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

Chapter 690: Chapter 690: No Wedding Night Mischief Allowed

Since the marriage, Lu Zhaozhao didn’t live in Qinghe Bay, so she only brought two maids and a nanny with her, while the others stayed at the new house in the city.

Ruo Xue, one of the personal maids, had been to Qinghe Bay with Lu Zhaozhao several times and was familiar with Tong Huaqiong and others.

The other maid, Ruobing, and Nanny Dou were visiting Qinghe Bay for the first time.

On this joyful day, they were very upset to hear Old Mrs. Yang call Lu Zhaozhao an unattractive woman.

Their lady was undeniably beautiful.

Even standing next to the handsome Gu Jingzhe, she was not overshadowed at all.

Before they could react, Tong Huaqiong had already driven Old Mrs. Yang out.

Nanny Dou was very satisfied with this.

Everyone said Manager Tong was a rare kind of mother-in-law, but during matchmaking, which mother-in-law wouldn’t make things difficult for the bride? You can never see if a mother-in-law is kind or not until after the marriage.

Thus, before Lu Zhaozhao’s marriage, Nanny Dou had been quite worried.

Seeing how the Gu Family rallied together to protect Lu Zhaozhao, and how Tong Huaqiong expelled Old Mrs. Yang without regard for familial ties, only then did Nanny Dou feel somewhat at ease.

"...Nanny, rest assured, Manager Tong treats our lady very well," Ruo Xue whispered.

Ruo Xue continued to address Tong Huaqiong as Manager Tong as she always had.

"There were too many people just now, all crowded. Let’s go check on the dowry and make sure nothing’s been taken," Nanny Dou instructed the two maids with a smile.

The room quickly settled into silence, and Lu Zhaozhao sat quietly on the bed.

A rustling sound was heard, and suddenly a pair of small hands held hers.

"Third Aunt."

It was Man Er’s sweet voice.

"Third Aunt."

And Xiao Long’s voice.

Lu Zhaozhao smiled and said, "Aren’t you two going out to enjoy the banquet?"

Man Er stuffed two pieces of hibiscus cake, which Lu Zhaozhao liked, into her hands, saying, "Grandma said Third Aunt must be hungry having to get up in the middle of the night to dress. Xiao Long and I brought you some cakes to fill your stomach."

Before getting on the palanquin, Gu Jingzhe had already secretly slipped some cakes into her hands.

But in her nervousness, she didn’t know where they had gone.

She had been too nervous on the way, and now sitting in the new room, she did feel a bit hungry.

Lu Zhaozhao lifted her veil with a smile and shoved the cake into her mouth.

The veil trembled.

"Man Er, Xiao Long, what are you two doing here?"

At Tong Huaqiong’s voice, Man Er and Xiao Long were startled.

Tong Huaqiong walked in with big strides.

Man Er said softly, "We brought food for Third Aunt."

She wasn’t sure if the bride could eat, fearing Tong Huaqiong’s reproach.

But Tong Huaqiong said warmly, "You two are quite thoughtful."

Man Er and Xiao Long smiled.

Through the veil, Lu Zhaozhao was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to address Tong Huaqiong.

She was also a bit embarrassed to be caught snacking.

"Zhaozhao, our family doesn’t have many rules. You must be hungry from the long journey from Ning City to Qinghe Bay. I’ll have someone send you food shortly."

Tong Huaqiong gently patted Lu Zhaozhao’s hand.

Lu Zhaozhao thanked her through the veil.

Tong Huaqiong added, "Jingzhe is concerned about you. He was worried you’d be hungry earlier, so he had your favorite food prepared. You eat a little first. Jingzhe is currently surrounded by his classmates and can’t break away, but he’ll come see you once the banquet ends."

Tong Huaqiong explained on her son’s behalf.

Lu Zhaozhao embarrassedly smiled, the whole veil quivering.

The banquet came to an end, and the guests started to leave.

Those left, aside from the people from Qinghe Bay, were guests curious about the bride’s appearance who had never met her.

Some really believed Lu Zhaozhao was unattractive and had such a large dowry to compensate, staying behind to watch Tong Huaqiong and Gu Jingzhe’s embarrassment.

Gu Jingzhe was pushed into the new room by the Wanliu Academy students.

Liu Yueer handed a happy scale to Gu Jingzhe with a smile, saying, "Third brother, hurry up, everyone is waiting to see the new bride."

Gu Jingzhe took the happy scale, his hands trembling.

At the banquet, no matter how warmly his classmates toasted him, he only sipped a bit, fearing the smell of alcohol would bother Lu Zhaozhao.

This provoked teasing from his classmates, saying that he was already under his wife’s control.

At this moment, Gu Jingzhe sniffed himself, realizing he still smelled of alcohol, wishing he could take a bath before lifting the veil.

"Jingzhe, what are you waiting for? Hurry up," urged Meng Yanping, Gu Jingzhe’s old classmate.

Everyone turned their eyes to Gu Jingzhe, urging him silently.

Gu Jingzhe walked over and lightly lifted the happy scale.

The veil was lifted, and suddenly the new room seemed to light up, with everyone captivated by Lu Zhaozhao.

Had they not known she was a bride, they might have thought a celestial concubine was sitting in the room.

Even those familiar with Lu Zhaozhao, like Gu Taohua and Chen Sufen, gasped.

The bride Lu Zhaozhao, adorned beautifully, took their breath away.

The room fell into silence, only to be filled with exclamations shortly after.

"Truly beautiful."

"Like a fairy descending to the mortal world."

"Jingzhe is truly fortunate. The bride is not only wealthy but also so beautiful."

"Whoever said the bride was like an unattractive woman must be blind."

Everyone whispered their discussions in Lu Zhaozhao’s presence.

Lu Zhaozhao lowered her head shyly.

Most people envied Gu Jingzhe for marrying such a good wife.

Those who thought Lu Zhaozhao was ugly or flawed and looked forward to Tong Huaqiong and Gu Jingzhe’s embarrassment felt a strong pang of jealousy upon seeing Lu Zhaozhao’s true beauty.

Dusk fell.

Gu Taohua, following Tong Huaqiong’s instructions, began to send people on their way.

"We stayed for the wedding games; why are we being sent away now?" asked a young man from the village.

Gu Taohua, hands on hips, said, "Games are over; if you want more fun, go find your own wife."

She spoke while transforming into an unfeeling escorting machine.

The young man muttered, "Who has a wedding without games? Your family is the only exception."

The wedding games were the highlight in Pingchuan County.

Having lived here for years and attended many weddings, Tong Huaqiong had witnessed all manner of wedding games.

Some became excessive: some took advantage of the bride being shy, bullying her; others, their hands itching, would touch or rub against the bride. The bride couldn’t even get upset, lest it be seen as a lack of decorum.

The groom’s family even considered it no big deal.

They feared there would be no such games, which were seen as signs of hospitality and good social standing.

Yet, no one ever considered how the bride felt about it.

This was hard for Tong Huaqiong to understand; she didn’t want this kind of excitement or connections.

Tong Huaqiong had told Gu Jingzhe early on that there would be no games in their family. Gu Jingzhe, too, didn’t want wedding games, fearing they would offend Lu Zhaozhao.

Thus, after the veil was lifted and everyone’s curiosity about the bride was satisfied, Tong Huaqiong instructed Gu Taohua to clear the room.

Although some didn’t understand Gu Taohua’s actions in clearing the room, no one dared to challenge her authority since she was the deputy head of Tong’s Trading House, holding the livelihoods of many in Qinghe Bay.

After everyone left.

Only Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao remained in the room.

Gu Jingzhe’s face was flushed red, and Lu Zhaozhao’s face wasn’t much better.

Gu Jingzhe took Lu Zhaozhao’s hand, the scene feeling eerily familiar.

"Zhaozhao, it won’t be like the last lifetime," Gu Jingzhe suddenly murmured.

Some fragments passed through Gu Jingzhe’s mind, elusive yet persistent.

"What?" Lu Zhaozhao didn’t catch it.

"I said I’ll treat you well."

"Mm."

The red candles on the table flickered, bursting and then calming again.