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

"How did you come?"

After taking their seats, Tong Huaqiong ordered someone to bring hot tea for the Crown Prince.

Chen Sufeng personally served hot tea to the Crown Prince, watching him drink a few sips with a loving expression. Then, she carefully untied the large woolen coat covering the Crown Prince and handed him a small hand warmer.

The Crown Prince laughed and said, "There are no dumplings in the palace. I want to eat the dumplings that my grandmother and mother make. I begged my grandfather to let me out of the palace."

With the Emperor ill, the concubines and princes each have their own thoughts, and there is almost no kinship among the imperial family. Presumably, the Crown Prince will not enjoy the New Year's Eve dinner tonight.

Chen Su-fen asked, "What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."

The grandson said, "I'll just eat dumplings."

Tong Huaqiong said, "Okay, let's eat dumplings then."

After that, everyone continued making dumplings.

"I'll make some too," the grandson said, picking up a dumpling wrapper.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Little darling, you'd better wait to eat."

The grandson has absolutely no idea how to make dumplings; he just makes things worse.

"No, I want the bag." The grandson was very stubborn.

Man'er tugged at the grandson's hand and said, "You're wrapping it wrong, let me teach you."

The two children, heads touching, took turns teaching and learning. Man'er would occasionally call the grandson a stupid pig, but the grandson wasn't angry at all; instead, he just kept laughing.

Gu Dahan's heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled down.

He was afraid that Man'er would anger the Crown Prince, and that the Crown Prince's anger would cause her trouble.

After what happened that night, he realized that the grandson was still the same little dragon.

Since the Crown Prince left Qinghe Bay, Liu Tiechui and Liu Shan have not seen him.

It is likely that the Crown Prince was protected from the moment his identity was revealed until he was welcomed back to Shengjing, and outsiders could not see him at all.

The father and son were very curious about the little dragon who had become the grandson of the emperor, and kept glancing at the grandson while making dumplings.

According to locals in Qinghewan, the old emperor welcomed back his grandson with the intention of passing the throne to him.

Liu Tiechui really wanted to ask if it was true or false, but he swallowed the words back several times.

The grandson raised his head, smiled at Liu Tiechui, and said, "Grandpa Liu, is your rheumatism better? Tomorrow I'll have the imperial physician send you some plasters for treating rheumatism."

Liu Tiechui's heart pounded at the unexpected concern shown by the Grandson.

Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.

Liu Tiechui said excitedly, "Little Dragon... no, Your Highness, you still remember my old leg pain? This is truly... truly..."

Liu Tiechui couldn't finish his sentence; tears streamed down his face.

This is a blessing earned over many lifetimes, to be remembered by the Crown Prince.

Zhao was equally moved and wiped away tears.

Tong Huaqiong: "."

With everyone working together, the dumplings were quickly made.

Su Chengmin picked up the curtain and took it to the kitchen.

Gu Dashu and Gu Jingzhe went to make dumplings, while Gu Dahan tended the fire.

The kitchen maids and servants were kicked out, and they were happy to have some peace and quiet.

No matter whether he was the Crown Prince or the Commander of the Imperial Guard, everyone who came to Tong Huaqiong's house had to do chores.

Fan Tong sat among everyone, feeling somewhat out of place. He had been taught that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen, so he had never cooked at home, let alone done something as difficult as making dumplings.

In the Fan family, cooking is a woman's job; a man cooking is considered a sign of being unambitious.

Why is it that when we arrived at the Gu family home, it was the men who were doing the work?
Liu Tiechui and Liu Shan started clearing the table and cleaning up the dumpling-making area, taking the mixing bowl to the kitchen. Su Fuzi and He Chao followed them to the kitchen to wait for the dumplings to be served. Tong Huaqiong wiped her hands, and everyone sat together drinking tea, eating melon seeds, and chatting, waiting for the dumplings to be served.

Fan Tong felt rather uncomfortable sitting among a group of women.

He wanted to get up and go to the kitchen, but once there he didn't know what to do, and his bottom was stuck to the chair, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Zhao said to Fan Tong in a quick and direct manner, "Everyone was making dumplings just now, even the Crown Prince helped, but Scholar Fan didn't make any."

Fan Tong said, "I've never made these at home before, so I don't know how. I'm afraid of wasting the dough and filling."

Liu Yue'e scoffed, "Who's born knowing how? Everyone learns it. Don't you all make dumplings together for the New Year?"

Even back in the days of Tong Dajiao, the men of the Gu family still had to cook and do chores.

The Liu family is the same.

Fan Tong got anxious and said, "My mother and sister-in-law won't let me cook. Only good-for-nothing men cook."

As soon as he said that, he regretted it so much he wanted to bite his tongue.

Tong Huaqiong and the others all turned to look at Fan Tong.

Gu Honglian looked embarrassed, feeling that Fan Tong's words were a slap in the face. She retorted sarcastically, "Give me a break. Only a man who has no ambition cooks. You failed the imperial examination three times because you didn't cook. On the other hand, my three nephews have been cooking since they were young. The cotton they cultivated during the Great Cold was praised by the prefect, they had their own shops during the Great Heat, and they were the top scholar in the provincial examination during the Awakening of Insects. Which one of them is not successful? By the way, only Gu Ruinian is not successful. He, like you, has never cooked since he was a child. There is only one reason for not cooking: laziness."

Fan Tong's face flushed red after Gu Honglian spoke to him in public.

He didn't dare to lash out in front of Tong Huaqiong.

Gu Honglian grew angrier as she spoke, and had no intention of letting Fan Tong off the hook. Her hands were rough from working so hard at the Fan family's house, but Fan Tong did nothing. He would say things like, "What kind of man cooks? A man should make a name for himself."

So even cooking for his own nephew doesn't prevent him from making achievements.

Even a poor, down-on-their-luck family like the Fans would be incredibly fussy.

Now that she's in Shengjing and has left the Fan family, she doesn't want to work anymore; Fan Tong has to live.

“You should learn from my nephews. A man who can cook can be successful. The less successful a man is, the less he will do anything when he gets home.”

As Gu Honglian spoke, she urged Fan Tong to go to the kitchen to get the dumplings.

Fan Tong was forced to go to the kitchen.

When he arrived at the kitchen, no one paid him any attention.

Gu Jingzhe finished cooking the dumplings and served a bowl. Su Fuzi took the bowl, and Fan Tong, wanting to curry favor with Su Fuzi, insisted on taking the dumplings from Su Fuzi's hands.

"Master, I'll do it."

"no, I'm fine."

"Master, let your disciple do it."

Fan Tong took the dumplings from Master Su, but as soon as he turned around, he tripped on the threshold. His hand lost its balance, and the plate flew out of his hand, scattering the dumplings on the snow.

Master Su sighed and said, "I said I would do it myself, but you insisted on doing it."

Gu Dashu said coolly, "My uncle is so used to holding a pen that he can't even hold a bowl properly."

Fan Tong gritted his teeth in anger, feeling that Gu Dashu was mocking him.

Hearing the commotion, Tong Huaqiong and the others saw through the window that Fan Tong had scattered dumplings all over the floor.

Gu Honglian felt increasingly that Fan Tong had disgraced her in front of her family, so she rushed out and scolded, "Fan Tong, you're useless at studying and useless at doing chores. You can even spill dumplings. You're a complete waste."

Gu Honglian's cursing echoed through the courtyard, sounding particularly jarring in the dark night.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself that Gu Honglian used to be incredibly insecure in front of Fan Tong, fawning over him. But less than a year after their marriage, that illusion had shattered, and now Gu Honglian could insult Fan Tong whenever she wanted.

"It's just a plate of dumplings, and you're making a big deal out of nothing."

Fan Tong, feeling humiliated by Gu Honglian's scolding, couldn't help but retaliate.

Fan Tong was so utterly useless in front of her sister-in-law and nephew, and even dared to fight back. Gu Honglian was utterly humiliated. (End of Chapter)