Chapter 510: Chapter 510: Childhood Sweethearts

Mrs. Han glanced at Gu Ruinian and said to Tong Huaqiong, "You’ve severed ties with the second branch of your family and don’t usually interact with them. Don’t mistake him for someone else."

Tong Huaqiong cast a grateful glance at Mrs. Han, who was helping her distance from Gu Ruinian.

The implication was that both families had cut off relations, and Gu Ruinian was not considered her nephew.

Gu Ruinian’s actions were not related to Tong Huaqiong in any way.

Initially, when everyone heard Gu Ruinian was Tong Huaqiong’s nephew, they had a negative view of her.

However, after hearing Mrs. Han’s words, they realized why Tong Huaqiong publicly acknowledged him as her nephew—who would openly admit to a scandal caused by a nephew unless there was nothing to hide?

This clarified everything.

Turns out Tong Huaqiong and this renegade were only relatives in name, not truly connected at all.

Tong Huaqiong scrutinized them again seriously and told everyone, "There’s no mistake. Our second branch partnered with someone to open a shop called Wu Ji, just across from Jufu Supermarket. In recent days, I’ve run into Rui Nian frequently; there’s no doubt about it."

Then, with a look of surprise, Tong Huaqiong said, "But why is Rui Nian here?"

After speaking, she gave Xu Zaohua a meaningful look.

The intrigue among the onlookers deepened.

Since he was a nephew of Tong Huaqiong, didn’t that mean he grew up in Qinghe Bay, where Xu Zaohua was also from?

Growing up together in the countryside might hint at deeper, hidden connections.

Gu Taohua blurted out without a care, "Rui Nian and Zao Hua have been close since childhood, and it’s fine if you are, but how did you end up as thieves sneaking into the lady’s room together?"

The ladies looked at each other, confirming their suspicions of a childhood romance.

Yet their puzzlement grew: even if the two were having an affair, how could they end up in the Lady of the Lian Family’s bedroom?

The more they thought about it, the less sense it made.

Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua were so ashamed they wished they could die.

Gu Ruinian quickly looked up and then down again, realizing that the second young lady of the Lian Family was staring at him coldly from across the way. He suddenly shivered internally, as the second young lady had always known about his intentions.

He thought he would become the Lian Family’s esteemed son-in-law, but instead, he turned into a ridiculous clown.

Gu Ruinian didn’t regret wanting to marry the second young lady of the Lian Family; he regretted trusting Xu Zaohua’s words and colluding with the second young master of the Lian family. They were the ones who had pushed him into the abyss.

If he had been more cautious, there would have been a different outcome.

"You two, sigh, what can one say? It’s too shameful, sneaking into someone else’s home to steal. Sister Zao Hua, you’re already the Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family, and yet you’re acting like a thief? Rui Nian, although your family isn’t as wealthy as the Zhengs, it isn’t lacking in food or drink. Why become a thief? If this spreads out, Qinghe Bay’s reputation will be ruined by you." Gu Taohua finished her dramatic speech and sighed as she ran to Tong Huaqiong’s side.

Gu Ruinian hated Gu Taohua deeply.

He despised Tong Huaqiong even more, who looked as if she understood everything with an amused face. The thought that she and her daughter saw through his schemes made him want to die of shame.

Mrs. Hua was in a muddled state, trembling with rage.

She wanted to kill Xu Zaohua and Gu Ruinian on the spot.

They had the nerve to conduct their affair in her bedroom; how could she hold her head high ever again?

Once the gossips spread, who knew how she’d be derided?

Mrs. Hua completely forgot her second son’s role in all of this.

"Country bumpkin, having an affair right in my room. Tie these adulterers up and report them to the authorities, I don’t care if she’s the Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family. No need to inform the authorities, let the Zheng Family suppress it, open the ancestral hall, and toss them into a pig cage."

"Adulterer and adulteress."

Mrs. Hua went up and scratched at Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua.

Mrs. Tang stood aside without moving.

The ladies exchanged glances, and someone said to Mrs. Tang, "Hurry and inform the Zheng Family to come and collect them."

Matters of the Zheng Family were not for the Lian Family to manage, even though the Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family was caught having an affair at the Lian residence, the adulterer wasn’t a Lian Family person; this matter was beyond them.

Reminded of her duty, Mrs. Tang was about to send someone to notify the Zheng Family.

At that moment, Xu Zaohua suddenly leapt up, crying and clutching Mrs. Hua’s leg, "Lady of the Lian Family, I beg you, don’t tell the Zheng Family, please don’t tell the Zheng Family, if you do, I’m finished."

Xu Zaohua cried bitterly.

She thought of many strategies in her mind, but none could help her out of the situation.

She only knew she couldn’t be handed over to the Zheng Family.

"Don’t tell the Zheng Family? You and your adulterer have an affair at my place, and even beat my son. If not tell the Zheng Family, then should we report to the authorities?" Mrs. Hua was so angry that her chest hurt, and the thought of her son only made her angrier.

What’s the difference between reporting to the authorities or informing the Zheng Family?

Mrs. Hua, playing the victim, thought why should the blame fall on her when the incident happened in her yard? She wasn’t clueless.

They wanted to shift the responsibility to her—no way.

If she couldn’t have peace, then she’d drag Mrs. Hua and the second young master of the Lian Family down with her.

Xu Zaohua looked at everyone, then gritted her teeth and said, "Ladies, think about it, which master lady’s room allows outsiders to enter freely? But here I am. Recently, the second young lady of the Lian Family was planning a marriage for my younger brother-in-law. As capable as she is, I don’t want to become her sister-in-law. The second young master of the Lian Family said there was a way to ruin the marriage, and he arranged to discuss it in the Lady’s yard during today’s banquet. I had just arrived..."

"Shameless, your Zheng Family affairs involving my second young master and young lady, do you think our Lian Family is easy to bully? Knocking one down wasn’t enough; now you want to drag the second young lady through the mud. Someone stuff her mouth so she cannot defame others’ ears, what nonsense to spread."

A crisp, angry voice rang out.

Mrs. Tang, as if awakened, hurriedly had someone stuff Xu Zaohua’s mouth with a cloth and bind her hands.

"Such scoundrels should be beaten to death."

The maid binding Xu Zaohua conveniently delivered a punch, knocking Gu Ruinian unconscious.

Tong Huaqiong turned her head and saw a woman clad in simple, everyday clothes, whose looks were only moderately beautiful, and a dignified middle-aged man approaching hand in hand.

Lian Hengruo called out, "Father, Little Mother," her voice tinged with grievance.

Tong Huaqiong understood in her heart; the speaking woman was Aunt Tang, Lian Hengruo’s birth mother.

Aunt Tang immediately took effective action, having Xu Zaohua’s mouth sealed and Gu Ruinian knocked out.

This approach was much more astute than Mrs. Hua’s; if Xu Zaohua had been allowed to finish, it would undeniably expose the rogue Gu Ruinian’s ill intentions towards Lian Hengruo, severely impacting her reputation if word got out.

Mrs. Hua and Mrs. Tang were flustered, troubled by the arrival of Aunt Tang and Master Lian.

The two were troubled, worrying whenever disaster struck within the Lian Family, Aunt Tang and Lian Hengruo always managed to benefit, step by step overtaking the family’s pearl business.

Aunt Tang greeted the ladies, intentionally looking towards Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua.

The ladies hastily evaded, casting friendly smiles toward Aunt Tang. Tong Huaqiong marveled internally; in an era with rigid social hierarchies, these main wives could show kindness to a concubine—remarkable indeed.

Clearly, Aunt Tang’s methods were extraordinary.

Tong Huaqiong overthought it.

No matter the era, people are human; humans have feelings. Aunt Tang, as a concubine, didn’t dress seductively and always appeared respectable, which undoubtedly won goodwill among the main wives.

They all hoped their family’s concubines would be as agreeable as Aunt Tang.