CHAPTER 276: CHAPTER 273: CINDERELLA’S COMEBACK 18

Grandma Gu, Aunt Gu, and Aunt Gu were all staring at Anning with faces full of rage.

Anning smiled and served Mrs. Gu some dishes, insisting she eat more.

"Eat, eat, you just know how to eat."

Grandma Gu lost her temper: "This whole family has no other skills, every time you come back it’s just to eat, and you have such foul mouths, always talking ill of others."

"We have to eat, of course."

Anning tasted some of the dishes: "Every time we come back, my dad buys groceries and meat, has to cook, spends the money, puts in the effort, and we can’t even eat enough to make up for it. If we didn’t eat, wouldn’t that be too beneficial for certain people?"

With that said, Uncle Gu’s face turned red with shame, and he could only respond with a dry laugh.

Aunt Gu, angry, pinched Uncle Gu and moved the two most expensive dishes on the table to her side.

Anning pretended not to see and continued eating and drinking with Mrs. Gu.

Mr. Gu and Uncle Gu chatted and laughed, with no intention of scolding Anning throughout the whole conversation, which only made Grandma Gu feel more aggrieved.

When the meal was almost finished, Aunt Gu brought up another topic.

"Second brother, I have something to tell you."

Mr. Gu looked at Aunt Gu: "Go ahead."

"The thing is, the wealthiest Wang family in our county has been spreading word recently that they are looking for a daughter-in-law. The criteria are that she must be educated and pretty. They say it’s all about improving the family’s genes. They’ve announced that if they take a liking to someone, they’ll buy her family a house in Qing City and give a dowry of 500,000. I was thinking, this is a great opportunity! Our Ningning is both good-looking and a good student; she’s perfect for this, don’t you think? What’s the point of a girl studying so much? No matter how many books she reads, she has to get married in the end. It’s better to marry off to a suitable match early, while the opportunity is there. The Wang family is really wealthy, and Ningning wouldn’t have to worry about food and drink if she marries into their family."

No sooner had Aunt Gu finished speaking than Mrs. Gu, furious, threw a cup of water in Aunt Gu’s face.

"We didn’t settle scores with you before, and here you are, getting even worse."

Mrs. Gu’s whole body trembled with anger: "Why don’t you marry into them if it’s such a great deal? What gives you the right to set your sights on my Ningning? How old is my daughter? She’s still underage, a minor, and you’re already talking about marrying her off, even picking out her in-laws for her. Gu Fengzhen, have you no decency?"

Aunt Gu, drenched from head to toe, shrieked as she stood up: "What have I done? Am I not thinking of Ningning’s best interest?"

She turned and complained to Grandma Gu: "Mother, look at my sister-in-law, she’s becoming more and more outrageous."

Grandma Gu was about to hit Mrs. Gu when Anning quickly pulled her away to avoid it.

Grandma Gu’s eyes were red with anger: "Old two, your wife and daughter are outrageous, bullying me at home, and now bullying your sister. Look at Fengzhen, drenched all over, what are we going to do about this..."

Mr. Gu stood up and went to check on Mrs. Gu first, asking gently if she had been hit.

Mrs. Gu shook her head and glared fiercely at Grandma Gu and Gu Fengzhen.

Seeing that Mrs. Gu was indeed alright, Mr. Gu went over to Grandma Gu and said very solemnly: "Mother, why are you always like this? No matter what happens, it’s always our family who is in the wrong. You heard what Fengzhen said just now, didn’t you? Are those the words an aunt should say? Today, I want to make things clear right here. Our Ningning is going to college; she is not getting married now, no matter how wealthy that family is. Even in the future when she dates and gets married, we will respect the child’s wishes. We don’t care whether her partner’s family has money or not; as long as Ningning is happy, we are happy."

Confronted by Mrs. Gu’s stare and Mr. Gu’s words, Grandma Gu inevitably felt a bit guilty.

But as soon as she saw Gu Ankang, her backbone stiffened again.

"A mere girl, what else can she do if not marry? Laoer, our family now only has Ankang as our one and only hope. We must consider everything for him. In my opinion, you should just agree to this. If Ningning is truly taken a liking to and they buy a house in Qing City, give it to Ankang. Out of the 500,000 dowry, you can take half, and save the rest for Ankang to marry a wife."

Mr. Gu was so dizzy with anger at Grandma Gu’s shameless words.

He looked at Uncle Gu: "Brother, is this what you think too?"

Uncle Gu wanted to say something, but Aunt Gu tugged at him: "Laoer, we have to be filial. Our mom has spoken..."

Mr. Gu looked at his relatives with disappointment, and then he walked out with red-rimmed eyes, dragging Anning and Mrs. Gu: "Fine, I understand. I still say the same thing; Ningning’s affairs do not concern you. Also, our family won’t be coming back for the New Year this year."

"You, if you leave, then never come back..."

Grandma Gu said viciously.

Aunt Gu, however, shouted out: "You can go, but first, settle the accounts."

Mr. Gu, unwilling to settle any accounts with them, walked faster and faster, pulling Anning and Mrs. Gu along.

When they almost reached Grandma Gu’s house, they encountered several acquaintances.

This area was full of old houses, inhabited by old neighbors, most of whom recognized Mr. Gu.

Several elderly ladies, upon seeing Mr. Gu, smiled and asked: "Gu Laoer, weren’t you out for a meal? Why have you come back so early? Where’s your mom? And your brother’s family? Why didn’t they come back with you?"

Mr. Gu’s face was full of anger, and Mrs. Gu also had a poor complexion. Those old ladies, being gossipy, immediately understood that there must have been a quarrel and wanted to dig for information.

At that moment, Anning pretended to be well-behaved.

She looked at the elderly ladies with tears glimmering in her eyes: "Grandmas, don’t blame my dad. It was my Grandma and my aunts... they said they wanted me to get married, for the man’s family to buy a house in Qing City, to give the house to Brother Ankang, and also a 500,000 dowry, to be saved for Ankang to marry a wife. My mom said I’m still underage; it’s against the law. Grandma wanted to hit my mom, so we had to come back early."

Anning continued while wiping away tears: "Grandma also said if we don’t do this, our family should never come back to our home. She won’t acknowledge my dad anymore. My dad is really upset..."

The old ladies were all shocked when they heard this.

One of them, with a kind heart, quickly comforted Anning: "Good child, don’t cry, it’s really not worth it. How can your Grandma be like this? What kind of era are we in that she’s still doing things like this, it’s really..."

Anning continued to cry: "I’m not even sixteen yet. My Grandma’s idea is wrong. Grandmas, if you see my Grandma, please persuade her well. We really can’t stay any longer. My dad, my mom, and I are about to leave, and my Grandma is also very angry. Please keep her company and talk to her."

As she cried, she wiped her tears: "I don’t want to get married; I want to go to university, I want to pursue a master’s and a doctorate, I... I am doing well in my studies. I’ve been studying hard just to make my Grandma proud, for her to glow when she talks about me. I even got first place in the entire city in the last exam. I never imagined that my Grandma would want me to marry, I..."

Unable to continue, Anning got up and ran away.

Mrs. Gu saw this and hurriedly chased after her.

Mr. Gu let out a long sigh: "Aunties, my mom has really gone too far. Our Ningning is terrified. I have to go see the child right away."

The old ladies immediately waved their hands: "You go quickly, don’t let anything happen to the child."