The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 171: Her Mother’s Family Comes Calling
"This seems to be a secret. You absolutely must not say I told you."
Yan Pozi finished stoking the fire and scurried off.
"Well, she’s really opened a shop. I underestimated her," Tong Fusheng said.
Originally, his sister opening a shop was something to be happy about, but the fact that she obviously kept it from him made Tong Fusheng feel displeased.
Don’t think that because she married into the Gu Family, the shop belongs to them; half of that shop bears the Tong name.
Since it bears the Tong name, it’s his, Tong Fusheng’s.
Mrs. Wang slapped her thigh and said angrily, "Didn’t you say your sister couldn’t possibly keep this from you? She’s kept this as tight as a drum. Thank goodness we came to Qinghe Bay, otherwise we’d never have known. Your sister has earned money and now looks to the heavens, wanting to shake us off. I think, as her big brother, you’re not worth much if even your sister doesn’t consider you worth her attention."
Fueled by Mrs. Wang’s words, Tong Fusheng was about to go to the shop in Yan Guan Town to look for Tong Huaqiong.
But Tong Zhijie held him back.
Tong Zhijie said, "Auntie’s shop is there and won’t run away. I’m exhausted; let’s go to Auntie’s house first to get something to eat."
Tong Zhijie knew where the key to Tong Huaqiong’s house was kept.
He had long been craving some food, and with Auntie away doing business in town, he promptly went ahead and caught Auntie’s chickens, ducks, and geese for a feast.
Tong Fusheng agreed with his son’s advice.
He had been walking all day, tired and thirsty, his feet were even blistered.
He really didn’t want to walk anymore.
Besides, he’s confident he can handle his sister. She’s listened to him since they were children; people don’t change that easily.
So, he listened to his son. The shop matter isn’t urgent; they should rest at his sister’s house first.
The Tong family got up and headed towards Tong Huaqiong’s house.
Arriving at Tong Huaqiong’s doorway, Tong Zhijie expertly reached under the large stone beneath the parasol tree, searching for the key but failed to find it.
"That’s odd. Auntie’s key has always been under this stone."
Tong Zhijie didn’t know that was in the past when the Gu Family was poor; even if someone found the key and opened the door, there was nothing worth stealing.
Now things are different.
Now, Tong Huaqiong is the richest woman in Qinghe Bay. Her home holds Silver, land deeds, and things brought from other realms, hidden from discovery.
Therefore, Tong Huaqiong had long ago changed all their locks, instructing the family not to keep keys on them.
Fearing a home burglary.
"This clearly seems to be guarding against us."
Tong Zhijie searched every piece of stone and brick at the entrance but still couldn’t find the key, exhausted and panting heavily. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Mrs. Wang saw her son dripping with sweat and angrily launched into a tirade.
Tong Fusheng also looked displeased.
The family sat on the doorstep, waiting for Tong Huaqiong to come back.
"Uncle, Auntie, why are you here?"
Gu Dahuan returned home from the pig farm, saw Tong Fusheng’s family sitting wearily at the door, while his aunt was still grumbling.
Distressed, he had a bad feeling about this.
He greeted them while unclipping the key from his belt.
Tong Fusheng’s family was shocked to recognize Gu Dahuan.
After all, the previous Gu Dahuan was as silent as a shadow, cowed before Tong Dajiao, aging faster than Tong Fusheng from hard labor in the sun and wind.
Now Gu Dahuan appeared taller and younger; though his clothes were earthy, they were evidently new.
"Da Han?" Tong Zhijie asked.
Gu Dahuan nodded and said, "It’s me. What’s the matter, you don’t recognize me? Last year, I was at your place helping with the wheat harvest."
So it was Gu Dahuan.
Tong Fusheng’s family donned an air of disdain.
In their minds, Gu Dahuan remained a laborer toiling outside, and now that the wheat season was over, why was he still home? This didn’t fit Tong Dajiao’s usual treatment of a stepson.
Mrs. Wang asked, "Why are you at home?"
Gu Dahuan found the question from his aunt odd; if he wasn’t home, where would he be?
Despite inwardly wanting to retort, Gu Dahuan honestly replied, "Mother wants me to stay home and oversee the land."
Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang exchanged a glance.
Manage the land? The Gu Family only owned five acres; is there anything worth managing, speaking as if the Gu Family became a landlord.
"Da Han, open the door and let us in. I’ve walked all day and am dying of thirst," Tong Fusheng said, assuming his uncle persona with Gu Dahuan.
Gu Dahuan opened the door.
Even though Tong Huaqiong had mentioned severing ties with the Tong Family, it hadn’t happened yet, and now that they’re here, Gu Dahuan couldn’t possibly turn them away.
He wasn’t Gu Dashu, who would act excessively despite having a blood tie.
Tong Fusheng led his family through the Gu gate.
In the yard, there was a recliner, and upon entering, Tong Fusheng lay upon it.
"Uncle, that’s my mother’s chair," Gu Dahuan reminded them.
This recliner was marked exclusively for Tong Huaqiong; only she could use it.
No one else could lie on it.
Including Tong Fusheng, so Gu Dahuan reminded him.
"Don’t mention lying on a chair, even if all the Gu Family’s belongings were given to the Tong Family, it should be. My Tong daughter married into your family as a stepmother, giving birth and raising you, you owe the Tong Family more than a chair," Tong Fusheng lectured Gu Dahuan.
Tong Fusheng harbored resentment, a stepson daring to speak against him.
It appeared his own sister was negligent in enforcing family discipline, allowing even a stepson to boss around her family.
Mrs. Wang and Tong Zhao Di didn’t need Gu Dahuan’s invitation, heading over to the kitchen to find water and food.
Tong Zhao Di lifted the pot lid, finding only two steamed buns, and loudly exclaimed, "Why only steamed buns?"
Gu Dahuan usually handled the pigsty and fields, making do with a simple lunch.
These two buns were leftovers from his midday meal.
Mrs. Wang found two watermelons in the kitchen corner, cut them with a knife, and brought them out for Tong Fusheng and Tong Zhijie to eat.
Gu Dahuan couldn’t stop them.
Tong Fusheng and Tong Zhijie devoured the two watermelons clean, not leaving Gu Dahuan a sliver, nor sparing any for Liu Zhaodi.
After eating the watermelon, Tong Zhijie dusted himself off and headed to the chicken coop, scattering chickens everywhere.
"Zhijie, what are you doing?" Gu Dahuan asked.
"Killing a chicken to eat," Tong Zhijie replied naturally.
"Without mother’s permission, no one can kill a chicken," Gu Dahuan asserted.
"That’s for someone like you. To Auntie, her things are mine. Moreover, the family raises so many chickens, obviously for me to eat. Auntie dotes on me, not only willing to let me kill one chicken to eat, she’d gladly have the entire coop killed for me," Tong Zhijie said with utter disregard.
"Nephew, let me tell you, as a stepson, don’t meddle in your mother’s business with her true nephew. Why should my Zhijie not eat this chicken that belongs to his closest relative?" Mrs. Wang added.
Gu Dahuan thought to himself, that was the past; now it’s not certain.
"Then you can say that when my mother returns; if she agrees, I won’t object. But since she’s not home and I’m in charge, I can’t let you kill a chicken," responded Gu Dahuan, remembering his duty to take care of the home, stopping Tong Zhijie from catching a chicken.
"I’ll kill a chicken, what’s the big deal. Second sister, bring me the butcher knife," Tong Zhijie called out to Tong Zhao Di.
Tong Zhao Di usually favored Tong Zhijie’s appetites at home, thinking of killing more chickens at Auntie’s house to taste some herself.
So, she eagerly handed the knife over to Tong Zhijie.
Tong Zhijie, armed with the knife, chased the chickens.
Among them, two nesting hens flapped their wings frantically, trampling two eggs.
Gu Dahuan felt terrible, reaching to snatch the knife away.
