The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!

Chapter 543: Shame Can’t Fall on Just One Family

The people from the old residence walked towards it under the questioning eyes of the entire village.

Gu Youtian should thank his son Gu Ruinian’s scandal for attracting the village gossip, or else he would have been the one caught in the public opinion maelstrom.

Didn’t they say they were going to open a shop in Pingchuan?

Didn’t they say they would definitely make a fortune this time?

Didn’t they say they would never come back?

Then why have they slunk back so shamefully!

Gu Ruinian is the village’s focal point, but after Madam Gu’s scolding, people didn’t dare ask about him and instead focused on Gu Youtian. The villagers spoke bluntly, leaving nothing unsaid. Many people directly asked Gu Youtian why he had returned, if his business was failing, and when he planned to return to Pingchuan County.

Gu Youtian replied perfunctorily with a sullen face, wishing he could kick Gu Ruinian to death.

If not for this ungrateful son, he’d still be doing business in Pingchuan County.

The whole family carried luggage and bedding, with Gu Fengnian supporting Gu Ruinian, they struggled to reach their front door.

Although Mr. Gu and the others were prepared for their home to be raided, the viciousness of the Xu Family’s actions exceeded the entire family’s expectations.

The courtyard was a mess.

The fence was completely torn down, the wooden gate was hacked into pieces lying all over, the bean and eggplant vines were ripped up, and a row of loofah was uprooted. The kitchen was covered with smashed oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar jars, with a pot on the stove and a big water jar at the kitchen door shattered to pieces.

The interior was no better; the door locks were broken, valuable items were looted, and porcelain jars, tables, and chairs were either smashed or broken.

The entire home looked like it had been ravaged by bandits.

"My goodness, I’m ruined. Damn Xu Jin, how could he destroy our home like this?"

"Is there no justice left in the world? Might as well set it on fire, better than leaving everything to rot and stab at my heart."

"The heartless bastards not only ransacked our home but also want to scam us out of five hundred taels of silver."

Madam Gu sat on the ground crying, feeling even sadder at the thought of the five hundred taels of silver extorted by the Xu Family.

Villagers observing the scene outside shook their heads and sighed at the sight of the Gu family’s ravaged home.

"The Xu Family was too ruthless, especially Xu Dabao and Xu Erbao, who stormed in like wolves that day and smashed everything. They threatened to smash anyone’s house if they tried to stop them."

"Xu Dabao and Xu Erbao were never decent, but you can see why this happened. They were doing well as stewards at Zheng’s shop, but after Xu Zaohua and Ruinian’s affair, the brothers were kicked out. How can they be content farming in the village now?"

"Ruinian really did it this time. I thought he was different from us who live off the land since he was educated, but how could he have an affair? And with Xu Zaohua of all people, when did they even start their relationship?"

"When they got off the carriage, I saw his leg was broken. Could it be that, like the big bridge accident, he won’t be able to study and take exams anymore? They say even if a cripple passes the exams, they won’t be given an official position."

The villagers murmured among themselves.

Madam Gu knew she couldn’t drive away the villagers. Besides, with the scandal of Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua likely chewed over several times by the villagers, she didn’t mind the embarrassment anymore.

The shame shouldn’t fall solely on the Gu family; the Xu family should share it too.

Besides, what’s so shameful for the Gu family, when a man has an affair, it’s considered charming, but when Xu Zaohua does it, it’s immoral.

Realizing this, Madam Gu clapped her hands and accused the spectators.

"The Xu family raised such a good daughter, a widow with no moral integrity. Do you know how she seduced Ruinian?" Madam Gu said, resigned to the situation.

The villagers were intrigued.

"Didn’t they say Ruinian forced..." Aunt Qin squeezed to the front, eager to join the conversation.

Seeing this, Madam Gu understood that the Xu family had used their time in Pingchuan to twist the truth and paint her golden grandson as the culprit, turning Xu Zaohua into a falsely wronged figure.

How could that be allowed?

She had to tell her version of the story.

Madam Gu said, "Listen to the nonsense spouted by Xu Jin! As if my Ruinian would resort to force. Look at him, talented and handsome. What kind of chaste virgin couldn’t he get, why would he need to steal second-hand goods?"

Madam Gu raised her voice, drawing more people in. "Xu Zaohua wanted a man but Zheng Family wouldn’t let her remarry, so she set her sights on her brother-in-law, flirting with him several times. Now when her brother-in-law was arranging a marriage proposal, she feared the new bride would edge her out of his bed, so she came up with a nasty plan, drugged him outside to blow the situation up, hoping he’d marry her. Her brother-in-law and my Ruinian are friends, but he drugged Ruinian’s bowl instead. Her brother-in-law’s heart was also set on being free from his elder sister-in-law, and couldn’t find a better chance to blame my Ruinian by moving him to Xu Zaohua’s bed."

"So my Ruinian was schemed against by those two villains. Boo hoo hoo..."

The sensational news spread instantly, causing a buzz of discussions in the crowd.

"That’s not what the Xu family said." someone whispered quietly.

This question reached Madam Gu’s ears, and she raised her voice, "How could Xu Zaohua’s shameless actions ever be admitted by the Xu family? Go check it out in Pingchuan, and you’ll see."

Of course, Madam Gu had just made it all up. She was outraged and intended to disgrace Xu Zaohua and the Xu family.

Anyway, nobody cared about the truth or lies anymore.

Xu Jin led the Xu Family to smash her house, causing the second son to split with Wu Ren, so no one should have a good time.

There was more than one Xu Zaohua in Xu Family, and those who forced them with Xu Jin each had daughters, so she decided to ruin the reputation of all Xu Family daughters.

She would see who dared to marry a girl from the Xu family.

"And what about Xu Jin? When he was the village chief, he often went to Moon Bay to flirt with young widows and has an unclear relationship with the young wives around Black Dragon Pond. Didn’t Xu Si also get exiled for being a rascal? The Xu Family’s family style is like this; the daughters just follow suit by seducing their brothers-in-law and fancying any decent-looking outsider..." Madam Gu moved from Xu Zaohua to encompass all the Xu daughters.

Mrs. Jia watched gleefully as more people gathered, even noticing the changing expressions of the Xu family wives in the crowd. She then, face uplifted, shared another rumor she heard in Pingchuan about Xu Zaohua’s immoral behavior.

"Xu Zaohua’s actions have a precedent."

Mrs. Jia glanced over the Xu family wives, seeing their red faces, and continued delightedly, "Xu Zaohua’s late husband was too weak to consummate the marriage, so how did she secure an heir for herself? She drugged a servant for a borrowed seed..."

"Jia Daya, how dare you slander my Zaohua."

Before Mrs. Jia could finish, Xu Zaohua’s mother, Lady Yu, kicked Mrs. Jia flying.

"My Zaohua is a dignified Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family, who are you to slander her? You’re full of crap, your mouth spews nothing but filth. Your own son does disgraceful things and all you do is drag my daughter into it."

Lady Yu, not satisfied with just kicking Mrs. Jia, grabbed her hair.

She was furious. If not for Xu Zaohua having a son, she would have been drowned by the Zhengs already, and at this moment she couldn’t tolerate Mrs. Jia slandering her grandson.

Mrs. Jia almost broke her waist from the fall and now, with her hair grabbed by Lady Yu, screamed like a pig being slaughtered.