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

In her previous life, Tong Huaqiong was reluctant to go back to her hometown with her parents to pay New Year's visits during the first month of the lunar calendar.

People from her hometown always spoke with concern, advising her not to study so much as a girl, asking if she had a boyfriend, and urging her to find one as soon as possible. The conversation even extended to her having children after graduation, preferably a son and a daughter to make a perfect family.

Out of consideration for her relatives and unable to run away, she would always respond with a smile.

In Tong Dajiao's world, there's nothing wrong with her sending New Year's greetings, since no one is pressuring her to get married anyway.

She's a widow, surely she wouldn't be forced to marry someone?
At home, she was at the top of the food chain, respected by the villagers; to the young people in the village, she was an auntie; and to outsiders, she was Manager Tong and Lady Suifeng.

Her position is what it is; she is the one who lectures others, not the other way around.

Therefore, she does not mind visiting relatives and friends for the New Year.

Just as they were exchanging New Year's greetings, the door to Tong Huaqiong's house was pushed open.

"Aunt Big Feet, we've come to wish you a Happy New Year."

"Aunt Tong, are you up yet? Happy New Year!"

A group of people came into the courtyard with a whoosh.

This is how villagers come to exchange New Year's greetings.

The first group of people to arrive were Tong Huaqiong's hired workers. Leading the way were Er Gouzi, Gu Xiaocao, Qin Qingyou, and his wife Liu Qiaoyun.

"Boss, we've come to wish you a Happy New Year." Liu Qiaoyun greeted him with a smile as soon as she spoke.

"Happy New Year," Tong Huaqiong greeted everyone with a smile.

Everyone was about to kowtow in the courtyard, which frightened Tong Huaqiong so much that she quickly woke them up.

Tong Huaqiong said, "We don't do that. We only kneel to heaven, earth, and our parents. I have received your good intentions."

She can accept her children and grandchildren kowtowing to her to wish her a Happy New Year, but she can't stand strangers kneeling on the ground all at once.

It will shorten your lifespan.

Tong Huaqiong asked Gu Dahan and Gu Dashu to bring out melon seeds, peanuts, and pastries to distribute to everyone.

"Grandma Tong, this is a New Year's gift for you."

After the people who came to offer New Year's greetings left, Chunni stayed behind and handed a scarf to Tong Huaqiong.

"You knitted this; you're really skillful." Tong Huaqiong accepted the scarf.

Chunni nodded shyly and said, "My mother picked the flowers."

Tong Huaqiong really likes children like Chunni who know how to repay kindness.

"You look good in this dress." Tong Huaqiong looked Chunni up and down. Seeing that she was wearing the brand-new dress, she knew that Luo Shi would not dare to refuse the satin she had given her.

Chunni smiled, pursing her lips.

Chunni said to Tong Huaqiong, "Grandma Tong, my mother asked me to wish you a Happy New Year on her behalf."

These past few days, Tong Huaqiong gave Cao a day off, but Cao couldn't rest at home. Her mother-in-law, Luo, made her take care of the whole family, and she must have been busy all day, so her mother-in-law wouldn't let her go out.

Hearing footsteps outside, Chunni knew that another group of people who wanted to wish Tong Huaqiong a Happy New Year were coming, so she prepared to leave.

"Chunni, wait a minute, I have a gift for you too."

Tong Huaqiong went into the room and took out the gift she had prepared in advance.

"Here, this is a New Year's gift for you." Tong Huaqiong handed Chunni a box of hand cream for cracked hands and a pair of gold earrings.

Chunni was surprised to receive a New Year's gift.

She knew Tong Huaqiong's temperament; if she was going to give it to her, she wouldn't do it insincerely. Refusing would seem deliberate, so Chunni happily accepted it and kept thanking her.

Besides working in the pigsty, Chunni also had to help Cao Shi with household chores when she got home. Considering Chunni's young age, Gu Dahan only let her add pig feed and never let her do heavy work like cleaning. It was different at home; she had to do laundry and wash vegetables. Luo Shi was reluctant to use hot water and wouldn't allow anyone else in the family to use it except for her son and grandson. As a result, Chunni's hands had cracked from washing clothes for Chunwang at home these past few days.

The hand-cracking oil was a special gift from Tong Huaqiong to Chunni.

After Chunni went outside, she opened the box and was deeply moved.

Chunni saw her grandmother, Luo, visiting the village for the New Year, and quickly stuffed the hand cream and gold earring into her bosom.

These past few days, seeing her mother being bullied by her grandmother, a bold idea popped into her head. Grandma Tong's niece, Duo'er's mother, had already divorced; could her own mother also get a divorce?
If her mother and father divorce, she, like Duo'er and Hua'er, will leave the Tian family with her mother and live with her.

He was able to survive in the dilapidated temple by working for Aunt Tong.

She really didn't want to use her wages to support that ungrateful Chunwang's schooling.

She mentioned divorce to her mother once, and her mother was so frightened that she covered her mouth.

Before Tong Huaqiong's courtyard had even quieted down for a while, the second wave of people came to offer New Year's greetings.

This time it was Liu Yue'e's brother and sister-in-law's family, as well as the village chief's son Liu Tong's family.

After exchanging New Year's greetings, Tong Huaqiong still gave each child a red envelope containing pre-exchanged silver coins.

Liu Yue'e's niece, Liu Xiuxiu, said that she was already a grown woman and shouldn't accept the offer. Besides, she was working at the Peach Blossom Dessert Bakery, where Tong Huaqiong not only gave her special training but also paid her wages. Many girls in the village envied her, and she was already very satisfied.

Tong Huaqiong said with a smile, "Today we're not talking about employers and employees, we're only talking about elders and juniors. I'm your elder, so take what I give you. All the other kids get some, and if I leave you out, wouldn't that make me seem biased?"

Liu Xiuxiu accepted the red envelope with embarrassment after hearing Tong Huaqiong's words.

After the Liu family left, another group of people came to offer New Year's greetings.

This time, it was the students from the private school who came to wish their teacher, Su Chengmin, a Happy New Year.

The children crowded the courtyard with great enthusiasm, all bowing to Su Chengmin in gratitude for being their teacher.

Even the annoying Chunwang looked quite handsome when he was surrounded by children.

With the sun rising, it's time to visit the villagers and offer New Year's greetings.

Tong Huaqiong only visited a few familiar families and two or three Gu families who were on good terms with her. She could go to the other families separately.

The head of the Gu family sat upright in the house, waiting for Tong Huaqiong to come and wish her a Happy New Year.

Even if Tong Huaqiong doesn't go to the ancestral hall to pay her respects, she still has to come and wish the clan leader a Happy New Year, even if it's just to save face.

Paying New Year's respects to the clan chief is a tradition every year.

Now that she has been granted the title of Township Lady, countless eyes are watching her. If she doesn't come to the clan chief's house to pay her respects for the New Year, wouldn't that be handing him a handle to use against her? In the future, when Gu Jingzhe becomes an official, he will also be impeached by those with ulterior motives on the grounds of disloyalty and filial impiety towards the clan.

If Tong Huaqiong were concerned about her reputation or Gu Jingzhe's well-being, she would definitely come.

Tong Huaqiong's laughter came from outside. The clan chief flicked his clothes and waited for her to step into the house.

But after waiting for a long time, Tong Huaqiong still didn't come to the house.

The clan chief sent his grandson, Gu Dahu, out to gather information. When Gu Dahu returned, he said that Tong Huaqiong had gone to pay a New Year's visit to the third uncle next door.

The clan chief was so angry he almost pounded the ground.

That widow Tong really doesn't give me any face.

The clan chief had hoped that Tong Huaqiong would come to his house after leaving next door, but even after the New Year's greetings period had passed, Tong Huaqiong still hadn't stepped into the clan chief's house.

After paying her New Year's visits, Tong Huaqiong returned to her warm and cozy home.

The entire first day of the Lunar New Year was spent exchanging New Year's greetings and receiving greetings. (End of Chapter)