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

Chapter 7: Is he really the biological son?
"Mother, what did you say?"

Gu Jingzhe was greatly alarmed.

On his way home, Gu Jingzhe heard Gu Dashu describe the changes in his widowed mother over the past two days. She wouldn't let his sister and niece go to the Zheng family and wanted to return the money the Zheng family had given them. Gu Jingzhe thought that his widowed mother had thrown another tantrum for no reason.

After all, he was used to his widowed mother's constant antics without complaint.

He was still plotting in his mind how to coax his widowed mother to change her mind, and most importantly, to ensure that he could go to study at Wanliu Academy in the prefectural city.

But despite all his calculations, he never anticipated that his widowed mother would directly cut off his path to education.

“Are you deaf? Haven’t I made myself clear enough? You can stop studying and just stay home and farm.” Tong Huaqiong repeated what she had just said.

When Gu Jingzhe saw that Tong Huaqiong's eyes were icy cold and didn't seem to be joking, he was so frightened that he almost fell to the ground.

Good heavens, what's the difference between this and taking his life!
He couldn't accept it.

"Mother, why won't you let me go to school anymore?"

Gu Jingzhe wanted a reason not to let him study.

The person who supported Gu Jingzhe's education the most was his widowed mother. Even during famine years, she tightened her belt to support his studies. To help him continue his education, the strong-willed widowed mother swallowed her pride and endured ridicule to borrow money from her uncle's family.

Moreover, just a few days ago, when the widowed mother decided to send her niece to the Zheng family to change his future, she earnestly instructed him to study hard at Wanliu Academy, to change the Gu family's fortunes, and not to be afraid of spending money. She said that even if the money given by the Zheng family was spent, she would support him even if the family had to sell everything they owned and even if they had to beg for food.

How could the widowed mother have changed her mind in just three days?

He didn't understand, he didn't understand at all.

"My family is poor and can't afford to support you," Tong Huaqiong said calmly.

The family's poverty isn't a recent phenomenon; they've always been poor. How come he could go to school before but can't now?

"Mother, did your sister-in-law say something that made you change your mind?"

Despite Tong Huaqiong's explanation, Gu Jingzhe still did not believe the reason that he was not allowed to study simply because his family was poor.

He needed to study because his family was poor; he was the only hope for the whole family.

Otherwise, the Gu family wouldn't even have a chance to turn things around.

His first thought was that the obstacle would come from his sister-in-law. After all, as Man'er's mother, his sister-in-law would certainly not be willing to send her to the Zheng family in exchange for his future. However, if his sister-in-law had the ability to change her widowed mother's mind, she wouldn't have suffered at her mother's hands all these years.

"Don't try anything with your sister-in-law," Tong Huaqiong said.

"So, Second Sister-in-law complained again?"

It must be my second sister-in-law.

Gu Jingzhe's education cost the family a large portion of their money, which Liu Yue'e had long resented, often subtly implying that he was taking advantage of the second wife. If it weren't for her widowed mother keeping Liu Yue'e in check, she probably would have already started demanding a separation from the family.

"It has nothing to do with your two sisters-in-law."

Tong Huaqiong grew impatient with Gu Jingzhe.

"In short, you don't need to go to the private school starting tomorrow. Just stay home and farm."

Tong Huaqiong sighed inwardly.

Gu Jingzhe is indeed a well-rounded talent, excelling in academics and possessing striking good looks! If Tong Dajiao's memory is accurate, he will be able to achieve the top score in the provincial examination next year and become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination), and then advance smoothly to the provincial examination, becoming a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examination), and before he is even twenty, he will become a Tanhua (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination).

Unfortunately, such a gifted talent was corrupted from the start. After becoming an official, he used all his talents to exploit the people and even got involved in factional struggles and the struggle for the foundation of the state, which led to the complete annihilation of the entire Gu family.

"Mother, I've been studying all these years, I've forgotten how to hold a hoe." Gu Jingzhe continued to struggle.

"If you don't know how, then learn! If you really don't want to farm, that's simple too. I've already thought of a better way out for you. You can read, right? Go to the town or county and become an apprentice or an accountant. You can learn a skill and make a living."

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Gu Jingzhe's clean, pristine clothes and fair complexion, which were different from the rest of the family, and did not intend to change her mind.

Gu Jingzhe felt utterly hopeless!
He still wanted to understand what had happened in the past three days that made his widowed mother change her mind.

But the widow's eyes showed a clear disgust, indicating that she didn't want to communicate with him.

Gu Jingzhe even started to let his imagination run wild. Could it be that he wasn't his father's biological son? Was he the child of one of his mistresses, who had been forced into the widowed mother's care when Tao Hua was born to make them appear as twins? And now that his widowed mother had discovered he wasn't her biological son, she was cutting off his education. Otherwise, there was really no reason for his widowed mother to abandon her own son!

No matter how Gu Jingzhe tried to figure her out, Tong Huaqiong ignored him, stretched, clapped her hands, and gathered the whole family together for a lecture.

"I'll say it again, neither Man'er nor Taohua will go to the Zheng family."

Tong Huaqiong emphasized to the group of bamboo groves surrounding her.

Chen Su-fen was the happiest person to hear this.

Ever since her brother-in-law entered the family, she had been worried all night. She knew that her brother-in-law's position in her mother-in-law's heart was unshakeable, and she was afraid that a few words from the scholar would encourage her mother-in-law to send Man'er back to the Zheng family.

Thankfully, thankfully, my mother-in-law didn't listen to my brother-in-law.

"From now on, whether it's Gu Dashu, Gu Jingzhe, or even Yaozu, none of you are allowed to make a move on our girls. If you ever try to use your sisters or nieces to advance your own careers again, don't blame me for kicking you out of the house."

Tong Huaqiong's sharp gaze swept over Gu Dashu, Gu Jingzhe, and Gu Yaozu, who all nodded hastily. There was no way around it; at this moment, Tong Huaqiong was like a bloodthirsty beast, ready to tear them apart at the slightest provocation.

"You must be wondering why I changed my mind about sending Man'er to the Zheng family, right?" Tong Huaqiong asked.

Everyone turned to look at Tong Huaqiong.

Nobody doesn't want to know!

“During the three days I was unconscious, I was visited in a dream by the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva said that the biggest reason our family is poor is because of the sins we have committed,” Tong Huaqiong said calmly.

What kind of reason is that?!
Gu Dashu and the others didn't believe it at all. They thought it was some kind of dream message from a Bodhisattva. But had that widow ever worshipped a Bodhisattva?

During festivals, when villagers go to the temple to worship Buddha in groups, she can sneak away with the fruits and pastries on the offering table when no one is looking, and even scrape off the gold leaf from the Buddha statue to exchange for money.

The only person who believed this was Chen Su-fen.

"What sins have we committed? What sins have we committed?" Gu Dashu asked.

Tong Huaqiong sighed, clutching her chest. Wasn't it already terrible enough that Gu Dashu bullied the eldest son's family every day? Wasn't it terrible enough that Gu Jingzhe wanted to send his niece to the Zheng family? Sure enough, the perpetrators always think they are innocent.

Regardless of what those few bad bamboos thought, Tong Huaqiong continued her rambling.

“You all know what sins you’ve committed. The Bodhisattva gave me a dream about our family’s future, and I’ve been trembling for the past three days. Let me tell you what happened. Don’t blame me if you wet your pants. During the Great Heat, you and Yaozu were cut in half at the waist; during the Awakening of Insects, your head was chopped off; and Taohua was burned to death…”

Tong Huaqiong doesn't believe that ancient people, who were obsessed with cause and effect and retribution, could be unafraid of hearing about their respective fates.

Sure enough, Gu Dashu, Gu Taohua, and Liu Yue'e all turned deathly pale.

Unable to bear it any longer, Gu Dashu stood up and said, "Mother, how can you curse your own son and grandson like this?"

“That’s right, Yaozu is only so young, and you’re already cursing him to death, Mother.” Liu Yue’e’s heart trembled. After saying that, she drew a circle with her foot, pulled Yaozu into the circle, and spat a few times.

"Don't speak up for your son. What good will your end be? You were divorced by Gu Dashu. Your good son thought you were from a farming family and couldn't help him. After you were divorced, he put you in a temple to be a nun and never visited you. People only recognize rich stepmothers as their real mothers." Tong Huaqiong stared at Liu Yue'e and suddenly let out a contemptuous laugh.

Liu Yue'e was startled.

she letter.

Given Gu Dashu's personality, if he becomes successful, he might actually dare to divorce me!

Gu Jingzhe remained calm. Tong Huaqiong remarked that Gu Jingzhe had shown materialistic characteristics at such a young age, no wonder he would do such immoral things with such impunity when he grew up.

"I don't want to be burned to death... Then... then... Mother, how can I avoid being burned to death?"

Gu Taohua almost burst into tears. As an ancient girl, she was rather naive and, having always trusted Tong Huaqiong, was terrified upon hearing her own fate, regardless of whether it was true or not.

After Gu Taohua finished asking her question, Gu Dashu and Liu Yue'e stared intently at Tong Huaqiong.

That scared me to death! Mom, please give me an answer right away.

"That's a good question, Peach Blossom."

Tong Huaqiong's lips curled up; she'd taken the bait!

(End of this chapter)