Gu Honglian pursed her lips and looked towards the veranda.

Tong Huaqiong had given quite a number of festival gifts to the old house.

Two chickens, two fish, five pounds of pork, a basket of cherries, a bundle of zongzi, and a pair of shoes each for Mr. Gu, Mr. Gu’s wife, and Gu Honglian.

These festival gifts were considered generous in the eyes of the filial villagers.

Gu Honglian walked over and casually cradled the three pairs of shoes in her arms.

If there was only one pair of shoes, she would have thought it was too little. Now that Lu Zhaozhao had gifted her a piece of satin, she felt the festival passed reasonably well.

"Dahuan, I can’t carry all these things. Help me deliver them," Gu Honglian commanded Gu Dahuan, who was chopping wood.

Jingzhe said, "Aunt, let me help you deliver them. Don’t boss my elder brother around. He’s busy."

He bent down and picked up the chickens, fish, and cherries.

Gu Taohua picked up the pork and zongzi and said, "I’ll go with Third Brother."

Seeing Gu Jingzhe and Gu Taohua going to the old house, Lu Zhaozhao also wanted to follow.

So, the three accompanied Gu Honglian through the village path to the old house.

Along the way, many people teased Gu Jingzhe.

Mr. Gu was at home twisting hemp ropes. When he asked Gu Honglian to call Tong Huaqiong and others to the old house for the festival, he didn’t really want them to come.

He knew Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t come, and he did this to embarrass Tong Huaqiong in front of the betrothed granddaughter-in-law.

The in-laws were in the village, so how could one bypass the in-laws and celebrate alone?

In the village, many families had separated, but all festivals had to be celebrated as a whole family, which was the custom and filial piety.

Gu Jingzhe was engaged, and bypassing the old house and him made Mr. Gu very angry.

Although marriage was about parental orders and matchmaker’s words, with the grandparents still around, only Gu Jingzhe finalized the marriage by bypassing the elders.

Moreover, the granddaughter-in-law had arrived, and Tong Huaqiong didn’t intend to have Lu Zhaozhao recognized by the family.

During this period, Mr. Gu had repressed anger in his chest, and he began to flare up as soon as Lu Zhaozhao was in Qinghe Bay.

"Dad, Sister-in-law said she’s not coming." Gu Honglian entered and showed Mr. Gu the shoes, saying, "These are the shoes Sister-in-law gave us."

Mr. Gu didn’t even lift his eyelids.

"Grandpa."

"Grandpa, we’ve come to deliver festival gifts to you."

Gu Taohua and Gu Jingzhe followed Gu Honglian inside with the gifts.

Mr. Gu looked up and saw a graceful young girl enter with Gu Taohua.

He knew this was Gu Jingzhe’s betrothed wife.

Gu Jingzhe introduced, "Grandpa, this is Zhao Zhao."

"Hello, Grandpa."

Lu Zhaozhao, noticing Mr. Gu scrutinizing her, greeted him obediently.

Mrs. Jia, along with Mrs. Wei and Gu Xiaoxue, were busy in the kitchen. Hearing Lu Zhaozhao had arrived at the old house, they were incredulous.

Given Tong Huaqiong’s temperament, they weren’t even invited to the engagement. Why now let Lu Zhaozhao recognize the family?

Mrs. Jia thought, according to custom, their second house should gift Lu Zhaozhao, but now the family was dirt poor, where could they find gifts to give?

Even if they could afford it, she wasn’t willing to gift anything to Tong Dajiao’s daughter-in-law.

Mrs. Jia and Mrs. Wei walked out of the kitchen.

The old lady, holding her airs, didn’t want to come out, thinking if it’s about recognizing the family, Lu Zhaozhao should come to greet her first.

Mrs. Jia had a moment of misjudgment when she saw Lu Zhaozhao.

She only knew Lu Zhaozhao came from the Imperial Merchant Lu Family, thinking she was just a vulgar merchant’s daughter. She didn’t expect Lu Zhaozhao to possess an air that wasn’t inferior to any of the southern gentry’s daughters, and her appearance was flawless.

Gu Jingzhe and Tong Dajiao were unbelievably lucky to catch the attention of an Imperial Merchant.

Lu Zhaozhao smiled at Mrs. Jia and followed Gu Jingzhe, gracefully calling her Second Aunt.

Mrs. Jia forced a smile in response, praising Lu Zhaozhao with a few words.

Depression arose in her heart; had Ruinian become a champion scholar, this marriage might’ve been his.

Such a beautiful girl, such a wealthy family background, and it was said her brother had just become a champion scholar.

Mrs. Wei found her mother-in-law very rude. Regardless, the main house’s betrothed wife coming to recognize the family shouldn’t be met with such a cold attitude.

Even if pretending, they should feign enthusiasm.

Mrs. Wei enthusiastically praised Lu Zhaozhao: "Long have I heard that Jingzhe secured a great match, saying the young lady is beautiful and well-mannered. Indeed, seeing her today was no exaggeration."

Then she teased, "Jingzhe’s got good fortune."

Hearing Mrs. Wei’s praise, Lu Zhaozhao’s face slightly reddened.

Mrs. Wei said, "Please sit inside."

Then she asked Gu Xiaoxue to boil water for tea.

Gu Jingzhe said, "Sister-in-law, don’t trouble yourself. We’ve come to deliver festival gifts to grandpa and grandma. We’ll just drop the things off and head back."

Mr. Gu was stunned.

So they weren’t here to acknowledge the family.

This was completely disregarding him as an elder; Gu Jingzhe was still part of the Gu family.

Indignation filled his heart, and he couldn’t help but say, "Is your mother afraid we’ll bask in your wife’s glory or something? Hurry and take her back; save it from others thinking we’re up to something."

Gu Jingzhe said, "Grandpa, how can you think that? I’m here to deliver festival gifts to you. As for what you said about basking in glory, indeed it’s not proper to bask in Lu Family’s glory. If you really want to, later your grandson will work hard and let you bask in my glory, how about that?"

Mr. Gu snorted.

Then he asked, "When are you getting married?"

Gu Jingzhe said, "Once I achieve top marks in the imperial examinations."

Waiting so long surprised Mr. Gu; he thought Aunt Tong was ineffective. Such a good daughter-in-law shouldn’t be rushed into marriage?

Mrs. Jia looked equally unpleasant; Gu Jingzhe’s words about topping the exams severely stung her.

Ever since Gu Ruinian failed to pass the scholar exams, any topic related to studying or exams would sting Mrs. Jia.

Gu Taohua raised the meat in her hand and asked, "It’s getting heavy, Sister-in-law, where should I put it?"

Mrs. Wei hurriedly took it, saying, "Put it in the kitchen."

Gu Jingzhe and Gu Taohua took the items to the kitchen.

Mrs. Wei was slicing vegetables; seeing Gu Jingzhe and Gu Taohua bring in the meat, she straightened her back.

Gu Jingzhe and Gu Taohua greeted Mrs. Wei, and she snorted through her nose.

Gu Xiaoxue timidly lifted her head and called out Brother Jingzhe and Sister Taohua.

Gu Taohua, noticing Gu Xiaoxue’s clothes were tattered and short, couldn’t help but shake her head. The Second Aunt was too negligent: the only daughter dressed like this. No wonder Gu Xiaoxue, although very pretty, was always unwilling to leave home. Even when she did, she kept her head down, hiding her charm. With such tight, binding clothes, how could she feel presentable?

Lu Zhaozhao didn’t follow Gu Jingzhe and Gu Taohua to the kitchen but stood in the courtyard chatting with Mrs. Wei.

From the veranda, a pair of eyes were fixed on Lu Zhaozhao standing beside Mrs. Wei.

One could say Lu Zhaozhao was the most beautiful girl he had seen in two lifetimes, even more beautiful than the class beauty he had a crush on.

Thinking about the class beauty stirred resentment in Gu Ruinian.

Back then, he pursued the class beauty. On Valentine’s Day, he spent half of his sister’s monthly salary on roses and gifts, forming a heart outside the girl’s dormitory with candles, shouting the class beauty’s name, hoping she would become his girlfriend.

Amidst the coaxing, the class beauty came down. He thought she would be moved and fall into his arms.

Unexpectedly, the class beauty poured a bucket of water over all the candles, dousing them, and strode away.

Holding the roses and gifts, he was at a loss for words, his heart bleeding, becoming a class laughingstock from then on.

Lu Zhaozhao reminded him of the humiliation of his past life.

For a moment, he projected his hatred for the class beauty onto Lu Zhaozhao.

A girl like Lu Zhaozhao should be his, and her engagement to Gu Jingzhe was merely because she saw potential in him.