blueteamnovel Chapter 609: Who Isn’t Raised by Their Parents?
Chapter 609: Who Isn’t Raised by Their Parents?
The Gu Family’s old house was bustling with activity.
Daughters-in-law steamed buns, tended to the fire, and picked vegetables, while the men chopped wood, cut up chickens, and sliced ribs.
"Sufen, leave that there, I’ll handle it."
"Taohua, no need for you to lift a finger, just wait to eat."
Seeing both Chen Sufen picking vegetables and Gu Taohua kneading dough, the daughters-in-law of the clan snatched away the vegetables and dough from their hands.
The economic base determines the superstructure; ever since Tong Huaqiong’s business grew bigger, her and her brood’s status in the clan rose accordingly.
In the past, whenever there was something in the clan, heavy or tiring tasks would always be assigned to Chen Sufen.
Wherever Gu Taohua appeared, the unmarried women would often mock her for not being able to find a partner.
Now, no one dared to assign tasks to Chen Sufen, nor did anyone dare to find fault with Gu Taohua. They even fawned over the two, fearing that if they offended them, they wouldn’t be able to work at Tong Huaqiong’s Weaving Workshop in the future.
Chen Sufen looked embarrassed, while Gu Taohua felt completely at ease, holding Chen Sufen’s hand and saying, "Sister-in-law, if you’re told to rest, then rest."
With many hands, things get done quickly, and soon three tables of food were prepared.
Mr. Gu brought out two barrels of wine.
They were just waiting for the Xu Family to arrive.
Logically, both families should meet early for a betrothal, especially since they lived in the same village, but it was already noon and the Xu Family had yet to arrive.
Mr. Gu and his wife were getting anxious, and Gu Youtian’s expression was unstable, fearing that the Xu Family would go back on their word.
"Why hasn’t anyone from the Xu Family come yet? Do they think there’s no one from the Gu Family? Even though Rui Nian is marrying in, they should still show the respect that’s due," Mr. Gu said discontentedly.
Marrying in was like the Xu family’s daughter marrying a Gu family son, and the Gu Family didn’t ask for a bride price. What else could the Xu Family be dissatisfied with?
Mr. Gu tapped his pipe hard and sent Gu Fengnian to the road to check on the Xu Family’s movements.
The Xu Family was doing it on purpose.
Ever since Xu Yong was dismissed as village chief and Xu Zaohua was sent to the ancestral temple by the Zheng Family, the Xu Family had become completely silent in the village.
Xu Yong and Xu Jin both believed that their misfortunes were caused by the Gu Family.
First it was Tong Huaqiong, then it was Gu Ruinian. Since they couldn’t control Tong Huaqiong, controlling Gu Ruinian would be easy.
The Xu Family wanted to show everyone in the village that the Gu Family begged the Xu Family to take in a son-in-law.
"If they don’t come soon, this engagement will be void." The Clan Leader was about to lose his temper.
Gu Youtian said, "Let’s wait a bit longer."
Gu Youtian thought to himself that the Clan Leader was just talking nonsense; if it was voided, who would give him another chance to ’sell’ a son?
They waited until the village had finished their lunch, and the Gu Family became impatient, only then did the Xu Family show up leisurely.
After exchanging greetings, everyone sat down.
Xu Xinghua sat proudly next to Xu Yong, making Mr. Gu and the others angry.
Since when does a girl become the center of attention during a betrothal? Aren’t they supposed to bow their heads shyly, leaving everything to the parents?
"... Since both families have agreed, let’s exchange engagement letters today so Rui Nian can join the family sooner," Matchmaker Wang said.
Matchmaker Wang was the official matchmaker invited by the Xu Family.
She had never dealt with a marrying-in engagement before, and she was momentarily at a loss for words despite her usual eloquence.
Mr. Gu was of the same mind; after all, Gu Youtian and Xu Yong had already agreed upon everything, and today was just a formality.
The Xu Family came into the main room in full force, and Mr. Gu felt oppressed by them at every turn, which made him uncomfortable.
Mrs. Jia’s eyes reddened at the mention of joining the family; she still couldn’t accept her eldest son marrying in, and Mrs. Gu gave her a fierce glance.
Xu Xinghua fiddled with her fingernails and said, "Agreed? When did we agree? Aren’t we still negotiating? Only after reaching an agreement can we exchange engagement letters."
Hearing this, Gu Youtian’s face changed.
Mrs. Gu said, "Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parental consent and matchmaker’s words. When does a girl have a say?"
Mrs. Gu wasn’t concerned whether Gu Ruinian would be bullied by the Xu Family after marrying; she was upset with Xu Xinghua showing off in front of her.
Xu Xinghua snorted through her nose and continued to fiddle with her nails.
"Brother Yong, what do you mean by this? Didn’t we already agree on this before?" Gu Youtian couldn’t help but look at Xu Yong.
He could see the truth; Xu Xinghua’s audacity was certainly the Xu Family’s strategy.
Could it be that the Xu Family no longer intended to honor the agreement they had made with him?
Gu Youtian’s suspicion was right; the Xu Family indeed didn’t consider their agreement valid anymore.
Earlier in the year, the Gu Family had left the Xu Family hanging, neither refusing nor accepting the engagement, which made the Xu Family very angry.
Once Gu Ruinian’s secret with gunpowder was exposed, the Xu Family gained the upper hand; now the engagement was more urgent for the Gu Family than the Xu Family. Hence, the Xu Family reconsidered the terms.
Xu Yong chuckled and said, "Our private drinking doesn’t count. Let’s formally discuss it now. Once we reach an agreement today, we’ll exchange engagement letters today and have the ceremony the day after tomorrow."
Mr. Gu took a puff from his pipe and slowly said, "What You Tian discussed with you was that Rui Nian would marry in, and the Gu Family wouldn’t hold a ceremony. The fifty taels of silver you give will settle the debt of You Tian and his wife raising Rui Nian. In the future, Rui Nian won’t be responsible for their old-age care, and if Rui Nian and Xinghua have children, one of their sons will return to the Gu Family to live. Of these three conditions, which one do you find unacceptable?"
Xu Xinghua opened her mouth and said, "Isn’t raising Rui Nian your duty? Was I born from a crack in the stone? My parents raised me too, and I’m not asking for a bride price."
After Xu Xinghua spoke, the Xu Family members remained silent.
Xu Xinghua’s opinion was the Xu Family’s opinion.
Mrs. Jia was so angry her chest hurt. If it weren’t for Rui Nian’s lame leg, Xu Xinghua wouldn’t even be qualified to be her son’s concubine.
"It’s only if you marry into our Gu Family that you have the right to ask for a bride price. You are now taking a husband; what bride price do you want? Ask around Manyan Pass Town; other than my son Rui Nian, who would be willing to marry into your family?"
Unwilling to be outdone, Xu Xinghua said, "Yes, and why is it that only Gu Ruinian in Manyan Pass Town is willing to marry in? Because he’s a cripple."
Mrs. Jia was so angry she wanted to tear Xu Xinghua to pieces.
At this time, Xu Yong jumped in to diffuse the situation, saying, "Xinghua is young and speaks bluntly; please bear with her."
Mrs. Jia felt like rolling her eyes. "Young?" she thought. "She’s three years older than Gu Ruinian."
Upon hearing that the Xu Family didn’t want to pay the fifty taels of silver, Mrs. Gu’s face showed displeasure.
She was anticipating using the fifty taels of silver as a dowry for Gu Honglian. Gu Honglian mentioned she had her eye on a scholar, and to be a scholar’s wife, wouldn’t she need a substantial dowry?
With this in mind, Mrs. Gu said, "We can’t accept less than fifty taels of silver."
Xu Xinghua gave Mrs. Gu a light glance, knowing she was marrying in and wouldn’t need to serve her great mother-in-law or mother-in-law, so she felt no need to give face.
Before Xu Xinghua could speak, Gu Ruinian said, "Xinghua is right. Who isn’t born of parents? Since Xinghua doesn’t want a bride price, our Gu Family won’t want silver either."
Everyone: "..."
Tong Huaqiong, munching away, raised her eyes and looked at Gu Ruinian.
The little brat’s intentions were as clear as day; since he couldn’t escape the fate of marrying in, he might as well curry favor with the Xu Family.
After all, once he left this house, he wouldn’t have anything to do with the Gu Family, so naturally, he wouldn’t leave silver behind for them to benefit.