The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!

Chapter 548: Authority and Motherly Love Challenged

Mrs. Jia’s face alternated between blue and white from being scolded by the old Mrs. Gu.

Gu Ruinian lay on the bed, not daring to make a sound.

He just felt that his luck was truly bad. Taking advantage of no one being home, he discussed with his mother to substitute Gu Honglian for Xiaoxue in the marriage to Xu Dabao, thinking it was foolproof. However, both Gu Honglian and the old Mrs. Gu caught them.

He was almost about to lose control.

Why has heaven never favored him since he passed the child student exam?

"Mother, luckily you have my back; otherwise, second sister-in-law and Ruinian would have probably used me to repay the debt long ago."

Gu Honglian cried pitifully.

This was a trick taught to her by Gu Taohua, to strike first and use tears to evoke sympathy from the old Mrs. Gu.

"And you, if it weren’t for the trouble you caused, how could the family owe money? Five hundred taels, even if we sold you, we wouldn’t get five taels. You want to use me to repay the debt, how dare you?"

Gu Honglian turned the target from Mrs. Jia to Gu Ruinian.

Not only did she scold, but she also scratched.

Her long nails left scratches from Gu Ruinian’s forehead to his neck.

The old Mrs. Gu was so angry she was trembling all over, taking a deep breath, only focused on scolding her second daughter-in-law earlier.

She had forgotten the main culprit, Gu Ruinian.

In the past, to secure Gu Ruinian’s future at the expense of Gu Honglian, even if the old Mrs. Gu was reluctant, she would agree.

Now the situation is different; it’s about paying off Gu Ruinian’s debt. Moreover, this brat did it without consulting her and directly schemed against her daughter.

Her authority and motherly love were both challenged.

The old Mrs. Gu could endure it.

The old Mrs. Gu pointed at Gu Ruinian and cursed, "You ungrateful bastard, this is your own aunt, how dare you? Your grandfather and I are not dead yet, and you’ve already set your sights on Honglian. You might as well bury your grandmother. I’m telling you, you are making a mistake in thinking you can use Honglian."

"Saying you have a way to repay the Xu family’s five hundred taels, your way is to have your aunt pay your sister’s debt?"

"You cursed wretch, bringing evil from the womb, a natural born scoundrel. Heaven is blind to have produced such an unworthy descendant like you in my family! You deserved to fail the scholar exam, you deserved to be crippled. Had I known you would plot against your aunt, I should have drowned you at birth."

The old Mrs. Gu cursed while crying, and when the cursing became too much, she picked up the feather duster next to her and fiercely whipped Gu Ruinian.

Mrs. Wei stood aside with a cold smile.

Gu Ruinian, now it’s your turn.

You should have been beaten long ago.

Ever since he caused trouble, aside from Gu Honglian and Gu Youtian, no one had ever said a single word of reproach to him.

In her opinion, don’t even bother paying back those five hundred taels, just hand Gu Ruinian over to the Xu family; let them decide whether to beat him to death or cripple him.

She truly hadn’t expected that even though Gu Ruinian was already like a grasshopper after autumn, he was still jumping around making trouble.

The mother-in-law too, to actually scheme against her younger sister-in-law for this useless son.

"What’s all this fuss? The house isn’t chaotic enough, when is this going to end?"

Mr. Gu was in the clan leader’s house discussing borrowing money when Gu Fengnian interrupted. On his way back home, he listened to Gu Fengnian briefly explain what was happening at home. He was angry that Gu Ruinian and Mrs. Jia dared to scheme against his youngest daughter.

Upon entering the house, he heard the sounds of crying and cursing inside.

Mr. Gu was completely fed up.

"Old man, you have to stand up for Honglian. I went through the gates of hell to have a daughter in my old age, and now this pair of heartless mother and son want to send my little daughter to Xu Dabao to repay the debt, isn’t this tearing my heart out? Boo hoo... boo hoo..."

Seeing her husband come in, the old Mrs. Gu couldn’t hold on any longer and sat on the ground wailing.

Gu Honglian stood to the side, wiping tears, saying, "If you use me to pay the debt, I’ll hang myself at the gate."

Mr. Gu raised his eyes and glared at Mrs. Jia.

In his heart, he believed this underhanded idea of Gu Ruinian was all incited by Mrs. Jia.

This daughter-in-law has always disliked Gu Honglian.

Mrs. Jia’s heart skipped a beat as she quickly slid on her knees before Mr. Gu, crying as she spoke, "Father, I never intended to plot against my sister-in-law, I had no other option. Please allow your daughter-in-law to explain a few words."

The old Mrs. Gu roared in anger, "You rotten seed with a rotten heart and lungs, even if you can explain beautifully, you still intended to force Honglian to death."

Mr. Gu remained silent with a dark expression.

Despite the old Mrs. Gu’s loud voice, Mr. Gu was ultimately the one who had the final say in the household.

Mr. Gu not scolding Mrs. Jia meant she had the opportunity to speak.

Mrs. Jia ignored the old Mrs. Gu’s angry scolding and continued, "Compared to Xiaoxue, daughter-in-law feels Honglian is more suitable to marry Xu Dabao."

Hearing this, Gu Honglian’s eyes widened in anger.

Mrs. Jia simply ignored her.

"No matter the temperament or appearance, Xiaoxue is outstanding not just in Qinghe Bay, but in the entire Pingchuan County. Previously, down south, many well-off families came to propose marriage for Xiaoxue as a daughter-in-law, but I refused them all, hoping Xiaoxue would marry into a better family to help her natal family. Now in our family’s situation, businesses aren’t picking up, money is tight, and Ruinian is studying... who knows when his leg will heal, the family can’t continue like this. Now, only Xiaoxue’s marriage might help our family rise."

"I’m not even saying she should marry into an official family, even if she marries into a well-to-do family as the primary wife, Xiaoxue is capable."

"On the other hand, Honglian. Father, I hate to say this, but do you think Honglian can marry into a good family? When we were down south, no matter who mother was arranging for, they always ended up wanting Xiaoxue. Doesn’t this show that Xiaoxue can marry better than her aunt? Xiaoxue marrying into the Xu family won’t benefit us at all, since we’ll be giving up a daughter anyway, we might as well keep the most valuable one."

Mrs. Jia spoke between tears.

What she meant was that Gu Xiaoxue was more valuable to the Gu family, and her marriage should not be taken lightly.

As for Gu Honglian, she held no value to the family, so her marriage could be arranged casually.

Mr. Gu’s expression had shifted from gloomy storm clouds to clearing skies since he entered the house.

Mrs. Jia’s arguments made a lot of sense.

If Mr. Gu wasn’t Gu Honglian’s father, he would have also thought it better to marry Gu Honglian to Xu Dabao.

The difficulty lies in the fact that he is Gu Honglian’s father, and she is his most cherished youngest daughter.

The old Mrs. Gu had lived with Mr. Gu for so many years that she could tell what he was thinking with a glance.

Mrs. Jia’s words had moved him.

No, her daughter absolutely cannot marry Xu Dabao.

The old Mrs. Gu angrily exclaimed, "Better to kill me than to marry Honglian to Xu Dabao."

Gu Honglian joined in furiously, "If you marry me to Xu Dabao, I’ll first poison Gu Ruinian, then Xu Dabao, then myself."

The old Mrs. Gu held Gu Honglian and wept bitterly.

Mrs. Jia’s eyelids twitched.

Gu Ruinian’s face turned livid.

Gu Honglian had a fierce character, and if pressed too hard, she genuinely might act on it.

Gu Xiaoxue shivered in the corner, lifting her head to meet eyes with Gu Ruinian, who was lying on the bed.

Normally, she didn’t dare to look up at her second brother; she always felt he was different, more learned and knowledgeable than them.

This time, however, her gaze met Gu Ruinian’s with a sense of composure.