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

"Shopkeeper, I just overheard the Cheng family's gatekeeper chatting for a bit. I didn't ask about it on purpose. You know, I don't have any connection with the Xu family, and I have no interest in Xu Zaohua's affairs. I didn't let that interfere with my pastry delivery work."

When Qin Qingyou heard Tong Huaqiong wanting to know the gossip he had overheard about the Zheng family's housekeeper and Xu Zaohua, Qin Qingyou assumed that Tong Huaqiong suspected him of not working properly and being preoccupied with gossip at the Cheng family's house, so he began to defend himself.

Tong Huaqiong said speechlessly, "I don't mean to blame you for chatting with others. As long as you don't neglect your work, I don't care who you gossip about or chat with. Just tell me what you know about Xu Zaohua and the Zheng family's housekeeper. I have important business to attend to."

Aunt Qin, standing to the side, also looked at her son with dissatisfaction, urging him to hurry up and say what he wanted to say.

Qin Qingyou carefully recalled the information revealed by the Cheng family gatekeeper and told it to Tong Huaqiong in detail.

"There's something we can't say, since it involves Zao Hua's innocence," Qin Qingyou said in a low voice.

Zhao was very perceptive and could tell from the situation that Qin Qingyou didn't want anyone else to hear what he was saying except for his employer, Tong Huaqiong. So Zhao made an excuse and pulled Aunt Qin away.

"What innocence?"

Tong Huaqiong expressed her approval of Qin Qingyou's actions.

"It is said that Steward He caught Zaohua and the servant in the back garden. Zaohua was afraid that Steward He would talk nonsense, so when she found out she was pregnant, she plotted to have Steward He watch her bathe and then kicked him out," Qin Qingyou said.

Tong Huaqiong basically guessed what was going on as soon as the conversation started.

Zheng Da Gongzi Tong Huaqiong had seen him before; he lay on the chair like a lump of meat. Given his sickly body, Tong Huaqiong was skeptical that he could make Zao Hua pregnant.

However, she didn't think that Xu Zaohua's secret pregnancy with a servant in order to maintain her position as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zheng family was such a despicable thing. If it were her, she might have done something even more ruthless than Xu Zaohua.

As a simple-minded old man, Steward He discovered Xu Zaohua's shameful affair, and it's understandable that Xu Zaohua was afraid he would expose it and plot against him.

However, Tong Huaqiong asked curiously, "How did the Cheng family's gatekeeper know so much about the jujube blossom incident?"

Qin Qingyou said, "The Cheng family is Madam Zheng's maternal family. They are related by blood. The aunt of the maid who used to serve Young Master Zheng in Xu Zaohua's room married into the Cheng family's gatekeeper. This maid was also kicked out by Zaohua, so the Cheng family's gatekeeper found out."

"I don't know if the two elders of the Zheng family have lost their minds or what, but they actually believed Xu Zaohua's words."

Tong Huaqiong was not surprised at all. Zheng Juren was hoping that his eldest son would have a son or daughter. As long as there was no concrete evidence of Xu Zaohua's alleged surrogacy, the two elders of the Zheng family would stand by her side.

In addition, Xu Zaohua is also quite capable in combat, and she can win over Zheng Juren to her side with her own abilities.

The fact that even Butler He could be dismissed speaks volumes.

Peeping at the young mistress of the main family taking a bath is a serious crime.

It's estimated that no one in the entire Pingchuan County would dare to hire Butler He anymore.

It just so happens that Tong Huaqiong can take advantage of this opportunity.

Thinking this, Tong Huaqiong happily patted Qin Qingyou on the shoulder and told him that when he went out to deliver pastries in the future, he should make good use of his friendliness. As long as he didn't miss delivering the pastries, he could chat with people casually and might discover some information that would interest him.

Qin Qingyou was relieved to hear this.

It turns out the shopkeeper wouldn't punish him for gossiping with people outside.

Early the next morning, Tong Huaqiong ordered Gu Dashu to drive a donkey cart to take her to Pingchuan County.

She wanted to personally invite He Chao.

Tong Huaqiong also brought Man'er along.

The reason for bringing Man'er along is mainly because in Tong Dajiao's previous life, Man'er and Steward He had a deep bond.

Steward He was extremely loyal to Man'er.

She felt that since the people had ties from their past lives, they were old acquaintances in this life, which would definitely be more effective than simply having Steward He sit in the shop.

Upon arriving in Pingchuan County, they first went to Dayushu Street to find Master Tan, who castrated pigs. Through Master Tan, they learned that Steward He lived on Zishi Street.

"Sister Tong, have you heard the rumors about Lao He? I bet they're all false. How could someone as upright, polite, and respectful as Lao He watch the young mistress take a bath? It must be that the Zheng family has used him up and is just using him as an excuse to discard him."

Master Tan learned that Tong Huaqiong wanted He Chao to become the manager of her business. Fearing that Tong Huaqiong would hear the rumors that He Chao had been kicked out of the Zheng family, Master Tan spoke up for He Chao. Tong Huaqiong said, "Brother Tan, I know how damaging rumors can be, and I also know how unreliable they are."

Master Tan felt that Tong Huaqiong, as a widow, must have suffered a lot of gossip, and he admired her even more. He decided that next time he went to castrate the pig for Tong Huaqiong, he could use the knife more cleanly.

Master Tan sighed again, "It's true that Manager Tong is reasonable. Old He is having a hard time now. He left the Zheng family with nothing, his wife is sick, and he was slandered like that by the Zheng family. Who in the whole Pingchuan County would dare to hire him?"

It was precisely because He Chao couldn't find work in Pingchuan County that Tong Huaqiong was confident she could persuade him to become a shopkeeper in Yanguan Town.

Tong Huaqiong bid farewell to Master Tan and took Man'er and Gu Dashu to Zishi Street.

They found out He Chao's home after asking around.

Gu Dashu went to knock on the door, and He Chao was very surprised to see Tong Huaqiong.

"Butler He, it's been a long time."

Tong Huaqiong greeted everyone familiarly and stepped through the door without He Chao having to greet her.

I originally thought that He Chao, as Zheng Juren's rather respectable steward, would have very good accommodations.

But his residence was a large, crowded courtyard.

Tong Huaqiong looked around and saw that there were four or five families living in the courtyard.

He Chao was completely baffled by Tong Huaqiong's visit.

To be honest, he didn't have a good impression of Tong Huaqiong.

At first, the widow sold her granddaughter for her son's sake, but later, Tong Huaqiong's tantrum left a deep shadow on him. If it weren't for Tong Huaqiong's smiling face, he would have thought that Tong Huaqiong was kicking him while he was down.

"Master Tan told me you live here. Where is your home?" Tong Huaqiong asked as she stepped through the courtyard gate.

Upon hearing Tong Huaqiong mention Master Tan, He Chao's heart stirred slightly, and he looked at Tong Huaqiong intently for a moment.

This widow was completely different from when she first met her in the spring; she had undergone a complete transformation.

Regardless of her appearance, Widow Tong has always been the type of charming widow.

Rather, it was his demeanor that exuded an indescribable sense of freedom.

He Chao subtly led Tong Huaqiong into a room near the inner room.

The room was stuffy and dark with the windows closed.

"Who is it?" a weak female voice came from inside the house.

“They are guests,” He Chao said.

Tong Huaqiong remembered what Master Tan had said about He Chao's wife being sick, and she figured that the weak voice inside the house must belong to He Chao's wife.

"May I ask what brings you to my home?" He Chao's face had lost its former radiance, and even his voice became cautious when facing Tong Huaqiong.

Could it be that he's thanking Master Tan for introducing him to the pig castration service?

There's really no need for that.

He simply couldn't understand why a widow from the countryside would come to his door.

Their only identity now is that of Xu Zaohua's enemy; this is what he overheard Xu Zaohua cursing Widow Tong.

"Butler He, don't be in such a hurry."

Tong Huaqiong stopped He Chao from making tea.

"Let's not beat around the bush. I've called you here to ask you to be the manager of my shop." (End of Chapter)