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

Chapter 561 Coming to Work Tomorrow

"When Xiaoxue is arranging her marriage, she can't bypass this old woman like me. She must come back to help with the farm work during the busy season. Otherwise, I won't agree."

A tear glistened in the corner of Grandma Gu's eye.

They were all disobedient, and things were completely out of control, leaving Old Mrs. Gu with no choice but to weakly protest.

Madam Wei laughed and said, "Grandma, you're joking. Xiaoxue will definitely need your help when she's getting married. As I just said, Fengnian and I aren't abandoning you after we separated from the family. Even during busy farming seasons, you and Grandpa can just ask Fengnian and me for anything. Xiaoxue is the same; she's still your granddaughter."

Old Mrs. Gu treated Xiaoxue better than Mrs. Jia.

Judging from Gu Honglian's example, and considering her dislike of Gu Ruinian, if it really comes down to Old Madam Gu to decide Xiaoxue's marriage in the future, she probably won't go against Xiaoxue's wishes.

Moreover, Old Madam Gu was happy to cause trouble for Jia Shi, and she would agree with anything Jia Shi opposed.

If it could cause problems for Xiaoxue's future daughter-in-law, Grandma Gu wouldn't mind supporting Xiaoxue.

With this in mind, Wei readily agreed on Gu Xiaoxue's behalf.

"Since Xiaoxue is living with you and Fengnian, you can save up for Xiaoxue's dowry in the future," Grandpa Gu said weakly.

This time, Gu Fengnian spoke first, saying, "I will definitely save up a dowry for Xiaoxue."

After speaking, he looked at Madam Wei, who nodded.

With Xiaoxue already free from Gu Youtian's family and with her skillful hands, she could easily earn enough for her dowry by asking her aunt to work at the pastry shop or Jufulai.

I saw Gu Xiaoxue holding Yao Jia's hand.

The more Wei thought about it, the more she felt that accepting Gu Xiaoxue was a wise move. Xiaoxue would cherish the Yao family even more because of their past relationship.

The Yao family will only be better off with another person who loves them.

After a long and tumultuous day, the division of the old house has finally been settled.

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Jingzhe led a litter of cubs out of the main room. Tong Huaqiong frowned when she saw sulfur saltpeter protruding from a corner of the yard.

According to what Tong Huaqiong learned in her previous life, these things are used to make gunpowder.

Tong Huaqiong's mind raced; this thing must have been made by Gu Ruinian.

Given the old house's financial situation, it simply didn't have the money to buy these gunpowder materials. So, which powerful figure has Gu Ruinian latched onto this time?

It wasn't that Tong Huaqiong was concerned about Gu Ruinian, but rather that he was a time traveler, and she was afraid that one of Gu Ruinian's actions would be like the flapping of a butterfly's wings, triggering a tsunami that would also affect her.

Gu Xiaoxue and Yao Jia saw Tong Huaqiong off.

"Thank you, Auntie." Gu Xiaoxue thanked Tong Huaqiong and said, "It turns out that when I stand up for myself, they are afraid of me too."

Gu Xiaoxue regretted not resisting sooner.

Gu Xiaoxue thanked Gu Jingzhe again, "Brother Jingzhe, thank you too."

Xie Gujingzhe slapped Gu Ruinian a few times on her behalf.

Gu Jingzhe said to Gu Xiaoxue, "You don't need to thank me. We are blood relatives. This time, Ruinian went too far."

Gu Xiaoxue smiled. They were both scholars, yet her cousin treated her as a close relative, while her own brother wished he could kill her.

Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Xiaoxue, "Xiaoxue, you are very brave. Live well with your brother and sister-in-law, and you will have good days ahead. By the way, you will start working for me starting tomorrow."

Gu Xiaoxue's eyes lit up and she said, "But the weaving workshop won't open for a few more days, will it?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "Then we need to recruit textile workers in advance. I'll take anyone who comes to try out the job. You're skillful and can weave cloth. You and your sister-in-law Qiaoniang can help me keep an eye on whether the people who come to try out the job are suitable."

"Then I'll start work tomorrow."

Gu Xiaoxue was so excited that she choked up.

Tong Huaqiong said, "At first, it was five hundred coins a month. Once you got to work on the loom, you could earn more by working harder. I heard that a textile worker in Huating could earn two or three taels of silver a month. They could earn money to support their families, so they had a strong backbone. No one dared to bully them, whether in their own family or their husband's family."

As Gu Xiaoxue listened, her eyes lit up.

Two or three taels of silver a month.

It was more than the wages of shop assistants in some shops in Pingchuan. At this moment, Tong Huaqiong noticed a person standing on the village road staring at them. When Tong Huaqiong looked up, she saw it was Liu Qingsong.

Liu Qingsong was somewhat lost and his eyes were filled with Gu Xiaoxue.

"Auntie, I'm going back now."

Seeing that Liu Qingsong looked very uncomfortable, Gu Xiaoxue said goodbye to Tong Huaqiong and left in a hurry.

As she passed by Liu Qingsong, Tong Huaqiong sighed.

Gu Xiaoxue's expression revealed that she cared a lot about Liu Qingsong.

She still refused Liu Qingsong, not only because she didn't want to cause him trouble, but also because she realized that Liu Qingsong's mother didn't like her, and she didn't want to get herself into a marriage that her mother-in-law disliked.

It must be said that Gu Xiaoxue was conscious, but she must also be in pain.

Tong Huaqiong had nothing to say or offer any words of comfort.

After Gu Xiaoxue escorted Tong Huaqiong back, she went into the house.

Thinking about starting a new life soon, I smiled.

That smile, when seen by Jia, felt incredibly irritating.

"You traitorous wretch! You want to curry favor with the eldest son's family, but you don't even know if you're worthy of it. What good will it do you to follow the eldest son's family? Gu Taohua is so old and not a single person has proposed marriage to her. I think you'll all end up as nuns sooner or later," Jia Shi cursed angrily.

The old Gu Xiaoxue would have remained silent amidst the insults, but the current Gu Xiaoxue would not. She said, "Being a nun is better than being used to pay off debts. You want to be like your aunt, making money, and you want to have a son who ranks first in the imperial examinations, but your son is a disappointment."

If we're talking about who understands Jia Shi best, it's naturally her daughter, Gu Xiaoxue, who knows exactly where Jia Shi's pain lies and knows exactly where to strike.

As expected, Jia was so angry that she wanted to beat Gu Xiaoxue.

Even if you live with your brother and sister-in-law, I am still your mother.

Gu Xiaoxue wouldn't stand still and let her hit her; she slipped into Wei's room, making Jia slap her leg and cry in anger.

Wei and Gu Fengnian were packing their things, planning to move them to the west room.

Gu Xiaoxue naturally had to move along with them.

“Xiaoxue, I’m sorry to trouble you for now. Once your brother and I have worked hard to earn money, we’ll ask the village chief for a plot of land to build a new house and move out in a couple of years,” Wei said.

But by then, Xiaoxue should be getting married.

Thinking about saving up a dowry for Gu Xiaoxue and supporting Yaojia's education, Wei Shi was indeed under a lot of pressure.

Gu Xiaoxue said, "Sister-in-law, brother, Auntie has agreed to let me work at her weaving workshop. I'll go tomorrow."

Madam Wei looked surprised and said, "Auntie's family is going to open a weaving workshop?"

Because Tong Huaqiong's weaving workshop has not been publicized, no one in Qinghewan except the village chief knows about it.

Gu Xiaoxue nodded and said, "Yes, we'll start recruiting tomorrow. I'll go and help Auntie see who's suitable to be a weaver. Right now it's 500 wen a month, but Auntie says that once we start working, the more we work, the more we earn, and we might even earn three or four taels of silver a month."

Wei was stunned. Three or four taels of silver a month was something even a strong laborer like Gu Fengnian couldn't earn.

Gu Fengnian also perked up; his younger sister had indeed caught the aunt's eye, and now there were more ways to make money.

Gu Xiaoxue said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, brother, since I'm living with you, I also want to contribute to our family. I'll use the money I earn to buy writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for the Yao family."

Wei and Gu Fengnian were deeply moved.

Gu Fengnian said, "With me as your father here, how could I let you buy it for him? You can save your money as your dowry."

Wei also said, "Yes, keep the money you earn for yourself in the future."

Gu Xiaoxue smiled but didn't say anything.

Finding a good husband isn't easy, so if she's not going to marry Liu Qingsong, there's no point in marrying anyone else.

Thinking of Liu Qingsong's willingness to risk his life to protect her, and seeing his distraught eyes again today, Gu Xiaoxue felt a tightness in her heart.