The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 257: Matchmaking for Whom

The County Magistrate’s mother came, so naturally, it wouldn’t be proper to only serve her plain communal food.

Even though the Magistrate’s mother also came from a rural background and wouldn’t feel slighted by communal food, it would instead evoke a nostalgic feeling of cherishing the past hardships.

It’s not that Tong Huaqiong caters to people based on their status, but since Mrs. Han is, after all, a guest at Tong Huaqiong’s house.

As she is a guest, the way of hospitality shouldn’t be so frugal.

Therefore, Tong Huaqiong personally prepared stewed ribs, braised pork, twice-cooked pork, rock sugar pig’s knuckle, and stir-fried intestines. Mrs. Zhao helped cook a few vegetarian dishes, setting up a feast to entertain Mrs. Han.

She also asked Gu Jingzhe to open a jar of fine wine.

Tong Huaqiong invited the laborious Mrs. Zhao, Aunt Qin, and Mrs. Hong to join them.

Originally, Mrs. Zhao and Aunt Qin were shy and reluctant to join the table, but they sat down under Tong Huaqiong’s strong persuasion.

A table full of middle-aged and elderly women eating a lavish feast alone was a first in Qinghe Bay.

"This pork is truly delicious," Mrs. Han nodded frequently while eating a piece of braised pork.

Since her son passed the exams, life for the Liu family had improved, and with County Magistrate Liu’s utmost filial piety, he brought her all kinds of good food and drinks.

Having eaten a lot of delicacies, Mrs. Han’s palate, although not spoiled, could somewhat discern quality in food.

For instance, in the past, they could only manage to get a pound of pork for dumplings once a year during the New Year, but at some point, she always felt that pork had a rancid taste.

Initially, she thought living in the city made the pork taste bad.

However, when her son brought fresh pork from the countryside for her, she still found it rancid.

Therefore, she had not eaten much pork over the years.

Even during the New Year, they mainly made dumplings of beef and lamb or chive and egg fillings.

At home, they primarily used rapeseed oil for cooking.

Just earlier, while eating the pork lard cracklings, she noticed they were more fragrant than what she used to have, thinking that it might be because she hadn’t eaten pork lard for a long time.

Mrs. Han picked up a rib, finding it just as tasty as the braised pork, without a hint of rancidness.

Hearing Mrs. Han’s comments, Mrs. Zhao and Aunt Qin chimed in.

To dine with the County Magistrate’s wife made them feel dignified, giving them something to boast about back in the village.

Mrs. Zhao took a piece of braised pork and said, "I noticed it while eating the pork lard cracklings that the pork from this family tastes different, much more fragrant."

Aunt Qin swallowed a bite of the pork intestine and said, "It seems pigs fed with corn are different, even the offal lacks any odor."

Tong Huaqiong smiled.

This pig was not only castrated but also grew in a naturally pollution-free environment, eating the most natural grass and corn. How could the meat not be fresh and tender?

Plus, with her meticulous cooking, its delicious taste elevated even further.

No wonder even Mrs. Han, who wasn’t short of delicacies, couldn’t stop praising it.

Tong Huaqiong tore off a piece of rock sugar pig’s knuckle, the flavorful and juicy knuckle aroma lingering in her mouth.

Despite all the braised pork and ribs she had in her previous life, she still salivates over today’s pork.

So fragrant, fresh, and tender!

Even boiled in plain water, it tastes good!

If it were her previous life, this would be pure, organic, pollution-free pork, with a sky-high price in an organic grocery store.

This pig gave Tong Huaqiong great confidence in the batch of pigs to be marketed at the end of the year.

Just wait, soon she will supply pork to every major meat shop and restaurant in Pingchuan County.

The family’s business territory is about to expand again.

Due to the table packed with tempting braised ribs, pork, and rock sugar knuckles, Tong Huaqiong and the others only exchanged a few words before digging into their meal.

Even Mrs. Hong, who didn’t usually have a big appetite, finished half a bowl of braised pork and two big buns.

After the meal, Mrs. Zhao and Aunt Qin scrambled to clean up the dishes, not letting Tong Huaqiong lift a finger.

Mrs. Hong also helped out.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t stand on ceremony and stayed in the room to chat with Mrs. Han.

Mrs. Han inquired about the shop’s business, the crops in the field, and the chickens, ducks, and geese in the yard. She suddenly changed the subject and asked, "When I first arrived, I saw a boy in the yard washing pig intestines. I heard he’s your twin son. Who is older, him or Taohua?"

While eating, Gu Jingzhe was busy serving dishes, with no pretense of a scholar.

At that moment, Gu Jingzhe was in the yard washing dishes.

Mrs. Han’s impression of Gu Jingzhe improved significantly.

Tong Huaqiong nodded with a smile and said, "He was born a cup of tea time earlier, so he’s the older brother."

Mrs. Han smiled and said, "It’s rare to see a twin brother."

Tong Huaqiong was rather surprised; could that be faked?

She immediately realized that Mrs. Han’s remark wasn’t unusual.

She had heard of some families with a preference for boys over girls, where, regardless of who was born first or last, the girl was always called the elder sister. This way, the girl would be more inclined to take care of the boy.

Such cases occur even with relative gender equality in the modern era, let alone in ancient times when the preference for boys was even more pronounced. Such situations must be even more common.

Because it was common, Tong Dajiao’s chronological order of the twins became precious.

Tong Huaqiong accepted the admiration in Mrs. Han’s eyes straightforwardly.

But why did Mrs. Han bring up Gu Jingzhe out of the blue?

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Lu Zhaozhao sitting beside Mrs. Han and noticed Lu Zhaozhao seemed a bit unnatural.

A bad premonition rose in Tong Huaqiong’s heart.

Mrs. Han said, "Your youngest son is not like other scholars; he can do housework and, I heard, even farming."

Tong Dajiao’s youngest son is truly remarkable, humble and willing to work without the aloofness typical of scholars.

Much like her son back in the day, a considerate child.

Tong Huaqiong said, "A poor child manages the household early. Besides, after studying, if he becomes an official, how can he govern well if he doesn’t understand the life of the common people? So I often teach him not to think studying makes him different from others. The more he studies, the more grounded he should be to walk the right path in the future."

Mrs. Han nodded repeatedly, starting to regard Tong Huaqiong as a kindred spirit.

Tong Huaqiong’s education was identical to how she educated her son back in the day.

Hence, her son is now praised by everyone as a good, benevolent official, all thanks to the solid foundation.

Gu Jingzhe will undoubtedly be no less successful in the future.

Mrs. Han then asked, out of the blue, "Your youngest son is so handsome and sensible; has he been engaged?"

Tong Huaqiong’s inner alarm bells started ringing.

Could it be that Mrs. Han’s family visit wasn’t only to see Liu Yanhong but also to propose a match?

For whom, then?

Obviously, it would be for her young son and Lu Zhaozhao.

Considering Gu Jingzhe’s previous life as a Chen Shimei, in this life, Tong Huaqiong is not inclined for Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao to be together. She feels Gu Jingzhe is unworthy.

If, in this life, they are destined to be together, Tong Huaqiong won’t stop them. With her supervision, Gu Jingzhe wouldn’t dare to wrong Lu Zhaozhao.

But given their age, it’s too early to talk about marriage.

Gu Jingzhe hasn’t even achieved a Scholar title, not to mention that if Lu Zhaozhao marries at this age, it would harm her health with pregnancy and childbirth.

Therefore, even if Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao are ordained to meet in the wheel of reincarnation, Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t let them get engaged now.

After some thought, Tong Huaqiong said to Mrs. Han, "He hasn’t been engaged yet."

Lu Zhaozhao’s eyes brightened, which didn’t escape the sharp eyes of Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong continued, "I don’t plan to arrange an early engagement for him. He’s still a child student, without rank or name, lest he wastes some girl’s time."

Lu Zhaozhao’s hands clenched in her sleeves, and her nails bit into her palms, causing a dull pain.

Her expression turned crestfallen.

"Zhaozhao, go see where your cousin went, don’t let him cause trouble!"

Mrs. Han realized after a long conversation with Tong Huaqiong that she hadn’t sent Lu Zhaozhao out.

So she quickly found an excuse to send Lu Zhaozhao away.

After all, nobody would discuss marriage in the presence of the girl in question.