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

Chapter 696: Chapter 696: Sincerity Is Far More Important Than a Dowry

Originally, it was thought that after Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao returned, they would stay in the city.

Three days later, the two came back.

Lu Zhaozhao told Tong Huaqiong that she liked living in Qinghe Bay.

Her brother studied, her grandfather did business outside; most of the time, she lived alone, so she liked the hustle and bustle and longed for family life.

Looking at Lu Zhaozhao’s playful face, Tong Huaqiong thought, no wonder she could be so controlled by the Tong Dajiao family in her past life, not because she was easy to bully, but because she truly longed for the absence of familial love.

Even Liu Yueer was able to trick quite a bit from her in the past life; it wasn’t because she was gullible, but because those good things that others valued were insignificant to her.

She exchanged worthless things for Liu Yueer’s banter and flattery.

"You can stay if you want," Tong Huaqiong said, "After all, this is your home; you can stay as long as you want."

But they won’t stay long; soon Jingzhe would take Lu Zhaozhao to Shengjing.

After Jingzhe’s marriage ended, Chen Sufen returned to Taohua Dessert Bakery.

Liu Yueer, in a hurry, went to Pingchuan Jufu Restaurant. Originally, she planned to rest more in Qinghe Bay, but Zhaozhao’s dowry made her eager to return to work.

She had no choice, as Zhaozhao had the Lu family backing her and would surely become the first daughter-in-law in the future.

Lacking family support, she had to rely on herself; if she wanted her mother-in-law to give her more inheritance in the future, she needed to show her skills.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t expect that Lu Zhaozhao’s marriage would fuel competition among the daughters-in-law.

Lu Zhaozhao didn’t stay idle in Qinghe Bay; the businesses of the Lu family she managed periodically sent account books; she needed to read them and make business decisions. She talked about business matters with Tong Huaqiong daily, and in her free time, she spent time with Gu Taohua, Gu Xiaoxue, Tong Pandi, and others in Yan Guan Town for shopping or went to the fields to see the crops or pick fruits in the mountains.

Life was busy but pleasant.

Since Lu Zhaozhao returned from the city, Gu Honglian began constantly trying to make her presence known around her.

Praising Lu Zhaozhao’s beautiful clothes, admiring her hairstyle... in various ways flattery and commendation.

Lu Zhaozhao noticed that this cousin paid her excessive attention and affection.

Finally, one day, Lu Zhaozhao couldn’t help but ask: "Cousin, do you have something to ask of me?"

Gu Honglian bit her lip.

Wasn’t it said that Lu Zhaozhao was simple?

Why is it, after trying to flatter her for so many days, I didn’t get anything from her?

She had seen Lu Zhaozhao occasionally reward Su Qing, Granny Lei, and a few maids and nannies.

Lavishly generous.

When she complimented Lu Zhaozhao’s hairpin, shouldn’t Lu Zhaozhao have taken it off and given it to her?

When she cried that the satin Lu Zhaozhao sent her was pawned by her second sister-in-law, shouldn’t Lu Zhaozhao have sent her another piece?

No, besides sharing a bit of her sadness and offering a word or two of comfort, Lu Zhaozhao had no intention of giving her anything.

Lu Zhaozhao finally took the initiative to ask her.

Since Lu Zhaozhao asked, Gu Honglian planned to appeal with her plight.

Her second sister-in-law was right; she couldn’t actively propose. She needed Lu Zhaozhao to take the initiative to give.

Gu Honglian smiled and said, "It’s nothing major, I just wanted to ask about your feelings about getting married."

Talking about getting married, Lu Zhaozhao blushed.

As for the feelings, the experience was naturally wonderful.

Her mother-in-law was kind to her, her sister-in-law was kind to her, and her husband was even better to her.

But it’s hard to share this with her cousin. First, the cousin is an elder, second, the cousin hasn’t married yet, and third, the relationship with the cousin hasn’t reached a level of genuine emotional sharing.

Lu Zhaozhao thought for a moment and asked back: "Is cousin asking about my marriage because cousin has someone in mind and is also considering marriage?"

Gu Honglian’s face filled with blush, and then she laughed. How come Lu Zhaozhao was so straightforward, steering the topic to her marriage situation.

She was racking her brains on how to lead into the topic; now, it could transition smoothly.

On the subject of Gu Honglian getting married, she had much to say.

With a bashful face, Gu Honglian said, "Zhaozhao, you really guessed it right. I’ve indeed been talking about marriage since the beginning of the year."

Curious, Lu Zhaozhao asked, "Is the person you’re talking about someone you like? That would be wonderful."

"He’s a scholar, Jingzhe’s senior, and his family is in Wild Bull Valley..."

Gu Honglian muttered for a long time about Fan Tong and then sighed, changing the subject: "Among the ten-mile span from Jingzhe, aside from him, only Fan Tong is a scholar. Discussing marriage with him is considered marrying up. In Qinghe Bay, no girl has married a scholar. A scholar marrying a farm girl is already enough for people to talk about, so my parents want to prepare a dowry for me to marry him as a scholar’s wife with grace. But you know our family’s situation is tight, and we haven’t prepared a dowry yet."

Lu Zhaozhao realized that Gu Honglian wasn’t here to discuss marriage; she was here to ask for a dowry.

As she thought, she had no relationship with this cousin before her marriage, and post-marriage, the cousin frequently hovered around, excessively eager to please.

It turned out she was here for a gain.

"Zhaozhao, I truly envy you for having so much dowry. Honestly, not only I envy you, but also all the girls in Dasheng, besides the Princess. Who wouldn’t envy your dowry?"

Gu Honglian finished, looking at Lu Zhaozhao with anticipation.

Just hoping Lu Zhaozhao understood her intention and readily gave her a few pieces of dowry.

Lu Zhaozhao chuckled, "I also think my dowry is quite a lot, but when mentioning it, I must thank my grandfather. He has been saving up for my dowry since I was little, and he combined it with my mother’s dowry to give it all to me."

As she spoke, Lu Zhaozhao’s eyes turned red, her tone sank, and she sighed, "If my mother could be alive, I’d rather not have this dowry. Cousin, I really envy you for having a mother’s love."

Gu Honglian felt disoriented.

This wasn’t what she had expected.

How did Zhaozhao pull the dowry talk to having a mother or not?

She has a mother’s love, sure, but her mother can’t conjure a dowry for her, what’s to envy?

Although Zhaozhao doesn’t have a mother, she certainly has wealth!

"Cousin, I’m happy that you found someone you like. I believe that thousands of gold pieces can’t compare to being with someone you truly love. Take Jingzhe and me, for example; I don’t care how much bridal gift Jingzhe gave, nor does Jingzhe care about my dowry." Lu Zhaozhao said passionately.

Gu Honglian shook her head; she couldn’t determine whether Zhaozhao was genuinely naive or faking it.

This young lady, raised in riches, understands nothing; she doesn’t care about wealth because she genuinely has it.

Lu Zhaozhao continued, "From what I understand from cousin, Fan Xiucai and you have mutual affections, and he likely doesn’t care if you have a dowry because a true heart is much more important than a dowry. Don’t you think, cousin?"

Gu Honglian looked at Lu Zhaozhao as if she were an idiot.

She’s saying this while knowing nothing she says is meaningful.

What true heart, what mutual affection, can either be eaten or drunk?

She admired Fan Tong for being a scholar, so Fan Tong couldn’t possibly not covet her dowry.