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

Chapter 686 It’s all excuses
Since becoming pregnant, Chen Su-fen has focused all her energy on Man'er and her youngest daughter. After her youngest daughter was born, she wanted a son, but she couldn't conceive.

Of course, she does miss the days at Peach Blossom Dessert Shop—the focus she had on making pastries in the bakery, the excitement of having her new pastries recognized by customers, and the joy of opening the shop with her mother-in-law.
I still miss it when I think about it at night.

Now her mother-in-law is asking her about her plans, and she doesn't know how to answer.

Since my mother-in-law asked, it means she wants me to bring back peach blossom desserts; otherwise, she wouldn't have asked at all.

Let's go back to Peach Blossom Dessert Shop. They're doing quite well now, so it seems like they don't need her anymore.

Moreover, she couldn't bear to part with her child.

She also wanted to try harder to give Gu Dahan a son.

She decided not to go back. To be honest, she envied Gu Taohua and Liu Yue'e, envying that they could leave their homes and do business.

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Sufeng said, "Mother, I want to have a son while I'm still young."

Tong Huaqiong: "."

Tong Huaqiong almost choked on her breath.

Rationally, Tong Huaqiong understands Chen Sufen's thoughts.

She didn't care whether Chen Su-fen had a son or not, but it was no use; Chen Su-fen herself cared.

After Chen Sufen finished speaking, she didn't dare to look at Tong Huaqiong, because her mother-in-law would definitely think she was useless.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Having a son doesn't stop you from doing things, does it? You didn't miss the chance to have Ying'er while you were at Peach Blossom Dessert Shop."

Chen Sufen thought for a moment and said, "It's not that I don't want to help the family business, it's just that I feel that our family's business is no small workshop now. I haven't been to the shop for two years, and I'm worried that I won't be able to do it well starting from scratch."

Oh, Tong Huaqiong understands. This is because spending so much time taking care of children has led to self-doubt and a sense of inadequacy regarding one's own abilities.

It's not that she didn't want to come out.

Tong Huaqiong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Look, Pan Di has never done business before. We handed over our pig farm to her, and she can handle everything from buying and selling pigs to guiding pig farming. Not only that, she also manages more than a dozen people."

“Your eldest sister, Bai Shuang, has been a pampered young mistress at home for so long, but she went out to do business without hesitation, going from knowing nothing to knowing everything. Now she’s got a sharp abacus in her hand, and Nie Mingyuan can’t fool her at all.”

“You were able to help me open a shop before, so you can start doing it anytime you want.”

Chen Sufen hesitated for a moment before saying, "Ying'er is still young, and I want to spend more time with her."

That's the excuse.

Ying'er has maids and servants, so she doesn't need Chen Sufeng to serve her personally at all.

Besides, doing business with Tong Huaqiong doesn't mean I can't see my child.

It's just that they've shifted their focus from their children to their business.

Tong Huaqiong added fuel to the fire, saying, "Of course, I respect your choice if you stay at home. Now that our business is bigger, Taohua, Yue'e, and even Dashu have all contributed a lot to its growth. Dashu is still at the border and hasn't returned yet. When we divide the family property later, how do you think I should divide it? If I divide it equally, what do you think the others will think? Dahan worked hard in planting cotton, needless to say, and she has a share in the weaving workshop. What about you?"

"Even if I wanted to share the peach blossom dessert with you, would that be fair to Peach Blossom and Yue'e?"

“You have two daughters now, and you might have a son in the future. Don’t you want to fight for more of the family property for your children? I’ve said before that it’s impossible for our family property to be divided equally. Regardless of gender, it will all be divided according to contribution. If you stay at home and don’t work in the shop, then your eldest son’s family will get less. If you can accept that, then stay at home with the children. I have no objection.”

Tong Huaqiong said this to avoid disputes over who gets less when dividing the family property in the future, which could lead to family conflicts and crises.

She should say it sooner rather than later.

It wasn't that she didn't trust the first wife, but rather that she believed more in the fickleness of human nature.

Upon hearing this, Chen Sufeng stood up, looking alarmed, and said, "Mother, I have no intention of dividing the family property. Everything in our family belongs to you, and you can divide it however you wish. If I were to want your things, wouldn't that be unfilial?"

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself that she had said it all for nothing.

Why does Chen Su-fen focus solely on filial piety versus lack thereof?

Seeing Tong Huaqiong's sullen face, Chen Sufen said, "Mother, that's not what I meant. I... I just couldn't bear to leave the child and was afraid of messing things up at the shop." Tong Huaqiong took a breath; there was still hope.

Chen Su-fen was willing to get involved in the business.

Tong Huaqiong softened her tone and asked, "If you don't want to go to Peach Blossom Dessert, our family's weaving workshop can also participate. It's right in the village, so you can keep an eye on the children all the time."

Chen Sufeng thought for a moment, then looked up and said, "I'll go to Peach Blossom Dessert Shop. Since I'm involved in our family business, I should do what I'm good at. I like making pastries. As for the children, even the female workers in our weaving workshop can only see their children in the early morning and late evening. If we see the children all the time, wouldn't that interfere with our work?"

“I heard Xiaolong and Man’er reading before, saying that parents who love their children plan far ahead. Your teaching is right. I can’t just think about the present. I have to think more about Man’er and Ying’er. When they get married, I want to give them dowries of shops and houses. I can’t ask you for these things. I have to earn them myself.”

Very well, Chen Sufen finally understood.

Tong Huaqiong was very satisfied with this.

Chen Su-fen's visit to Peach Blossom Dessert Shop was also Tong Hua-qiong's wish.

Her skills should be carried forward at Peach Blossom Desserts.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Since you've made up your mind, then go and be in charge of the baking room at Peach Blossom Desserts."

Chen Sufen nodded, her eyes glistening with tears.

Gu Jingzhe is getting married on the sixteenth of the third month. During this period, Chen Sufeng is responsible for all the arrangements for Gu Jingzhe's wedding.

Therefore, Chen Su-fen decided that she would go to work at Peach Blossom Dessert Bakery after her brother-in-law's marriage was settled.

This was exactly what Tong Huaqiong wanted to say.

In Tong Huaqiong's mind, it was natural for her, as the mother, to handle the wedding arrangements for her son.

Handing it over to the daughter-in-law always feels like shirking responsibility.

But Chen Su-fen didn't think that way.

Chen Su-fen possesses a quality and sense of responsibility that is common in this era, like an elder sister-in-law acting as a mother.

She cared more about her sister-in-law and brother-in-law's affairs than anyone else.

She took the initiative to arrange Gu Jingzhe's marriage. If Tong Huaqiong didn't let her handle Gu Jingzhe's marriage, she would become suspicious and think that Tong Huaqiong didn't like her.

Tong Huaqiong entrusted Gu Jingzhe's marriage to her, which she felt was a sign that her mother-in-law valued her.

With Gu Jingzhe being a scholar who passed the imperial examinations, Lu Zhaozhao being a wealthy and beautiful woman from a royal merchant family, and Tong Huaqiong and Old Master Lu having influence in Ningcheng's business community, this marriage could not possibly be kept low-key.

Tong Huaqiong also doesn't want to keep a low profile.

She wanted to make this marriage a grand and spectacular affair.

The house in the prefectural city had already been purchased.

The wedding will be held in Qinghewan.

Purchasing, preparing the banquet, and entertaining guests—there are many things to do to make a grand wedding.

Chen Su-fen was busy every day with her brother-in-law's marriage arrangements, and she looked very happy.

To ease Chen Sufeng's burden, Tong Huaqiong asked Tong Pandi and Hong Shi to help with the arrangements, and invited Liu Yue'e's mother, Zhao Shi, to help decorate the new house. Gu Fengnian's wife, Wei Shi, led the young wives to sew quilts and new clothes.

They invited Village Chief Liu and Boss Qian to host the banquet.

As the eldest sister of the Gu family, Gu Baishuang took the initiative to take on the task of purchasing.

With many hands making light work, preparations for the wedding were completed by the end of February amidst much activity.

In March, Gu Jingzhe returned home from Wanliu Academy to wait to become a groom.