Chapter 503: Chapter 503: Forced Into Marriage

Gu Ruinian exited the casino, planning to go home first to inform Gu Youtian and the others that he wouldn’t be able to help at the shop for the next few days. Otherwise, if he went missing, Mr. Gu would dig three feet into the ground to find him.

The more booming the business at Jufu Supermarket, the more desolate it was at Wu Ji.

The Wu Family’s reputation in Pingchuan was already notorious, and everyone who went shopping avoided Wu Ji like the plague.

Occasionally, there would be a few transactions, mostly from people from Black Dragon Pond Town coming to Pingchuan County for a stroll, unable to refuse Wu Lizheng face.

The business was so bad, yet they still had to support two families; Wu Ren’s expression was unpleasant.

Gu Youtian was equally in a bad mood.

The poor business had nothing to do with the Gu Family; the Gu Family did not have any bad reputation spreading around.

He had already suggested to Wu Ren that the way to break the situation was to let the Wu Family stay away for a few days, change Wu Ji’s name, and return once the Wu Family’s reputation faded in Pingchuan.

Besides, even with the name change, the Wu Family would still have the largest share of the shop. The Wu Family members don’t need to worry by sitting here, while they could still take half of the profit, isn’t that great?

But Wu Ren, with the heart of a petty person, judged the belly of a gentleman, always fearing that Gu Youtian would turn the shop into the Gu Family’s.

When Gu Youtian was furious, he heard Gu Ruinian say he had made a wealthy new friend in Pingchuan and would be visiting the friend’s house for the next few days. This made Gu Youtian scold Gu Ruinian angrily.

"You can’t study; you can’t do business. Tomorrow, go back to Qinghe Bay," Gu Youtian said.

Gu Ruinian suppressed his anger as he went into the house to pack clothes and told Mrs. Jia, who followed him, that he’d made wealthy friends, asking her not to worry.

Mrs. Jia remained worried.

"Mom, just wait for my good news. In a few days, I can let you live a good life," Gu Ruinian said to Mrs. Jia.

What is Wu Ji? What is the Wu Family? Once he wins over Lian Hengruo and becomes the esteemed son-in-law of the Lian Family, he plans to buy Wu Ji and drive all the Wu Family out.

He also wants to become the spokesman of the Gu Family’s second branch, and by then, if Gu Youtian dares to talk nonsense, he will dare to deal with him.

Gu Ruinian walked out of Wu Ji, squinting at Jufu Supermarket.

Jufu Supermarket’s business was bustling more than ever.

"Gu Family young man, aren’t you going to Jufu Supermarket to join the fun?" the tea house clerk asked when he saw Gu Ruinian, intending to invite him to Jufu Supermarket.

Usually, Gu Ruinian was reluctant to communicate with the working class, but when it came to Jufu Supermarket, he was willing to listen, so he asked, "What’s Jufu Supermarket up to now?"

The tea house clerk said, "The second Miss Lian opened a pearl stall in Jufu Supermarket, and the stall is covered with all kinds of pearls. My goodness, there’s even a Black Pearl. I’ve never seen a Black Pearl in my life; I have to go and have a look."

After saying this, the tea house clerk dashed toward Jufu Supermarket.

A thought crossed Gu Ruinian’s mind; no wonder Lian Hengruo had been going to Jufu Supermarket recently; it turns out she’s partnering up with them in business.

Let Jufu Supermarket revel for a few days.

...

"Grandmother, do you know who Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua met?" Nie Xiaofeng burst in front of Tong Huaqiong like a whirlwind, seeing her impatient expression, dared not hold back and said, "They met the second son of the Lian Family, and it was at the casino."

Nie Xiaofeng was tasked by Tong Huaqiong to keep an eye on Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua. He thought it would be challenging, but they managed to uncover their tracks in less than two days.

Since Lian Hengruo had told Tong Huaqiong about the Lian Family’s scandals, Tong Huaqiong guessed that Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua meeting the second son of the Lian Family wasn’t with good intentions.

However, she understood why Gu Ruinian would want to meet him, but why did Xu Zaohua enthusiastically jump three feet? Her impression of Xu Zaohua was that she never got up early without something in return.

She didn’t believe there wasn’t a benefit for Xu Zaohua in this.

"Why is Xu Zaohua so eager in this? Have you found out?" Tong Huaqiong asked.

Nie Xiaofeng grew more admiring of Tong Huaqiong, understanding why everyone said grandmother was smart, easily pinpointing the crux of the issue.

He hadn’t even spoken before grandmother had started asking.

"I found out that the second son of the Zheng Family and the second Miss Lian are discussing marriage," Nie Xiaofeng said.

Tong Huaqiong immediately understood.

Xu Zaohua didn’t want Lian Hengruo to marry her younger brother-in-law, and the second son of the Lian Family didn’t want Lian Hengruo to have a competent family, so the two teamed up.

As for Gu Ruinian, they were clearly using him as a tool in their plan.

What means would they use against Lian Hengruo—perhaps compromising her reputation.

Hasn’t Gu Ruinian already tried something with a handkerchief?

The restraints on women in this era are not as severe as in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but still unfriendly. A public handkerchief pulling isn’t enough to ruin a woman’s reputation to coerce her into marrying a scoundrel, but if they were caught in bed?

You must marry.

Upon realizing this, Tong Huaqiong felt a wave of nausea.

Gu Ruinian, even though you have been influenced by modern civilization, how could you be so base here in the ancient times?

Tong Huaqiong asked Nie Xiaofeng, "What kind of person is the second son of the Zheng Family?"

Nie Xiaofeng replied, "This spring, he passed the Scholar exam at the same time as my little uncle and went to Wanliu Academy around the same time. Although he’s a learned man, he has poor character."

Tong Huaqiong slapped her thigh; she knew about the character of the second son of the Zheng Family from Tong Dajiao’s memories.

Wasn’t Man Er already enticed and persecuted by the Zheng Family due to his scheming?

In the previous life, Man Er counter-killed the second son of the Zheng Family and burned the Zheng Family to ashes.

This lifetime, Man Er hasn’t been to the Zheng Family, so who knows how long the second son of the Zheng Family can act out.

Such a person is not worthy of Lian Hengruo.

But she wondered what Lian Hengruo thought of this marriage proposal.

Tong Huaqiong contemplated a bit then decided to seek Lian Hengruo at the pearl stall.

Since the opening was just two days ago, Lian Hengruo personally attended to the customers at the stall every day. When Tong Huaqiong arrived, Lian Hengruo was introducing the Black Pearl to a big fellow.

How come that big fellow looks so familiar?

Tong Huaqiong thought for half a day, and the other party came up and greeted her, calling her Aunt Tong intimately.

"Oh my, isn’t this Lord Yao?" Tong Huaqiong clapped her hands in apology; she truly didn’t recognize him.

It wasn’t her fault; somehow, perhaps Ning City’s favorable environment made Lord Yao visibly younger than last year.

She didn’t know why Lord Yao came to Pingchuan, but considering he was the magistrate of the entire Ning City, it was normal for him to inspect the counties.

Lian Hengruo was momentarily taken aback. Her pearl shop entertained a major customer; besides Magistrate Yao, who else could be Lord Yao?

This magistrate was something; he didn’t even wear his official robe when he came in.

She wondered if her sales pitch earlier was too aggressive.

Magistrate Yao said to Tong Huaqiong, "I came to Pingchuan to check the growth of corn. Passing by this street, seeing so many people swarming into Jufu Supermarket, out of curiosity, I came in to take a look."

Upon entering and discovering Black Pearls at the pearl stall, it was also Magistrate Yao’s first time seeing Black Pearls, and out of curiosity, he picked one up to examine it. Lian Hengruo seized the opportunity to introduce and promote it.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Lord Yao, Jufu Supermarket is mine."

Magistrate Yao glanced at Jufu Supermarket; he had never seen such a department store.

Aunt Tong truly is one who dares to innovate. Contemplating this, Magistrate Yao said, "I went to Qinghe Bay and discovered dozens of acres of cotton fields to the west of the village. The villagers claimed they are Aunt Tong’s fields."

Magistrate Yao wore an inquisitive expression.

No one in the entire Ning City had grown cotton on such a large scale; he wouldn’t be curious if others planted it, but if Tong Huaqiong did, he was curious.

He felt Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t plant so much cotton without reason.

Tong Huaqiong knew that Magistrate Yao had no malice, merely the curiosity and concern of a local official.

But she couldn’t disclose her plans for developing the cotton industry just yet, as the textile machines weren’t completed.

Tong Huaqiong said, "That piece of land is only suitable for growing cotton."