"Since you want to go to Shengjing, why don’t you just bring it up to your mother-in-law? From what I observe, your mother-in-law doesn’t seem unreasonable."
Mrs. Zhao, Liu Yueer’s mother, asked while stitching shoe soles.
Liu Yueer raised her head and said, "I don’t dare. You don’t know, among the three daughters-in-law, she has the most issues with me."
Mrs. Zhao thought it was true, if Liu Yueer wasn’t her daughter, she would also see Liu Yueer as a troublemaker, only that over the years she had been too disciplined by her in-laws to stir up trouble. If her mother-in-law were weak, she would have torn the house apart.
Mrs. Zhao glared sideways at Liu Yueer and said, "Don’t pretend in front of your mother. Tell me the truth, do you really want to go to Shengjing or are you unwilling to leave Jufu?"
Seeing Mrs. Zhao ask, Liu Yueer hesitated for a moment before saying, "I want to go to Shengjing, but I’m afraid that once I leave, I’ll lose my position at Jufu."
She had put in a lot of effort at Jufu over the past three years.
She was in charge of the clerks, Gu Baishuang managed the supplies, and the two of them, although not perfectly, worked peacefully together.
Liu Yueer thought that Taohua Dessert was destined to be mainly Taohua’s, and with Chen Sufen coming back, the lesser part would be hers.
So she must keep a firm grip on Jufu.
Now she wanted to go to Shengjing but was afraid her power at Jufu would be diluted, leaving her in a dilemma.
As the saying goes, a mother knows her daughter best; Mrs. Zhao knew her daughter’s intentions weren’t pure.
Her worry wasn’t that her mother-in-law wouldn’t allow her to go to Shengjing, but that she wanted both to go to Shengjing and to maintain her status at Jufu.
Mrs. Zhao said, "You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Do you think Dashi is more important, or Jufu? I think you should reunite with Dashi in Shengjing first. Everyone says husband and wife are one; what Dashi earns, you naturally have half. When Dashi establishes his estate, will you still be concerned about your mother-in-law’s things?"
"You’d better not ask your mother-in-law about splitting Jufu. Your mother-in-law isn’t old yet, whether your sister-in-law or you have the upper hand at Jufu, ultimately it’s your mother-in-law who decides. Look at Sufen, she doesn’t fight for anything, and even after three years of giving birth, your mother-in-law still keeps her share at Taohua Dessert. I say, don’t think about unnecessary things, behave yourself, and your mother-in-law won’t treat you poorly."
Liu Yueer thought for a moment and said, "But I’ve worked at Jufu for three years, and I just can’t give up now to go to Shengjing."
Mrs. Zhao said, "Dashi isn’t a freeloader. Your mother-in-law hinted last time that the businesses at the border would be handed over to Dashi in the future. Didn’t you always complain about your mother-in-law controlling you? You should go to Shengjing first and later go to the border with Dashi. Managing the border’s businesses with him is more worthwhile than staying at Jufu. Don’t keep your eyes on one little plot of land."
Liu Yueer rolled her eyes, grabbed a handful of seeds, gritted her teeth, and said, "I get it, Mom. I’m heading back now to tell my mother-in-law that I want to go to Shengjing. Once I’ve settled in Shengjing, I’ll bring you and Dad over to enjoy life."
Mrs. Zhao smiled, she hadn’t thought about enjoying life in Shengjing, as long as her daughter and son-in-law lived well, that was enough.
Liu Yueer arrived at the Weaving Workshop, took a deep breath, and proposed to Tong Huaqiong her plan to go to Shengjing to meet Gu Dashu.
Contrary to what Liu Yueer feared, Tong Huaqiong was not that difficult to talk to this time, agreeing readily.
She was also afraid Gu Dashu would be taken advantage of, and Liu Yueer going would considerably prevent that.
Liu Yueer was so happy she packed her luggage overnight, wanting Yaozu to go with her.
She mainly wanted Yaozu to spend more time with Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao.
After all, if her son wanted to pursue an official career in the future, he would need help, and naturally, that help would be from Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaoyang.
Taking advantage of the fact that Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao didn’t have children yet, having Yaozu around them would build a relationship, ensuring more support for Yaozu in the future.
Liu Yueer had this plan in mind.
However, Yaozu stubbornly refused to go to Shengjing, unwilling to leave Tong Huaqiong, Man Er, Xiao Long, and other playmates.
Furious, Liu Yueer gave Yaozu a hard slap on the butt, causing him to wail, and scared Liu Yueer into covering his mouth, calling him a little ancestor.
She no longer dared to insist Yaozu accompany her, fearing his tantrum might upset her mother-in-law enough to rescind her permission even to go.
Learning that Gu Jingzhe was going to Shengjing, the Clan Leader wanted to organize a send-off ceremony for Gu Jingzhe, but he refused.
Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu frowned upon Lu Zhaozhao accompanying Gu Jingzhe to Shengjing.
They thought that if Lu Zhaozhao went to Shengjing, it would entangle Gu Jingzhe in romance, distracting him from studying and taking exams. Lu Zhaozhao should stay home and serve the elders.
Since when did a daughter-in-law just married venture out with her husband?
However, they only dared to discuss this privately, never daring to say it publicly.
They were afraid Gu Jingzhe would get angry if he heard and cut ties with them, destroying their hopes of leveraging his influence in the village.
Gu Jingzhe soon set the departure date.
Just a few days before Gu Honglian’s wedding.
Mr. Gu hoped that Gu Jingzhe would wait until after Gu Honglian’s wedding before leaving for Shengjing.
Recently, Fan Tong had been frequenting the old Gu Family residence, fearing the marriage he had secured would slip away.
Each visit, he quietly inquired about Gu Jingzhe’s affairs.
Mr. Gu realized that Fan Tong wasn’t interested in Gu Honglian but was aiming for Gu Jingzhe.
Mr. Gu didn’t expose him; aiming for his grandson was better. After all, this grandson had great potential. As long as Gu Jingzhe was around, even if Gu Honglian wasn’t involved, his name alone could keep Fan Tong in check.
Therefore, Mr. Gu wanted Gu Jingzhe to oversee Gu Honglian’s marriage and preferably escort Gu Honglian to the Fan Family.
Mr. Gu privately approached Gu Jingzhe once, only to be refused by Gu Jingzhe.
Though Gu Jingzhe declined the request to send Gu Honglian off, he didn’t entirely ignore Gu Honglian’s marriage.
Before leaving, Gu Jingzhe encountered Fan Tong coming to deliver festival gifts to the Gu Family and charmed Fan Tong with a mixture of praise and criticism, leaving him dazed.
Fan Tong swore to Gu Jingzhe that he would wholeheartedly devote himself to Gu Honglian for life.
Gu Jingzhe sincerely advised that it would be best, saying, "From now on, you’re my little uncle-in-law. We’re like family, if my little aunt doesn’t suffer any grievances, then everything’s fine."
Fan Tong, overjoyed, took these words as a promise from Gu Jingzhe.
He felt grateful that he had tied this marriage, and any jealousy towards Gu Jingzhe for his young success vanished completely.
Fan Tong prayed to all deities, hoping Gu Jingzhe would undoubtedly succeed in Shengjing.
Gu Jingzhe prospering would mean he could benefit too.
Gu Jingzhe showed Fan Tong an innocent and harmless smile.
In reality, Gu Jingzhe hoped Fan Tong would honestly play the role of his little uncle-in-law and not entertain any improper thoughts.
Fan Tong later privately met Gu Honglian, sharing Gu Jingzhe’s promise with her.
Gu Honglian thought this was likely her eldest sister-in-law’s idea; otherwise, knowing Gu Jingzhe’s temperament, he wouldn’t care for her.
Her eldest sister-in-law still cared for her.
"How much dowry did your eldest sister-in-law give you?"
Gu Honglian absentmindedly looked up.
Sure enough, Fan Tong couldn’t hold it in any longer.