Chapter 16: Scum Deserves to Be Punished by All

""Impossible! My Pearl would never like that educated youth, Wen,"" Wu Meili immediately denied, though she had indeed cooked some meat at home today.

""Whether you believe it or not is up to you, Aunt Wu,"" Gu Jianing smiled, tossed out the words, and sauntered away.

""Aunt Wu, when your Pearl and Wen Zhuqing get married, you must invite our Gu family to the wedding banquet!""

Wu Meili watched Gu Jianing walk away, her slender waist swaying with each step. Thinking of what she had just said, Wu Meili spat a few times, her eyes tinged with resentment.

""You’re the one marrying that Wen, not my Pearl. My Pearl would never marry him!""

""Meili, didn’t you just say that Wen is a great candidate for a son-in-law? Why is it that now, when you hear your Pearl might like him, you’re suddenly unhappy? Were all those compliments you gave Wen just empty words?"" another aunt nearby exposed Wu Meili’s intentions without hesitation.

As if no one could see through Wu Meili’s little schemes.

Wu Meili was left speechless, her eyes darting about. She tossed aside the sweet potato vines she’d just pulled up, clutched her stomach, and said, ""Aiya, my stomach hurts, I can’t, I have to go to the latrine first.""

With that, she hurried out of the field and rushed home.

Muttering under her breath, ""That wretched girl Pearl, could she really have taken the meat to Wen?""

Suddenly, she remembered that every time she’d mentioned Wen at home, Pearl’s face would turn red. Could it be that Pearl really liked Wen?

No, that can’t be. She only said those things for Gu Jianing to hear, she never intended for her daughter to get involved with that educated youth, let alone let him become her son-in-law.

After Gu Jianing had walked some distance, she looked back and saw Wu Meili running home like the wind.

Everything she’d said just now was true—Gu Pearl really did like Wen Zhuqing.

She remembered in her previous life, around this time, she had gone to tell Wen Zhuqing that the job issue was settled, and Gu Pearl had coincidentally gone to deliver meat to him at the same time.

Although Aunt Wu wasn’t the kindest and looked down on the Gu family, she wasn’t truly a bad person.

She’d already given her a heads-up. If Aunt Wu could stop Pearl from fawning over Wen Zhuqing, that would be for the best.

After all, Wen Zhuqing was scum.

Scum—everyone should punish him.

Wu Meili rushed home, and as she got closer, she saw her youngest daughter, Gu Pearl, sneaking out with a bowl in her hands. The wind carried the smell of meat, and Wu Meili couldn’t hold back anymore. She shouted, ""Gu Pearl, where are you going!""

Startled, Gu Pearl looked up and saw her mother running over with a stern face. Instinctively, she tried to hide the bowl behind her back and run, but it was too late. Wu Meili’s hand, like a giant pincer, clamped down on her shoulder and forced her to turn around.

The next second, her hands were empty—the bowl had been snatched away.

Wu Meili looked down at the bowl in her hand. The meat was stewed until tender, glistening with oil, and smelled delicious. Wasn’t this the very meat from their own kitchen?

Wu Meili dragged her cowering, frightened daughter back inside, slammed the door shut, and shut out all the nosy neighbors.

""Gu Pearl, tell me, were you about to take our meat to that educated youth Wen?"" With a bang, she set the bowl on the table and interrogated her.

""Mom, how did you know..."" As soon as she spoke, Gu Pearl clapped a hand over her mouth, her brows furrowing. Crap, she’d let her real thoughts slip out.

Her mother had always disliked the educated youths at the commune, never saying a good word about them at home.

""Oh, so you really were about to take him our meat! Do you want to marry that Wen? Let me tell you, over my dead body! If you dare marry him, I’ll break your legs.""

Gu Pearl muttered in a small voice, ""Mom, what’s so bad about Wen? He’s good-looking, educated, and from the city. If he ever goes back to the city, whoever marries him could go with him.""

Wasn’t this exactly what she’d said to Gu Jianing earlier? So this silly girl was really planning on it?

Wu Meili’s heart seized up. She went over and pinched her daughter’s ear.

""Ouch, Mom, that hurts!""

""It should hurt, so you’ll remember your lesson!""

""It’s his business if he’s good-looking and educated. You’re not good-looking, and you’re not educated. You think he’d like you? You’re just making a fool of yourself, bringing him meat."" Wu Meili was realistic enough—she never expected her daughter to marry some city boy.

Marrying that educated youth, all those supposed benefits were just illusions—visible but untouchable.

""In any case, you’re not allowed to go, and you’re not allowed to give him anything. If you do, I’ll break your legs for sure. And don’t even think about eating dinner tonight!""

Gu Pearl rubbed her ear, her face falling. It wasn’t easy to have meat today.

At this moment, Gu Pearl wasn’t thinking about Wen at all—she just wanted to eat some meat.

Wu Meili had tried to trick Gu Jianing into chasing after Wen Zhuqing, but Gu Jianing remembered. Although she’d retorted on the spot, she was the type to hold a grudge.

So, when she got home, she repeated Wu Meili’s words to her own mother.

Yao Chunhua exploded as soon as she heard it, slamming the spatula down in anger. ""Ningning, don’t let yourself be fooled by that Wu Meili! What’s so good about that Wen? Zexi is much better!""

Gu Jianing blinked and nodded, leaning her head on her mother’s shoulder and softly saying, ""Mom, I didn’t listen to her. I think Brother Sheng is better too.""

Yao Chunhua finally relaxed, wanting to pat her daughter’s head but afraid her hands were greasy.

After comforting her daughter, she gritted her teeth inwardly, planning to find a chance to tear Wu Meili’s big mouth apart.

Her daughter had finally seen the light, stopped liking Wen, and was with Zexi. If Wu Meili’s nonsense managed to sway her back, Yao Chunhua would cry herself to death.

Luckily, her daughter was obedient. ""Good girl, go sit in the room. Dinner will be ready soon, and there’s your favorite braised pork.""

Gu Jianing beamed, her voice even softer. ""Thank you, Mom. You’re the best. I love you so much.""

Her daughter’s straightforward words made Yao Chunhua blush, but she couldn’t hide her smile.

Back in her room, Gu Jianing started thinking about Sheng Zexi coming to propose tomorrow. She needed to ask him about the conditions in the Northwest Military District and what she should bring.

At that moment, Sheng Zexi, whom Gu Jianing was thinking about, had already picked up his grandparents from the airport and driven them to their hotel.

He’d already booked their room, and as soon as their luggage was put down, the two elders began sizing him up.

The more they looked, the more emotional they became, and soon Grandpa and Grandma Sang couldn’t hold back their tears.

""How long has it been since we last saw you? You hardly ever come back to Beijing anymore. Even if you don’t go to the Sheng family, you could still visit the Sang family. Don’t always be all alone, with no real home,"" Grandma Sang hugged her grandson, unable to hold back her tears. She knew the pain in his heart, and it hurt them too."