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

Chapter 418 fig leaf

"The old man and the clan chief keep saying that my public appearances are affecting the marriage prospects of the girls in our Gu family."

Tong Huaqiong stood up and looked at the various respected elders of the Gu family.

Several old men, persuaded by Grandpa Gu, lowered their heads and dared not meet Tong Huaqiong's gaze.

"Second uncle."

Tong Huaqiong dragged out Old Master Gu's own brother.

"Second Uncle, which family is your granddaughter engaged to?"

Uncle Gu's face twitched, and Aunt Gu gave him a look through several of her sisters-in-law.

Uncle Gu said, "I'm talking about the Chen family who sell sesame oil in town."

After saying that, a slight look of shame appeared on her face.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Your granddaughter."

Second Aunt interrupted Tong Huaqiong, saying, "Let me be blunt. In the past, my granddaughter would never have been able to marry into the town. Look at our Qinghe Bay, which girl has married into the town? The best marriage we've had is Yue'e's sister, Yuechang, but that's only in Moon Bay, which is slightly better than our village. Although the Chen family runs a small business selling sesame oil, they also have a proper shop and can earn twenty or thirty taels of silver a year. They have enough to eat and wear, and meat at every meal, which is better than toiling in the fields. Plus, they only have one son, so all their assets will go to him and our granddaughter. Why was my granddaughter able to marry into the Chen family? It's because my niece-in-law owns a shop in town, and people say that a girl from Tong's husband's family must be excellent. She must be very capable."

Grandpa Gu's own brother, Uncle Gu the Second, was blushing with embarrassment after being talked about by his second aunt.

Originally, he didn't quite agree with his elder brother and nephew when Grandpa Gu and Gu Youtian tried to persuade him.

Although his eldest nephew's wife has a bad temper and they haven't had much contact in the past or present, Tong Huaqiong has been very polite to his second uncle ever since he became successful.

Gifts are never forgotten during holidays and festivals.

He watched the villagers working in Tong Huaqiong's shop and fields, and he also wanted to find a job for his own son, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it.

Grandpa Gu told him that it wasn't about seizing Tong Huaqiong's family property, but about letting Youtian help shoulder the responsibility. If Youtian didn't help his own cousins ​​get rich, who would he help get rich?
So, in a moment of impulsiveness, Uncle Gu agreed to stand on Old Master Gu's side.

His wife pointed her finger at him and said this, and he felt quite ashamed. He didn't dare to look at Tong Huaqiong and said to Grandpa Gu, "My nephew's wife... she's a good older brother, so let's not talk about it."

Old Master Gu's face turned ashen; his own brother was truly hopeless.

He compromised because of a marriage proposal for his granddaughter.

And then there are her younger siblings; she has no say in the conversations of the men in the clan.

Uncle Gu was glared at by Old Master Gu and dared not speak further.

Second Aunt didn't take this elder brother-in-law seriously, and continued, "Clan Chief, is it because you're the head of the Gu clan that your youngest daughter was able to marry into a family with twenty acres of fertile land in Black Dragon Pool? Why didn't they come to propose marriage before, but as soon as Da Shu Niang was granted the title of Lady of Abundant Harvest, they came eagerly to arrange a marriage? Third Brother, your granddaughter and the man were engaged, but the man's family disliked her and refused to complete the engagement. Without Da Shu Niang speaking up for you, would your granddaughter have been able to marry into that family by now?"

"If our Gu family girls didn't have Da Shu Niang, they would have nowhere to seek justice if they were bullied in their husbands' homes. You're using the girls as an excuse, it's just a flimsy excuse. Today is the anniversary of Da Shu's father's death, so you're not here to offer incense to him, but to bully his orphaned mother and children. Heaven is watching what people do. What benefits do you expect from following You Tian in seizing Da Shu Niang's shop? Can't you see the benefits Da Shu Niang promised us? Let's not even talk about anything else, just the private school. Tell me honestly, without this private school, would all the children of our Gu family be able to go to school?"

Everyone looked embarrassed by what their second aunt had said.

Especially when it comes to the private school, although the private school also accepted tuition fees from the Gu family's children, those fees were affordable for everyone.

The private school even provided paper and pens periodically, which saved them a lot of money.
If they offended Tong Dajiao, she might close the private school in a fit of anger, and their children would be unable to study. Tong Dajiao now had the money to hire a private tutor for her children, but what about them?

They can't afford to hire them.

Besides, Grandpa Gu has two grandsons who are good at studying. Who wouldn't be envious and jealous? Why should their descendants have to stay at home and farm?

Gu Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian are indeed members of the clan. If they study hard, the glory of their lineage will belong to the Gu family, and they will be the ancestors of the Gu family. How much glory can the other branches of the family receive?

Therefore, it is still necessary to rely on one's own children and grandchildren to study in order to bring greater benefits to one's family.

After saying this, the second aunt sat down with a stern face.

Great, there's no need for Tong Huaqiong to engage in a verbal battle anymore; her second aunt is her best mouth double.

Tong Huaqiong sneered inwardly. These men in the clan, after being stirred up by Old Master Gu and Gu Youtian with just a few words, turned against her together, and after being swayed by a few words from her second aunt, they were also swayed.

It's clear they're all a bunch of rabble.

However, it was precisely because of this that she was able to defeat them one by one and scatter the clan's forces.

"Second sister-in-law, what you're saying is that men are inherently more suited to business than women, so it's best for You Tian to take over the business," the clan chief said.

The clan leader stopped talking about the Gu family girls and started talking about other things.

Grandpa Gu promised him that once Gu Youtian took over the shop, he would give him a certain amount of shares and also let his grandson Gu Dahu become the shop manager.

Not to mention that he couldn't refuse such tempting conditions, even though Tong Huaqiong usually didn't take him seriously, he still had to side with Grandpa Gu and Gu Youtian.

Tong Huaqiong didn't even look at the clan leader and said, "Third Uncle, your son is seventeen this year, right? It's a bit late to start school now. I think he's usually reliable, hardworking and efficient. During the summer, the shop in the prefectural city needs a reliable helper. If you're willing, you can let him go with you."

The old man, whom Tong Huaqiong called her Third Uncle, was so moved that tears streamed down his face.

His grandson was already grateful to be able to find work in town, but now he's even able to go to the prefectural city.

Tong Huaqiong's shop is in such high demand in the city, it's no wonder she's deliberately trying to recruit her grandson.

"I'm willing, I'm willing, of course I'm willing. When you go back to the prefectural city this summer, take him with you. I won't say a word whether you beat him or scold him, as long as he can make a living with you." Uncle San said excitedly.

"Fourth Brother, your eldest son has a limp. I remember he went to school for a few years when he was young. If his leg hadn't been injured by a stone, he might have been the first scholar in our village," Tong Huaqiong said.

This fourth brother was Old Man Gu's cousin, and his eyes reddened as he thought of his poor eldest son.

"I'll be planting cotton on that plot of land at the foot of West Mountain in a while, and I need someone who can read and write to help me manage the hired workers. I see that my eldest nephew can read and write, so I'm thinking of having him help out. What do you think?"

Old Gu's cousin was stunned.

Since his leg became lame, the eldest son has been unable to study or do manual labor, and can only weave baskets at home to earn a few pocket money.

This son has always been a source of heartache for him.

Now that Aunt Tong is willing to help him, she's practically his second parents.