The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 165: So What If I’m Not Pretty?

Outside the alley stood two girls wearing veiled hats.

They were Huang Yuanwai’s daughter Huang Jingshan and her maid, Yu Zhu.

The master and servant came to Rouge Alley to buy rouge and powder, just happening to see Fan Tong chatting with Gu Taohua.

The two stood not far away, witnessing Gu Taohua beating Fan Tong.

"Miss, this Fan Xiucai must be like a spider, with so many legs. Besides the village head’s daughter, now there’s Gu Taohua." Maid Yu Zhu wished she could go up and kick Fan Tong twice on the ground.

"Miss Gu is interesting, she fought well," Huang Jingshan said.

She wasn’t particularly interested in Fan Tong; her father was.

But she couldn’t stand Fan Tong wanting to be a husband-in-law at the Huang family while hanging around the village head’s daughter.

Now it seems that Fan Tong is even more despicable than she thought, as he’s also hanging around Gu Taohua.

"Miss, is Fan Xiucai blind? Not interested in you yet interested in the village head’s daughter and Gu Taohua," Yu Zhu said indignantly.

Huang Jingshan gave Yu Zhu a disapproving glance.

Wondering where Yu Zhu’s focus was, was being noticed by Fan Tong such a good thing?

"Yu Zhu, think before you speak. Just now, Gu Taohua said Fan Tong isn’t even fit to hold my shoes, and likewise I think Fan Tong isn’t fit to hold Gu Taohua’s shoes either," said Huang Jingshan.

She was deeply moved that Gu Taohua defended her just now.

She wouldn’t let her maid speak about Fan Tong showing interest in Gu Taohua behind their backs.

Huang Jingshan was somewhat inclined to befriend Gu Taohua.

Yu Zhu realized her mistake and quickly confessed, "Miss, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have spoken about Gu Taohua like that when she just defended you."

Huang Jingshan’s expression softened slightly.

Yu Zhu continued, "Miss, don’t take to heart what Fan Tong said about you earlier."

Huang Jingshan laughed.

She could care less about Fan Tong’s opinions of her.

Fan Tong’s point was he thought she wasn’t good-looking?

And what if she’s not?

Huang Jingshan watched as Gu Taohua swaggered into the dessert shop, envious of her free spirit.

Gu Taohua did what she wanted to do but didn’t dare, constrained by etiquette.

It wasn’t just the beating of Fan Tong.

Huang Jingshan said to Yu Zhu, "Take the rouge and powder we bought to Gu Taohua; it looks prettier on her fair skin."

Yu Zhu acknowledged and took a delicate box to Taohua Dessert.

"Miss Taohua, this is rouge and powder my miss bought from the shop next door, for you," Yu Zhu pointed outside.

"Who’s your miss?" Gu Taohua asked, bewildered.

"My miss’s surname is Huang," Yu Zhu gestured outside.

Surname Huang, it must be Miss Huang from the Huang family.

Huang Jingshan lifted her veil, and upon seeing Miss Huang, Gu Taohua smiled and accepted the rouge and powder she gifted her.

Tong Huaqiong saw this scene inside the shop.

Last time at Old Mrs. Huang’s birthday banquet, she didn’t get to see Miss Huang and thought perhaps Miss Huang really had nothing to show for.

But now looking, she realized Huang Jingshan wasn’t as plain as folks said; she just didn’t resemble the fair-skinned, oval-face, big-eyed traditional beauties.

Her eyes are dark and shining, her features sharp, together with her tall, slender frame, she possesses a cold elegance, somewhat with the charm of a supermodel of her era.

It’s just this era doesn’t know how to appreciate it.

Tong Huaqiong, in the backyard, heard Fan Tong had come to Taohua Dessert to buy pastries, felt a bit concerned for Gu Taohua, so she went into the shop.

Seeing Gu Taohua absent, then hearing Gu Taohua yelling outside about a debt not being repaid, she thought Gu Taohua might be arguing with a customer.

She had Liu Yueer go outside to check what was happening, and saw Gu Taohua returning victoriously with a smile.

After entering the shop, Gu Taohua calmly started soliciting customers.

Tong Huaqiong felt relieved.

Then she saw Huang Jingshan’s maid come to give Gu Taohua rouge and powder.

Why would Huang Jingshan gift rouge and powder to her plump daughter?

Tong Huaqiong couldn’t recall when they’d met Miss Huang, nor when Gu Taohua made acquaintances with her.

She reasoned there must have been some incident outside that made these two girls sympathize with each other.

The only link between them would be Fan Tong.

Once the shop quieted down, Tong Huaqiong couldn’t help but ask, "Why did Miss Huang give you rouge and powder? What happened outside earlier?"

Gu Taohua recounted how Fan Tong sought her and how she beat up Fan Tong to Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong hadn’t expected Gu Taohua to maintain such a forward-thinking mental state after heartbreak, not only avoiding sorrow but directly thrashing a scandalous scumbag trying to chat her up.

No wonder Miss Huang wanted to gift her rouge and powder, perhaps Miss Huang too wished to beat up Fan Tong but couldn’t due to status.

"Well done," Tong Huaqiong wanted to applaud Gu Taohua.

"Mom, he actually said Miss Huang fancied him and clung to him while he wasn’t interested. Imagine, him talking about Miss Huang like that, who knows how he might slander me behind my back," Gu Taohua cursed through gritted teeth.

Gu Taohua regretted taking Fan Tong’s handkerchief, thankfully she hadn’t exchanged hers.

Or it would be unspeakable.

...

After being beaten by Gu Taohua, Fan Tong returned to the private school.

He both hated and feared Gu Taohua.

Initially, he wasn’t attracted to Gu Taohua; now, seeing the Taohua Dessert shop so large, with so many customers, and seemingly hearing Ma Huateng call Gu Taohua the second-in-command in the shop.

He looked at Gu Taohua with new interest.

Even if Gu Taohua beat him up, he didn’t want to give up on her.

Mainly because the Taohua Dessert shop was so alluring, its daily takings were all money.

He thought no wonder Gu Jingzhe could continue studying, it was all earned from Taohua Dessert.

As the second-in-command of Taohua Dessert, Gu Taohua had substantial autonomy over the shop; when married, her dowry would certainly be abundant.

Though Gu Taohua might not have the same wealth as Miss Huang, she could earn better than the village head’s daughter in Wild Ox Valley Village.

Giving up on Gu Taohua, he was unwilling.

Previously, he had three legs; now Huang Yuanwai and the village head severed two, leaving him one, he was determined to hold tight.

He wanted to latch onto Gu Taohua and not let go, thus he focused his plans on Gu Jingzhe.

Currently, reinstated Gu Jingzhe’s status at school had hit rock bottom, surely his days weren’t easy.

Just the day before, he heard Nie Xiaofeng cynically mocking Gu Jingzhe in front of many classmates.

Nie Xiaofeng’s family was wealthy, coupled with his martial prowess, people at school dared not offend him; his words made others dismiss Gu Jingzhe even more.

Gu Jingzhe was isolated at school.

If he approached Gu Jingzhe, showing care as a senior, earning his trust, wouldn’t it enable him to reconnect with Gu Taohua through Gu Jingzhe?

Thinking this, Fan Tong went to find Gu Jingzhe and pulled him into a room to discuss academics.

Gu Jingzhe felt bewildered by Fan Tong’s sudden concern for him.

Previously, due to their senior-junior relationship, and Fan Tong being the private school’s only scholar, Gu Jingzhe respectfully treated him.

Yet their relationship had never reached such intimacy as to discuss academics in a closed room.

Gu Jingzhe suddenly recalled how Tong Huaqiong had warned him not to heed Fan Tong at school, as he’s not a good person.