Chapter 634: Chapter 636: Hurry Up and Send Them Away!

Jin Qianqian knew that children who don’t complain are always the ones to suffer. Sometimes, you just had to make your feelings known.

"Mother, you know how those aristocratic families are. My husband worked so hard to finally achieve something, and now he has to give up his position for someone else.

We don’t even know where we’ll be sent next, so I really don’t have the heart or the time for these domestic trifles."

The more Li Cuicui listened, the guiltier she felt. "It’s my fault. I’m getting old and muddled. I nearly fell for it.

I just never thought a child so young could be so cunning.

When you get old, your heart softens. I was begged and cried to a few times and did a foolish thing. Seventh Wife, you can’t hold it against me."

Jin Qianqian said, "Mother, how can you say that?

My hands are truly tied, or else I would have agreed.

But please, rest assured. My husband has already told me that as long as there are promising children among the Gu family’s descendants, he is willing to do his utmost to nurture them. That way, our family won’t lack capable successors in the future."

Li Cuicui smiled happily. "That’s how it should be. If the children in the family become successful, they can help Seventh out. Otherwise, it’s just too tiring for him to support so many people all by himself."

Jin Qianqian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. ’As long as she understands.’ She really didn’t want to be on bad terms with such a reasonable old woman.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law made small talk for a while longer. Li Cuicui finally left when someone came to announce that the carriage was ready.

They were heading to Fu County to host a banquet today, and the delay had made them late. The carriage inevitably had to pick up speed on the road.

Ancient Wen Heng carefully shielded her. "Why did Mother come over at a time like this? What did she say?"

She knew yesterday that they would be going out today. It wasn’t like Li Cuicui to be so inconsiderate.

Jin Qianqian explained the reason for the visit, then shared her own thoughts. "Those two daughters of your sixth sister might be rotten to the core. They’re not as docile as they appear."

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "And here I thought it was something serious. It’s just two girls, and what they’re scheming for is trivial.

As long as we don’t take the bait, it doesn’t matter what other ideas they have. It will all be for nothing."

Jin Qianqian said, "Of course I understand that. It just disgusts me.

The old lady has been so good to them. Their own parents are unreliable, so she was the one who raised them.

I can’t believe that after just a few years, they’ve learned to scheme. And the first chance they get, they use all their tricks on the old lady. I just feel disheartened for her."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Didn’t you already make her realize what’s going on? Don’t worry. The old lady has been sharp her whole life. Now that she’s been fooled once, she’ll be on her guard.

I also spoke with a few of the elders about this yesterday. There are some decent young men in the clan these days. When I take up my new post, they’ll come along."

The two of them had already discussed this before returning home. Bringing their clansmen into the fold was unavoidable.

Even if they didn’t bring it up themselves this time, some people would inevitably get restless and ask. It was better to be proactive.

Jin Qianqian said, "Remember to ask Fourth Brother about them once you’ve chosen the candidates. He knows more than we do."

Of all the letters they’d exchanged over the years, Ancient Wen Heng had been most diligent in replying to Gu Yuanshui. He was also willing to entrust certain matters to him.

"Don’t worry," Ancient Wen Heng said with a smile. "I’ve already handed the matter directly to Fourth. In the entire family, he’s the one who sees the big picture most clearly. He understands that future generations will only benefit if I do well, so he won’t cause me trouble over petty, personal gains."

Jin Qianqian added, "If anyone suggests we take one of their girls with us to raise, you have to help me turn them down."

"The old lady just got careless and fell for the trick. No one else is even thinking along those lines.

Even if they want their descendants to have a bright future, they won’t focus their efforts on the girls.

But if they really do bring it up, you can just turn them down directly."

Jin Qianqian rolled her eyes at him. "You think I would actually accept? I’m not about to do something that’s just asking for trouble.

I’m just giving you a heads-up. I’m worried they’ll go to you to plead their case."

"..."

＆

Li Cuicui returned home with a dark expression. When she saw her granddaughter’s expectant gaze, her eyes narrowed.

"Chuncao, starting today, you will no longer go to school. In a few days, I’ll find an embroidery teacher to come here. You need to properly pick up your needlework so you can hold your head high when you join your husband’s family in the future."

Li Chuncao’s hands clenched into fists. But because she was so young, her true feelings still betrayed her. "Grandmother, I don’t want to get married."

"What nonsense are you talking about? It’s natural for men to take a wife and women to take a husband when they come of age.

Le Hua is about your age, and she’s already engaged.

Don’t worry. As your grandmother, I will find you a good, honest family."

At that, Li Chuncao’s tears began to flow like a broken dam. "Is it because Seventh Aunt despises me?"

Li Cuicui’s head began to throb again. She couldn’t remember when this granddaughter had started crying at the drop of a hat, always acting as if she had suffered some terrible injustice.

Her other daughters-in-law had been able to show the two girls some kindness before, but now everyone was wary. You could say just a few words, and they’d act like they’d been horribly wronged, leading to misunderstandings with anyone who didn’t know better.

"Haven’t I told you a hundred times not to cry at the drop of a hat?

We haven’t mistreated you here. You’ve been well-fed and cared for. If you’re unhappy about something, just tell your grandmother directly."

Li Chuncao shook her head quickly, as if startled. "I haven’t been wronged! It’s just... when I think about Seventh Aunt not liking me, I feel so sad that I can’t help but cry."

"Who said your Seventh Aunt doesn’t like you?" Li Cuicui’s temper flared at her words, and she snapped back.

"So Seventh Aunt is willing to have us by her side?" Li Chuncao joyfully grabbed her sister’s hand. She was smiling, but tears were still streaming from the corners of her eyes.

Li Cuicui took a deep breath. "Your Seventh Aunt has plenty of maids. Why would she need her own nieces to serve her?

Besides, your Seventh Uncle and Seventh Aunt are busy with important matters. We can’t trouble them with such trivial things.

You’re not a little girl anymore. We should arrange your marriage soon, before all the good young men are taken.

Since you feel the village school has nothing left to teach you, then stop going. We’ll find an embroidery teacher so you can learn a useful skill. That way, you’ll have something to rely on in the future."

Seeing Li Chuncao’s expression change and tears welling up in her eyes again, Li Cuicui felt her head begin to pound. Unwilling to deal with it any longer, she turned and walked into a side room.

Once inside, she realized she’d been so flustered that she had walked into the wrong room.

Seeing Gu Dashishi’s mocking expression, Li Cuicui felt she must have committed some terrible sin in a past life to be dealing with such troublesome creatures.

She was just about to turn and leave when Gu Dashishi spoke up. "So? Did you finally shoot yourself in the foot? I told you those two children were no good. You’d better hurry up and send them away!"

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