Chapter 501: Chapter 501: Single-Minded Pursuit of Wealth and Status

Xu Zaohua ate two pieces of honeydew melon and dismissed all the maids and old women from the room.

Gu Ruinian’s eyes lingered on the backs of the departing maids, something that did not escape Xu Zaohua’s notice. Secretly rolling her eyes, she cursed him in her heart for being so easily distracted.

"Sister Zao Hua, did you ask me here to meet Lian Er Gongzi?" Gu Ruinian eagerly inquired, thinking of Lian Hengruo.

Xu Zaohua frowned. This fool! How could she allow Lian Er Gongzi into her room?

Seeing how eager Gu Ruinian was to climb the social ladder, she realized he needed to experience the Zheng Family firsthand to cement his ambition and use it to her advantage.

If Gu Ruinian lost his nerve at the last minute, her plan would fall apart.

Xu Zaohua smiled and said, "What’s the rush? Let’s chat first and plan after lunch."

Gu Ruinian had no idea what Xu Zaohua was planning.

He couldn’t wait a moment longer to forge a bond with Lian Hengruo. Wasn’t Xu Zaohua just teasing him?

Suddenly, he thought that perhaps as a young widow, Xu Zaohua might have some intentions towards him, tricking him into coming here.

The more he looked at Xu Zaohua’s smiling eyes, the more it seemed possible.

If Xu Zaohua brought the Zheng family’s wealth to him as Jie Yuhua, it wouldn’t be impossible—but only after he successfully married Lian Hengruo could he consider having an affair with her.

Gu Ruinian cautiously said, "Sister Zao Hua, would the master of the Zheng Family be angry if he knew I was here?"

He implied that Xu Zaohua, a widow receiving an unrelated man, should fear the Zheng Family’s disapproval. Why not leave the Zheng Family and meet Lian Er Gongzi?

Xu Zaohua said carelessly, "I’ve already informed my in-laws that you’re my cousin, visiting me and the children today."

Gu Ruinian could hardly believe it; when do relatives ever enter through the side door?

Clearly, Xu Zaohua was lonely in her widowhood and was deliberately deceiving him.

Seeing Gu Ruinian’s disbelief, Xu Zaohua said, "Are you implying that since my in-laws know you’re a guest, they should let you use the main entrance? The Zheng Family looks down on people—it’s not just you. When my parents visit, they also use the side door."

Gu Ruinian felt a heavy blow to his heart.

He felt slighted once again.

Xu Zaohua then engaged Gu Ruinian in casual conversation, focusing tightly on matters related to Qinghe Bay. When she heard from Gu Ruinian that Gu Jingzhe had been engaged to Miss Lu from the Government City Lu Family, she nearly tore her handkerchief in fury.

Could it be that Xu Zaohua harbored a grudge against Gu Jingzhe out of love?

Gu Ruinian halted his words, his mind racing.

Never underestimate a woman’s scorn; it can extinguish reason and become a weapon against her enemies.

He despised Gu Jingzhe too.

Xu Zaohua’s resentment was something he could definitely exploit.

"Sister Zao Hua, Gu Jingzhe achieved first place, and my brother-in-law is this term’s Champion Scholar. He has both money and a promising future ahead. My stepmother and others will grow even more arrogant and trample everyone in Qinghe Bay beneath their feet."

"Nonsense. If she wants to trample, she better have that skill." Xu Zaohua’s anger was indeed ignited.

Alright then, if Widow Tong’s business expands to Pingchuan, she shouldn’t be surprised if Xu Zaohua retaliates.

Since she couldn’t become Widow Tong’s daughter-in-law, she’d be her enemy instead.

Gu Ruinian observed this with joy in his heart. He had finally sparked Xu Zaohua’s animosity towards Widow Tong and her brood.

Gu Ruinian added fuel to the fire and said, "I only found out after coming to the village that Uncle Xu had been framed by my stepmother. It’s a pity I wasn’t home at the time."

Xu Zaohua thought to herself, even if he was home, what could he have done? Now, like before, Widow Tong overpowered him.

But indeed, the family feud was still unavenged.

"Sister Zao Hua, once I marry Lian Er Xiaojie, we’ll join forces against my stepmother. We can’t let her act too arrogantly in Qinghe Bay." Gu Ruinian steered the conversation back to Lian Er Xiaojie, as he wanted no small talk with Xu Zaohua. He was eager to meet Lian Er Gongzi to get closer to Lian Er Xiaojie.

Xu Zaohua said, "What’s your hurry?"

As noon drew near, Gu Ruinian suddenly wondered why Xu Zaohua was so willing to help him with Lian Er Xiaojie. Based on their shared childhood experiences against Gu Taohua? He wasn’t that naive.

He was so eager to see Lian Er Xiaojie that he had forgotten about this matter.

Could it be that Xu Zaohua was too lonely, wanting to take him for her relief?

Now was not the time. Without a foundation, if the Zheng Family found out, he would be ruined.

Xu Zaohua smirked coldly, unafraid to tell Gu Ruinian.

She said, "I don’t want Lian Er Xiaojie to marry my brother-in-law."

Oh, got it!

Gu Ruinian thought Xu Zaohua was incredibly shameless, actually in cahoots with her brother-in-law.

But almost immediately, he felt both embarrassed and angry for misunderstanding Xu Zaohua, thinking she intended to make him her lover. It was Xu Zaohua’s vague words that led him to this foolish conclusion.

Xu Zaohua had no idea that this Qinghe Bay country bumpkin, whom she looked down upon, had already grown to resent her several times since entering.

"After lunch, I’ll take you to see Lian Er Gongzi. It has to be in the afternoon; Lian Er Gongzi doesn’t get up until then."

As Xu Zaohua spoke, she clapped her hands.

From outside came a rustling sound, and Gu Ruinian saw maids and old women appear from who knows where and began busying themselves.

They set the table, laid the tablecloth, and poured water.

Xu Zaohua took Gu Ruinian to the table to sit, where a maid assisted him in washing his hands.

Afterwards, a maid and an old woman carried a lunchbox into the room. One of the women handed it to a maid who placed it in front of Xu Zaohua, then lifted the lids one by one to introduce the dishes.

"Young mistress, this is braised deer antler."

"This is stewed wild chick." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"This is steamed sea bass."

Xu Zaohua gestured with her hand for the maid to place the dishes in front of Gu Ruinian.

Look at him, drooling over the feast.

Was the Gu Youtian family really so poor?

"This is braised pork, said to be from the village where you are from, with no gamy or fishy scent. Would the young mistress like to try some?" the maid placed the braised pork in front of Xu Zaohua.

Pork from Qinghe Bay?

Xu Zaohua’s face grew sullen. Since the pig was raised by Widow Tong, no matter how fragrant, she wouldn’t eat it.

"Take it away."

The maid didn’t understand why the young mistress suddenly became angry, but she was used to it; the young mistress always was so unpredictable.

"Sister Zao Hua, can I have this meat?" Gu Ruinian asked.

He was already drooling.

He knew the pork came from Widow Tong’s pig farm, but so what? Xu Zaohua wouldn’t eat it due to her grudge against Widow Tong, but he would.

Such succulent meat would be a waste to discard.

Xu Zaohua ordered the maid to serve the braised pork to Gu Ruinian.

The array of delicacies sparked Gu Ruinian’s appetite.

Even when Gu Youtian had money, he had never provided such an opulent spread; this was the first time Gu Ruinian, in this life, had enjoyed such a rich family meal.

And what made it all the more intoxicating was the beautiful maid standing by his side, handing him a towel to wipe his hands, picking up his dishes—such a life was truly seductive.

This visit was worth it!

This was the life of the elite!

As the eldest young madam of a county landlord, Xu Zaohua lived in such opulence. It made him vow to experience the debauchery of society’s upper echelons once.

"Once you marry Lian Er Xiaojie, you can live like this every day," Xu Zaohua acknowledged Gu Ruinian’s thoughts with a faint smile.

Gu Ruinian, his mouth filled with meat, nodded and said, "Sister Zao Hua, you’re right; I’ll follow your lead."