The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 368: Impure Motives

"You are thoughtful."

Tong Huaqiong kept her emotions steady, her tone calm.

Nie Mingyuan was slightly disappointed, why wasn’t his mother-in-law excited at all?

Such a top-quality great cloak couldn’t be bought even with money, and this opportunistic mother-in-law always loved to take advantage, there was no reason for her not to be pleased.

Nie Mingyuan concluded that his mother-in-law, now being titled as a Lady of Rank, was intentionally putting on airs.

Forget it, forget it, just endure for a while, he did have something to ask of his mother-in-law.

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Gu Baishuang sitting beside Nie Mingyuan.

Gu Baishuang showed a somewhat unnatural expression, and Tong Huaqiong became more suspicious of Nie Mingyuan’s impure motives for visiting during the New Year.

Nie Mingyuan then opened another box, giving Gu Dahan a jade pendant, Gu Dashu a snuff bottle, and giving Man Er, Xiao Long, and Yaozu each a silver collar.

Holding the jade pendant, Gu Dahan muttered to himself, what would a farmer like him do with this? This brother-in-law of his, really, even when giving gifts, doesn’t give something practical.

"These are the things Xiao Feng’s mother asked me to bring for the two sisters-in-law and the little aunt."

Nie Mingyuan pointed to the two parcels and two exquisite wooden boxes on the ground.

For Chen Sufen and Liu Yueer, it was two bolts of satin.

The rest were all for Gu Taohua.

This was obviously a lot more than the gifts for the two sisters-in-law.

Nie Mingyuan said to Gu Taohua, "Little Aunt, these two bolts of Shu embroidery were specially brought for you, such materials and patterns are rarely seen in our Pingchuan County. And in these two boxes, one is a fragrant balm, the other is headwear, all for you."

Gu Taohua smiled faintly and said, "Thank you."

Nie Mingyuan was somewhat displeased, this little sister-in-law was truly spoiled by her mother-in-law to turn her nose up at these. What an attitude.

No wonder she was fifteen and no one had come to propose yet.

Complaints aside, Nie Mingyuan had Nie Xiaofeng bring another large box.

"Third Brother, this is for you."

Nie Mingyuan waved to Gu Jingzhe, then opened the box.

In the box were books and writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Nie Mingyuan smiled and said, "These books were brought by a friend from Shengjing, the inkstone was given by a friend doing business in Huizhou, and the Xuan paper was brought by relatives from Xuanzhou. Third Brother, see if you like them."

Gu Jingzhe showed a flawless smile, "Thank you, Brother-in-law."

Tong Huaqiong said politely, "These can be left for Xiaofeng."

Nie Mingyuan glanced at Nie Xiaofeng beside him and said, "Xiaofeng isn’t good at studying, he and Third Brother went for the entrance exam together, I don’t even want to mention his grades, letting him use them would only sully these pens, ink, paper, and inkstone."

Nie Xiaofeng smirked coldly.

Tong Huaqiong thought that was a blunder, she was just being polite and didn’t expect to hit Nie Xiaofeng’s sore spot.

She didn’t know how Nie Xiaofeng’s grades were.

At this moment, the sound of practicing martial arts came from outside the window, it was Su Chengmin’s daily physical exercise routine.

He was exercising in light clothing in the cold wind.

Through the window, Tong Huaqiong saw Su Chengmin chopping wood with his bare hands.

Nie Xiaofeng was drawn to it and ran out excitedly.

Tong Huaqiong breathed a sigh of relief, Su Chengmin had chopped wood at just the right time.

Gu Baishuang beamed with indulgence and said, "Seeing people practice martial arts he can’t sit still, if only he could put the same effort into studying as Third Brother."

Gu Baishuang’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Sun, holding her son, chimed in, "Mother, you needn’t worry, Third Brother has always loved playing with swords and knives since he was young. I see his skills with a large knife aren’t inferior to the top performers. Even if he can’t succeed in academia, he won’t have to worry about his future with a knife in hand."

The whole room knew that Mrs. Sun’s words were a jab at Nie Xiaofeng.

Gu Baishuang’s face turned unpleasant.

Tong Huaqiong said, "As the saying goes, heroes don’t ask about background, everyone’s strengths are different. I think Xiaofeng might even become a general one day."

Gu Baishuang cast a grateful glance at her stepmother and said, "Mother, please don’t praise him too much, as long as he doesn’t cause trouble, I’m at ease."

Gu Baishuang never thought her own son would become a general, but she did appreciate an easing remark.

Mrs. Sun curled her lip.

Gu Jingzhe saw this and said to Gu Baishuang, "Elder Sister, Mother isn’t just praising Xiaofeng casually. Even our Mr. Su praised his composure, saying he has the demeanor of a general. Once when a thief broke into our school, it was Xiaofeng who fended off three thieves alone."

Gu Baishuang looked surprised, she wouldn’t have known if Gu Jingzhe hadn’t mentioned it.

Nie Xiaofeng never told her about the matters at school.

Nie Mingyuan chuckled twice and shifted the topic to Gu Jingzhe, saying, "How can Xiaofeng compare to Third Brother? Last year was Third Brother’s first time taking the entrance exam, and he already passed for a child student. This spring, he’s sure to pass the county exam for a scholar. Third Brother is the hope of our big family. When Third Brother succeeds, we’ll have an official in our family."

Gu Jingzhe smiled silently.

Nie Mingyuan then turned to Tong Huaqiong and asked, "Does Third Brother wish to go to Wanliu Academy to study? It would be a shame not to go to Wanliu Academy with such talent. The head of Wanliu Academy is a difficult person to deal with, but don’t worry, as long as Third Brother wants to go, I can ask my acquaintances to let him in."

Tong Huaqiong heard this and wanted to roll her eyes. If Gu Jingzhe wanted to go to Wanliu Academy, he could go after passing the county exam this spring; she could certainly afford it.

As for acquaintances, could Nie Mingyuan’s connections compare to hers?

Lu Zhaoyang was the headmaster of Wanliu Academy’s favored pupil, wasn’t that more reliable than anyone else’s connections?

Gu Jingzhe said, "Brother-in-law, I plan to take the Wanliu Academy entrance exam once the county exam results are out, if I pass for a scholar. It’s always more prestigious to pass the exam and enter than to be let in through connections."

Nie Mingyuan said, "No need for all that trouble, if you want to go now, there’s no need to wait until after the county exam ends."

Gu Jingzhe, young as he was, felt that Nie Mingyuan wanting to use the back door to get him into Wanliu Academy was an insult to his learning. In the enthusiasm of youth, he said with a face full of displeasure, "Brother-in-law doesn’t believe I can pass the entrance exam?"

Nie Mingyuan awkwardly said, "Third Brother, don’t misunderstand, I was just thinking of what’s best for you."

Tong Huaqiong watched everything with cold eyes, thinking, what exactly is Nie Mingyuan planning?

Here he was giving heavy gifts to Gu Taohua, trying to send Gu Jingzhe to Wanliu Academy.

The reason he did all this was because Tong Huaqiong most cherished this pair of twins, and what could be more in line with gaining favor with Tong Huaqiong than winning over both twins?

Tong Huaqiong picked up her tea, took a sip, set the teacup down, and quietly watched Nie Mingyuan’s performance.

Nie Mingyuan finally got to the point, smiling at Tong Huaqiong, "A few days ago I went to Huang Yuanwai’s house for a drink, and learned that his daughter was betrothed to the Government City Lu Family. That is truly an unexpected match, one in the Government City, the other in our Yan Guan Town. Only when Huang Yuanwai mentioned it did I realize, this match was made by you, Mother-in-law."

There it was!

Tong Huaqiong thought, Nie Mingyuan’s real intention was the Lu family.

This was easy to explain, Nie Mingyuan was a businessman. For him, getting connected with the Imperial Merchant Lu Family meant his business would naturally flourish.

As for wanting to connect with the Lu Family and expand the business, Tong Huaqiong didn’t reject the idea.

Didn’t she herself connect with Huang Yuanwai, and then with the Lu Family?

The key was that she didn’t dare introduce a calculating person like Nie Mingyuan to the Lu family, not when even his close ones were not spared from his schemes.