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

Chapter 28 Wrong Idea

No matter how Chen Shufen and Man'er described how Tong Huaqiong had changed from before.

Gu Baishuang didn't quite believe it.

She couldn't believe that someone who had been ruthless for thirty or forty years could change so quickly.

On the way, she saw Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua sitting on Grandpa Xu's carriage with big bags and small packages. Thinking of what Chen Sufeng had said about the heartless stepmother going to town every day to sell food and trying to make money, she felt that the things happening in the Gu family were getting more and more out of control.

It was already dark when Grandpa Xu's oxcart arrived at Qinghe Bay.

Chen Sufeng was worried about her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, so she held Man'er's hand in one hand and carried the Qi Si Feng Lantern in the other to greet them at the village entrance.

"Grandma, Grandma's back! Mom, look, Grandma and Aunt are in Grandpa Xu's carriage!" Man'er spotted Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua sitting in Grandpa Xu's carriage and ran over excitedly.

"Man'er is so filial, coming here to greet me." Tong Huaqiong jumped off the carriage, rubbed Man'er's head, and said with a smile, "Grandma bought you some floral fabric, and I'll have your mother make you a floral dress later."

"Great! Great! Man'er is so happy to wear a flowery dress!" Man'er clapped her hands excitedly.

To Grandpa Xu and the others in Qinghewan, this scene was like seeing a ghost.

What's going on?

When did Widow Tong and the eldest son of the Gu family become so harmonious?

Everyone in the village knows that Widow Tong is poisoning the eldest son of the Gu family.

Although the Gu family tried to keep it a secret, no one in the village can keep a secret forever. These days, the whole village is talking about how Widow Tong is going to send Man'er to a wealthy family to bring good luck so that her youngest son can go to school.

The villagers were afraid that Widow Tong would throw a tantrum and dared not speak to her to her face, but in fact, she had already been cursed and insulted behind her back.

Now rumors are circulating in the village that, for some unknown reason, Man'er didn't go, and instead caused Gu Yaozu to lose money. In the next couple of days, Gu Yaozu will have to send out the money as collateral.

Anyone in the village who sympathized with the eldest branch of the Gu family applauded behind their backs.

"Sister-in-law, come quick! Mother bought a lot of things."

Gu Taohua unloaded the items from the car one by one, and Chen Sufeng came over to help her organize them.

“Not only does Man’er have new clothes, but Mother also got new clothes for my sister-in-law,” Gu Taohua said, patting the satin in her arms.

Those who were returning home from town with Tong Huaqiong looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Tong Huaqiong, who has been on the list of the most vicious mothers-in-law in Qinghewan for years, is actually so kind to her daughter-in-law, even tearing her clothes for her.

What's even more remarkable is that Gu Taohua, who used to bully Chen Sufeng at the slightest disagreement, has also changed her ways.

Some people are being sarcastic and sarcastic.

"Wow, the sun really has risen in the west! Chen Sufeng can finally have new clothes to wear."

"Could she have ulterior motives? After all, she's both a stepmother and a mother-in-law; could she truly be good to Su Fen?"

"How much is a bolt of cloth worth? I'm afraid they're just putting on a show to sell their granddaughter for their son's future."

……

These words reached Chen Sufen's ears, and she felt extremely embarrassed. She rubbed her hands and whispered, "My mother-in-law is not that kind of person."

Some of the young wives pouted, and Chen Sufeng was also bullied into a daze, easily swayed by a little sweetness.

"Screw your father's nonsense. You've got your own mess, don't even think about ruining our mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship."

Tong Huaqiong stood with her hands on her hips, looking righteous and awe-inspiring.

Anyone who didn't know better would think she and Chen Su-fen used to be very close.

Given that Tong Huaqiong was used to being domineering in the village, people would tremble at her words and dare not say anything unpleasant anymore. They were really afraid that Tong Huaqiong would run into someone's house and smash their pots if they disagreed.

"Ouch." Chen Sufeng handed the spitting lantern to Man'er, then bent down to pick up the baking ingredients that Tong Huaqiong had bought, and felt someone bump her butt, so she couldn't help but let out a soft cry.

"What's wrong, sister-in-law?" Gu Taohua asked.

Chen Sufen said casually, "It's nothing, I just strained my back."

Tong Huaqiong's eyes were dark and unfathomable.

Just now, when Chen Sufeng called out, she caught a glimpse of Xu Si, the village rogue, passing by behind Chen Sufeng.

This scoundrel often takes advantage of young women and wives. Tong Huaqiong didn't know whether Xu Si bumped Chen Sufeng's buttocks intentionally or unintentionally. In any case, if he thought Chen Sufeng was easy to bully, he had made a mistake.

Tong Huaqiong stared at Xu Si's retreating figure, a cold smile playing on her lips. She knew she would make sure Xu Si fell into her hands one day. "Old Xu, thank you for the car. Tao Hua and I will ride in your car again from now on," Tong Huaqiong said to Old Xu.

Grandpa Xu nodded and said, "Okay, just let me know in advance and I'll reserve a spot for you."

After all, the widow Tong and her daughter paid for the fare for four people today, and it didn't affect other villagers from taking his ride, so he was naturally willing to do this business.

"Why did you buy so much stuff?" Chen Sufeng asked, carrying a pile of things.

Her mother-in-law bought fabric for her and Man'er, which made her happy, but she also felt it was too expensive.

Just by looking at how my mother-in-law and sister-in-law go out early and come back late, you can tell that making money is not easy.

"Business was good today, and Mother is very happy. All the mung bean cakes and mung bean pancakes are sold out. Sister-in-law, guess how much silver we made today?" Gu Taohua teased Chen Sufeng.

"How much? I can't guess," Chen Sufeng said honestly.

"I got five taels of silver from it." Gu Taohua said happily.

Chen Sufen couldn't believe it and turned to look at her mother-in-law.

“Your aunt didn’t lie to you.” Tong Huaqiong also looked happy.

"That's wonderful!" Chen Sufen exclaimed excitedly, her words tumbling out incoherently.

“Sister-in-law, you have no idea how brilliant Mom’s idea is. She set up a stall in front of Su Shi Yuan today. I was shocked, thinking she wouldn’t be able to sell anything. But believe it or not, people actually came to buy. Even those who tried it said that our mung bean cakes and mung bean pancakes are even better than Su Shi Yuan’s.”

"And another thing, sister-in-law, you would never guess that we met a benefactor. The wealthy Mr. Huang in town ate our mung bean cakes and kept praising them, so he ordered a batch of cakes from us for his mother's birthday banquet."

Chen Sufeng was already incredulous when she heard her mother-in-law confront Sushi Garden, but when she heard that Master Huang had ordered pastries from their own shop for his mother's birthday banquet, her mind went completely blank.

"That's why I bought so many ingredients like sugar, oil, and red dates. I'll make a batch of pastries and send them to Master Huang's house first. If he's satisfied, we'll get started," Tong Huaqiong said.

Chen Sufen was so excited she almost fainted.

"I trust Mother's skills; Master Huang will surely be satisfied."

After these few days, she and Gu Taohua both believed that there was no pastry that Tong Huaqiong couldn't make.

The three women—a mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law—walked along, dreaming of a better life making money.

The gentle breeze of late spring carries the fragrance of green wheat from the fields.

"My mother-in-law is back?"

When Tong Huaqiong arrived at her doorstep, Liu Yue'e's biological father, Liu Tiechui, was coming out of the Gu family's courtyard.

Tong Huaqiong nodded.

If the original owner's memories are correct, this is the first time Liu Yue'e's biological father has visited the Gu family since Liu Yue'e married into the family.

Tong Huaqiong guessed that his visit must be related to Yaozu.

“My dear in-law, I’m not trying to be mean, but your third son is really outrageous. How can he ruin his nephew and niece just for the sake of studying? It’s good that he’s good at studying, but if his mind is crooked, even if he becomes the top scholar, it won’t matter.”

Liu Tiechui came to deliver ten taels of silver to Liu Yue'e. He ran into Tong Huaqiong on his way out. He was too lazy to pay attention to Tong Huaqiong, but he couldn't help but give her a lecture.

He regretted it after he finished speaking, fearing that Tong Huaqiong would jump up and curse his ancestors for eighteen generations.

“My father-in-law is right. I think the same way as him, so I’m not letting my third son continue his studies,” Tong Huaqiong said calmly.

Liu Tiechui was taken aback.

Is the mother-in-law trying to change her public image?

“I gave Yue’e ten taels of silver. Mother-in-law, please think of another way. We can’t let Yaozu really die here. He’s my grandson after all,” Liu Tiechui said.

Tong Huaqiong looked on in astonishment.

Liu Yue'e has a good father!

Liu Yue'e was truly foolish; she was willing to abandon her parents to marry Gu Dashu. For so many years, the Liu family had disowned the Gu family, but when it came to the crucial moment, the Liu family still cared about their own daughter.

Ten taels of silver is equivalent to emptying a farmer's savings.

Few people in this era would go to such lengths for their daughter, especially since Liu Yue'e wasn't exactly known for her filial piety.

(End of this chapter)