In the evening, Lu Zhaozhao still shared a room with Gu Taohua.

Gu Taohua was quite fond of this sister-in-law who hadn’t yet married into the family.

The next day was the Dragon Boat Festival.

Gu Taohua didn’t need to go to the shop; she had to celebrate at home.

Early in the morning, Su Chengmin cleaned the yard thoroughly, then took the kids Man Er, Yaozu, Xiao Long, and Duo Er running around wildly.

Gu Jingzhe and Gu Dahuan, the brothers, were placing mugwort harvested from the mountain on the door.

Tong Huaqiong and Tong Pandi woke before dawn to inspect the pig farm and, after assisting a sow in labor, planned to return home to rest.

Upon leaving the pig farm, they met the long-term collaborating butcher from Pingchuan County, who came to buy live pigs.

After more than a year of scientific breeding, their pig farm supplied many butcher shops with pigs.

Nowadays, lots of butcher shops want pigs from Widow Tong’s farm. However, the pigs being slaughtered can’t keep up with the meat demand.

Thus, butcher shops frequently run to Qinghe Bay to reserve live pigs to ensure their pork supply.

The butcher had hauled three pigs before the festival, saying they were needed for the Zheng Family’s grandson’s hundred-day banquet after the Dragon Boat Festival.

The Zheng Family’s grandson’s hundred-day banquet?

So the grandson is Xu Zaohua’s child.

No wonder Xu Jin’s been striking a triumphant posture in the village lately; Xu Zaohua has given the Zheng Family a son.

After selling two pigs, Tong Huaqiong returned home.

This year, there were quite a few people celebrating at the Gu Family. Apart from Gu Dashu, everyone else was there, plus Mr. Su.

He Chao and his wife customarily celebrated with Tong Huaqiong together.

According to Mrs. Hong, Tong Huaqiong’s home was lively, making their solitary festival less meaningful.

Early in the morning, Mrs. Hong brought fresh fruit from next door to Tong Huaqiong’s house, then dove into the kitchen to help cook.

Gu Honglian came over from the old house, saying Mr. Gu wanted Tong Huaqiong and them to celebrate at the old house.

Gu Honglian said, "Dad says that since we’ve been at Qinghe Bay for so long, our entire family has yet to have a meal together."

Knowing the eldest sister-in-law wouldn’t celebrate at the old house, Gu Honglian didn’t understand why Mr. Gu still sent her over.

Despite not understanding, she followed Mr. Gu’s request to invite Tong Huaqiong.

After all, she wouldn’t lose out.

Even if the eldest sister-in-law wasn’t as nice to her as before, she could still munch on snacks at her eldest sister-in-law’s house upon each visit.

If she dared not sit at the eldest sister-in-law’s table, she’d go to her nephew Gu Dahuan’s room, where his wife Chen Sufen wouldn’t dare refuse to offer her something to eat.

Tong Huaqiong told Gu Honglian, "Go back and tell your dad that we have too many people in our family, and we’re not going, lest you spend extra money buying groceries."

Tong Huaqiong understood Mr. Gu’s intentions.

In front of the whole village, face had to be maintained.

Getting Tong Huaqiong’s family to celebrate at the old house together meant face within the village and clan.

Especially with Lu Zhaozhao here, Mr. Gu was certain Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t refuse in front of the soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

Gu Honglian said, "I’ve already said that."

Her feet didn’t move, her eyes fixed on the ornate fabric on the table.

Previously, she would’ve asked Tong Huaqiong for the fabric right away, but now she dared not.

Just then, Lu Zhaozhao and Gu Taohua came in.

Gu Honglian gazed at the unfamiliar Lu Zhaozhao, realizing this was the beautiful wife of Gu Jingzhe that the villagers talked about.

She wore a dress identical to the fabric on the table.

Presumably, the girl brought it with her.

"Elder sister-in-law, dad said now that Jingzhe’s wife has come, he wants everyone to gather at the old house so that Jingzhe’s wife can get acquainted with the family." Gu Honglian remembered Mr. Gu’s instructions upon seeing Lu Zhaozhao.

Maintaining her composure, Tong Huaqiong said, "Jingzhe can get acquainted after getting married."

It’s only an engagement, no need for introductions.

"Hello, Aunt."

Hearing Gu Honglian calling Tong Huaqiong "elder sister-in-law," Lu Zhaozhao realized the person before her was Gu Jingzhe’s aunt and politely greeted her.

The simple-minded Gu Honglian began to scheme and said, "Your clothes are lovely, such quality fabric I’ve never seen."

Lu Zhaozhao replied, "I’ll gift Aunt a piece then."

Gu Taohua tried to stop her but couldn’t in time.

Gu Honglian was delighted and said, "Then I won’t stand on ceremony."

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Gu Honglian as Lu Zhaozhao took the fabric from the table and handed a piece to Gu Honglian.

The fabric was brought by Lu Zhaozhao for Gu Taohua, Liu Yueer, and others, and Tong Huaqiong couldn’t very well speak up to stop her.

Gu Honglian indeed seized the opportunity.

Tong Huaqiong maintained her calm, thinking it’s just a piece of fabric.

To Lu Zhaozhao, it’s like the hair on her leg.

Gu Honglian might only manage to extort a piece of silk and a hairpin from Lu Zhaozhao, but nothing more.

Since it doesn’t affect the bigger picture, Tong Huaqiong saw no need to intervene.

Gu Honglian caressed the fabric given by Lu Zhaozhao, feeling the visit was worthwhile.

"Zhaozhao, the hairpin in your hair is beautiful."

Gu Honglian, usually spirited, didn’t catch the signals from others. Seeing Lu Zhaozhao show her some friendliness, she wanted to push her luck.

A piece of rare fabric wasn’t enough; now she wanted the hairpin on Lu Zhaozhao’s head.

Gu Honglian wasn’t foolish; she knew who Lu Zhaozhao was—an affluent granddaughter of the Imperial Merchant family, likely to take off the hairpin and hand it to her.

Moreover, she was Gu Jingzhe’s aunt. Lu Zhaozhao might be displeased but wouldn’t refuse her.

Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, then removed the hairpin from her head.

Gu Honglian’s face lit up with joy.

She thought so; Lu Zhaozhao would remove the hairpin to maintain face in her marital home.

Lu Zhaozhao said, "Aunt, you have a keen eye. This hairpin was a gift sent by my sister-in-law from Shengjing in haste when I got engaged. It’s said to be palace-crafted, not seen in Ning City."

After saying that, she reinserted it back into her hair.

Gu Honglian felt disappointed.

She thought Lu Zhaozhao was quite stingy; if the hairpin couldn’t be gifted because it was from her sister-in-law, what about the bracelet on her hand or the earrings?

Could she not randomly take them off and give them to her?

Gu Honglian’s disappointment and her persistent stare at Lu Zhaozhao’s jewelry caught Tong Huaqiong’s attention.

A shallow creature.

Tong Huaqiong couldn’t help but curse inwardly, thinking Lu Zhaozhao had indeed changed from her past life, then she was simply a distributing fairy, and people could swipe something off her.

This life, she wouldn’t let others take advantage of her.

"Yaozu, go tell your great-grandfather and great-grandmother you’re not going to the old house, I’m also staying here to have lunch with sister-in-law."

Gu Honglian’s eyes turned, thinking she needed to foster a good relationship with her wealthy and beautiful niece-in-law, Lu Zhaozhao.

Thus, she instructed Yaozu to head to the old house while she stayed behind. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Surely, in front of the soon-to-be daughter-in-law, sister-in-law wouldn’t drive her away.

Sister-in-law, though usually unreasonable, valued face in front of outsiders.

Gu Honglian’s plan fell through again.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Honglian, I’ve prepared some festival gifts for the old house, you might as well take them with you when you leave our house? Otherwise, you won’t make it for dinner."

Tong Huaqiong pointed to the gifts under the corridor.

Gu Honglian’s smile froze on her face.

Sister-in-law embarrassed her in front of the soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

This wasn’t playing by the rules.