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

Chapter 713 I brought you here to back me up
The day before was the day Fan Tong was to receive his salary and allowance for the imperial examinations.

Fan Tong had mentioned it casually before, and Gu Honglian had taken note of it.

She eagerly awaited Fan Tong handing over the money to her to manage.

Gu Honglian pondered that since she was now Fan Tong's wife, it was only right and proper that Fan Tong should hand over his rice, grain, and money to her.

Even if we don't give it all to her, she can accept giving her half and the other half to Grandma Fan.

Before this, Fan Tong had always spent most of the rice and silver that the government gave to the scholars, and then took the remaining small portion home to his sister-in-law to manage.

This time was the same as always.

When Gu Honglian found out, she didn't dare to lose face. She held back her anger and reasoned with Fan Tong, saying that if the two of them had children in the future, how would they raise them without rice, food, and money? She asked Fan Tong to consider her and the children more in the future.

Fan Tong shrugged and told Gu Honglian to use her dowry to make up the difference.

Gu Honglian was naturally unwilling to spend her own savings, but Fan Tong instead accused her of being unvirtuous, saying that his sister-in-law had been married into the Fan family for so many years, serving her mother-in-law, managing the household, working in the fields, and supporting his studies. It was only right that he gave his sister-in-law rice, grain, and money, and that Gu Honglian should not interfere with his decision.

When Sister-in-law Fan found out, she ran to her mother-in-law and cried.

She tearfully complained that Gu Honglian couldn't tolerate her and schemed against her. She said that she had sacrificed so much for the family, and even her sister-in-law was jealous of the little bit of rice and silver her brother-in-law gave her.

Old Mrs. Fan called Gu Honglian over and scolded her. Gu Honglian exploded and cried as she recounted all the things she had suffered since marrying into the Fan family.

As they were talking, they started arguing, which quickly escalated into a hair-pulling argument.

Fan's eldest sister-in-law was used to working in the fields and she beat Gu Honglian, who was no match for her.

In the heat of the moment, Gu Honglian bit down on Fan's sister-in-law's arm, drawing blood from her mouth. Fan's sister-in-law screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

When Fan Tong's eldest sister-in-law was hitting Gu Honglian, Fan Tong remained expressionless.

When Gu Honglian bit Fan Tong, Fan Tong became enraged, pulled the two apart, and slapped Gu Honglian hard, knocking her to the ground.

Gu Honglian had never been beaten before, and she was so angry that she wanted to jump into the well.

She lay in bed for two days, and no one came to see her.

Two days later, before dawn, Gu Honglian carried the Fan family back to her parents' home.

After hearing Gu Honglian's account, Tong Huaqiong and the others felt that the Fan family was simply a den of wolves.

Any daughter-in-law who goes in will suffer a lot.

Moreover, there's the single-minded Gu Honglian.

“Fan Tong, that damned man, actually hit me!” Gu Honglian cried, sobbing uncontrollably. “It’s one thing for my old woman and sister-in-law to hit me, but Fan Tong didn’t take my side. They’re family, and I feel like an outsider.”

Grandma Gu was also crying.

Her youngest daughter has been pampered since she was a child, regardless of whether they were rich or poor. She has never been beaten or even spoken to harshly.

I can't swallow this insult.

“That old hag and your slutty sister-in-law, I’ll skin them alive,” said Old Mrs. Gu.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself that Old Mrs. Gu was only tough on her own, but if she really went up against Old Mrs. Fan, it was hard to say who would be exposed.

Grandpa Gu sighed and said, "It's all because of poverty. If the family had prepared more dowry for Honglian, this wouldn't have happened."

Tong Huaqiong didn't know if Grandpa Gu really thought that way, but she did know that Grandpa Gu was criticizing her for giving too little dowry.

Tong Huaqiong sneered at Old Master Gu, "With a den of wolves like the Fan family, how can it be a matter of how much dowry there is? Even if we bring a large dowry, can Honglian hold onto it? They will steal the dowry and continue to bully people."

"Your daughter has been bullied like this, and you're still talking about dowry and such. When something like this happens, can't you stop taking the blame on your own family? This is clearly the Fan family's fault."

Gu Baishuang chimed in, "That makes sense. The Fan family prides themselves on their son being a scholar, and they look down on Auntie from the bottom of their hearts. If Auntie brings a large dowry, they think it's only right, and judging from that, they'll harbor ill intentions because of the dowry. If Auntie doesn't have a dowry, they'll make things difficult for her. Anyway, life is hard whether she has a dowry or not. If you ask me, the mistake was in arranging this marriage." Tong Huaqiong nodded.

Grandpa Gu looked very unhappy after being reprimanded in public by his daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

Grandma Gu glanced at Tong Huaqiong, unsure whether her eldest daughter-in-law had come to laugh at Honglian or to offer advice.

Grandpa Gu found a way to save face and looked at Gu Dahan and Gu Fengnian, saying, "I called you here to discuss the matter of your aunt being bullied by the Fan family. You just heard how the Fan family behaved so badly. What do you two think?"

Gu Dahan and Gu Fengnian exchanged a glance and said, "As my eldest sister just said, this marriage with the Fan family shouldn't have happened in the first place. Grandpa and Grandma also bear some responsibility. You always wanted to marry our aunt off to a higher social class, but you didn't consider the downsides of that at all. You would have known about the Fan family's family traditions if you had just inquired about them beforehand."

Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu were deeply moved.

They weren't unaware of the Fan family's situation, yet they still allowed Gu Honglian to marry him; it was simply that the scholar's prestige outweighed everything else.

Grandpa Gu said, "Stop talking nonsense. We're already married. What do you think we should do?"

Gu Dahan said, "How about we get a divorce?"

"No way," Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu said in unison.

Grandpa Gu wanted to make shoe soles for Gu Dahan; how could the Gu family produce a divorced woman?

Getting divorced right after getting married is so shameful!

After the divorce, it will be difficult for Honglian to get married again. After he and his wife pass away, who will protect their daughter?

Their purpose in calling Gu Dahan and Gu Fengnian was to go to the Fan family to support Gu Honglian.

"Divorce is not an option; our Gu family does not produce women who are divorced."

Gu Honglian nodded; she didn't want a divorce either.

She wanted to live a good life with Fan Tong and be a peaceful scholar's wife.

Grandpa Gu glanced past Gu Dahan. This grandson was so influenced by his eldest daughter-in-law that he was always talking about divorce. Did he think that Tong Pandi's divorce was something to be proud of? Grandpa Gu looked at Gu Fengnian and asked, "Fengnian, what do you think?"

Gu Fengnian said, "Sir, whatever you say, we'll do."

Gu Fengnian passed the buck to Old Master Gu.

Gu Fengnian still wanted to stand up for his aunt who had been bullied.

Otherwise, if they don't vent their anger, people will think that the Fan family's daughter is easy to bully.

Neither he nor Gu Dahan could fight, and Gu Ruinian was even less of a threat.

Old Master Gu's eyes darkened.

The grandchildren present are not to be relied upon.

He started to miss Gu Jingzhe and Gu Dashu. With those two bastards around, and with Gu Jingzhe backing him up, Gu Dashu would probably have already come knocking on his door long ago.

After thinking for a moment, Grandpa Gu said, "Why don't you brothers go to the Fan family and find the patriarch, so that he can uphold justice?"

Gu Honglian thought this was a good idea.

Only the clan chief can control the old hag and the lowly woman.

So she cried and said, “Ever since I married into the Fan family, I feel that I have not done anything wrong, but they keep finding fault with me. This is not allowed and that is not allowed. The clan chief knows what kind of people my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are. If we ask the clan chief to open the ancestral hall to uphold justice, he will definitely stand on my side.”

Gu Honglian thought that if she didn't say anything and just stood in front of the clan chief with a bruised and swollen face, the clan chief would side with her.

Tong Huaqiong shook her head.

Gu Honglian is too naive.