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

Chapter 643 Not Exposing the Stepdaughter
Everyone laughed and joked around.

One elderly woman even said that she had originally intended to marry her niece off to Master Su, but now she had given up on that idea.

Tong Huaqiong said, "The show is about to begin, everyone quickly cover your mouths and listen carefully."

The older women in Qinghewan are really something else; if Tong Huaqiong doesn't say anything soon, she'll start driving.

No matter how reasonable Master Su was, or how fiery Tong Pandi was, they couldn't keep up with the speed of the car and were bound to make a scene.

"Yes, yes, the show is about to begin. Bigfoot, you sit here."

"Boss, I have a seat here for you."

Everyone's attention shifted to Tong Huaqiong, and they all called for her to take a seat.

Unable to resist everyone's enthusiasm, Tong Huaqiong and Mrs. Hong had no choice but to sit down.

It's nice to experience the lively atmosphere of traditional opera performances during the Spring Festival in this era.

Master Su tugged at Tong Pandi's sleeve, and Tong Pandi sat down and reached out to hug Hua'er. Hua'er clung to Master Su's arms and refused to get down.

Only then was Tong Pandi able to look Su Fuzi in the eye, and both of them blushed.

Suddenly, a drumbeat came from the stage.

The noisy audience fell silent; the show was about to begin.

The performance lasted until midnight, and when it ended, no one wanted to leave. It wasn't until the village chief said that the performance would continue until the fifth day of the new year that everyone reluctantly left.

The leisurely first day of the Lunar New Year has passed, and the busy second day has begun.

On this day, married daughters would visit their parents' home. Tong Huaqiong, who had severed ties with her brother and sister-in-law, would naturally not go to the Tong family, but her stepdaughter, Gu Baishuang, would come to Qinghe Bay.

Tong Huaqiong and her family were to host Gu Baishuang.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Baishuang and Nie Mingyuan arrived at Qinghe Bay.

He was followed by his two stepsons and their wives.

Ever since Gu Baishuang made a fortune by boarding the Lu family's merchant ship through Tong Huaqiong's introduction, Nie Mingyuan has treated Tong Huaqiong with even more respect than he would his own mother.

Over the past year, Nie Mingyuan suddenly realized that although he had made a lot of money through the Lu family, almost all of that money and business was in Gu Baishuang's hands, and he could no longer get involved.

He suggested to Gu Baishuang that she hand over the business that relied on the Lu family's merchant ships to her eldest son, but Gu Baishuang refused.

She didn't even bother with excuses, simply saying that it was a business she had painstakingly planned and that no one was allowed to get involved.

Nie Mingyuan was furious and had a big argument with Gu Baishuang. He forcefully demanded that Gu Baishuang relinquish power, but Gu Baishuang showed no fear whatsoever.

In desperation, they tried to use Gu Baishuang's reputation as a stepmother, which she cared about most, but they miscalculated. Gu Baishuang made it clear that she no longer cared about her good reputation as a stepmother.

Nie Mingyuan panicked.

Nie Mingyuan felt that his life was complete after his youngest son became a deputy general, but he found that with his youngest son's support, his wife was no longer under his control.

He couldn't threaten to divorce his wife, because Gu Baishuang now had the support of her entire maternal family, and behind that family were the Lu family, the Huang family, and the Liu family.

He cannot shake it.

Nie Mingyuan was in a state of panic throughout the entire Spring Festival.
The two stepsons wanted to put pressure on Gu Baishuang through the clan, but Nie Mingyuan rejected the idea, fearing that his younger son would turn against him and disown him as his father if he found out.

After much thought, Nie Mingyuan thought of Tong Huaqiong.

She wanted to persuade Gu Baishuang to hand over her business to her two stepsons through Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong noticed that this time, not only was Nie Mingyuan speaking well of her, but Gu Baishuang's two stepsons, who used to only give her polite words, were also being overly enthusiastic towards her.

Based on Tong Dajiao's memories from her previous life, the Nie family father and sons are the kind of people who won't act without self-interest. Their fawning over her must be for some ulterior motive.

During the banquet, Tong Huaqiong realized that Nie Mingyuan wanted her to persuade Gu Baishuang to hand over the business.

She chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly composed.

Hand it over, hand over that big idiot.

The reason why Gu Baishuang gradually gained control of the Nie family's business was all her own idea. She would never undermine her stepdaughter for either reason or emotion.

How could Nie Mingyuan be so certain that she would help him deal with Gu Baishuang?

“Mother-in-law, Xiaofeng has become a deputy general. It’s not appropriate for his mother to be out in the public doing business. I’m afraid it will become a handle for others to attack him. In addition, my third brother will be taking the imperial examination next year. With his talent, he will definitely pass with flying colors. At that time, our family will have two officials, one civil and one military. If my wife continues to do business, her identity will be sensitive. She has her brother on one side and her son on the other. People will say that she is making a fortune by taking advantage of her relationship with her brother and son.”

Nie Mingyuan's mouth was dry from talking, and seeing that Tong Huaqiong wasn't responding, he couldn't help but escalate his words.

It even dragged Gu Jingzhe's future into it.

Tong Huaqiong put down her chopsticks and said, "What's wrong with that? So Xiaofeng isn't your Nie family's son? According to you, a son with an official position should avoid suspicion. Wouldn't it be better if you avoided it? Since you're surnamed Nie, people will know you're from the same family as soon as they hear your name. On the other hand, Bai Shuang doesn't say anything outside, so who knows she's Xiaofeng's mother?"

"The imperial court did not stipulate that if a merchant's son became an official, the whole family's business had to close down."

"Since you're worried that my business dealings with Bai Shuang will affect Gu Jingzhe and Nie Xiaofeng, then Bai Shuang and I can just not have a son. But you, Nie Mingyuan, are surnamed Nie. Can you sever ties with Xiaofeng? He's registered in the Nie family genealogy and can't be cut off. So if you really regret dragging your son along, it'll be you, the father, who'll be the one to drag it along."

Nie Mingyuan was speechless.

What does my mother-in-law mean by this?
Should Gu Baishuang be separated from the Nie family and divorced like Tong Pandi?
This is the only way to sever ties with Nie Xiaofeng.

That's absolutely unacceptable. If we do that, Nie Xiaofeng won't even acknowledge him as his father.

Moreover, Gu Baishuang now holds the lifeline of the Nie family in her hands; he won't feel at ease until he gets his hands on her.

"Nie Mingyuan, Bai Shuang has been married to you for so many years, served your parents for ten years, raised your two sons until they got married, and managed the whole household. Have you ever trusted her? How much money do you earn each year, and where are your businesses located? Have you ever told Bai Shuang anything about it?"

there has never been.

Nie Mingyuan was startled; how did his mother-in-law figure it out?

"Now that your two sons are married and have children, Xiaofeng has his own skills, and Baishuang has made some money outside the home, you can't stand it and insist that she hand over her business and come back home to serve your whole family, can you?"

Tong Huaqiong questioned Nie Mingyuan sternly.

Nie Mingyuan, covered in sweat, said, "I didn't tell her before because I thought she was just a woman who wouldn't understand."

"Stop making excuses. You didn't understand before, but what about now? Most of your family's money now comes from her earning through the Lu family's shipping business."

Nie Mingyuan choked on his breath.

In the past two years, all the money in the family has indeed been earned by Gu Baishuang, and that is why she has changed.

He used to be submissive to the sons born to his two first wives, but now he throws a tantrum whenever he's unhappy.

Nie Mingyuan originally wanted to find out how much business Gu Baishuang had been involved in with Tong Huaqiong.

At this point, no one dared to ask anymore.

The eldest son of the Nie family spoke up with a displeased look, saying, "You've misunderstood Father. Father doesn't want Mother to be tired and wants her to enjoy her retirement. Besides, my second brother and I are both married with sons, so it's only right that we take over the family business. Letting Mother rest properly is the best way to show our filial piety."

Tong Huaqiong looked at the eldest son of the Nie family with a cold gaze and said, "Enjoying a life of leisure? You should say that to your father. If enjoying a life of leisure is so good, let him enjoy it at home. You know that you and your second brother are already married and have sons. Why don't you go out and make your own way in the world instead of eyeing the meager sums your stepmother has?

The eldest son of the Nie family was speechless.

The second son of the Nie family wanted to refute but couldn't find a way to do so.