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

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Tong Huaqiong instructed Gu Dashu and Hong Xiaoxi to comprehensively strengthen the security measures for Peach Blossom Desserts.

The focus is on the Tong family.

She wasn't afraid of Tong Dajiao's brother and sister-in-law.

She was worried that Tong Dajiao's brother and sister-in-law barging into Peach Blossom Dessert Shop would affect other customers and impact the shop's business.

If Gu Dashu spots them, he shouldn't hesitate to take them to the backyard without any consideration for their feelings.

After being on high alert for many days, Tong Dajiao's brother and sister-in-law did not come to their door.

Heilong Village is not part of Yanguan Town, so villagers rarely go to Yanguan Town to go shopping or go to the market. Tong Huaqiong's brother and sister-in-law had heard that Tong Huaqiong was doing business in Yanguan Town, but they had no concrete evidence and were unaware that Tong Huaqiong had opened a shop.

Even when they learned that Tong Huaqiong was doing business in town, they assumed she was just setting up a stall to sell some local produce.

As for the shop, they felt that it was just something people made up.

When it was time for the wheat harvest, Tong Huaqiong asked someone to deliver a message, but she didn't go. Her brother and sister-in-law kept delaying until everyone else had finished harvesting their wheat before going to the fields. Just as they were harvesting, a rainstorm came, and the remaining two acres of wheat were almost completely soaked.

The elder brother and sister-in-law sat on the edge of the field and scolded Tong Dajiao, and also cursed Gu Dashu and others by name.

Some time ago, he asked Gu Guangkui to deliver a message to Tong Huaqiong to go back to her parents' home. When Gu Guangkui asked, he said that the message had been delivered. As for when Tong Huaqiong would go, he shook his head and said he didn't know. Tong Huaqiong did not appear until Gu Guangkui finished his carpentry work.

After nearly a month of enduring hardship, the Tong family elder brother and sister-in-law finally couldn't take it anymore and set off for Qinghewan with their two children.

The four men, carrying dry rations, crossed two mountains and walked more than ten miles of mountain road before finally arriving at Qinghe Bay.

In the past, it was always Tong Dajiao who would bring her children and gifts to Heilong Village to visit her brother and sister-in-law, who had only visited Qinghewan twice.

One time was when she sent her youngest son to the Gu family to be raised by Tong Dajiao, and the other time was when she came to attend the funeral of Old Man Gu.

Tong Dajiao hired sedan chair carriers to carry her there.

Tong Dajiao's elder brother, Tong Fusheng, considered himself a scholar and never went to the fields, much less climb mountains himself. He walked all day under the scorching summer sun and was so exhausted that he almost collapsed at the entrance of Qinghewan Village.

"I'm exhausted." Tong Fusheng sat down to rest under a tree at the village entrance.

Wang, Tong Dajiao's sister-in-law, was also exhausted and her legs ached. She plopped down on a stone bench under a tree and started cursing Tong Dajiao.

“She’s refused to go even after being asked to go three times. Is she trying to rebel or what? We can’t send someone out in the dead of winter if she doesn’t want to go herself. I wouldn’t have come if I wasn’t worried about her dying in the Gu family.”

Tong Fusheng said, "I know my sister well. She wouldn't dare to rebel against her family even if she had a hundred lives. She must be stuck with something."

Despite trying to reason with Tong Huaqiong, Tong Fusheng was equally angry. He was determined to give Tong Huaqiong a good scolding when he saw her, and also swindle her out of some more money and two cartloads of grain.

The harvest from his own land was already poor, and the wheat from two acres of it was ruined. It was all his sister's fault. If his sister didn't compensate him, who would?

“Dad, Mom, you didn’t believe me when I told you last time that Auntie was doing business and running a shop in town. Auntie must have made money and deliberately kept it from us. In my opinion, we shouldn’t have come to Qinghewan first. We should have gone to Yanguan Town to inquire first,” said Tong Zhijie, Tong Dajiao’s nephew.

“If Auntie were to open a shop, she would definitely give the money she earns to our family. She wouldn’t just stay silent like this.” Tong Zhaodi, Tong Dajiao’s niece, didn’t believe her brother’s words.

Based on her own experience, Tong Zhaodi did not believe that Tong Dajiao would neglect her family after opening a shop.

Looking at his son and daughter, Tong Fusheng said, "Zhaodi is right. Which girl in our Tong family doesn't care about her family? Those rumors about opening shops must be false."

Tong Zhijie sneered, "Father, what are you saying? My eldest sister doesn't care about our family at all."

"Don't mention that rebellious daughter."

When their eldest daughter, Tong Pandi, was mentioned, Tong Fusheng and Wang Shi became indignant and shared a common hatred.

Tong Fusheng had three children: his eldest daughter Tong Pandi, his second daughter Tong Zhaodi, and his youngest son Tong Zhijie.

The eldest daughter, Tong Pandi, was beautiful from a young age, had a gentle nature, and was completely obedient to Tong Fusheng and his wife.

After growing up, she was married off by Tong Fusheng to the village chief's family in the next village as his daughter-in-law.

The second daughter, Tong Zhaodi, is sixteen years old this year. She is also very beautiful. She has been looking for a partner since she was twelve, but they are still not settled.

Tong Fusheng was mainly dissatisfied with the families who were looking for his daughter. He felt that his second daughter was more beautiful than his eldest daughter and wanted to sell her for a better price.

Ideally, she should marry a wealthy old widower like Gu Baishuang.

The youngest son, Tong Zhijie, is fifteen years old this year, one year older than Gu Jingzhe and Gu Taohua.

He was the son that Tong Fusheng and Wang Shi had finally had, and they cherished him like the apple of their eye. After giving birth to Tong Zhijie, Wang Shi's health deteriorated, and Tong Zhijie was raised by Tong Dajiao for several years.

In Tong Zhijie's mind, everything in his aunt's house belonged to him.

In terms of inheritance, he is even ahead of Gu Dashu and Gu Jingzhe.

Speaking of Tong Pandi, the eldest daughter of the Tong family who angered Tong Fusheng and Wang Shi, she used to be very devoted to her family and, like Tong Huaqiong, would bring everything home. But starting last year, she suddenly stopped bringing things home.

Not only did they refuse to give it to them, they also wanted to divide up the family's land and house, which infuriated Tong Fusheng and his wife.

Wang went to Tong Pandi's house several times, trying to plunder some things, but Tong Pandi always chased her out the door.

Tong Pandi also changed her attitude towards her younger brother Tong Zhijie, whom she had always doted on, and threatened to make him cut off the Tong family line.

She changed her attitude not only towards her own family, but also towards her husband's family.

She used to be docile in her husband's family. No matter how much her in-laws bullied her, she endured it all so that she could transfer things to her own family.

In addition, she only had one daughter, so she couldn't hold her head high in her husband's family. She was extremely filial to her parents-in-law and extremely loving to her sister-in-law.

However, starting last year, she argued with her in-laws, slapped her sister-in-law so hard she knocked her unconscious, and recently she's planning to divorce her daughter.

The eldest daughter's various abnormal behaviors made Tong Fusheng and Wang feel ashamed, and they felt extremely distressed whenever they talked about this daughter.

"Father, Mother, do you think Aunt will turn out like my eldest sister?" Tong Zhijie asked.

Tong Fusheng interrupted Tong Zhijie: "Don't talk nonsense. Nobody cares about our family, not even your aunt."

Tong Zhijie fell silent.

That's hard to say. Tong Panmei used to be a carbon copy of her aunt, and she was incredibly devoted to the Tong family. But Tong Panmei can change her mind in an instant.

Wang felt a little uneasy after hearing her son's words.

She remembered that Tong Panmei's change began last year when she and Tong Fusheng asked someone to tell her to go back to her parents' home to help out, but she refused. They also asked her to send some money home to Tong Zhijie to help him recover, but she ignored them.

After Tong Panmei finally arrived at the Tong family home, they discovered that she was like a completely different person.

Regardless, they had already arrived at Tong Huaqiong's village, and now that they were there, they wanted to find out why Tong Huaqiong was unmoved by the message they had brought.

Ever since she lost her son to Tong Huaqiong, Granny Yan has rarely been seen in the village.

Today was the first time she had ever walked around the village.

It was too hot, so she went to cool off under a big tree at the village entrance and saw Tong Fusheng's family sitting under the tree resting.

Granny Yan recognized them as Tong Dajiao's brother and sister-in-law's family. After thinking for a moment, she stepped forward and struck up a conversation, asking, "Aren't these Dajiao's brother and sister-in-law and nephew Zhijie? Are you from home?"

Tong Zhijie would occasionally come to Tong Huaqiong's house for a treat, but knowing that Granny Yan and Tong Huaqiong didn't get along, he didn't want to talk to Granny Yan.

Then, remembering the rumors that Tong Huaqiong was doing business in town, he decided to ask Granny Yan about it.

So he put on a big smile and asked, "Aunt Yan, do you know that my aunt is doing business in town?"

Granny Yan thought to herself, "Tong Dajiao has been doing business behind her brother and sister-in-law's back. They've come to settle accounts."

Of course, she had to add fuel to the fire for such a good thing.

No matter how powerful Tong Dajiao is, she will be at a disadvantage against her brother and sister-in-law's family.

Granny Yan replied, "Yes, they sell pastries. They own the biggest shop in town."

The Tong Fusheng family was stunned when they heard the news.

Tong Dajiao opening a shop was beyond their comprehension.

"Sister-in-law, don't try to fool us. How could my sister-in-law have the ability to open a shop?" Wang said incredulously.

Granny Yan laughed and said, "Don't you know? Big Foot really keeps it a secret even from her brother and sister-in-law. She's afraid you'll take away her shop. Of all people to guard against, she has to guard against her brother and sister-in-law."

These words ignited a fire between Tong Fusheng and Wang Shi. (End of Chapter)