The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 286: A Suitable Wife for the Lu Family
Mr. Lu planned to return after Taohua Dessert opened and invited Tong Huaqiong to visit the Lu family before he left.
Tong Huaqiong smiled as she escorted Mr. Lu out of the crowd, thanking him for coming to show support.
Mr. Lu said, "If anyone should be thankful, it’s me thanking you for saving my grandson."
He once thought that if anyone could cure his grandson, he would be willing to give up half of his fortune.
Now all he offered was a shop at Touku Market and the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for Taohua Dessert.
Of course, that wasn’t enough; Mr. Lu planned to go overseas for trade soon, giving some goods to Tong Huaqiong, so she could make some profit.
Naturally, he wouldn’t say this directly to Tong Huaqiong; it was a favor for his grandson to extend.
With this in mind, Mr. Lu scanned the area behind Tong Huaqiong and asked her, "Which one is Taohua?"
Liu Yueer, who was greeting customers, heard Mr. Lu asking about her little sister-in-law, took the tasting platter from Gu Taohua, and pushed her forward.
Gu Taohua stood in front of Mr. Lu, instantly blocking the sunlight.
"Grandpa Lu, what do you want with me?" Gu Taohua asked with hands on her hips.
Mr. Lu looked Gu Taohua up and down, considering that she was a sturdy girl, while his grandson, though recovered, seemed weak. The Lu family needed a granddaughter-in-law like her to hold down the fort.
Moreover, Gu Taohua was not bad-looking, with a full moon face and big, bright eyes—the kind that suggested prosperity for her husband.
Mr. Lu said, "I heard you made a bet with my granddaughter."
Gu Taohua said, "That’s right! I made a bet. But it wasn’t with Lu Zhaozhao; it was actually with you."
Mr. Lu became interested and asked, "How so?"
Gu Taohua said, "I heard from Lu Zhaozhao that you always said girls should be pampered and there was no need for them to show their faces in business. I disagreed with you, so I argued with Lu Zhaozhao, hence the wager."
Mr. Lu laughed heartily at Gu Taohua’s words and said, "Then I want in on this bet."
He then beckoned to Lu Zhaozhao and said, "Zhaozhao, now that you’re managing our Rouge Shop, you must not let Grandpa down."
Lu Zhaozhao readily agreed.
"Master Tong, your Taohua is very capable; she will have great fortune in the future." Mr. Lu gave Tong Huaqiong a thumbs-up.
Proud of her daughter being praised, Tong Huaqiong was quite smug.
She didn’t humble herself; instead, she said, "My Taohua truly is capable."
But soon, things took a turn that puzzled Tong Huaqiong.
Mr. Lu wanted to give Gu Taohua a gift but forgot to bring it, so he tore a priceless jade pendant off Lu Zhaoyang’s neck to give to Gu Taohua, saying she could play with it or sell it as she wished.
Gu Taohua dared not accept it.
But Mr. Lu insisted.
Tong Huaqiong quickly intervened. She could see Lu Zhaoyang was extremely embarrassed.
What did Mr. Lu mean by this? No wonder he praised Gu Taohua for being capable and fortunate. Was he trying to make Gu Taohua his granddaughter-in-law?
Otherwise, why else would he randomly tear off his grandson’s jade pendant to give to someone!
She knew Mr. Lu could be unorthodox, but she didn’t expect him to force a match publicly.
Tong Huaqiong did not wish for Gu Taohua to marry Lu Zhaoyang.
Not that Lu Zhaoyang was unsuitable, but because Tong Huaqiong knew for sure they weren’t each other’s type.
One liked intellectual resonance, and the other liked...
As for what Gu Taohua liked, Tong Huaqiong only knew in her past life it was Fan Tong, but she wasn’t sure in this life.
But it certainly wasn’t someone like Lu Zhaoyang.
Seeing that Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua were adamant about refusing, Mr. Lu looked regretful and repeatedly invited them to visit the Lu family.
Tong Huaqiong finally saw Mr. Lu off.
"Mom, Grandpa Lu gave me Lu Zhaoyang’s jade pendant. Does he think highly of me and wants me to marry into the Lu family?" Gu Taohua asked unhappily.
Tong Huaqiong gave Gu Taohua an approving glance.
Her plump daughter was finally using her brain and could see people’s intentions.
Tong Huaqiong asked, "If the Lu family patriarch really thinks so, what would you think?"
Gu Taohua said with her chin up, "I don’t like weak scholars. No matter how good-looking they are or how rich their family is, I don’t like them."
Tong Huaqiong said, "If you really marry Lu Zhaoyang, you might gain control over the Lu family’s assets after entering the family, and they’re renowned Imperial Merchants; they’re incomparable to our dessert shops."
Gu Taohua said, "That’s not necessarily true. Mr. Lu never let Lu Zhaozhao do business before, thinking women weren’t suited for it. He’s willing to compromise now because he loves Lu Zhaozhao. They’re a family even if they fight. But it’s different for me; we’re not related by blood. He might indulge his granddaughter, but not necessarily a granddaughter-in-law."
"Besides, Lu Zhaoyang is the only heir for three generations; whoever marries him has the pressure of bearing sons. Isn’t he the kirin scholar of Wanliu Academy? Kirin scholars are destined to become high officials. If his wife can’t bear sons, he’ll definitely take concubines. If he ever favors concubines over his wife, who can win against him unless willing to confront him with a knife."
Even though Gu Taohua’s thinking was somewhat tangential, even though Lu Zhaoyang had noble character and integrity, considering deeply did no harm.
After all, no one remained unchanged throughout their life.
If only she had thought more carefully with Fan Tong in her past life, she wouldn’t have ended up being burned alive.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Taohua, you’ve grown up and gained insight. You’re right to think this way. Don’t worry, I won’t let you marry into the Lu family."
Gu Taohua turned around and said, "I don’t want to marry, and no one can force me."
Tong Huaqiong clapped and laughed heartily.
Gu Taohua was really something, even daring to retort against her.
Thanks to Mr. Lu’s personal ribbon-cutting, many shops and merchants in Ning City sent congratulatory gifts to Taohua Dessert, even those in direct competition with it.
Tong Huaqiong couldn’t help but admire, Mr. Lu truly was the bellwether of Ning City merchants.
Wherever he went, that was where the trend followed.
...
"Grandpa, how could you give my jade pendant to Miss Taohua in public? It was so embarrassing." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
Lu Zhaoyang was very displeased with his grandfather’s behavior, and he couldn’t help but express his discontent after leaving Taohua Dessert.
Mr. Lu chuckled and said, "I find Miss Taohua to be wonderful; she’s capable, business-savvy, and looks prosperous—perfect to be our family’s daughter-in-law."
Lu Zhaoyang was taken aback and said, "Grandpa, you shouldn’t randomly matchmake! I see Miss Taohua as a sister. Aunt Tong saved my life; how can you have such an absurd idea?"
Mr. Lu slapped his thigh and said, "In the stories I’ve heard, people always repay their saviors by offering themselves in marriage; since the Gu Family saved you, marrying into them is a mark of gratitude."
Lu Zhaoyang was speechless: "..."
What was his grandpa even talking about?
Mr. Lu turned serious and said, "In the past, since you were weak, we didn’t commit you to anyone to avoid burdening the girl. Now that you’ve recovered, it’s time to discuss marriage. In our hometown, men your age already have children running around; yet here you are, not even engaged. Don’t underestimate Gu Taohua’s plumpness; heftier women are reliable. Our family needs a steady matriarch to manage things."
Lu Zhaoyang hurriedly said, "Grandpa, you’re only thinking about what you want. Have you considered what Aunt Tong wants? She definitely won’t let Gu Taohua marry into the Lu family."
Mr. Lu said, "That’s because your Aunt Tong hasn’t seen your good side. There’s a saying that the more a mother-in-law sees her son-in-law, the more she likes him. She hasn’t seen you much, so she doesn’t see your merits and thus won’t agree for Taohua to marry you."
Lu Zhaoyang, exasperated, said, "I see Taohua as a sister; if I marry, it has to be with someone I truly love."
Mr. Lu interrupted, "True love? Then show me someone like that; anyways, I have my eye on Gu Taohua."
Mr. Lu looked as if he wanted to say something more but hesitated.
He was embarrassed to mention that there were rumors that his grandson was handsome and wealthy but still single because he was rumored to favor men.
"From now on, stop frequenting the Magistrate’s place," Mr. Lu suddenly said.
Lu Zhaoyang found this inexplicable.
He and his senior were like brothers, so he couldn’t understand why his grandpa recently got upset whenever he mentioned his senior.
