Chapter 523: Chapter 523: Seizing Opportunities Whenever They Arise

As for Lian Hengruo’s marriage, Tong Huaqiong had nothing to say about it.

This was not something she could interfere with.

But Tong Huaqiong still felt that whether one married or not, as long as the business and money were in one’s hands, one had confidence.

After discussing matters concerning the Lian family, Aunt Tang mentioned Xu Zaohua, saying that on the night Xu Zaohua was taken away by the Zheng Family, she was sent to a family temple.

The Zheng Family didn’t even give Xu Zaohua a chance to defend herself.

"Your dear nephew is truly impressive." Aunt Tang commented on Gu Ruinian with a click of her tongue, "He weighed the pros and cons and straightforwardly admitted his improper relationship with Xu Zaohua in front of the Zheng Family, placing all the blame on Xu Zaohua, saying she deliberately seduced him. He even blamed Xu Zaohua for Lian Cheng’s head injury."

Tong Huaqiong wasn’t surprised by this; Gu Ruinian was such a selfish person that anyone around him would sell him out completely if they could.

Admitting to a private relationship with Xu Zaohua would leave a way out; admitting to scheming against Second Miss Lian would leave no way out.

After all, the latter would involve the Lady of the Lian Family and the Second Young Master of the Lian Family.

"You don’t know, after you all left that day, there was quite a commotion in our lady’s courtyard. Gu Ruinian said Xu Zaohua seduced him, to which she retorted by wrestling with Gu Ruinian, cursing him for scheming against her. When the Zheng Family took her away, she broke free and knelt before Ruo Er, begging her to save her." As Aunt Tang spoke of Xu Zaohua, there was still hatred in her eyes.

"Xu Zaohua brought it upon herself, a case of self-inflicted misfortune."

She clearly understood what fate Lian Hengruo would face if her and Gu Ruinian’s plans succeeded, and she knew what she still had to do.

Lian Hengruo and Tong Huaqiong joined forces to apply the same tactic on her; now she knew the pain, knew to plead.

Why didn’t she realize it earlier?

Tong Huaqiong expressed no sympathy for her at all.

Aunt Tang and Lian Hengruo drank cup after cup of tea at Tong Huaqiong’s place, staying for most of the day before leaving.

Aunt Tang indicated she would come again in the future.

"Oh right, Hengruo, a few days ago I encountered Magistrate Yao in the city. He said he didn’t have any silver with him, and would pay you back for the pearl money he owes some other day."

Suddenly Tong Huaqiong recalled running into Magistrate Yao on the way back, who asked her to convey a message to Lian Hengruo.

Originally, Tong Huaqiong thought Magistrate Yao intended to renege on his debt, but upon seeing his calm gaze, she felt she was being overly cautious.

Lian Hengruo was momentarily surprised, for she hadn’t thought about the silver Magistrate Yao owed her.

Aunt Tang’s expression turned odd, and she pulled Tong Huaqiong aside by the door of Jufu, asking, "Is that Magistrate Yao, who is so young, married?"

Tong Huaqiong shook her head and smiled, "I’ve heard he isn’t."

Aunt Tang’s eyes lit up, saying, "Manager Tong, next time you meet him, could you help by linking him with Ruo Er? If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t dare say such a thing, but Manager Tong is different; after all, he specifically asked you to remember Ruo Er about the silver, which shows he trusts you."

Tong Huaqiong thought, Aunt Tang is indeed shrewd, seizing every opportunity as it arises.

But Magistrate Yao looks mature, clearly in his twenties but seeming in his thirties.

Moreover, from Mr. Lu’s comments, Tong Huaqiong suspected his orientation was unclear.

Tong Huaqiong wanted to decline.

Lian Hengruo noticed Tong Huaqiong’s difficulty and said, "Aunt is joking, Aunt Tong, you don’t need to take it to heart."

Aunt Tang rolled her eyes at Lian Hengruo and said, "Not a joke, what’s the harm in asking? Whatever the result, casting a line costs nothing."

Tong Huaqiong: "..."

Lian Hengruo, furious, finally stopped Aunt Tang’s matchmaking intentions.

"Aunt, do you know what kind of person Magistrate Yao is, yet you dare ask Aunt Tong to play matchmaker for me? He comes from a Shengjing Family, which has produced Imperial Tutors and Grand Secretaries; how could they marry into a merchant family? Aunt, don’t be ridiculous." Leaving Jufu at Tong Huaqiong’s, Lian Hengruo expressed her dissatisfaction to Aunt Tang inside the carriage.

Aunt Tang raised her eyebrows and said, "Ruo Er, how many times have I told you, you’re not inferior to any legitimate lady, nor to any official’s daughter. What’s wrong with being a concubine’s daughter? What’s wrong with being a merchant’s daughter? If someone values such things, how many good marriages will be missed? So what if Magistrate Yao is from a Shengjing Family? Does not every family rely on merchants for oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar? How can he serve as a magistrate without the vast tax silver of the Ning City merchants contributing to his achievements?"

"Ruo Er, I’m just a poor village outcast, sold to the Lian Mansion by my parents to be a maid, to avoid hunger and cold by becoming a concubine. But I’ve never felt inferior to those rightful wives, just having started from a low point. That’s why I taught you bookkeeping from a young age, made you study, schemed to have your father give you the business - so you wouldn’t follow my path, and now I’ve achieved that. So why shouldn’t I also want you to marry into a Shengjing Family?"

"Do you think establishing a separate household is that easy? At that time, the clan’s obstacles and your legitimate brother’s scheming will be impossible to guard against. Even if you really establish a household, when you get older, won’t your money fall into the hands of Mrs. Hua’s worthless descendants? Will you be content? And besides, your father won’t even let you establish a household, keeping you home now just to have you lay out business for his incompetent sons. By the time you’re of no use, he’ll find some excuse to marry you off, and when you’re older, what good families will still be waiting for you? If you think being a concubine is better than being a widow with a child husbandless, you’re mistaken. Even being a widow raising children like your Aunt Tong is better than letting someone else get your money while still unmarried."

Aunt Tang saw Lian Hengruo frown slightly, knowing her words hit home, she then fell silent.

Lian Hengruo indeed took her words to heart.

It wasn’t about asking Tong Huaqiong for help in matchmaking her with Magistrate Yao; in fact, she had already forgotten what Magistrate Yao looked like, just remembering a dark-faced man with a mouthful of white teeth when he smiled.

Aunt’s words reminded her that Mr. Lian would never let her establish a household.

Now, although she had secured stores and the pearl business from the Lian family, that was under the condition of maintaining balance with her elder brother.

Mr. Lian used her and Aunt to suppress his rightful wife and children.

Then, using his rightful wife and children’s schemes against her, let her and her mother understand they could only secure a place in the Lian family by clinging to him.

If that balance were broken, if one day she could pin her elder brother to the ground, Mr. Lian would certainly find a way to marry her off.

Lian Hengruo only felt a sense of futility; in such a small household, Mr. Lian acted like the emperor in Shengjing, sometimes suppressing this, sometimes balancing that, to keep everyone in his grip.

Such a life was indeed meaningless.

She just hated that she wasn’t a man who could carve out a world outside. Then establishing a new family, bringing Aunt out, allowing Aunt to wear gold and silver or put on heavy makeup as she pleased, never again having to tailor her appearance to her father’s preferences.

But alas, she wasn’t a man, and to break away from the Lian family, she could only rely on marriage.

Originally not being able to marry the second son of the Zheng Family, Lian Hengruo was happy. Now, Aunt’s words plunged her into a new round of distress.