Free Web NovelChapter 616: Chapter 616: Bringing a Good Son-in-law
Two days later, it was Gu Xiaocao’s wedding day.
As the hostess, Tong Huaqiong arrived at Gu Guangkui’s house early in the morning.
Gu Taohua and Gu Xiaoxue, along with other sisters from the clan, also came to help.
Gu Guangkui held his head high, daring anyone to say he had no descendants; his daughter brought him a good son-in-law.
What pleased him more was that Hong Xiaoxi wasn’t after the family property. If it came to assets, the Hong family was wealthier than Gu Guangkui’s family. Hong Xiaoxi purely liked his daughter, willing to marry into the family.
The reason his daughter could have this marriage was thanks to Tong Huaqiong.
According to custom, as a widow, Tong Huaqiong shouldn’t touch the bride’s belongings, but Gu Guangkui and his wife decided to let Tong Huaqiong help cover Gu Xiaocao’s head.
"How can you let Tong Dajiao cover the head? Aren’t you afraid your daughter will end up like her?" Gu Xiaocao’s grandma, Old Lady Huang, glanced inside and was very unhappy with Tong Huaqiong holding the red veil, and came out blaring like a loudspeaker.
Gu Guangkui’s face darkened as he rebuked his mother: "What are you saying on a happy day? It’s not that I’m criticizing you, but you never wish your granddaughter well. Sister Tong runs a big business, and her children are successful. If Gu Xiaocao ends up living a life like hers, I’d laugh even in my dreams."
Old Lady Huang raised her voice and said, "She lost her husband."
As soon as Old Lady Huang’s words fell, the old lady of the Gu family slid over and knocked Old Lady Huang down, cursing, "Are you trying to curse me or my deceased son? Aren’t you afraid he’ll come for your life at night?"
If Old Lady Huang insulted Tong Huaqiong in any other way, the old lady of the Gu family might applaud, but she wouldn’t tolerate anyone insulting Tong Huaqiong’s status, as it was indirectly cursing her deceased son and thus slapping her own face.
Could she endure it?
Old Lady Huang got up and started tussling with the old lady of the Gu family.
Everyone, led by the village chief, tried to persuade and separate them.
In the end, the old lady of the Gu family won, turning Old Lady Huang’s special wedding day hairstyle into a bird’s nest and scratching her neck.
Unwilling to admit defeat, Old Lady Huang bounced three feet high and charged at the old lady of the Gu family, but the village chief held her down.
"Stop this nonsense on such a happy day. If the groom arrives and sees this, it’s not just the Gu family’s face that’s lost, but the reputation of the entire Qinghe Bay," the village chief sternly reprimanded.
Although both wanted to continue fighting, Aunt Gu directed the stronger women in the clan to carry the two old ladies away.
Firecrackers sounded outside.
The music and noise heralded the arrival of the groom.
Everyone was curious. Who would want to marry into the family? Most thought he must be ugly, but after seeing Hong Xiaoxi, they all clutched their chests.
What must be going through this child’s mind to agree to marry in?
Tong Huaqiong came out of the room and saw Hong Xiaoxi in new clothes, with a big red flower tied to his chest, grinning widely.
The Hong family felt embarrassed and didn’t want to handle Hong Xiaoxi’s departure arrangements, so Hong Xiaoxi "got married" from the Taohua Dessert shop, with Taohua Dessert and Fengle Building’s staff acting as the send-off team.
Because Boss Qian saw Hong Xiaoxi alone, he acknowledged him as a godson.
Hong Xiaoxi’s generous godfather, Boss Qian, came dressed in dark red to "send him off", making it look to outsiders as though he was the one getting married.
Ma Huateng stood behind with the staff, their new clothes looking imposing, there to support Hong Xiaoxi.
Seeing Tong Huaqiong, they all called her "Hostess" in unison.
Tong Huaqiong twitched the corner of her mouth upon seeing the lively youngsters.
"Tsk, tsk, what good fortune does Gu Guangkui have to bring in such a fine son-in-law."
"I heard they’ve bought a big house in town." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Xiaocao won’t have to serve her mother-in-law in the future, I feel like finding a son-in-law for my daughter too."
Everyone discussed enviously.
Gu Guangkui and his wife’s smiles stretched behind their ears, while Gu Xiaocao’s cousins collectively pulled long faces.
Since childhood, those cousins were brainwashed into believing that since the uncle (or great-uncle) didn’t have a son, the family property would be theirs, but now Gu Xiaocao had found a husband.
The key was that this son-in-law didn’t look easily bullied; as the shopkeeper of Taohua Dessert and backed by Widow Tong, who dared provoke him?
"Hey, aunt, did you see Gu Xiaocao’s belly?"
Tong Huaqiong had Gu Taohua keep a close eye on Xu Xinghua, fearing she’d cause trouble at Gu Xiaocao and Hong Xiaoxi’s wedding.
Initially, they thought that slap would stop Xu Xinghua from appearing at Gu Xiaocao’s wedding, but she stood right in the crowd.
"What, what belly? Oh, Xinghua, why speak halfway and then run?"
The woman called "aunt" by Xu Xinghua turned back to find Xu Xinghua gone but didn’t mind, as Xu Xinghua’s unpredictable character was well-known.
"The meal’s starting."
With the announcement, the villagers who came to contribute their share rushed like hungry wolves to grab seats.
Gu Guangkui’s banquet invited Fengle Building’s chef, a rarity only hosted by Tong Huaqiong before, unforgettable in taste.
After the villagers finished the banquet, they walked home in groups of three to five, discussing Gu Xiaocao’s marriage while tucking sugar into their pockets.
"Oh dear, who’s so careless to lie here?"
Aunt Qin and Mrs. Zhao suddenly tripped and looked down to see a bound girl lying on the ground.
Everyone gathered around.
The clothes looked very familiar.
Aunt Qin turned her over and exclaimed, "Isn’t this Xinghua? Why is she lying here?"
Xu Xinghua lay there with her hands tied behind her back, a pair of stinky socks stuffed in her mouth, sleeping soundly by the haystack, unaware of all the discussions around her.
Soon, people from the Xu family came, and Xu Yong asked who had wickedly tied up Xu Xinghua for a long time.
The villagers shook their heads; with Xu Xinghua always having a sharp and nasty mouth, she must have offended someone who got revenge.
Failing to get any answers, the Xu family carted Xu Xinghua away.
After Gu Taohua and the others left, they pulled Gu Xiaoxue to laugh crazily behind the haystack.
At Gu Xiaocao and Hong Xiaoxi’s wedding, the two of them did as Tong Huaqiong instructed and kept an eye on Xu Xinghua. Seeing her open that foul mouth, they quickly covered Xu Xinghua, rendering her unconscious, then tied her up and threw her behind the haystack.
Neither of them felt guilty because Xu Xinghua almost scratched Gu Taohua’s face when they were young, and now she was leading Gu Xiaoxue into a pit and trying to spread rumors at Gu Xiaocao’s wedding.
Gu Taohua and Gu Xiaoxue returned to the Weaving Workshop and met Tong Huaqiong, claiming credit, and Tong Huaqiong rewarded both with a hairpin. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"Xiaoxue, did you see Aunt Tang who came that day? She’s the concubine who manages the Lian Family, and she won’t let you marry the second young master," Tong Huaqiong told Gu Xiaoxue.
Gu Xiaoxue was completely relieved.
...
Two days later, Matchmaker Wang sneaked back to Qinghe Bay.
Originally, she didn’t want to meddle in Gu Xiaoxue’s marriage, fearing Tong Huaqiong would obstruct her.
But Madam Lian’s offer was too tempting.
First, she went to the Xu family, then the Gu family.
The Xu family still wouldn’t agree to the condition of Xu Gu Ruinian marrying in.
The Gu family, on the other hand, readily agreed to Gu Xiaoxue marrying Lian San Gongzi.
Matchmaker Wang stood up joyfully to report back to the Lian Family in Pingchuan County.
If the Lian Family was satisfied, they could directly proceed with exchanging birth dates and arranging betrothal gifts.
"Be cautious of your big family, and don’t even tell their daughter yet," Matchmaker Wang advised Gu Youtian, Mrs. Jia, and others before leaving. "Their big family is malicious; if their daughter can’t marry, they’ll obstruct the good marriages of other girls in the clan. If she knows your Xiaoxue is marrying into the Lian Family as a young mistress, and no one comes to propose to her daughter, she might spoil things."
Even if Matchmaker Wang hadn’t mentioned it, the Gu family’s old house would keep it from Tong Huaqiong.
Especially Mrs. Jia and the old lady of the Gu family, who always thought that since Gu Taohua couldn’t get married off, Tong Huaqiong would sabotage Gu Xiaoxue’s good marriage.
