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

Chapter 371 I'm Going to Make You Impatient

"Mother, what do you think I should do?"

Tong Huaqiong nodded.

Very good, Gu Baishuang has already flown in to discuss strategies for taking over the Nie family's business.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Go back and tell Nie Mingyuan that the reason I refused to act as a go-between for the Lu family is because I'm angry that he never visited the Gu family before, but now that he's here, he wants me to help him make the connection. Are you confident you can persuade me to calm down and convince me to act as a go-between for you and the Lu family? How you negotiate with Nie Mingyuan next is up to you. After all, you've known him for so long, you know him better than I do."

Tong Huaqiong didn't need to teach Nie Mingyuan how to persuade Gu Baishuang to participate in the business.

If Gu Baishuang doesn't even have this much ability, then she can forget about controlling the Nie family's business in this lifetime, and she deserves to never be able to turn things around.

As Gu Baishuang's nominal maternal family member, even if Gu Baishuang couldn't control the Nie family's business, Tong Huaqiong wouldn't just stand by and watch her be kicked out of the house by her two stepsons.

But if that happens, Gu Baishuang and Nie Xiaofeng will have to stay at the Gu family's place again. Will Gu Baishuang and Nie Xiaofeng be willing to accept that?

The best course of action is to let Gu Baishuang establish herself and take control of the Nie family's business.

Tong Huaqiong believed that Gu Baishuang had the ability.

Gu Baishuang has been married into the Nie family for so many years, and she has managed to keep the Nie family's inner quarters in check, not just because of her enthusiasm.

The reason she was schemed against by Nie Mingyuan and her stepson in her previous life was because she set shackles for herself, always fearing that her stepmother would be the subject of gossip.

After listening to Tong Huaqiong's suggestion, Gu Baishuang said, "If you are willing to act as a go-between for the Lu family, I am confident that I can persuade Nie Mingyuan."

At this point, Gu Baishuang expressed her deep gratitude to Tong Huaqiong.

If she had any resentment towards her stepmother before, she doesn't anymore, because she can't see any benefit that Tong Huaqiong could gain from doing this.

If this succeeds, I will be the biggest beneficiary.

"Of course, right now you think everything we're saying makes sense. Maybe once you step out this door and the wind blows, you'll realize that everything I'm saying is harmful to you, and that only Nie Mingyuan is truly sincere towards you. Then you'll resent and hate me, and never mention taking control of the Nie family's business again. In any case, you're the one who makes the decision, and you're the one who will accept the consequences. I'll stop here. Go back and think it over before you decide."

After saying this, Tong Huaqiong asked Chen Sufen to see Gu Baishuang out.

Tong Huaqiong had no idea how ambitious and determined Gu Baishuang was to take control of the Nie family.

She'd seen plenty of people like that in her past life—people who'd act on a whim after being provoked, only to regret it later after being provoked by a few words from others. She didn't want Gu Baishuang to rush forward without thinking things through, only to be swayed by Nie Mingyuan's words and turn against her.

Gu Baishuang did not respond to these words and left the Gu family gate with Chen Sufen.

"What does Dahan's wife want with you?" Nie Mingyuan asked impatiently as the carriage left Qinghe Bay.

Gu Baishuang suppressed her inner turmoil and said, "It's all because of Xiaolong. She's pregnant and overthinking things, and she has a lot to say that she can't tell Dahan or her mother-in-law, so she told me."

Nie Mingyuan scoffed and complained, "Didn't you say your stepmother had become more reasonable? I don't think she's changed at all. If she had, why would she have brought Da Han's illegitimate child here to disgust your brother and sister-in-law?"

"You used to handle a lot of things for the Gu family, and now you're asking your stepmother to help introduce you to the Lu family. She won't even help with something that's easy for her. I really don't know what she's thinking."

Sun, the youngest daughter-in-law, said while bouncing the child in her arms, "Stepmother, stepmother isn't your mother-in-law's biological mother. Father, how can you expect a stepmother to help you? She'll keep that connection for her own children."

The eldest daughter-in-law, Zhang, chimed in, "Who says otherwise? All stepmothers are the same."

The two daughters-in-law usually don't get along; the only thing that unites them is when they're dealing with Gu Baishuang. The same goes for their two stepsons.

Nie Mingyuan heard his daughter-in-law making veiled insults but remained silent to stop her.

She used to be sad but understanding, but today she feels utterly heartbroken.

As Sun and Zhang continued arguing about the stepmother, Nie Xiaofeng shouted angrily, "Shut your stinking mouths!"

Sun and Zhang exchanged a glance and remained silent.

Gu Baishuang sneered, "Who are you referring to as stepmother? I'm just too easygoing, that's why you dare to mention the word 'stepmother' in front of me. If it were someone as formidable as my stepmother, I would tear you to shreds if you dared to utter even a single word."

Tong Huaqiong is right. The reason they dared to disrespect her is that she had no trump cards up her sleeve.

If she really controlled the business and the money like Tong Huaqiong, who would dare to be disrespectful to her?

Gu Baishuang changed the subject and said to Nie Mingyuan, "Do you know why my stepmother is unwilling to connect you with the Lu family? I only found out from Su Fen's private conversation just now. We've offended her."

Nie Mingyuan became interested and asked, "What do you mean?"

Gu Baishuang sighed and said, "The Lu family has a large ship that sails to Southeast Asia. You wanted to invest in and sell goods, and so did she. She heard that porcelain was selling well in Southeast Asia, so she acquired a batch of porcelain some time ago. However, because she didn't understand the industry, she was cheated. My stepmother is the kind of person who absolutely refuses to admit that she was wrong. She blamed it all on you, saying that if you had visited her regularly and talked about the market for porcelain, she wouldn't have been cheated."

Nie Mingyuan was speechless.

This cheap mother-in-law is really unreasonable; it's all his fault.

"So we shouldn't have brought up the porcelain business in front of her."

Gu Baishuang continued, "If you ask who can persuade the stepmother to agree to arrange a marriage between the Lu family, it must be Sufeng and Dahan. Do you know why? Someone told the stepmother's fortune, saying that Man'er is the stepmother's lucky star, and that the whole Gu family will prosper if Man'er is treated well. And you know what? Ever since she changed her attitude towards Man'er and the first wife, her life has gotten better every day. Haven't you seen how she treats Dahan's family better than the second wife's family now? As a member of the Nie family, I certainly don't want you to miss the opportunity to build a relationship with the Lu family, so I just asked Sufeng to speak to the stepmother on our behalf."

Nie Mingyuan was overjoyed when he heard Gu Baishuang say that.

If Tong Huaqiong is willing to act as a go-between for the Lu family, then he will no longer have to travel around with his two sons, nor will he have to worry about them being scammed. From now on, he can simply invest money to buy goods and follow the Lu family's merchant ships to Southeast Asia.

Who knows, he might become a royal merchant.

Nie Mingyuan became happier the more he thought about it.

Gu Baishuang coldly watched her husband's undisguised ambition, and sneered inwardly.

How come she never realized Nie Mingyuan's greed before, a greed so great that she could easily lure him into her trap?

"Husband, don't be too happy yet. My stepmother is unpredictable. She might agree today and go back on her word tomorrow. We have to give her enough benefits before she'll be willing to help us," Gu Baishuang said to Nie Mingyuan with concern.

Nie Mingyuan nodded and said, "You're right. So what benefits do you think your stepmother wants?"

Gu Baishuang remained silent.

Nie Mingyuan was extremely anxious and helpless.

Gu Baishuang thought, "I'll make you anxious. The more anxious you are, the more I can tear open the gap in the Nie family's business."