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

Chapter 565 Recruiting New Scholars

"Since you and my junior brother are from the same village, we can be considered to have a connection. I'll call you Miss Honglian."

Gu Honglian interpreted Fan Tong's question as a sign that he had feelings for her.

Therefore, Gu Honglian felt that Fan Tong came to Qinghe Bay specifically to target her.

When Fan Tong heard Gu Jingzhe ask this question, he replied, "I have come to find Master Su."

Gu Jingzhe frowned slightly.

Even when he was in the private school in town, Fan Tong didn't seem to respect Master Su much.

Fan Tong considered himself the top scholar in Yan Guan Town and thought that Master Su was just a failed candidate in the imperial examinations who had no luck in his official career, which was why he came to Yan Guan Town to become a teacher.

If he were truly as formidable as the rumors suggest, why wouldn't he go to Wanliu Academy instead of a rural private school?

Therefore, he usually didn't take Master Su seriously, and Master Su didn't have much of a teacher-student relationship with him.

As soon as Gu Jingzhe frowned, Tong Huaqiong knew that Fan Tong's words were just an excuse.

What do you mean by visiting Master Su? Master Su has been living in Qinghe Bay for several months now, and several students from the private school have come to visit him. For example, Meng Yanping, Gu Jingzhe's classmate, comes to visit Master Su from time to time, but Fan Tong has never been seen visiting Master Su.

Gu Honglian was slightly disappointed when she heard that Fan Tong had come to see Master Su.

She thought they were coming to see her.

Then she thought about it again and was happy. She had been foolish. How could Fan Tong say that he had come to see her in front of his sister-in-law and nephew?

Gu Honglian was straightforward, and all her emotions were clearly written on her face.

Tong Huaqiong immediately realized that Gu Honglian was overthinking things.

Tong Huaqiong looked Fan Tong up and down and said, "Look at Young Master Fan's new clothes, has someone else taken a liking to you and want to take you as their son-in-law?"

Fan Tong was almost chosen by Master Huang to be his son-in-law, but Tong Huaqiong ruined the whole thing. So when Fan Tong heard Tong Huaqiong say that, it touched a nerve.

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Gu Honglian.

This sister-in-law is domineering and spoiled, but after spending the past six months in Qinghewan, she hasn't become too wicked and even knows how to pity Gu Xiaoxue.

Therefore, Tong Huaqiong deliberately said this to Gu Honglian, hoping that the blockhead Gu Honglian would listen and give up her feelings for Fan Tong.

Fan Tong was not a good match in either his previous life or this life.

Fan Tong gritted her teeth and said, "Manager Tong, you're joking. This dress was made for me by my sister who got married."

Tong Huaqiong clicked her tongue and gave Fan Tong a meaningful look.

This is yet another example of Gu Ruinian bringing glory to his ancestors.

It sucks the blood of its sisters to sustain itself.

No wonder Fan Tong clung to Gu Taohua even though he didn't like her in his past life. He was used to sucking women's blood, and when he saw that Gu Taohua had a good brother, he immediately pounced on her.

All of Gu Taohua's spoiled nature from her previous life vanished when she met Fan Tong. She became even more love-struck than Lu Zhaozhao, wholeheartedly supporting Fan Tong and using Gu Jingzhe's influence to elevate him.

Fortunately, Gu Taohua regained consciousness in this lifetime.

Tong Huaqiong did not want Fan Tong to fall under Gu Taohua's nose again, nor did she want Gu Honglian to follow the same path Gu Taohua had taken in her previous life.

Fan Tong felt a chill run down his spine under Tong Huaqiong's gaze.

He couldn't understand why Widow Tong never treated him kindly, despite him being a respected scholar.

He had once tried to seduce Gu Taohua, but that was because Gu Taohua had offered herself up. It was an honor for Gu Taohua, a simple country girl, to be seduce by him. He didn't understand why Widow Tong looked down on him so much.

He would have dared to ask that question before, but not now.

The current Widow Tong is not only the richest woman in Qinghe Bay, but also the mother of the top criminal.

Speaking of the case, Fan Tong felt uneasy.

He was originally one of the few scholars in Yanguan Town, but now that Gu Jingzhe has appeared, his brilliance has been greatly diminished.

What's even more infuriating is that he can go to Wanliu Academy. He wants to go but doesn't have the money.

"Senior Brother Fan, is there something on my face? Why do you keep staring at my face?" Gu Jingzhe asked.

Fan Tong said, "No, I just wanted to say that since Junior Brother went to Wanliu Academy, his whole demeanor is different from when he was in the countryside."

Gu Jingzhe said, "Perhaps Senior Brother Fan is blind. I am no different from before."

Tong Huaqiong chuckled; her youngest son's sharp tongue was as sharp as ever.

Fan Tong was speechless.

"Young Master Fan, didn't you want to see Master Su? I'll take you there."

Even if Gu Honglian was stupid, she could tell that neither her sister-in-law nor her nephew treated Fan Tong well, so she spoke up to help Fan Tong out of the predicament.

"Yes, I'm afraid Master Su has finished his studies now. I'd like to go see him, and I'd appreciate it if Miss Honglian could show me the way." Fan Tong was somewhat grateful for Gu Honglian's appearance.

With a charming smile, Gu Honglian led Fan Tong toward the private school.

Tong Huaqiong coldly observed Gu Honglian; her sister-in-law had completely thrown herself into it.

If Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu knew that Gu Honglian was in love with Scholar Fan, they would probably be eager to rush over to her.

After all, the idea that "all other pursuits are inferior, only studying is superior" is deeply ingrained in people's minds in this era.

I'm afraid that someone as scheming as Fan Tong would look down on Gu Honglian.

Gu Honglian led Fan Tong to the entrance of the private school and stopped.

“Young Master Fan, Master Su hasn’t finished his lessons yet. I’ll wait here with you for a while,” Gu Honglian said.

The sound of students reading aloud came from the classroom. Fan Tong knew Master Su's rules; he was never to be disturbed during class.

Fan Tong said, "Thank you for your help, Miss Honglian. I can wait by myself."

The mention of "Miss Honglian" by Fan Tong warmed Gu Honglian's heart, and she said, "I have nothing else to do, I'll wait with you."

Gu Honglian was secretly annoyed. Her family was not well-off and could not afford to entertain Fan Tong. Otherwise, she would have invited Fan Tong to her home as a guest.

This way, I could both embarrass my second sister-in-law and make my mother happy.

Back when they were in the south, her fiancé, a scholar, broke off the engagement in a hurry when he saw the Gu family's decline, which made her lose face.

She wanted to show her family that she had the ability to recruit new scholars.

Fan Tong frowned inwardly.

As a country girl, which one isn't busy with housework and farm work? This is the first time he's encountered such an idle girl, spending broad daylight with a stranger and others.

That's incredibly shameless.

He was not unaware of Gu Honglian's intentions.

He could tolerate Gu Honglian if she were as beautiful as a flower, but this girl's appearance did not suit his taste.

Gu Honglian didn't leave, and Fan Tong didn't want to send her away, so the two stood facing each other.

One was unhappy, the other was filled with sweetness.

Fan Tong looked in the direction where Tong Huaqiong had just been standing and saw a girl in a pink dress coming out of the courtyard. Looking at the girl from afar, with her red lips and white teeth, who else could it be but Gu Taohua?

Fan Tong's heart skipped a beat. Remembering that Gu Honglian was Gu Taohua's aunt, he slowly probed for information: "I just saw a lot of people busy in that courtyard. Is your village holding a harvest feast there?"

When Gu Honglian saw that Fan Tong had taken the initiative to speak to her, she was overjoyed and said, "Our village's harvest feast has already been held. That was my sister-in-law's weaving workshop."

Sister-in-law? Weaving workshop?
Fan Tong's temples throbbed, and he asked, "Who is your sister-in-law? How does she have the ability to run a weaving workshop?"

Gu Honglian smiled and said, "The one who just asked you a question is my sister-in-law."

She regretted it a little after saying it. Now Fan Tong would know that Gu Jingzhe was her nephew. What if Fan Tong treated her as an elder and nipped her in the bud?