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

Chapter 241 Commendation
As the saying goes, good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels a thousand miles.

The news that the fake pesticides prepared by the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zheng family had damaged the villagers' cornfields spread throughout the streets and alleys of Pingchuan County.

Everyone followed the constables to the Zheng family's gate to watch the melons.

When Zheng, the scholar, went out with the constables, he saw a huge crowd of onlookers and was filled with shame and indignation.

Everyone in Pingchuan County knows Zheng, the scholar who passed the imperial examination. He always travels with dignity and respectability, but now he's being implicated by his daughter-in-law and has to go to court.

Zheng, the scholar, resented Prefect Yao for not giving him face, resented Magistrate Liu for not pinning all the blame on Xu Yong, and resented Tong Huaqiong for using pesticides for no reason.
Madam Zheng watched helplessly as her husband went to court, and she hated her daughter-in-law, Xu Zaohua, to the core.

She felt that Xu Zaohua was a jinx to the Zheng family, that she had brought death to her son, dragged her husband to court, and ruined the Zheng family's reputation.

If this kind of daughter-in-law weren't pregnant with a son, she would have had her head shaved and been sent to a temple to become a nun long ago.

Xu Zaohua was still basking in the excitement that Tong Huaqiong was going to be in trouble when a servant came running to tell her that the constables had come to her house to take her away and that Zheng, the scholar, was going to court.

She didn't take it seriously, thinking it was just a formality.

Anyway, the newly arrived Prefect Yao is Zheng's junior fellow student, so based on this relationship, Magistrate Liu won't be so tactless as to interrogate Zheng.

It's just to shut others up.

She believed that after this ordeal, not only would she be free from the fake medicine scandal, but her uncle would too.

Perhaps if Widow Tong loses power, her uncle can regain his position as the village chief of Qinghewan by relying on his father-in-law's connections with the prefect.

"trouble marker!"

"I shouldn't have let you in in the first place."

Madam Zheng, supported by Granny Cai, barged into Xu Zaohua's courtyard. Ignoring the fact that Xu Zaohua was pregnant, she slapped her across the face.

Xu Zaohua was stunned by the beating.

Madam Zheng pointed at her and scolded, "You made fake medicine yourself, and the old man protected you, but you've produced an ungrateful wretch. Why did you go and tell your uncle about the relationship between your master and the prefect? ​​Your uncle made the whole courtroom aware that the master wrote a letter to the prefect to pin the fake medicine on Widow Tong. You've completely disgraced the Zheng family."

"You caused my master to go to court and be forced to confess by the prefect. You are truly a good daughter-in-law of the Zheng family. We should never have let you into the family in the first place. If it weren't for the fact that you are carrying the Zheng family's heir, you would have been in prison long ago."

After being beaten and scolded by her mother-in-law, Xu Zaohua realized that the prefect's influence was no longer effective and that she could no longer hide the fact that she was dispensing fake medicine.

A father-in-law going to court is not just a formality.

Xu Zaohua was so frightened that she knelt down beside Madam Zheng and begged for mercy.

“Mother-in-law, since this has already happened, the only thing we can do now is to let my uncle take the blame.”

Despite the intense pain on her face, Xu Zaohua's mind raced. The only way for Zheng Juren to escape was to abandon her uncle, Xu Yong.

"idiot!"

Madam Zheng scolded Xu Zaohua a couple more times and ordered Granny Cai to lead people to seal off Xu Zaohua's courtyard. Xu Zaohua was not allowed to step out of the courtyard gate until she gave birth.

After being tried in court, Zheng, the scholar, dared not conceal anything and revealed that Xu Zaohua had sought out a wandering alchemist to prepare medicine.

He wanted to abandon Xu Zaohua, but then he thought about the baby in her belly. So he had to swallow his anger and defend her, explaining that she had prepared the medicine to eliminate ear rot, but she hadn't expected the medicine to destroy the crops. She had also been deceived by the alchemist.

The official went to the Zheng family again to interrogate Xu Zaohua about information regarding the alchemists in the martial arts world.

The constables received information and went to capture the wandering alchemist, only to find the place deserted when they arrived.

That wandering alchemist probably doesn't even have a real name.

The case of counterfeit drugs that shocked Pingchuan County was quickly closed.

Xu Yong, as the person primarily responsible for promoting counterfeit drugs, was detained.

Xu Zaohua, the mastermind behind the counterfeit medicine, escaped disaster thanks to Zheng Juren's extensive efforts, his promise of compensation, and her pregnancy.

However, after the fake medicine incident, the Zheng family became a laughing stock in Pingchuan County, and Zheng Juren never regained his former arrogance.

Tong Huaqiong was pleased that the Zheng family's arrogance had been suppressed, as her manager, He Chao, could now work for her without worry. The scheming and slander of people like Granny Cai and Xu Zaohua would no longer occur.

Tong Huaqiong's reputation spread throughout Pingchuan County for her meritorious service in eliminating ear rot.

As a result, the reputation of Peach Blossom Desserts skyrocketed. The small town of Yanguan could no longer accommodate the development of Peach Blossom Desserts. Tong Huaqiong and He Chao discussed it and planned to open branches in Pingchuan County and Ningcheng, the capital city.

In addition, with the dual protection of Prefect Yao and Magistrate Liu, Tong Huaqiong obtained the right to operate a pesticide business.

Although it's called pesticide, it actually opened up a loophole in agricultural operations.

Tong Huaqiong needs to operate both seed and grain businesses.

The most important thing is food.

Since the business was aimed at the entire agricultural sector of Ningcheng, Tong Huaqiong naturally chose to locate her shop in the prefectural city.

The shop was provided by the Lu family.

Of course, Tong Huaqiong insisted on paying rent.

When Tong Huaqiong accepted the Lu family's help to do business in the prefectural city without refusing, Lu Zhaoyang was the happiest. He finally found an opportunity to repay Tong Huaqiong's kindness.

Mr. Qian, the owner of Fenglelou, felt quite regretful that Tong Huaqiong used the Lu family's shop instead of her own shop in the prefectural city.

In just over half a year, Tong Huaqiong's business empire finally broke through Yanguan Town and expanded to Pingchuan County and Fucheng.

How could this not be considered a new journey for her to lead the Gu family towards a better life after she became Tong Dajiao?

The benefits of controlling ear rot did not stop there. To Tong Huaqiong's surprise, official praise from the authorities soon followed.

On a fine morning, Tong Huaqiong had just finished breakfast when she heard the sound of gongs and drums outside.

Gu Dashu looked bewildered as the constables carried a plaque covered with a red silk cloth adorned with flowers.

Upon closer inspection, Magistrate Liu stepped down from the sedan chair with a beaming smile.

"Gu Dashu, where's your mother? Tell her to come out and receive the commendation." Village chief Liu Tielian, having already heard the news, had already left his house and joined Magistrate Liu's team.

Not only Liu Tielian was with them, but the group also included many acquaintances from the village and people from other villages.

The villagers from other villages who received the pesticides donated by Tong Huaqiong not only saved the corn that had been destroyed by Xu Yong's fake pesticides, but also eradicated ear rot disease.

They were filled with gratitude towards Tong Huaqiong.

As the procession carrying out the awards passed through the village, word spread quickly, and a large crowd followed them to Qinghewan.

Gu Dashu excitedly called into the house, "Mother, Mother, come out quickly! Lord Liu has come to deliver an award to you."

Upon hearing the news, Tong Huaqiong's heart pounded like a drum.

Wasn't the commendation supposed to be given after the corn harvest season?
Why did you arrive early?

But it's better to move it forward than not; it's a good thing after all.

So Tong Huaqiong quickly ran out of the house to greet Lord Liu.

When Gu Taohua and the others learned that the government had sent a commendation to their mother, they all ran out to see what was going on.

Such a great honor, how could everyone not share in it?
Just thinking about it makes me excited!
"Greetings, Lord Liu." Tong Huaqiong bowed to Lord Liu.

Lord Liu smiled and gave Tong Huaqiong a helping hand.

Tong Huaqiong's eyes fell on the plaque of the official, and she felt a little excited.

She was very curious about the contents of the plaque.

Heaven has opened its eyes; she has never been as dazzling in both of her lives combined as she is today.

No, in her past life, she was admitted to a university in Beijing, becoming the first member of the Tong family to attend a prestigious university. When the admission notice came down, her father also hired people to make a big fuss.