Chapter 7: Is He Actually a Biological Son or Not?

“Mother, what are you saying?”

Gu Jingzhe was struck with horror.

On his way home, listening to Gu Dashu describe his widowed mother's changes over the past two days—her refusal to let his sister and niece go to the Zheng family and her intention to return the silver they had given—he had assumed his mother was simply throwing another baseless tantrum.

After all, he was used to his mother's frequent, uncomplaining bouts of making trouble.

He was still mentally calculating how to coax her into changing her mind, most importantly to ensure he could go to Wanliu Academy in the prefectural city to study.

But of all things, he had failed to calculate that his mother would directly sever his path to education.

“Are you deaf? Haven't I made myself clear enough? Stop your studies; from now on, you'll stay home and farm,” Tong Huaqiong repeated her previous words.

Seeing the icy coldness in Tong Huaqiong's eyes, Gu Jingzhe realized this was no joke. He was so terrified he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Good heavens, how was this any different from taking his life!

He could not accept this.

“Mother, why won't you let me study anymore?”

Gu Jingzhe desperately wanted a reason.

The biggest supporter of his education in the entire family had been his mother. Even during the years of famine, she had tightened her belt to support his studies. To ensure he could study, his proud mother had even swallowed her dignity and endured ridicule to borrow money from her uncle's family.

And just a few days ago, when she had decided to send his niece to the Zheng family to secure his future, she had earnestly instructed him to study hard at Wanliu Academy to elevate the Gu family's status. She had told him not to fear the cost; even if the family had to sell everything or if she had to beg for food after the Zheng family's silver ran out, she would find a way to support him.

How could she change her mind in just three short days?

He did not understand; he simply could not understand.

“The family is poor. We cannot afford you,” Tong Huaqiong said indifferently.

The family being poor wasn't a new development; they had always been poor. Why could he study before, but not now?

“Mother, did Sister-in-law say something to make you change your mind?”

Despite Tong Huaqiong's explanation, Gu Jingzhe still didn't believe that poverty alone was the reason.

It was precisely because they were poor that he *had* to study; he was the only hope for the entire family. Otherwise, the Gu family would never have a chance to turn their fortunes around.

The first obstacle he thought of was his eldest sister-in-law. As Man'er's mother, she certainly wouldn't want to send her daughter to the Zheng family to trade for his future. But if she had the power to change his mother's mind, she wouldn't have endured his mother's mistreatment all these years.

“Don't go pinning every idea on your sister-in-law,” Tong Huaqiong said.

“Then is it the second sister-in-law complaining again?”

It had to be the second sister-in-law.

Gu Jingzhe's studies consumed more than half of the family's silver, and Liu Yue'e had long been dissatisfied with this, often making veiled remarks that he was taking advantage of the second branch of the family. If not for his mother keeping Liu Yue'e in check, she would have demanded a family separation long ago.

“It has nothing to do with either of your sisters-in-law.”

Tong Huaqiong was growing impatient with Gu Jingzhe.

“In short, starting tomorrow, you no longer need to go to the private school. Stay home and farm.”

Tong Huaqiong sighed inwardly.

This "rotten bamboo" that was Gu Jingzhe was truly a multi-talented individual—excellent at studies and handsome! If Tong Dajiao's memory served her right, he would top the provincial exam next year to become a *Xiucai*, then proceed to pass the imperial examinations with unstoppable momentum, and before the age of twenty, secure the third rank in the palace exam.

Unfortunately, such a genius was fundamentally corrupted from the roots. Once he became an official, he would use all his talents to study how to extort the people, eventually getting involved in factional struggles and disputes over the national foundation, which would ultimately lead to the entire Gu family being slaughtered to the last man.

“Mother, I've been studying for so many years; I've forgotten how to even hold a hoe,” Gu Jingzhe continued to struggle.

“If you don't know how, then learn! If you truly don't want to farm, that's simple too; I've already thought of a better way out for you. Don't you know how to read? Go to the town or the county to be an apprentice or a bookkeeper. Learning a trade will also put food on the table.”

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Gu Jingzhe's clean, refined clothes and fair complexion, which set him apart from the rest of the family, and had no intention of changing her mind.

Gu Jingzhe felt as if his heart had turned to ash!

He still wanted to figure out what had happened in these three days to make his mother change her mind.

But the disgust in his mother's eyes showed a clear desire to avoid any communication with him.

Gu Jingzhe even began to let his imagination run wild. Could it be that he wasn't her biological son? Could he be the child of some mistress his father had outside, sent in during the spring to pass as a twin? Was his mother cutting off his studies now because she had discovered the truth?

Otherwise, his mother had no reason to give up on her own biological son!

No matter how Gu Jingzhe speculated, Tong Huaqiong couldn't be bothered with him. She stretched, clapped her hands, and summoned the whole family for a lecture.

“I will say this one more time: neither Man'er nor Taohua is going to the Zheng family.”

Tong Huaqiong emphasized this to the circle of "rotten bamboo" surrounding her.

The happiest person to hear this was Chen Sufen.

Ever since her brother-in-law had moved in, she had been worried all night. She knew his status in her mother-in-law's heart was unshakable, and she feared that with a few words of persuasion from a scholar, her mother-in-law would send Man'er to the Zheng family again.

Thankfully, thankfully, her mother-in-law had not listened to him.

“From now on, whether it's Gu Dashu, Gu Jingzhe, or even Yaozu, none of you are allowed to plot against the girls in this family. If there is ever another instance of trading sisters or nieces for your own futures, don't blame me if I kick you out of this house.”

Tong Huaqiong's sharp gaze swept over Gu Dashu, Gu Jingzhe, and Gu Yaozu one by one. The three of them nodded frantically. They had no choice; at this moment, Tong Huaqiong was like a bloodthirsty beast. If they dared to object, she would tear them apart immediately.

“You must all want to know why I changed my mind about letting Man'er go to the Zheng family, right?” Tong Huaqiong posed the question.

Everyone looked at her in unison.

No one didn't want to know!

“During these three days when I was unconscious, a Bodhisattva visited me in a dream. The Bodhisattva said the reason our family lives such a poor life is primarily because of the sins we have committed,” Tong Huaqiong said with an air of profound solemnity.

What kind of reason was that!

Gu Dashu and the others didn't believe it for a second. A Bodhisattva in a dream? Had this widow ever even paid respects to a Bodhisattva?

When the village went to the temple in groups during the New Year, she would take advantage of people's inattention to snatch fruit and pastries from the offering tables, and she'd even try to scrape the gold leaf off the statues to exchange for money.

The only one who believed it was Chen Sufen.

“What sins did we commit? What sins?” Gu Dashu asked.

Tong Huaqiong clutched her chest and sighed. Wasn't Gu Dashu bullying his eldest brother's family to death every day enough of a sin? Wasn't Gu Jingzhe trying to trade his niece for his own future enough of a sin? As expected, the perpetrators always thought themselves innocent.

Regardless of what the "rotten bamboo" thought, Tong Huaqiong continued her fabrication.

“You know in your own hearts what sins you've committed. The Bodhisattva showed me a dream of our family's future, and I've been trembling with fear for three days. I'll tell you what I saw, but don't blame me if you wet yourselves from fright. Dashu, you and Yaozu will be executed by waist-cutting; Jingzhe, your head will be chopped off; Taohua, you will be burned to death...”

Tong Huaqiong didn't believe that ancient people, who believed in karma and retribution, wouldn't be terrified upon hearing their fates.

Sure enough, the faces of Gu Dashu, Gu Taohua, and Liu Yue'e turned deathly pale.

Gu Dashu couldn't take it and stood up, saying, “Mother, is this how you curse your own biological son and grandson?”

“Exactly! Yaozu is so young, and you're cursing him to death!” Liu Yue'e's heart trembled. After speaking, she used her foot to draw a circle, pulled Yaozu into it, and spat several times to ward off bad luck.

“Don't you go speaking up for your son; your own end won't be any better. You will be divorced by Gu Dashu. Your precious son will despise you for being from a peasant family and being unable to provide him with social leverage. After you are divorced, he will shove you into a temple to live as a nun and won't visit you even once. People only recognize a wealthy stepmother as a real mother.” Tong Huaqiong stared at Liu Yue'e and suddenly let out a contemptuous laugh.

Liu Yue'e shuddered.

She believed it.

With Gu Dashu's temperament, if he actually struck it rich, he really would dare to divorce her!

Gu Jingzhe's expression, however, remained calm. Tong Huaqiong mused that even at such a young age, Gu Jingzhe displayed materialistic characteristics; no wonder he would grow up to do unscrupulous things without fear.

“I don't want to be burned to death... then... then... Mother, how can I avoid being burned to death?”

Gu Taohua nearly burst into tears. As an ancient girl, her experience was limited, and since she usually trusted Tong Huaqiong most, hearing her fate—regardless of whether it was true or false—scared her half to death.

After Gu Taohua asked, Gu Dashu and Liu Yue'e stared intently at Tong Huaqiong.

It was terrifying; Mother, please give us an answer quickly.

“Taohua asked a good question.”

The corners of Tong Huaqiong's mouth curled up. They had taken the bait!