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

Chapter 450 Cotton Loom Blueprints
Not long after returning home from the prefectural city, it was wheat harvest season.

Just like last year, Tong Huaqiong's family had another bumper wheat harvest this year.

When the wheat harvest was finished, Magistrate Liu sent Tong Huaqiong some blueprints for a loom that had been collected from Huating County and could be used to weave cotton cloth, but said that he had not been able to get the loom.

After all, looms were treasures of this era and wouldn't be lent out easily, which Tong Huaqiong understood.

Even though it was just a blueprint, Tong Huaqiong was still incredibly excited.

Since arriving in this era, she has never dared to underestimate the wisdom of the people of this era.

For example, if she produces a pesticide formula, the alchemist hired by Gu Dashu can prepare it, and he can even adjust the formula accordingly.

The reason why Tong Huaqiong's wheat yield was higher than last year was not only due to the high-quality wheat seeds, but also because of the pesticides and fertilizers that the alchemist improved based on modern formulas and were suitable for the soil of Qinghewan.

Therefore, Tong Huaqiong had no doubt that, based on the blueprints for this loom, the skilled craftsmen of Pingchuan County would definitely be able to devise a loom suitable for spinning cotton.

With that in mind, Tong Huaqiong took the blueprints and went to the cotton field at the foot of Xishan Mountain to find Gu Daqiao.

Thirty acres of cotton have grown to thigh height. A gentle breeze blows, and along with the green grass and trees on the gentle slope, wave after wave of greenery is refreshing and delightful.

Gu Dahan and his men were busy in the field. Tong Huaqiong had given them instructions: these thirty acres of cotton were crucial; whether their family could make a cotton cloth business depended entirely on whether Gu Dahan could ensure a good cotton harvest.

Gu Dahan dared not let his guard down. As soon as the wheat harvest was completed, he began to lead people to water the cotton fields.

My nephew, Gu Daqiao, was sitting under a makeshift shed made of cotton, gazing at a spinning machine, deep in thought.

Besides helping Gu Dahan manage the cotton fields and record the cotton's growth, Gu Daqiao spent the rest of his time figuring out spinning machines.

He was grateful to Aunt Tong for her help, which gave him a chance to work despite his leg disability. Since he started working at Aunt Tong's house, no one in the village has called him a good-for-nothing anymore.

He knew that Aunt Tong wanted a loom suitable for spinning cotton, so he had spent most of his time these past few days figuring out how to make one. He had been working on it for almost two months without any luck, and he was so anxious that he had blisters on the corners of his mouth.

"Aunt Tong, you've arrived."

When Gu Daqiao saw Tong Huaqiong walking towards the shed, he stood up on one leg to greet her.

Tong Huaqiong waved her hand at Gu Daqiao and said, "You don't need to get up."

Gu Daqiao pointed to the loom and the cotton beside it, and said with a troubled expression, "Aunt Tong, I don't have the ability to modify this loom."

Tong Huaqiong said, "Don't be discouraged. I brought you something good. See if you can understand it."

Tong Huaqiong pulled the blueprints out of her sleeve and handed them to Gu Daqiao.

Because of his leg disability, Gu Daqiao could not work in the fields or go out to work. In addition, he was literate and wanted to prove that he was a useful person, so he liked to sit at home and tinker with various tools.

For example, he figured out how to make the sickle cut wheat faster and how to make the plow plow the land better. And sure enough, his modifications actually boosted production.

If anyone's farm tools break down or their cart wheels malfunction, they can go to Gu Daqiao. He'll examine the cart, touch it here and there, and quickly find the problem and fix it.

Tong Huaqiong felt that Gu Daqiao had the potential to be a skilled craftsman, so she showed him the blueprints first, thinking that if Gu Daqiao was not up to the task, she would ask Magistrate Liu to find someone else.

Holding the blueprints, Gu Daqiao frowned and then relaxed. After a while, he said to Tong Huaqiong, "Aunt Tong, we've never seen a real cotton loom, so I can't say whether we can make one exactly like the blueprints, but I'll try my best to figure it out."

Tong Huaqiong felt that Gu Daqiao must be very capable.

She said, "There are still several months until autumn, enough time for you to think about it."

Gu Daqiao smiled.

In the entire village, only Aunt Tong treasured his craft.

Gu Daqiao said, "How can I figure it out until autumn? By then, the daylilies will be too cold. I need to figure it out before picking cotton. After making the loom, I need to test if it works. If it doesn't, I need to adjust it. All of this will take up a lot of time. Aunt Tong, you trust me so much, I will assemble the loom even if I don't eat or drink."

Tong Huaqiong said, "Alright, since it's entrusted to you, you take charge. What tools you need, what manpower you need, how much silver you need—just ask Da Han for it." Gu Daqiao said, "I understand."

After giving Gu Daqiao some instructions, Tong Huaqiong walked home from the cotton field.

At this moment, Mrs. Hong brought flowers to the cotton field to welcome Tong Huaqiong.

It can be said that ever since Tong Pandi came to Qinghewan, Hua'er has been raised by the Hong family.

"Call her 'Great-Auntie'." Hong, holding flowers, taught her to call Tong Huaqiong.
Hua'er babbled something incomprehensible to Tong Huaqiong, but that didn't stop her from reaching out and hugging Hua'er, mainly to let Hong Shi rest.

Hua'er was well-fed and plump, and she held a piece of cake in her little hand and stuffed it into Tong Huaqiong's mouth.

Tong Huaqiong was charmed by the flowers and hugged her, giving her two big kisses.

"The flowers are so well-behaved."

Tong Huaqiong and Hong Shi walked home while playing with the flowers.

"Sister Tong, look."

Standing on the edge of the field, Hong gestured towards the pig farm with her chin, her eyes burning with gossip.

Tong Huaqiong looked closely and saw a handsome man in a blue shirt lingering outside the pig farm.

Who else could it be but Master Su?
Hong said, "In the past, Master Su could come to the house to keep an eye on Jingzhe's studies. Now that Jingzhe is studying in the prefectural city, I'm afraid that if he comes again, Pandi will understand his intentions."

Tong Huaqiong said, "I'm afraid Pan Di already understands."

More than just coming again.

Tong Pandi is so smart, she probably already understood Su Fuzi's thoughts.

Judging from the way he brought gifts for Duo'er and Hua'er every time he visited Tong Huaqiong's house, his intentions were quite obvious.

Su Fuzi has been going to Qinghewan recently, and Tong Pandi always makes excuses about not going home because she is at the pig farm.

Hong said, "Master Su keeps coming to your door; I'm afraid rumors will start to spread."

What Hong didn't say was that now that Gu Jingzhe had gone to the prefectural city, the village private school teacher was still Su Chengmin. If Teacher Su went to Tong Huaqiong's house again, he would either spread rumors about Tong Huaqiong or Tong Pandi.

The aunt and niece, one a widow and the other divorced, are both natural gossip generators.

Tong Huaqiong understood what Hong meant and said with a smile, "Let it be spread, it's not like no one has ever spread it before."

Take recently for example, Tong Huaqiong has been involved in a scandal.

The woman she was rumored to be dating was Mr. Qian, who moved to the village during the Chinese New Year.

When Old Man Gu had just died, Tong Dajiao was afraid of gossip around a widow's house, and she would avoid even a male dog in the village. Now, facing the rumors about her affair with Boss Qian, she faced them calmly, which made some of the old women in the village a little envious of her.

And you know what? With a grandson already, being admired by a wealthy middle-aged man has truly made the villagers look at Tong Huaqiong with new respect.

Tong Huaqiong and Hong Shi walked along the ridge to the pig farm, where they ran into Master Su.

As soon as Hua'er saw Master Su, she struggled to get him to hug her.

Master Su took the flower from Tong Huaqiong, took out a wooden puppet from his pocket, and while teasing the flower, pretended to ask about Gu Jingzhe's situation at Wanliu Academy.

Tong Huaqiong told the truth.

Then Su Fuzi brought news that shocked Tong Huaqiong and Hong Shi.