"Alright, you discuss it. Let me know the result after you’ve made a decision."

Tong Huaqiong got up and was about to leave.

"Oh, and take this Life-saving Pill. If you have another episode, take one."

Out of respect for life, Tong Huaqiong left the Rapid-acting Heart-saving Pill with Mr. Gu.

After all, she had more in her space and could take one out anytime she needed.

Mr. Gu took the bottle of pills.

Mrs. Gu kept a stern face, while Mrs. Jia looked furious.

Tong Huaqiong walked through the crowd in the old house, and as she passed by Gu Ruinian, she gave him a meaningful look, then left the old Gu Family estate.

Gu Taohua and Gu Jingzhe followed right behind and walked out together.

"Auntie."

Before they knew it, evening had arrived, and under the moonlight, Gu Ruinian hurried to catch up.

In the moonlight, Tong Huaqiong saw Gu Ruinian nervously pinching his clothes. She directly asked, "What? Want to be my son?"

She knew Gu Ruinian was tempted by her proposal, but she didn’t expect him to chase after her so quickly.

Eager to be her son, just like that?

Gu Ruinian bit his lip and said, "I will be filial to you, Auntie."

Tong Huaqiong said, "It doesn’t matter what you say. This needs your parents’ approval, and then you’ll have to go to the ancestral hall."

Tong Huaqiong didn’t wait for Gu Ruinian to respond and started heading home.

Although she knew Gu Ruinian was tempted by the proposal to be adopted by the main house, she didn’t expect him to be so impulsive.

Ambitious wolf.

The people of the old house had not treated him poorly, raising him like a precious treasure. No matter how poor the family was, they never let him suffer, especially Mrs. Jia, who practically gave her all for him.

Yet, he chased after her right in front of Mrs. Jia.

Completely disregarding his mother’s feelings.

Even if he had come halfway through, he had enjoyed Mrs. Jia’s love for so many years.

If she were Mrs. Jia, she would want to tear this guy apart.

"Mother, Gu Ruinian is full of schemes. Do you really want to make him an adopted son? He’s just an ungrateful wolf," Gu Taohua asked, puzzled.

She certainly didn’t want another ungrateful younger brother.

Gu Jingzhe said, "Second Uncle will definitely not agree."

Tong Huaqiong said, "Jingzhe is right, your Second Uncle won’t agree."

Gu Taohua was relieved and said, "Did Mom propose for Ruinian to be adopted by our family because she was sure Second Uncle wouldn’t agree?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "Yes and no."

But she didn’t explain the specific reason.

Gu Jingzhe understood, though.

Despite his failure in the exams, Gu Ruinian remained the biggest threat to their family in Qinghe Bay.

If he settles down and properly takes the imperial exams, who knows what achievements he might have.

Once he succeeds, the first ones he’ll target will definitely be Gu Jingzhe and their family.

So his mother deliberately suggested him being adopted by the main house. Gu Ruinian is willing, but Gu Youtian and his wife won’t be, so Gu Ruinian will definitely try to persuade Gu Youtian.

Gu Jingzhe knew his Second Uncle well; Gu Youtian had a strong sense of pride. He might hope for his son to leverage the main house’s resources, but this thought had to come from him. If Gu Ruinian willingly leaves him for another father, he would feel Gu Ruinian looked down on his poverty and inability, thus breeding resentment and hatred towards him.

This, in turn, would lead to less investment in Gu Ruinian.

Without the full support of the old house and the second house, how could Gu Ruinian study carefree?

Then the main house would no longer have the threat of Gu Ruinian.

But Gu Jingzhe only guessed half of it correctly.

The other half was only understood by Tong Huaqiong.

As someone from the same era as Gu Ruinian, she understood his mindset too well.

Gu Ruinian viewed the world with a superior attitude; to him, everyone else was insignificant.

His life was valuable, while others’ lives were worthless.

Traveling to this world, Gu Ruinian ardently believed in the invincibility of the main character’s aura.

Once he had a chance, he would step on others to rise, turning the world upside down.

So she needed to cut off Gu Ruinian’s path upwards.

Let him be trapped in the trivialities and suspicions of the old house, let his main character aura be worn away completely.

...

After expressing his willingness to be adopted to Tong Huaqiong, Gu Ruinian returned to the old house just in time for dinner.

Gu Xiaoxue set the table, but no one had the appetite to eat.

The entire old house was shocked by Tong Huaqiong’s shameless proposal, except for Mrs. Wei, who didn’t notice Gu Ruinian had left.

When Gu Ruinian returned to his room, Mrs. Wei gave him a sarcastic look.

Want to be the main house’s son? Look at yourself and see if you’re worthy.

Under his sister-in-law’s meaningful gaze, Gu Ruinian felt exposed, filled with anger. If he succeeded, the first thing he’d do was to convince his brother to divorce his sister-in-law.

Mrs. Gu was still cursing non-stop.

"Tong Dajiao’s heart is getting more vicious. She can’t stand seeing Youtian having a good son."

"Today’s root of the problem is Tong Dajiao’s misconduct. I suspect Lu Zhaozhao giving Honglian a piece of satin was instigated by her, trying to create suspicion between Ruinian and Honglian. How could it be just one piece?"

"She dreams of making Ruinian her son."

Mrs. Jia continued to cry.

What did Father mean?

What is there to discuss? Ruinian is her son. As long as she and Youtian are alive, Ruinian can’t be adopted out.

Meanwhile, she felt guilty for not being able to provide a better life for Gu Ruinian.

Her son had already been wronged enough and now had to endure Tong Dajiao’s humiliation.

Fortunately, Ruinian was not one to look down on the poor and favor the rich.

The family finished dinner, each harboring their own thoughts.

Mrs. Wei took Gu Xiaoxue to clean the kitchen, and Gu Fengnian took Yao Family to bathe.

Gu Ruinian seized the opportunity to ask Mr. Gu, "Grandfather, do you also want to adopt me to the main house?"

Mrs. Gu quickly added, "Ruinian, don’t be afraid. Your grandfather is not that foolish."

Gu Ruinian ignored Mrs. Gu, thinking she understood nothing.

Mrs. Jia also believed Mr. Gu’s words about discussing were just to give Tong Huaqiong an out. Surely, they wouldn’t really adopt Gu Ruinian to the main house.

Mr. Gu pondered for a moment and said, "From the perspective of what’s best for you, you should indeed be adopted to the main house."

Mrs. Gu and Mrs. Jia were stunned upon hearing this.

Mrs. Gu said, "Old man, what are you saying? The main house already has three sons, while the second house only has two. Adopting Ruinian to the main house would make us the laughingstock."

Mrs. Jia said, "Dad, Ruinian is my son. As long as I’m alive, he cannot be adopted to the main house. I’ll go to my family tomorrow to borrow money for Ruinian to study."

Gu Ruinian sarcastically thought, they say parents love their children enough to plan for their future, but Mrs. Jia doesn’t seem to care much.

Mrs. Jia treats him as a tool for bringing honor and a prominent title to the family.

What can a peddler’s family, his maternal grandparents, possibly lend for him to study?

Mr. Gu sighed and turned to ask Gu Ruinian, "Ruinian, what do you think?"

Gu Ruinian looked at Mrs. Jia and said, "If I agree with Grandfather, it would undoubtedly hurt Mother’s feelings."

As expected, upon hearing Ruinian’s words, Mrs. Jia couldn’t hold back her tears.

Gu Honglian on the side said with a mocking tone, "Second Sister-in-law, why are you crying? Who told you to be poorer than Big Sister-in-law? You can’t rely on grabbing others’ satin every day to keep your son around."

"You’re scheming in vain; Ruinian doesn’t appreciate it at all and doesn’t even want his mother."

Gu Honglian thought to herself, what kind of luck did Gu Ruinian have to potentially become the son of the main house?

If she were Gu Ruinian, she would follow the main house without hesitation.

She, too, wanted to live lavishly with her sister-in-law.