The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 183: Scheming for Gu Taohua

"What’s so special about showing authority over the Tong Family?"

Tong Huaqiong tapped Gu Dashi a few times with her chopsticks.

The other members of the Gu Family laughed.

Such a thing was unimaginable in the past.

Tong Dajiao had always been dominant in the Gu Family, but with the Tong Family, she always demanded whatever she wanted.

If anyone else complained, she’d glare and curse at them.

Even her favored Gu Taohua wasn’t allowed to complain about her uncle.

"To be honest, yesterday when you left Uncle’s whole family in the woodshed, I thought you might have softened." Gu Taohua said.

In the past, even when Tong Dajiao said harsh words to Tong Fusheng and Tong Zhijie in front of her children, she’d later end up giving them more money and food.

"Mother, you can’t be soft-hearted. You know Uncle and Zhijie, once they sense you’re soft-hearted, they’ll leech off you like a parasite and never let go." Gu Dashi said.

"You don’t need to worry about me going soft on them. When I say I’ll sever ties, I mean it. I might have been foolish in the past, but now I see clearly why I should give the money and grain I worked hard for to the Tong Family." Tong Huaqiong said.

Gu Dashi, Gu Taohua, and the others were completely reassured.

Liu Yueer and Chen Sufen exchanged a glance, also breathing a sigh of relief.

Last night, Liu Yueer murmured to Gu Dashi, worried that her mother-in-law might bring Tong Zhaodi and Tong Zhijie into the shop.

Now, they were kicked out without even breakfast, showing her mother-in-law’s determination.

...

The four members of Tong Fusheng’s family sat down weak and starving at the edge of the field.

Mrs. Wang was too tired to curse Tong Huaqiong any longer, sitting there panting heavily.

Tong Zhaodi pulled out two big steamed buns from her bosom and handed them to Mrs. Wang.

"At least Zhaodi has a heart, knowing to sneak a couple of buns in the chaos."

Mrs. Wang broke one bun in half, handing one part to Tong Fusheng and keeping the other for herself.

The remaining one was given to Tong Zhijie.

Zhaodi looked pitifully for a long time; no one thought to share with her.

As Tong Fusheng ate the bun, he still complained that Tong Zhaodi hadn’t taken enough.

"...Auntie has such a hard heart, not even acknowledging the vows made before grandpa." Tong Zhijie gobbled down the bun, his stomach still growling with hunger.

"I thought it was just a fit of anger, but who knew she was determined to cut ties with us." Tong Fusheng, hot and tired, regretted visiting his sister’s house. He didn’t want to move.

"It’s all your fault. Why did you spend two taels of silver to buy that table of food yesterday? Now we haven’t gotten any money or grain and lost two taels as well."

Mrs. Wang, who usually abided by Tong Fusheng, couldn’t help but complain when thinking about the two taels of silver.

Tong Fusheng also regretted spending two taels of silver on the banquet.

Losing two taels and failing to grasp control over his sister, he couldn’t save face in front of his wife and children, unlike his usual domineering self with Tong Dajiao.

Unwilling to admit his fault, he glanced around and placed all the blame on Tong Zhaodi, scolding, "It’s all your fault, Zhaodi. Why did you meddle with Taohua? Don’t you know your aunt spoils Taohua? If it weren’t for you quarreling with Taohua, would your aunt have been this angry?"

Tong Zhijie, spoiled since childhood, delighted in turning his parents against his two sisters.

Having been scolded by Tong Dajiao, he was frustrated, so he fanned the flames, "It’s definitely Second Sister’s doing. Even I got blamed by Aunt."

Mrs. Wang slapped Zhaodi, scolding, "You wretched girl. I told you to work hard and please your aunt, but you just had to go and stir things up with Taohua."

Tong Zhaodi’s stomach growled with hunger. Full of grievance but unable to voice it, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Are we going back just like this? How about we go to town to check out the shop your sister runs?" Mrs. Wang said to Tong Fusheng.

Tong Fusheng was also unwilling to be driven out like this. He nodded and said, "Fine, let’s go to the town and take a look."

Maybe we can stir up some trouble while there.

Tong Zhaodi wiped her tears, rolled her eyes, and tried to win over Mrs. Wang: "Mom, the reason why Gu Taohua was angry this morning is that she has no one to look after her. Neither Auntie nor she is in a hurry, I don’t buy it. At her age, how can she not be anxious? Mom, if we can arrange a marriage for Taohua and ease Auntie’s mind, I don’t believe Auntie won’t continue to treat us well."

Mrs. Wang thought about it and said, "That makes sense."

Tong Zhijie sneered, "Gu Taohua has a bad temper and eats a lot. Who would want to marry her?"

A light bulb went off in Tong Fusheng’s head. He looked at his son and came up with an idea, "Zhijie, let me ask you, would you like to go to Auntie’s shop?"

Tong Zhijie said, "Of course I would. How could I not?"

Tong Fusheng clapped his hands and laughed, "That’s easy. Just marry Taohua."

Tong Zhijie jumped up, "Dad, what a joke. Even if she pays me, I wouldn’t want her."

Mrs. Wang initially wanted to scold Tong Fusheng for losing his mind, wanting to match Gu Taohua with her son. Her son should marry a girl from a good family, beautiful as a fairy, with a gentle temperament.

How could Gu Taohua match up?

"Zhijie, did you know I heard in the morning that Auntie’s shop is called Taohua Dessert, named after Taohua? I heard from Sister-in-law Yue’er that Auntie might plan to leave the shop to Taohua. Taohua is now the second-in-command in the shop, and the accountant reports to her every day, even our second cousin listens to her."

Tong Zhaodi shared the information she got from Liu Yue’er with Tong Zhijie, both jealous and envious.

What kind of life is Gu Taohua living? Auntie dotes on her fiercely.

Tong Fusheng shouted, "This is too much, a girl occupying the shop. Your Auntie is getting more and more confused."

Mrs. Wang’s eyes lit up and asked Tong Zhaodi, "Zhaodi, is what you said true?"

Tong Zhaodi replied, "How can it be false? I personally heard Sister-in-law Yue’er say so."

Mrs. Wang said to Tong Fusheng: "His father, your idea isn’t impossible. Since sister-in-law values Taohua so much, with Taohua’s bad temper controlling a shop, she’s likely to be taken advantage of. Rather than let outsiders take advantage, it’d be better for Zhijie to marry her. At least Zhijie is her first cousin, and if they marry, it strengthens family ties. Once she’s in our family, all she needs to do is have a son. I’ll manage the shop, and the money we earn would support Zhijie’s and your studies. Once Zhijie graduates, she would become the wife of an official. I’m sure sister-in-law would agree if she’s not foolish."

The more Mrs. Wang talked, the more suitable the marriage seemed to her.

Tong Fusheng’s thoughts aligned with Mrs. Wang’s. Who could be a better match for Taohua than marrying into the Tong family?

Besides, Tong Dajiao had wanted to connect the Tong and Gu families through marriage, almost marrying Tong Pandi to Gu Dashi, but Tong Fusheng didn’t agree. He thought the Gu family was poor, plus Gu Dashi didn’t like Pandi’s temperament and got involved with Liu Yue’er from the village.

This proposed marriage was never mentioned again by Tong Dajiao.

If Tong Dajiao had intentions in the past, there’s no guarantee he doesn’t have them now.

Tong Zhijie, seeing Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang both wanting him to marry Gu Taohua, said, "Taohua’s temper is so bad. Even if she has a shop, I don’t like her."

Mrs. Wang said, "By then the shop will be yours. Once you have the shop and make money or complete your studies, you could marry as many beautiful concubines as you want. Besides, a wife is like dough; you have to knead and beat it to shape it as you wish. Taohua has a bad temper now because your aunt spoils her. Once she’s married, a few beatings will tame her."

Tong Zhaodi fueled the fire from the side, "Didn’t you say when Gu Dashi kicked you out that you’d make Auntie regret it? What would make her regret more than if you married Gu Taohua and tormented her?"

When Tong Zhaodi said this, she gritted her teeth, not realizing how much she hated Gu Taohua.

Why does Gu Taohua live so freely and flamboyantly, while she can’t even get half a bun?

Tong Zhijie’s eyes turned as if he already saw the money from the shop beckoning him.

Exactly, mother is right. Once he has the shop and money, how many beautiful concubines couldn’t he have?

With that thought, Tong Zhijie smiled and said, "I’m willing to marry Gu Taohua."

Tong Fusheng nodded, "I’ll put aside my pride and go talk to your aunt."

Tong Zhijie worriedly asked, "But what if Auntie objects?"

Mrs. Wang slapped her thigh, "What’s so difficult about that? Can’t you learn from Gu Dashi? Remember how Gu Dashi coaxed your second cousin into marrying him? Didn’t her family agree too? You just need to make Taohua interested in you first, like your cousin did with his wife. I think that girl is so chubby that no man would show her affection. That kind of girl is easy to win over."