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

Chapter 708 The Obstacle to Literacy Has Disappeared
Seeing everyone's reactions, Tong Huaqiong knew that the obstacle to the girls in the tribe learning to read had finally disappeared.

Next came the matter of purchasing land for the sacrificial ceremony and allocating funds for the clan's education.

Tong Huaqiong entrusted the matter of sacrificial fields to Gu Dahan and Gu Fengnian, and the matter of studying to Gu Daqiao.

Su Qing was in charge of all matters related to the girls' literacy.

Once everything was arranged, everyone quickly dispersed.

The clan chief was a little unhappy, as Tong Huaqiong had done all the clan chief's work. However, the thought that his great-grandson could study for free made him feel a little better.

The clan chief leaned over to speak to Tong Huaqiong, but Tong Huaqiong still didn't give him a friendly look.

The clan chief had no choice but to chat with Old Master Gu.

The boys in the clan were excited and overjoyed. Many of them thought they would become scholars and officials like Gu Jingzhe, or even become high-ranking officials.

After all, Tong Huaqiong said that those with a talent for studying would cover all the expenses from their early education to their studies in Shengjing.

Looking at everyone's happy faces, Tong Huaqiong thought that it was a good thing to have the desire to make a name for oneself, but these free books were not so easy to read. Anyone with bad character or who took advantage of the free reading opportunity to slack off would be eliminated.

As Tong Huaqiong left the council chamber, Wu Na approached her.

“Aunt, there are so many children and nephews in our clan who want to study. It’s not enough to have just one Master Su in the private school. What do you think about having my son Ruinian become a teacher for our Gu family’s children and nephews?” Wu Na added with a smile, “Ruinian is literate and knowledgeable. He almost became a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) back then. He can definitely help our Gu family to cultivate more people.”

Ever since Tong Huaqiong proposed to provide education for the talented members of the Gu family, Wu Na has been urging Gu Ruinian to go to Tong Huaqiong to ask for a teaching position.

Gu Ruinian was unwilling.

Ever since he learned that Tong Huaqiong was from his hometown and that she was capable of easily defeating him and seeing through his ugly side, he has avoided Tong Huaqiong like the plague.

He felt he was qualified to be a teacher, after all, he was the only 985 graduate in the whole village in modern times.

Once he became a teacher, he wouldn't have to work in the fields.

However, forcing him to beg Tong Huaqiong was more painful than killing him.

Therefore, he himself was unwilling to ask Tong Huaqiong to let Wu Na play.

Without saying a word, Wu Na danced in front of Tong Huaqiong.

My baby is about to be born, but I have no money. I even throw a tantrum over eating an egg. Life is so miserable.

If Gu Ruinian could become her tutor and provide her with rice every month, she could break free from the old family mansion and live independently with Gu Ruinian.

Tong Huaqiong smiled and directly rejected Wu Na's request.

“Aunt, why do you have such a big problem with Ruinian? He can definitely be a good teacher. If you don’t trust his learning, why don’t you let him teach the girls in the clan to read? Teaching to read doesn’t require much knowledge.” Wu Na clung to Tong Huaqiong.

She was determined to get this position as a tutor.

Tong Huaqiong wondered what the girls in her clan had done to deserve a teacher like Gu Ruinian.

Given the motives of Gu Ruinian and Long Aotian, I'm afraid they'll not only disrespect the girls in the clan, but they might even be planning to build a harem.

She didn't want Gu Jingzhe to harm the girls in the clan.

Gu Ruinian is like a venomous snake, now forced to hide his venom, which he will unleash once he has the chance.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Anyone is fine, except for Ruinian. You don't need to beg anymore, it's no use begging."

After saying that, he turned and went out.

A hateful gaze fell on Tong Huaqiong. Tong Huaqiong turned around, and Gu Ruinian trembled in fright, quickly avoiding eye contact.

"Coward," Tong Huaqiong cursed.

After Tong Huaqiong left, Wu Na grabbed Gu Jingzhe and said, "Why didn't you go and beg your aunt? You made me beg, but I don't have that much influence. Your aunt is so petty. She just holds a grudge because I'm from the Wu family and Tong Pandi has a grudge against us. You're literate, so even if she doesn't let you teach boys to read and take the imperial examinations, you could at least teach girls to read, right? Isn't that better than hiring a tutor from outside? But she didn't show you any leniency at all."

Gu Ruinian looked gloomy.

Ignoring Wu Na, she turned and left.

Wu Na then grabbed Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu and said, "Grandpa and Grandma, you have to help us. Ruinian is perfectly capable of teaching the girls in the clan to read. I just went to ask my aunt, but she wouldn't give me any face at all and wouldn't agree to Ruinian being the teacher."

"Please go and beg my aunt for me. I'm about to give birth, and we have no money at home. It's hard enough to raise a child by just farming. If Ruinian could become a tutor, our family's life wouldn't be so difficult."

It was rare for Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu to agree with Wu Na's suggestion.

However, the thought of his eldest daughter-in-law's cold face always made him reluctant to beg her, and even if he did, she wouldn't listen.

Grandma Gu thought of her own sisters-in-law.

Tong Huaqiong treated her sister-in-law with great respect, calling her "Second Aunt" much more affectionately than she, her mother-in-law.

Grandma Gu put aside her opinion of her second aunt and went to her side, hoping that her second aunt could help her ask Tong Huaqiong to let Gu Ruinian teach the girls in the clan to read.

"Even if it's less money, it's fine, as long as I can earn some to supplement the family income." Old Mrs. Gu looked at her second aunt with hopeful eyes.

Second Aunt waved her hand and said coldly, "Don't beg me for this. You know Ruinian's situation better than I do. I doubt anyone would dare to learn to read with him, and I'm too embarrassed to ask your daughter-in-law for help."

Grandma Gu was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth.

She lowered her head, showing no respect whatsoever to her sister-in-law.

Grandpa Gu scanned the surroundings with his eyes, then fixed his gaze on Wei Shi and Gu Fengnian, which frightened his grandson and granddaughter-in-law so much that they ran away one after the other.

Gu Fengnian was countless times grateful that he had realized his mistake and returned to his aunt's house with his wife and sister in time.

Gu Fengnian thought to himself that his family of three, including his younger sister, had finally managed to live a good life thanks to his aunt, and he couldn't let his younger brother hold them back.

Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu begged around, but no one dared to plead with Tong Huaqiong on behalf of Gu Ruinian.

The villagers gossiped behind her back, saying that even Tong Huaqiong's parents-in-law didn't dare to ask her for help, so how could they?

Left with no other choice, the Gu family and others abandoned their idea of ​​having Gu Ruinian become a tutor.

Wu Na was so angry that she smashed things around the house, complaining about her miserable life and how Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu didn't care about her and Ruinian's lives.

Grandma Gu was so angry that she scolded Wu Na.

Amidst the commotion, the day of Gu Honglian's wedding arrived.

As their only daughter and the youngest daughter of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gu naturally wanted to make her wedding a grand and spectacular affair.

But my family's circumstances don't allow it.

Gu Honglian was quite capable; she managed to swindle fifty taels of silver from Fan Tong.

With the fifty taels of silver that Gu Honglian had swindled, plus the silver that Gu Honglian had taken from Jia Shi and the twenty taels of silver sent by her own family, Old Master Gu and Old Madam Gu made quite a lively feast.

The entire Gu family was present, and Tong Huaqiong, as the eldest sister-in-law, naturally had to attend.