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

“Both Zao Hua and Ruinian are at fault in this matter, and it will be a disgrace to Qinghewan if word gets out. As the village chief, I cannot let your two families become enemies. Since Xu Jin and Grandpa Gu are here, and the heads of both families are also here, let’s sit down and have a good talk.”

Liu Tielian only suggested that the two sides sit down and negotiate after Xu Dabao and Xu Erbao beat up Gu Ruinian.

Gu Ruinian really deserves to be taught a lesson. If the Xu family doesn't beat him up, they won't be able to vent their anger. It will be even more troublesome if they secretly kill him when Grandpa Gu and the others return to Qinghe Bay.

"You smashed the shop, you beat people, you vented your anger. If we don't sit down and talk, are you really going to beat them to death? Wouldn't that be a lose-lose situation?" Liu Tielian ordered his men to stop the Xu brothers, Dabao and Erbao, who still wanted to beat people up.

At this point, the Gu family patriarch and the Xu family patriarch, Grandpa Xu, took turns persuading Xu Jin, who, with his bloodshot eyes, agreed to sit down and communicate.

As long as they are willing to communicate, that's fine.

Liu Tielian breathed a sigh of relief.

The Xu family's terms were the same as what Liu Tielian had said when he came to Pingchuan last time: Gu Ruinian would kowtow three times to the Xu family as an apology, and the Gu family would pay the Xu family five hundred taels of silver.

Tong Huaqiong, standing to the side, thought to herself, "Has the Xu family changed their ways? They only put forward these two conditions."

Based on her several interactions with Xu Jin, she knew that Xu Jin was not a soft-hearted person.

Tong Huaqiong couldn't help but glance at the second branch of the Gu family and the others; everyone was there except for Gu Xiaoxue.

Tong Huaqiong ran into Uncle Gu at the door just now. From him, she learned that after he and Liu Tielian finished exchanging opinions with Grandpa Gu last time, they returned to Qinghe Bay and dispelled Xu Jin's idea of ​​making Gu Youtian compensate them with a daughter.

When Uncle Gu came in, in order to prevent Xu Dabao from having any impure thoughts upon seeing Gu Xiaoxue, he deliberately chased Gu Xiaoxue out.

Tong Huaqiong felt that Uncle Gu was too optimistic; she didn't believe that Xu Jin could be persuaded by a few words.

Given Xu Dabao's unruly nature, would he not have any wicked thoughts if Gu Xiaoxue didn't appear in his sight? Uncle Gu is thinking too highly of him.

"Ruinian, kowtow three times to your Uncle Xu."

After hearing the two conditions proposed by Xu Jin, Old Master Gu breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he could accept both conditions.

Ruinian suffered some injustice, but at least he saved his life. As for the money, he could owe it for now. Anyway, the Xu family wouldn't get a single penny from killing someone, and if Xu Jin was smart, he wouldn't force him to pay up immediately.

Gu Ruinian was helped up by Gu Dahu, the eldest grandson of the Gu family. He gritted his teeth and refused to kneel.

That's too humiliating.

Seeing that his knees were stiff, Xu Dabao stepped forward and kicked him in the knee, causing Gu Ruinian to fall to his knees with a thud in front of Xu Jin.

Xu Erbao stepped forward and forced Gu Ruinian's head to kowtow.

Grandma Gu trembled inwardly; the Xu brothers were nothing but a pair of wolves in sheep's clothing.

Grandpa Gu closed his eyes in distress.

Gu Ruinian was forced to kowtow three times.

Gu Ruinian raised his head, feeling dizzy, and stared at the Xu brothers, Da Bao and Er Bao, his eyes blazing with hatred.

“Ruinian has received the punishment he deserved.” Old Master Gu said slowly, “I will accept the five hundred taels of silver. If you ask me to pay it now, I can’t raise enough money even if I mortgage my entire family’s savings. But that doesn’t mean I will renege on my debt. I will pay you one hundred taels first, and I will give you an IOU for the remaining four hundred taels.”

Xu Jin's eyes were gloomy.

Old Master Gu added, "I will pay off the debt before the end of next year. The village chief is here, the clan heads of our two families are here, and everyone here is here to witness that my Gu family will definitely not renege on its debt."

Xu Jin chuckled and said slowly, "You think you can pay it back by this time next year? Why should I believe you?"

Grandpa Gu paused for a moment.

He now deeply regrets how he treated his eldest son's family. If he had been more tactful in handling his favoritism, perhaps his eldest daughter-in-law would have paid the money.

Four hundred taels was not a large sum for the eldest daughter-in-law.

Grandpa Gu said, "My family still has land and houses. If we can't pay back the debt, we can write these on an IOU to offset the debt."

Just then, Gu Xiaoxue entered the room carrying tea.

Originally, Gu Xiaoxue had been asked by her second uncle not to come in. When the two families sat down to negotiate, Grandma Gu sent Gu Honglian out to serve tea. However, Gu Honglian was too lazy to serve it and sent Gu Xiaoxue in instead. Gu Xiaoxue kept her head down and refilled everyone's teacups one by one.

Tong Huaqiong carefully examined Gu Xiaoxue. She had fair skin, a high nose, and big eyes. Her slightly small clothes stretched taut over her body, making her figure appear even more graceful.

Even in the entire Ningcheng, Gu Xiaoxue's appearance is exceptionally outstanding.

Gu Xiaoxue attracted the attention of the young men in the Xu family; one of them even blushed as he took a cup of tea from her.

"Auntie, please have some tea." Gu Xiaoxue looked up at Tong Huaqiong and said softly, "The cup for you is new."

Tong Huaqiong smiled at Gu Xiaoxue.

Looking up, she saw Xu Dabao's eyes glued to Gu Xiaoxue.

When Gu Xiaoxue was adding tea to Xu Dabao's cup, Xu Dabao seemingly unintentionally raised his hand and bumped into Gu Xiaoxue's elbow, spilling a cup of hot tea all over himself.

"Xiaoxue, how could you be so careless?" Grandpa Gu scolded.

This granddaughter is really causing trouble.

What if Xu Dabao gets burned and his family tries to extort money from him again?

After being scolded by Grandpa Gu, Gu Xiaoxue lowered her head even further and then hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe the tea stains off Xu Dabao.

Xu Dabao's eyes were fixed on Gu Xiaoxue's fair neck. He smiled ambiguously, grabbed Gu Xiaoxue's handkerchief, and said, "Xiaoxue, don't bother, I'll wipe it myself."

Tong Huaqiong felt utterly disgusted.

"Xiaoxue," Tong Huaqiong slammed her teacup on the table and called out, "My tea is cold, come and refill it for me."

Gu Xiaoxue took the handkerchief from Xu Dabao, lowered her head, and went to Tong Huaqiong's side to change the tea for her.

“This is none of your business, you and your sister Peach Blossom should go out,” Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Xiaoxue.

Gu Taohua also noticed Xu Dabao's lewd gaze and pulled Gu Xiaoxue out of the house.

Xu Dabao's eyes remained fixed on Gu Xiaoxue's departing figure.

Tong Huaqiong's eyes darkened.

Grandpa Gu and Xu Jin were still arguing, and Xu Jin had not yet made any request for Gu Xiaoxue to pay off the debt.

Tong Huaqiong did not believe that Xu Jin would give up this condition.

If Xu Jin really makes this request, it's estimated that Old Master Gu will have no choice but to accept it.

After all, in this era, which village or town didn't sell their daughters for their sons?

It is a common consensus that daughters should sacrifice for their brothers.

In many cases, family members don't need to feel embarrassed or guilty.

Seeing that the negotiations had reached a stalemate, Xu Jin suddenly said, "Uncle Gu, please have everyone leave. I have something I want to say to you privately."

Liu Tielian and Uncle Gu originally thought that Xu Jin had listened to them because he didn't mention using Gu Xiaoxue to pay off the debt.

"Xu Jin, what did you say to me in the village?" Liu Tielian's face darkened.

Uncle Gu's expression was equally unpleasant.

Xu Jin said with a smile, "Village chief, second uncle, you've misunderstood. Uncle Gu and I really have something to talk about."

Soon, the Xu family members, led by Xu Dabao, came out of the house.

The Gu family members also went out with the clan leader.

Only Old Master Xu Jingu and Gu Ruinian remained in the room. (End of Chapter)