Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Intentions
Xu Shuanghong shook her head, "My days are bitter, and my heart is bitter too, just because I gave birth to two daughters, I can’t hold my head high in my husband’s family. Before, I wanted to arrange marriages for them, but being trapped in the inner residence, I didn’t know where to find good matches."
As she spoke, her expression was low, and she took out a handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes, "But this way, it’s good, they can follow me without worries to my parents’ home.
Then we’ll see what my parents say; if they can find a good family for the girls, there will be no regrets in this lifetime."
"Don’t say such discouraging things, you’re still young," Gu Baijiang seemed to forget the face he carried now and gave Xu Shuanghong a smile, "Even though I have lost my position now, if there’s anything you need, just let me know. I will try to help as much as I can, after all, I owe it to you back then."
"Let’s not talk about the past," Xu Shuanghong’s eyes reddened again, "If I had known you already had a wife back then, I certainly wouldn’t have harbored foolish thoughts.
That’s just how fate was between us, I can’t blame anyone else.
This time, you’re willing to take us in, giving my daughters and me a place to stay, and I’m already deeply grateful, I don’t dare to hope for anything else.
Though our arrival has put you in a difficult position, when I return to my parents, I will certainly have them repay you."
Inside, Gu Baijiang sneered coldly, this Xu Shuanghong was as naïve as before, exposed her weakness so quickly, previously complaining about both families abandoning her, now making all sorts of promises to him; was she lying, or did she think he was easy to deceive?
"We’ll discuss this later," Gu Baijiang didn’t outright reject her; he wanted to see how the Xu family would repay him later, what he lacked the most now was Silver Tael.
"This journey is quite arduous, it’s tough on you three ladies, having to endure hardship along with our family."
Endure hardship, the first day, I endured eating salt, what’s the fear of a little hardship? With a look of gratitude, Xu Shuanghong said, "I dare not think like that, as long as we’re alive it’s fine. I heard you have three sons, where is the other son?"
"Don’t mention that unfilial son, his wife’s family has money, now he’s gone to enjoy life with them, grown so big he won’t heed his parents, I let him be."
Seeing the conversation had reached that point, Xu Shuanghong casually continued, "Speaking of that, I haven’t seen Madam yet, is she with the younger son?"
"Alas, that short-lived wife of mine, not long ago, due to injuries, lost her life by the wayside, hoping to bring her back to our ancestral land one day."
"I’m really sorry, I didn’t know," Xu Shuanghong apologized, "Look at me, such a careless mouth, bringing up the wrong topic."
"This has nothing to do with you, you didn’t know," Gu Youjiang said generously, "She didn’t lose out marrying me, I let her enjoy years of blessings, but now she suffers, her departure means at least she doesn’t endure hardship with us."
Silently, Xu Shuanghong cursed within her heart, a man saying such words, truly so heartless indeed.
Yet, she still echoed aloud, "Madam was blessed, raising three sons for you."
Being fellow women, Xu Shuanghong couldn’t help but justify for that poor woman, good or bad, she bore sons for him; if she had sons of her own, she surely wouldn’t have fallen to such a state.
But thinking about it differently, what does bearing sons achieve? Still short-lived, this husband is like a cunning wolf, not as understanding as she is.
"That’s true," sensing the topic wasn’t preferred by her, Gu Baijiang added somewhat reluctantly, "When we have the chance, I’ll have the third one come greet you.
That boy’s been corrupted by his wife, almost to the point of changing his surname.
Raising sons is quite worrying, a never-ending concern."
"Being parents is like this always, I see your eldest and second son are very nice, very filial to you, you will have blessings in the future."
The praise from Xu Shuanghong was well-liked by Gu Baijiang, "This is what they should do, otherwise all my years of teaching is wasted.
Your daughters should find husbands carefully, I may lack other skills, but I can discern people, and can help you choose when the time comes."
"Thank you," Xu Shuanghong lowered her eyes, this old man, doesn’t his mind know his own nature? You could still help pick a good option?
For now still relying on him to catch a noble connection, Xu Shuanghong didn’t want her daughters to stand out too much now, "Speaking of which, An Tong is blessed, I trust Gu sir has already found her a good husband?"
"Alas, before I felt the child was still young, no rush, but a change at home occurred unexpectedly, I’m not sure if she can find satisfaction in future."
Gu Baijiang had an epiphany, perhaps Xu Shuanghong wasn’t targeting him alone, but aspirational.
Looking at the beauty of the two girls, Gu Baijiang wasn’t so nervous, although slightly flirtatious, yet they couldn’t compare to An Tong.
"That’s unfortunate, she’s been delayed," knowing further inquiry would yield nothing, Xu Shuanghong changed topics.
With Xu Shuanghong’s company, Gu Baijiang was not as gloomy as before, occasionally letting out hearty laughter.
When Gu Kaiping heard this, his inner feelings were displeased.
No matter Xu Huizhen’s many faults, she was still their mother. How long had she left? Gu Baijiang was already laughing heartily with someone else.
Liu Yun grew increasingly sullen; changes loomed over the Gu Family, she should prepare earlier too.
Xu Yulan took deep breaths, having endured for so long, considering Gu Baijiang’s action as betrayal of her aunt.
The Gu Family claimed no concubines, yet this didn’t exclude mistresses or remarriage.
Once Gu Baijiang remarries, wouldn’t his sons follow suit?
Thinking about this sent shivers down her spine; remembering her aunt’s plight, she foresaw similar fate for herself.
Understanding this, she stopped caring about her aunt’s grievances and hurriedly pulled Liu Yun aside.
"What are you doing now?" Liu Yun sounded impatient, already troubled, what is Xu Yulan messing about now?
"Sister-in-law, you see that old charming lady, doing nothing but circling around our father-in-law, if she continues like this, we’ll have a mother-in-law lording over us again."
Liu Yun, "This is father-in-law’s business, what can we say about it?"
"Sister-in-law, you’re really muddled; have you forgotten how Mother left?"
Liu Yun raised her brow at her, "She left because of injuries, failing timely treatment, right?"
"Sister-in-law, that’s pointless talk, this moment, you’re still playing dumb, you were there when it happened, father-in-law set a wicked trend, sent my aunt away, now there’s another at his side, don’t you think our husbands harbor thoughts?"
