Chapter 513: Chapter 513: Dreams Come True

The news about Eldest Young Madam Zheng being entangled with her childhood sweetheart from Qinghe Bay naturally reached the ears of the Wu Family.

However, since the Wu Family neither knew Xu Zaohua nor had any dealings with the Zheng Family, Wu Ren and Mrs. Qiao didn’t take this matter seriously. They were more concerned about Wu Ji’s business than other people’s gossip.

But Wu Na’s mind wasn’t on business; in Black Dragon Pond, she was an avid gossip enthusiast, and she hadn’t changed that habit in Pingchuan.

What caught her attention in this gossip was that the main characters were all from Qinghe Bay. The Gu Ruinian she longed for came from Qinghe Bay. She was even more interested in this piece of gossip.

Usually, she had no common topics with Gu Ruinian. Didn’t this just give her an opportunity?

These days, Gu Ruinian wasn’t at Wu Ji. Mrs. Jia hinted that Gu Ruinian had caught the eye of a rich young master and was studying with him at home. When Wu Na pressed her about who this young master was, Mrs. Jia refused to divulge anything.

Wu Na hoped every day for Gu Ruinian to return to Wu Ji so she could discuss the people and events of Qinghe Bay with him.

Thinking this, Wu Na grabbed a handful of seeds, went to the teahouse next door, and heard people there saying that Eldest Young Madam Zheng’s childhood sweetheart was surnamed Gu. Wu Na’s eyebrows shot up.

Could it really be just a coincidence?

Gu Ruinian’s surname is indeed Gu.

However, many people in Qinghe Bay have the surname Gu, so it might not necessarily be Gu Ruinian.

Because Gu Ruinian went to the south when he was a child and only returned six months ago, how could he be childhood sweethearts with Eldest Young Madam Zheng?

The more Wu Na feared, the more it seemed to be true.

Until someone clearly stated the name Gu Ruinian, Wu Na felt as if she had died once.

Terrified that the information was incorrect, she grabbed someone’s arm, desperately asking for Gu Ruinian’s appearance and height.

The person dismissed her, saying, "How would I know his appearance or height? I’ve never seen him. But I’m telling you the truth. My aunt’s house is somewhat related to the Zheng Family. They said the adulterer is named Gu Ruinian, and it can’t be false. If you don’t believe it, why don’t you go to the Zheng Family and ask for yourself?"

Clearly, this man didn’t know Gu Ruinian, nor was he aware of the relationship between Wu Ji and Gu Ruinian. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have boldly announced the name of the adulterer in a teahouse next to Wu Ji.

Wu Na didn’t dare to inquire at the Zheng Family’s doorstep and stubbornly continued to ask, "Sir, how many sons does the Zheng Family have?"

The man replied, "Not counting the deceased Young Master Zheng, there are still two. One is Second Young Master Zheng, who just passed the scholar exam last year, and the other is the young son born to Eldest Young Madam Zheng, not even a year old."

All Wu Na’s hopes shattered.

Mrs. Jia mentioned that Gu Ruinian had befriended the second young master of a wealthy family but refused to say who he was.

This young master must be Second Young Master Zheng.

Everything made sense now.

The claim that an article caught Second Young Master Zheng’s eye must really be that he clung to Eldest Young Madam Zheng.

Wu Na felt betrayed, angrily returning to Wu Ji to demand an explanation from the Gu Family.

At dusk, except for Gu Youtian, the rest of the Gu Family was in Wu Ji’s backyard, busy with preparing dinner.

"What? Wu Na, you can’t talk nonsense like this. My Ruinian and Xu Zaohua have no connection at all. He went south when he was a kid and hasn’t even once met Xu Zaohua since he returned. How could it possibly be my Ruinian?"

Mrs. Jia interrupted Wu Na before she could finish.

Placing the label of an adulterer on Ruinian, Mrs. Jia wouldn’t stand for that.

Though her mouth denied it, her heart beat rapidly.

Mrs. Wei and Gu Fengnian exchanged a glance; the couple had already heard Mrs. Jia curse Tong Dajiao for getting his comeuppance and Gu Jingzhe for being an adulterer.

With the misfortune of the main family, Mrs. Jia was in a good mood, quietly taking out the silver she borrowed from her family to buy two pounds of meat for Ruinian’s schooling.

If Xu Zaohua’s adulterer turned from Gu Jingzhe to Gu Ruinian, Mrs. Jia wondered if she could manage.

"Don’t talk nonsense, Wu clan’s girl. Ruinian wouldn’t do such a thing. My Ruinian likes fair-skinned, slim-bodied, big-eyed girls. What about Xu Zaohua fits that? A fallen widow, not some untouched maiden. Has Ruinian gone mad?" Grandma Gu said.

Grandma Gu and Grandpa Gu were anxious when they heard Xu Zaohua’s childhood sweetheart might be Gu Jingzhe. As elders of the Gu Family, they had already scolded Gu Jingzhe harshly in front of the second branch for his foolishness and bringing shame to the family.

The two pondered how to face people in Qinghe Bay in the future; distancing from Gu Jingzhe was hard since he was a top candidate for the civil service examination, and severing ties now would mean losing that connection.

Grandma and Grandpa Gu didn’t even consider Gu Ruinian’s involvement.

Wu Na was upset hearing Grandma Gu describe Gu Ruinian’s preferences for a girl.

The preferences of fair skin, slim figure, and big eyes contrasted with dark-skinned, strong build, and small eyes, with Grandma Gu taking advantage of the situation to nudge her.

As a village chief’s daughter, having an interest in Gu Ruinian was a fortune the Gu Family earned over centuries.

"What am I saying wrong? Everyone outside says it’s Gu Ruinian. Am I deaf to confuse him with Gu... whatever Zhe? Gu Ruinian is unthinkable, doing such shameless things. It’d be different if he was involved with another widow, but to have an affair with Eldest Young Madam Zheng, imagine how the Zheng Family would treat him?" Wu Na said ambiguously.

Initially, she wanted to say Gu Ruinian betrayed her, but the nature of her relationship with Gu Ruinian was only known between them, and mentioning it might invite insults from Mrs. Jia and Grandma Gu.

"Gu Ruinian, just wait, I won’t let you off," she thought.

Grandpa Gu, hearing Gu Ruinian’s name, wanted to step out and get to the bottom of it; trembling, he asked Wu Na, "Who told you that? Tell me everything you heard."

Wu Na faithfully recounted everything the man in the tea house next door had said.

The more Grandpa Gu listened, the colder his heart grew, nearly dropping his pipe.

"People outside must not have lied. I saw Xu Zaohua’s carriage passing by the other day, and Ruinian went up and talked with her for a long time," Gu Honglian shrieked.

"Who would’ve thought Xu Zaohua was seducing Ruinian."

Gu Honglian hadn’t gone up to them because she and Xu Zaohua’s relationship was fragile; Xu Zaohua lived well as a young mistress, and Gu Honglian’s jealousy kept her from humbling herself before Xu Zaohua.

Mrs. Jia was stunned, awakened by Gu Honglian’s shrieks, her hands trembled, and the spoon she held clattered to the ground.

Seeing Mrs. Jia’s reaction, Gu Honglian felt a sudden surge of delight. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Her second sister-in-law and Ruinian had taken the satin meant for her, sold it for five silver taels, and when she asked for one tael, her second sister-in-law mocked her for being a loser, claiming everything on her belonged to her nephew.

She awaited their misfortune.

Finally, it had happened.

"Luckily, it was Ruinian Xu Zaohua seduced, not Jingzhe. Jingzhe was the top candidate and would become an official from our Old Gu Family. If Jingzhe fell, it would be much worse than Ruinian. Thankfully..." Gu Honglian clutched her chest.

She intentionally provoked her second sister-in-law, Mrs. Jia.

That remark not only provoked Mrs. Jia but also agitated Grandpa and Grandma Gu.

Mrs. Jia stood up, nearly fainting, caught by the quick hands of Gu Fengnian.

Grandpa Gu said, "Fengnian, go to the Zheng Family and find out if it’s Ruinian?"

He was already eighty percent convinced.