Free Web NovelChapter 624: Chapter 624: Looking for a Village Girl Like Zhao Di to Take Me In
Since Tong Fusheng learned that Tong Pandi was managing Tong Huaqiong’s pig farm, he had thoughts of mending their relationship. However, relying on his seniority, he was unwilling to make the first move. He hoped to use Tong Zhaodi’s wedding as an opportunity for Tong Pandi to attend, thus mending their relationship.
He didn’t believe that Tong Pandi, as a divorced woman, could refuse the olive branch extended by her parents.
Especially with Tong Zhaodi marrying Wu Musheng, if Tong Pandi truly wanted to reconcile with the family and was willing to give them silver to care for Zhi Jie, Tong Fusheng would have Tong Zhaodi bring Hua Er to live with the Wu Family, ensuring the two sisters’ future marriages wouldn’t be affected by their mother’s divorce.
Tong Pandi had to consider her two daughters, if not herself.
Tong Pandi understood Tong Fusheng and the Tong Family’s intentions. She looked up at Tong Zhaodi and said, "I have nothing to do with the Tong Family anymore. Your marriage doesn’t concern me, and I’m not going back."
Now that she’s got some money, Tong Fusheng is thinking about her. Why didn’t he think about her when she had nothing after her divorce?
Tong Zhaodi said indignantly, "After all, you’re a daughter of the Tong Family, and you haven’t returned home to see your parents once in these two years. People in the village say you’re unfilial."
Tong Pandi replied, "Well, I’m unfilial then."
So what?
In her past life, she was filial to her parents and in-laws but gained nothing from it.
Seeing Tong Zhaodi still unwilling to leave, she had her maid Xiao Chi escort her out.
Xiao Chi half-pushed and half-pulled to kick Tong Zhaodi out of the room.
Tong Zhaodi was furious, convinced that Tong Pandi resented her because she was marrying Wu Musheng.
After Tong Zhaodi left, Tong Pandi shook her head with a smile and continued to have tea and look at the account books with Mrs. Hong.
What’s different from her past life is that because of her divorce, Tong Zhaodi didn’t go to the provincial city to become a concubine but is marrying Wu Musheng instead.
This means Tong Zhaodi won’t harm the first wife and her daughter like in her past life.
This lifetime, she can only harm the Wu Family.
In Tong Pandi’s view, it’s dog-eat-dog.
This lifetime, it’s best if Tong Zhaodi stays locked in with the Wu Family.
Seeing Tong Zhaodi coming out of Tong Pandi’s courtyard in a state of fury, Tong Huaqiong felt relieved.
However, Tong Zhaodi didn’t immediately go back. Her hired carriage was parked not far from the Weaving Workshop, and Tong Huaqiong saw a girl get out of the carriage.
When the girl turned her face, Tong Huaqiong saw it was Wu Na.
Tong Huaqiong thought she was probably accompanying Tong Zhaodi.
After all, Tong Zhaodi was soon to become Wu Na’s new sister-in-law.
"Aunt Honglian."
Gu Honglian was rubbing her hands coming out from the old house, planning to warm up at the Weaving Workshop but was stopped by Wu Na.
Tong Huaqiong, an enthusiast of gossip, also wanted to see why Wu Na was calling Gu Honglian.
Gu Honglian sized up Wu Na and asked, "What are you doing in Qinghe Bay?"
Wu Na said, "Can you take me to see Rui Nian?"
Upon hearing Rui Nian, Tong Huaqiong’s ears perked up.
So Wu Na’s purpose for coming to Qinghe Bay was Gu Ruinian.
Tong Huaqiong sighed, saying you had to admit Gu Ruinian had something special; even now, there’s a girl thinking about him.
The ultimate hopelessly romantic.
Even though Gu Ruinian had become a cripple, she remained devoted.
Finally, Wu Na pulled a pin from her hair, and Gu Honglian agreed to take Wu Na back to the old house to find Gu Ruinian.
The old house had not had visitors for a long time.
Ever since Xu Xinghua married into the Lian Family, Gu Youtian had been hit hard and was languishing at home.
Not farming, not working.
The people at the old house were initially surprised and delighted to see visitors; however, upon seeing Wu Na, their expressions changed.
Wu Na’s arrival reminded Mr. Gu, Gu Youtian, and others of Wu Ren’s ruthlessness when they were driven from Pingchuan to Qinghe Bay without any leeway.
Now that Wu Ji had closed down, the entire Wu Family had returned to Black Dragon Pond.
Wu Na was yearning for Gu Ruinian, and Wu Ren knew Wu Na’s feelings, keeping a close watch on her.
This time, it was Tong Zhaodi who secretly brought her out.
Wu Na’s eyes reddened upon seeing Gu Ruinian.
It shocked Mr. Gu and others, nearly popping out their eyeballs.
Even the densest person could see Wu Na’s feelings for Gu Ruinian.
Currently, Gu Ruinian’s marriage was a great difficulty for Mr. Gu and Gu Youtian’s couple. Ever since the dream of marrying into the Xu Family was shattered, Mr. Gu had frequently been asking matchmakers to find a match for Gu Ruinian.
Previously, with the status of a scholar, even if the family was poor, they could still find a decent match.
Now, in the Qinghe Bay area, when it is mentioned a match is being sought for Gu Ruinian, matchmakers are thrown out as soon as they step in, or a high bride price is demanded from those families who are not thrown out.
Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu relied entirely on Tong Huaqiong for their livelihoods; high bride prices are effectively life-threatening for them.
Just while dozing, Wu Na appeared like this pillow.
Mrs. Jia, changing her previous attitude towards Wu Na, held Wu Na’s hand, calling her dear niece.
Wu Na was currently the best marriage prospect for Gu Ruinian that he could imagine.
The old house tacitly created a space for Gu Ruinian and Wu Na to be alone.
Gu Ruinian knew Wu Na was the only opportunity he could grasp.
These days, he’s been fetching water, farming, feeling exhausted every day and wanting to die. The gods know how much he wants to marry, throwing away the farming and fetching water tasks to a spouse.
Previously, he looked down on those village girls who only worked silently like Zhao Di. Now he wished they would willingly take him in.
But those village girls demanded high bride prices. The Gu Family couldn’t afford or wasn’t willing to pay money to get Gu Ruinian a wife.
Neither Mr. Gu nor Gu Youtian’s couple hoped the woman would come with a dowry, if not they hoped some capable family needing a husband would marry Gu Ruinian.
However, the husband market in Qinghe Bay was elevated by Hong Xiaoxi, and families filled with daughters wanting husbands didn’t consider people like Gu Ruinian.
Wu Na’s visit left Gu Ruinian with mixed feelings.
Wu Na isn’t one of those village girls; she’s a daughter strongly pampered by the village chief. Gu Ruinian worried Wu Na wouldn’t work after marrying him but would instead want him to support her.
He definitely didn’t want to farm anymore.
This year’s autumn harvest, from plucking corn off five acres to threshing, peeled a layer off Gu Ruinian’s hands, while the sun tanned him like charcoal.
Such a life he wouldn’t want to live even for a day.
He estimated that Wu Na wouldn’t be able to do it either.
Besides, Wu Na wasn’t attractive to him, Gu Ruinian always felt suffocated whether it was Xu Xinghua or Wu Na.
But seeing Wu Na taking out ten taels of silver, Gu Ruinian wished he could marry Wu Na the next second.
Wu Na couldn’t work, but Wu Na had a dowry!
After marriage, relying on the Wu Family’s dowry, it would be enough for both to live.
Moreover, the Wu Family cherished their daughter, and likely wouldn’t let her suffer. After marriage, they could continue relying on the Wu Family.
Gu Ruinian made up his mind to win over Wu Na.
But he couldn’t let Wu Na see his intentions; he had to let her willingly marry into the Gu Family.
Gu Ruinian didn’t take the silver and coldly said, "What are you doing here?"
Wu Na’s eyes reddened seeing Gu Ruinian’s frail state and said, "Are you blaming me for not coming to Qinghe Bay to see you, Brother Ruinian?"
Gu Ruinian pressed his lips and said nothing.
Wu Na thought he was indeed resentful of her.
"It’s not that I don’t want to come to Qinghe Bay to see you, it’s because my parents won’t let me come. They keep a strict watch on me. If not for my sister-in-law... oh, now I have a new sister-in-law, it’s my previous sister-in-law’s sister Tong Zhaodi who secretly brought me here today."
Seeing Gu Ruinian remain silent, Wu Na grew anxious and said, "Brother Ruinian, say something, what will make you pay attention to me?"
Gu Ruinian glanced at the silver in Wu Na’s hand, thinking she’d taken the bait.
He wasn’t entirely unlucky; didn’t a big fool like her come willingly to his doorstep?
