Chapter 768: I Thought He Was an Orphan

Receiving Mrs. Lin’s kindness, Tong Huaqiong nodded at her.

Two young women were seated beside Mrs. Lin.

Their clothing style was very similar, clearly indicating that they were daughters of the Lin Family.

Tong Huaqiong couldn’t determine which one was the troublemaker from Gu Dashu’s past life.

Old Mrs. Su squinted her eyes and assessed Gu Taohua, sneering: "Being able to do business is not such a big deal. No matter how large the shop is, it still falls under the category of business."

In Old Mrs. Su’s heart, the social classes of scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant were distinct and should not be easily broken.

So what if she has the crown prince as her backing?

The crown prince can’t elevate the Gu Family from merchants to scholars.

In any case, this young woman is not fit for Su Chengmin.

Tong Huaqiong defiantly said, "As the saying goes, ’shit is hard to eat, money is hard to earn.’ I think it’s quite impressive that I can earn money. You look down on merchants, but which of the clothes we wear, the jewelry we adorn, or the food we eat doesn’t require merchants? Without commerce, how could goods flow across the country? Take today’s birthday banquet for example, which item wasn’t acquired from merchants?"

Her words made Old Mrs. Su frown.

She only said one sentence, but this widow had many prepared responses.

She might be another Mrs. Min.

This match was even less viable.

Lu Family seized the opportunity to say, "Old Madam, we will be family with the Sui Feng Village Lady in the future, and all this talk of merchants and aristocratic families is irrelevant. Our family doesn’t judge people based on their background, only men are allowed to establish careers. If Taohua has the ability to earn money, won’t your grandson also benefit in the future?"

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Lu Family.

Though the words seemed to support the Gu Family, they were actually provoking Old Mrs. Su.

The implication was that her grandson might rely on a powerful Yue Family, just like her son did.

Tong Huaqiong said, "It’s indeed good to be able to earn money. No matter how capable Taohua is, the money she earns is her own. Only helpless men rely on women. Although we live in the countryside, we’re not blind and can see that Chengmin isn’t that kind of person. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten engaged to our Taohua."

How are the Su Family known for relying on wives and their in-laws?

If Su Chengmin were really such a person, Gu Taohua wouldn’t have gotten engaged to him at all.

Mrs. Min nodded and agreed, "Thanks to growing up in the Min Family from a young age, Chengmin is different from Su Shihang. Chengmin earned his merits on the battlefield, real and solid, not relying on women."

Old Mrs. Su was so angry she felt a lump in her throat.

Why did it seem like Sui Feng Village Lady and Mrs. Min were indirectly criticizing her son?

Was her son relying on women?

Clearly, her son was exceptional, attracting Lu Family and Min Baozhen to pursue him actively.

Old Mrs. Su looked at Lu Family with disfavor, her daughter-in-law was being intentional, choosing to highlight the grandson’s association with the ’stench of commerce.’

Lu Family’s face stiffened.

Lately, everything had been unfavorable, and speaking or acting often led to trouble.

Old Mrs. Su turned to Gu Taohua and said, "Is this Miss Taohua who is engaged to my grandson?"

Gu Taohua boldly nodded and said, "Indeed."

Tong Huaqiong thought, here it comes.

Old Mrs. Su sent the invitation to discuss the engagement anew?

Trying to manipulate Gu Taohua is not so easy.

Old Mrs. Su said, "By parental arrangement and matchmaker’s words, neither Chengmin’s father nor anyone else knows about the engagement, so it doesn’t count. Are the rules in Ning City different from Shengjing?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "The rules are the same everywhere."

She then asked Old Mrs. Su with a puzzled expression, "Old Madam, Chengmin has a father? I’ve never heard of it, I thought he was an orphan. What’s going on? You invited me thinking highly of me and wanted to befriend me, or is Chengmin your grandson?"

Old Mrs. Su was speechless from anger.

Was Tong Huaqiong cursing her son?

Lu Family was dumbfounded at Tong Huaqiong’s audacity, how could she lie so effortlessly, her presence in the Imperial Palace with Su Shihang requesting marriage from the emperor was known, and Su Shihang being knocked unconscious at the Gu Family when attempting to retract the engagement was ignored, she could claim she didn’t know Su Chengmin was Su Shihang’s son.

Gu Taohua said, "Chengmin told me after marriage I wouldn’t have in-laws, which is why I agreed to the engagement."

Liu Yue’er chimed in, "What is going on here? This engagement is endorsed by the Mighty General, but no one informed us Chengmin’s father was alive. Which family’s son is engaged with the father hiding away? I heard Lord Su is a second-rank official, do second-rank officials bully people like this? Is it looking at people through colored lenses? Is our Gu Family lower because we’re merchants? We earn honestly and pay taxes without theft or robbery, my sister-in-law gets engaged and the father acts like a turtle, what kind of behavior is this?"

The development stunned everyone.

Everyone present knew about Su Chengmin and Gu Taohua’s engagement and that Su Chengmin didn’t involve the Su Family at all.

Originally, the Su Family wanted to manipulate the Sui Feng Village Lady, but she and her daughter-in-law turned the tables.

No matter how this situation unfolds, the Gu Family isn’t to blame. Su Chengmin was decidedly distancing himself from the Su Family, and the Gu Family had no control over it.

Mrs. Min glared at Old Mrs. Su and started her performance.

"It’s true Chengmin is a son of the Su Family, but Su Shihang hasn’t fulfilled his fatherly duties. Chengmin grew up in the Min Family, so this marriage decision was made by me and his uncle."

"Stop with the parental arrangement, if we wanted legitimacy, my Baozhen would have to be consulted on her opinion too, down in the ground where she lays, so why don’t we send Su Shihang down to ask for Baohzen’s approval."

"Family’s decision must include both parents, not just the father."

"This engagement is set in stone. Su Shihang usually neglects Chengmin, but now expresses concern, yet Chengmin doesn’t need his attention, nor will he need to follow family rules upon marriage."

Mrs. Min assumed a stance, hinting that if the Su Family acted unruly, she wouldn’t hesitate to disrupt Old Mrs. Su’s birthday banquet.

In any case, Su Shihang would be the one embarrassed.

Old Mrs. Su couldn’t swallow this, pointing at Mrs. Min, "Chengmin’s surname is Su, he is a Su Family member, this engagement can’t proceed without the Su Family."

Mrs. Min replied, "If you’re dissatisfied, Chengmin can change his surname to Min and be legally adopted by his uncle."

This statement was a harsh checkmate for Old Mrs. Su.

Each time the matter regarding Su Chengmin arises, Mrs. Min uses this line to shut down Old Mrs. Su.

If not for fearing societal gossip, Mrs. Min would have long changed Su Chengmin’s surname.

This is also what Su Shihang and Old Mrs. Su fear the most.

From the eyes of the Su Family, they can tolerate raising Su Shihang in the Min Family, but definitely not him changing his surname.