The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 153: Choosing the Shop Over Love

After Tong Huaqiong left the house, Xu Shi thought more and more about what Tong Huaqiong had said and felt it made sense.

She was eager to have Xu Jin send a matchmaker to Wild Bull Valley to inquire about the Fan Family.

But Xu Jin had gone to the county government because of the matters concerning Xu Kun and Xu Yong.

Besides Xu Yong and Xu Kun, Xu Jin was also half a decision-maker for the Xu Family. To expand the Xu Family’s influence beyond Qinghe Bay, he provided silver coins to support young, ambitious Xu Family members in their studies.

Unfortunately, the ancestral graves of the Xu Family didn’t produce any brilliant offspring, and none of the Xu Family’s members, including Xu Jin’s two sons, showed any talent for studying.

Thinking of this matter drove Xu Jin mad with envy and jealousy towards the Gu Family. Just look at how the Gu family’s old man was such a coward, and that Tong Dajiao with her crooked ways, yet they managed to raise a son who was so good at studying.

With Xu Yong’s downfall in Qinghe Bay, and the Xu family’s members being so mediocre, why not choose a son-in-law to train well?

In all of Qinghe Bay, only Jingzhe is worthy of Xu Zaohua.

Tong Huaqiong broadened Xu Shi’s perspective beyond Qinghe Bay. Why should their Zaohua’s marriage be restricted to Qinghe Bay? If Fan Xiucai from Wild Bull Valley is a good match, isn’t he better than Jingzhe?

Xu Shi pondered over it and the more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

At the same time, she was angry that Xu Yong and Xu Kun were both arrested and her husband was reluctant to sever ties.

She thought that when their family eventually prospers, they certainly can’t be burdened by the entire Xu clan.

A bunch of dead weight, unworthy!

Tong Huaqiong walked out of Xu Jin’s house beaming, with Taohua following anxiously behind her, asking, "Mother, how could you introduce Fan Xiucai to Xu Zaohua? Is Xu Zaohua even worthy?"

Gu Taohua’s disgust for Xu Zaohua had reached its peak.

How could someone as insidious as Xu Zaohua be fit to be a scholar’s wife?

Tong Huaqiong replied, "I think she’s quite a match for Fan Xiucai."

Gu Taohua pouted.

Tong Huaqiong was well aware of Gu Taohua’s thoughts.

Tong Huaqiong reprimanded, "Gu Taohua, your mother here has eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. That Fan Tong is no good person; he’s just right for someone as cunning as Zaohua. If you want to marry Fan Tong, you can, but there’s a condition you might not be able to accept."

Gu Taohua asked, "What condition?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "You’ll have to leave Taohua Dessert behind, without any dowry. Would you rather marry Fan Tong or keep running Taohua Dessert? It’s your choice."

Without a second thought, Gu Taohua said, "Of course, I’d choose Taohua Dessert."

Taohua Dessert was her labor of love, starting from a small stall with her mother and growing their earnings together. She wasn’t about to let it go cheap to her brother and sister-in-law.

Tong Huaqiong nodded, glad Gu Taohua hadn’t lost her senses.

"Since you’ve chosen Taohua Dessert, forget about Fan Tong," Tong Huaqiong said.

Gu Taohua neither agreed nor disagreed.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself that there was no rush; the young girl needed time to process this choice.

Gu Taohua wanted to return to town quickly, wishing to find time to ask Fan Tong what he really thought of her. Last time, Meng Yanping mentioned that Fan Tong had taken a liking to Huang Yuanwai’s daughter; she needed to find out if it was true.

If Fan Tong was thinking about both her and Huang Yuanwai’s daughter, she wouldn’t hesitate to set things straight with him.

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua headed home. As they passed by Yan Pozi’s house, Tong Huaqiong saw Xu Jin, along with several Xu Family members, driving a bullock cart their way.

Xu Yong and Xu Kun were lying in the cart along with Yan Pozi.

Today, Xu Si’s case was concluded: Xu Si was sentenced to eighty strokes and exiled to Lingnan.

After the beating, he was put in a cangue and sent on his way without delay.

Xu Yong and Xu Kun received forty strokes, while Yan Pozi got twenty.

The three of them lay prostrate in the cart.

Tong Huaqiong saw blood seeping from Xu Yong and Xu Kun’s thighs to their backs, clearly indicating that the beatings were real.

Yan Pozi, however, only had blood seeping from her back.

They were already grateful that Xu Jin was able to pull them out; let’s see how they dare to act superior in the village from now on.

"The officer’s technique was remarkable; they were beaten so severely yet still breathing." Gu Taohua, with excitement, went up to inspect their wounds, covering her mouth and giggling.

The skill in beating was impressive; even Gu Taohua wanted to learn it.

When Xu Yong and Xu Kun saw Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, their eyes flashed with venom but they didn’t dare to speak harshly.

Yan Pozi, however, cried out and cursed, "Widow Tong, how dare you come to my doorstep. If not for you, how would my son end up like this?"

"Boohoo... my poor Si’er... boohoo..."

Yan Pozi wept bitterly.

Her fourth son was crippled, beaten with eighty strokes, and after hastily applying medicine, was immediately sent to Lingnan.

In this scorching heat, she feared her son’s wounds would fester with maggots.

There probably wouldn’t be any medicine on the way.

Si’er, pampered from a young age, she wondered if he could survive to Lingnan.

Even if he did reach Lingnan, his fate seemed grim.

"Your son asked for it himself," Tong Huaqiong showed no sympathy for Yan Pozi, "It’s all because you didn’t raise him properly. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself. Even if your son dies, it’s your doing."

This woman still refused to admit her son was at fault. If she had disciplined her son, would he have ended up in this situation?

Yan Pozi wept even more sorrowfully upon hearing Tong Huaqiong’s words.

Still, she felt no remorse.

"Why am I at your doorstep? You still owe me three hundred and fifty taels of silver," Tong Huaqiong said, pulling out an IOU from her pocket.

Yan Pozi was shocked upon hearing this, wondering how Widow Tong could be so ruthless.

Her son had already been exiled, she walked through county government and was punished, yet Widow Tong still wouldn’t let her go.

"The silver was a private settlement between us to avoid filing charges. Now that my son is gone, screw your compensation!" Yan Pozi spat.

Tong Huaqiong waved the IOU in front of Xu Kun and Xu Yong’s eyes, saying, "This IOU is in black and white, signed under your witness. If Yan Pozi doesn’t pay, then you two have to compensate me."

Xu Kun and Xu Yong felt miserable, with their injuries burning; they just wanted to go home and lie down, but Widow Tong was stirring trouble here.

It was infuriating.

"I’m not the one who reported to the authorities; the whole town knows I was bullied by Xu Si. My reputation suffered, so you need to compensate me. County Magistrate Liu didn’t declare our prior settlement void when ruling the case, so don’t think you can avoid paying me my silver," Tong Huaqiong exclaimed, jumping in exasperation.

"Sister-in-law Tong, let’s discuss this later. Look at their condition, at least let them go home and apply some medicine first," Xu Jin stepped out and said to Tong Huaqiong.

Normally, Xu Jin didn’t pay much attention to Tong Huaqiong. Even when considering marrying into the Gu Family, his intention was to lure Jingzhe away.

Now, he was very polite to Tong Huaqiong, only because he knew she was the godmother to the County Magistrate’s son.

"Then, Xu Jin, are you going to pay the silver? If not, don’t mediate here," Tong Huaqiong exclaimed confidently.

Naturally, Xu Jin wouldn’t pay.

Because for this matter, Xu Zaohua secretly took one hundred taels of silver from home as compensation.

Tong Huaqiong waved her hand and said, "Since you can’t pay, I’ll take goods as collateral instead."

Saying this, Tong Huaqiong turned into Yan Pozi’s house and brought out a bowl of eggs from her kitchen.

Gu Taohua followed Tong Huaqiong and brought out two steamed buns.

The Xu Brothers were furious but helpless.

Man Er and Yaozu happened to be running around the village when they heard the news, and came eagerly following Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua into Xu Yong and Xu Kun’s house.

The former village head and the former clan leader of the Xu Family lived quite well.

Tong Huaqiong seized two chickens from Xu Kun’s house, Gu Taohua carried a bag of flour from Xu Yong’s house, while Man Er and Gu Yaozu each hugged a watermelon and carried a basket of vegetables.

"These are worth five taels of silver."

Tong Huaqiong displayed their haul to the Xu Family.

"Since you can’t afford to pay, I’ll take things as repayment. You don’t have to lift a finger; I’ll come and take them whenever I have time until the debt is paid off."

Yan Pozi and Xu Kun, Xu Yong’s eyes rolled back as if they might faint.

Does Widow Tong mean to raid their place from now on?