Chapter 343: Chapter 343
Cai Meina was actually quite nervous today, worried that relatives would notice her family didn’t show up.
Unexpectedly, these relatives not only didn’t notice the Cai Family didn’t show up, but they also didn’t notice the Wu Family’s absence.
Everyone’s focus was on, "Why is Dong Li, the eldest daughter-in-law, not here?"
"Even the Dong Family didn’t send anyone."
Dong Li’s prior absence had already surprised everyone, but they didn’t expect her not to appear on the day of Gong Dajiang’s funeral.
Everyone was speculating whether the news they had received earlier was accurate.
"Could it be that Gong Qiang is really going to divorce Dong Li?"
"Dong Li is quite nice, isn’t she?"
"What’s nice about her, not letting her brother-in-law visit Gong Dajiang and not taking good care of him. If it weren’t for Gong Tao taking advantage of Zhang Lan’s distraction, they wouldn’t have discovered that huge wound on his back."
Even though the Gong Brothers didn’t reveal the cause of Gong Dajiang’s death, the attempt to take him to the hospital was a big deal,
so the neighbors, of course, talked about it, passing it on among the relatives, and thus the news spread around.
Gong Ruini listened to these relatives gossiping and could only quietly walk away. She just wanted to hear if they were discussing the Cai Family’s matters. Since it was about Dong Li and Gong Qiang, she didn’t care at all.
No matter how the news spreads outside, Gong Ruini firmly knew the firsthand news, so why bother listening to the stories that have likely been altered?
Cai Meina was quite happy listening to the relatives discussing Dong Li’s situation.
Even though they were currently speculating whether Gong Qiang would divorce Dong Li, as long as Dong Li didn’t show up today, tomorrow they would surely be saying that Dong Li and Gong Qiang are divorcing.
Once it reaches the Dong family’s ears, Miao Cuihua won’t believe Dong Li can swallow this. She’ll definitely come over to make a scene.
The Dong Family people are quite mindless. Once their anger overtakes them, they speak without thinking, which would cause quite a commotion. Even if Gong Qiang regrets it later, Zhang Lan would never allow such a daughter-in-law to return.
Gong Dajiang’s funeral concluded with all sorts of discussions, and Gong Qiang let out a long sigh of relief, "Finally, it’s over." Thıs content belongs to NoveI[F]ire.net
Gong Qiang genuinely didn’t expect that he would become the focal point of relatives’ discussions, with everyone talking about his divorce.
This made Gong Qiang feel extremely embarrassed, even though the divorce matter would eventually become known to relatives, it’s unbearable that some relatives, relying on their seniority, actually started lecturing him, making Gong Qiang even more intolerant.
While Gong Qiang felt embarrassed, Gong Ruini felt cold and hungry, and the thing that annoyed Gong Ruini the most was, "My name isn’t on the tombstone."
When Gong Ruini saw the stone at the cemetery, she was infuriated, "Gong Qiang’s daughter’s name is there, and Gong Zheng’s younger son’s name is there, but mine isn’t."
It’s not that Gong Ruini was keen on this sort of thing, but to others, it seemed she was a child who could be ignored.
"They’ve gone too far," Gong Ruwen was also quite angry, "If they didn’t write it, they didn’t write it. In the future, you shouldn’t visit their graves either."
"Hmm." Gong Ruini never intended to visit Gong Dajiang’s grave, and now she was thoroughly disgusted. If other girls like Gong Lili were also unnamed, Gong Ruini could comfort herself by saying the Gong Family just didn’t like girls.
But since Gong Lili and others were named, Gong Ruini was definitely unhappy.
Cai Meina was also unhappy, knowing her parents-in-law were biased but not anticipating such extreme favoritism.
The wives and daughter-in-laws were all unhappy, leading to Gong Tao being displeased.
"Mom, why is Ni Zi’s name missing?" Gong Tao asked upon returning home, ignoring Zhang Lan’s mood.
"What does a girl need a name for?" Zhang Lan scoffed, even though Gong Ruini had recovered quite a bit recently, in Zhang Lan’s mind, this granddaughter was just a short-lived one.
Ignoring the fact that she’s lively now, who knows how much money’s been spent, just a squanderer. With this money, wouldn’t it be better to honor the elders?
"Then why do Lili and the others have their names?"
"Mom, do you think Ni Zi is not your granddaughter?" Gong Tao was fuming inside.
"I don’t think it’s Ni Zi’s issue, but you constantly looking down on me, believing I’m burdening you and not giving you a good reputation. In that case, let’s leave immediately." Gong Tao originally intended to stay for New Year’s dinner, but now he saw no need.
"Pack up; we’re going to the station to buy tickets." Gong Tao wasn’t eager to have a New Year’s meal at home, with no good dishes, and certainly not as good as what they usually ate in the Northeast.
Especially since Zhang Lan was careful about using too much oil when cooking, fearing waste, she cooked the meals herself, and Gong Tao could only describe the food as pig feed.
Zhang Lan actually realized her earlier response was off. The same granddaughter, why does Gong Lili have her name, but it comes to Ni Zi, and she doesn’t?
But Zhang Lan was someone who cared about her face. How could she bow and admit her wrong to her children? Of course, she had to maintain a tough stance, but she didn’t expect Gong Tao to be so firm.
He actually wanted to leave as a threat. Zhang Lan indicated she wasn’t easily frightened, "If you want to go, then go. Nobody’s going to stop you."
"If your family leaves, it’ll save some grain." Thinking of how fast grain was consumed these days, Zhang Lan truly was reluctant, and since someone volunteered to leave, how could she disagree?
"Once you leave, don’t think about coming back for New Year’s dinner," Zhang Lan thought it would be better if Gong Tao and his family left. The leftover grain could be used to make porridge for the younger grandson.
Gong Zhuang watched Zhang Lan being stubborn and shook his head. If it were him, he’d also be upset. It seemed like contempt for Gong Ruini, but it was really contempt for Gong Tao.
This friction stranded a relationship that was starting to mend. Alas, Gong Zhuang thought of the quality black fungus Gong Tao gave him last time, intending to find an opportunity to discuss it with Gong Tao. But now, it seemed impossible to get the black fungus for free.
"Second Brother, I’ll walk you." Gong Zhuang chased after them.
If he didn’t come out now to see Gong Tao and his family off, Gong Zhuang felt he would regret it later.
Gong Zhuang was going to see them off? Could that be true? Gong Ruini thought it would be the ever-sensible Gong Zheng who’d step up, not expecting it to be Gong Zhuang—was this treating his family as brothers?
No, maybe he had some ulterior motive. This couple wouldn’t suddenly try to befriend them unless they wanted something in return. But what could their family offer? They were but honest farmers.
Nah, if Gong Zhuang really wanted to take advantage of his family, he was picking the wrong person. Their family was no longer pushovers; Gong Zhuang wouldn’t get anything out of them.