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

Chapter 528 I Will Marry You

Gu Ruinian opened his eyes and quickly glanced at Wu Na.

How could he be so foolish?

He wasn't confused; he was just unlucky.

He almost succeeded.

Wu Na's words brought Gu Ruinian back to the day of the incident, when he was forced to admit to having an affair with Xu Zaohua under the threat of the Lian family.

The only thing that brought him some comfort was that he managed to pin the blame for the Second Young Master being knocked unconscious by the vase on Xu Zaohua.

Unable to get a reply from Gu Ruinian, Wu Na said, "Is Xu Zaohua really that good? I'm not even as good as a widow like her?"

Wu Na leaned down and stared intently at Gu Ruinian.

If Gu Ruinian had taken a liking to the Second Miss Lian, she wouldn't have been so upset. But Gu Ruinian had taken a liking to Xu Zaohua, a widow.

Gu Ruinian clearly knew what she was thinking, but he did not reject her.

She almost had a falling out with her father because she didn't want Gu Ruinian to marry into another county.

How could he treat her like this?

She's been both angry and annoyed these past few days.

Gu Ruinian suddenly realized that Wu Na hadn't come to laugh at her, but to demand an explanation.

But what right does she have?

The next second, Gu Ruinian realized he could use this opportunity, so he sighed and said, "Many things aren't as you think. I wanted to study, but my family didn't have the money. Xu Zaohua said she would support my studies if I helped her manage the shop. I fell for her trick."

"I do not know what to do."

Wu Na shouted hoarsely, "I told you before, my father can support your education."

Gu Ruinian gave a bitter laugh and said, "Your father won't marry you off to me."

Wu Na asked angrily, "Then Xu Zaohua can marry you?"

Gu Ruinian said, "How could I possibly like a widow? I only used her to get my studies. I've already told you, I was tricked by her. We're completely innocent. I don't care what others think of me, but I didn't expect you to disbelieve me."

Wu Na felt somewhat comforted by these words.

She said, "How could Brother Ruinian be interested in a fickle widow?"

Wu Na concealed the smugness in her eyes, looked down and saw Gu Ruinian staring at her. Her face flushed, and she said, "I don't disbelieve you."

Then she asked, "Brother Ruinian, people outside are saying that you and Xu Zaohua got together in Qinghe Bay."

Gu Ruinian said, "Do you believe what's outside or what I say? I went to the south when I was very young and only came back after the Spring Festival this year. If Xu Zaohua hadn't taken the initiative to ask me to help her with the accounts of her shop, I would have forgotten about her."

"Xu Zaohua and I are innocent. Think about it, if I really had an affair with her, would the Zheng family, with their power, let me out alive?"

Wu Na was almost convinced by Gu Ruinian.

Gu Ruinian thought dismissively that subduing Wu Na wouldn't require any effort at all.

"But why would Xu Zaohua want to harm you?" Wu Na still didn't understand. Gu Ruinian closed his eyes and then opened them again, hesitating as if he had made up his mind, and said softly, "Let me tell you the truth. I was implicated by my cousin."

Seeing Wu Na's bewildered expression, Gu Ruinian gritted his teeth and said, "My cousin, the third son of Widow Tong, is this year's top scorer. Xu Zaohua has liked him since childhood, and the two were once engaged. My aunt disliked Xu Zaohua and resolutely refused to let her into the family. Xu Zaohua openly asked me to help her with the accounts, but secretly wanted me to pass messages to my cousin. Later, things developed like this, and I suspect it was all my aunt's scheme. My cousin is now engaged to the daughter of the Lu family, a wealthy merchant family in the prefecture. She's afraid that her son's past with Xu Zaohua will be exposed, and the Lu family will break off the engagement after finding out."

Wu Na hated Tong Huaqiong to the point of rage.

She knew Tong Huaqiong's methods. She supported Tong Pandi and caused her brother to become a laughing stock in the Black Dragon Pool. Her own reputation was ruined because of her. The calm and collected business of Wuji was also her doing.
Wu Na had no doubt that Tong Huaqiong had harmed Gu Ruinian.

Anyway, she already knew that Widow Tong and Gu Ruinian's family didn't get along.

"That widow Tong is truly vicious," Wu Na said through gritted teeth.

Gu Ruinian said, "Let her be smug for now. I will definitely seek justice for myself later. But I have actually benefited from this misfortune."

Wu Na glanced at Gu Ruinian's legs. She had heard from her father that Gu Ruinian's legs had been crippled. How could this be a blessing in disguise?

Gu Ruinian continued his rambling: "The Zheng family also knew that my aunt was the mastermind, so not only did they not blame me, they also let me go. A wealthy family like the Zheng family, with two sons, can't possibly treat them equally. When the eldest son was alive, he was in poor health, so the old master doted on him. After his death, leaving behind an unborn child, the Zheng family gave the lion's share of resources to Xu Zaohua, which the second son resented. This time, Xu Zaohua's reputation was ruined, and the Zheng family sent her to the ancestral temple. The second son came to me and said that I indirectly helped him eliminate his rival, for which he was grateful. Plus, I wrote two articles for him, so we became friends. The second son said that if I needed any help, I should pass on a message to him. I do indeed need the Zheng family's help with something, but I'm currently unable to walk properly, and I don't trust anyone else."

Wu Na wasn't very bright to begin with, and she didn't doubt Gu Ruinian's many flaws at all. She said, "Brother Ruinian, I can help you pass on the message."

Gu Ruinian was extremely excited. He hadn't expected Wu Na to be so quick-witted; she had volunteered without him even having to ask.

Gu Ruinian pondered for a moment and said, "How can that be? What if your father finds out? Wouldn't he be furious with you?"

Wu Na said, "You don't need to worry about that, leave it to me. You tell me how to pass on the message."

Gu Ruinian asked Wu Na to bring him paper and pen. He wrote a note and handed it to Wu Na, instructing her to go to the side gate of the Zheng family and find a gatekeeper surnamed Tian. The gatekeeper would then pass the note to the second young master of the Zheng family.

Wu Na is illiterate, but Gu Ruinian is not worried that she can understand the words on the note.

"Brother Ruinian, my father wants to marry me off to another county, but I don't want to go. What do you think?" Wu Na tucked the note into her sleeve and looked at Gu Ruinian with a smile.

Gu Ruinian cursed inwardly; Wu Na was making demands of him.

Gu Ruinian gritted his teeth and said, "If you don't mind my legs, I'm willing to marry you."

Wu Na smiled.

“Brother Ruinian, get your leg healed quickly. Wu Ji needs you. My father said Wu Ji is part of my dowry, and I don’t want Wu Ji’s business to never take off under your father’s management.”

Her brother has no interest in business, so he can go back and become the village head like their father. If she marries Gu Ruinian, she plans to have Wu Ji as part of her dowry. Her parents dote on her and won't object, so she and Gu Ruinian can do business in Pingchuan while Ruinian goes to school.

As for the rest of the Gu family, they can go wherever they want.

Wu Na was very efficient; she returned in just one hour.

She returned and told Gu Ruinian that she had given the note to the gatekeeper as Gu Ruinian had requested.

Gu Ruinian sized up Wu Na. Compared to Lian Hengruo and Lu Zhaozhao, Wu Na wasn't even worthy of carrying their shoes.

Even if his legs were crippled, he wouldn't want to marry Wu Na.

However, the only person he can hold onto now is Wu Na. Considering that her dowry includes Wu Ji, he might as well marry her.

Gu Ruinian wasn't worried at all about whether Wu Ren would agree or not.

Just keep Wu Na under control.