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

Tong Huaqiong had nothing to say about Lian Hengruo's marriage.

This is beyond her control.

But Tong Huaqiong still felt that whether or not she got married, as long as she had business and money in her hands, she would have confidence.

After discussing the Lian family's affairs, Aunt Tang mentioned Xu Zaohua, saying that Xu Zaohua was taken away by the Zheng family and sent to the family temple on the very night.

The Zheng family didn't give Xu Zaohua a chance to argue.

“Your cheap nephew is truly remarkable.” Aunt Tang clicked her tongue in admiration when mentioning Gu Ruinian. “After weighing the pros and cons, he readily admitted his improper relationship with Xu Zaohua in front of the Zheng family, and blamed everything on Xu Zaohua, saying that she deliberately seduced him. He even blamed Xu Zaohua for the hole that was smashed in Lian Cheng’s head.”

Tong Huaqiong was not surprised at all. Gu Ruinian was such a selfish person that he would sell out anyone around him if he could.

Admitting to having an affair with Xu Zaohua would give him a way out, but admitting to scheming against Miss Lian would mean certain death.

After all, the latter involves the matriarch of the Lian family and the second young master of the Lian family.

"You have no idea how lively things were in our lady's courtyard after you left that day. Gu Ruinian said that Xu Zaohua had seduced her, and she went up and started fighting with Gu Ruinian, cursing him for scheming against her. When the Zheng family took her away, she struggled desperately and knelt down in front of Ruoer, begging Ruoer to save her." Aunt Tang's eyes still showed resentment when she spoke of Xu Zaohua.

"Xu Zaohua brought this upon herself; she reaped what she sowed."

She understood perfectly what Lian Heng would face if her and Gu Ruinian's plan were to succeed, and she knew she still had to do it.

Lian Hengruo and Tong Huaqiong used the same method on her, and she felt the pain and began to plead for mercy.

What did you do earlier?

Tong Huaqiong expressed that she had no sympathy for her at all.

Aunt Tang and Lian Hengruo drank cup after cup of tea at Tong Huaqiong's place, staying for most of the day before finally leaving.

Aunt Tang said she would come again in the future.

"By the way, Hengruo, I ran into Prefect Yao in the city a few days ago. He said he didn't have any money on him and would pay you back the money for the pearls another day."

Tong Huaqiong suddenly remembered that she had run into Prefect Yao on her way back, and Prefect Yao had asked her to pass on a message to Lian Hengruo.

Tong Huaqiong initially thought that Prefect Yao was trying to renege on his debt, but seeing his calm and composed gaze, she realized that she had been too cautious.

Lian Hengruo was taken aback; she hadn't considered that Prefect Yao still owed her money.

Aunt Tang's eyes lit up. Standing at the entrance of Jufulai, she grabbed Tong Huaqiong's hand and asked, "Is Prefect Yao, who is so young, married?"

Tong Huaqiong shook her head and said with a smile, "I haven't heard of it."

Aunt Tang's eyes lit up as she said, "Next time you see Manager Tong, could you help him and Ruo'er become a matchmaker? I wouldn't dare say this to anyone else, but Manager Tong is different. He specifically told you that he remembered Ruo'er's money, which means he trusts you."

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, "Aunt Tang is indeed shrewd; she seizes every opportunity as soon as she senses a breeze."

However, Prefect Yao looked much older than his age, appearing to be in his thirties even though he was only in his twenties. Moreover, based on Old Master Lu's words, Tong Huaqiong suspected that his sexual orientation was unclear.

Tong Huaqiong wanted to decline.

Seeing Tong Huaqiong's predicament, Lian Hengruo said, "Auntie is joking, Aunt Tong, you don't need to take it to heart."

Aunt Tang rolled her eyes at Lian Hengruo and said, "I'm not joking. What's the big deal about asking if it's going to work out? We'll just have to take a shot, no matter what."

Tong Huaqiong: "."

Lian Heng's outburst of anger finally stopped Aunt Tang from trying to arrange a marriage.

"Auntie, do you even know who Prefect Yao is? You dare to ask Aunt Tong to act as my matchmaker? His family is a prestigious family in Shengjing, with a former imperial tutor and chief minister. How could someone from such a family possibly marry a merchant's daughter? Auntie, don't make a fool of yourself." After leaving Tong Huaqiong's Jufulai, Lian Hengruo sat in the carriage and expressed her dissatisfaction to Aunt Tang.

Aunt Tang raised her eyebrows and said, "Ruo'er, what did I tell you? You are no less than any legitimate daughter, nor are you less than any daughter of an official. So what if you're a concubine's daughter? So what if you're a merchant's daughter? If someone values ​​these things, how many good marriages will be ruined? So what if Prefect Yao comes from a prominent family in Shengjing? Aren't all the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar delivered to his home by merchants? When he became prefect, weren't the huge amounts of tax revenue from our Ningcheng merchants his achievements?"

"Ruo'er, I'm just a poor, down-on-her-luck woman from the countryside. My parents sold me to the Lian family as a maid, and I became a concubine just to avoid starvation and to keep warm. I've never thought of myself as inferior to those wives; I just started from a very low point. That's why I taught you bookkeeping from a young age, made you study, and tried to get your father to give you his business, all so you wouldn't follow in my footsteps. Now I've succeeded. So why can't I want you to marry into a prominent family in Shengjing?"

"You think establishing a female household is that simple? You'll face obstacles from the clan and schemes from your eldest brother. You won't be able to guard against them all. Even if you do establish a female household, will you be willing to let your money fall into the hands of the useless descendants of the Hua family when you get old? Besides, your father will never let you establish a female household. He's keeping you at home now so you can run a business for his useless son. When you're no longer useful, he'll find an excuse to marry you off. By then, when you're old, what good family will be waiting for you? Are you going to become someone's second wife? That's not much better than being a concubine. Even if you follow your Aunt Tong's example, if you get married and your husband dies, becoming a widow with children, it's still better than being unmarried and having your money fall into someone else's hands."

When Aunt Tang saw that Lian Hengruo's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, she knew that she had taken it to heart, so she kept quiet.

Lian Hengruo did indeed take it to heart.

Instead of listening to Tong Huaqiong's suggestion to act as a matchmaker for her and Prefect Yao, she had actually forgotten what Prefect Yao looked like. She only remembered that he was a dark-faced man with a bright white smile.

Her aunt's words reminded her that even the master would never allow her to establish a female household.

Although she has now obtained the shop and pearl business from the Lian family, it is under the condition of maintaining a balance with her eldest brother.

Even the master used her and his concubine to suppress the legal wife and children.

Then, by using the schemes of his wife and children against her, he made them understand that only by depending on him could they have a place in the Lian family.

If this balance is broken, for example, if one day she is able to completely dominate her elder brother, even the old master will definitely find a way to marry her off.

Lian Hengruo felt utterly bored. The family was so small, yet the master acted as if he were returning the family to the emperor in Shengjing, constantly suppressing one person and balancing another to ensure that everyone was under his control.

Such days are really meaningless.

She only regretted not being a man, so she could make a name for herself outside. Then she could set up her own household, take her aunt out, and let her aunt wear gold and silver as she pleased, or wear heavy makeup as she pleased, no longer having to make her father's preferences the standard for dressing.

Unfortunately, she was not a man, and if she wanted to leave the Lian family, she could only rely on marriage.

Lian Hengruo was originally happy that she couldn't marry the second young master Zheng, but now her aunt's words have plunged her into a new round of troubles. (End of this chapter)