"Mother, what are you saying?"
Jingzhe was shocked.
The entire way home, Jingzhe listened to Dashi describe the recent changes in their widowed mother's behavior. She didn't want his sister and niece to go to the Zheng Family and wanted to return the money given by the Zheng Family. He thought maybe she was just throwing another of her inexplicable tantrums.
After all, he was used to his mother often causing trouble without any complaints.
He was still plotting in his mind how to convince his mother to change her mind. The most crucial thing was to ensure he could go to Wanliu Academy in the provincial city for his studies.
But no matter how much he calculated, he never expected his mother would cut off his path to education entirely.
"Are you deaf? Was I not clear enough? Your studies should end, from now on you'll stay home and farm the land." Tong Huaqiong repeated what she said earlier.
Jingzhe saw the coldness in her eyes, it wasn't a joke, and he was almost scared to the point of collapsing to the ground.
Heavens, how is this different from a death sentence for him!
He couldn't accept it.
"Mother, why won't you let me study anymore?"
Jingzhe wanted a reason as to why he couldn't continue his studies.
The biggest supporter of his education had always been his mother. Even in times of famine, she tightened her belt to support him. She even humbled herself to borrow money from his uncle's family to ensure he could study.
Moreover, just days ago, when she decided to send his niece to the Zheng Family, she earnestly reminded him to study hard at Wanliu Academy, to change the fate of the Old Gu Family, and not worry about money. She said even if she had to beg, she would ensure he could continue his studies, regardless of the expense.
How could his mother change her mind in just three short days?
He didn't understand, he couldn't understand.
"The family is poor, we can't afford to support you." Tong Huaqiong said flatly.
It's not as if the family just became poor now, they've always been poor. How did he manage to study before, but can't now?
"Mother, did Sister-in-law say something to change your mind?"
Although Tong Huaqiong gave an explanation, Jingzhe still couldn't believe that it was just poverty preventing him from continuing his studies.
Precisely because the family was poor, he needed to study. He was the family's only hope.
Without him, the Gu Family would have no chance to rise.
His first thought was resistance from Sister-in-law. As Man Er's mother, she would naturally be reluctant to send her to the Zheng Family to ensure his future. But if she had the ability to change his mother's mind, she wouldn't have endured his mother's torment all these years.
"Don't blame everything on your Sister-in-law." Tong Huaqiong said.
"Then was it Second Sister-in-law who complained?"
It must be Second Sister-in-law.
Jingzhe's education had used up more than half of the family's silver. Liu Yueer had long been resentful, frequently hinting that he was taking advantage of the second branch. If not for his mother holding her down, Liu Yueer would have likely already demanded a split of the family.
"It has nothing to do with either of your sisters-in-law."
Tong Huaqiong grew impatient with Jingzhe.
"In short, from tomorrow you don't need to go to the private school anymore; stay home and farm."
Tong Huaqiong sighed in her heart.
Jingzhe was indeed a multi-talented bad bamboo. He was excellent in his studies and handsome! If Tong Dajiao's memory wasn't wrong, he could take the tops spot in the academy test next year to become a scholar, then consecutively succeed through the county exams, and become a top third degree holder in the palace exam before he was twenty.
Unfortunately, such naturally gifted talent was fundamentally nurtured in the wrong way. After becoming an official, he dedicated all his talents to exploiting the people's wealth, and later even got involved in political party struggles and issues related to the throne, causing the entire Gu Family to be destroyed utterly.
"Mother, I've been studying for so many years, I've forgotten how to even hold a hoe." Jingzhe continued to struggle.
"If you don't know, then learn! If you really don't want to farm, it's simple, I've already thought of a better path for you. You know how to read, right? Just go to the town or county to be an apprentice, become an accountant, learn a craft, and you can make a living too."
Tong Huaqiong glanced at Jingzhe's clean, otherworldly clothes and white complexion, which set him apart from the rest of the family, and showed no intention of changing her mind.
Jingzhe felt completely desolate!
He still wanted to understand what had happened in the past three days for his mother to change her mind.
But the look of disgust in her eyes clearly showed she didn't want to communicate with him.
Jingzhe even began to think wildly, wondering if he wasn't her biological son, if he was actually a child from one of his father's affairs and was brought to cement his legitimacy as a twin with Taohua when he was born. Maybe now his mother had discovered he wasn't her biological child and that's why she was cutting off his educational path.
Otherwise, there truly was no reason for his mother to give up on her own son!
No matter how Jingzhe speculated, Tong Huaqiong couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him. She stretched and clapped her hands, calling the entire family to gather for a talk.
"I'll say it again, neither Man Er nor Taohua will go to the Zheng Family."
Tong Huaqiong emphasized to the circle of bad bamboo surrounding her.
The happiest person upon hearing this was Chen Sufen.
Since the moment her younger brother-in-law entered the house, she had been worried for an entire night. She knew the position her brother-in-law held in her mother-in-law's heart was unshakeable and feared that with just a few words from the student, her mother-in-law would once again decide to send Man Er to the Zheng Family.
Thankfully, thankfully, her mother-in-law didn't listen to her brother-in-law.
"In the future, whether it's Gu Dashi, Gu Jingzhe, or even Yaozu, none of you should have designs on the girls of our family. If there's any more talk of using your sisters or nieces to advance your own futures, don't blame me for throwing you out."
Tong Huaqiong's sharp gaze swept over Gu Dashi, Gu Jingzhe, Gu Yaozu, and they hurriedly nodded. There was no helping it, at this moment Tong Huaqiong was like a bloodthirsty beast, if they dared to oppose, she'd tear them apart immediately.
"You're probably wondering why I changed my mind about sending Man Er to the Zheng Family, right?" Tong Huaqiong posed the question.
Everyone looked at Tong Huaqiong intently.
No one didn't want to know!
"I fainted for the past three days and was visited by a dream from the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva said the reason our family lives in poverty is mainly due to our sins," Tong Huaqiong said with a serene expression.
What kind of reason is that!
Gu Dashi and the others didn't believe it at all. A dream from the Bodhisattva? Did the widowed old mother ever even show reverence to the Bodhisattva?
During the festivals, when the village organized group visits to the temple to worship the Bodhisattva, she would take advantage of any distraction to stash the fruits and pastries from the offering table into her lap, she even once considered scraping off the gold leaf from the Bodhisattva's statue to exchange for money.
The only one who believed was Chen Sufen.
"What kind of sins did our family commit, what sins?" Gu Dashi asked.
Tong Huaqiong clutched her chest and sighed, isn't Gu Dashi bullying the elder brother's family all day long enough? Isn't Jingzhe wanting to send his niece to the Zheng Family enough of a sin? Truly, the perpetrators always believe they are innocent.
Tong Huaqiong didn't care what the bad bamboo were thinking, she continued spouting nonsense.
"As for what sins you've committed, you know in your hearts. The Bodhisattva granted me a dream of our family's future, and I was so scared I trembled for three days. I'll tell you all about it, but if you wet yourselves from fear, don't blame me. Dashi, you and Yaozu will be executed, Jingzhe will be decapitated, and Taohua will be burned to death..."
Tong Huaqiong didn't believe that superstitious ancient people hearing their own fates wouldn't be terrified.
Sure enough, Gu Dashi, Gu Taohua, and Liu Yueer's faces turned deathly pale.
Unable to bear it, Gu Dashi stood up and said, "Mother, do you have to curse your own sons and grandchildren like this?"
"Indeed, Yaozu is so young, and yet, Mother, you're cursing him this seriously." Liu Yueer trembled, then traced a circle with her foot and pulled Yaozu inside, spitting three times within the circle.
"It's no use speaking up for your son, do you think your end will be any better? You will be divorced by Gu Dashi. Your precious son, discontented with your peasant roots and unable to bring him favors, sends you to become a nun after you're divorced and never sees you again. He only acknowledges a wealthy stepmother as his real mother." Tong Huaqiong stared at Liu Yueer and suddenly let out a scornful laugh.
Liu Yueer was so frightened she shivered.
She believed it.
With Gu Dashi's nature, if he became successful, he really might divorce her!
Jingzhe's expression remained calm. Tong Huaqiong marveled at how Jingzhe, even at this young age, showed a materialistic trait, no wonder he fearlessly committed bad deeds when he grew up.
"I don't want to be burned... then... then... Mother, how can I avoid being burned to death?"
Taohua nearly burst into tears. As a girl from ancient times, her knowledge was limited, coupled with her usual trust in Tong Huaqiong, she was scared to death regardless of whether what she heard was true or false.
After Taohua asked, Gu Dashi and Liu Yueer stared directly at Tong Huaqiong.
So terrifying, Mother, quickly give us an answer.
"Taohua asked well."
Tong Huaqiong's lips curled up, they've taken the bait!