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

Gu Baishuang only realized what was happening when she saw Tong Huaqiong standing in front of her.

It turned out that it wasn't her sister-in-law who called her in to have a private conversation, but rather her stepmother who wanted to speak with her.

She didn't understand what her stepmother was up to, and wanted to avoid Nie Mingyuan by having her sister-in-law call her into the house.

Regardless of Gu Baishuang's inner thoughts, Tong Huaqiong said directly, "Baishuang, are you wondering why I called you into the room alone? I have something to tell you. No matter what prejudice you have against me as your stepmother, no matter what you think of these words, I can tell you first that I have to say this: I will not harm you."

Before Gu Baishuang could speak, Tong Huaqiong asked, "I know how you've been living in the Nie family. It's been more unpleasant than pleasant, especially after your stepson grew up and got married. Your life has become even more difficult. The reason they don't respect you isn't because you're their stepmother, nor is it because you haven't done a good enough job. Do you know what the biggest reason is?"

Gu Baishuang was stunned.

She hadn't thought about this question in detail, just like when her stepmother asked her today what percentage of the Nie family's business she owned.

However, she had questioned herself about this issue, and she believed that she had treated her two stepsons very well. Because she had lived under her stepmother's care, she knew how difficult life was for her stepchildren, so she extended her own experience to treat her two stepsons even better than her own children.

What chilled her heart was that she had raised two ungrateful children.

Now, the two daughters-in-law complain from time to time that Xiaofeng spends too much money and doesn't study well, implying that if Nie Mingyuan dies before them, the two stepsons will suffer in terms of inheritance.

In all honesty, she never intended to take over Nie Mingyuan's property after his death, nor did she ever think of giving more to Nie Xiaofeng.

Gu Baishuang said with a wry smile, "Yes, I've been completely open with them, but they don't respect me and are wary of me. They're always worried, openly or secretly, that I'll influence them to give all the Nie family's assets to Xiaofeng."

Tong Huaqiong said, "That's because you don't have control over the Lu family's business and money."

Just like Jin Fengxiang in Fucheng, Jin Fengxiang's wife took control and then gave it up, which led to a struggle between her stepson and her biological son.

If Gu Baishuang truly controls the Lu family's money and business, and has the ability to give the family fortune to Nie Xiaofeng, her two stepsons will actually be wary of her and try to curry favor with her.

People only fear what determines their fate.

Gu Baishuang was a little stunned.

Gu Baishuang had considered taking control of the Lu family's business and money when she first married Nie Mingyuan.

Gu Baishuang is not stupid; she can use an abacus and she can do accounting.

But Nie Mingyuan said that doing business was too tiring, and she only needed to be a good housekeeper.

After Xiaofeng was born, she once again considered doing business with Nie Mingyuan. Her idea was simple: to share the burden of her husband.

However, Nie Mingyuan subtly implied that she was restless and that her behavior would invite criticism. He suggested that she should hold onto her money to protect herself from her stepson. Gu Baishuang already suffered from PTSD related to her stepson and stepmother, and after hearing Nie Mingyuan's hint, she dared not mention doing business again.

Tong Huaqiong could tell from Gu Baishuang's expression what Gu Baishuang had gone through in the Nie family.

She's fallen into a trap set by both Nie Mingyuan and her own inner demons.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Nie Mingyuan is fully aware of your current situation, yet he shows no sympathy for you and even harbors resentment towards your stepson. If he hadn't let you get involved in business when you first came to the Nie family, that would have been understandable. But now Xiaofeng is so grown up; is he blind to how you treat your two stepsons? Yet he lets them mistreat you and doubt you, which shows he's doing it on purpose and doesn't trust you. I'm not trying to sow discord between you and your husband; your current situation is caused by Nie Mingyuan, by his wariness and distrust of you."

Gu Baishuang broke out in a cold sweat on her back.

Nie Mingyuan was indeed wary of her.

To this day, she still doesn't know the size of her family's business or how much money they have. She recalled a story her stepmother had heard at the Lu family home: if Nie Mingyuan had died before her, he would have given all his assets to his two stepsons, and they would have found a reason to kick her out, and she would have been powerless to do anything about it.

How to do?
Now Nie Mingyuan is old, and Xiaofeng is still a minor.

If Nie Mingyuan really acts like the head of the family in the stepmother story, what will become of her and Xiaofeng?

Seeing that Gu Baishuang had taken it to heart, Tong Huaqiong said, "Sometimes people are wary of outsiders harming them, but they don't realize that the scheming of their spouse is even more difficult to guard against. I'm not saying this to make you break up with Nie Mingyuan, nor am I telling you to harm Nie Mingyuan. I'm telling you to make plans and be careful in everything you do. Xiaofeng is still young, so you have to plan for him and for yourself."

Nie Xiaofeng touched Gu Baishuang's heart.

Yes, she always has to think about her son.

Gu Baishuang thought quietly for a while, then raised her head and asked with a resolute expression, "Then what should I do?"

Very good, Gu Baishuang has already started to think of countermeasures.

Then Gu Baishuang's fate in her previous life would be rewritten to some extent.

Tong Huaqiong finally understood that the reason why neither Tong Pandi's fate nor Lu Zhaozhao's fate followed the same path as in their previous lives was because they awakened themselves.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Bai Shuang, you need to control the business and the money. Once you control these, see who in the Nie family would dare to look down on you. Everything else is superficial. Your husband's favor is superficial, your stepson's flattery is superficial. What you have in your own hands is real. Nie Mingyuan is wary of you, and your two stepsons are targeting you. In the end, it's because you have no trump cards. If you had trump cards, they would only fawn over you and be wary of you."

“Your two stepsons are useless now, and Xiaofeng is too young. Don’t take offense at my harsh words, but Nie Mingyuan is so much older than you. If he had died before you, and you were in control of the Nie family business, wouldn’t you be afraid of your two stepsons coming after you?”

Gu Baishuang's smile grew increasingly bitter.

The stepmother's words were as good as saying nothing; she also wanted to control the family business and money.

But after all these years, she was completely clueless. With Nie Mingyuan on guard against her and her stepson watching her like a hawk, how could she possibly find a way to break through?

Gu Baishuang said, "Controlling money and business isn't that easy."

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "It's not difficult to master. There's an opportunity right now."

Gu Baishuang asked, "What opportunity?"

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, who said that women in ancient times only knew how to stay at home and be good wives and mothers? Once they had the opportunity to get their hands on the family's finances, they were all eager to try.

Sure enough, Gu Baishuang's eyes lit up when she heard her say that.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Now Nie Mingyuan wants me to connect with the Lu family, right? My refusal today is not because I refuse to connect them, but because I've thought about it and I think you can take this opportunity to get involved in your family's business and control your family's assets."

Gu Baishuang was tempted.

She, as Nie Mingyuan's bedmate, knew better than anyone how much he wanted to climb up the social ladder to the Lu family.

In order to climb up to the Lu family, Nie Mingyuan was even willing to step into the Gu family's door, and he even bowed down to curry favor with Tong Huaqiong, whom he had always looked down upon.

If his stepmother is willing to act as a go-between for the Lu family, Nie Mingyuan would probably consider involving her in the business. (End of Chapter)