The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 68 The Lu Family's Repayment

Gu Dahan followed Tong Huaqiong's advice and planned to send the Lu siblings to the prefectural city before quitting his job and returning home.

The thought of living at home with his wife and daughters was indeed more tempting than the three taels of silver he earned each month.

“Alright, I’ll listen to my mother. I’ll go and resign for Young Master Lu right now.” Gu Dahan stood up quickly. Since he had decided to resign, the sooner he could resign for Young Master Lu, the better.

Lu Zhaoyang had already gotten up and picked up one of Gu Jingzhe's books to read.

Upon learning that Gu Dahan was going to quit his job, he felt quite sorry for him and was willing to increase Gu Dahan's monthly salary to four taels in order to keep him.

Gu Dahan gritted his teeth and refused, explaining that he needed to stay home to care for his widowed mother.

Lu Zhaoyang found it difficult to refuse this reason, so after thinking for a moment, he invited Tong Huaqiong into the house.

“Aunt Tong, thank you so much for pointing out the root of my illness. I didn’t eat any wheat products last night, and I feel much better this morning. I feel more refreshed than ever before. I have no way to repay you. I heard that the young Gu brother is studying at a private school in town and passed the imperial examination last year. Even the provincial education commissioner praised his scholarship. The private school in town might be burying the young Gu brother. Why don’t you let him come with me to study at Wanliu Academy?”

When Lu Zhaoyang saw Tong Huaqiong enter, he didn't exchange many pleasantries and directly suggested that Gu Jingzhe go to Wanliu Academy to study.

Tong Huaqiong frowned.

Well, she underestimated Gu Jingzhe.

From last night to this morning, due to her carelessness, Gu Jingzhe got involved with Lu Zhaoyang and even tried to get him into Wanliu Academy.

However, Tong Huaqiong clearly misunderstood Gu Jingzhe this time.

Since Lu Zhaoyang arrived at the Gu family, Gu Jingzhe has not spoken to him at all, nor has he ever thought of using Lu Zhaoyang as a stepping stone to study at Wanliu Academy.

The reason Lu Zhaoyang suggested that Gu Jingzhe study at Wanliu Academy was because he had learned from Gu Dahan that his youngest brother was studying there and had achieved excellent results in the imperial examinations last year. Gu Dahan had come to work for the Lu family to support his brother's education.

He felt there was no better way to repay Aunt Tong, who had saved him, than by sending her son to Wanliu Academy for further studies.

Furthermore, he had just casually flipped through Gu Jingzhe's articles and felt they deserved a compliment from the university's academic affairs director.

"Thank you, Young Master Lu. But it's no need. For a farming family like ours, Wanliu Academy is not a place we even dream of." Tong Huaqiong was declining the offer.

Lu Zhaoyang was a little surprised by Tong Huaqiong's refusal.

With gritted teeth, he bluntly stated, "Aunt Tong, are you worried about tuition? You don't need to worry about that at all. My grandfather has always supported poor children to study, and he should do the same for the son of his benefactor."

The annual cost of fifty taels for a wedding gift, plus the expenses for food, drink, writing materials, and other necessities in the prefectural city, adds up to nearly one hundred taels a year.

This was indeed a huge burden for children from impoverished families, especially the Gu family.

Lu Zhaoyang was worried that Tong Huaqiong was concerned about the cost of studying, so he proposed that the Lu family pay for Gu Jingzhe's studies at Wanliu Academy.

In any case, this fee is nothing to the Lu family.

“It’s not a matter of tuition fees. The third son isn’t suited for school, so I’ve already had him drop out,” Tong Huaqiong said.

Lu Zhaoyang looked surprised and asked, "Aunt Tong, did the Gu family's younger brother drop out of school because of money?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "No, I just don't want him to study."

Tong Huaqiong didn't want to tell Lu Zhaoyang the real reason why Gu Jingzhe dropped out of school; as Gu Jingzhe's mother, she couldn't bear the shame.

Lu Zhaoyang became increasingly puzzled. Logically speaking, for impoverished farming families like the Gu family, the greatest hope for escaping poverty lay in their children's education. Now that their youngest son showed talent in his studies, why wasn't he allowed to continue?

This Aunt Tong is so strange!

“Aunt Tong, you are a wise person. Among the four classes of people, studying is the right path. For example, our Lu family is not worried about food and drink, but we still hope to change our social status from merchants to scholars. That’s why I’ve put in the effort to study. It’s a blessing for a family to have a scholar. Since the youngest brother of the Gu family is so talented in studying, you shouldn’t bury his talent.” Lu Zhaoyang then tried to persuade Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong smiled and asked, "What did Gu Jingzhe tell you?"

Lu Zhaoyang asked with a puzzled look, "Why does Aunt Tong ask that? He hasn't said a word to me since last night."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "Aunt Tong, do you think it was the Gu family's young master who asked me to act as an intermediary? That's not true. I only just found out that the Gu family's young master dropped out of school, and I felt it was a pity."

Lu Zhaoyang held Gu Jingzhe's article in his hand, wanting to analyze its merits for Tong Huaqiong, but he felt quite regretful when he thought of Tong Huaqiong as a country woman.

Tong Huaqiong was slightly relieved to learn that Gu Jingzhe had not used any underhanded tactics in this matter.

She didn't intend to give Lu Zhaoyang any reasons for not letting Gu Jingzhe study, nor did she intend to reveal to Lu Zhaoyang that the plan was only to temporarily prevent Gu Jingzhe from studying.

She didn't want Gu Jingzhe to have any involvement with the Lu siblings at all. Even if there was any involvement, it would be with Tong Huaqiong, such as using the Lu family to do business in the prefectural city.

Of course, even if we rely on the Lu family, it's based on a win-win situation for both sides.

Instead of living like in the previous life, where the entire Gu family relied on the Lu family for their livelihood.

Then Tong Huaqiong began to channel the spirit of a country bumpkin, saying, "Young Master Lu, I appreciate your kindness. However, I have my reasons for not letting my son study. I know that the tuition fee for Wanliu Academy is nothing to the Lu family, but it is a huge sum for a farming family like ours. If I accept your offer, it would be like taking advantage of a favor, which is not in line with the Gu family's tradition."

"Young Master Lu, please don't make things difficult for me. I've always believed that children and grandchildren have their own destinies. If my third son is truly a unicorn, our family can't contain him. If he's not destined for it, going to Wanliu Academy will be in vain. Young Master Lu, you don't need to trouble yourself."

Lu Zhaoyang wanted to say something more, but Tong Huaqiong clearly didn't want to talk about it.

Lu Zhaoyang could see that Tong Huaqiong, as a widow, had many principles in her heart, but she was too proud and unwilling to accept the tuition fee paid by the Lu family to Gu Jingzhe.

Lu Zhaoyang couldn't help but let his thoughts wander. He felt that Tong Huaqiong was worried that if she used the Lu family's money to support Gu Jingzhe's studies, Gu Jingzhe would become a member of the Lu family in the future.

Gu Dahan was originally a servant in the Lu family, driving a cart, which made Aunt Tong think too much.

Thinking of her selling pastries at the market, the aroma of which kept him awake last night, he regretted not being able to eat them due to his gluten intolerance. Lu Zhaozhao had said those pastries were better than any in the city. Since Tong Huaqiong wouldn't accept his direct financial support for Gu Jingzhe's studies, perhaps the Lu family could start by supporting the Gu family's pastry business.

For example, ordering pastries from the Gu family like Lu Zhaozhao does is one form of assistance, and helping the Gu family open a shop in the prefectural city in the future is another.

If Tong Huaqiong earns money this way, wouldn't that allow Gu Jingzhe to continue his studies?
Thinking of Tong Huaqiong's high self-esteem, he hesitated to speak.

Tong Huaqiong noticed this and said proactively, "Miss Lu ordered pastries from my family. I'm not bragging, but my pastries are definitely better than those in the shops in the prefectural city. If I ever want to open a pastry shop in the prefectural city in the future, I'll definitely need Young Master Lu's help."

Lu Zhaoyang was indeed very happy to hear Tong Huaqiong say this, and said, "Aunt Tong, please come to the Lu family to find me."

After Tong Huaqiong pointed out the root of his illness, he regarded Tong Huaqiong as his benefactor, and he would feel uneasy if he did not repay her.

Tong Huaqiong felt relieved after hearing Lu Zhaoyang's words. She felt that instead of using the Lu family's connections for Gu Jingzhe's studies, she should use them for her own business.

Anyway, given Gu Jingzhe's personality, he might still be able to achieve the third-highest rank in the imperial examinations even without the Lu family's help, and he won't have to screw over Lu Zhaozhao for the rest of his life.

(End of this chapter)