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

Jia's face turned pale and then red as she was scolded by Old Madam Gu.

Gu Ruinian lay on the bed, not daring to utter a sound.

He felt his luck was really bad, so when no one was home, he discussed with his mother about marrying Gu Honglian to Xu Dabao in place of Xiaoxue. He thought it was foolproof, but Gu Honglian and Old Madam Gu caught them in the act.

He was on the verge of breaking down.

Why has Heaven never been kind to him since he passed the imperial examination?

"Mother, it's fortunate that you've stood up for me, otherwise my second sister-in-law and Ruinian would probably have used me to pay off my debts long ago."

Gu Honglian cried, her face streaked with tears.

This was a suggestion from Gu Taohua: to strike first and use tears to evoke the pity of Old Madam Gu.

"And you, if it weren't for the trouble you caused, how could the family have accumulated such a debt? Five hundred taels of silver, you couldn't even fetch five taels if you were sold. How dare you try to use me to pay off the debt?"

Gu Honglian turned the gun from Jia's body to Gu Ruinian.

She not only cursed, she also scratched him.

Long fingernails scratched Gu Ruinian all over his forehead and neck.

Grandma Gu was trembling with anger. She took a deep breath, realizing she had been so focused on scolding her second daughter-in-law.

But we forgot about the real culprit, Gu Ruinian.

In the past, if Gu Honglian had to be sacrificed for Gu Ruinian's future, even if the old lady Gu was reluctant, she would have agreed.

The situation is different now. This is to pay off Gu Ruinian's debt, and this brat didn't even consult her before he started plotting against her daughter.

Both authority and maternal love are challenged.

Grandma Gu was very patient.

Grandma Gu pointed at Gu Ruinian and cursed, "You heartless bastard! This is your own aunt! How dare you? Your grandfather and I are not dead yet, and you've already set your sights on Honglian. You might as well bury your grandmother! Let me tell you, you've made a mistake if you dare to lay a hand on Honglian."

"You say you have a way to repay the Xu family's five hundred taels of silver? Your way is to have your aunt pay off your sister's debt?"

"You damned wretch, born evil, a born scoundrel. Heaven is blind, how could my Gu family have such an unfilial descendant? You deserve to fail the imperial examination, you deserve to have your bones broken. If I had known you would scheme against your aunt like this, I should have drowned you when you were born."

Grandma Gu cursed and cried at the same time. When she got angry, she picked up a feather duster and gave Gu Ruinian a good beating.

Wei stood to the side with a cold smile on her lips.

Gu Ruinian, you've finally met your match.

They should have been beaten a long time ago.

Since he got into trouble, apart from Gu Honglian and Gu Youtian, no one has said a word of reproach to him.

According to her, the five hundred taels of silver should not be returned. Gu Ruinian should be handed over to the Xu family, and they can decide whether to kill or maim him as they please.

She truly hadn't expected that Gu Ruinian, already past his prime, would still be so recklessly hopping around and scheming.

The mother-in-law is the same; she dared to scheme against her sister-in-law for the sake of this good-for-nothing son.

"What's all this fuss about? The house isn't messy enough, how long are you going to keep making a scene?"

Old Master Gu was discussing borrowing money at the clan head's house when Gu Fengnian interrupted him. On his way home, he overheard Gu Fengnian briefly recounting what was happening at home. He was furious that Gu Ruinian and Jia Shi dared to scheme against his youngest daughter.

Upon entering the house, I heard crying and cursing coming from inside.

Grandpa Gu was thoroughly annoyed.

"Old man, you have to stand up for Honglian. I went through hell and back to have this daughter late in life, and this heartless mother and son want to give her to Xu Dabao to pay off their debts! Isn't that like tearing my heart out? Waaaaaah!"

Seeing her husband come in, Mrs. Gu couldn't hold on any longer and sat down on the ground, wailing.

Gu Honglian stood to the side, tears streaming down her face, and said, "If you make me pay off my debts, I'll hang myself at the door." Old Master Gu raised his eyes and gave Jia a sinister look.

In his mind, the reason why Gu Ruinian came up with this despicable idea was because of Jia's instigation.

This daughter-in-law has never liked Gu Honglian.

Jia's heart skipped a beat. She quickly slid down to her knees in front of Old Master Gu and cried, "Father, I didn't mean to scheme against my sister-in-law. I had no choice. Please allow your daughter-in-law to explain herself."

Grandma Gu roared, "You rotten seed with a heart, liver, lungs, and pus flowing from your body, no matter how eloquently you try to argue, you're just trying to drive Honglian to her death."

Grandpa Gu remained silent with a gloomy face.

Despite Grandma Gu's loud voice, Grandpa Gu is ultimately the one who makes the decisions in this family.

The fact that Old Master Gu did not reprimand Jia meant that Jia had a chance to speak up.

Ignoring Old Madam Gu's angry scolding, Madam Jia continued, "Compared to Xiaoxue, I think Honglian is more suitable to marry Xu Dabao."

Gu Honglian's eyes widened in fury upon hearing this.

Jia ignored it completely.

"Xiaoxue is outstanding in every way, not just in Qinghewan, but in the entire Pingchuan County. In the past, many wealthy families in the south came to our door wanting to marry Xiaoxue as their daughter-in-law, but I refused them all, hoping that Xiaoxue would marry into a better family and become a support to her family. Now, our family is in this state, our business is not doing well, we have no money, and Ruinian is in school and we don't know when his leg will heal. Our family can't continue like this. Now, only Xiaoxue's marriage might be able to help our family get back on its feet."

"Even if she doesn't marry into an official family, she could marry into a wealthy family as their principal wife."

"Look at Honglian. Father, not to be rude, but do you really think Honglian can marry into a good family? Back in the south, Mother was always angry that even though she was arranging marriages for Honglian, the families always seemed to prefer Xiaoxue. Doesn't that mean Xiaoxue can marry into a better family than Aunt? Xiaoxue marrying into the Xu family won't help our family at all. Since we're going to have to give up one of our daughters anyway, we might as well keep the one who's most useful."

Jia said while crying.

This means that Gu Xiaoxue is more valuable to the Gu family, and her marriage should not be taken lightly.

Gu Honglian is of no value to the family, and her marriage can be arranged at will.

Grandpa Gu's face went from being clouded with gloom as soon as he entered the house to the gloom dissipating.

What Jia said makes a lot of sense.

If Grandpa Gu weren't Gu Honglian's father, he would also think it would be better to marry Gu Honglian to Xu Dabao.

The difficulty lies in the fact that he is Gu Honglian's father, and Gu Honglian is his most beloved youngest daughter.

Grandma Gu and Grandpa Gu had lived together for so many years that she could tell what kind of poop he was going to take just by the way he turned his butt up.

Jia's words touched the old man's heart.

No, her daughter absolutely cannot marry Xu Dabao.

Old Mrs. Gu angrily said, "It would be better to kill me first than to marry Honglian to Xu Dabao."

Gu Honglian jumped up and down, saying, "If you make me marry Xu Dabao, I'll poison Gu Ruinian first, then Xu Dabao, and then myself."

Grandma Gu hugged Gu Honglian and cried bitterly.

Jia's eyelids twitched.

Gu Ruinian's face turned ashen.

Gu Honglian has a fiery temper; if pushed to the limit, she can really do something.

Gu Xiaoxue stood hunched over in the corner, raised her head, and met Gu Ruinian's gaze as he lay on the bed.

She usually didn't dare to look up at her second brother, because she always felt that he was more educated and knowledgeable than them.

This time, however, she met Gu Ruinian's gaze calmly. (End of Chapter)