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

Chapter 620 The Weaving Workshop Was Set on Fire

"Why don't you take a piss and look at your daughter in the mirror? Is the young master of the Lian family after your daughter because of her pockmarked face or because she's too old to have children?"

When Jia asked Tian about it, she turned to the onlookers and said, "The Lian family clearly had their eye on my Xiaoxue. The two families had just discussed and were about to finalize the engagement when Xu Xinghua snatched it away. The Xu family colluded with Matchmaker Wang to pull a fast one and have Xu Xinghua steal Xiaoxue's marriage. Don't listen to her nonsense about the Lian family's wife having taken a liking to Xu Xinghua. That's just what they say to others. Who knows what tricks they used behind the scenes?"

"Xu Xinghua isn't even worthy of carrying my Xiaoxue's shoes. How could the Lian family possibly like her? They'd probably send her back as soon as the wedding ceremony is over."

"What? Xinghua's marriage was arranged by stealing Xiaoxue's?" Liu Yue'e, who had returned to the village from her vacation in Pingchuan, asked as she rushed to the front line of gossip.

"So this is ah."

The netizens exchanged glances again.

If that's really the case, then it's easy to understand.

They didn't quite believe that a young master from a wealthy family would take a fancy to a girl from Qinghe Bay, but they believed that the girl was Xiaoxue.

Judging by looks alone, the village women all say that Xiaoxue's face is so beautiful that she could become a favored concubine even if she entered the palace, let alone win the heart of a wealthy family's young master.

Tian was dumbfounded by Jia's question, and when she saw the villagers starting to make up their own interpretations, she was furious.

If Jia hadn't asked her directly, she wouldn't have known that the Lian family and Gu Xiaoxue had discussed marriage.

Even if it was discussed, so what? Now even the family members want Xinghua.

Tian spat in Jia's face and started cursing: "Your daughter is so seductive, but Madam Lian doesn't like your daughter's type. If you're so capable, go to the Lian family's door and make a scene, and see if the Lian family will betroth their daughter Xinghua or Xiaoxue?"

"What do you mean Xinghua stole Xiaoxue's marriage? That's baseless! It was clearly the Lian family who chose my Xinghua. You've gone mad and started slandering me because your Ruinian can't come and marry into our family. If you keep spouting nonsense, do you believe I'll tear your mouth apart?"

The two started arguing.

The constant arguing and cursing eventually escalated into hair-pulling and slapping.

The area in front of the weaving workshop was in complete chaos.

Tong Huaqiong could tolerate people chatting in front of the weaving workshop to increase its popularity, but she absolutely could not tolerate fighting in front of the weaving workshop.

"What's the fuss about?"

"Stop it."

As Tong Huaqiong yelled and cursed, Gu Xiaoxue poured a basin of water all over Jia Shi and Tian Shi.

The two stopped fighting the moment they were hit by the cold water.

Tong Huaqiong said, "I just overheard the two of them discussing the Lian family's marriage proposal inside the house, and they dragged Xiaoxue into it. How come I didn't know that Xiaoxue was discussing marriage with the Lian family?"

This matter needs to be explained clearly to the villagers.

Gu Xiaoxue slammed the wooden basin to the ground and said, "I am not engaged to the young master of the Lian family."

Tian was smug and said to Jia, "Look, your daughter said that the Lian family has never discussed marriage with her. How could the Lian family want the person who poisoned her own brother as their daughter-in-law? The so-called marriage between Xinghua and Xiaoxue is all your imagination."

Gu Xiaoxue raised her eyes and glanced at Tian Shi, which startled Tian Shi into shutting up.

This is a ruthless person who dared to poison his entire family.

Do not provoke them easily.

Gu Xiaoxue originally wanted to say that she didn't know anyone from the Lian family, but Tian's words, "How could the Lian family choose the person who poisoned her own brother as their daughter-in-law?" angered her.

She needed to say a few sarcastic things to Tian Shi to feel satisfied.

Gu Xiaoxue said to everyone, "Don't speculate anymore. The Lian family did want to discuss marriage with me, but I refused them as soon as they started talking. That's why they came to Xinghua. I'm not some pig that can just agree to anything just because they want me."

His tone was light and casual, which made Tian feel extremely uncomfortable.

The onlookers understood immediately, thinking, "I knew it!"

It turns out the Lian family had taken a liking to Gu Xiaoxue, but Gu Xiaoxue didn't reciprocate their feelings. So, in a fit of anger, the Lian family went to propose marriage to Xu Xinghua. Some people said this was too casual!

Aunt Qin chuckled and said, "The way rich young masters act is different from us common folk. They've been pampered since they were little, but Xiaoxue rejected him, so he deliberately married someone else to provoke her. That's how storytellers tell stories during the New Year, with twists and turns in the plot, and a happy ending in the end."

Tong Huaqiong: "."

Aunt Qin is a master of later generations' domineering CEO literature.

Aunt Qin said to Gu Xiaoxue earnestly, "But Xiaoxue, you did the right thing. You can't marry a young master who doesn't play by the rules. You mustn't be so foolish as to try to give him a happy ending."

Tian was speechless at what Aunt Qin said. At this moment, she was not sure if the Lian family was really like what Aunt Qin said, that they were unwilling to accept being rejected by Xiaoxue and had turned their attention to her family's Xinghua.

Tian lost all desire to show off; she felt as if she had swallowed a fly.

The family that Xiaoxue looked down on was treated like a treasure by the Xu family, and Tian felt that Gu Xiaoxue was deliberately slapping her in the face.

"Mother, you and Father want to sell me without even asking if I agree or not." Gu Xiaoxue embarrassed Jia Shi in public and sneered, "Next time you try to arrange a marriage for me without my consent, the whole family can go to the underworld for a grand reunion."

Madam Jia was seething with anger. Her daughter was showing her no respect whatsoever and was becoming increasingly difficult to control.

This would mean sending the whole family to their deaths.

The gossip-loving public has been rave about Xu Xinghua's marriage for the past few days, with many eagerly awaiting how the marriage will unfold. Some are even excitedly speculating that the Lian family will make a detour to pick up Gu Xiaoxue on the wedding day.

The Xu family was startled by the rumor and hurriedly sought out Matchmaker Wang to ask if the marriage could be moved up.

"Oh no! Someone has set fire to the weaving workshop!"

At night, Tong Huaqiong was awakened by shouts outside.

Tong Huaqiong threw on her coat and ran towards the weaving workshop.

Who would dare to set fire to the weaving workshop?

With so much cotton and cloth in the weaving workshop, it would catch fire at the slightest touch; it was clearly there to destroy Tong Huaqiong's family business.

Upon hearing the commotion, Gu Taohua, Gu Dahan, and the others quickly scrambled out of bed. Even Tong Pandi and Hong Shi followed suit, lighting lamps and running towards the weaving workshop.

Tong Huaqiong approached the weaving workshop and found that there was no towering fire as she had imagined.

The shout startled everyone in the village, and they rushed to the weaving workshop with buckets of water. Liu Qingsong asked, "Where's the fire?"

The fire did not ignite.

There were figures in the courtyard of the weaving workshop.

The maid Su Qing and Xiao Xi stood in front of Tong Huaqiong with lanterns. By the light, Tong Huaqiong saw a person being pressed down in the courtyard.

There was an oil drum and a tinderbox nearby.

“Master, it was Tian Fugui who set the fire.”

"It wasn't put away, but luckily Li Mingxiu found it."

Gu Daqiao and Song Qiaoniang pointed to Tian Fugui, who was trapped on the ground, their faces filled with lingering fear.

The weaving workshop was piled high with cotton and cloth, both of which must not be exposed to fire. If the workshop caught fire, not only would everyone lose their livelihood, but the fire could also spread and the entire village would perish in the flames.

Fortunately, Gu Daqiao and Song Qiaoniang were a careful couple. As managers of the weaving workshop, they would get up every night to check on things.

The two of them had just gotten up when they heard Li Mingxiu shouting.

Fortunately, Li Mingxiu had been staying at the weaving workshop these past few days, working late into the night to fluff cotton. She was strong enough to kick Tian Fugui over and then pin him down so he couldn't move.

Tong Huaqiong stared at Tian Fugui with icy eyes.

Tian Fugui was pinned down by Li Mingxiu, his head almost folded to the ground. Even though he didn't make eye contact with Tong Huaqiong, he still shivered for no reason.