772: A marriage alliance with the Guo family.

"Mom and Dad, our two families plan to finalize the matter," Ma Jin said, also smiling.

"We'd like to invite you out for a meal so the relatives from both families can meet and finalize this marriage."

Hearing this, Grandpa Gu immediately refused.

"Forget about meeting. Since the Ma Family is marrying off their daughter, we of the Gu Family will not attend."

What?

Gu Ying and Ma Jin instantly panicked upon hearing this.

"Dad, Xue'er is your Maternal Granddaughter. If you don't attend the engagement, what will people think of us..."

"Dad, Xue'er's engagement is a major event for her whole life. Please attend."

Ma Xue knelt down toward Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu.

"Maternal Grandparents, I beg you, if you don't attend my engagement, what will outsiders think of us? I am your Maternal Granddaughter..."

Ma Xue cried bitterly.

Xiao Niannian watched them. This family was trying to play the emotional card. They were also trying to leverage the Gu Family's prestige for their own gain.

They clearly knew that the Guo Family was close to the Qiao Family, and for years, the Gu Family and the Qiao Family had been at odds, with the Guo Family supporting the Qiao Family. Gu Ying and Ma Jin weren't ignorant of this, yet they still encouraged Ma Xue to associate with Guo Jun and marry him.

This was because Guo Jun's family reviewed certain projects, and Ma Jin's ventures required the approval of Guo Jun's family.

By using the banner of the Gu Family to form a Marriage Alliance with the Guo Family, they would cause a lot of trouble.

It wasn't that Ma Xue couldn't marry Guo Jun, but given the current circumstances, doing so was clearly intended to drag the Gu Family into trouble.

She had heard that several people pursuing Ma Xue had decent backgrounds. But Ma Xue didn't like them. Ma Xue had previously wanted to marry someone like Lu Jing, or someone like Qiao Yan.

Lu Jing had an engagement with her. Before she was found, Lu Jing had ignored Ma Xue.

Ma Xue had previously been fond of Qiao Yan, but Qiao Yan also ignored Ma Xue.

Now Guo Jun had appeared. Although his status wasn't like Qiao Yan's, his capabilities were decent, and he was a Compound youth. Guo Jun's father was in his fifties and had just reached the Vice-Minister level, so the Guo Family was a step up for the Ma Family.

Xiao Niannian guessed correctly: Gu Ying was also vain and cared deeply about appearances. Having someone like Guo Jun as a son-in-law was certainly a huge source of pride. Although there had been rumors about past incidents, those things had happened years ago, and Guo Jun was indeed very good to their daughter and respectful towards them.

Naturally, she was happy to become in-laws with the Guo Family.

Even if it meant exploiting the Gu Family, she was willing.

Heaven and Earth will destroy those who don't look out for themselves!

Moreover, she had been using the Gu surname all these years. She was a member of the Gu Family, so why couldn't her daughter marry Guo Jun?

All those past issues were long over!

She didn't understand why her parents and Eldest Brother still cared about those old matters. Wouldn't it be better to turn swords into silk now?

The Qiao Family's attitude toward the Gu Family was extremely good now!

Furthermore, her relationship with the Qiao Family's Sister-in-law and the Qiao Family Sisters was quite good! Over the years, the Qiao Family's Sister-in-law and sisters had said many things to her.

Xiao Niannian looked at the expressions of the mother and daughter and guessed their thoughts.

It seemed they believed they were in the right! They thought the Gu Family was the one with the problem—that the Gu Family shouldn't refuse contact with the Qiao Family or hold onto past grievances.

They also believed that since the Qiao Family and several other families had extended goodwill, the Gu Family should accept it.

Was this goodwill?

Over the years, how many times had the Qiao Family and those other families secretly made a move?

Just look at the previous trip to the Border Town—that was a conspiracy. Lu Jing and she almost didn't make it back.

There were also Father Gu's job, Mother Gu's identity, and Father Lu's matter.

Gu Ying and the others weren't entirely unaware of some of these matters, but they refused to believe them.

Later incidents were also kept hidden from Gu Ying and the others.

Because if Gu Ying knew, certain things would leak out.

"Get up. This marriage is your own decision. Even if we disagree, you will insist on marrying him. Your Maternal Grandparents will attend your wedding, but we hope you think clearly: Guo Jun is not a suitable match..."

"Your Maternal Grandfather is right. You are a member of the Ma Family, and it is your freedom whom you marry, but Guo Jun truly is not a suitable match..."

Hearing that her Maternal Grandparents agreed to attend her wedding, Ma Xue was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Maternal Grandparents."

Ma Xue completely ignored the rest of what Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu said.

Ma Xue wiped away her tears and smiled happily.

Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu exchanged a look and shook their heads.

Father Gu had a cold expression. Gu Ying hadn't been this foolish before; how had she become like this now? Why insist on the Guo Family when there were dozens of good young men in the Compound?

And Ma Xue, who had been so cute as a child. He had truly cherished this Niece. How did she turn out like this?

"Eldest Brother, you must attend then."

"I will give the monetary gift, but I will not attend the wedding," Father Gu flatly refused.

Upon hearing this, Gu Ying's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

"Eldest Brother, you are Xue'er's Eldest Maternal Uncle. If you don't attend..."

"Say whatever you want, I won't go. No matter what you say about this matter, I won't go. I can't control whether Mom and Dad go."

Hearing this, Gu Ying became even angrier.

Their parents only agreed to go after they knelt and pleaded tearfully.

Why, when Xiao Niannian got engaged, did they host a banquet so grandly, inviting several families?

Now, for Xue'er's engagement, they wouldn't attend. Even for the wedding, only the Maternal Grandparents would attend, and none of the Maternal Uncles would be there. What would the Guo Family think of them, and of Xue'er?

When Xue'er married into the Guo Family, she would definitely suffer grievances.

But now, she didn't dare say anything more. Otherwise, if their parents got angry, they might even refuse to attend Xue'er's wedding, which would be even more embarrassing.

"Mom and Dad, thank you. We'll be heading back now."

Gu Ying stood up and said with a smile.

"Maternal Grandparents, we'll be heading back now."

Ma Jin also said a few words.

Xiao Niannian watched them walk out of the courtyard and overheard their conversation.

"It's a good thing Mom and Dad agreed to attend the wedding, otherwise we would have been in trouble."

"Now we can report back successfully."

"Mom and Dad, Maternal Grandparents, they are so stubborn! Guo Jun is so good to me, how is he not a suitable match..."

Ma Xue stamped her foot in anger.

"Lower your voice, we're still at the entrance of the Compound," Gu Ying reminded her daughter.

"It's not even certain if Xiao Niannian is their Biological Granddaughter, but I am their Maternal Granddaughter, yet they treat Xiao Niannian and me so differently..."

Gu Ying quickly pulled Ma Xue into the car.

Ma Jin was very happy inside and cheerfully tried to persuade his wife.

"Don't scold Xue'er, she is also feeling wronged."

Grandpa Gu was so angry he pounded the table.

"They are truly confused."

"Mom and Dad, they know exactly what's going on, but they are doing this deliberately," Father Gu pointed out directly.