The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 245: Ending the Famine

"Mother, did I do something wrong?" Gu Dahuan was a bit uneasy.

This stepson usually behaves normally towards Tong Huaqiong, but once he is alone with her, he has a guilty conscience.

It won’t change quickly, and Tong Huaqiong has mentioned it a few times, but then just let it be.

Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Dahuan, "Today, your sister sent Xiaofeng over. I asked Xiaofeng about your sister’s situation, and he was vague. Why don’t you go visit your sister tomorrow?"

Gu Baishuang doesn’t get along with her stepmother, but she is deeply connected with her brother, Gu Dahuan, and would occasionally come to Qinghe Bay to see Dahuan and Man Er.

However, she seldom stays for a meal due to Tong Huaqiong.

It has been two months since she last came to Qinghe Bay, which coupled with Nie Xiaofeng’s vague words, made Tong Huaqiong worry that Gu Baishuang might be facing difficulties with the Nie Family.

At the early summer birthday banquet of Old Mrs. Huang, from Gu Baishuang’s stepson’s wife, it was apparent that her life in the Nie Family was not as comfortable as imagined.

Tong Huaqiong searched through Tong Dajiao’s memories for events from a previous life regarding Gu Baishuang.

Due to Man Er being sent to the Zheng Family, Gu Baishuang completely broke ties with the Gu Family and never interacted with them again.

After Gu Jingzhe achieved the third-place scholar status, he brought Tong Dajiao and others to live in the Capital. Passing through town, he heard that Gu Baishuang’s husband had passed away. This cunning man had guarded against Gu Baishuang all his life, and before dying, he left all his wealth to his two sons, giving nothing to Gu Baishuang.

The two stepsons bribed the clan leader and forced Gu Baishuang to leave the Nie Family at the memorial hall, and Nie Xiaofeng, protecting his mother, was also expelled together.

Later, when Tong Dajiao reached the Capital, there was no more news of Gu Baishuang.

Tong Huaqiong, moved by the thought that Gu Baishuang was once willing to lend silver to redeem Yaozu, decided to investigate her current situation in the Nie Family.

Gu Dahuan was quite happy when asked by Tong Huaqiong to visit his sister, seeing it as a sign of his stepmother’s concern for her.

He and Chen Sufen could become a family with the stepmother, and he believed his sister would eventually too.

Thus, he agreed verbally and went to the Nie Family early the next morning.

After having lunch at the Nie Family, Gu Dahuan returned, telling Tong Huaqiong that Gu Baishuang was fine, although she recently had a cold that was almost better.

After hearing this, Tong Huaqiong felt slightly relieved.

However, thinking about Gu Baishuang’s fate, Tong Huaqiong wished to warn her to be wary of those closest to her.

But given the current situation, Gu Baishuang might not be willing to believe her.

She needed to think of a way to expose the Nie Family’s true nature.

This matter wasn’t urgent, as Gu Jingzhe still had several years before earning the scholar title.

...

Ever since the official plaque was affixed to the entrance of the house, Tong Huaqiong walked with a new-found confidence.

Her entire demeanor from inside out exuded vitality and clarity.

Of course, not everyone was convinced about Tong Huaqiong’s commendation from the government for her contribution in solving the blight disease, which earned her fame throughout Pingchuan County.

For instance, the wife of former Qinghe Bay village head, Xu Yong, Mrs. Tian, and Yan Pozi, who had an uneasy relationship with Tong Dajiao, among others, cursed Tong Huaqiong behind her back daily.

The one who resented Tong Huaqiong the most was the Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family, Xu Zaohua.

She believed that all the glory currently surrounding Tong Huaqiong should have been hers.

Xu Zaohua insisted that Tong Dajiao deliberately gave her father the pesticide before, setting a trap for her to fall into and thus disgrace her across the entire Pingchuan County.

As Tong Dajiao wished, Xu Zaohua’s disgrace was complete.

Xu Zaohua was not reconciled.

When the government commendation plaque was hung on Tong Huaqiong’s door, Xu Zaohua ground her teeth in fury.

Tong Huaqiong, of course, was unaware of any of this.

At this moment, she gazed at the corn stalks swaying in the village breeze, feeling gratified for making even a small contribution to this era’s agriculture.

Tong Dajiao’s memories informed her that this year the cornfields of the entire Yan Guan Town were severely affected by the blight disease, with several villages, including Qinghe Bay, having almost no harvest.

The Gu Family, of course, was not an exception.

Since the summer wheat had all been sold to fund Gu Jingzhe’s school fees in the provincial city, the Gu Family was without any grain.

Tong Dajiao was forced to lead her family up the mountains to dig wild vegetables and strip tree bark. By winter, most wild vegetables were gone, and the tree bark was stripped clean, leaving many to starve in the village.

The Gu Family almost starved to death if not for the Lu Family, who sent them food, saving Tong Dajiao and others from disaster.

Now, thanks to Tong Huaqiong’s efforts, Qinghe Bay wouldn’t be facing starvation due to a failed autumn harvest this year.

The villagers were delighted, seeing the growing fullness of the corn cobs daily, harboring a deep gratitude for Tong Huaqiong.

Most villagers of Qinghe Bay were simple and sincere, expressing their gratitude through gifts of vegetables, eggs, or fruits, filling up Tong Huaqiong’s home until she could hardly refuse any more.

In addition to this, the villagers learned that the barren land behind the Gu Family’s courtyard, rumored to be haunted by unjust souls slain by chaotic knives, was being developed for housing. Boss Qian of Fengle Building was going to perform a ritual for the souls’ peace, compelling villagers to muster courage and lend a hand.

Initially, fearful people hesitated to approach, but villagers stated that living so many years unharmed in the Gu Family’s yard proved the souls knew not to harm the innocent, as their days had only improved.

With unity and effort, the villagers quickly cleared the large barren land.

Village head Liu Tieshan, after consultation with the entire village, carved out a cemetery space in the sunny spot of the village graveyard to specifically bury the unjust souls.

As agreed, Boss Qian selected an auspicious day, inviting monks and priests for prayers to pacify the spirits.

Apart from this, Tong Huaqiong and the village head picked a fengshui-favored plot to separately inter Mrs. Hong’s parents and brother.

Mrs. Hong’s parents and brother finally found their resting place, allowing her to put a concern to rest.

Meanwhile, the foundation construction for the houses of Boss Qian and He Chao began.

The cleared barren land was still extensive, prompting Tong Huaqiong to expand her own courtyard.

She had long planned to renovate her courtyard.

Renovating the courtyard was an enormous project, raising the issue of where the family would stay during construction.

The development of the barren land resolved one of Tong Huaqiong’s issues, as she decided to extend backward.

Now, all villagers tacitly accepted that the barren land where the unjust souls were buried was part of the Gu Family house, allowing Tong Huaqiong to expand without complaints.

Even if someone did raise an issue, it was believed that village head Liu Tieshan would not stand idly by.

During the expansion of Tong Huaqiong’s courtyard, various plans were laid out.

With increased grain yields, sufficient storage space was necessary.

Tong Huaqiong felt storing surplus grain was essential, as upheavals could arise at any time in this era.

The storage areas needed to be as spacious as possible, not only ground-level but also dug below ground. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The pens for chickens, ducks, and geese also needed expansion.

With a pig farm owned by the family, a portion of the chickens, ducks, and geese were moved there, and plans were made to establish dedicated poultry farms upon finding suitable locations.

The expanded pens for chickens, ducks, and geese were designed mainly for recreational purposes, cultivating vegetables when idle.

Additionally, the more critical aspect was the human dwelling.

The previous house was built during Old Gu’s life, though partly renovated, the roof was mostly thatched, with some tiles, and the walls were largely mud with some blue bricks.

Considering the courtyard expansion, and with Liu Tieshan allocating a large piece of barren land, Tong Huaqiong decided to build anew on it.

The roofs would use tiles, with glazed tiles for eaves; walls and floors would use blue bricks.

More importantly, the walls needed thickness, with kang heating installed inside.

Entering this era in the spring had spared her a complete winter, but observing the distinct seasons indicated that the region is northern relative to the later geographical divide.

Most homes did without kang heating, enduring winters harshly.

For someone who enjoyed the comfort of northern heating since college, Tong Huaqiong found enduring winters without heating unbearable.

She wouldn’t spend winter clinging to a hot water bottle in Tong Dajiao’s old house, hence the necessity for a new build with kang-heated, thick-walled rooms.

Completion within the current season allowed for months of airing in late autumn, ready for occupancy by winter.

Perfect!