Twenty-Five Compromise

  Gu Man twisted the handkerchief tightly in her hand, deeply afraid that Wang Shi would easily agree to something she didn't see - actually, Gu Lao Tai's request was one that Wang Shi couldn't refuse outright. If she refused, the days that followed would only become more difficult. And if she agreed too easily, Gu Lao Tai would only feel it was a matter of course and wouldn't acknowledge her feelings at all.

  It turned out that Wang was a true lotus flower, although previously due to the various grievances and absurdities of her husband's family, she had not returned to her parents' home for over three years. However, now that Old Lady Gu was only hinting, without even explicitly urging her, she hesitated and said: "No, I'll go find my elder brother and try instead? He seems to have a bit of a relationship with that eunuch Liu."

  Gu Man almost bit her own tongue when she heard this sentence in the next room.

  It's really too weak and useless! No wonder she died unjustly in her previous life. She felt some resentment towards the iron that didn't become steel, but after getting angry for a moment, she still carefully combed through the conversation between the old lady and Wang Shi. She knew this trip was unavoidable, so she let out some of her anger, thinking that when the time came, she would have Wang Shi exaggerate how difficult the process was - after all, she couldn't just put in effort for nothing.

  Old Mrs. Gu was apparently very satisfied with the daughter-in-law's reaction, usually thinking that she was stupid, but now it seems that being stupid also has its advantages. She covered up her joy in her heart and sternly coughed once, then said: "Your father is not at home, most of the men are outside, so you can choose a day to ask about it, go early, your second uncle and them will come back early too, we can also breathe a sigh of relief."

  Now that we know, why didn't you recognize us as your own family when our relatives came to visit and bring gifts? Gu Man thought to herself, hearing footsteps outside, after a while the curtain rustled, and then she quietly got up and pushed open the curtain to enter Wang's room with a soft sound.

  Wang sat with a worried and bitter face, she had agreed readily enough, but it was really hard for her to swallow her pride and go ask Wang Tingran again. The last time Gu Boqi did something that was simply too absurd, not only did Wang Tingran lose face, but so did she herself, and besides, Old Lady Gu loved to put on airs in front of people.

  Wang Tingran endured it once or twice, but after three or four times, she couldn't take it anymore. On the one hand, she felt sorry for her sister; on the other hand, she was also fed up with Old Lady Gu and Gu Boqi. From then on, she refused to enter the Hou Mansion again. Even if something important came up, she would only send her brother over.

  Wang felt both grateful and ashamed in her heart, feeling that she had no face to return home, so she pretended to be a shrinking turtle, pretending not to know.

  Now that she had promised the old lady, this daughter's family would definitely have to return. She felt a pang of worry in her heart, but knew that this trip could not be avoided. Just as she was feeling frustrated, she saw that there was already no one else in the room, only Gu Man standing quietly by her side.

  She was soft-hearted, reached out and pulled her close, smiling: "How did you come back again?"

  Gu Man gently rubbed against her chest, savoring the intimacy, and coquettishly said: "I didn't come back, I never left. Mother, I heard you from next door, why did you agree so readily? You know that Old Lady doesn't like us, and you also know that what she says is questionable in terms of severity and truthfulness. Mother, have you forgotten how she treated Uncle and Aunt?"

  Wang's eyebrows furrowed, and she naturally didn't forget the usually gentle and dignified elder sister-in-law's face turning bright red with anger, her eyes even reddening. She also didn't forget how Wang Tingran had lost face at the banquet.

  Gu Man saw her like this and knew that his words had taken effect.

  She didn't expect Bai Hua to turn into a cactus overnight, and she knew that Wang Shi had to take this trip, but at least she wanted Wang Shi to have some idea in her mind first, instead of always being sincere and kind to others, while others treated her like a fool.

  Wang Tingran was indeed somewhat annoyed, his face unyieldingly staring at the Wang in front of him, indignantly rising: "Wang Xiuying! Why do you have to be so humble and lowly? Are you a servant of the Hou Mansion? When they need you, they let you out, when they don't need you, they coldly abandon you without care! They offending people is their business, what does it have to do with you, what does it have to do with your idiot husband?! Even if we consider our old friendship, Qi and Ba wouldn't dare lay a hand on my relatives, you know that!"

  Perhaps because he was really too angry, his words were already somewhat incoherent, completely losing his usual demeanor.

  He was furious, but Wang Xiuying didn't feel particularly humiliated by her brother's scolding. She knew that Wang Tingran was worried about her.

  Wang Tingran was naturally heartbroken, from an early age, the one he cared about most was his third sister, Wang Xiuzhen. When they were young, Wang Xiuzhen's soft and weak personality often made her a target for bullying, and he would often scold her in frustration, but as soon as he turned his back, he would always try to help her save face.

  Wang Xiuying's heart was filled with joy and sorrow, and she choked out: "Big brother!"

  As soon as she spoke up, Wang Tingran's temper was gone.

  It's always been like this, since childhood. Whenever she wants to ask me for something or has something difficult to say, she looks at me with tears in her eyes and calls me "ge" (older brother) in a pitiful tone.

  He couldn't refuse, Wang Tingran put away the anger that he had forced onto his face and fell back into the chair.

  It's not strange to blame oneself, Wang Bo-yong had said earlier that Gu Bo-qi might not be a good match for Wang Xiuying, but he saw Gu Bo-qi's dignified appearance and eloquent speech, and after speaking up for him several times, the marriage was settled.

  Who would have thought that Gu Boqi would be such an indifferent and ruthless person, who would have thought that the usually close Hou and Wang families would have a falling out, it's always his fault, making his already weak sister suffer in between.

  There was no way out, he stood up and let out a sigh, resigned to his fate, he glanced at his sister with a critical eye, seeing that although she was thin, her complexion was not bad, and a glimmer of hope rose in his heart, he said gently: "How are Ah Chao and Ah Man?"

  Wang heard this and knew that her brother had agreed, and she couldn't help but shine in her eyes, nodding repeatedly: "Good. Ah Chao has always been sensible and obedient, and even Ah Man has become more sensible since he got sick..." Thinking about it, she wanted to tell her brother about the many things Gu Man had done recently, but in the end, she didn't open her mouth, as there were too many twists and turns at home, and talking about them would only worry people.

  Wang Tingran asked her many more questions, and seeing that she was getting anxious, he let out a sigh and compromised: "You can go back first. I've promised you this matter, just don't do anything foolishly brave for no reason. When you get back and tell your mother-in-law about it, make it sound as dangerous as possible. Do you understand what I mean?"

  When he came, Gu Man had already hinted many times, and Wang Shi suddenly understood, hurriedly saying: "I know. Ample also said that it can't be a white effort, let me mention it to you."

  Wang Tingran couldn't help but laugh, what did he mean by that? It was clear that he wanted Wang Xiuying to take the initiative.

  He suddenly smiled with a mix of relief and sadness, even an eight-year-old child could see through these twists and turns, although there was indeed a weak component in Wang Xiuying's character, but ultimately it was also because the environment of the Hou Mansion was too harsh.