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

Tong Huaqiong spoke frankly and directly stated her purpose for coming to the He family.

He Chao stood there stunned for a long time.

At the same time, it felt unbelievable.

In just six months, Widow Tong actually opened a shop.

And it's run so well.

If it's not good, can we ask the shopkeeper for help?
Tong Huaqiong could tell what He Chao was thinking just by looking at his expression.

This is understandable; who would believe that a widow from the countryside could open a shop and even develop it to the point of hiring someone to manage it?

If she didn't have a cheat code, she probably wouldn't be able to do it either.

Tong Huaqiong earnestly said to He Chao, "Butler He, after my family broke off the engagement with the Zheng family, I tried to make money. I have some skills in making pastries, so I first set up a stall in Yanguan Town to sell pastries, and the business was unexpectedly good. After making some money in two or three months, I took over a shop. Now the business is extremely good, and we are preparing to open a second branch."

"To be honest, it was Ma Ming, the owner of Su Shi Yuan, who recommended you to me. Since my pastry shop opened, it has taken away most of Su Shi Yuan's business. Now Ma Ming has handed Su Shi Yuan over to me. I invited you to take over the original Su Shi Yuan."

He Chao was shocked.

Ma Ming was Zheng Juren's cousin. He had met him many times and had even helped deliver things to the Ma family.

It is said that his pastry shop had been in Yanguan Town for more than ten years without any competitors, but he was defeated by Widow Tong. Not only was he defeated, but he also squeezed out the pastry shop and forced it to close down.

It seems this widow Tong has some skills.

He Chao's gaze toward Tong Huaqiong changed, shifting from disbelief mixed with contempt to admiration.

He Chao said, "Manager Tong, you don't mind that we have a past conflict? Aren't you afraid I'll refuse?"

He Chao has even changed how he addresses Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong waved her hand and said, "What holiday or not? That's all a misunderstanding. You were just doing things for the Zheng family. As for refusing, Steward He, you can refuse. If you refuse, I can find another manager. It'll just take some time. But you, do you still have a chance in Pingchuan County?"

He Chao looked ashen.

It seems that Tong Huaqiong already knows the reason why he was kicked out of the Zheng family.

In all honesty, he was slandered.

But who would believe that? He had been burdened with the shameful reputation of peeping at the young mistress while she was bathing ever since he left the Zheng family. No family would dare to hire him.

If it weren't for his sick wife whom he had to take care of, he wouldn't have survived long ago.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Butler He, I know you were slandered by Xu Zaohua. I dared to come and invite you because I believe in your character."

These days, He Chao has been pointed at and talked about by countless people behind his back, and he's become numb to it all.

Suddenly a stranger said he believed in him, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't moved.

He Chao immediately made up his mind and said, "Manager Tong, thank you for your trust. I am willing to regard you as my boss."

That's it.

The purpose was achieved.

Tong Huaqiong smiled.

Then Tong Huaqiong stopped laughing.

He Chao is indeed a cunning old fox. After realizing his value to Tong Huaqiong, he started negotiating terms.

They not only want a monthly salary, but also dividends.

Tong Huaqiong gritted her teeth and said, "Deal, but there's a condition: you not only have to meet the sales targets, but you also have to help me train a new manager."

In the future, Tong Huaqiong's business will definitely not be limited to pastries; she will also have other businesses, such as pigs that are about to be sold, and she also wants to get involved in the cotton cloth business.

These days, it's easy to find a waiter, but a shopkeeper is hard to find.

She hoped that all the managers of her shops would be trained by her own business.

He Chao let out his first laugh since Tong Huaqiong arrived, and said, "Boss, you can rest assured, we can sign a contract and write down all the conditions."

This was exactly what Tong Huaqiong wanted, so the two parties agreed to sign the contract after He Chao took up his post.

"Now that we've agreed on the terms, I'd like you to get to your post as soon as possible, Lao He. If you can leave today, you can come with us to Yanguan Town today."

He Chao had left Zheng Juren's house and was now Tong Huaqiong's employee. Naturally, she no longer called him Butler He, but instead addressed him as Old He. At this moment, two coughs were heard from inside the room.

He Chao said with a troubled expression, "I would like to start work as soon as possible, but my wife is sick and needs to take medicine. I am afraid that she will not be able to withstand the bumpy ride in the carriage today. Please give me three days. We will set off in three days."

At this moment, He Chao's wife, Hong, said, "I'm not as bad as you say."

Tong Huaqiong heard Hong's weak voice and wondered what illness she had.

So he asked He Chao with concern, "What illness does your lady have?"

He Chao said softly, "Her health has always been weak. Recently, she has been coughing and has been having fevers from time to time."

After thinking for a moment, Tong Huaqiong said, "I'll go in and take a look."

Tong Huaqiong entered the patient's bedroom, where the dim lighting almost blinded her.

When Mrs. Hong saw someone come in, she sat up.

Tong Huaqiong quickly went over and pinned the person down, while Man'er obediently took a pillow and placed it on her head.

"Cough cough."

Hong heard Tong Huaqiong and He Chao's conversation clearly.

She was grateful to Tong Huaqiong for asking He Chao to be the manager, which gave their family a glimmer of hope.

He was about to greet Tong Huaqiong and express his gratitude when he coughed before he could even utter a word.

"Lie still and don't move," Tong Huaqiong said.

In Tong Huaqiong's eyes, Hong's face was dull, pale and bluish, her nose was red and her lips were purple. When Tong Huaqiong pressed her down to prevent her from getting up, she felt that her body was hot.

The symptoms look like pneumonia.

In Tong Huaqiong's previous life, pneumonia was not a serious illness; it could be cured quickly with antibiotics.

In this era where even anti-inflammatory drugs are unavailable, even a minor illness can be fatal!

Not to mention pneumonia with a persistent cough.

Tong Huaqiong looked around and sighed. With the room so tightly closed, how could the virus be dispelled?

The patient needs ventilation by opening the windows.

Thinking this, Tong Huaqiong opened the window, and the wind blew in, causing Hong to cough a few times.

"Why did you open the window? You have a fever, why did you open the window?"

He Chao walked in and saw that the window was open. He assumed that it was Hong Shi who opened it, and his tone was somewhat reproachful.

Tong Huaqiong said, "I opened it; the patient needs ventilation."

He Chao was about to close the window when he said, "It's autumn now, and the wind is cool. The patient shouldn't be exposed to the cold."

Tong Huaqiong argued logically, "Old He, with the windows closed, it's so stuffy. The illness can't dissipate, how can you get better? Listen to me, open the windows for ventilation. It's not like you're facing the wind directly, how could you catch a cold?"

As he spoke, he walked over and insisted on opening the window.

Hong coughed a few times and said, "I did feel a bit better after opening the window just now."

Since Mrs. Hong said she felt better, He Chao didn't want to close the window.

"Which bastard put his medicine pot right in front of my door? Are you trying to bring bad luck to my family? Ever since you moved here, the whole yard has been filled with bad luck. If you're sick and can't get better, just lie there like a corpse. Why are you bothering other people?"

"Move this medicine pot away right now, or I'll smash it."

Cursing could be heard coming from outside the window.

Tong Huaqiong saw that He Chao's face changed color.

"I'll go out and see."

He Chao hurriedly walked out.

He was so engrossed in talking to Tong Huaqiong that he forgot the medicine was still simmering on the stove in the courtyard. (End of Chapter)