The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 155: Preparing to Build a Pig Farm

Two days later, the whole village started spreading the news that Xu Zaohua was marrying into a wealthy family in Pingchuan County to become a young mistress.

When the news reached Tong Huaqiong’s ears, she felt both surprised and slightly relieved.

No matter if Xu Zaohua was marrying Fan Tong or into a wealthy family in Pingchuan County, as long as she wasn’t pestering Gu Jingzhe, Tong Huaqiong had no objection.

But that Xu Jin, he must have some tricks up his sleeve to actually connect with a wealthy family in Pingchuan County.

Soon, Tong Huaqiong’s sigh turned into sympathy.

"Mom, do you know who Xu Zaohua is marrying?"

Liu Yueer circled the village with a stomach full of gossip to share with her mother-in-law.

"Who is she marrying?" Tong Huaqiong was curious too.

"Eldest Young Master Zheng from the Zheng Family." Liu Yueer was a bit excited, afraid that Tong Huaqiong had forgotten, so she reminded, "It’s the Zheng Family you took us to cancel an engagement with last time, the family of scholar Zheng. Xu Zaohua is going to marry Eldest Young Master Zheng."

Tong Huaqiong was certainly no stranger to the Zheng Family.

"They say the betrothal is finalized tomorrow, with Eldest Young Master Zheng looking like he’s already halfway into the coffin, and once it’s finalized, Xu Zaohua will be carried off to the Zheng Family. Xu Jin and his wife usually dote on their daughter quite a bit, but they sure are ruthless this time." Liu Yueer kept sighing.

Tong Huaqiong masked her surprise on her face; Xu Zaohua was actually going to marry Eldest Young Master Zheng in this lifetime.

This plot twist is quite unexpected.

But there are traces to follow.

The Xu Family collapsed in Qinghe Bay, and Xu Jin is an opportunist; it’s not surprising he managed to connect with the Zheng Family.

Xu Kun and Xu Yong were only punished with flogging, not jailed, probably due to Xu Jin pulling strings with the Zheng Family.

As a trade-off of interests, it’s not surprising that Xu Jin sacrifices his own daughter.

After all, in this era, daughters were considered cheap; paving the way for the family and sons was too normal.

Tong Huaqiong isn’t some saint; she doesn’t sympathize with Xu Zaohua, but she tells herself she’s never going to use Taohua Maner or other girls in her family as a trade-off.

Soon, as Tong Huaqiong walked the village, she could hear discussions everywhere about how Xu Zaohua was marrying into the Zheng Family in Pingchuan County.

Some sighing about Eldest Young Master Zheng’s illness, some envying Xu Zaohua for the good life she might have.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t care about any of that; she only hoped Xu Zaohua wouldn’t have any further ties with her and Gu Jingzhe in the future.

Once the family wheat was safely stored away and the corn planted in the pits, Tong Huaqiong first sent off Gu Taohua, Gu Jingzhe, and the Gu Dashu couple to sit guard.

Chen Sufen was also sent; she was going to make the new pastries Tong Huaqiong taught her.

Maner naturally went along too; she still had to take things out from the space. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The needed ingredients for the new pastries couldn’t be bought in town.

Lu Zhaozhao and Liu Yanhong went with them to the shop; after visiting, they planned to return to Pingchuan County, as County Magistrate Liu had already sent people to wait for them in town.

She had important things to do in Qinghe Bay.

Liu Qiaoyun and Gu Xiaocao came back from the shop every night, and left for town every morning.

The two of them would update Tong Huaqiong on the shop’s situation each night.

Though she was home these days, the shop’s operations were running smoothly, which Tong Huaqiong found gratifying.

In between, Ma Huateng came once to report the shop’s accounts for the past days.

Initially, Tong Huaqiong thought she’d have Gu Xiaocao and Liu Qiaoyun bring the ledger back to Qinghe Bay for her to review, but Ma Huateng refused firmly, considering only he and Tong Huaqiong were allowed to handle the shop’s ledger.

Tong Huaqiong appreciated Ma Huateng’s approach.

What was the important business Tong Huaqiong intended to do in Qinghe Bay?

She planned to organize the family’s pigsty.

Now the family had twenty-three pigs: twenty gifted by Lu Zhaoyang, one of their own, and two taken from Yan Pozi’s family to settle debts.

Nineteen of the pigs had been castrated, especially their previous pig that seemed to grow as if inflated, radiating deliciousness all over.

Yan Pozi’s two pigs, a male and a female, grew too large to be castrated.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t feel regretful, planning to use them for breeding.

Now these twenty-three pigs crowded the pigsty, and if they fattened up, there would be no space.

The original Gu Family pigsty built by Mr. Gu was large, with one half for chickens, ducks, and geese, the other half for pigs. Now, it’s insufficient and needs to be expanded by another half.

Tong Huaqiong planned to develop the pig farming business.

Having too many pigs raised in their yard would make the smell unbearable.

Moreover, expanding a pigsty in the family courtyard didn’t have enough land unless they drove people out.

Tong Huaqiong thought of finding a plot in the village for a pig farm.

Firstly, this land shouldn’t be in a residential zone; second, it shouldn’t be near farmlands; third, it shouldn’t be close to water sources.

Although there wasn’t an environmental concept in this era, Tong Huaqiong yet decided to uphold the environmental ideas herself.

After all, she was raising pigs, not seeking death.

If the village’s farmlands and water sources were polluted by her pigfarm, it would not only affect herself but god forbid if an epidemic occurred, it could wipe out the whole village, people, and pigs alike.

"Mom, according to your pig farm specs, I think there’s a spot that’s good, but I don’t know if it’s suitable for raising pigs." Gu Dahuan mentioned.

Gu Dahuan was very enthusiastic about pig farming.

Gu Dahuan didn’t like business, at the shop he was noticeably cramped, but in the village doing farmwork and chopping pig grass, he was lively.

Tong Huaqiong clearly stated, moving forward, Gu Dahuan would be responsible for farming and pig raising at home.

"Where?" Tong Huaqiong asked.

"Outside the village, at the temple." Gu Dahuan said.

Tong Huaqiong’s eyes lit up.

Why hadn’t she thought of that perfect spot!

About two kilometers from Qinghe Bay Village there’s a temple, which, location-wise, belongs to Qinghe Bay.

No one knew which god the temple honored; during a year of chaos, rebels tied up villagers around Qinghe Bay and shot them inside the temple, ever since villagers stopped going there to offer incense.

The villagers of Qinghe Bay had a practical mindset; if the god couldn’t protect the folks, then no more incense from then on.

Over time, the temple fell into disrepair.

Later, rumors spread about it being haunted.

Said to have restless spirits inside, that whoever approached might be claimed by them.

So villagers were spooked by the temple, almost no one dared go near.

Tong Huaqiong, embodying Tong Dajiao, couldn’t help but believe in powers beyond science, but that didn’t mean she believed in spirits seeking revenge.

If spirits sought revenge, they should go after those murderous rebels, there’s no reason to seek her out.

"This temple is suitable for raising pigs." Tong Huaqiong said with a smile, "I’ll talk to Village Chief Liu, see if we can buy or lease the temple."

Tong Huaqiong spoke and then headed to Liu Tieshan.

Liu Tieshan wasn’t home, he was busy on the riverbank.

Liu Tieshan had excelled in tax grain management, officially taking the Village Chief position from interim to permanent.

Village Chief Liu, active with young villagers planning to clear the canals.

The recent cloudy days hinted at a brewing storm, Liu Tieshan feared village canals couldn’t withstand the storm’s impact.

Liu Tieshan also organized village’s able-bodied folks into teams to patrol during storms, to avoid crops being washed away.

Village Chief Liu was passionate about his duties.

Tong Huaqiong walked to the riverbank, spotted Liu Tieshan barefoot digging a trench.

"Big sister Tong, you’re here." Liu Tieshan paused his shovel, being very courteous to Tong Huaqiong.

Without Tong Huaqiong’s effort, he couldn’t have become Village Chief.

"Young brother, I have a matter to discuss with you, concerning the village’s old temple..."

Tong Huaqiong skipped the small talk, sharing her idea of turning the old temple into a pig farm.

"Anyways, the temple’s abandoned, if you’re not afraid, use it freely." Liu Tieshan gave his blessing.

But that spooky place, was it really okay for raising pigs?

Liu Tieshan expressed doubt.

With Liu Tieshan’s guarantee, Tong Huaqiong felt assured.

The pig farm finally had its suitable spot.