It rained lightly the next day.
Xu Lanzhou, who had been paying attention to the movements of the Gu family, came back and said that Gu Wangchen took Gu Po to the county town and rode in the donkey cart of Fifth Grandpa.
Xu Lanyin suspected they were headed to the county town to accept the teahouse gift from Su Qing, who was about to return to Beijing. The book states that Su Qing had spent a long time persuading Gu Wangchen to take over the shop. Little did she know that Gu Wangchen would refuse her earlier offer of fifty taels of silver, not only because it was too little, but also because he had the ability to get it from another silly girl. And with such a large shop, and the ability to maintain a relationship with the daughter of the Marquis, how could he bear to refuse?
In the book, the original owner had already died, and the Xu family was shattered. Half a month later, Gu Wangchen and his mother moved into the backyard of the teahouse. Gu Wangchen's reason was that he didn't want to be reminded of the people in the village. Whenever he saw the Xu family's gate, he would think of the home that had given him warmth... He lived in the teahouse until the following spring, when he went to the capital to take the imperial examination. Only after he became an official did he rent a house in the capital and take Gu Po with him. Later, receiving some tips from Su Qing, he not only arranged for his confidants in the teahouse but also occasionally returned to the teahouse, discovering the hidden tricks of the neighboring Yi Ju Restaurant...
The next morning, Gu Wangchen did not go out.
Xu Lanyin, carrying a bag of dim sum and the wooden comb used for the engagement, went with Xu Lanzhou to the Xu family's main residence. Later, Xu Lanzhou, Old Man Xu, Xu Mingqing, and Xu Dashi returned with the dim sum to Xu Lizheng's house. Xu Lizheng had been a witness during the original engagement, so they asked him to go with them to the Gu family to cancel the engagement. They didn't expect Xu Lizheng to speak for them; just being a witness would be enough.
Even though Xu Lanyin guessed that Gu Wangchen would not give in and cancel the engagement, she still wanted to go and see his performance, but Old Man Xu and Old Lady Xu would not allow her to show up.
Xu Lan went into the kitchen with Li to cook in a depressed mood, and little Xu Yuan was sent to the second room to invite Qin and Xu Lanting to have lunch.
Qin was restless at home. When she saw Xiao Xuyuan coming to invite people, her health was much better than before, so she put on her winter coat and took Xu Lanting to the main room.
After more than half an hour, only Xu Lanzhou came back with a gloomy face.
Old Mrs. Xu asked in confusion, "Why are you the only one back? Where are your grandfather and his family? Has the marriage been called off?"
Xu Lanzhou said, "I didn't manage to quit. My grandfather and my third cousin stayed at Gu's house for a drink, so I came back to tell you."
Xu Lanyin ran out of the kitchen and asked, "What's going on?"
Xu Lanzhou looked at Xu Lanyin worriedly and said, "Sister, Gu Wangchen didn't agree to cancel the engagement and even knelt down to beg you. He said that he has received great kindness from our parents and that you and your sister have been childhood sweethearts. No matter what disease you have, he will never leave you and will always be good to you. He also said that he didn't know about many things our mother did and he apologized on her behalf. As for the disease, don't worry, see a doctor first. If it can't be cured, he will take a concubine to have a child, and the eldest son will be born under your name. Brother Dashi and I told him that my sister has a headache and it has nothing to do with having children. But he said that there is no need to cancel the engagement for a disease that has nothing to do with having children..."
That shameless guy actually brought her illness to his offspring.
Xu Lanyin felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. She knew Gu Wangchen wouldn't cancel the engagement, but she hadn't expected him to be so shameless. Even though Xu Lanyin hadn't heard those lies herself, it still gave her goosebumps.
She asked coldly, "Do you believe it?"
Xu Lanzhou said, "Grandpa was a little hesitant at first, but then Gu Wangchen swore an oath in front of the ancestral tablets and asked his third uncle and an elder of the Gu family to be witnesses. The third uncle praised Gu Wangchen's kindness and righteousness, saying that he was talented and virtuous, and a true gentleman. He also told Grandpa to open his eyes wider, saying that there was only one such good grandson-in-law in the world, and not to let my sister act recklessly and hurt her grandson-in-law's feelings. Gu Wangchen also tried to excuse my sister, saying that her abnormal behavior these days must be because she knew she was sick and didn't want to embarrass him. He was moved by my sister's kindness and righteousness, and he had no other way to repay her except to be twice as good to her. He also said that perhaps it was because his mother didn't mean what she said that caused my sister to have some misunderstandings. He told my sister not to worry, that his mother had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and she loved my sister and always remembered the Xu family's kindness... After hearing these words, Grandpa completely believed it."
Old Lady Xu hesitated and asked, "Could it be that it was really Mrs. Gu who was behind this? Is Gu Wangchen really a good young man?"
Qin shook her head and said, "How is that possible? Gu Wangchen and Yin'er have been engaged for eight years. He seemed fine in the first few years, but he really changed in the last four. He hasn't even been to our house in the past two years. Furthermore, he's good at shifting the blame, saying all the bad things are his mother's fault. He even forcibly links Yin'er's illness to his offspring. He's so cruel. Yin'er must stay away from such a person, otherwise he'll die without knowing how. We can't afford to offend him, so we can only hide."
Xu Lanzhou nodded as well. If he hadn't witnessed how Gu Wangchen and his son had just as easily enjoyed the things Xu Lanyin had stolen from their home, and how he had dropped out of school to collect the money from the land sale despite his mother's serious illness, he would have believed his lies.
Qin was so anxious that her face turned red and her body was trembling.
Xu Lanyin supported her and said, "Don't worry, mother. I will break up with Gu Wangchen and stay away from him."
Old Lady Xu also advised, "Don't be too anxious, Second Son's wife. The old man must have been deceived by Gu Wangchen's few sweet words. When he comes back and sobers up and comes to his senses, he won't believe his lies anymore." She then said generously, "It's not up to him to believe it."
Everyone knew that Old Man Xu was henpecked. After the old lady said this, the Qin family members felt relieved.
Everyone ate lunch in silence. Xu Lanzhou waited for Old Man Xu and his companions while Xu Lanyin and the other two went home. Before leaving, Xu Lanyin whispered a few words to Xu Yuan, which made the little boy smile.
After returning home, Xu Lanyin counseled Qin Shi a few more times and helped her to sleep. Xu Lanting also rested beside her, whispering some words of comfort to her.
Xu Lanyin went to the kitchen to make snacks. Today she made thumb biscuits.
Xu Lanzhou returned home at 3 p.m. and told him that Old Man Xu and his companions had already gone. Old Lady Xu had a long conversation with him, and Old Man Xu still felt that Gu Wangchen might have his flaws, but he was genuinely devoted to Xu Lanyin, and that he had been the one to take the blame for many of his mother's misdeeds. There was only one such good man, Gu Wangchen, in the world, and he felt that Xu Lanyin had missed out on him, a loss not only for Xu Lanyin but also for the Xu family...
After all, the old man couldn't bear to lose his son-in-law, who could bring wealth to the Xu family. Xu Lanyin admired the old lady's sobriety and understanding, and her refusal to be blinded by wealth. Such old ladies were rare, not to mention in ancient rural areas, even in previous lives.
She said, "I understand. You can go back and rest."
Xu Lanzhou didn't go into the house. He saw that there was no water in the big vat, so he went out with the bucket.
Soon Xuyuan came running over. He was wearing a small bamboo hat and looked very cute.
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