The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 128: Her Competence in Business

The lands and face that were lost by Tong Dajiao in the spring were all regained by Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong brought people to cut the extra two feet of wheat that Yan Pozi had claimed, while Liu Tiechui worried that after Tong Huaqiong and the others went home, Yan Pozi would bring her four sons to cut Tong Huaqiong’s wheat.

So he called Liu Shan and Mrs. Zhao, picked up the sickles, and headed to Tong Huaqiong’s fields, saying to her, "In-law, let’s take advantage of the momentum to finish cutting this acre of wheat."

Once the acre of land is harvested, Yan Pozi won’t be able to steal it.

Tong Huaqiong had the same idea.

It was just the right time at dusk, as the daytime heat had subsided, making it not too hot for work and perfect for harvesting wheat.

"Sister Tong, you must be tired from doing business. You just had a row with Yan Pozi. Have some water and take a rest," Mrs. Zhao said, handing the water bottle to Tong Huaqiong.

Seeing Tong Huaqiong’s unfamiliar wheat-cutting posture, she sighed inwardly.

She figured it’s no wonder the in-law never did farm work at home before, she simply didn’t know how. Her skills lay in business.

After all, it was Mr. Gu who had restrained her.

"Mother-in-law, I’m not tired, let’s finish this and then help your family," Tong Huaqiong courteously told Mrs. Zhao.

Mrs. Zhao’s mouth twitched. Looking at the inexperienced in-law, it’s better if she doesn’t come to their land.

Honestly, Tong Huaqiong just wanted to throw down the sickle and quit. Her hands were aching after harvesting just a few rows.

It was more tiring than standing at the market stall for a whole day.

But she was too embarrassed to throw down the sickle, with so many people watching.

Aunt Qin and Qin Qingyou discussed briefly and also came with sickles to help.

Tong Huaqiong thanked Aunt Qin and her son, but Aunt Qin, unlike Mrs. Zhao, directly pointed out that Tong Huaqiong was not good at the work.

This time, Tong Huaqiong did not argue with Aunt Qin; instead, she readily admitted her shortcomings, making Aunt Qin feel embarrassed to criticize her further.

Gu Guangkui heard about the quarrel between Tong Huaqiong and Yan Pozi at the riverbank and came rushing to support. He found that both sides had already stopped fighting.

Seeing Liu Tiechui and Qin Qingyou among others helping Tong Huaqiong cut wheat, he went home, grabbed sickles, and brought Mrs. Zhang to help as well.

His daughter worked well in Tong Huaqiong’s shop, praising her integrity every evening when she returned home, becoming more cheerful. Gu Guangkui felt grateful towards Tong Huaqiong. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Even if his wife cursed at the back, he would still help Tong Huaqiong cut wheat.

Gu Guangkui and his wife were very capable, and their involvement significantly sped up the wheat cutting.

After cutting for a while, Tong Huaqiong remembered the meat and vegetables she bought. During her argument with Yan Pozi, the driver had placed them by the edge of the field. In the hot weather, they might spoil if not taken back home soon.

So, she asked Chen Sufen to take the things back and prepare a meal.

The Liu Family and Qin Family came to support her against Yan Pozi and helped cut the wheat, surely a meal was due.

Chen Sufen agreed and walked towards the edge of the field.

She also called Man Er and Yaozu back home to light the stove.

Man Er and Yaozu, though young, had to help the adults. There was no choice; in this era, children had to start helping their households early. Usually, Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t let Man Er and Yaozu work, at most they would gather some pigweed.

But now, during the wheat harvest, manpower was needed everywhere, and the age factor had to be set aside.

If someone could work, they had to be utilized.

"Everyone come eat at my place today; I’ve bought lots of meat and vegetables from Yan Guan Town," Tong Huaqiong said with a smile and then told Mrs. Zhao, "I initially planned to send some dishes to your house, let’s eat together now."

"Alright, today I’ll taste the craftsmanship of your eldest daughter-in-law," Mrs. Zhao replied with a smile.

The others didn’t stand on ceremony either.

There was no need to. The Liu and Qin families all came to help Tong Huaqiong cut the wheat, leaving no one home to make dinner. If they didn’t eat at the Gu house, they’d have to make dinner after returning home and wouldn’t eat until the wee hours.

After cutting this acre of wheat and having dinner, they still had to seize the cool evening to harvest their own crops.

With many hands, the workload lightened, and by the time it got dark, an acre of wheat had been harvested.

Tong Huaqiong led the women home to help Chen Sufen set the table.

Gu Dahua and Liu Tiechui, on the other hand, led the men to bundle up the wheat and transport it to the threshing ground to spread it out.

Luckily, Gu Baishuang lent a donkey cart to Gu Dahua, and combined with the Liu family’s donkey cart, they quickly transported all the wheat to the threshing ground.

Watermelons soaked in the chilling well water, and peaches were washed. Chen Sufen sliced the watermelon and presented the peaches, inviting Mrs. Zhao, Aunt Qin, and others.

Chen Sufen was very efficient at cooking. When Tong Huaqiong arrived at the kitchen, she saw both burners of the stove going, with several dishes already prepared, and biscuits baking in the oven.

There was braised mutton, red-braised chicken, sweet and sour carp, green pepper fried eggs, and stewed ribs.

Tong Huaqiong disliked the smell of pork from this era and usually did not eat it, but that didn’t mean others wouldn’t eat. So she bought a rack of ribs, and Chen Sufen stewed them all.

It was the first time Liu Yueer’s parents and brothers were dining at the Gu house. She was exceedingly excited, not caring about the weariness from cutting wheat, busying around following Chen Sufen to lend a hand.

With Liu Yueer’s help, Chen Sufen worked faster. The two sisters-in-law worked in tandem to stir-fry several vegetarian dishes, make a soup, and steam a pot of buns.

Tong Huaqiong went inside and brought out a jar of wine, and Gu Taohua set out several plates of snacks.

Mrs. Zhao and Aunt Qin helped to move the tables outside. With so many people, they combined two tables into one big one, lighting two oil lamps for illumination. Due to a shortage of benches, Mrs. Zhao called her grandson to fetch several from their home.

The food, wine, and snacks were laid out on the table, looking and smelling divine, whetting everyone’s appetite.

As the biscuits came out of the oven, the men returned from the threshing ground.

After washing their hands, Tong Huaqiong invited everyone to sit.

"Don’t be shy. Come, come, start helping yourselves," she said.

"Have some wine too."

It was the first time since arriving in this world that Tong Huaqiong truly hosted a meal for the friendly villagers at her home.

Indeed, people in any era need spiritual comfort, which comes from others’ recognition and friendship.

Nobody expected the meal at the Gu family to be so lavish.

Plentiful piles of meat, large bowls of wine, plates full of snacks, and snowy white, impurity-free buns—it was more abundant than a wedding feast in the village.

After a day of hard work, everyone was genuinely hungry.

So no one stood on ceremony, picking up chopsticks and reaching for the meat and snacks.

Everyone ate heartily until they were full.

After the meal, Mrs. Zhao, Aunt Qin, and Gu Guangkui’s wife, Mrs. Zhang, organized the cleanup, washed the dishes, and tidied the kitchen.

After finishing the watermelon, everyone said their goodbyes, eager to use the moonlight to continue their wheat harvesting.

The Liu family had lots of land, so Tong Huaqiong sent her three sons to help them cut wheat. Liu Tiechui stated that only Gu Dashu and Liu Yueer needed to go, as the Gu family needed people to separate the wheat at the threshing ground. Gu Dahua and Gu Jingzhe could handle their own affairs.

Familiar with Liu Tiechui’s temperament, Tong Huaqiong didn’t insist further.

Gu Dashu and Liu Yueer followed Liu Tiechui, with Gu Dashu feeling slightly excited, thinking he was finally being valued by the Liu family.

His and Liu Yueer’s son was already grown, and finally, the father-in-law had acknowledged him.

All thanks to his mother. If she hadn’t guided him on the right path, Liu Tiechui wouldn’t even glance at him.