The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 277: Going to the Prefecture City Together
Manager Qian placed the piglet in Tong Huaqiong’s pig farm, surveyed the construction of his own house, and then returned to the town.
When Gu Taohua returned from Taohua Dessert in the evening, she brought with her thirty taels of Silver from Boss Qian, besides the account book.
After dinner, Tong Huaqiong discussed the trip to the city with Gu Taohua while going through the accounts.
The branch of Taohua Dessert in the city was planned to open in three days.
Actually, the preparations had already been completed a long time ago.
The shop was chosen to be in the most bustling area of the city.
Of course, Lu Zhaoyang provided a lot of help in choosing the location for the shop.
Some time ago, He Chao and Gu Taohua went to the city to prepare for the opening, and after seeing that everything was almost ready, Gu Taohua returned to Yan Guan Town.
He Chao stayed temporarily in the city.
Tong Huaqiong only listened to the work reports from Gu Taohua and He Chao. She trusted He Chao and Gu Taohua, so only now, with the opening imminent, did she decide to visit the city.
Firstly, to witness the customs of the city, and secondly, the opening of their shop in the city was a milestone in the development of Taohua Dessert, which she must witness.
Not only that, but she also wanted to meet the clerks in the city. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Otherwise, if she avoided meeting them, the clerks would only know Manager He Chao and not the owner Tong Huaqiong, which would not be conducive to team building and management.
She trusted He Chao, but did not trust human nature; everyone in the shop needed to know who makes the decisions, who controls the shop, who pays the salaries. With clear role recognition, they could be loyal to Tong Huaqiong.
"Mother, I’ve already prepared the dry food and put it on the carriage. Just bring water in the morning," Chen Sufen said as she walked into the room.
Tong Huaqiong had already agreed to take Chen Sufen to the city.
Since many of the new desserts at Taohua Dessert needed Chen Sufen’s guidance, and with the fear that the bakery might be too busy at the start, they temporarily let Chen Sufen take care of things.
Tong Huaqiong saw Man Er behind Chen Sufen and said, "Let Man Er go with us, she hasn’t been to the city yet, so let’s take her along this time."
Man Er cheered and came up to Tong Huaqiong saying, "Thank you, Grandma, for taking me to the city."
Chen Sufen advised Man Er, "Then hurry up and go to bed, so you won’t have trouble getting up early tomorrow."
Man Er nodded.
Liu Yueer was just bringing tea to Tong Huaqiong with Yaozu when she heard that not only would Chen Sufen be going, but that Tong Huaqiong also wanted to take Man Er to the city, which made her feel a little unsettled.
The mother-in-law’s favoritism towards Man Er had never diminished!
Though she also cared for Yaozu now, it couldn’t compare to her tenderness for Man Er.
"Yueer, take Yaozu along."
When Liu Yueer was feeling down, she suddenly heard this from her mother-in-law, and was so surprised she didn’t know how to react.
Her husband, Dashi, managed a pesticide seed shop in the city, and the couple hadn’t met for over a month.
She really wanted to visit the city but didn’t dare to bring it up.
Firstly, she worried that there wouldn’t be enough staff at Taohua Dessert in town before the Mid-Autumn Festival, and secondly, she feared her mother-in-law would accuse her of slacking off.
Now her mother-in-law herself asked her to go to the city with her.
"But... wouldn’t Rouge Alley’s shop be too busy?" Liu Yueer asked.
Gu Taohua said, "Don’t worry, Second Sister-in-law, I’ve already arranged the manpower."
Liu Yueer was visibly moved.
It turned out her mother-in-law had planned to take her to the city from the beginning, just hadn’t informed her until now.
Gu Taohua said, "Second Sister-in-law, the reason why Mother didn’t tell you earlier is because she feared you wouldn’t focus on the shop if you knew beforehand."
Liu Yueer chuckled embarrassedly.
It seems her mother-in-law knows her well.
Tong Huaqiong said, "I’ve seen your hard work at the shop these past six months. When you go to the city this time, enjoy yourself and have a good reunion with Dashi."
"Mother, it’s not hard for me."
Liu Yueer was so moved she almost choked up.
Her hard work had not gone unnoticed by her mother-in-law.
Moreover, her mother-in-law understood her longing to see Dashi.
Which mother-in-law in the village would be so sensible? Usually, if a daughter-in-law missed her husband after he left, she’d be scolded for not having family virtues.
Since Gu Dashi went to the city, she had been worried.
She had heard there were many pleasure quarters with pretty girls in the city and feared Gu Dashi might get ideas being apart for so long, like taking concubines or setting up mistresses.
Tong Huaqiong played with the abacus for a while, glanced at Gu Taohua who was taking notes beside her, and suddenly recalled something, looking up towards Man Er and Yaozu under the oil lamp.
Tong Huaqiong said, "After the busy autumn harvest and Mid-Autumn Festival, I’m planning to start schooling Yaozu and Man Er, so they can learn to read and write."
This news was even more exciting to Liu Yueer than going to the city.
Her son was going to start school, going to study.
Previously, her mother-in-law cherished Yaozu but never thought of sending Yaozu to school, always saying it was hard enough to support Gu Jingzhe, with no extra money for Yaozu.
Now her mother-in-law wanted Yaozu to study.
How could she not be excited?
"Yaozu, wipe your mouth, you can’t eat so sloppily once you’re studying." Yaozu was eating a biscuit, crumbs all over his mouth, looking confused when he heard about studying.
Would he end up like Liu Yanhong, practicing calligraphy every day, bound and not free?
Seeing her son’s expression, Liu Yueer felt a basin of cold water poured over her head.
She was hoping her son would earn her a noble title by passing the exams.
Could her son really do it?
She had seen how bright young Gu Jingzhe was when he started schooling at three, but her son, almost five, still knew nothing.
Chen Sufen was even more excited than Liu Yueer, as she never expected her mother-in-law to let Man Er learn to read.
Apart from Gu Taohua, there was no girl in the village who could read.
Chen Sufen gratefully said, "If Man Er learns some characters from Mother, at least she won’t be ignorant."
Tong Huaqiong looked up and said, "Learning some characters isn’t enough for Man Er. I discussed with the village chief about setting up a village school. Our family will contribute some Silver, and Boss Qian is willing to assist too, hiring a teacher to teach the village children who want to study. Man Er, like Yaozu, will attend the school."
These words shocked not only Chen Sufen but also left Liu Yueer with her mouth agape.
They all thought Tong Huaqiong would let Man Er follow her like Gu Taohua to learn to read, but instead, she planned to send Man Er to school.
Such an outrageous action.
Chen Sufen stammered, "But... doesn’t the school not accept girls?"
Never had they heard of a school with female students.
Tong Huaqiong raised her eyebrows and said, "The school is established by me, who dares not accept?"
Chen Sufen asked in disbelief, "But... but Man Er doesn’t need to become a female Champion Scholar, knowing how to read is enough, why go through so much trouble to send her to school?"
Tong Huaqiong replied, "I’m not sending Man Er to school to make her a female Champion Scholar, but to learn knowledge. More importantly, Man Er is smart. When she goes to school, she’ll definitely learn better than the boys, giving her confidence that she’s not inferior, and she’ll be confident in whatever she does in the future."
"You say Man Er doesn’t need to become a female Champion Scholar but goes to school anyway, then why shouldn’t Yaozu, who also isn’t showing Champion Scholar potential, go to school?"
Liu Yueer: "..."
Chen Sufen opened her mouth but couldn’t refute.
Hearing she’ll be going to school, Man Er clenched her fists and said, "Don’t worry, Grandma, I’ll definitely study better than the boys."
