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

Chapter 529 Offending the eldest granddaughter brings no benefit
When Gu Youtian learned that the Xu family not only wanted Gu Ruinian to apologize but also to pay compensation, he berated Gu Ruinian and told Old Master Gu that Gu Ruinian could apologize, but he could forget about paying money.

Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu knew that the Xu family was not to be trifled with, so they planned to borrow money from Grandma Gu and Jia's family while also trying to ask Gu Baishuang for money.

While Tong Huaqiong was away, Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu sneaked into Jufulai. The old couple were lucky; as soon as they entered, they were greeted by Gu Baishuang, who was taking stock of the goods.

"Bai Shuang, Ruinian is, after all, your brother from your mother's side. You can't just watch him get killed by the Xu family. Lend me two hundred taels of silver. I won't lend you this money for nothing. I'll give you an IOU, and I'll pay you back next year when I sell grain. I also have two pigs at home that I'll sell next year to pay you back. That way, I can pay it off in three to five years. Not only will I remember your kindness, but Ruinian will remember it too. He won't treat you badly when he recovers. It's a good thing that you have a brother from your mother's side to support you."

Grandpa Gu's words made Gu Baishuang want to laugh.

When Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu lived in the village, Gu Baishuang was very filial to them. After she got married, she would send them money and food from time to time, and she also took care of their clothes and shoes for all four seasons.

Even if Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu are starving, Gu Baishuang doesn't mind supporting them.

But asking her to help Gu Ruinian is not an option.

She had never eaten a single grain of rice from Gu Youtian, and had no feelings for Gu Ruinian whatsoever.

Gu Ruinian did such an absurd thing; it would be heartless for her to help him.

Gu Baishuang said to Grandpa Gu, "Grandpa, what are you saying? I have three brothers on my mother's side, which one of them can't support me? Do I need Ruinian to support me? Now what Ruinian has done makes me unable to hold my head up in the Nie family. I dare not have such a brother from my mother's side."

Grandpa Gu paused for a moment.

In his eyes, among the descendants of the eldest son's family, Gu Baishuang was the most conscientious. Even when he and Old Madam Gu were in the south, Gu Baishuang would have merchants going to the south bring them things every year.

He came full of confidence; anyone could refuse to lend him money except Gu Baishuang.

Grandma Gu couldn't help but say, "Bai Shuang, you have no conscience! You lost your mother when you were young. If it weren't for your grandfather and me giving you a bite to eat, you would have starved to death. You can even go into business with your cruel stepmother, but you won't lend us any money."

Gu Baishuang sneered.

Grandma Gu still had the nerve to offer her a bite to eat.

Before her stepmother married into the family, she lived with Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu. Didn't she do all the work in the fields? Didn't she wash all the clothes in the house? Didn't she cook all the meals for her second uncle's family?

Even if she were a maid in someone else's household, doing so much work, she would still get food and money.

This is all food I deserved.

Gu Baishuang said, "Don't you feel guilty saying that? I eat what I earn through my own work. Over the years, I've paid back all the money I've given you and your grandfather, made clothes for you, and given you gifts during festivals."

“Since you say I’ve lost my conscience, then I’ll really lose my conscience from now on. I can’t bear this accusation for nothing.”

Grandpa Gu stopped Grandma Gu from cursing and gave her a scolding.

The second wife has no money, and they are having a hard time living back in the village. The first wife only gives them a bite to eat. If it weren't for Gu Baishuang's constant support, their lives would be even more difficult.

It won't do the old woman any good to offend her eldest granddaughter.

"Bai Shuang, please, I'm begging you."

The eldest granddaughter is soft-hearted, so we can't use the same methods as Grandma Gu; we have to plead and beg to get her under our control.

Grandpa Gu's pleas were to no avail; Gu Baishuang refused to lend him the money with a cold face.

Just as Old Mrs. Gu was about to start cursing, Gu Baishuang told her to leave.

At this moment, Nie Xiaofeng came in and saw that Grandma Gu and Grandpa Gu were complaining about his mother's heartlessness. Nie Xiaofeng grabbed the two of them and rushed outside.

After finally seeing off Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu, Gu Baishuang went to Tong Huaqiong's place.

She didn't tell Tong Huaqiong about it. After all, she wouldn't lend money, and this was a small matter that her stepmother didn't need to know. Hearing it would only upset her and wouldn't do any good.

Seeing Gu Baishuang enter, Tong Huaqiong said, "I was just about to tell you something. You and Dashu should stockpile charcoal while it's summer, the more the better." Gu Baishuang was surprised: "Stockpile charcoal now?"

Tong Huaqiong nodded and said with certainty, "That's right, this winter will be very, very cold, and we'll make a fortune then."

Tong Huaqiong would often mentally review Tong Dajiao's memories, mainly to see who she had offended and what troubles she had encountered, so as to avoid being retaliated against or falling into a trap herself.

This review has yielded an remarkable finding: this winter is the coldest ever.

It is said to be a once-in-fifty-year cold snap.

The extreme cold weather persisted until the following spring without dissipating.

Because of the consistently mild winters in recent years, many charcoal vendors have become complacent and have not stockpiled enough charcoal.

Firstly, the weather was extremely cold, and secondly, there wasn't enough charcoal, leading to a surge in charcoal prices.

Many ordinary people couldn't afford charcoal, and a great many people froze to death.

Many people froze to death in Qinghewan at that time.

Because heavy snow blocked the roads, people who froze to death were not buried in time, which led to an epidemic when the weather warmed up, bringing great disaster to Pingchuan County.

The reason why Tong Dajiao's whole family didn't freeze to death was because Gu Jingzhe had a powerful in-law family; the Lu family had no shortage of charcoal or silver.

Tong Huaqiong decided to take advantage of this information gap to start a charcoal business.

Tong Dajiao's memories of the horrific deaths caused by the extreme cold were too terrifying. All the charcoal was bought up by wealthy families at high prices, leaving only ordinary people to suffer.

Tong Huaqiong didn't have the saintly heart to give away charcoal for free; she just wanted fewer people to die this winter and, incidentally, to make some money.

Everything in the world is interconnected. With her current financial situation, she is not worried about freezing to death, but she is worried that the deaths from freezing will cause a plague in the following spring.

Even with today's advanced medical technology, let alone in this era, we were still caught off guard when faced with SARS.

The spread of plague has nothing to do with wealth or poverty; anyone can get infected with the virus.

Tong Huaqiong certainly didn't want to be shrouded in the plague, with her life threatened and her business disrupted.

She couldn't save the extreme cold, but she could use the charcoal fire to minimize the death toll in Pingchuan.

"How much should we stockpile?" Gu Baishuang looked out the window at the scorching sun.

How did the stepmother deduce that this winter would be extremely cold?

These past few years have had mild winters!

One thing that pleased Tong Huaqiong about Gu Baishuang was her trust in her. She never said no to things she didn't understand, and she supported Tong Huaqiong's decisions.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Five hundred thousand tons."

Gu Baishuang was stunned.

Five hundred thousand tons?

The entire city of Ningcheng wouldn't need that much charcoal for a whole winter. What if we end up with this surplus?

Seeing the hesitation on Gu Baishuang's face, Tong Huaqiong said, "Just stockpile according to the amount I said. If the silver is not enough, use the silver from Peach Blossom Dessert Shop first."

Seeing Tong Huaqiong's determination, Gu Baishuang mentally calculated the amount of silver in her hand and nodded.