The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 152: Perfect Troublemakers Belong Together
"Widow Tong, what brings you to my house?"
Xu Zaohua’s mother, Yu Shi, asked with displeasure when she saw Tong Huaqiong enter their home.
The Xu family lived quite comfortably in the village, and Yu Shi had always looked down on the other villagers, especially on Widow Tong, whom she despised even more.
In the past, when she saw Tong Dajiao in the village, she wouldn’t even acknowledge her greeting.
Now that the Xu Family Patriarch and the village chief were ousted, Yu Shi further blamed Tong Huaqiong for it.
"You think I wanted to come to your house and dirty my feet," Tong Huaqiong spoke in Tong Dajiao’s usual manner, "Where’s your Zaohua?"
Yu Shi wanted to roll her eyes, wondering why she was looking for her Zaohua.
Her husband, Xu Jin, had mentioned that he was interested in Gu Jingzhe’s potential and wanted to take him as their son-in-law.
Nothing had been mentioned yet, and already Tong Huaqiong had fallen out with the Xu family.
Yu Shi told Xu Jin that even though the families were feuding, Gu Jingzhe might still marry Zaohua, as long as Gu Jingzhe was willing to become the Xu family’s live-in son-in-law.
After all, since Tong Dajiao refused to let Gu Jingzhe study, they’d be willing to pay for his schooling, provided he moved in with them.
Yu Shi and Xu Jin plotted for a long time but forgot that this decision wasn’t up to them; it was up to Tong Huaqiong and Gu Jingzhe.
"Why are you looking for my Zaohua?" Yu Shi asked irritably.
Could it be that Tong Dajiao already knew of the Xu family’s plans?
She and Xu Jin had indeed asked Zaohua to gauge Gu Jingzhe’s disposition. Perhaps Gu Jingzhe had already told Tong Dajiao.
Zaohua wasn’t even the daughter-in-law of the Gu family yet, and Tong Dajiao was already so overbearing. If she married in, wouldn’t she be even more domineering?
Tong Huaqiong didn’t beat around the bush and said, "I’m here to propose a marriage for your Zaohua."
Yu Shi was thrilled.
Could Tong Dajiao also want Zaohua as her daughter-in-law?
If so, it wasn’t out of the question to discuss it.
With this thought, Yu Shi’s tone grew subtly different, saying, "Which young man is Sister Tong referring to?"
Tong Huaqiong stood in front of the counter and said, "Fan Tong from Wild Bull Valley, he’s a scholar."
Yu Shi and Gu Taohua were both stunned.
Yu Shi wasn’t familiar with Fan Tong.
Gu Taohua couldn’t understand why her mother wanted to match Fan Tong with Xu Zaohua.
Amid Gu Taohua’s puzzled look, Tong Huaqiong remained as steady as a mountain, simply putting the former life rogues Fan Tong and Xu Zaohua together.
To spare Gu Taohua and Gu Jingzhe from trouble over these two.
"It’s rare for a village to produce a scholar, why propose now?"
Yu Shi was quite tempted at the mention of a scholar, considering Gu Jingzhe was only a child student.
"The family is poor, struggling to afford schooling, let alone a wife," Tong Huaqiong explained.
Yu Shi had her suspicions if this was a trap, doubting that Tong Dajiao would so kindly introduce a scholar to her daughter.
Especially considering the feud between the Gu and Xu families.
Seeing through Yu Shi’s thoughts, Tong Huaqiong said, "Little sister, you must be wondering why I’m suggesting Fan Xiucai for Zaohua. It’s true I’ve fallen out with Xu Si and Xu Yong, but I haven’t with your household. The Xu family is the largest surname in the village, while my Gu family is small and weak. I’m still living in the village; I can’t possibly make enemies of the entire Xu family."
"Moreover, I’m doing business in town, and who in business doesn’t hope to form good connections? Although Xu He is currently the Xu Family Clan Leader, I know the future head of the Xu family will be your husband."
Yu Shi was persuaded by Tong Huaqiong’s honest disclosure.
Tong Dajiao made a sound argument.
The Xu family, as the largest surname in Qinghe Bay, had many descendants—it couldn’t be down forever.
Moreover, many Xu girls were married into large families across Pingchuan County’s villages and towns.
If Tong Huaqiong wished to continue living in Qinghe Bay, she’d indeed need to forge a good relationship with the Xu family.
Besides, whether Fan Xiucai was suitable or not could be determined by inquiring about Wild Bull Valley.
Tong Huaqiong, guessing Yu Shi’s thoughts, seized the opportunity and said, "Not to hide it from you, little sister, Fan Tong is my family’s Jingzhe’s schoolmate. When he asked me to help him propose, I initially considered my niece from my parents’ side for him. But after thinking about it, I felt my niece was not worthy of a scholar. The best girl in our village is Zaohua; only Zaohua is worthy of a scholar, and she could become a scholar’s wife or even receive a noble title in the future."
Tong Huaqiong zealously painted a grand picture for Yu Shi.
Xu Jin and Yu Shi wanted Zaohua to probe Gu Jingzhe, precisely because Gu Jingzhe was a student.
Since they wanted a studious son-in-law, she found them a ready one.
Whether Fan Tong agreed or not, how could it stop the matchmaker from visiting?
The Xu family had money, and Fan Tong was someone who recognized profit. The Xu family needed a scholarly son-in-law, so it was a perfect match.
As for Xu Zaohua wanting to be a scholar’s wife, that was just a dream!
In the previous life, Fan Tong never passed the imperial examinations until his death.
"Besides, Fan Tong’s family is poor, with an old mother and a married sister. He needs money for schooling. Who can afford to support a son-in-law’s education? My brother’s family certainly can’t; he’s struggling with his own schooling. In the whole village, only your husband has this capability, so I thought I’d just suggest him to your Zaohua."
"Little sister Yu, if you don’t believe what I’m saying, go with Dashi to Wild Bull Valley to find out more."
Tong Huaqiong exaggerated Fan Tong’s prospects, assuring with confidence that Fan Tong’s future was promising.
This potential stock was worth the investment.
Yu Shi’s thoughts started to expand.
Tong Huaqiong followed up with a decisive blow, whispering in Yu Shi’s ear, "I also have my selfish motives. Originally, I wanted to propose a match for my Jingzhe in your family, but that would waste the marriage opportunities between our two families. Instead, we should let Jingzhe marry a daughter from another prominent family, while Zaohua and Fan Xiucai marry, as Jingzhe and Fan Xiucai are schoolmates. Since we’re neighbors in the village, whether Jingzhe or Fan Tong succeeds, they can support each other."
Yu Shi was tempted by the idea of becoming a scholar’s wife.
But why didn’t Widow Tong arrange for the scholar to marry her own daughter?
Yu Shi glanced at Taohua and said, "Wouldn’t it be better if Fan Xiucai became your son-in-law?"
Tong Huaqiong smiled wryly and said, "Everybody knows Zaohua is the prettiest girl in our village. My Taohua is like a paper-pasted scroll; how could she be a scholar’s wife?"
Indeed, Gu Taohua could single-handedly thrash Xu Si’s robust girl, so which young man would want her? She’s fourteen and yet to have a matchmaker come calling. If Fan Xiucai took a liking to her, that would be odd.
With these thoughts, Yu Shi completely dropped her guard against Tong Huaqiong.
"I’ve also thought about adopting Zaohua as my goddaughter, to strengthen our ties," Tong Huaqiong opportunistically suggested.
Yu Shi thought, Widow Tong really knows how to calculate; the scholar isn’t interested in your daughter, so you want my Zaohua as your daughter?
What a pipe dream.
So she politely declined with a smile: "Sister Tong, my Zaohua already considers the Big Locust Tree at the entrance as her godmother since she was little; a fortune teller said she can’t acknowledge people as her godmother."
Tong Huaqiong feigned disappointment but was secretly overjoyed.
Things turned out as she had expected.
Who wants to take your daughter as a goddaughter? The farther away, the better!
Tong Huaqiong chatted idly with Yu Shi for a while, urging her to hasten Xu Jin’s journey to Wild Bull Valley for Zaohua.
Yu Shi agreed, seeing Tong Huaqiong out the door.
She didn’t offer a meal, not even a cup of water to Tong Huaqiong.
However, Tong Huaqiong didn’t mind as long as her objective was achieved.
