Chapter 490: Chapter 490: My Fate Is Mine, Not Heaven’s

Tong Huaqiong is determined to repay the Wu family’s scheming with revenge.

Within a day, the entire Pingchuan County knew of the Wu family’s numerous misdeeds.

Abusing daughters-in-law, attempting to kill their own daughter, scheming to use their daughter to manipulate Jufu Supermarket...

Tong Huaqiong feared that once the gossip died down, people would forget the Wu family’s disgusting deeds and be tempted by low prices to patronize Wu Ji again.

So, she personally penned a script and bribed the neighboring teahouse and storyteller.

The storyteller recounted in detail the entire story of Tong Pandi’s divorce every day.

Tong Huaqiong wrote the script with twists and turns, and the storyteller told it so well that the audience gathered round, both standing and sitting, packed tightly. As the story deepened, some sighed, some cried, and some cursed. The script quickly became the most popular in Pingchuan County, with two performances a day still being too few, and the teahouse business boomed repeatedly.

The owner of the teahouse cheerfully regarded Tong Huaqiong as a financial benefactor.

Afterward, there was no need for Tong Huaqiong to pay; they proactively added extra performances every day.

Because of the script’s success, people became even more disgusted with the Wu family.

Unfortunately, Wu Ji was right next door to the teahouse, and one day angry listeners finally threw rotten vegetables at Wu Ji.

Wu Ji’s business plummeted.

Wu Ren was anxiously pacing, watching Jufu Supermarket’s flourishing business.

At Gu Youtian’s suggestion, Wu Ren entered the teahouse next door to plead with the owner to take down the script about Tong Pandi’s divorce, repeatedly emphasizing that the story was false.

The teahouse owner was unwilling to give up the daily profits and told Wu Ren that taking it down was impossible.

When Wu Ren’s pleas failed, he revealed his true nature and threatened the teahouse owner to go to the government and ring the Injustice Bell, accusing the teahouse of slandering the Wu family.

"Just now Mr. Wu admitted that the story is fake; since it’s fake, how am I slandering your family?"

This statement left Wu Ren speechless.

Wu Musheng and Wu Na had been hiding indoors since the enthusiastic crowds called for their punishment, not daring to come out.

No choice, as coming out might anger people again.

Especially through the storyteller’s mouth next door, Wu Musheng had become an even crueler heartbreaker than Chen Shimei, and Wu Na had become Pingchuan County’s top vicious sister-in-law.

Mrs. Qiao was deeply regretful, sometimes blaming Tong Pandi for being ruthless, sometimes blaming Tong Huaqiong for giving no way out, sometimes blaming Gu Ruinian for his bad idea that harmed her children.

Originally, Wu Ren liked Gu Ruinian a lot, but after this incident his view of Gu Ruinian reversed.

He even suspected that Gu Youtian was displeased with Wu Musheng for holding the accounts, and father and son conspired to make Wu Musheng lose his position.

Especially when Gu Youtian subtly suggested that now the Wu family’s reputation in Pingchuan County is irreparable, and whenever people see Wu Ji they will think of the Wu family and thus stay away.

To make people willing to patronize their shop, they must minimize the Wu family’s influence.

For example, changing Wu Ji’s name, or letting Wu Musheng hide for a while.

After a long time, people will forget the Wu family.

Wu Ren almost bit his teeth to blood, increasingly convinced of his judgment, naturally disagreeing with Gu Youtian’s idea.

Once people harbor resentment, how can business be done?

Not tripping each other up is already nice.

Wu Ren and Gu Youtian reached the brink of breaking up, but at the moment they couldn’t, as breaking up means no one to run the shop.

Privately, Wu Ren had already begun to secretly find a buyer to take over the shop without Gu Youtian.

No other owner dared take over.

Well then, the neighboring teahouse is lively with Wu family’s scandals, who dares to take over Wu Ji’s shop, not afraid of being pelted with rotten eggs?

Compared to his dissatisfaction with Gu Youtian, Wu Ren’s disgust for Gu Ruinian was even greater.

He was like a fan turning away from a celebrity, throwing all the negativity at Gu Ruinian, wishing he could stomp him fiercely.

Wu Ren initially wanted to marry Wu Na to Gu Ruinian, now felt that Gu Ruinian wasn’t even worthy to carry Wu Na’s shoes.

Gu Ruinian surely sensed Wu Ren’s attitude towards him.

He wanted to explain, but Wu Ren refused to acknowledge him.

Gu Ruinian was extremely depressed.

Why do others who travel through time get main-character scripts and easily rise to greatness, while he fails at everything except his one-time glory of child student?

Could his fortune have been stolen by his fellow traveler Gu Taohua?

He refused to believe fate treated him so unfairly.

Even if fate truly treated him so, he would not accept it.

I control my own fate, not the heavens.

Gu Ruinian left Wu Ji under Wu Ren’s cold gaze, seeing the crowd at Jufu Supermarket irritated him, especially when he saw Gu Taohua and Tong Huaqiong standing in front of a splendid carriage talking to the person inside, it irritated him even more.

Why could Gu Taohua integrate into the circle of elite women in the county, yet he could not?

He often saw County Magistrate Liu’s carriage; before, he looked down on officials like him, aiming to connect with emperors or, at worst, a prince.

Who would have thought he couldn’t even connect with an official in Pingchuan County?

The magnificent carriage left Jufu Supermarket slowly, the clatter of the horses’ hooves disturbed Gu Ruinian’s heart.

"Wow, Miss Lian’s carriage is so grand," remarked a clerk from the neighboring teahouse.

Gu Ruinian was surprised: "Is Miss Lian in the carriage?"

The teahouse clerk replied admiringly: "Miss Lian is naturally in her carriage. Are you under the mistaken impression that Miss Lian, being a concubine’s daughter, is somehow beneath others? Let me tell you, Miss Lian is more capable than most men, controlling her family’s pearl business. Her three legitimate brothers don’t compare. If she were a man, the entire Lian Mansion would be hers now."

Gu Ruinian became excited.

Matchmaker Wang only told him that Miss Lian was a beautiful concubine’s daughter, loved by her father for her mother’s favor.

Did not mention Miss Lian’s capabilities.

Goodness, a delicate lady of ancient times controlling the family pearl business, and beautiful too. Miss Lian is currently the most valuable woman he can connect with, and he must seize the opportunity.

Previously, he had sent messages through Matchmaker Wang to Miss Lian, who first agreed to meet him but later said not to meet for now.

He was preoccupied with Wu Ji’s matters these days, with no time to think about how to meet Miss Lian. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Now he would carefully plan how to meet her.

Whether Miss Lian went to Jufu Supermarket for business or shopping,

Either way, Gu Taohua had gained the upper hand.

Damn it!

Gu Ruinian felt for his pocket; he had five taels of silver left.

Two of which came from pawning Gu Honglian’s satin, the remaining three taels from skimming from Wu Ji.

In any situation, money is the ultimate weapon.

Sadly, his weapon wasn’t enough, causing him to accomplish nothing.

Holding onto his silver, Gu Ruinian made inquiries all the way to Lian Mansion, planning to use the five taels to bribe the porter.

Lian Mansion was at the easternmost side of Pingchuan County, its extensive courtyard took up half a street, which appeared majestic from afar.

A smile crept up on Gu Ruinian’s lips, wondering how Jingzhe’s father-in-law’s Lu Family estate compared. Such a majestic estate was destined for someone like him.