Gu Nanjiao chuckled softly, then looked up at Lu Yanzhao: "So you're the mastermind behind the Cabbage Gang!"
She thought it was Bai Luochen!
So, does that mean the menacing cabbage gang causing trouble on the opening day of Meiwuzhai was related to Lu Yanzhao?
The answer was obvious. Thinking of Lu Yanzhao's childish methods, Gu Nanjiao suppressed a laugh. Oh well! It's better to save him some face and not expose him.
Seeing Lu Yanzhao's cautious gaze, Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but soften her heart and scolded, "I never thought my husband had a hidden identity, the strategist of the Cabbage Gang? Why didn't you tell me sooner? It made me run around and busy looking for all sorts of backers to lend me influence."
Seeing that Gu Nanjiao didn't blame him for associating with the Cabbage Gang, nor did she expose his heroic act at the opening of Meiwuzhai, Lu Yanzhao felt a sense of relief. He then pulled Gu Nanjiao into his arms and said softly, "I was afraid you would think I had a good personal relationship with local gangsters, and that would change your opinion of me."
Lu Yanzhao always presented himself to everyone as someone who was hardworking, extraordinary, and unconventional. Of course, Lu Yanzhao also always believed that he was a righteous and positive figure in Gu Nanjiao's eyes. Little did he know that Gu Nanjiao had already decided that he was a scheming and ruthless woman.
"How could that be? With such a good network of connections, why would you hide it? Do you think I'm that worldly?"
Besides, everyone has their own life choices and different social classes, but everyone's dignity is equal. She herself came from a humble background, and even if she had some money, she would still be considered a lowly merchant in ancient times. Merchants were considered among the lowest of the low, which is why many aristocratic families would cultivate their children for official careers while engaging in business.
Once you enter officialdom, you will not only have money, but also power.
Today, the Cabbage Gang is no longer just a bunch of thugs; they've walked the straight path and haven't done anything immoral. Sometimes they even help the weak. The reason they became local bullies is because of their loyalty and ruthlessness.
Of course, Lu Yanzhao's advice and strategies were indispensable behind the scenes.
When Gu Nanjiao learned that the Cabbage Gang had a close relationship with Lu Yanzhao, she used them without any reservations, treating them like family. Zhang Ergou followed Gu Nanjiao around, calling her "sister-in-law" affectionately, which greatly displeased Lu Yanzhao.
What made them even more dissatisfied was that Gu Nanjiao would often personally cook a large table of delicious food and wine to reward the brothers of the Cabbage Gang.
Nowadays, the cabbage gang only recognizes Sister Zhao, praising Gu Nanjiao for her delicious cooking, fair skin, long legs, and beauty! They have completely forgotten about Lu Yanzhao.
...
Before they knew it, it was time for Lü Siniang to get married.
Early in the morning, Gu's father excitedly put on the red robe and looked at himself in the blurry bronze mirror from left to right, always dissatisfied with his face.
Father Gu turned to look at Gu Nanjiao, stroking his mustache and frowning: "Help me put on some makeup again! I feel like this face looks a bit rough."
Gu Nanjiao sighed helplessly: "Father, you woke me up before the rooster even crowed to tidy up my appearance. Your face is already exceptionally handsome, so you don't need makeup. Wearing this wedding robe will make you look even more refined and handsome, radiant. I guarantee that Fourth Sister will be delighted to see you like this."
Father Gu grinned, opened his arms, and twirled around: "How's this wedding robe?"
"Beautiful, so beautiful!" Gu Nanjiao clicked her tongue twice in praise, "Who would have thought that such a handsome person would be my father!"
When praised by his daughter, Mr. Gu was so excited that he danced around like a child.
A moment later, the matchmaker, wearing a big red flower in her hair and swaying her hips happily, said, "Groom, hurry up and go pick up the bride, don't miss the auspicious time."
Father Gu adjusted his headdress and touched his belt. Seeing that everything was alright, he felt relieved and strode towards the horses outside.
Outside the door, a chestnut horse with a large red flower on its head stood, and eight burly men carried an empty sedan chair. The sedan chair was embroidered with intricate patterns, which Gu Nanjiao noticed were depictions of many children and grandchildren. Bells and tassels hung from the ceiling, making a tinkling sound when the wind blew.
I heard that when going to pick up the bride, the sedan chair can't be empty; a "sedan chair boy" has to sit in it. So, we brought Zhang Xiaohu to sit in the sedan chair. Immediately afterwards, the matchmaker directed someone to bring a handful of dry straw and circle it around the sedan chair once, a ritual called "burning the sedan chair."
After a series of procedures, Gu's father mounted his tall horse, waved happily to the guests, and went to pick up Lü Siniang.
Gu Nanjiao watched the sedan chair drive away with unwavering eyes, her excited and thrilled expression as if she were getting married herself.
She was starting to look forward to her wedding with Lu Yanzhao.
Lu Yanzhao suddenly put his arm around Gu Nanjiao's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Are you a little impatient?"
He asked if Gu Nanjiao was eager to marry him.
Gu Nanjiao grinned and replied, "Yes, I can't wait for Lü Siniang to enter the family as soon as possible, so my father won't be all alone anymore. As for me, I'll have another younger brother, Wenzhang. Suddenly, I have more family members, and I feel more confident."
Lu Yanzhao choked. Did Gu Nanjiao not look forward to their wedding at all?
For some reason, watching Lin Ji and Gu's father get married, Lu Yanzhao always wondered what it would be like when he married Gu Nanjiao!
Will they be even more excited than Gu's father?
Inside the bridal chamber, Lu's mother and Wang Jie, along with other women, were busy covering the bridal quilt with red dates, longans, lotus seeds, and peanuts, symbolizing "early birth of a son."
After a while of busy work, the sound of firecrackers, suona horns, and trumpets rang out from outside the door.
"The bride has arrived!"
Madam Lu instructed the woman to place the cake next to the sedan chair: "The bride's feet will not touch the ground; stepping on the cake after getting off the sedan chair symbolizes rising higher and higher."
The matchmaker flicked her handkerchief and sang with a beaming smile: "The groom kicks the sedan chair door, the bride steps on cakes to get off the sedan chair, rising higher and higher with each step."
Father Gu kicked open the sedan chair door, and Lü Siniang, with a red veil on her head, moved gracefully. Guided by the matchmaker, she stepped onto the cakes and crossed the threshold step by step. Her red skirt swayed in the air, and the gold patterns embroidered on the sleeves were extremely exquisite.
After the wedding ceremony, Lü Siniang, whose head was covered by a veil, and Gu's father sat at the head of the table. Gu Nanjiao and Wenzhang were about to pour tea for them to change their address to their parents, indicating that they recognized their father and mother and were willing to become a family.
Gu Nanjiao called out "Mother" to Lü Siniang in a generous manner, and Lü Siniang happily responded. Finally, she handed Gu Nanjiao a large red envelope and whispered, "My good daughter, this time it's really a big sum of money."
Damn, this is such a blatant attempt to take advantage, and Gu Nanjiao can't say anything. Squeezing the thickness of the red envelope, Gu Nanjiao sweetly said, "Thank you, Mother!"
Former sisters become mothers; who can understand the bitterness of this?
Well, it's not common to see a stepmother as generous as Lü Siniang. Considering this thick red envelope, calling her "mother" is well worth it.
The money that Gu's father gave for changing the subject of the article was a rare copy. Everyone didn't understand and thought Gu's father was stingy. Only Lu Yanzhao knew how generous his father-in-law was.
For scholars, a rare book is priceless, and Gu's father's gift truly touched the heart of literature.
Lu Yanzhao couldn't help but think of the time when Gu Nanjiao tore up his rare book and almost strangled her.
If it weren't for Gu's father giving Lu Yanzhao another rare copy of the book, the two of them probably wouldn't be where they are now.
Gu's father was meticulous in his thinking, and Lu Yanzhao admitted that he was no match for him.
However, Lu Yanzhao was very grateful to Gu's father for his foresight in planning for his daughter's future; otherwise, he and Gu Nanjiao would have missed each other.
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