Chapter 131: Dealing with the Xu Family

Eventually, thanks to the efforts of Madam Zhao and her daughter, the East Courtyard finally managed to have dinner. However, Gu Chengxin, having been chased out by Old Master Gu, did not return all night and was nowhere to be seen the next morning. The old master was furious but helpless, so he simply ate breakfast and led his sons and grandsons out to work in the fields.

Wentao, Wenping, and Wenzhi were on break today. When they heard Jiaoyan mention going to gather apricot pits, the boys grabbed their baskets and back panniers, preparing to head into the mountains. Gu Chengyong had woven many such baskets and containers in his spare time, which finally came in handy.

The children met up at the Miao family’s house, dragged Shaoyuan along, and set off for the mountain forest. The mountain was filled with wild apricot trees, and they could pick as much as they liked. With many hands making light work, they made two trips home by noon, and the Miao family’s courtyard was soon piled high with apricot pits.

In the afternoon, Gu Chengyong drove the carriage back, bringing Madam Li and the others home. Madam Li’s face was beaming; it seemed the marriage proposal had gone very smoothly.

Upon learning that his wife had returned, the old master stopped working in the fields—the work was nearly done anyway—and led his sons and grandsons back to rest. "How did it go?" the old master asked as soon as he entered the room.

"It’s done! We’ve set the date. We’re back now to prepare for the engagement ceremony. We’ve agreed to hold the engagement on the twenty-ninth of this month and the wedding in October," Madam Li said, grinning from ear to ear.

The reason for the rush to get engaged was that the seventh lunar month was the Ghost Month, which was considered unsuitable for such ceremonies. In the eighth month, Gu Chengren had to take his examinations and would have no time. As for the specific wedding date, it had not been set yet, but both sides agreed on October. By then, Gu Chengren would have finished his exams, and the Gu family would have finished the harvest and sold some of their new grain, leaving them with more financial leeway.

"The twenty-ninth? Isn't that a bit rushed? Will the bride's side agree?" the old master asked with some concern.

"They agreed. The Yang family said that since the sixth month is auspicious, we should choose the sixth month. They mentioned that many members of the He family will come to the engagement, so we need to prepare the betrothal gifts quickly. We don't have many days left," Madam Li said, smiling constantly. This was the happiest Jiaoyan had ever seen her.

"Oh, you should have seen it! The Yang family was so polite to us. Madam Yang kept saying she only cared about our fifth son and had no other requirements; we could do as we pleased. Didn't I say our fifth son was blessed? Look at how smoothly this marriage is coming together," Madam Li said, sitting on the kang and looking at Gu Chengren with pride. Her smile came truly from the heart.

Madam Li was happy, and Gu Chengren was no exception. From the moment he entered the house, a smile had not left his face. The He family’s daughter was lovely and came from such a good background; he still felt dizzy, as if he were in a dream.

Madam Li recounted more details about their time in the county town, and her excitement was so infectious that everyone in the room felt it too. After talking for a long time, she grew a bit parched. She looked at the sky outside and said, "It’s getting late. Let’s hurry up and cook dinner. We’ve been quite exhausted these past two days. Let’s eat quickly and rest, then start preparing for the fifth son’s engagement tomorrow."

Today it was Madam Wu’s turn to cook, so she turned toward the kitchen without needing to be told. Fearing Madam Wu would be overworked, Madam Zhao took her daughter to help. Gu Chengyong and Madam Feng said a few words to Madam Li before taking their children back to their own side.

Madam Li’s excitement hadn't fully faded, but once the children and daughters-in-law had left, she calmed down. She looked around the room and felt something was off. "Old man, why don't I see the fourth son, his wife, and the children?"

Mentioning this made the old master angry. "Don't even mention the fourth daughter-in-law. We can't keep a daughter-in-law like her in this family. The moment you left yesterday, she vanished. She didn't cook lunch, didn't return for dinner, and both children were gone too. I sent the fourth son to look for them, and he disappeared as well. These two spend their days not living a proper life—it gives me a headache just looking at them."

Upon hearing this, Madam Li’s eyes widened. "Good! I’ve only been away for one day, and she’s already causing trouble. You just wait; I’ll deal with her properly." Although Madam Li usually favored Madam Xu, that didn't mean she would tolerate such behavior. She was genuinely furious at Madam Xu’s actions.

As the elderly couple spoke, Gu Chengxin arrived, leading Madam Xu and their two sons. "Father, Mother, we’re back."

The old master’s face was as dark as water. "What did you come back for? This house cannot support you. Go wherever you like."

Madam Li pointed at Madam Xu’s nose and started berating her, "You spendthrift woman, all you know is how to wander around! Were you born with itchy feet? If you don't go out for a day, do your heels start itching? I took your sisters-in-law out and left you at home to cook and serve the family. You, on the other hand, ran off for two days and only show up now."

"Why did you come back? Our Gu family doesn't want a daughter-in-law like you! You shameless thing, what use are you? Running off every day to flirt with wild men?" Madam Li never held back her tongue; she said whatever would hurt the most. Yet, even this was mild compared to what she could have said.

Even so, it was harsh. If it had been Madam Wu or Madam Feng, they would have been humiliated and in tears. But Madam Xu didn't care at all. There wasn't a hint of regret on her face. She stood there and smiled at Madam Li, "Mother, look at you. I’m your own daughter-in-law, why say such things? I just went back to my maiden home, is that worth all this fuss?"

"The moment you left yesterday morning, I ran into someone from my village who said my father had fallen ill and wasn't feeling well. I was worried, so I took Wenjing and Wen’an and left for home, forgetting to tell Father. My husband came to find me last night, and here we are today," Madam Xu explained with a cheeky, unbothered grin.

"What? Your father is unwell? That’s just an excuse. You don't want to work at home, so you’re looking for an easy life. Do you think I don't see through you? Hmph, I’m not senile yet. Let me tell you, fourth daughter-in-law, this house cannot accommodate you. We don't want a daughter-in-law like you. You pack your bags, and tomorrow I’ll have the fourth son write you a divorce letter." Madam Li realized Madam Xu was becoming increasingly unmanageable and decided to use her trump card to threaten her.

When Madam Xu heard about the divorce letter, her expression finally faltered. "Mother, I just visited my maiden home, is it really necessary? If you divorce me, what will happen to Wenjing and Wen’an? Without a mother, who will look after them properly?"

Madam Li turned her head away, not looking at her. She didn't truly want to divorce Madam Xu; she only wanted to keep her in line. With the fifth son about to get married, she couldn't have the new bride seeing such an unruly daughter-in-law in the house. Madam Li wanted all her daughters-in-law under her thumb, completely obedient, and she would not allow this situation to continue.

"Go if you want, you don't need to worry about the children. Even when you were here, how much did you actually do for them? You didn't care about their food, and I’m the one who made their clothes. As a mother, besides giving birth to them, what have you done? What use does the Gu family have for a daughter-in-law like you? Once you leave, I’ll find a better one for the fourth son, I guarantee it." Madam Li kept her head turned, refusing to look at her.

Madam Li’s tone was firm, and only then did Madam Xu grow truly frightened. She knelt on the ground, "Mother, I was wrong! I was wrong, okay? Please, Mother, don't chase me away. I came to the Gu family when I was seventeen, almost ten years ago, and I gave birth to Wenjing and Wen’an. Even if I haven't achieved anything, I’ve certainly endured hardship."

As she spoke, she pinched Wen’an, who started to cry from the pain. Madam Xu hugged her son, and the mother and child wept together. Wenjing, realizing that his grandmother was trying to drive his mother away, also began to wail, "Grandfather, Grandmother, please, don't drive my mother away! If she leaves, my brother and I will be motherless children. Please, don't do this!"

Seeing his wife and son crying, Gu Chengxin couldn't hold back anymore. Although they bickered, they had a decent relationship. The thought of his wife being driven away and him being left alone was unbearable. He couldn't help but plead for her.

"Father, Mother, she knows she was wrong. Please forgive her. My father-in-law was indeed unwell, and when I went to get her, we were just caring for him at home; we didn't dare let him work in the fields. Please, give her another chance."

Gu Chengxin hadn't expected his mother to be so serious and was truly panicked. "Father, Mother, besides, the fifth son is getting engaged soon. If we drive her out now, think of how bad that would look. I promise you, she won't dare do this again. I’ll keep an eye on her, and if she acts like this again, you won't even need to say a word—I’ll drive her out myself."

Old Master Gu wasn't a cruel man; he had only said those things out of sheer anger. Seeing his daughter-in-law and grandson crying in a heap on the floor and his son pleading so earnestly, his heart softened.

As for Madam Li, she was looking at her own son and her own grandson. Seeing them like this, how could she not feel a pang of pain?