The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 370: Controlling Money and Business

Gu Baishuang realized what was happening when she saw Tong Huaqiong standing in front of her.

It turned out it wasn’t her sister-in-law calling her inside for a private chat, but her stepmother wanting to see her for something.

She didn’t understand what tricks her stepmother was playing, avoiding Nie Mingyuan and having her sister-in-law call her in.

Tong Huaqiong, indifferent to Gu Baishuang’s thoughts, spoke directly: "Baishuang, are you wondering why I called you in alone? I have something to tell you. No matter what prejudice you hold against me as your stepmother, no matter what you think after hearing this, I can tell you first, I have to say it, and I won’t harm you."

Without waiting for Gu Baishuang to speak, Tong Huaqiong asked: "I know how your days are in the Nie Family, more discomfort than comfort. Especially after your stepsons grew up and got married, your days have been even harder. The reason they’re disrespectful isn’t because you’re a stepmother, nor because you’re not good enough. Do you know what the biggest reason is?"

Gu Baishuang was stunned.

She hadn’t thought deeply about this question, just like today when her stepmother asked how much of the Nie Family’s business she controlled.

But she had asked herself this question, thinking she had been good to her stepsons. Because she had lived under a stepmother’s roof, she knew how hard life was for stepchildren, so she treated her stepsons better than her own child.

What made her heart cold was that she had raised two ungrateful wretches.

Now, the two daughters-in-law frequently complained that Xiaofeng spent too much Silver, and that Xiaofeng was poor in his studies, implying that if Nie Mingyuan died before her, the two stepsons would suffer losses in the inheritance.

Heaven knows, she’d never thought of taking over the estate after Nie Mingyuan died, nor had she thought of giving more to Nie Xiaofeng.

Gu Baishuang smiled wryly and said, "Yes, I pour my heart out to them, yet they don’t respect me and are wary, constantly worried that I’ll whisper sweet nothings to transfer the Nie Family estate to Xiaofeng."

Tong Huaqiong said, "That’s because you haven’t controlled the Lu Family’s business and money." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Just like Jin Fengxiang in the prefecture, the lady of the house took control and then gave it up, leading to conflicts between stepsons and biological sons.

If Gu Baishuang truly had control over the Lu Family’s money and business, and truly had the power to distribute the estate to Nie Xiaofeng, the two stepsons would instead fear her and curry favor with her.

People only fear what can dictate their destiny.

Gu Baishuang was a little bewildered.

Controlling the Lu Family’s business and money, Gu Baishuang considered this when she first married Nie Mingyuan.

Gu Baishuang wasn’t stupid; she could strategize and calculate.

But Nie Mingyuan said doing business was exhausting, and she just needed to manage the household well.

After Xiaofeng was born, she once again thought about doing business with Nie Mingyuan, simply to share the burden with her husband.

But Nie Mingyuan subtly suggested she was being restless, leading others to gossip that she wanted to keep the Silver to guard against her stepsons. Already traumatized from her experience with step-relations, Gu Baishuang, after hearing Nie Mingyuan’s implication, dared not bring up business again.

Tong Huaqiong could tell from Gu Baishuang’s expression what she’d gone through in the Nie Family.

She had fallen into the trap of both Nie Mingyuan and her own Heart Demon.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Nie Mingyuan is very clear about your situation now, yet he doesn’t sympathize with you at all, just watching as your stepsons bear a grudge against you. If he didn’t let you handle business when you first arrived at the Nie Family, it could be somewhat understandable, but now that Xiaofeng is so grown, can’t he see how you’ve treated the two stepsons? He lets them provoke and suspect you, which shows he does it on purpose and doesn’t trust you. I’m not trying to sow discord between you and your husband; your current situation is caused by Nie Mingyuan, by his precautions and distrust."

Gu Baishuang broke into a cold sweat.

Nie Mingyuan indeed guarded against her.

To this day, she didn’t know the scale of the family’s business or how much Silver they had.

She recalled stories her stepmother heard in the Lu Family, where if Nie Mingyuan died before her, he would leave the entire estate to the two stepsons, who would then find a reason to drive her out, and she’d be powerless.

What to do?

Now Nie Mingyuan was getting older, and Xiaofeng was still not of age.

If Nie Mingyuan truly did as the Family Head in her stepmother’s stories, what would become of her and Xiaofeng?

Tong Huaqiong, seeing that Gu Baishuang was taking it to heart, said, "Sometimes people guard against outsiders harming them, but don’t know how defenseless they are against the machinations of the person beside them. I’m not telling you to break with Nie Mingyuan or to harm him. I want you to have a plan and be cautious, especially now that Xiaofeng is still young. You need to strategize for yourself and him."

Nie Xiaofeng stirred something in Gu Baishuang’s mind.

Yes, she still had to think about her own son.

Gu Baishuang thought quietly for a moment, then looked up with resolve and asked, "What should I do then?"

Very good, Gu Baishuang was starting to consider her options.

Then the outcome of Gu Baishuang’s past life would somewhat be rewritten.

Tong Huaqiong understood that whether it was Tong Pandi’s fate or Lu Zhaozhao’s, they diverted from the previous life’s path because of their own awakening.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Baishuang, you need to take control of the business and money. When you have control, see if anyone in the Nie Family dares to look down on you. Everything else is insubstantial; a husband’s favor is unreliable, stepsons’ flattery is unreliable, only what you hold in your hands is truly real. Nie Mingyuan guarding against you, stepsons targeting you, it all boils down to you having no leverage. If you have leverage, they would only cater to you and dread you."

"Now, your two stepsons are incapable, and Xiaofeng is young. Don’t mind me speaking harshly, but Nie Mingyuan is much older than you. If he dies before you, but you hold the Nie Family’s business, you’re not afraid of your two stepsons confronting you."

Gu Baishuang’s smile turned even more bitter.

What her stepmother said and didn’t say was the same; she also wanted to control the family’s business and money.

But over these years, she was in the dark, with Nie Mingyuan guarding against her and her stepsons watching her like hawks, how could she open a gap?

Gu Baishuang said, "It’s not that easy to control money and business."

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "It’s not difficult if you want to take control. Now, there’s an opportunity."

Gu Baishuang asked, "What opportunity?"

Tong Huaqiong thought, who said women in ancient times only stayed home to support their husbands and teach their children; once they had a chance to get involved in the family’s finances, they were eager to try.

Look at this, the way Gu Baishuang’s eyes lit up when she heard her say that.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Now, isn’t Nie Mingyuan wanting me to make a connection with the Lu Family? I didn’t agree today not because I refused to connect, but because I’ve been thinking you could take this opportunity to get involved in your family’s business and seize control of your family’s assets."

Gu Baishuang was tempted.

No one knew better than her how much Nie Mingyuan wanted to connect with the Lu Family.

To climb up to the Lu Family, Nie Mingyuan even stepped into the Gu Family’s door, and he, who always looked down on Tong Huaqiong, could even bend his knee to gain favor.

If her stepmother was willing to set up a connection with the Lu Family, perhaps Nie Mingyuan would consider letting her get involved in the business.