Tong Huaqiong said to Mr. Gu, "You heard it just now, it’s not others clinging to Jingzhe, it’s Jingzhe who is fond of Miss Lu."

Gu Jingzhe said, "Grandfather, apart from Miss Lu, I don’t want to look at anyone else."

Mr. Gu, unwilling to give up, said, "You’re still young now and don’t understand the support a strong Yue Family can provide you. If you pursue an official career later, naturally you’d want someone beneficial to your career. What can that merchant family help you with? Do they have a large amount of silver? You won’t lack silver once you become an official, by then maybe the Lu Family will need to rely on you. What is money in the face of power?"

Mr. Gu’s mindset represented the thoughts of most people of that era.

Once the engagement between Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao is settled, the world might view Lu Zhaozhao as having married above her station, even if the Lu Family is as wealthy as a nation.

This is also why Tong Dajiao in the previous life dare to manipulate Lu Zhaozhao.

Tong Huaqiong said, "My Jingzhe doesn’t need to be a son-in-law relying on the Yue Family. One can only rely on oneself to stand firm. Besides, our family comes from humble beginnings, Gu Jingzhe is just a scholar, if Miss Lu favors Gu Jingzhe, it would be a great blessing for your Gu Family."

Mr. Lu snorted through his nose and said, "What good can Miss Lu be, Jingzhe must have met her before. A young lady meeting an outsider without propriety, instead proactively seducing."

Gu Jingzhe was so angry his face turned red, he shouted, "Grandfather, you dare to slander without even having met her face to face. Do you think you look like an elder? Since you’re like this, if I marry Miss Lu in the future, there’s no need for you to drink that cup of tea."

Mr. Gu’s beard trembled with anger.

This top-scoring grandson had grown wings and was increasingly disrespectful to him.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Why do you need to involve yourself in the grandchildren’s affairs? Can’t you enjoy your retirement in peace at the old house? You slandered a good young lady from the Lu Family. Considering you’re an elder, we won’t hold it against you this time. But if this spreads, do you still want your face as a disrespectful elder?"

Mr. Gu, unable to catch his breath, stood up angrily and left Tong Huaqiong’s room.

He ran into Gu Dahuan who was walking toward him in the yard, Mr. Gu calmed himself and said, "Dahuan, bring me a basin of today’s leftovers."

There were still a few mouths at the old residence who hadn’t eaten.

Such good food was taken by the villagers, Mr. Gu lamented during the banquet, but at that time he was more focused on talking to County Magistrate Liu and didn’t think about the leftovers.

Now, he was going home and didn’t want to go empty-handed, he wanted to bring some meat dishes for the old house. Especially Gu Ruinian, who must be deeply hurt and sad, presumably hasn’t eaten all day.

Tong Huaqiong laughed in anger, Mr. Gu seemed to want to take even a blade of grass from her yard.

However, she didn’t care, as they were leftovers anyway.

Gu Dahuan went into the kitchen, picked out the good meat and clean vegetables, filled a basin, and added a bag of steamed buns, bringing it out.

"I’ll take it to grandfather," Gu Dahuan said.

Mr. Gu didn’t accept the offer, considering Gu Ruinian’s mood, he feared seeing people from the main household would evoke sad thoughts.

So he shouted toward the corridor, "Honglian, you come and take it."

Gu Honglian was sitting in the corridor watching Chen Sufen embroider.

In the entire main household, only Chen Sufen had a good attitude toward Gu Honglian, so after eating and drinking a lot, Gu Honglian followed Chen Sufen around to chat.

Reluctantly, Gu Honglian stood up, took the dishes and buns from Gu Dahuan’s hands, and followed Mr. Gu back to the old residence.

Just as Mr. Gu had expected, the old residence hadn’t cooked fire all day today.

Mrs. Gu sat on the bed sighing, Mrs. Jia was weeping, Gu Youtian had scolded Gu Ruinian, and his face was terrifyingly dark. Gu Fengnian sat silently beside Gu Youtian, and Gu Xiaoxue quietly washed clothes.

Gu Honglian placed the meat dishes on the table and said, "These are meat dishes brought from sister-in-law’s house, along with buns. Today, sister-in-law really put in the effort; the table was better than for a wedding or a child’s full moon celebration, with whole chickens and fish. Father feared you hadn’t eaten, so he had me bring these for you to taste."

Mrs. Jia’s gaze was like knives cutting toward Gu Honglian.

Her son didn’t pass, and instead of being upset, Gu Honglian went to curry favor with the main household and came back to stab at her heart.

Even Mrs. Gu, who used to favor Gu Honglian, couldn’t endure the provocation and snapped, "Eat, eat, all you know is to eat."

Gu Honglian pouted.

Gu Ruinian didn’t pass the exam, it’s not her fault, why were mother and sister-in-law targeting her?

Either eat or don’t.

Gu Honglian slammed the meat dishes on the table.

"Where’s Ruinian?"

The oppressive atmosphere of the home made Mr. Gu short of breath, he managed to ask where Gu Ruinian was amid the tension.

He feared Gu Ruinian might do something rash.

"In his room," Mrs. Jia cried, "His father scolded him, said he let the whole family down, couldn’t face anyone, locked himself in his room and wouldn’t come out for anything."

Mr. Gu sighed, stood up, and went to knock on Gu Ruinian’s door.

"Ruinian, Ruinian, open the door."

Mr. Gu knocked on Gu Ruinian’s door.

Gu Ruinian lay on the bed with resentful eyes.

Did he not want to pass the exam? 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

He failed this time, and Gu Youtian treated him like that, scolding him terribly. If it weren’t for Mrs. Jia and Mrs. Gu stopping him, he’d have been beaten with a stick.

The family always placed their hopes on him, but what resources did this home provide him?

Gu Jingzhe managed to become the top scorer because his aunt had money and could afford famous teachers.

And him, even buying a book Mr. Gu had to consider the silver, were the conditions the same?

The more Gu Ruinian thought, the angrier he became.

"Ruinian, you haven’t eaten all day, get up and eat," Mr. Gu said tenderly.

Gu Ruinian remained silent.

Mr. Gu said, "Ruinian, grandfather knows you’re upset, you didn’t want to fail. Your failure wasn’t due to your competence, but because something unexpected happened during the exam. It was bad luck. If the horse hadn’t gone crazy during the test, the top scorer wouldn’t have been Jingzhe. But don’t worry, the family will still support your studies. If not this year, then next; it’s not like you can only take the exam once."

Mr. Gu’s words were like stabbing Gu Ruinian in the chest.

Every word reminded him that he failed, yet Gu Jingzhe became the top scorer.

What should have been his honor was taken by Gu Jingzhe.

Gu Ruinian grew maddened with rage, wanting to smash things.

"Ruinian, Ruinian..."

"Get lost."

A fed-up Gu Ruinian shouted with fury at the door.

Mr. Gu was stunned.

His golden grandson, usually so courteous and well-mannered, had shouted at him.

"Spoiled him, that brat has little ability but big temper, even dared to throw a tantrum at his grandfather. Watch me beat this brat to death."

Infuriated, Gu Youtian climbed down from the bed, cursing while putting on his shoes, grabbing a fire stick in his hand.

He wanted to give the son who embarrassed him a beating, let him know who is the head of the family.

Mrs. Gu and Mrs. Jia, seeing the fire stick in Gu Youtian’s hand, hurriedly went to stop him.