Free Web NovelChapter 669: Chapter 669: The Uproar Sparked by a Bowl of Lamb
Although Tong Huaqiong also blamed Aunt Qin for overstepping by interfering in Mrs. Hong and He Chao’s affairs, she was at the same time relieved that Aunt Qin informed them proactively.
She wasn’t sure if Li Mingxiu knew that her uncles were scheming against her.
She needed to have a good talk with Li Mingxiu.
"Sister-in-law."
When Tong Huaqiong returned home, Gu Honglian came rushing over like the wind.
"What’s up?" Tong Huaqiong asked irritably.
Gu Honglian said, "Dashu made a great achievement. Dad says this is a tremendously good thing for our Gu Family. Dad and the Clan Leader are discussing writing this into the family genealogy, just like when Jingzhe was recorded as the top in the provincial examination, and they want to organize a big celebration. Dad is asking you to come over to discuss it."
Tong Huaqiong replied straightforwardly, "No need to discuss. You can tell your dad that if he wants to write Dashu’s deeds into the genealogy, go ahead, but there’s no need for a banquet."
She thought she might have to pay for it, and she wouldn’t want to gild the Gu Family’s old residence.
The matter of Gu Jingzhe being recorded in the genealogy was orchestrated by Mr. Gu and the Clan Leader; they insisted on opening a separate page for Gu Jingzhe, which she couldn’t interfere with.
If Mr. Gu wanted to write Gu Dashu’s matter into the genealogy, she couldn’t interfere with that either, as long as they didn’t drag her into paying.
Gu Honglian pouted and left.
Tong Huaqiong looked at Gu Honglian dressed in a bright red skirt and couldn’t help but ask, "Honglian, are things going well between you and Fan Tong?"
Gu Honglian blushed and said, "What are you talking about, sister-in-law."
Tong Huaqiong gossiped, "Weren’t they saying before the year that Fan Tong would come to propose? Why has there been no movement for so long?"
Gu Honglian said, "Fan Tong, after all, is a Scholar. Many well-off families in town have tried to connect with him in marriage, but he didn’t agree. He does want to come to our family to propose, but the family’s bottom is empty from marrying off Ruinian, leaving no dowry for me. Fan Tong’s mother is unwilling for him to come propose."
Thinking of this matter made Gu Honglian anxious.
Gu Honglian pondered, as her sister-in-law was so concerned about her and Fan Tong’s marriage, could it be that she wanted to offer her a dowry.
Having spoken up to this point, she looked at Tong Huaqiong with anticipation.
Tong Huaqiong pretended not to understand what she meant and said, "It seems like Fan Tong isn’t very sincere, just a Scholar. Do the well-off families in town really value him? Do you believe that? If that were true, his mother would have forced him to marry."
"Just an excuse to keep you dangling."
Tong Huaqiong didn’t mind pointing out Fan Tong’s intentions.
Tong Huaqiong had no objections to Gu Honglian and Fan Tong being together.
Seeing that Tong Huaqiong showed no intention of giving her a dowry, the look of expectation in Gu Honglian’s eyes was gradually replaced by disappointment.
Tong Huaqiong also didn’t intend to invite her to stay for a meal, and Gu Honglian sniffed the aroma of the dishes.
"Just in time for your aunt to visit, bring a bowl of braised mutton to grandpa and grandma," Chen Sufen said to Gu Honglian.
At the mention of braised mutton, Gu Honglian agreed enthusiastically.
"Dad, sister-in-law gave some braised mutton."
Gu Honglian arrived at the old house. It had just been reopened, and she placed the braised mutton on the table.
Wu Na’s eyes lit up instantly; the table had either pickles or cabbage. The Spring Festival hadn’t even passed yet, and the Gu Family’s table already had no meat.
"The sister-in-law is really something, only giving half a bowl of braised mutton," Wu Na said as she reached for the braised mutton with her chopsticks.
"It’s not for you to eat."
Gu Honglian guarded the bowl.
Chen Sufen was honest. She never shortchanged the old family’s meals and had given a full bowl of braised mutton, but Gu Honglian ate half of it on the way.
"It’s not me who wants to eat; it’s the Gu Family’s descendants in my belly,"
Wu Na said, grabbing two pieces stubbornly, which made Gu Honglian glare in frustration. If she had known, she would’ve finished it on the way rather than let it go into Wu Na’s dog belly.
Mr. Gu had long been used to the competition at the dining table and asked, "What did your sister-in-law say?"
Ever since Gu Jingzhe passed the exam and both Gu Dashu and Nie Xiaofeng made great achievements, Mr. Gu had started walking with a spring in his step around the village.
Protecting the mutton, Gu Honglian said, "Sister-in-law said you can write it in the genealogy if you want, but she’s not hosting the banquet with us."
Mr. Gu looked despondent.
Old Mrs. Gu immediately cursed, "Heart as black as coal ash, doesn’t give us any face. She has grandchildren now, and I’ll wait to see her despised by even cats and dogs in the future."
Mr. Gu felt disheartened. Several times the old house tried to show respect to the eldest daughter-in-law, but she never appreciated it.
He didn’t know how to mend relations with the eldest family.
If he had known the eldest family’s grandson was so promising, he wouldn’t have given all the family wealth to Gu Youtian back then; he shouldn’t have propped up Gu Ruinian while stepping on Gu Jingzhe.
"Knowing the eldest family doesn’t like you, yet you still bend over backward for them, I call that masochism," Wu Na said as she stealthily took the mutton from Old Mrs. Gu’s bowl.
Old Mrs. Gu, touched on a sore point, cursed in anger, "For whom do we do this? Isn’t it for your second family to gain from the eldest family’s luster? You want to cozy up to them? Can you? A few days ago, didn’t you go shamelessly pleading to Taohua, asking her to find Ruinian a job? Who do you think you are? With your buck teeth, or your dark face, or your status as the former village chief’s daughter, will Taohua pay you any mind? Running into walls with the eldest family and still think you’re a big shot."
Wu Na wouldn’t tolerate being cursed and retaliated, "It’s not your place to decide if I’m a big shot, but in the eyes of the eldest family, you’re not even as good as grass. Why should they let you bask in their glory when they don’t need your help in plotting against a bride who hasn’t even entered the house yet."
Old Mrs. Gu trembled with rage and handed a bowl of mutton to Gu Honglian, saying, "This mutton shouldn’t end up in the dog’s belly; hurry up and eat it."
Wu Na stood up and tried to snatch it.
Pregnant, she needed nourishment and didn’t care about saving face.
Gu Honglian hopped onto the bench with the mutton.
Instantly, the room became chaotic, with Gu Ruinian watching coldly at the scene before him.
Fighting over a bowl of mutton.
He lamented inwardly that this wasn’t the life he wanted.
The thought that even someone as ancient as Gu Dashu could make achievements was like a knife to his heart.
Wu Na rose on tiptoe for the mutton but couldn’t reach it. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Jia stood behind Gu Honglian, snatched the mutton down, quickly served half to Gu Ruinian, and gave the rest to Wu Na.
Ruinian had grown thinner since marriage, and Mrs. Jia felt sorry for him.
As for Wu Na, she cared only for the sake of her grandchild.
After all, the little sister-in-law was an outsider, so naturally, the mutton could only be eaten by her son and grandson.
With the mutton taken from her, Gu Honglian lay on the table and cried.
Old Mrs. Gu was so angry she wanted to hit someone, pointing at Mrs. Jia and cursing.
"I’m not dead yet, and you’re already bullying Honglian. Look at the good daughter-in-law you’ve married and the great son you’ve raised, ganging up to bully Honglian."
Mrs. Jia retorted, "The eldest family’s good son is a top exam scorer and a hero, but do they recognize you?"
Old Mrs. Gu threw her chopsticks and lunged at Mrs. Jia.
This kind of chaotic scene occurred from time to time at the old Gu house, and Mr. Gu had become numb to it.
Every one of them was a headache.
"Alright, stop arguing," Mr. Gu said, slapping the table.
When Mr. Gu got angry, the room fell silent except for Gu Honglian’s sobs.
Gu Honglian thought to herself, tomorrow she’d go to Wild Bull Valley to find Fan Tong, even if she had to stick herself to him to get married. Life at Fan Tong’s was tough, but not as tough as at the Gu house.
After all, Fan Tong was a Scholar, which meant they had grain every month, and surely could afford mutton at times.
