Chapter 770 - 772: Disappointment
Chapter 770: Chapter 772: Disappointment
Mrs. Liang He was still unconvinced. "But those few are truly too poor. Look, they just do the work of small officials in the government office. Such people will be like this for their entire lives. How are they worthy of Xiao Yu?"
Liang Shi replied, "Truly ignorant. The Hou family is an aristocratic family with a century of history. They married their legitimate daughter to Gu Wenheng’s younger cousin, and now the businesses under their management have nearly doubled.
"Even a distant cousin can be promoted like this. The others are all his blood nephews. Would he not make plans for them?
"So what if they are small officials? How old is Gu Wenheng now? His future prospects are highly foreseeable. With those nephews relying on him, they will be free from worries about food and clothing for the rest of their lives.
"Look again at Miss Hou. She is currently following Mrs. Gu, and it’s said she has learned a lot. She manages the dowry shops under her own name in an orderly manner.
"Yet you dare to look down on such a family? I think this small Yongchang County is no longer big enough to hold you."
These words were undoubtedly harsh, and Mrs. Liang He’s face flushed red.
"Their family background is still a bit too low. Before Gu Wenheng became an official, this family were all country bumpkins who could barely read a few characters. What kind of good future could they have?
"The Gu family boy that Miss Hou married at least has the status of a Scholar. The others are ultimately lacking."
It wasn’t that Mrs. Liang He hadn’t felt regret before. Had she known Gu Wenheng’s cousin was a Scholar and could receive his backing, she would have swallowed her pride and married Xiao Yu off to him.
But as for the other Gu boys, she truly had no interest. Naturally, she wanted her pampered niece to marry well so she could support her maiden family in the future.
Liang Shi was at a loss for words. It wasn’t the first day he realized this woman was shortsighted.
He just never expected her to be this foolish. Gu Wenheng was young, and the Gu family still had decades of glory ahead of them. If they could tie themselves through marriage, the He family would gain a powerful in-law.
The saying about marrying a virtuous wife was truly correct. If his late wife hadn’t passed away, he wouldn’t have had to marry this stupid woman arranged by his family.
Such a woman was better off confined to her small domestic sphere in the backyard, rather than going out to make a fool of herself.
"Find someone to transfer those shops of yours as soon as possible. Otherwise, by the end of the year, I won’t even give you the rent to collect."
Mrs. Liang He was completely bewildered by his sudden hostility. They had just been discussing the children’s marriage prospects; why had the topic shifted to the storefronts? And why such a drastic change in attitude?
She wanted to ask a few more questions, but Liang Shi, no longer wanting to stay and suffer her infuriating presence, flicked his sleeves and left immediately.
Mrs. Liang He fell silent.
She thought, "His heart is truly biased. He plans everything for his older children. Is Feiling not your own flesh and blood?
"Saying he’ll take back the shops is just an excuse to leave them for his eldest son. Why is my life so difficult?"
Mrs. Liang He felt a wave of grievance. She had been busy all year, yet not only did she fail to earn any silver, but she also had to subsidize it with some of her own dowry silver.
As the person sharing his bed, instead of helping her out, he chose to kick her when she was down at this moment.
When all was said and done, it was because she wasn’t his original, legitimate wife. He simply didn’t treat her as the proper Madam of the house.
「Meanwhile.」
Hou Tian’er, the very person they had just been discussing, was sitting in her courtyard reviewing account books.
When she got married, her close friends all felt she was marrying beneath her station. The pity in their words still echoed in her ears.
But only she knew in her heart that this was exactly the kind of life she wanted to live.
And she was living it quite well. At the very least, she wouldn’t have to spend her free time copying Buddhist scriptures in the Buddhist hall like she used to.
"Madam, are we not going to the main courtyard today?" her trusted maid, Cui’er, gently reminded her. In the past, whenever Hou Tian’er was free, she loved to stay by Mrs. Gu’s side.
"We’ll head over in a bit. Qianqian should still be taking Can for a walk in the backyard to aid his digestion right now." She liked spending time with Jin Qianqian, feeling as though she gained something new every day.
She also had her own way of handling things. When Mr. Gu returned to the estate, she wouldn’t linger. When their family was enjoying their private time, she wouldn’t go over to disturb them.
"Madam, you’ve been sitting for quite a while now. How about we take a walk in the small courtyard?" Cui’er suggested softly. Ever since her mistress became pregnant, she didn’t dare to speak loudly like before; her voice was exceptionally gentle.
Because of this sudden change, it took Hou Tian’er quite some time to adapt.
Hou Tian’er reached out and touched her slightly swelling belly. "Didn’t we just finish walking not too long ago? Why are we walking again?"
Cui’er coaxed, "Madam, that was before the meal. You need to move around a bit after eating too. I asked several nannies, and they all said that moving around more is good for your future delivery.
"Besides, we won’t go far, just a stroll around our own courtyard. Xi’er and I will support you, and we’ll walk slowly."
Hou Tian’er looked at Cui’er with a serious expression. "You don’t need to be so overly cautious. There are still several months before the delivery. If I really followed your arrangements and took everything step by step, wouldn’t life be extremely uncomfortable?
"It’s fine. I’ll finish looking over these account books first. We’ll have to walk a long way to the main courtyard later anyway, so we can just treat that as exercise."
"This Mrs. Gu is really something. She arranged such a remote courtyard for you. Having to walk so far every time—what if you get tired, Madam?
"You are carrying the Gu family’s grandchild. Why not let Mr. Gu Yi go over and say a word to have your courtyard moved closer?"
Hou Tian’er slammed her hand heavily on the table. "Shut up! Is that something for you to say?
"My husband picked this courtyard himself back then, and I’m very satisfied with it. When is it your place to be so picky?"
Cui’er gave a Fuli in grievance. "This servant was just feeling wronged on your behalf, Madam. You have to travel back and forth like this every day. The mistress of the house should be more considerate..."
"If you keep talking like this, I won’t dare to keep you by my side anymore," Hou Tian’er scolded. "Qianqian and Mr. Gu have already treated us exceptionally well. By saying this, do you think we are no longer suited to stay in this estate? Should we go find another residence?"
Hou Tian’er had long understood the dynamics of their relationships.
Her husband was merely Mr. Gu’s younger cousin. Being able to follow by his side to learn and broaden his horizons was already an incredible stroke of luck.
Mrs. Gu also treated her very well. In just one short year, she had learned and benefited a great deal.
Even her own biological father, who used to ignore her, now personally received her with a face full of smiles whenever she returned home.
All of this wasn’t simply because she married well, but because Gu Yi had a good older cousin and his wife.
For the rest of their lives, barring any accidents, they would likely rely on Mr. Gu. Therefore, they needed to know their place. They shouldn’t entertain thoughts about things that didn’t belong to them; they shouldn’t even look at them.
She never expected her personal maid to say such things today. Her face darkened. "Where did you learn all this?"
"This servant just had a slip of the tongue," Cui’er said, shrinking her neck. "This servant was only thinking of her master’s well-being."