Free Web NovelChapter 620: Chapter 620: The Weaving Workshop Set Ablaze
"Why don’t you take a look at your daughter? Did Young Master Lian fancy her because of her pockmarked face or because she’s too old to bear children?"
Mrs. Jia questioned Mrs. Tian and then turned to the onlookers, "Young Master Lian clearly had his eyes on my Xiao Xue. Our families were just about to finalize everything when Xu Xinghua snatched it away. The Xu family colluded with Matchmaker Wang to swap out Xiao Xue’s marriage for Xu Xinghua’s. Don’t believe their nonsense that Madam Lian favored Xu Xinghua; they’re just saying that to save face, who knows what tricks they’ve used behind the scenes."
"Xu Xinghua isn’t even worthy to carry my Xiao Xue’s shoes, how could the Lian family choose her? I wouldn’t be surprised if the veil is lifted at the wedding and they send her back."
"What? Xinghua’s marriage stole Xiao Xue’s?" asked Liu Yueer, fresh from vacation in Pingchuan, as she joined the growing crowd.
"So that’s how it is."
The gossipers exchanged knowing glances.
If that’s really the case, it makes sense now.
A rich family’s son favoring a girl from Qinghe Bay was hard to believe, but if it was Xiao Xue, it was more plausible.
In terms of looks, all the village women said Xiao Xue’s face was fit to grace a palace concubine, let alone catch the eye of a wealthy family’s son.
Mrs. Tian was stupefied by Mrs. Jia’s questioning, and seeing the villagers starting to jump to conclusions, she was infuriated.
If it hadn’t been for Mrs. Jia’s questioning, she wouldn’t have known about the Lian family and Gu Xiaoxue’s past discussions of marriage.
Even if they had discussed it, so what? Now the Lian family preferred Xinghua.
Mrs. Tian spat in Mrs. Jia’s face and shouted, "Your daughter is so flirtatious; Madam Lian just doesn’t like that type. Go throw a fit at the Lian family’s gate if you’ve got the guts, let’s see if they want Xinghua or Xiao Xue?"
"What do you mean Xinghua stole Xiao Xue’s marriage? Unfounded rumors! It was the Lian family who chose my Xinghua. You’re just slandering out of jealousy because your Rui Nian couldn’t be our live-in son-in-law. If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll rip your mouth off!"
The two began hurling insults at each other.
With continuous shouting and cursing, it escalated to hair-pulling and slapping.
The entrance to the Weaving Workshop turned into chaos.
Tong Huaqiong tolerated people chatting at the workshop’s entrance to boost business, but definitely not fighting.
"What’s all this racket?"
"Stop at once!"
With Tong Huaqiong’s scolding, Gu Xiaoxue poured a basin of water over Mrs. Jia and Mrs. Tian.
The cold water instantly ended their fight.
Tong Huaqiong said, "I heard you inside, dragging Xiao Xue into the Lian family’s marriage talk, but I’m unaware of any such discussion involving Xiao Xue and the Lian family?"
This matter had to be cleared up in front of the villagers.
Gu Xiaoxue slammed the wooden basin on the ground and said, "I have no engagement with Young Master Lian."
Mrs. Tian was smug and said to Mrs. Jia, "Look, your daughter admitted that there were no marriage discussions with the Lian family. Why would they want someone who poisoned her brother as a bride? The narrative that Xinghua stole Xiao Xue’s marriage is just in your imagination."
Gu Xiaoxue glanced at Mrs. Tian, scaring her into silence.
This is someone who dared to poison an entire family.
Not to be provoked lightly.
Originally, Gu Xiaoxue wanted to say she didn’t even know anyone from the Lian family, but Mrs. Tian’s comment, "why would they want someone who poisoned her brother as a bride," annoyed her.
She had to taunt Mrs. Tian a bit to feel satisfied.
Gu Xiaoxue told everyone, "Don’t guess anymore; the Lian family did want to discuss marriage with me, but I rejected it right away, which is why they approached Xinghua. I’m not some pig they can just pick; if they like me, I must agree?"
She spoke effortlessly, leaving Mrs. Tian at a loss for words.
The onlookers understood and thought it made sense.
It turns out the Lian family liked Gu Xiaoxue, but she didn’t like them back, so in anger, they decided to propose to Xu Xinghua.
Some said it was too rash!
Aunt Qin scoffed and said, "Rich sons act differently from us common folk. Being spoiled since childhood, he wasn’t used to Xiao Xue rejecting him, so he married someone else on purpose to upset her. Isn’t that what storytellers say? One twist after another, and then a happy ending."
Tong Huaqiong: "..."
Aunt Qin really was an expert in modern domineering CEO fiction!
Aunt Qin seriously said to Gu Xiaoxue, "But you did the right thing, Xiao Xue. You shouldn’t marry such an unpredictable young master. Don’t even think about some happy ending with him."
Mrs. Tian was left speechless by Aunt Qin. Now she wasn’t sure if the Lian family really acted out of spite after Xiao Xue rejected them and turned to her Xu Xinghua instead.
Mrs. Tian lost her sense of pride, feeling like she’d swallowed a fly.
An alliance that Xiao Xue rejected was cherished by the Xu family, making Mrs. Tian feel as if Gu Xiaoxue purposely humiliated her.
"Mother, you and dad want to sell me off without even considering whether I agree or not." Gu Xiaoxue publicly shamed Mrs. Jia, smirking coldly, "If you ever try to arrange my marriage in secret again, the whole family can reunite underground."
Mrs. Jia felt a surge of resentment; her daughter gave her no face whatsoever and was becoming harder and harder to control.
That could mean sending the whole family to die.
The gossiping crowd was bursting with juicy details—sustaining themselves by discussing Xu Xinghua’s marriage. Many were eager to see where the marriage would go, some even excitedly speculating that on the wedding day, the Lian family might take a detour to fetch Gu Xiaoxue instead.
The Xu family was shocked by the rumors, urgently seeking out Matchmaker Wang to see if they could advance the marriage date.
...
"Something’s wrong, someone set fire to the Weaving Workshop."
At night, Tong Huaqiong was awakened by the urgent cries outside.
Tong Huaqiong threw on some clothes and rushed towards the workshop.
Who had the guts to set fire to the Weaving Workshop?
With so much cotton and fabric inside, a spark would ignite it all—clearly aimed to destroy Tong Huaqiong’s livelihood.
Gu Taohua, Gu Dahuan, and others quickly climbed out of bed after hearing the commotion, even Tong Pandi and Mrs. Hong grabbed lanterns and headed to the workshop.
Tong Huaqiong approached the workshop but didn’t see the expected flames lighting up the sky.
The villagers were roused by the shouted warning, carrying water buckets to the workshop. Liu Qingsong asked, "Where’s the fire?"
The fire hadn’t caught.
There was a shadow inside the workshop yard.
The maid, Su Qing, and Xiao Xi stood before Tong Huaqiong with lanterns, revealing that someone was pinned down in the courtyard.
Beside them was an oil can and a fire starter.
"Master, it’s Tian Fugui trying to set the fire."
"He didn’t manage it; it was lucky Li Mingxiu spotted it."
Gu Daqiao and Song Qiaoniang pointed at Tian Fugui on the ground, visibly shaken.
The Weaving Workshop was overflowing with cotton and fabric, things that could not catch fire. If it had, not only would everyone’s jobs be lost, but the spreading flames might engulf the entire village.
Luckily, Gu Daqiao and Song Qiaoniang were meticulous, as stewards of the Weaving Workshop. They routinely checked up in the night.
Tonight, as soon as they awoke, they heard Li Mingxiu’s shout.
Thanks to Li Mingxiu staying at the workshop the past few days, she managed to kick Tian Fugui over and pin him down with her strength.
Tong Huaqiong glared icily at Tian Fugui.
Tian Fugui, pinned under Li Mingxiu, his head nearly bent to the ground, shivered involuntarily, though he hadn’t met Tong Huaqiong’s eyes.
