The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 163 Love-obsessed mind not yet developed
Gu Taohua felt that Fan Tong had tricked her.

Thanks to Tong Huaqiong's guidance during this period, Gu Taohua's mind was no longer empty.

The pressure of doing business left her no time to spark a romance with Fan Tong, and the signs of her developing romantic feelings had not yet appeared.

At this time, she and Fan Tong were still in an ambiguous relationship, so she felt only anger and no self-pity towards Fan Tong for climbing up to the Huang family's daughter.

You, Fan Tong, are actually a spider!

He doesn't even need to split his legs; he comes with extra legs to stomp on the two girls.

Gu Taohua thought it was impossible for her to confront Fan Tong. Firstly, Fan Tong had not explicitly said that he liked her; secondly, if this got out, it would be embarrassing for her and Taohua Dessert; and thirdly, she felt it would be too degrading.

She could only suffer in silence this time, and from now on, she would give up on her feelings for Fan Tong and never pay attention to him again.

She cursed Fan Tong, hoping he would suffer a setback in the Huang family.

"Peach Blossom, come and eat watermelon."

Seeing that Gu Taohua was sitting listlessly in the chair, Tong Huaqiong asked Gu Dashu to cut a watermelon for Gu Taohua to cool her down.

The watermelon was bought early in the morning and soaked in well water.

The watermelon, which had been soaking in the sun all day, was refreshingly cool, and one bite was so sweet it warmed my heart.

After eating the watermelon, Gu Taohua felt much better.

As Gu Taohua packed her things to go home, she said to Tong Huaqiong when her sister-in-law wasn't around, "Mother, I'm never talking to Fan Tong again."

Tong Huaqiong asked, "You heard everything Yuqin said?"

Gu Taohua nodded, then threw the handkerchief Fan Tong had given her into the stove where the rice dumplings were being cooked and burned it.

There was even a poem written on it, it was so cheesy it made my teeth ache.

Gu Taohua's love-struck mind has finally been cured.

Tong Huaqiong was pleased that she had accomplished another great feat.

It seems that the fates of these few bad bamboos are all heading in the right direction and getting better and better. First, Gu Jingzhe understood the meaning of reading, and then Gu Taohua cleansed the water from her head.

Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Taohua, "You're still young, it's normal for you to be blinded by Fan Tong. Fortunately, his true colors have been revealed, and it's a good thing that you've seen through him now."

Gu Taohua said, "Mother, I will put all my energy into the shop from now on. All the men in the world are no good; they only like fair-skinned, thin girls like Gu Xiaocao and Xu Zaohua."

Tong Huaqiong comforted Gu Taohua, saying, "Nonsense, a man who truly loves you won't care whether you're fat or not."

Gu Taohua raised her head and said, "Hmph, whatever man he is, I don't care what they pick and choose. I don't care if he cares about my weight."

Tong Huaqiong nodded approvingly.

It has to be said that Gu Taohua, who is obsessed with love and has a clean mind, is ahead of some girls in Tong Huaqiong's previous life in terms of her mental state towards men.

In the following days, Taohua Dessert's meat-filled rice dumplings once again became a popular festive delicacy in Yanguan Town.

Chen Su-fen and Ms. Hu worked from morning till night, and almost couldn't keep up with the demand.

Su Shi Yuan and some other food shops have also started selling meat-filled rice dumplings.

But most people still think that peach blossom desserts taste the most authentic.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, with the same ingredients, the same cooking time, and the same taste, customers would only recognize peach blossom desserts.

Because Peach Blossom Desserts was the first vendor to launch meat-filled rice dumplings, people have a preconceived notion.

Just like a certain meat floss pastry in later generations, many shops may not make it as good as a certain chef, but everyone still recognizes that chef.

On the day before the Dragon Boat Festival, Yuqin came to the shop again to pick up the pastries she had ordered in advance for the Dragon Boat Festival family feast.

"Aunt Tong, thanks to your reminder. My husband sent someone to Wild Buffalo Valley to inquire, and guess what? That scholar Fan was indeed having an affair with the village chief's daughter on one hand, and also had designs on our young lady on the other. He was trying to keep it a secret from both sides, and now that the matter has been exposed, the village chief of Wild Buffalo Valley and my husband are furious."

"What is this Fan Xiucai? He looks respectable, but I never expected him to be such a liar. They say scholars are good at deceiving people, and it's true." Yuqin then told Tong Huaqiong about the situation that Master Huang had sent someone to inquire about Fan Tong.

After saying that, he cursed Fan Tong, wishing him a terrible death.

Master Huang didn't seem like the type to suffer a loss, and Tong Huaqiong knew that Fan Tong's reputation was probably ruined.

Want to become a wealthy family's son-in-law again? Dream on!
When Gu Taohua learned that Fan Tong had not only climbed up to the daughter of the village chief of Wild Buffalo Valley Village, but also tried to climb up to the daughter of the wealthy Huang family, she felt even more contempt for Fan Tong.

She wished she could gouge her own eyes out; how could she have ever fallen for someone like that?

Fortunately, I only accepted a handkerchief from him and gave him a few pastries, without giving him anything more.

Fan Tong was unaware that Master Huang had already excluded him from the family of sons-in-law.

He carried his Dragon Boat Festival gifts and happily went to Master Huang's door.

They were stopped by the gatekeeper.

"I've come to deliver a Dragon Boat Festival gift to Uncle Huang." Fan Tong looked at the gatekeeper with disdain.

He had entered and exited the Fan family's house several times, and the gatekeeper dared to stop him.

Do you know who he is?

The gatekeeper said coldly, "That's exactly what we're stopping you from doing. The master said he won't let you in anymore, and he won't see you either."

Fan Tong broke out in a cold sweat, wondering what had gone wrong.

Just a few days ago, Master Huang was still talking to him about books and poetry, so why is he now barring him from visiting?

To be honest, he despised Master Huang, thinking him a pretentious affectation. In his mind, Master Huang's wealth was all due to sheer luck, and he, a scholar, would never have considered becoming related to a nouveau riche merchant if he weren't poor.

He had met Miss Huang before; they met at the Pen and Ink Pavilion. Miss Huang was choosing Xuan paper, and he helped her pick out a stack.

Everyone in Yanguan Town knows that Miss Huang is not only talented but also a good housekeeper; she's just not particularly beautiful.

He was quite disappointed when he saw Ms. Huang in person.

Her features were plain, but her eyes were very expressive.

Fan Tong couldn't help but compare Miss Huang to Gu Taohua in his mind, and felt that Miss Huang was not as good as Gu Taohua. Gu Taohua was a bit chubby, but she had fair skin, big eyes, a straight nose, and long eyelashes. If she lost weight, she would definitely be a great beauty.

After Fan Tong caught the eye of Master Huang, he comforted himself by thinking that he should marry a virtuous wife, and that once he achieved fame and success, he could have as many beautiful concubines as he wanted.

"Are these Uncle Huang's exact words? I need to hear them with my own ears to believe it," Fan Tong said to the gatekeeper.

"Go tell that to your village chief in Buffalo Valley. How did the village chief's son-in-law end up in the Huang family?"

Yuqin, who had just returned from Peach Blossom Dessert Shop, bumped into Fan Tong at the door and couldn't help but sarcastically remark, "What kind of Tom, Dick, or Harry tries to claim kinship with us?"

Fan Tong felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded in his head upon hearing Yuqin's curses.

His affair with the village chief's daughter has been discovered!
In Fan Tong's heart, the village chief's daughter was his childhood sweetheart, who was affectionate and gentle towards him.

He always thought that it would be wonderful if Miss Huang's wealth, his childhood sweetheart's gentleness, and Gu Taohua's beauty could all be combined in one person.

If Gu Taohua knew what he was thinking, she would definitely smash his brains out.

Fan Tong was scolded by Yu Qin and left the Huang family mansion. Carrying the gifts, he walked along the road in a daze and soon arrived at Rouge Lane.

He stopped at the entrance of Peach Blossom Dessert Shop and saw Gu Taohua busy inside, looking radiant.

Gu Taohua was so focused on attracting customers that she didn't notice Fan Tong.

"Young man, come in and have a look around the shop," Liu Qiaoyun greeted warmly, though she didn't recognize Fan Tong.

Fan Tong's eyes darted around, and she walked into Peach Blossom Dessert Shop.

(End of this chapter)