The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 323: Scapegoat

Xiao Long officially became the son of the main branch of the Gu Family.

Three days later, the soldiers guarding the entrance of Qinghe Bay Village withdrew.

According to the village chief, all the soldiers of Yan Guan Town had withdrawn.

At the same time, Boss Qian brought mysterious insider news, saying that the remnants of the rebels were found in the mountains of Black Dragon Pond, the hometown of Tong Dajiao, and were chopped into pieces by the soldiers during their breakout.

"Manager Tong, at least now your family is cleared of suspicion," Boss Qian said mysteriously.

"Did they really find someone?"

Tong Huaqiong’s heart raced, wondering who had become the scapegoat.

She increasingly felt the cruelty of the royal power struggle in this era.

One could unwittingly become a scapegoat.

"Who knows? They say they were chopped into meat pulp. I heard from a drunken government officer in my restaurant that a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth and a little boy were caught and shot dead by soldiers on the spot. It’s no wonder they say not to be born in an imperial family. Despite the glory and wealth, once entangled in a power struggle, one’s life can’t be guaranteed. That child, growing up in the Eastern Palace, was killed just like that, without even a complete corpse left."

Boss Qian lowered his voice and shared the news he had gathered with Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong patted her chest.

If Boss Qian’s news was true, she had finally passed this ordeal.

But even though she made it through, Tong Huaqiong’s heart felt heavy.

She wondered which family’s children were the sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth and the little boy who unjustly died.

Such is the cruelty of royal power struggles.

Tong Huaqiong had read related histories in later generations, where loyal death warriors would sacrifice their own flesh and blood to protect the real royal lineage.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t agree with this sense of righteousness.

Why must the royal lineage be protected, and why must the children of loyal servants or maids be the scapegoats?

Tong Huaqiong couldn’t make such sacrifices either.

Although Tong Huaqiong had taken in Xiao Long, if it really came to that point, she would certainly prioritize the safety of herself and the Gu Family.

Su Chengmin was a person of this era, undoubtedly loyal to the Eastern Palace and Xiao Long. If he became a hindrance and sacrificed Tong Huaqiong and others, Tong Huaqiong would be the first to chop him.

"Manager Tong," Boss Qian had to call several times, clearly the news he brought had scared Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong came back to her senses and said, "That child is very pitiful."

Boss Qian said, "He Family’s younger sister is soft-hearted. She discussed with me, and we decided to spend some money to hold a ceremony for the youth and child in Black Dragon Pond, fulfilling a sense of loyalty."

Tong Huaqiong said, "Boss Qian and Sister Hong are righteous people, count me in as well."

"Is Da Han’s illegitimate child that child?" Boss Qian gestured towards the yard. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Tong Huaqiong turned around, seeing Man Er with Xiao Long and Yaozu sitting in the corn pile in the yard, peeling corn.

Xiao Long couldn’t peel, sitting by the side and tearing the husk off the corn cob.

He had changed out of his dress, wearing Yaozu’s clothes, with his lips red and teeth white, unchanged in demeanor, appearing gender ambiguous to outsiders.

Tong Huaqiong nodded and said, "It’s that child."

Boss Qian sighed, "Da Han is so honest, how did he end up having a child outside?"

Tong Huaqiong looked at Boss Qian, half-smiling.

Boss Qian immediately said, "I don’t mean to cast any doubt. Having an extra grandson in your family is quite good."

He truly wasn’t trying to pry.

These past days, Chen Sufen hadn’t been to Taohua Dessert.

Rumors had spread wildly outside, saying that the eldest son of Taohua Dessert, despite appearing honest, had a child outside, bringing the child home and angering Chen Sufen into striking.

Even Boss Qian in the town had heard this news.

"Boss Qian, could you please check if the flower trees are planted in the correct position?"

The contractor Liu Tong sent a laborer to invite Boss Qian over.

Boss Qian’s courtyard was nearly completed, with only the landscaping left.

Boss Qian was already planning to move to Qinghe Bay Village this morning; Tong Huaqiong thought he wasn’t afraid of formaldehyde.

But considering this era uses stones, wood, and thatch from the mountains, plus the location being open and well-ventilated, formaldehyde was practically nonexistent.

After Boss Qian left, Tong Huaqiong returned to the yard.

All the corn in the field had been harvested, some brought to the threshing yard, and some brought home.

In Tong Huaqiong’s yard, corn was piled everywhere, leaving only a narrow path for people to pass through.

The golden corn brought a sense of harvest joy.

However, Tong Huaqiong felt heavy-hearted, with much of the harvest joy faded.

The past days, the villagers had been gossiping about the Gu Family, criticizing Gu Dahuan’s hypocrisy, rehashing things of Tong Huaqiong’s past mistreatment of Chen Sufen, secretly scolding her.

The gossip about the Gu Family spread from Qinghe Bay throughout Yan Guan Town.

However, with the corn harvest, the villagers appreciated Tong Huaqiong’s generosity in giving medicine, feeling too embarrassed to keep harping on this issue.

Even when hearing others criticize, some would retort saying Chen Sufen had accepted it, so why bother so much.

Tong Huaqiong’s reputation was rising again.

"Lai Fu, why are you sitting there? You’ve been eating and drinking at my home for days without doing anything, do you plan to keep living here on leisure? You can’t cook, nor can you fire up the stove. Surely, you can sweep the yard, can’t you?"

Gu Taohua, hands on her hips, pointed at Su Chengmin and scolded.

Currently, Su Chengmin had been named Lai Fu by the Gu Family.

The name meant bringing fortune to the Gu Family.

Su Chengmin had endured two days and nights of fever, finally awakening yesterday.

Gu Jingzhe worried he wouldn’t heal without seeing sunlight, so he helped him sit in the yard to bask in the sun.

Su Chengmin was no longer as strongly affected by being called Lai Fu.

No matter his objections, as Tong Huaqiong said, Lai Fu was his name now.

The whole village knew he was called Lai Fu now.

Su Chengmin’s physical resilience even made Tong Huaqiong sigh in amazement; just yesterday he opened his eyes, today he could already get out of bed.

Su Chengmin frowned at Gu Taohua’s criticism.

Sweep the yard?

Gu Taohua was truly joking; his leg wound hadn’t healed yet, even with Gu Jingzhe’s support, he limped, how could he sweep?

Su Chengmin pointed to his leg without speaking.

Gu Taohua rolled her eyes and said, "You deceived me out of silver; now you’re our family’s hired hand. Don’t expect to live lavishly here. Your leg is injured, but your hands aren’t, right? Since your hands aren’t broken, go peel the corn."

"You can’t even do it as well as Xiao Long; Xiao Long at least knows how to peel corn."

Tong Huaqiong picked up a corn scraper from the corn pile and placed it before Su Chengmin, gesturing at the corn in front of him, "This is all your work."

Su Chengmin gritted his teeth.

This mother and daughter duo were truly something.

Though his wounds hadn’t healed, they were making him work.

"Don’t think we’re being harsh. Without us, you’d have no life," Gu Taohua justified self-righteously.

"You peel these corns; I’ll check on them when I return."

Gu Taohua swiveled and went out gossiping.

Su Chengmin sighed; village girls weren’t like Shengjing ladies who followed strict propriety, nor did they blush when talking to men.

Gu Taohua walked away, and Su Chengmin picked up the corn cob to start threshing.

"Aunt Tong."

Su Chengmin looked up, seeing Tong Huaqiong with the corn; he had plenty he wanted to say.

"What is it? I’m warning you, don’t try to slack off."

Tong Huaqiong set a stern face.

Someone like Su Chengmin, worthy of the Crown Prince’s trust, must have been a young talent.

Now having fallen to the village, dubbed Lai Fu, who knows if he could overcome this psychological hurdle.

That’s why Tong Huaqiong was pushing him to work.

Working distracts from other thoughts.

Su Chengmin looked at Tong Huaqiong and softly said, "The dead were one posing as my death warrior, another was the Grand Tutor’s steward’s grandson."