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

Chapter 700: Chapter 700: A Clear and Definite Refusal

From the moment Mrs. Gu mentioned Fan Tong wanted five hundred taels for the dowry, she knew their family would benefit from the silver.

Since that’s the case, they’re all in the same boat; might as well take advantage.

Jingzhe didn’t even look at Mrs. Jia, and continued picking dishes for Lu Zhaozhao.

"Alas, old age should make one let go of everything, but who can be at ease when your aunt’s marriage is still unsettled? I constantly worry. I want to ask you for silver, but I’m too embarrassed to ask. Jingzhe, please consider your grandfather and me. If there were a way, we wouldn’t put our old faces down and ask the younger generation for your aunt’s dowry," said Mrs. Gu, her voice filled with sorrow.

"Jingzhe, consider this silver as a loan to your grandparents. We won’t take your silver for free, we’ll use harvest from the fields as collateral. What do you think?" Mr. Gu started their moral coercion.

Jingzhe put down his chopsticks and said to Mrs. Jia first, "Doesn’t Aunt know why our family lacks silver? Isn’t it all wasted by Uncle and Brother Ruinian? If you really cared about Aunt, you shouldn’t touch her dowry."

When they returned from the south, Gu Honglian’s dowry was still with Mrs. Gu, but later it was used for Gu Ruinian’s education and Gu Youtian’s business.

Gu Youtian and Mrs. Jia convinced the elders to use Gu Honglian’s dowry, counting on the main family to cover the costs.

Uncle and Aunt always treated people like fools.

Mrs. Jia felt embarrassed.

Jingzhe said to Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu, "Grandpa, Grandma, you’re asking me to come up with this five hundred taels for the dowry. Even if I had it, I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t. I’m still studying, can’t earn money, and I need to spend money. The monthly silver and food from the government aren’t even enough for me to buy books."

"It’s not that I’m unwilling to provide, five hundred taels, even if you sell me, I couldn’t afford it."

Jingzhe straightforwardly rejected them.

Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu felt that Jingzhe’s words were just an excuse.

How could he possibly have no money?

With Lu Zhaozhao’s dowry, Jingzhe couldn’t spend his silver in two lifetimes.

Jingzhe very clearly refused.

Rejected by their grandson, Mrs. Gu and Mr. Gu felt inexplicably anxious.

Tears rolled down Gu Honglian’s face; her niece-in-law refused her, now her nephew did too.

Mrs. Gu, feeling distressed, teary-eyed, said to Jingzhe, "How can you have no silver? The Lu family gave your wife so much dowry, even a little from it would be more than five hundred taels."

Jingzhe was angered and amused.

They’re blatantly making a play for Lu Zhaozhao’s dowry.

It’s no surprise that Grandfather and Grandmother would do this, given Aunt has already bypassed him and asked Lu Zhaozhao for dowry.

Thinking Lu Zhaozhao wouldn’t have the face to refuse just after getting married.

Jingzhe absolutely wouldn’t allow anyone to go after Lu Zhaozhao’s dowry, which was why he came to this dinner.

Jingzhe coldly said, "You know it’s Zhao Zhao’s dowry; what relation does Zhao Zhao’s dowry have with me? That’s her own possession, no one other than her has the right to use it."

Mr. Gu almost exploded with anger upon hearing this; once Lu Zhaozhao married into the Gu family, she was part of the family, her dowry belonged to the Gu family.

Mr. Gu ignored Jingzhe’s words, instead he asked Lu Zhaozhao, "Granddaughter-in-law, we don’t covet your dowry, your dowry is certainly yours. Others might think five hundred taels is a lot, but for you it’s insignificant. You needn’t use your dowry; the pearl on your hairpin is worth five hundred taels."

Seeing what Lu Zhaozhao was wearing and using was something they had never seen, it must be expensive.

Whatever she wore, the jewelry on her hair, on her body, giving a few pieces to Gu Honglian would be enough as dowry.

Jingzhe spoke up first, "Grandpa, you don’t need to speak to Zhao Zhao about this. You just think she’s embarrassed to refuse after just marrying and so you ask her for dowry. No matter the amount of silver, a single blade of grass that Zhao Zhao brought is her own, no one has the right to ask her to use her own silver, nor judge her attire."

"So if Zhao Zhao doesn’t give money, Aunt won’t marry?

"Either call off the marriage, or find another way yourselves."

Upon hearing this, Gu Honglian cried on the spot.

Lu Zhaozhao still didn’t speak, with Jingzhe shielding her from the fire, she need not utter a word.

"Let’s go."

Jingzhe stood up, Lu Zhaozhao rose alongside him.

The atmosphere at the dining table was as cold as a winter’s night.

Mrs. Gu held Gu Honglian, crying bitterly.

Standing, Lu Zhaozhao’s pearl emitted shimmering light, brighter than the oil lamp on the table.

Mrs. Gu, feeling increasingly discontent.

She felt Jingzhe wasn’t such a heartless person, surely Lu Zhaozhao was behind it all.

No wonder Gu Honglian begged her face to face, yet she wouldn’t give dowry.

She must have misled Jingzhe.

Mrs. Gu cried, "Jingzhe, marrying a wife and forgetting your roots. You weren’t like this before marriage, how did you become cold-hearted afterward? The family painstakingly raised you, yet can’t get any benefit."

"I’ll bet you’ll change your surname from Gu to Lu in the future."

In clear terms and insinuations, blaming it all on her influence, she was the one who instigated Jingzhe to deny Gu Honglian the dowry.

Lu Zhaozhao’s face was very displeased.

The abacus beads seemed to bounce off her face, yet she endured.

"If you want to say Jingzhe won’t give Aunt the dowry because I instigated it, then say it directly, don’t beat around the bush. Jingzhe is my husband, we are one, his thoughts are my thoughts. If you didn’t save dowry for your daughter, don’t blame me."

"I haven’t even exposed you; the Fan Family clearly asked Aunt for a hundred and fifty taels of dowry, yet you turned it into five hundred taels claiming you need it. Am I some fool? You think you can scrape some off me, you’re wrong."

"I’ve never heard of a new bride being asked for dowry just after entering the door, it’d be a joke if spread around."

"More so, asking others for things without a proper attitude, just blatantly demanding. Even if my dowry goes to waste, I wouldn’t produce it for your benefit."

Lu Zhaozhao had not said a word since entering, and suddenly spoke sharply before leaving, leaving Mrs. Gu speechless.

Jingzhe held Lu Zhaozhao’s hand, saying to Mr. Gu and the others, "Not only does Aunt’s dowry have nothing to do with Zhao Zhao, anything concerning you also has nothing to do with Zhao Zhao. If I ever find out you bother her again, don’t blame me for being harsh."

Finished speaking, he left with Lu Zhaozhao.

The old Gu house fell into silence.

"She-devil, even her speaking is vile; don’t be fooled by her usual quiet demeanor, scheming and full of malice, leading my good grandson astray. I said never to marry a merchant’s daughter, all caught up in money."

Mrs. Gu exclaimed in anger.

Gu Honglian, realizing the dowry was now out of reach, lay her head on the table, unable to stop crying.