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

Chapter 638 Another Year

It's the morning of the first day of the new year again.

Before their own families could even offer New Year's greetings to Tong Huaqiong, the villagers who worked with her flocked to her home to pay their respects to their beloved employer.

Tong Huaqiong accepted them all with a smile.

Next, her family members paid New Year's greetings to Tong Huaqiong. As is customary, Tong Huaqiong gave each of the children a red envelope.

"Thank you grandma."

Man'er and the others smiled sweetly, then ran out of the house to the backyard to wish Master Su a Happy New Year.

Not only did Xiaolong Man'er and other children come to Master Su's house, but children from all over the surrounding villages also came to wish Master Su a Happy New Year.

In this era, teachers were equivalent to parents, and many students' faces were red from the cold as they walked along the mountain roads.

Master Su himself was not one to concern himself with worldly matters. He usually ate at Tong Huaqiong's house and prepared nothing for the New Year except for wine.

Taking this into consideration, Tong Huaqiong had her maids and servants prepare tea, fruit, and pastries to take to Master Su's place, so that the children who came to pay their New Year's respects could warm up.

With so many children, it was lively, and the noise carried all the way from the backyard to the front yard.

Tong Huaqiong and Madam Hong were talking inside the house when they could hear chattering from the backyard.

Mrs. Hong said with an envious look, "It's so lively with children."

“Master, isn’t it a coincidence? We just carried the tea, fruit and pastries we prepared over there and saw that the children were already eating them. It’s because Miss Biao was thinking of us and prepared them in advance for Master Su.”

Xiao Xi and Su Qing walked in with smiles, interrupting the conversation. Tong Huaqiong breathed a sigh of relief; otherwise, she really wouldn't know how to comfort Hong Shi. Not having children was Hong Shi's regret, and Tong Huaqiong couldn't very well say that not having children brought peace and allowed her to live a few more years.

The "Miss" Xiaoxi mentioned was naturally Tong Pandi.

Su Qing said, "There was a little kid who just started school at the end of the year. He didn't know the situation and rushed to call Miss Biao 'Teacher's Wife,' which made Miss Biao blush very badly."

Tong Huaqiong said with a smile, "It's normal for children to mistakenly identify things."

Su Qing thought to herself that although Master Su had denied the rumors, he couldn't hide his joy in his eyes and brows.

After the two maids left, Tong Huaqiong asked Madam Hong, "I've been busy with the weaving workshop all year, and you've spent a lot of time with Pandi. Why is Master Su still so affectionate towards Pandi?"

"More eager than before, even making it clear to Pan Di."

Once the Hong family brings up this topic, they can't hold back.

Tong Huaqiong turned to the side and asked, "What was Pan Di's reaction?"

Madam Hong said, “I’ve been observing that Pan’er isn’t as resistant as before, and she even praised Master Su as a good man in front of me. When you went to the prefectural city before the New Year, one night Hua’er had a fever, and the doctor went to Black Dragon Pool. Pan’er was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Master Su heard the commotion, picked up Hua’er, borrowed the shopkeeper’s carriage, and rushed to the town clinic. He was in such a hurry that he didn’t wear warm clothes and was freezing all night. Hua’er recovered, but he collapsed.”

“Pan Di was so moved.”

This was the first time Tong Huaqiong had heard of this.

Master Su was indeed a very good person.

They treat the flowers like their own children.

The key point is that Su Fuzi is not old, and he is not bad-looking. He and Tong Pandi are quite a good match.

If Tong Pandi and Su Fuzi really do get married, Tong Huaqiong would support it.

Tong Pandi's first marriage failed, but that doesn't mean she can't pursue her next soulmate.

Speaking of Tong Pandi, she came in. Tong Huaqiong asked her directly, "Master Su has made things clear to you, what do you think?"

Tong Pandi blushed.

Tong Huaqiong pondered Tong Pandi's thoughts, and it seemed that her feelings for Master Su were also growing stronger.

Madam Hong advised, "Master Su is a good man. He is meticulous and gentle. He is impeccable in both character and appearance. More importantly, he is good to you and Hua'er. Brother Pan, you should really consider marrying Master Su."

"The flowers will eventually grow up, get married, and start their own families. It will be so boring for you to be all alone then. You might as well follow your heart and get married while you're still young."

Tong Pandi lowered his head and remained silent.

Madam Hong said, "Do you feel that you are not good enough for Master Su because you have been divorced? You must not have such thoughts. You can remarry in any village or town."

According to Hong's opinion, since Tong Pandi and Su Fuzi are interested in each other, they should get married and make her ex-husband's family die of anger.

Tong Pandi said, "I have a good impression of Master Su. When I divorced him, I swore I would never remarry. Now I want to remarry. Isn't that a slap in my own face?"

Tong Huaqiong and Hong Shi looked at each other.

How can a person maintain the same idea for a lifetime?

Tong Huaqiong said, "Whether you marry or not, you are still you. You have the right to accept Su Fuzi, and you also have the right to refuse her. The premise is that your true feelings in your heart lead you to make a decision, not based on your relationship with Wu Musheng, and certainly not confining yourself to any vows. You can't be afraid to remarry just because your previous marriage failed, nor can you choose to marry just to prove that you can marry better."

"Everything is based on your happiness."

"Whether you remarry Master Su or someone else, you will no longer be the same Tong Pandi you were before, but a Tong Pandi who can stand up to the other party. No one can predict what will happen in the future, but the important thing is that you will have the confidence to protect yourself and your two daughters under any circumstances."

Tong Pandi carefully considered Tong Huaqiong's words.

In the two years she had known Master Su, he had been kind to her and her daughter. In addition, Master Su was cultured and spoke and acted in a gentle and proper manner, so it was impossible for her not to be moved.

She hesitated for two reasons: first, she worried that marrying Master Su while still divorced would subject him to gossip; second, she feared she would repeat the fate of He Wumusheng.

Her aunt's words made her realize that she should focus on her own happiness, enjoy the present moment, and most importantly, have the confidence to protect herself and her two daughters.

Tong Pandi said, "Aunt, Aunt Hong, I understand."

At this moment, Master Su was in the house interrogating a student who had come to pay New Year's respects, demanding knowledge from him.

A group of children wailed; they had come to offer New Year's greetings, not to take an exam.

"Master Su, let me tell you a secret. My grandmother and mother are discussing marrying my cousin to you so we can be your teacher's wife." These words were spoken by a student from Moon Bay.

During the New Year's Eve dinner, the family mentioned that he would be coming to pay New Year's respects to Master Su the next day. The grandmother and mother lamented that Master Su had no one to care for him and was too lonely in Qinghe Bay. They thought of arranging a marriage between the child's cousin and Master Su.

Master Su: "."

"Thank your mother and your grandmother for me. This teacher doesn't need to arrange a marriage."

This was not the first time Su Shi had refused a marriage proposal.

After he came to teach in Qinghewan, people from all around became curious about him. When they learned that the learned, virtuous, handsome, and ageless teacher was alone, the Qinghewan area was abuzz with excitement.

They sent their children to private schools, and they were qualified to participate in Master Su's important life events.

The main concern was that if Master Su, being a single man with no family to worry about, got driven away by a clueless student, where would they find such a good teacher? They felt they had to find Master Su a wife, preferably from the Qinghewan area, so that Master Su could truly settle down there.

So every now and then someone would come to Su Fuzi's door to arrange a marriage, but Su Fuzi refused time and time again with a dark face.

Nowadays, Master Su doesn't even dare to make eye contact with the old ladies on the street. If he does, they'll grab him and try to arrange a marriage, as if he's been led into a spider's web.