The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 188: Taohua Luck Arrives

After Tong Fusheng’s family left Taohua Dessert.

The one who felt most uncomfortable was Manager Qian.

Originally, he was hosting Tong Fusheng because Tong Fusheng was Tong Huaqiong’s brother, hoping to win some favor in front of Tong Huaqiong.

Now not only did he not gain any favor, he ended up being an accomplice in Tong Fusheng’s disturbance today.

Manager Qian couldn’t be more regretful.

Tong Huaqiong boarded the carriage to leave Taohua Dessert, and Manager Qian mustered up the courage to approach the carriage.

"Manager Tong..." Manager Qian lost the confidence of being the owner of the biggest restaurant in Yan Guan Town in front of Tong Huaqiong, hesitating and not knowing how to start.

Tong Huaqiong thought for a moment, then jumped off the carriage and called Manager Qian over to a quiet spot.

Manager Qian felt a bit happy inside, as Manager Tong was still willing to talk to him, which was good news for him.

"Manager Qian," Tong Huaqiong asked, somewhat exasperated, "how old is Manager Tong this year? Forty-five, right?"

Manager Qian squinted his eyes; upon hearing Tong Huaqiong ask about his age, he quickly replied, "Still two months shy. My wife has been deceased for five years, and I have one daughter and two sons. The daughter and the eldest son are already married. The eldest son is now running a restaurant in Pingchuan County and just gave me a granddaughter at the beginning of this year. The younger son is studying in Pingchuan County, about the same age as your youngest son, and he also took the exams last year but didn’t become a child student."

Manager Qian couldn’t help but straighten his back. Although he was forty-five, he didn’t look old. He considered himself more robust than the average young man, and he didn’t have a big belly. He liked wearing bright clothes, and people often said he looked like a brother to his sons.

If Tong Huaqiong were a charming widow, then he was a charming widower.

Shameless.

Tong Huaqiong cursed inwardly.

You’re already a grandpa, and your youngest son is the same age as Gu Taohua, yet you dare to have designs on Taohua.

If it weren’t for the fact that since the opening of the shop, Fengle Building had been looking after Taohua Dessert, Tong Huaqiong would have scolded out loud.

With a slightly annoyed expression, Tong Huaqiong said, "Manager Qian, you know I’m a stepmother, right?"

Manager Qian nodded, who didn’t know the Widow Tong was a stepmother?

When Taohua Dessert first opened, some people from Qinghe Bay came to criticize, saying that Manager Tong was a stepmother and mistreated her stepdaughter and stepson, claiming such a malicious person couldn’t sell good pastries.

Through interacting during this time, he found this to be sheer slander against Tong Huaqiong.

She is even better to her stepson and his wife than to her biological children.

Manager Qian developed a sense of "I understand you" feeling towards Tong Huaqiong in his heart.

What’s there to fear about having stepchildren, he valued Tong Huaqiong as a person.

"I was forced into it, my father took twenty taels of silver from the Gu family to marry me to my dead husband. Generally, girls who become stepmothers are forced by circumstances, what respectable family would willingly let their daughter marry an old widower who could be her father? I heard you love your daughter very much, Manager Qian, don’t you think this is the case?"

Manager Qian applauded and sighed, nodding, "Manager Tong is right. Only families that sell their daughters would marry them off to an old widower."

He never had such thoughts.

In his five years as a widower, he had always conducted himself with integrity. Matchmaker Wang from the town had worn out the threshold of his door to suggest matches, and he had met a few; they were all about fifteen- or sixteen-year-old pretty girls from poor families. Feeling it was a waste, he declined them all.

Later, he simply stopped letting Matchmaker Wang come to his door.

He originally thought he’d live alone from then on, but Manager Tong stirred his heart.

But he didn’t understand why Manager Tong brought this up.

Since she could be Da Han’s stepmother, she could also be a stepmother to his sons and daughter.

Besides, his children were grown up, they certainly wouldn’t let Tong Huaqiong suffer.

Tong Huaqiong’s mouth twitched, you know you’re an old widower, yet you still think of Gu Taohua.

Tong Huaqiong decided to speak frankly, "I married an old widower at a young age myself, I’m not going to let my daughter Taohua follow in my old footsteps. Don’t even talk about a rich old widower, I wouldn’t agree even if the Old Emperor wanted to make her Empress."

Manager Qian replied without thinking, "Taohua is a very capable girl, she should match with the most promising young man..."

Manager Qian halted mid-sentence; what did Manager Tong mean, could it be she thought he was interested in Gu Taohua?

How did it come to that!

"Manager Qian, since you understand the logic, I advise you to drop that idea. We’re neighbors doing business next to each other, let’s maintain some decorum and not force me to speak harshly or act ruthlessly," Tong Huaqiong said.

Manager Qian looked up with wide eyes, his face turning red with urgency as he defended, "Manager Tong, you wouldn’t think I’m interested in Gu Taohua, would you? If I had such thoughts, I’d be damned. Even if given ten times the nerve, I wouldn’t dare fancy Gu Taohua. Besides, I never liked Gu Taohua..."

Tong Huaqiong realized she had misunderstood Manager Qian’s intentions.

Nevertheless, she refused to admit her mistake, particularly when Manager Qian was frequently visiting Taohua Dessert, chatting with Gu Taohua, and introducing business to the shop.

Today he even entertained Tong Fusheng.

This couldn’t help but make her overthink.

Tong Huaqiong snorted through her nose, not liking was for the best.

Wait, if Manager Qian didn’t like Gu Taohua, could he be interested in someone else in the shop?

Other than Taohua in the shop, there was Gu Xiaocao.

Besides them, there were Liu Qiaoyun and her two daughters-in-law, no matter who it was, if any gossip spread about them with Manager Qian, it would be Manager Qian’s fault.

"Why do you often come to our shop then? Manager Qian, I’m not to blame for overthinking, it’s simply that your behavior is misleading. Go ahead and tell me, if you aren’t after Taohua, who do you fancy? Don’t try to fool me with those eyes, let me tell you. Gu Xiaocao, Xiu Xiu, forget it, and Qiaoyun and her daughters-in-law are already married, you shouldn’t even think about them, or I’ll gouge your eyes out," Tong Huaqiong said with her hands on her hips.

Manager Qian was inwardly distressed, thinking, what was Manager Tong’s eyesight, no less?

You’ve guessed wildly all over the place.

Meanwhile, Manager Qian suspected if he’d done something wrong, leading Tong Huaqiong to such a huge misunderstanding.

No, he must reveal his feelings.

While Tong Huaqiong was still expressing her views, Manager Qian interrupted and said, "Manager Tong, I have intentions towards you."

Gah!

Tong Huaqiong looked toward Manager Qian in disbelief.

This old guy had his eyes on her?

Oh heavens, this was something she never imagined.

Admittedly, Manager Qian was wealthy, not bad-looking, and with his age, had a flat belly.

If it had been when she first crossed over, Tong Huaqiong would rather have landed by Manager Qian’s side, enjoying the prestige as the lady of Fengle Building, than be a widow of the Old Gu Family.

Now she’s the owner of Taohua Dessert.

An entirely capable, elegant, and mature middle-aged strong woman, being eyed by Manager Qian was quite normal, wasn’t it?

All her feelings of inadequacy instantly vanished, and instead, someone like Manager Qian no longer mattered to her.

She never expected that her romantic prospects would bloom with the success of Taohua Dessert.

If the envious women from Qinghe Bay like Yan Pozi and Huang Pozi knew, wouldn’t they curse her behind her back?

After Manager Qian declared his intentions for Tong Huaqiong, he didn’t feel uneasy anymore, awaiting Tong Huaqiong’s feedback.

He thought he and Tong Huaqiong were quite a match.

One widow, one widower, both with children, grandchildren, and shops, wouldn’t their union be a beautiful tale in Yan Guan Town?

"Well, Manager Qian, I have no interest in you,"