The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 28: Barking Up the Wrong Tree

No matter how Chen Shufen and Man Er described how Tong Huaqiong had changed and was different from before.

Gu Baishuang didn’t quite believe it.

She didn’t believe that someone with a black heart for three or four decades could change in such a short time.

On the road, she saw Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua sitting with large bags on Mr. Xu’s carriage. She thought of what Sufen said about the black-hearted stepmother going to town every day these days to sell food and think of ways to make money, and she just felt that what was happening with the Gu Family was getting more and more topsy-turvy.

When Mr. Xu’s ox cart arrived at Qinghe Bay, it was already dark.

Chen Shufen, worried about her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, held Man Er in one hand and a wind lamp in the other, welcoming them at the village entrance.

"Grandma, grandma is back. Mom, look, grandma and aunt are on Grandpa Xu’s cart." Man Er, with sharp eyes, saw Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua sitting on Mr. Xu’s carriage and excitedly ran over.

"Man Er is really filial, waiting here for me." Tong Huaqiong jumped off the carriage, rubbed Man Er’s head, and said with a smile, "Grandma bought you some floral fabric, so your mom can make you a floral dress to wear."

"Great, great, I am so happy to have a floral dress to wear." Man Er clapped her hands excitedly.

This scene fell into Mr. Xu’s and the other people’s eyes in Qinghe Bay, and it was as if they had seen a ghost.

What’s going on?

When did Widow Tong and the Gu Family’s eldest branch become so harmonious?

Didn’t the whole village know that Widow Tong was poisonous towards the Gu Family’s eldest branch?

Even though the Gu Family intended to hide it, no family’s secrets could be kept in the village. These days, it spread throughout the village that Widow Tong, for her youngest son to study, was going to send Man Er to a wealthy family for a blessing.

The villagers feared Widow Tong’s tantrums and didn’t dare say anything to her face but had long since cursed her behind her back.

Now rumors spread in the village that, for some unknown reason, Man Er didn’t go, instead Gu Yaozu got involved, and these days he is about to be sent out as collateral for silver.

Any households that sympathized with the Gu Family’s eldest branch clapped their hands in approval behind the scenes.

"Sister-in-law, come quickly, Mom bought so many things."

Gu Taohua took down the items from the cart one by one, and Chen Shufen came over to help organize them.

"Not only does Man Er have new clothes, but Mom also got new clothes for you, Sister-in-law." Gu Taohua patted the silk cloth in her arms and said.

Those who had returned from town with Tong Huaqiong looked at each other with disbelief in their eyes.

Tong Huaqiong, a longtime ranking member of the list of wicked mothers-in-law in Qinghe Bay, was now so nice to her daughter-in-law, even giving her clothes.

Even more rare, Gu Taohua, who was quick to bully Chen Shufen, had also changed her ways.

Someone then remarked in a strange tone.

"Wow, the sun really rose from the west today, and even Chen Shufen can wear new clothes."

"Isn’t there a bigger scheme here? After all, as both stepmother and mother-in-law, can she really treat Sufen sincerely?"

"A piece of fabric isn’t worth much; perhaps it’s just for selling the granddaughter for the son’s future, a deliberate show."

...

These words reached Chen Shufen’s ears, making her extremely embarrassed, and she quietly said, "My mother-in-law isn’t like that."

Some young wives snickered, thinking Chen Shufen had been bullied silly, confused by a bit of sweetness.

"Talk nonsense about your fathers, it’s your own family that’s a mess, don’t think about ruining our mother-in-law relationship."

Tong Huaqiong stood with her hands on her hips, looking righteous.

If you didn’t know, you’d think her relationship with Chen Shufen was always good.

Since Tong Huaqiong was accustomed to being aggressive in the village, once she spoke, others shivered and dared not say another bad word, afraid she would rush into their homes to break things.

"Oh," Chen Shufen handed the wind lamp to Man Er, then bent down to pick up the baking ingredients Tong Huaqiong bought, only to feel someone bump into her backside, causing her to exclaim.

"Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?" Gu Taohua asked.

Chen Shufen replied as if it were nothing, "Nothing, just twisted my waist a little."

Tong Huaqiong’s eyes were obscurely expressionless.

Just now, when Chen Shufen exclaimed, she saw the village rascal Xu Si pass by behind her.

This rascal often groped young girls and young wives. Tong Huaqiong didn’t know if Xu Si bumped Chen Shufen’s backside intentionally or not, but either way, if he thought Chen Shufen was easy to bully, he was mistaken.

Tong Huaqiong stared at Xu Si’s back, coldly laughing to herself, sooner or later, she intended to have Xu Si answer to her.

"Lao Xu, thank you for the cart, Taohua and I will continue using your cart in the future." Tong Huaqiong said to Mr. Xu.

Mr. Xu nodded, saying, "Alright, let me know in advance, and I’ll save you a spot."

After all, Tong Huaqiong and her daughter paid for four people’s fares today, and it didn’t affect other villagers using his cart, so naturally, he was willing to make this business deal.

"Why did you buy so many things?" Chen Shufen asked, carrying a bunch of items.

Though happy that her mother-in-law had bought her and Man Er fabric, she also felt it was a bit too extravagant.

Judging from her mother-in-law and sister-in-law working from morning till night, making money wasn’t easy.

"Business was good today, and Mom is very happy; the green bean cakes and cookies were all sold out. Sister-in-law, guess how much silver we made today?" Gu Taohua teased Chen Shufen.

"How much? I can’t guess." Chen Shufen said honestly. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"We made five taels of silver." Gu Taohua said with joy.

Chen Shufen couldn’t believe it and turned to look at her mother-in-law.

"Your sister-in-law isn’t lying to you." Tong Huaqiong also looked genuinely happy.

"That’s really great." Chen Shufen said excitedly, unable to form her words clearly.

"Sister-in-law, you don’t know how clever Mom is. Today she set up her stall in front of the Crispy Food Garden. I was so scared and thought it wouldn’t sell. But people actually came to buy it. Those who tasted agreed that our green bean cakes and cookies were even tastier than those from the Crispy Food Garden."

"What’s more, Sister-in-law, you’ll never guess who we encountered as a benefactor. The wealthy Huang Yuanwai from town tasted our green bean cakes and couldn’t stop praising them. He ordered a batch of cakes to celebrate his mother’s birthday."

Chen Shufen already found it unbelievable that her mother-in-law directly challenged the Crispy Food Garden. Now hearing that Huang Yuanwai ordered their cakes for a birthday banquet left her in a daze.

"That’s why I bought so much sugar, oil, red dates, and other materials. We’ll make a batch of cakes and send them to Huang Yuanwai’s home first. If he’s satisfied, we’ll start making more." Tong Huaqiong said.

Chen Shufen was so excited she nearly fainted.

"I trust Mom’s skills, Huang Yuanwai will definitely be satisfied."

After these days, she and Gu Taohua believed there wasn’t a pastry that Tong Huaqiong couldn’t make.

The three women—mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and aunt—walked back home, talking about the prosperous days ahead.

The gentle breeze of late spring caressed them, while the fields carried the fragrant scent of young wheat.

"Did your in-laws’ family return?"

As Tong Huaqiong approached her home, Liu Yueer’s father, Liu Tiechui, was just coming out of the Gu family courtyard.

Tong Huaqiong nodded.

If the original owner’s memory was correct, this was the first time Liu Yueer’s father had come to visit since she married into the Gu Family.

Tong Huaqiong guessed his visit must have something to do with Yaozu.

"In-laws, I don’t mean to be harsh, but your family’s third son is just too much. How can he sacrifice his nieces and nephews for his studies? It’s good that your third son is good at his studies, but if his thoughts are twisted, even if he becomes a Champion Scholar, it’s useless."

Liu Tiechui had come to deliver ten taels of silver to Liu Yueer. When he encountered Tong Huaqiong on his way out, although he didn’t initially want to deal with her, he couldn’t help but speak his mind.

But he regretted it afterward, worried that Tong Huaqiong might retaliate by verbally cursing his ancestors down to the eighteenth generation.

"In-laws, you’ve spoken wisely, I feel the same way, so I won’t let the third child study anymore." Tong Huaqiong replied calmly.

Liu Tiechui was taken aback.

Was his in-laws’ rebranding herself?

"I’ve given Yueer ten taels of silver. In-laws, think of a way, we can’t let Yaozu really end up as collateral; after all, he’s also my grandson." Liu Tiechui said.

Tong Huaqiong was surprised.

Liu Yueer had a good father!

Liu Yueer was indeed silly, willing to forsake her parents to marry Gu Dashi. Though the Liu family hadn’t acknowledged the Gu family for all these years, in a critical moment, they still looked after their daughter.

Ten taels of silver meant depleting a farmer’s savings.

There weren’t many people who would go to such lengths for their daughters in these times, especially given that Liu Yueer wasn’t someone known for her filial piety.