Mrs. Gu asked, "Rui Nian, do you really want to be adopted by the first house?"

Gu Ruinian nodded.

"Grandpa, this is something I have no choice over. I am willing to take on the blame for the sake of the second house. I know you have my best interests at heart. I’ve figured it out: whether I’m the son of the first house or the second house, I’m still your grandson, and I bear the responsibility of honoring the Gu family name."

Mr. Gu felt a pang of sadness hearing Gu Ruinian speak this way.

It really wronged Rui Nian.

Mrs. Gu, however, started cursing, "You ungrateful thing, leave! Go live with the first house now, and don’t recognize me or your parents in the future."

"An unappreciative wretch."

"Our care for you was wasted."

Gu Ruinian said, "Grandmother, don’t scold me first, please listen to me."

"I have my own parents. If it was absolutely unavoidable, I wouldn’t want to be adopted by the first house. Even if I agreed now, I wouldn’t want it in my heart. If I’m adopted by the first house, I’ll be criticized in the village, and people will talk behind my back. Yet, I’m still willing to go, isn’t it all for the sake of our family’s future?"

"Grandpa is getting old, and father has always wanted to do business but hasn’t found the opportunity. My elder brother is of average ability, and quite frankly, I’m the only one in the family with a talent for studying. Studying costs money, like how Brother Jingzhe needed money to get into Wanliu Academy, and Lu Zhaozhao’s brother also needed money to become the Champion Scholar. Being born in our family, I don’t blame my fate; I just don’t want to give up so soon. I want to study, to let grandparents live a good life, and to earn official titles for my parents. To achieve this, I’m willing to endure any humiliation."

"If I stay in our family and miss out on studying because we lack the money, even the marriage prospects of aunt and Xiao Xue would be affected. Grandmother, mother, you know even if I don’t say it, since we returned, you’ve seen the kinds of people the matchmakers are proposing for aunt and Xiao Xue. Farmers, butchers, small peddlers, even widowers with children from a deceased wife. I don’t want aunt and sister to marry into such families and suffer. Have those in the first house, or Brother Jingzhe, even considered this? They are selfish, not even caring about Taohua’s marriage. They only keep her home to earn money and manage the shop, not caring about aunt and Xiao Xue. By being adopted by the first house, I can use their resources to study, and when I become a Scholar, I’ll find scholarly matches for aunt and sister among my peers."

Gu Ruinian portrayed himself as a dutiful son with no other choice.

Silence filled the room.

When Gu Ruinian looked up, he saw Mrs. Gu’s eyes were red, and Mrs. Jia was sobbing loudly.

Needless to say, these words convinced Mrs. Gu. Her biggest hopes were for the second house to rise again and for Gu Honglian to find a good marriage.

Anyway, wherever Gu Ruinian went, he was still her grandson.

He’s not a three-year-old child, and such a grown person won’t forget where he belongs no matter how Tong Dajiao treats him.

"Mother, I know you don’t want to part with me, and I don’t want to part with you either. I’m no longer a three-year-old child relying on mother’s milk. I remember your kindness clearly, and I know very well who my real parents are. Going to the first house is only in name; in my heart, I only acknowledge you and father. Once I use the first house’s resources to succeed, I will definitely come back to be your son again."

The greatest resistance now came from Mrs. Jia.

Mrs. Jia still couldn’t accept it and sniffled as she asked, "And when you achieve success and earn an official title, will Tong Dajiao be willing?"

Gu Ruinian smiled and said, "Mother, do you know of the previous Emperor Yingzong? Since Taizong had no son, Yingzong was adopted as his nephew. After being honored in the ancestral temple and ascending to the throne, he stabilized his position and brought his own parents into the Royal Family’s ancestral temple, bestowing them the titles of Emperor Wen and Empress Dowager Xiao Yi, allowing them the incense offerings of future Royal descendants. Not a single minister dared say anything."

While Mrs. Jia didn’t understand the history of Yingzong or Taizong, she grasped her son’s meaning: as long as he succeeds in the future, everything will be as he says.

But the thought of her son being adopted by the first house and having to call herself "aunt," while Tong Dajiao gains a good son, made her heart ache as if pierced by a silver needle.

She also resented the fact that it was all Gu Youtian’s fault for not being able to keep their son.

Mrs. Jia cried, "When you’re in the first house, though you’ll have money to study, living won’t be easy."

Gu Ruinian said, "Mother, have you not heard, ’Without undergoing a bone-chilling winter, how can you smell the fragrance of plum blossoms’?"

It took a lot to convince Mrs. Jia.

Gu Ruinian thought, why can’t Mrs. Jia be like those selfless mothers in history who could endure anything for their son’s sake.

Mrs. Jia was dumbfounded.

She felt this comparison wasn’t right, but she couldn’t articulate how it should be.

Gu Ruinian gently said, "Mother, don’t worry, no matter where I go, I only acknowledge you as my mother; I am still your son."

Mrs. Jia was so choked up she couldn’t say a word.

Mr. Gu filled his pipe with tobacco, sighed, and said, "Given the family’s situation, let’s let Rui Nian endure a few years with the first house."

"However," Mr. Gu paused, and continued, "This is a major decision; we should wait for your father to return and then consult the Clan Leader to open the ancestral hall."

Gu Ruinian felt at ease.

Mr. Gu’s words indicated his agreement to have Gu Ruinian adopted by the first house.

Mrs. Jia ran out in tears.

Mrs. Gu remained silent, which was a tacit consent.

Mr. Gu said, "It’s normal for your mother not to understand it right away; with time, she’ll come around."

Gu Ruinian humbly said, "It’s all my fault for making mother sad. When I achieve success in the future, I’ll make sure to compensate for mother’s current grievances."

No matter how much Mrs. Jia opposed, it was useless.

A woman who couldn’t voice her opinions at home couldn’t stir much trouble.

The only variable now was Gu Youtian, the original father.

Gu Youtian had two sons. He pinned all his hopes on Gu Ruinian because Ruinian showed potential to make a name for himself.

His huge loss from the escort agency investment and failing the scholar exam made Gu Youtian hold a grudge against Ruinian.

Especially after failing the scholar exam, Gu Youtian hadn’t been the same and ignored Ruinian since then.

Gu Ruinian believed his father had already given up on him.

If you’ve given up your child, what do you care where he goes? Gu Youtian shouldn’t react too strongly.

Gu Youtian hoped someone could infiltrate the first house and strip it of its assets.

Gu Ruinian planned to use this point to persuade Gu Youtian.

If he were Gu Youtian, he’d wholeheartedly support his son’s adoption by the first house to leverage their money and resources and take advantage of them.

Whoever had such a good opportunity would welcome it.

The more Gu Ruinian thought about it, the more pleased he became. He believed that not only wouldn’t Gu Youtian interfere with his decision, but he’d also be eager to see him sent to the first house as a son.

Thus, with a firm mind, he went to Mrs. Jia’s room. No matter what, as a dutiful son of this era, he still had to comfort Mrs. Jia well.

After all, since he crossed into this world, Mrs. Jia treated him the best.

He couldn’t ignore his conscience.