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

Chapter 691 The Newlyweds Serving Tea
The day after her son's wedding, Tong Huaqiong got up early for the first time ever.

According to the customs of that era, she was to receive tea from the newlyweds.

After Lu Zhaozhao finished washing up, Gu Jingzhe led her to the main room.

When they reached the door of the main room, Lu Zhaozhao forcefully broke free from Gu Jingzhe's grip on her hand.

Although her mother-in-law was very easygoing with her before the marriage, Lu Zhaozhao was afraid that Tong Huaqiong would be offended by Lu Zhaozhao's affection for her husband right after the wedding, and that all the good impressions she had of Tong Huaqiong would disappear.

Gu Jingzhe didn't let go, and directly pulled Lu Zhaozhao into the house.

When Tong Huaqiong saw the young couple walking in together, she had a motherly smile on her face, like someone who was a big fan of the couple.

This couple is so pleasing to the eye!

When Lu Zhaozhao saw Tong Huaqiong sitting in the seat of honor, surrounded by Chen Sufen, Liu Yue'e, Gu Taohua, and others, her face flushed red. She tried to let go of Gu Jingzhe's hand again, but Gu Jingzhe gripped it even tighter.

Liu Yue'e joked, "Is your third brother's hand covered in glue? Once it's stuck, he won't let go."

Lu Zhaozhao's face turned even redder.

Tong Huaqiong said calmly, "This is how a young couple should be. I'm happy to see it."

Lu Zhaozhao felt much more at ease, and so did the old woman Dou, who was serving her.

My mother-in-law is indeed a good person.

Unlike some mothers-in-law who find it annoying when their sons are affectionate towards their daughters-in-law and then constantly seek out bad luck for their daughters-in-law.

"Third sister-in-law, please serve tea."

A soft cushion was laid out in front of Tong Huaqiong, and Chen Sufen had Granny Lei bring her tea.

Lu Zhaozhao and Gu Jingzhe kowtowed and offered tea to Tong Huaqiong. Tong Huaqiong took a sip of tea, put the ruby-encrusted bracelet on Lu Zhaozhao's wrist, and gave Lu Zhaozhao a box of black mother-of-pearl.

This black mother-of-pearl is a rare item obtained from Lian Hengruo.

It wasn't that Tong Huaqiong was mercenary; when she saw the Lu family's dowry yesterday, she knew that unless she gave Lu Zhaozhao her entire fortune, the gifts she gave couldn't compare to those of the Lu family.

"Thank you, Mother." Lu Zhaozhao smiled sweetly.

Subsequently, Chen Sufeng gave Lu Zhaozhao a set of jewelry, and Liu Yue'e gave Lu Zhaozhao a statue of Guanyin who grants children.

"Your sister-in-law lacks nothing, so I'll just give you a statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, to wish you and your third brother a son soon."

This statue of Guanyin, who grants children, was an idea that Liu Yue'e came up with after much thought.

What kind of family is the Lu family? Lu Zhaozhao has seen and used everything, so she wouldn't care about any gifts given to her. But she also wanted to win over Lu Zhaozhao before Chen Sufeng could, since her mother-in-law valued Lu Zhaozhao highly, and Gu Jingzhe was the most promising member of the Gu family.

Winning over Lu Zhaozhao would only benefit the second branch of the family, with no drawbacks.

Tong Huaqiong understood Liu Yue'e's thoughts very well, and there was no need to point them out in front of Lu Zhaozhao.

Chen Sufen suddenly felt that her appearance was not grand enough, after all, her second sister-in-law was clever.

Liu Yue'e glanced at Chen Sufen, a hint of smugness on her face.

This idea is not something an ordinary person could come up with.

Lu Zhaozhao seemed to see through Chen Sufeng's thoughts and said with a smile, "Thank you, sisters-in-law. I like both of your gifts."

Liu Yue'e couldn't tell from Lu Zhaozhao's face that she favored one sister-in-law over the other.

I thought she was a naive and innocent girl, but it turns out she's also incredibly shrewd.

As an unmarried sister-in-law, Gu Taohua received a hand-sewn handkerchief and a jade pendant from Lu Zhaozhao.

Gu Taohua held the handkerchief in silence. She wanted to say that although according to custom, a newly married sister-in-law should give her embroidery to her unmarried sister-in-law, the Gu family did not need to follow this rule, and her third sister-in-law did not need to make things difficult for herself, because she could not tell what the embroidery was at all.

Lu Zhaozhao smiled sheepishly; she really wasn't good at embroidery.

"Third Aunt."

"Hello, Third Aunt."

Man'er, Yaozu, and Xiaolong stepped forward to greet their third aunt. Lu Zhaozhao patted each of their heads, and each child received a set of clothes. Man'er received an extra set of jewelry, Xiaolong and Yaozu received an extra jade ruyi, and the other child received a set of writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

"Thank you, third aunt."

The children accepted the gifts and thanked the presenters in unison.

“From now on, we’re all family. Zhao Zhao, don’t feel constrained at home. Just like you are at the Lu family, do whatever you want,” Tong Huaqiong said, as if she were holding a company meeting.

Lu Zhaozhao nodded with a smile.

Tong Huaqiong then stopped smiling and instructed Gu Jingzhe: "Don't make Zhaozhao angry. Take good care of her and respect her, or I'll break your legs."

Gu Jingzhe said, "I will definitely follow Mother's instructions, listen to Zhaozhao for the rest of my life, never make her angry, and never make her sad."

Everyone in the room laughed.

Even Granny Dou couldn't help but turn her face away and smile.

After returning to her parents' home in three days, she will definitely tell the old man at length how reasonable her mother-in-law is.

“I will take Zhaozhao to see Master Su,” Gu Jingzhe said.

In this era, a teacher is equivalent to a father.

Gu Jingzhe had no father, and regarded Master Su as half a father.

Now that he's married, besides paying respects to his mother, he also has to pay respects to his husband.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Go."

Gu Jingzhe took Lu Zhaozhao's hand and stepped out of the Gu family's gate.

The villagers love to gossip, and this time the focus of the gossip is Gu Jingzhe's marriage, especially Lu Zhaozhao's dowry.

When everyone saw Gu Jingzhe walking out holding Lu Zhaozhao's hand, the gossip immediately stopped, and pairs of inquisitive and ambiguous eyes fell on Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao's hands.

Because no one had ever seen such a young couple before.

In the hearts of the villagers of Qinghewan, it's good that the young couple has a good relationship, but holding hands in public is inappropriate.

Even the famously eloped couple, Gu Dashu and Liu Yue'e, never held hands in public.

"Hey, Jingzhe, where are you taking your wife? To your grandparents' house?" someone asked.

"Go to Master Su's place."

Gu Jingzhe calmly led Lu Zhaozhao through the area where the gossip was concentrated.

At first, Lu Zhaozhao felt very embarrassed under the watchful eyes of everyone, but later she was also influenced by Gu Jingzhe and became much calmer.

When they arrived at the backyard, Master Su and Tong Pandi were already waiting.

Gu Jingzhe picked up Hua'er. The gift that Lu Zhaozhao gave to Hua'er and Duo'er was the same as the one given to Man'er.

"Master."

"Hoping for my younger brother and sister."

On the way here, Lu Zhaozhao asked Gu Jingzhe, puzzled, how she should address Tong Pandi and Master Su.

Gu Jingzhe said that Tong Pandi and Master Su each discussed their own views, and that Tong Pandi was their cousin, so she didn't call her "Master's Wife".

Tong Pandi was very excited. Lu Zhaozhao felt that she had seen this cousin before, but she couldn't quite put her finger on when she had seen her before.

Master Su gave Gu Jingzhe some advice, and Tong Pandi held Lu Zhaozhao's hand tightly, giving her two sets of clothes that he had sewn himself.

Lu Zhaozhao touched the pattern on the clothes, indicating that she liked it very much.

Tong Pandi usually doesn't talk much to Gu Jingzhe, but this time she kept urging Gu Jingzhe to cherish Lu Zhaozhao and treat her well, which made Gu Jingzhe swear an oath again in front of Master Su.

Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao sat with Tong Pandi and Su Fuzi for a while before getting up to leave.

According to custom, they also need to pay respects to their grandparents, relatives, and ancestors at the ancestral hall.