C15 Bad Motherinlaw Was so Angry That She Was about to Die!

Gu Tingshen couldn't help but smile as he turned to Huo Niannian. "Grandpa has praised you; you should thank him quickly."

Realizing she had been complimented, Huo Niannian quickly offered her thanks to Grandpa, feeling a wave of relief. Grandpa Gu was quite the amiable figure, it seemed.

She glanced at the Old Master's calligraphy and couldn't help but compliment it. "Grandpa, your handwriting is truly remarkable."

The Old Master thought the young woman was merely being polite—after all, not many young girls took an interest in calligraphy. He playfully prodded her, "What's so impressive about it? Tell me, I'm eager to hear your perspective."

Huo Niannian, realizing Grandpa was testing her, stepped up to the table and confidently gave a professional critique, impressing the Old Master.

"Niannian, have you studied calligraphy?" he asked.

She shook her head, "My neighbor is a master calligrapher. I often visited him, and naturally, I picked up a thing or two."

Her neighbor was indeed a master who had taken refuge in the slums after a conflict. Huo Niannian had never attended school, but her cultural refinement came largely from this 'big uncle's' guidance.

Gu Tingshen was pleasantly surprised by Huo Niannian's skill and the breadth of her knowledge.

After another ten minutes in the study, Uncle Zhang came to tell them dinner was served, and they descended the stairs with Grandpa.

As for Gu Changqing, upon returning to his room, his wife Yin Jie came to him with tears welling up in her eyes. "Hubby, you have to take my side!"

"What's the matter?" he inquired.

"That girl Tingshen brought home—she's so rude! She insulted me for not being your first wife and spoke ill of me!"

"Oh? Someone dared to say such things to you?" Gu Changqing, who knew Yin Jie's character well after many years, wondered if she was overstating the case.

"She really did. If she's this bold now, what's to stop her from disrespecting me in the future?"

"I've found her to be quite pleasant. She doesn't strike me as the type you're suggesting."

Upon hearing this, Yin Jie's anxiety spiked, and she shot back, "Don't you believe me? She has a history of theft! People like that are unreliable!"

"Is that true? She has a past?"

"Look for yourself!" Yin Jie quickly brought up a news article for Gu Changqing to see. It showed Huo Niannian at a press conference, candidly admitting to stealing money for her grandmother's medical expenses.

After reading the article, Gu Changqing gave a small smile. "It appears she's a courageous and honorable young woman, who takes responsibility for her actions and is deeply loyal. As for her past and the theft, I'm not concerned with what others think. Now that she's married to Tingshen, we're family. Let's not dwell on the past, okay?"

Yin Jie's face contorted with anger and bitterness, her eyebrows knitted tightly.

She was astonished that Gu Changqing, notoriously stringent, could be so forgiving!

Huo Niannian must indeed be enchanting!

At that moment, Yin Jie saw Huo Niannian assisting Grandpa Gu down the stairs, epitomizing the ideal granddaughter-in-law, which inflamed her to the point of nearly popping a vein. Yet, out of deference to Gu Changqing, she held her tongue.

Huo Niannian was thoroughly enjoying her meal.

Her cheerful disposition was evident as she chatted away with Grandpa Gu, who took a liking to her.

With Uncle Gu, who was more serious, she answered his questions with proper decorum.

As for Yin Jie, Huo Niannian treated her with courteous friendliness, a stark contrast to their earlier spat.

Gu Yufei brooded in silence, jabbing at her rice, unable to find a way to counter Huo Niannian's irresistible appeal.

Yin Jie observed Huo Niannian delighting the Old Master with her charm, then turned her gaze to her own daughter, who was a source of immense frustration. Not only did her daughter fail to unsettle Huo Niannian, but she also couldn't even utter a phrase to endear herself to Grandpa Gu. She fell far short of the standard Yin Jie had set in her youth. For both Yin Jie and her daughter, the meal was an utterly disheartening experience.

After dinner, Gu Changqing excused himself and returned to his study. Meanwhile, the Old Master remained seated in the living room, continuing the conversation with Huo Niannian and Gu Tingshen.

Yin Jie could no longer hold back, and quietly took her daughter aside to give her some guidance.

Once Yin Jie had finished imparting her wisdom, a curious sparkle appeared in Gu Yufei's eyes. She bit her lip, nodded with comprehension, and walked back to the living room.