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

Chapter 538 A Statement Must Be Made

Wei thought to herself, "Forget it."

Although she had only been in Qinghewan for a short time, given the Xu family's traditions, it was wishful thinking for them to allow their sister-in-law to go out and open a shop with her husband without having to do farm work.

Xu Jin's wife, Madam Yu, has lost a daughter and harbors a thorn in her side; who knows how she'll torment Xiaoxue in the future.

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Gu stopped crying and began to ponder the matter carefully.

The surname Xu is the most common surname in the entire Qinghewan area.

Xu Jin's family was doing quite well.

Xu Dabao was a few years older than Xiaoxue and not bad-looking. Putting aside the feud between the Xu and Gu families, the Xu family was indeed a good match.

Xiaoxue really married him, and they finally had someone to rely on in Qinghewan.

At this moment, Gu Honglian spoke up, saying, "But Xu Dabao is no good person. He was a scoundrel when he was a child, peeping at the aunties and sisters-in-law in the village while they were bathing. Now that he's grown up, he's even more of a beast. I've heard in the village that he indulges in all sorts of vices, from drinking to gambling to whoring. Xiaoxue is so honest, how can she possibly control him after marrying him?"

Gu Honglian, as the aunt, often bullied Xiaoxue, but that doesn't mean she wanted Xiaoxue to marry into a terrible situation.

Today, Gu Honglian felt immense sympathy for her niece, Xiaoxue.

Gu Ruinian caused all this trouble, so why should Xiaoxue have to pay off the debt?

Gu Taohua had secretly mentioned to herself today that once her family finished taking Xiaoxue's money to pay off their debts, she would be next.
Why should she and Xiaoxue sacrifice themselves for Gu Ruinian?

“Honglian, what do you know? It’s normal for a man to be a bit of a scoundrel before marriage, he’ll be fine after marriage. We’ll be living in the same village then, if Xu Dabao really treats Xiaoxue badly, doesn’t Xiaoxue still have our family? She has two brothers and nephews, they can all support Xiaoxue.” Old Master Gu reprimanded Gu Honglian.

Jia opened her mouth several times, wanting to suggest marrying Gu Honglian to Xu Dabao to pay off the debt, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Unlike her younger sister, the sister-in-law is not easy to manipulate.

Gu Fengnian said in a low voice, "Why don't we think of other ways? We only have one younger sister in the family, and we've already used her to pay off debts. When Yaojia grows up and wants to find a wife, people might bring this up. What family would want their daughter to marry someone who sold her?"

Gu Fengnian figured it out.

As long as Ruinian can be saved, Jia will eventually be persuaded.

As for Father, if the Xu family offers enough benefits, Father will eventually agree.

The trouble caused by Gu Ruinian ultimately hurt his younger sister.

Normally, Gu Fengnian would listen to his grandfather or parents when it came to family matters, but he was unwilling to do so in this situation.

One can only say that Gu Fengnian still has a conscience.

"If we don't marry Xiaoxue off, we won't be able to raise the money. What if they try to kill Ruinian?" Old Master Gu said with a serious face. "Don't think the Xu family is easy to fool. Even if they don't dare to openly come to our house to take Ruinian away, who knows what kind of revenge they might take if we meet them on the road later."

Gu Ruinian's leg is broken, but not his root. If he can continue the Gu family line, we can't just watch him fall into the Xu family's trap.

The only solution now is to form a marriage alliance with the Xu family.

When Jia heard that the Xu family wanted Gu Ruinian dead, she was so frightened that she dared not object anymore.

The Xu family is capable of doing things.

The whole family fell silent again.

Gu Xiaoxue trembled with fear. If she refused to marry Xu Dabao, her second brother might lose his life.

But what about her fate if she marries Xu Dabao?

Madam Wei said, "We should ask Xiaoxue's opinion on this matter, since marriage is a lifelong commitment."

The whole family turned to look at Gu Xiaoxue, who bit her lower lip.

Wei hoped that Gu Xiaoxue would say no.

Gu Xiaoxue said, "I...I don't know either." Madam Wei looked at Gu Fengnian, who suddenly realized something and turned to Gu Ruinian on the bed, asking, "Ruinian, you caused this mess. What do you think about the Xu family using your sister to pay off their debt? Do you agree to your sister marrying into the family to pay off their debt?"

Gu Xiaoxue clenched her nails.

If her second brother was willing to protect her like her eldest brother, and if her second brother was unwilling, then she would agree to the Xu family's demands.

Gu Ruinian avoided eye contact.

As before, he only needed to stay in the shadows and remain silent, and eventually Old Master Gu would make a decision that was in his favor.

He didn't ask for any of it; it was all given to him voluntarily by others.

This time, he chose to remain silent as well.

Gu Fengnian stared intently at him, forcing him to speak.

“I’ll listen to my family,” Gu Ruinian said.

Not hearing the answer she wanted, Gu Xiaoxue lowered her head.

Gu Fengnian felt an inexplicable aversion to his younger brother.

"Ruinian, you caused this mess. Why are you listening to your family? There are two factions in the family. One faction wants Xiaoxue to pay off your debts, and the other faction is against it. Which faction are you supporting?" Gu Fengnian stared intently at Gu Ruinian.

Old Master Gu coughed and said, "Don't make things difficult for Ruinian."

"We didn't make things difficult for him, we just wanted him to give us a straight answer." Gu Fengnian interrupted Old Master Gu, continuing to press Gu Ruinian for a clear answer, "Ruinian, Xiaoxue is our sister, how can you bear to use her to pay off your debts?"

Forced to speak, Gu Ruinian said, "Of course I didn't want to. But now I have no choice. My mistake was thinking too much about my family, trying to climb up to the Zheng and Lian families and using their influence to study without spending my family's money, but I was tricked by them."

“What’s done is done, what am I supposed to do? If regret were useful, I could regret every day. Xiaoxue is different from me. Girls will eventually get married, no matter who they marry. I can study, my leg can still be saved, and besides, I’m still useful to the Zheng family. Xiaoxue’s sacrifice is temporary. When I make a name for myself, I’ll support Xiaoxue. At that time, Xiaoxue can divorce and remarry if she wants.”

"We're all family, why bother with so much?"

Gu Fengnian's eyes widened.

It was as if he was seeing through his younger brother for the first time, and for a moment he didn't know how to speak.

Gu Xiaoxue was heartbroken.

Even Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu were shocked by Gu Ruinian's shamelessness.

Grandpa Gu frowned. His grandson was too hasty; when he was in a hurry, he spoke without thinking.

"Xiaoxue cannot marry Xu Dabao."

Gu Youtian reiterated his opposition.

Gu Ruinian sneered inwardly. This cheap father of his thought, did he not know his plans?

They just want to use Xiaoxue to gain greater benefits.

How much more noble is he than I am?

"Xiaoxue marrying into the Xu family would be a waste of a marriage. I have other arrangements for Xiaoxue's marriage." Gu Youtian looked at Gu Ruinian on the bed and smiled faintly. "Ruinian can go to the Xu family and be their slave. Xu Jin's brother, Xu Yong, has a daughter, but no one has proposed to her. Let's talk to Xu Yong and have Ruinian marry his daughter. I'm sure with Xu Yong's help, we won't have to pay the money."

Xu Yong's daughter is named Xu Xinghua, and Gu Ruinian is familiar with her.

Xu Xinghua had a rash when she was a child, which left her with pockmarks on her face. She has always had bad luck in finding a husband and is still unmarried at the age of eighteen.

When Gu Ruinian heard that he was to marry Xu Xinghua, he nearly fainted.

He might as well marry Wu Na.

Speaking of Wu Na, she appeared in the warehouse and said to Gu Youtian, "Uncle Youtian, my father wants you to come over for a moment."