Chapter 835: Compensation of 100 Taels

Mrs. Zhao couldn’t stand Gu Honglian’s long-winded manner.

She said, “Honglian, listen to your aunt. You don’t have children yet, no burdens. You’re still young; it won’t be hard for you to marry again later. The spring exams are in two months. Wait for your nephew Jingzhe to come out as a Champion Scholar. When people inquire and find out that the Champion’s little aunt is unmarried, I tell you, the threshold of your sister-in-law’s house will be worn out by suitors from all over Shengjing.”

Gu Jingzhe’s mouth twitched.

Gu Honglian’s eyes brightened.

She really wanted to turn her life around and slap Fan Tong in the face like Tong Pandi.

Fan Tong looked disdainful; he thought, who would want a woman who’s been divorced?

Only someone like Mr. Su, who disregards social norms, would marry a divorced woman.

Gu Honglian wiped away tears and said to Fan Tong, “Fan Tong, I don’t want you anymore. Let’s divorce.”

Tong Huaqiong said, “Have you thought it through? If you are sure, I’ll have Gu Jingzhe write the divorce paper for you.”

Gu Honglian nodded resolutely and said to Tong Huaqiong, “Sister-in-law, I’ve thought it through. I want to divorce Fan Tong.”

Gu Jingzhe had someone fetch a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to write the divorce paper and then have Fan Tong sign and stamp it.

Fan Tong glanced at the divorce paper and almost fainted.

The reason for the divorce stated that Fan Tong was watched naked by many people, losing his integrity, and felt ashamed to face his wife, thus requesting a divorce.

This reason for divorce made people’s thoughts run wild.

“Scoundrel, where would my reputation go if this reason were to spread?” Fan Tong said.

Gu Jingzhe said, “Our senior just said that men are different from women. If you have your body seen, people will only praise you for valuing your reputation.”

Fan Tong didn’t want to sign.

Gu Jingzhe calmly said, “Since you are forcing my little aunt to divorce, then the reason will have to be like this. Otherwise, you won’t be able to leave our home’s door.”

Fan Tong looked at Gu Jingzhe in astonishment, saying, “Are you threatening me?”

Gu Jingzhe said, “If you say so, then yes.”

Fan Tong gritted his teeth, unable to believe Gu Jingzhe would be so shameless, and said, “Since we can’t divorce, then I’ll write the separation letter.”

Gu Jingzhe said, “Suit yourself. My little aunt hasn’t violated any of the Seven Outs*; your separation letter won’t stand. Of course, you can claim the lack of offspring as an excuse, but since you’ve been married for less than a year, I’ll make everyone question your capability.”

Fan Tong’s face showed a mix of emotions.

Gu Dashu said, “Are you signing or not? If not, we’ll go to the government tomorrow and have them grant the divorce.”

Fan Tong weighed his options.

The Gu Family had Magistrate Lu Zhaoyang and the Mighty General backing them; causing a fuss at the government would mean a loss for him.

After all, the Chief Historian of Prince Ning’s Mansion might not offend the Mighty General over this matter.

Not to mention, he still can’t reveal that he’s allied with Prince Ning; he has to wait until the day he is fully developed to slap the Gu Family in the face.

Furious, Fan Tong signed and stamped his name without choice; the Gu Family was too cunning.

Wanting to quickly detach from the Gu Family behind Gu Honglian and start a new life, he had no choice but to sign.

However, Gu Honglian’s swiftness to divorce him made him quite uncomfortable.

In his mind, Gu Honglian would apologize and beg him for not sending her away, and then he would seize the opportunity to harshly humiliate her before writing the separation letter.

Gu Jingzhe carefully folded the divorce paper and said to Gu Honglian, “Little Aunt, take it well, from now on, you and Fan Tong will have nothing to do with each other’s marriages.”

Gu Honglian nodded tearfully.

“It’s not over yet,” Tong Huaqiong said. “I took you in because Honglian is my little aunt. Now that you have nothing to do with Honglian, we should settle the account. You stayed at my house for eight days, from lodging to food and charcoal, I’ll charge you fifty taels of silver. Pay now and I’ll let you out.”

Fan Tong gritted his teeth and said, “Fifty taels of silver? You’re just taking the opportunity to extort money.”

Tong Huaqiong said, “Go check out the prices at inns during festival periods, I’ve already given you a discount. If you don’t have money now, make an IOU with a repayment date.”

Fan Tong pressed his lips together, his eyes darting around.

The Chief Historian asked yesterday if he had any difficulties, and he asked for a hundred taels of silver, claiming they were for buying books. Initially, he wanted more but worried that asking for too much from the start would make the Chief Historian think he was taking advantage of the kindness.

He was reluctant to give Tong Huaqiong fifty taels.

But if he didn’t, Tong Huaqiong might indeed grandly demand repayment, creating trouble for him.

If the Chief Historian found him troublesome because of this, wouldn’t he be losing the big picture?

Right now, he had weak foundations and couldn’t afford any negative influence.

Once his foundation was strong, it would be the fall of the Gu Family.

“Fine, I’ll give you fifty taels.”

Liu Yueer suddenly jumped in and said, “My hairpin got stained with your blood and can’t be worn anymore. You have to compensate me. This hairpin cost a hundred taels when bought, and I’ve worn it for some time, so you can compensate me fifty taels.”

Fan Tong nearly couldn’t catch his breath.

The Gu Family members were each more ruthless than the last.

Fan Tong took a deep breath and said, “Fine, I’ll compensate you.”

Gu Honglian widened her eyes and said, “Where did you get the silver from?”

Fan Tong said, “That’s none of your concern.”

Gu Taohua pursed her lips, saying, “Little Aunt, look at Fan Tong. When he came to our house, it was like a beggar, but he had silver on him and wouldn’t spend it on you.”

Gu Taohua’s words provoked Gu Honglian.

Gu Honglian’s hatred for Fan Tong deepened.

Fan Tong stood up, went back to the little room to get the silver, and Gu Honglian followed to find Fan Tong digging the silver out from under the bed.

Yesterday, after Fan Tong came back from outside, he first hid the silver in the snow at the door.

In the evening, unnoticed, he sneaked the silver into the house.

A hundred newly minted taels of silver were placed in front of Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Fan Tong without showing any emotion; the newness of the silver confirmed the unusual event Fan Tong encountered, likely a reward from some noble.

Liu Yueer weighed the silver and confirmed they were true taels.

“The silver’s been compensated to you all. I’m going to rest. I’ll leave early tomorrow morning,” Fan Tong said.

Tong Huaqiong chuckled and said, “What a joke. You and Gu Honglian have already divorced, you have nothing to do with our family. Why would I shelter a stranger?”

Did he take her home for an inn, to come and go as he pleased?

Fan Tong was taken aback; he hadn’t expected Tong Huaqiong to be so ruthless.

It was so cold outside, with injuries on his body, how would he travel to the Chief Historian’s mansion through the wind and snow?

Moreover, he still needed to go to the government tomorrow to file the divorce.

Gu Jingzhe said, “There’s no need to trouble senior brother to file the divorce at the government.”

Gu Honglian said, “Now do you know fear? You used to tell me over and over that when we reached Shengjing, you would rely on my sister-in-law and Gu Jingzhe for a good future. Now I see you without my sister-in-law’s family; where’s your promising future? Let alone a good future, you don’t even have a place to shield you from the wind and rain.”

Fan Tong disdainfully said, “What do you know.”

Then he said to Tong Huaqiong, “Never burn bridges; you never know when you might need me in the future.”

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

They couldn’t hold back, just couldn’t hold back.