Chapter 525: Chapter 525: No Family Can Have Good Luck Twice

"Second brother, you’re just talking without feeling the pain; Ruinian is not your grandson so you don’t feel the heartache."

Old Madam Gu was dissatisfied with Second Uncle Gu’s immediate criticism of Gu Ruinian.

Second Uncle Gu cast a cold glance at his eldest sister-in-law and then said to Mr. Gu, "Brother, don’t mind my harsh words, but Ruinian’s misconduct has disgraced our Gu Family in the village. There are two lads in the clan as old as Ruinian and Jingzhe, who were recently being considered for marriage, but once Ruinian’s matter spread in the village, the matchmakers all ran away. If Ruinian doesn’t repent and continues this way, he’ll bring us big trouble sooner or later."

"Were it not for the fact that many villagers earn a living working at Dashi’s mother’s place, they would no longer hold respect for our Gu Family because of Ruinian’s behavior."

Old Madam Gu looked unconvinced. Those two lads not having prospective matches was due to the poverty of their families, not Ruinian’s fault.

Since Tong Huaqiong came in, both Old Madam Gu and Mrs. Jia were uneasy.

Old Madam Gu felt that in such a major incident, Tong Huaqiong shirked off to the city, making Gu Ruinian suffer greatly. If Tong Huaqiong had stepped up and leveraged County Magistrate Liu’s connections, perhaps Ruinian’s tendons wouldn’t have been severed.

Mrs. Jia, on the other hand, resented her son for no longer being able to compete with Gu Jingzhe.

In front of the village chief and Second Uncle Gu, Old Madam Gu put on airs as a mother-in-law towards Tong Huaqiong, saying, "What Second Uncle said is true, we do consider our family. If someone doesn’t care about the survival of others in the Gu Family, what can we do? If our County Mistress came forward, I don’t believe this matter couldn’t be suppressed."

Old Madam Gu’s tone was sarcastic when she mentioned the County Mistress.

County Mistress, so what about the County Mistress? Even a princess would need to give due respect to her mother-in-law.

Tong Huaqiong sneered, saying, "Is the old lady blaming me? Was it I who tied Ruinian and pressed him onto Xu Zaohua’s bed? Did I force Ruinian to cause trouble? If it was really my doing, Ruinian would’ve suffered more than just having his tendons severed."

Old Madam Gu’s hands shook with anger.

Liu Tieshan and Second Uncle Gu exchanged a glance; with Ruinian’s tendons severed, he’s likely cut off from the imperial examinations.

Second Uncle Gu did not have a good impression of Gu Ruinian.

He was selfish, refusing to work in the fields or consider the family’s situations, always asking for money under the guise of studying, being insincere, with villagers seeing him frequent the Fengle Restaurant, dining lavishly, and even pawning off his family’s ancestral satin...

Second Uncle Gu whispered to his wife in private, fearing that if Ruinian were to succeed, he’d be unscrupulous, harming villagers and even the family.

It’s a pity that his tendons were severed, but for the clan, it’s perhaps a relief; at the very least, he will quiet down and won’t implicate the clan.

Liu Tieshan feigned consolation, "He only needs some rest to recover."

Mrs. Jia wept silently.

Liu Tieshan instantly understood; it seemed Ruinian truly was crippled.

Second Uncle Gu said, "Since Ruinian’s leg is injured, let’s not dwell on what could’ve been. You shouldn’t feel as if the sky has fallen. Da Qiao, too, suffered a leg injury but managed to live on without blaming fate, making baskets and backpacks, providing for the family. Ruinian can do the same. You’re not going to like me saying this, but our Gu Family has farmed for eight centuries, and Jingzhe becoming the top student is already akin to our ancestors’ graves emitting thick smoke. Don’t expect it to happen twice. Having Jingzhe bring us glory is enough. Ruinian’s unsteady mind means even if he advanced through the examinations and took office, he could bring disaster. His affair with Xu Zaohua already stains the clan’s name, and if he committed an error while in office, it could lead to our family’s downfall. Don’t extinguish the smoke that Jingzhe has lit with difficulty."

Tong Huaqiong smiled slightly; Second Uncle Gu truly had a way with words.

However, Second Uncle Gu was right; Ruinian’s misconduct and lack of integrity, combined with a sense of immunity due to being the main family’s son, made someone like him in politics akin to the locust-like Fan Tong of a past life, bringing calamity wherever he went.

In an era centered around clans, Gu Jingzhe, as his cousin, would be implicated in outsiders’ eyes regardless of any disassociation. Jingzhe might end up cleaning his mess repeatedly, endangering the rare fortune of the Gu Family’s ancestors’ graves.

Second Uncle Gu’s worries were well-founded.

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Ruinian’s leg; it was good that it was crippled, permanently ending his path in the imperial examinations. In a small place like Qinghe Bay, he wouldn’t be able to make any significant waves.

Liu Tieshan wanted to laugh but dared not, covering it by taking a sip of tea. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

He agreed with Second Uncle Gu. If Ruinian were a member of his own clan, he’d likely lock Ruinian up to prevent him from negatively influencing other young, aspiring individuals in the clan.

Ruinian’s fist clenched tightly; even the clan had abandoned him?

Then just wait and see. He hasn’t completely lost yet.

Mrs. Jia was once again struck by the thought that Ruinian could not compete in examinations, and began to weep profusely.

Mr. Gu, Old Madam Gu, and others were displeased at these words, their faces reflecting the shame of being publicly slapped.

But Second Uncle Gu had always been blunt, and the old couple was at a loss for a rebuttal.

Mr. Gu forced a smile, uglier than crying. He couldn’t fall out with his younger brother; many matters in the village required Second Uncle Gu’s support.

The most pressing issue now was how to handle the Xu Family.

Mrs. Jia spoke bravely about confronting the Xu Family and questioning their upbringing of Xu Zaohua, but it wasn’t as simple as wanting to settle accounts.

The Xu Family wasn’t easy to deal with.

Mr. Gu felt some regret; had he known, he would’ve mended relations with the eldest branch upon returning to Qinghe Bay. Now, it was the eldest daughter-in-law and Jingzhe who could overpower the Xu Family.

"Ruinian indeed bears some fault in this," Mr. Gu finally spoke, slowly saying, "Ruinian has already been punished, losing a leg. What does the Xu Family want Ruinian to compensate? His life? The government hasn’t convicted him of a crime, so why does the Xu Family demand his life? I wish to ask the village chief to mediate with the Xu Family, to understand what they want. Whatever the Gu Family can offer, we shall not hesitate."

Liu Tieshan, realizing Mr. Gu finally addressed his visit’s purpose, sighed in relief.

However, Mr. Gu’s words didn’t sit well with him. Despite being at such a point, he still maintained an air of superiority.

Xu Jin and his family might not be good, but was Gu Ruinian any better?

Liu Tieshan, after a pause, said, "The Xu Family is furious now. They’ve smashed your old house, and you should just silently endure the loss. Even if the Xu Family doesn’t seek Ruinian’s life, punishment is inevitable. This is the so-called ’escaped capital punishment, but not corporal punishment.’

The Xu Family indeed wanted Ruinian’s life earlier, but for the sake of the village chief’s authority, he had to step in to prevent any killing.

Old Madam Gu’s eyes widened, "No one can lay a finger on Ruinian. The Xu Family wouldn’t dare!"

Liu Tieshan laughed; whether they dared wasn’t up to her to decide.

"Auntie, in the past, if it were the Xu Family, they might have dragged Ruinian back for execution. It has been these days of Second Uncle and me mediating that kept the peace. To put it bluntly, they now just want to vent their anger; you must let them do so. If the anger isn’t released now, it might be worse for Ruinian later. If you don’t return to the village, fine, but eventually, you’ll still live in Qinghe Bay. I’m mediating not in favor of the Xu Family, but to care for your family for Dashi’s mother’s sake. "