Chapter 456 The Mastermind

Chapter 456: The Schemer

He couldn’t quite figure out what Chu Shuyu was thinking.

But he believed that getting married meant paying a bride price, even though he had already handed all his money over to Chu Shuyu, and she was the one handling these arrangements.

"Mom, Dad, you’re right..." Gang Zi had just started speaking when Chu Shuyu immediately cut in.

"Ancient times had the saying, 'A wife is wed with dowry, a concubine is taken without,' but there’s also the saying, 'Parents arrange the first marriage; the second is your own choice.' Mom and Dad, have you forgotten? This is my second marriage. I don’t need your approval—my say is all that matters."

"Today is my joyous occasion. If you want to sit quietly and enjoy the meal, you’re welcome. If you’re here to make trouble, then I’m sorry—please leave. Whether you’re here or not, this wedding feast is happening either way."

The relatives from the Chu family immediately began murmuring among themselves.

"Ah, she’s gotten too big for her britches, looking down on her own family. I was half-doubting what Huaiyu (Chu’s sister-in-law) said earlier, but now I see—Huaiyu and the old aunt really have it tough."

"That’s right. By tradition, even uncles and aunts like us should get a share of meat when a niece marries. But now, not even a bite of meat—what a disgrace to admit."

"Oh, come on. Don’t you know what kind of person Shuyu is? Things turning out like this, Huaiyu and her brother and sister-in-law bear a lot of the blame. Everyone knows what they’re really after."

"What are they after?"

"Hush, not here."

Zuo Zuying knew that at a time like this, Gang Zi couldn’t say anything too harsh—after all, these were his in-laws, and they might still have to interact in the future.

Su An whispered to comfort Chu Shuyu, "Let it go. Some families just aren’t close. Haven’t you given up hope by now?"

Chu Shuyu sighed. "I let go of that hope ages ago. I just thought that since they’re old and life isn’t easy for them, and after all, they did raise me, helping them out a little would’ve been nothing to me."

"I thought I was saving them, but I never imagined that my kindness could become the knife they’d stab me with."

Chu’s sister-in-law, Song Huaiyu, heard the murmurs among the relatives and gave her mother-in-law a look.

Chu’s mother grew even more spirited. "Shuyu, Mom just wants what’s best for you. I’ve been through this—I wouldn’t harm you."

Then she glanced at Gang Zi and lowered her voice to Chu Shuyu. "You know your own situation. Who knows if he wants you or your money?"

"You should be careful. Why not take this chance with the bride price to leave your money with us? We can help you keep an eye on it. If he really is after your money, at least you won’t end up with nothing."

Chu Shuyu laughed.

"Mom, I know exactly what you’re thinking. Let me say it again—what’s mine stays mine. Unless I’m willing, none of you are getting a damn thing."

Chu Shuyu looked at the chubby child in Chu’s mother’s arms. At such a young age, influenced by Song Huaiyu, he was already spoiled rotten and foul-mouthed.

Though he was pretending to be obedient now, he was still too young to hide the disdain and disgust in his eyes when he looked at Chu Shuyu.

"Even if I never have children, I’d sooner toss my money in the gutter than leave it to him."

Chu Jiaxiong couldn’t hold back anymore. "You evil woman! You’ve got some nerve! I’ll tell my parents to beat you to death! Don’t come crying to me when you’re old and alone!"

Chu Shuyu sneered. "Pfft~ Your grandparents doted on your father, spent their whole lives pouring everything into him, and still couldn’t rely on him in their old age. And you think I’d rely on you?"

Song Huaiyu stepped forward and pulled her son back. "Chu Shuyu, how can you talk like that? Jiaxiong is only eight! Why bully a kid?"

"Now that you’ve found a man and married out, you think you’re untouchable? Do you even want this family anymore?"

Then she shoved her mother-in-law. "Look at the daughter you raised—such an unfilial thing. Does she even respect her elders?"

Chu's mother quickly joined in condemning Chu Shuyu, saying she had gotten too big for her britches and no longer respected her elders, making a major life decision like marriage without consulting them and not even giving a dowry to the family.

Later, they even went as far as accusing Chu Shuyu of being desperate for a man, throwing her hard-earned wealth at some man.

Zuo Zuying gave Gang Zi a sharp elbow, who turned to look at him.

Seeing that Gang Zi hadn’t caught on, Zuo Zuying had to step in himself, putting on a show and raising his voice.

“Ohoho, wow, what a freak show we've got here! Comrade Chu, could it be that you were actually a child stolen by this couple from someone else’s family?

I heard you two used to be government officials, yet not only are you not giving your daughter a dowry, but you’re also trying to pimp her out again?”

Su An glanced at the surrounding diners who were murmuring and chimed in, “Comrade Zuo, you might not know this, but this Chu family—tsk tsk—that Chu family’s son, the bride’s brother, is an utter waste of space, the number one loser in the world.” She pointed at Chu Shuyu’s brother, Chu Yongqing, and declared loudly.

“When it was time to go to the countryside, this big man Chu Yongqing hid behind his mother’s skirts like a coward and pushed his sister out instead. Comrade Chu suffered all kinds of hardships in the countryside, was tricked into marriage, and endured endless torment. When she finally made it back, her own family looked down on her.

That useless waste of a brother, Chu Yongqing, somehow managed to find himself a nagging harpy of a wife. Afraid she’d run off and leave him single, he practically had the whole family groveling at her feet. When his poor sister returned, instead of showing any care, he hurled insults, stabbing right at her heart. His heart is so rotten, worse than a stranger on the street.”

Zuo Zuying exchanged an approving glance with Su An, widening his eyes in exaggerated shock. “Good heavens, are they really family? How heartless!”

Su An nodded. “Exactly! And the older generation is even more biased, practically wishing their own daughter had died out there. They teamed up with that daughter-in-law to drive the girl to the brink, all just to keep the shrew happy and prevent their useless son from being abandoned.”

“Shuyu Sis had no choice. A weak woman alone, she ventured south to make a living, barely surviving against all odds. And what did her parents do? For the sake of their worthless son, they clung to her like leeches, sucking her dry, shamelessly trying to seize the fortune she’d earned with her life.

That black-hearted sister-in-law even introduced men to Shuyu Sis—men who couldn't have children, who’d leave her without heirs—just so her own son wouldn’t miss out on the inheritance.

The parents gave their jobs to their son and daughter-in-law, then found themselves unwanted at home. Knowing their daughter had a soft heart, they schemed to squeeze money out of her to support their son.

They knew their son was useless. If they didn’t drain their daughter dry to prop him up, that ‘princess of a daughter-in-law’ would run off with the first man who looked her way. Oh, what a disgrace—to raise such a waste and drag the whole family down with him!”

Su An saw right through it. No matter how the Chu family’s sister-in-law and parents acted out, who really came out smelling like roses?

It was Chu Yongqing—the one who stayed vague and let his wife and parents bully his sister, pushing others to play the villain while he stayed hidden.

The kind who plays the wide-eyed innocent when there’s no gain to be had, who wants both the property and a clean reputation, who refuses to be the bad guy but still grabs for more—that’s the most selfish, the most despicable.

In the entire Chu family, the one who seemed the most innocent, Chu Yongqing, was actually the puppet master working the shadows.