and the others waited anxiously for news.

After lunch, Gu Baishuang asked someone to find out that Gu Ruinian had been locked up by the Zheng family, but had only suffered some physical pain and was otherwise unharmed.

Grandpa Gu and the others breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the news.

People safe is good.

However, the messenger did not grant Old Master Gu's request to go to the Zheng family to see Master Zheng, saying that Gu Ruinian would be sent out by the Zheng family in the next few days.

Grandpa Gu and the others didn't think too much about it. The matter had blown up so much, and the news of the eldest young mistress's affair had been trending on Pingchuan's hot search list for several days. The Zheng family had lost face from top to bottom. Why didn't the Zheng family severely punish Gu Ruinian, and why were they able to release him?

Grandpa Gu thought it was Gu Baishuang's influence that had played a role.

Or perhaps Xu Zaohua and Gu Ruinian were framed and misunderstood. Once the matter is clarified, the Zheng family will not hold Gu Ruinian accountable.

In short, it's good that the person is back.

Grandpa Gu discussed with Gu Youtian that once Gu Ruinian was released, he would take him back to Qinghewan and have him study diligently at the village private school under Master Su. He would not let him leave again until he passed the imperial examination.

Gu Youtian has already given up on this son. He can do whatever he wants with him, as long as he doesn't get in his way in the future.

When Gu Baishuang and Gu Dashu received news from Gu Ruinian, they were very puzzled by the Zheng family's actions.

Based on the news that Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua went to the Lian family's banquet, anyone with eyes could see that Xu Zaohua and Gu Ruinian were entangled together, and no one could believe that their relationship was innocent.

The Zheng family is not to be trifled with.

It is said that the Zheng family disciplined Xu Zaohua, and she was imprisoned. Her maids and servants were sold off, and it is estimated that she will be sent to the family temple soon.

The Zheng family has no reason to give Gu Ruinian any special treatment.

Does Gu Ruinian have the ability to expand the Zheng family's business and make them a fortune, or does he have the ability to make the Zheng family members nobles and high-ranking officials?