I just finished episode 20 and honestly I like Manniang more than Gu Tingye. Manninag does not want to live in poverty. She gave him two children. Everyday she serves him and his household. Cooking, cleaning, washing and all of the domestic tasks that women have to do. Yet, Gu Tingye embarrasses her and the children constantly. He destroyed his reputation and relationship with his father. He never introduced he properly and respectfully to the family and asked for her to be made a concubine. He keeps blaming everybody else for anything that goes wrong for him. Father is too harsh and blames him for everything. Step mom is too nice and spoils him. Brothers are bad....because they hold him accountable for his actions. Gu Tingye is a man child. He does not even bother to care for his children properly. His horrible reputation will affect the lives of those kids when they become adults. In this society marriage, job opportunities and advancement are all effected by the status and reputation of the family.
He even tried to trick two women into marrying him to protect Manniang. At the same time whining how evil his father was to marry Gu Tingye's mother for her dowry. He deserves to get the mental and emotional beating that he just got. I wish he also received a physical beating as well. No real self awareness. I am very disappointed that this is the guy Minglan will end up with. Poor girl.