The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 261: Stepping Out of the Inner Quarters

Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Stepping Out of the Inner Quarters

Who will the vast wealth of the Lu Family be left to?

Naturally, it will be left to Lu Zhaozhao and Lu Zhaoyang.

Lu Zhaoyang has no interest in business. Mr. Lu didn’t raise this grandson to take over the business but to pursue a career in the civil service, to change the family’s social standing.

When Mr. Lu grows old or passes away, to whom will he hand over the business?

Perhaps as Lu Zhaoyang enters the bureaucratic path, the family’s business will fade into oblivion.

And Lu Zhaozhao? She will inherit the Lu family’s immense wealth and live a life free from want.

Mrs. Han used to think that with the family fortune earned by Mr. Lu and under Lu Zhaoyang’s protection, Lu Zhaozhao could marry a suitable man and her life would be complete.

But after listening to Tong Huaqiong, Mrs. Han began to think deeper.

Though both are descendants, Mr. Lu’s vision for Lu Zhaoyang was to uphold the family honor, making every effort to educate him, while for Lu Zhaozhao, it was sufficient for her to be a pampered young lady of the household.

Even if Lu Zhaozhao ends up with a large sum of silver, she would be like a caged bird — keeping that wealth might become a problem.

Lu Zhaozhao is half a year younger than Gu Taohua, yet Gu Taohua already carries the demeanor of a Young Master. Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao remains a naively lively young girl.

Mrs. Han came up with a bold idea: why couldn’t the uncle entrust the business to Lu Zhaozhao?

Why couldn’t Lu Zhaozhao learn to do business and run a shop like Gu Taohua?

If Lu Zhaozhao learned business, she might get along better with Tong Huaqiong if she marries into the Gu Family in the future.

So Mrs. Han said to Lu Zhaozhao, "Zhaozhao, Taohua is the same age as you, and she’s already managing a shop. Your family has such a large business; you can learn about running a business too."

Lu Zhaozhao exclaimed in surprise, "I can too?"

Lu Zhaozhao had never considered being involved in the family business, nor had anyone ever suggested she be in charge.

Even though she lost her parents early, under her grandfather’s protection, she never suffered any grievances.

Her living conditions surpass those of official’s daughters.

Her grandfather prepared enough silver for her to last a lifetime, avoiding even a penny from her future husband’s family.

Her grandfather said it was for her peace of mind.

"Why not? Zhaozhao, just imagine if you were a boy. Wouldn’t you already be learning to do business?" Mrs. Han asked.

Lu Zhaozhao widened her eyes, quickly falling into thought.

Mrs. Han never intended to sow discord between Lu Zhaozhao and Mr. Lu; she was just speaking candidly.

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Mrs. Han.

Mrs. Han’s words hit the nail on the head.

Compared to finding a good husband for Lu Zhaozhao, getting her involved in the family business is far more secure.

Tong Huaqiong believed that Mrs. Han wasn’t speaking from a point of gender equality, but rather from a place of simple care for Lu Zhaozhao.

A girl who has control over earning money won’t be troubled by how her future husband turns out, as she has the assurance in herself.

"Girls and boys are different," Lu Zhaozhao whispered.

As to where the differences lie, she couldn’t explain.

Essentially, boys are expected to achieve great things and honor the family, while girls only need to support their husbands and manage the household.

Yet, she truly envied Gu Taohua!

During the wheat harvest season, she visited Taohua Dessert in Yan Guan Town, watching Gu Taohua eagerly greet customers, manage accounts, and calculate on the abacus.

Her aunt was right; if she were a boy, she’d either be studying at Wanliu Academy like her brother or being taught by her grandfather how to manage the business hands-on.

Mrs. Han said, "What’s the difference? Did you hear what your Aunt Tong said earlier? We women can be as capable as men, sometimes even more capable."

Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "Exactly! But what’s important is what you think. Zhaozhao, let me ask you, do you want to learn to do business? Do you want to manage your family’s business in the future?"

Instead of answering, Lu Zhaozhao said, "My grandfather gave me a large sum of silver — enough to last till I die. I don’t need to do anything and can live in peace for a lifetime."

Tong Huaqiong felt a bit sorry for the girl before her.

Lu Zhaozhao’s thinking wasn’t wrong, at least not for girls of her era.

But the key is, such a stable life can’t be realized just by having money.

Especially for someone as innocent as Lu Zhaozhao, guarding a vast sum of money would be like a three-year-old carrying gold through a bustling market.

In the past life, Lu Zhaozhao married her ideal partner Gu Jingzhe with a significant amount of silver. What was the outcome in the end?

If in the past, Lu Zhaozhao wasn’t confined to the inner chambers and instead was nurtured by Mr. Lu to become the head of the Lu Family, she wouldn’t have placed all her hopes on Gu Jingzhe. Even if Gu Jingzhe allied with the Commandery Princess, she might have been able to turn the tables on them both.

Of course, it’s not about stepping out of the inner quarters just to deal with unfaithful men, but rather because doing so offers a broader world to see, allowing her to face whatever comes with ease.

Instead of letting fate’s hands strangle her.

Tong Huaqiong thought for a bit and said to Lu Zhaozhao, "Zhaozhao, what does a stable life mean to you? Marrying an ideal partner? Even if you marry someone perfect, you must rely on his conscience to live. In the provincial city, you must have heard of book-read scholars or businessmen becoming unfaithful. Even in our rural areas, some men get greedy after harvesting a few dozen extra pounds of grain. If you do not marry and hold on to a large sum of money, can you ensure relatives and clansmen won’t covet your wealth, ensuring a lifetime without worry?"

"Zhaozhao, I’m not saying this to jinx you; I’m telling you this because I want what’s best for you. Just look at your aunt and me, even after marrying, we didn’t just start living stable lives."

Tong Huaqiong’s words made Lu Zhaozhao fall into deep thought.

No one had ever spoken to her like this before. Her grandfather told her that the Lu family’s wealth would secure a life free from worry, and her brother said he would protect her all her life.

But herself?

Just waiting to be protected, ready to enjoy the silver?

Relying on her grandfather, her brother, her husband from her family to another. If they’re all gone? If her husband’s heart changes?

Whom can she rely on then?

Lu Zhaozhao is not foolish; given that she’s literate and has studied since childhood, she quickly absorbed Tong Huaqiong’s words.

Mrs. Han nodded and said, "Your Aunt Tong is right."

Lu Zhaozhao softly said, "I know how to use the abacus, calculate accounts, but later my grandfather said girls shouldn’t learn such things, shouldn’t be in the public eye, so I didn’t continue."

To be honest, Lu Zhaozhao is pretty resistant to the path Mr. Lu has in mind for her.

As for Mr. Lu, Tong Huaqiong searched in Tong Dajiao’s memory. He’s someone who knows how to plan for his granddaughter, but his plan is to mold Lu Zhaozhao into an aristocratic wife.

This explains why he’s against Lu Zhaozhao learning the abacus or business, as for an aristocratic wife, the most important thing is managing the household, supporting the husband and raising children, not needing to earn money publicly.

In the past life, it was only after Lu Zhaoyang died and Mr. Lu’s spirit waned did he marry Lu Zhaozhao to Gu Jingzhe.

If according to Mr. Lu’s determination for Lu Zhaozhao’s path in the past life, she could indeed become an aristocratic wife.

The Lu Family has immense wealth, and with Lu Zhaoyang’s future capabilities, Lu Zhaozhao, no longer being an orphan, has the value to be married into a refined family.

Does this mean in this life Lu Zhaozhao won’t connect with Gu Jingzhe?

At this thought, Tong Huaqiong felt quite conflicted.

However, whether becoming an aristocratic wife or reconnecting with Gu Jingzhe, going out of the inner chambers would be necessary and beneficial for Lu Zhaozhao.