Chapter 854 Demanding Generous Gifts for Her

“Granddaughter-in-law, this bracelet was bestowed by the Empress Dowager. Originally, it was intended to be the Su family’s heirloom. Now, I will gift it to you.”

Old Mrs. Su spoke while casting a sidelong glance towards Old Mrs. Su.

Although this jade bracelet doesn’t compare to the Empress Dowager’s hairpin, its value is still incalculable.

Mrs. Min looked calm.

Old Mrs. Su thought to herself, Oh no, I’ve fallen for the old lady’s trick.

When she tried to take it back, Gu Taohua was already holding onto it tightly.

“Thank you, Grandmother.”

Gu Taohua gave Mrs. Min a knowing look.

She understood; yesterday, the Su Family was a supporting role at the wedding banquet, but today Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang’s mother and son were allowed to come over for tea.

This was a subtle way of demanding a generous gift from her.

The fourth cup of tea was offered to Su Shihang.

Su Shihang felt slightly displeased. Clearly, he was Su Chengmin’s biological father, but during the ceremony, his uncle took the spotlight, leaving him feeling nonexistent. Where was the logic in this?

The tea ceremony today was no different.

“Please have some tea.”

Su Chengmin didn’t call him father, and Gu Taohua certainly wouldn’t either.

Su Shihang gritted his teeth.

He found himself powerless against Su Chengmin. If Su Chengji could stand out, he wouldn’t have had to acknowledge Su Chengmin as his son.

He bit back his frustration and accepted the tea. Just as he was about to swallow, Mrs. Min, the Mighty General and Su Chengmin all stared at him intently.

Unlike Old Mrs. Su, Su Shihang came prepared, having readied ten thousand silver notes in advance.

The silver notes were tucked in his sleeves, and under their intense gaze, he handed them over to Gu Taohua.

Su Shihang pretentiously reminded Gu Taohua of the expectations for Su family’s daughters-in-law.

“Taohua’s marriage is with me; she can do whatever she wishes,” Su Chengmin interrupted Su Shihang.

Gu Taohua smiled as she accepted the silver notes and said, “Thank you for your guidance.”

Su Shihang was so furious that his liver hurt; even ten thousand silver wasn’t enough to make them change how they addressed him.

“You are now a Su family’s daughter-in-law, you should call me father,” Su Shihang began to educate Gu Taohua.

The manners of merchants were vulgar; couldn’t understand even this simple reason.

Gu Taohua was about to say something when Su Chengmin spoke up, “Didn’t you just say one should follow the husband? I don’t call you father, so Taohua naturally follows suit.”

Su Shihang cursed the rebellious son, furious enough to hurt his liver.

Yet besides cursing the rebellious son, he had no other recourse.

Su Chengmin’s gaze sharpened as he said, “Knowing I’m a rebellious son, yet you still rush to recognize me.”

Su Shihang almost choked on his breath, meaning even cursing a rebellious son won’t be allowed in the future.

“You’ve come in, the tea has been served. That’s enough; you should leave now. The newlyweds must return to their parental home today for the first time since marriage; it’s not good to be late.”

Mrs. Min stood up and promptly showed them out.

Gu Taohua made an excuse to prepare and escaped the tea ceremony. Returning to her room, she looked at the exquisite jade bracelet and the ten thousand silver notes in her hand and beamed with joy.

“Chengmin, bring the new wife to the old house for a meal someday. We are all family, and it’s time you came to recognize us,” Su Shihang instructed.

Su Chengmin casually responded, only saying he’d go when there’s time.

Su Shihang was helpless, unable to assertively demand.

…

Tong Huaqiong got up early.

In the early morning, without Gu Taohua’s chatter, Tong Huaqiong felt somewhat unaccustomed.

Today is Gu Taohua’s day to return to her parental home, and all the Gu family were eagerly preparing.

“Miss and the young master have arrived.”

The voice of a maid announcing from outside.

Tong Huaqiong stood up.

Gu Taohua stepped off the carriage and headed straight into the house, almost bumping into Tong Huaqiong.

“Mother, I’m home.”

Gu Taohua presented herself triumphantly like Hu Hansan returning.

Originally, Tong Huaqiong wanted to ask Gu Taohua how her married life was, but seeing her vibrant, peach-like face, there was no need to ask.

Su Chengmin arrived shortly afterward, paid his respects to Tong Huaqiong, called her mother, and was then whisked away by Gu Dashi and Gu Jingzhe.

Presumably, the three brothers had a lesson prepared on how to treat their sister-in-law well.

Only the women remained inside.

Chen Sufen, Liu Yueer, and Lu Zhaozhao, the three sisters-in-law, surrounded Gu Taohua in lively chatter.

Gu Honglian and Gu Xiaoxue hardly got a word in.

“Yesterday, while your veil was still on, you couldn’t see, but your father-in-law’s face was truly unsightly,” Chen Sufen mentioned yesterday’s wedding ceremony.

Gu Taohua said, “This morning he came with the old grandmother to our home, I served them tea, and extorted a jade bracelet and ten thousand silver notes.”

Gu Taohua showed off the jade bracelet she had on.

“It was said to be bestowed to the old lady by the Empress Dowager back in the day.”

Tong Huaqiong smiled, knowing that Gu Taohua wouldn’t suffer losses.

Gu Taohua said, “Chengmin said that in the future, we will live our lives, unless necessary we will avoid the Su Chief of Staff’s residence.”

Tong Huaqiong said, “That’s for the best.”

The main thing is Su Chengmin is sensible, thus Gu Taohua doesn’t need to confront the multitude of Su family personally.

Nor suffer grievances.

Referring to their family business, Gu Taohua said, “Mother, I’m planning to start managing the store normally from tomorrow.”

Tong Huaqiong said, “You have just married; resting for a few more days is no harm.”

Gu Taohua said, “No need, I’ll start tomorrow.”

In Gu Taohua’s mind, getting married was just moving from her parental home to the residence she shares with Su Chengmin. To her, it didn’t make a difference.

There’s no reason to neglect store management because of marriage.

Especially now, during the critical period where the Tong Family’s Store is expanding, Tong Huaqiong needs a close ally by her side.

Tong Huaqiong did have three daughters-in-law, as well as numerous shopkeepers and clerks, yet Gu Taohua felt some matters were better handled between mother and daughter.

“Alright then, should I send over the account books tomorrow or will you come over?”

Seeing Gu Taohua’s insistence, Tong Huaqiong chose not to object further.

Gu Taohua pondered momentarily and said, “I’ll come over.”

Gu Taohua and Su Chengmin stayed at Tong Huaqiong’s home until dusk before heading back.

The carriage wandered through the quiet alley, with Gu Taohua inside, catching glimpse of a homeless person staring at her with vacant eyes as she turned a corner. Gu Taohua glanced back, and the person avoided eye contact.

Gu Taohua felt as if she knew the homeless person, but couldn’t recall where they’d met.

…

Ten days passed since Gu Taohua’s joyous occasion.

Shengjing welcomed the spring imperial examination.

Again, this is a major event for the Gu Family.

The spring imperial examination takes nine days in total, divided into three sessions, with each session lasting three days.

Each session requires spending three days and two nights in the examination hall, which poses a substantial challenge both physically and psychologically for the examinees.

Gu Jingzhe would be taking the exam.

Even though everything needed for the exam was prepared completely, the family remained on high alert.

Worried he might suffer a stomach upset, spill ink, or encounter an unexpected incident in the examination hall.

“You don’t need to worry about me, nor need to send me off to the examination hall. Just wait for the good news at home,” Gu Jingzhe told Tong Huaqiong and the others.

Originally filled with confidence, he began to worry about developing pre-exam syndrome due to the family’s anxious atmosphere.

Tong Huaqiong also feared the tense atmosphere would affect Gu Jingzhe, thus ordered everyone not to discuss the examination, nor display anxiety.

Striving to provide Gu Jingzhe with a relaxed and cheerful pre-exam environment.