stingy landlady

Chapter 214 Gui Hong's Resistance

Zhou Shaoyu paused for a moment, then said to Gui Hong:

“Guihong must have heard something from someone to be so confused! I heard that Mother recently found a governess for Guihong?”

Sister Guihong, please don't worry. Since you've let me know the whole story, I should do my best to help you. I'll discuss this with my parents when I get home!

Sister Guihong, let's not mention breaking off the engagement for now! In the future, if anything happens, we should resolve it through discussion, and not lightly discuss breaking off the engagement! And after the marriage, we should not lightly discuss divorce or ending the engagement!

Engagement and marriage are lifelong commitments; they cannot be so easily decided and then called off! Sister Guihong is young and naive; she must never again speak of such matters so lightly!

Gui Hong admitted her mistake with shame:

"Brother Shaoyu! I was wrong!"

Zhou Shaoyu kept his word and returned home to communicate with his parents.

"Father! Mother! You both liked Guihong very much before! You chose her based on the idea that she could support me in the future and that we would be compatible."

Now they want to raise her according to the standards of a well-bred lady, someone who never leaves the house. What kind of daughter-in-law are Father and Mother really looking for for their son?

Father and Mother! Your son believes he will not amount to anything in the future and wants to contribute to the family through business. Guihong, as the manager, needs to be shrewd and adaptable, and she and her son can work together harmoniously.

"Father, Mother! Please stop forcing Guihong to learn these so-called rules and regulations for daughters. No one is perfect, and your son is no perfect either, so I dare not expect Guihong to be perfect as well."

Zhou Shaoyu's words surprised Master Zhou, who said:

"Shaoyu! Looks like you're doing well! You're really taking care of your future wife? Good! To prevent Guihong from changing her mind later, the governess doesn't need to go for now!"

Madam Zhou also said:

"Shaoyu! Guihong, from a humble family like ours, is not a good match for you! After you get married, you can take two concubines!"

Zhou Shaoyu said urgently:

"What are you saying, Mother? Guihong and I are not even married yet, and you already don't want your son to have a good future! If there is no peace at home, how can your son work in peace?"

As they spoke, Zhou Shaoyu looked at Madam Zhou suspiciously and asked:

"Mother! Could it be that I have done something wrong? Or that I have offended you without realizing it, so that you would punish me by threatening my marriage?"

Mr. Zhou also looked at Mrs. Zhou with suspicion. Mrs. Zhou felt a pang of heartache. She said:

"Me! You child! What have you done to offend me! How could I treat your life's most important matter so lightly! It's just that last time we went to arrange the engagement, Guihong's family was really not presentable."

Look at their relatives, they're all uneducated farmers! And her mother, she can't read a single word, she can't utter a single sentence in ages.

And Guihong's sister—how can a hostess just say hello and then disappear all day? What kind of hospitality is this?

It's all my fault! I didn't have anyone investigate properly, and only listened to your aunt and uncle's side of the story! How could such a family be worthy of us!

Shaoyu! We've only just gotten engaged, so it's not good for us to break it off right away. Mother is thinking that Guihong is still young, and we should take these few years to find you a good match. Guihong is also being trained by the governess.

If she really doesn't listen to us, then we'll have a reason to break off the engagement! This time, Mother is determined to find a woman from a humble family who is a good match for us.

She's inexperienced and short-sighted; marrying her would likely lead to endless arguments and disputes with your sister-in-law and siblings. That would truly cause unrest in the household!

Zhou Shaoyu insisted:

"Father, Mother! A person cannot stand without integrity! Now that we are engaged, Guihong is my betrothed! I also have a responsibility to teach her!"

If Father and Mother are worried, they can separate us after we get married. That way, she won't be so easily swayed and get jealous of her sister-in-law and brother's wife's better financial situation.

Master Zhou shouted sternly:

"While parents are alive, the family doesn't separate! You're talking nonsense!"

He then turned to Madam Zhou and said:

"You're the same! Such a woman's view! Gui Hong is the manager of Lirenfang. Doesn't she see plenty of noble ladies every day? Yet she never bows down to any of them!"

I've never heard anyone say she has bad manners or etiquette, so you're just wasting your time! Her family members seem to be honest and kind people, so why are you being so picky?

Even the prime minister has a few poor relatives! Which large family isn't a mixed bag? Gui Hong's family is a good example! You can see right through them, no hiding anything!

Be honest and upright, and besides, my brother-in-law speaks highly of that girl named Guizhi. That little girl is no simpleton!

She'll have a bright future ahead of her! If things really go well between sisters, won't they help Guihong out? Don't make a mountain out of a molehill; why are you constantly eyeing your future daughter-in-law?

It's only because it's so close, right under your nose, that you'd be able to go through all this trouble. If you really wanted to arrange a marriage with a woman from a wealthy family whose background you knew nothing about, would you really go through all this trouble? Forget about hiring a governess; you'd only see her once a year and exchange greetings!

And it lets you get to know someone's temperament up close? So, wouldn't the illegitimate daughters of wealthy families be jealous? Someone like Guihong is perfect! Generous, cheerful, and filial and sensible!

Just relax and take care of your grandson! What kind of mother-in-law keeps such a close eye on her future daughter-in-law? Did you dare to boss your eldest daughter-in-law around before she married into the family?

Madam Zhou's eldest daughter-in-law comes from a scholarly family, and Madam Zhou treats her with great respect. Her family is very supportive, while Madam Zhou's own family is currently still considered a merchant household.

The social hierarchy was scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant; merchants weren't even ranked high. The eldest daughter-in-law's family was of high social standing, so naturally, they lacked financial resources, which is why she married down. However, they also valued their eldest son's academic talent, hoping he would pass the imperial examinations and become a scholar, thus elevating the Zhou family's social standing.

Madam Zhou then realized that she had acted without thinking.

"Fine! Let the governess come back! I won't interfere in Guihong's affairs anymore, you can do whatever you want with her! She'll only be under my jurisdiction after she marries into the family, and then I'll set proper rules for her!"

Master Zhou said to Zhou Shaoyu:

"Alright! Your mother is no longer interfering in Guihong's affairs, so you can rest assured! Go do whatever you need to do!"

Zhou Shaoyu bowed and took his leave. Madam Zhou sighed:

"A son grows up and no longer listens to his mother! That old saying is so true! He's already siding with outsiders now; who knows how he'll listen to his wife after they get married!"

Master Zhou laughed and said:

"Shaoyu is just like me, I'm also henpecked! I do whatever my wife tells me to do! Hahaha!"

Guizhi was unaware that Guihong had won a battle between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law through her own abilities.

Guizhi also came to the county town. She first took a stroll around the town and went to the Comfort Furniture store, which sells sofas and furniture. Then she went to Xiangmanlou to find Mr. Qu.