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

Chapter 695: Chapter 695: Refusing to Respond Means It’s Already Yours

Gu Honglian started sobbing again.

She hoped her sister-in-law would give her a dowry, but her sister-in-law didn’t acknowledge it at all.

Mrs. Jia gave Gu Honglian some advice, saying, "Sister, this is our family’s situation; no use complaining. Everyone’s money is for the men to spend, and since Rui Nian is a Gu Family descendant, he has the right to spend the family’s money."

"Crying in front of us won’t get you a dowry, but there is someone who might help."

Gu Honglian stopped crying and asked, "Who?"

Old Madam Gu looked at Mrs. Jia with eyes full of hope.

Mrs. Wei sneered, thinking her mother-in-law was full of nonsense.

Mrs. Jia said, "Your sister-in-law’s newly married beloved daughter-in-law."

Gu Honglian frowned and said, "She only gave me a golden hairpin; am I to hope she’ll give me a dowry? She’s my sister-in-law’s daughter-in-law; naturally, they’re in sync, and if my sister-in-law disagrees, she certainly won’t give it to me."

Mrs. Jia chuckled and said, "What daughter-in-law genuinely sides with her mother-in-law? Every daughter-in-law has grievances against her. If I were you, I’d cozy up to Jingzhe’s wife, cry to her about your sister-in-law not giving you a dowry, and it might spark her sympathy. If she steps in, your dowry would be sorted."

Gu Honglian wiped her tears and looked at Old Madam Gu.

Old Madam Gu’s heart was moved.

She looked at Lu Zhaozhao, who seemed naïve and sweet.

Of course, being the granddaughter of the Great Royal Merchant, she’s never been short of money, and her actions are generous.

She heard that Lu Zhaozhao, upon first meeting Tong Pandie, gave a big gold lock with embedded jade to Hua Er out of sympathy for her divorce.

Even when Liu Yueer’s mother, Mrs. Zhao, celebrated her birthday, Lu Zhaozhao happened to be there and gifted a pair of big gold bracelets and two pieces of Floating Light Brocade, making Mrs. Zhao praise her beauty and kindness to everyone.

Anyway, Gu Honglian is Gu Jingzhe’s aunt; crying in front of Lu Zhaozhao would surely evoke her sympathy.

Besides, Lu Zhaozhao is wealthy.

The various dowries she received are so enviable.

She could casually give a dowry carriage, and it would be enough for Honglian’s dowry.

Old Madam Gu said, "Honglian, your second sister-in-law is right. I see Jingzhe’s wife as someone soft-hearted. If you plead with her earnestly, just a little spill-over from her abundant dowry would do."

"Giving you a few dowry carriages is nothing to her."

The more Old Madam Gu thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. She planned to find a time to have Lu Zhaozhao come over; she’d tell her the situation personally.

As a newlywed daughter-in-law, her skin is thin; she didn’t believe Lu Zhaozhao would refuse.

Mrs. Wei couldn’t help but roll her eyes; not long ago, Old Madam Gu was criticizing Lu Zhaozhao for being a seductress, and now she’s plotting about her dowry.

Gu Honglian’s tear-filled eyes brightened instantly; who wouldn’t envy Lu Zhaozhao’s dowry? She wished she could immediately go and butter up to Lu Zhaozhao.

Mrs. Wei and Gu Xiaoxue exchanged looks, both thinking disdainfully, are Old Madam Gu and Mrs. Jia taking Lu Zhaozhao for a fool?

If she really were so easily moved by tears, how could Mr. Lu dare entrust the Lu Family’s business to Lu Zhaozhao?

Mrs. Wei and Gu Xiaoxue had no interest in listening to their conversation further, so they took their leave.

Last year, Mrs. Wei and Gu Fengnian built a house in the village, moving out of the old residence. If not for Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao offering tea to recognize relatives, they wouldn’t have visited and chatted with the old residence people.

The two left the old residence and went straight to Tong Huaqiong’s place.

"Grandmother is really something, wanting to cash in on our sister-in-law just after she’s married. Doesn’t she find it disgraceful if this spreads?"

"They didn’t find it disgraceful plotting against Wu Na’s premarital pregnancy with Rui Nian, let alone against our sister-in-law’s dowry."

Hearing from the two that Old Madam Gu wanted Lu Zhaozhao to provide Gu Honglian’s dowry, Chen Sufen and Liu Yueer couldn’t help but curse.

Gu Taohua stood up abruptly and said, "I’m going to the old residence."

Tong Huaqiong held Gu Taohua back and said, "What are you going for? Just because they’re plotting doesn’t mean our sister-in-law will give in. You’re underestimating her."

Tong Huaqiong felt this matter was trivial.

Who in the old Gu residence doesn’t want a scheme? They’re even plotting for her assets; let’s see if they succeed.

However, this also depends on how Lu Zhaozhao sees it.

If Lu Zhaozhao feels giving Gu Honglian some dowry is no big deal, she’ll respect her decision.

After all, Lu Zhaozhao is her own person, and as Lu Zhaozhao’s mother-in-law, there’s no need to control her every decision.

Besides, there’s Gu Jingzhe, who stands up and supports at every turn.

...

After presenting the offerings to the ancestors, Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao walked out of the ancestral hall.

Mr. Gu was sitting on one side with a very sour expression.

It turned out Mr. Gu learned from Gu Jingzhe that Lu Zhaozhao’s children would have one with the surname Lu, as per an agreement reached by Mr. Lu and Tong Huaqiong during the marriage negotiations.

The Lu Family business would eventually be managed by Lu Zhaozhao; Mr. Lu explicitly stated he wasn’t willing for all of the Lu family’s assets to go to the Gu Family, so one of Lu Zhaozhao’s children had to be part of the Lu Family.

Learning this, Mr. Gu was furious.

His precious golden grandson, a potential scholar selected from generations, would soon switch the Gu Family’s family status from farmers to officials, was now lowering himself to please a merchant’s family, not only protecting his wife as if she were a precious jewel but also planning to give a child from the Gu Family to the Lu Family.

In the ancestral hall, Mr. Gu furiously scolded Gu Jingzhe for being unfilial.

Gu Jingzhe bore Mr. Gu’s wrath stoically.

This matter could have been hidden, but Gu Jingzhe saw no reason to do so.

First, he couldn’t cut off ties with the clan, and sooner or later, the truth would come out; notifying them early was better than late.

Secondly, since Lu Zhaozhao would be managing the Lu family business, he worried the clan might have inappropriate designs, viewing Lu Family assets as belonging to the Gu Family.

"Grandfather, Zhaozhao and I are heading back. You should think things through more; as the saying goes, each generation has its own blessings, so there’s no need to worry about my affairs." Gu Jingzhe spoke to Mr. Gu with apparent concern.

Mr. Gu glared in frustration.

Think more? When the bloodline itself would carry the Lu Family name, how was he to think?

If the child given away had the potential to become an official advisor, wouldn’t it be a waste to advantage the Lu Family?

Mr. Gu was dwelling on the painful loss of a child who could have brought glory to the family tree.

Suddenly, the Lu family wealth seemed less appealing to him.

"Jingzhe’s wife, you’ve just joined the family; why not come to our place for dinner tonight?"

Mr. Gu thought of Gu Honglian’s dowry, suppressing his anger and kindly inviting Lu Zhaozhao to dinner at the Gu family old residence.

Lu Zhaozhao neither refused nor accepted, just smiling as she looked toward Gu Jingzhe.

Mr. Gu inwardly regretted underestimating this granddaughter-in-law.

At first glance, she appeared to follow Gu Jingzhe quietly, but in reality, she was the one leading; even his grandson was completely won over, unable to discern direction.

Earlier in the ancestral hall, despite his huge outburst, she made no comment regarding eventually having a child with the Lu surname.

No comment meant she was determined.

Gu Jingzhe smiled at Mr. Gu and said, "Grandfather, Zhaozhao and I will be going back tomorrow; we have preparations to make. We’ll stop by for dinner at the old residence another time."

He knew exactly his grandfather’s intentions.

This invitation had to be for Lu Zhaozhao’s assets.

Seeing Gu Jingzhe offering no room for negotiation, Mr. Gu was furious enough to want to give Gu Jingzhe a thrashing.