Chapter 800: Backstab

Gu Baishuang sat firmly, showing no intention of getting up.

Nie Xiaofeng’s words made Gu Baishuang’s joy of reuniting with her brother Gu Dahuan vanish.

At this moment, she was quite disappointed with her younger son.

Back then, when both stepsons and daughters-in-law forced her, Nie Xiaofeng was fully aware, but now, three years later, her younger son seemed ready to forgive them.

He acknowledged Nie Mingyuan, and so did Gu Baishuang, as the father-son bond could not be abandoned.

However, he didn’t mind the actions of the two brothers and sisters-in-law, welcoming them into the mansion, which made Gu Baishuang feel betrayed and quite disheartened.

Gu Baishuang said, "The Nie Family is reunited today, and the Gu Family is reunited today too. Between us, you are a Nie, you go back, and I am a Gu, so I naturally stay here."

Nie Xiaofeng opened his mouth.

How could mother exclude herself from the Nie Family? She is a daughter married out of the Gu Family, and the matron of the Nie Family.

If one were to calculate, she should belong to the Nie Family.

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Nie Xiaofeng, knowing he couldn’t empathize with Gu Baishuang.

Thinking about it, after all, Nie Mingyuan was quite good to his son Nie Xiaofeng.

Even later, when asking Gu Baishuang for the shop’s management rights and the two stepsons wanting to divide the assets, given Nie Xiaofeng’s age back then, he couldn’t see the underlying meaning. At that time, he just saw Gu Baishuang aggrieved and naturally stood by her side.

As for how deep Gu Baishuang’s grievances were, he couldn’t feel it.

For Nie Xiaofeng, past disputes were merely internal family conflicts, as long as surface harmony was maintained, they could still be a loving family.

Moreover, he wasn’t standing from a god’s perspective, unaware that Nie Mingyuan later left all the assets to the two sons, and could not see the two brothers with different mothers forcing him and Gu Baishuang to leave the Nie Family at Nie Mingyuan’s mourning hall.

Gu Baishuang sat, and Nie Xiaofeng stood, with a bit of a stalemate between mother and son.

Tong Huaqiong said to Nie Xiaofeng, "Xiaofeng, you go back to see your father first, your mother will have dinner with me before returning."

Nie Xiaofeng always respected Tong Huaqiong; when she spoke, he usually obeyed.

But this time...

"Grandma, my parents haven’t seen each other in a long time." Nie Xiaofeng said.

Gu Dashu coolly spoke up, "You know your parents haven’t seen each other for a long time; why did your dad not inquire about your mom’s situation when he saw you? Instead, he hurried off to your General Mansion."

Gu Dashu had gone out of the city with Nie Xiaofeng to welcome Gu Dahuan and others.

Nie Mingyuan and the two sons and daughters-in-law, seeing Nie Xiaofeng in Deputy General guise, held him high, not mentioning Gu Baishuang at all.

"Those two brothers and sisters-in-law are not good people; say a few flattering words and they’ve bound you with family ties. You treat them as family, they treat you as a fool, maybe even scheming your General Mansion. You better be mindful; thinking they care is more about your Deputy General status than about you."

Gu Dashu shook his head.

Nie Xiaofeng, who always seemed smart, seemed unclear on this matter.

Could it be that he longs for family ties too much?

The affection from Gu Baishuang and her family to him was abundant.

Teaching people once is enough.

Nie Xiaofeng was bound to stumble over the Nie Family eventually.

Nie Xiaofeng said, "Second Uncle, my father was so happy to see me that he didn’t have time to ask about mom."

Nie Xiaofeng defended Nie Mingyuan.

"As for the two brothers scheming my General Mansion, Second Uncle, you worry too much. A deputy general isn’t silver, it’s just a title, not something that can be schemed." Nie Xiaofeng said.

The two brothers weren’t born of his mother, so naturally, they wouldn’t be as filial as he was, nor treat him like brothers of the same mother and father.

This is human nature.

But to say they are scheming his General Mansion, Nie Xiaofeng thought Second Uncle worried too much.

Four years ago, for his mother, he argued with his father and two brothers.

They did indeed act wrongly, but living under one roof as a family, there were bound to be bumps; as long as they were willing to live peacefully with him and the sister-in-law treated mom well, he didn’t mind letting go of past grudges.

These words left even Tong Huaqiong speechless.

Even if the General Mansion couldn’t be schemed into their name, living there immovably means they could use Little General Nie’s name to intimidate externally.

If in the future both brother-in-law families attach themselves to the General Mansion, who would dare to marry Nie Xiaofeng? Marrying into a situation with two sisters-in-law above, who would run the household? Who would have the final say?

Tong Huaqiong thought Nie Xiaofeng was considering matters too simply.

Gu Dashu said, "Alright, alright, it’s me being too much of a busybody. Then let them stay at your General Mansion."

Nie Xiaofeng looked at Gu Baishuang, pleading with his eyes for her to go back with him.

Gu Baishuang was unmoved.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Xiaofeng, you have always been quite filial, haven’t you? Being filial isn’t about imposing what you think is good onto your mother, but respecting her opinion. Your mother is merely staying home to have a reunion meal with your uncle, not refusing to return to the Nie Family, why rush? Listen to me, go back first. Your father just arrived at your mansion, unfamiliar with everything, shouldn’t you hurry back to settle him in?"

Nie Xiaofeng thought about it, realizing his father was new to his mansion and unfamiliar with everything, he should indeed go back and explain things.

Moreover, he hadn’t seen his father for three or four years and had many things to discuss.

Nie Xiaofeng respectfully said to Gu Baishuang, "Alright then, mom, you stay at Grandma’s and have a reunion meal with Uncle. I’ll head back for now, and once you finish eating, I’ll send someone to bring you back to the mansion."

Gu Baishuang said, "I have a carriage, I can return by myself."

Gu Baishuang’s coldness made Nie Xiaofeng feel a bit hurt.

Thinking about how Nie Mingyuan was probably growing impatient in the mansion, Nie Xiaofeng left Tong Huaqiong’s place.

Once Nie Xiaofeng left, Gu Dahuan couldn’t help but say, "Xiaofeng became a Deputy General, but somehow got confused."

Gu Baishuang sneered, "He thinks he’s a Deputy General, and in the future, his father and two brothers will be dependent on him, confident in controlling the situation, so he’s already taking the stance of forgiving them. He doesn’t realize Nie Mingyuan and his two biological sons never thought they were wrong, they’re coming boldly to stay in the Deputy General’s Mansion."

Tong Huaqiong nodded.

One has to admit, Gu Baishuang saw things very clearly.

Nie Mingyuan and the two sons never felt guilty towards either Gu Baishuang or Nie Xiaofeng.

They didn’t consider forcing Gu Baishuang to hand over the shop management rights or demanding the majority of family assets divided among them as unreasonable or greedy.

Not only did they not see themselves as unreasonable and greedy, but they also felt Gu Baishuang and Nie Xiaofeng were raised by the Nie Family.

They could confidently enjoy Nie Xiaofeng’s accomplishments.

They entered the mansion not to depend on Nie Xiaofeng, but to pick the fruits.

Just like Gu Dashu said, it’s easy for Nie Xiaofeng to welcome them into the mansion, but once their wolfish ambitions are exposed, driving them out will be difficult.