The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 291: Profiting on Both Ends

"You can choose not to admit it, but there’s no wall in the world that doesn’t let the wind through. If you tell me now, we still have room to talk. If you choose silence, sooner or later, when I find out, it won’t be a pleasant negotiation like today."

She wasn’t in a hurry!

Tong Huaqiong finished speaking and sat calmly in the chair, sipping her fragrant tea.

Indeed, the tea at Tianxiang Building is exceptionally smooth and leaves an endless aftertaste.

She should ask Aunt Mo where they source their tea from.

Yesterday, after returning to her room from Gu Dashu’s place, Tong Huaqiong found the whole affair increasingly peculiar.

It was all too coincidental.

Why did Xian Xian happen to run into Gu Dashu on the very night Taohua Dessert opened?

She recalled how she had once defeated Manager Feng in Yan Guan Town by targeting his weakness, Feng Chuan.

That was because she was sure Manager Feng cared about this surrogate son.

But if Manager Feng didn’t care that much about Feng Chuan, would that business battle have won so smoothly?

Hard to say.

So, what attitude does the pastry shop in the capital have towards the arrival of Taohua Dessert?

This intruder would definitely displease other shops.

Some shops might become more competitive, but she couldn’t guarantee that all of them had fair business competition spirits.

If some shops used underhanded tactics, might they attempt to manipulate her like she did with Manager Feng?

Definitely possible.

After all, the limitation of this era is that everything is valued based on sons.

They surely think that by manipulating Gu Dashu, they could manipulate her and thereby control Taohua Dessert.

Gu Dashu, a country bumpkin, would be best lured into traps of temptation.

But they miscalculated two things: first, Tong Huaqiong was someone who would sacrifice her son for the shop, and second, Gu Dashu still held deep feelings for Liu Yueer—his character and courage would not allow him the indulgence at Tianxiang Building.

Aunt Mo and Xian Xian exchanged a glance.

Tong Huaqiong observed this and undoubtedly guessed correctly.

She wasn’t in a hurry.

She waited for Aunt Mo to speak.

Aunt Mo weighed things in her mind; if Tong Huaqiong was just a country woman, she would treat her words as threats, but her close ties to Mr. Lu were well known, and word had it that even Lord Yao had sent his steward to show support yesterday.

Who knows how deep this country widow’s influence might be? If they offend her, how would Tianxiang Building operate?

Fine, just accept it.

She is in business and doesn’t need to offend someone whose influence is unclear to her.

"If I tell Master Tong who is manipulating things behind the scenes, how will Master Tong thank me?" Aunt Mo gritted her teeth and said.

Tong Huaqiong took a sip of tea, and with a faint smile, said to Aunt Mo, "Is Aunt Mo bargaining with me? Do you think you have any leverage to bargain?"

Aunt Mo’s smile froze on her face.

This widow isn’t playing by the rules!

"Enough, enough, Mom will tell Master Tong," Xian Xian said.

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Xian Xian.

Aunt Mo realized that continuing to hide the truth was pointless, saying, "It’s Jin Fengxiang."

Jin Fengxiang.

"So, it was Jin Fengxiang."

The answer somewhat surprised Tong Huaqiong.

She thought it was Gaoxiangji.

After all, among the four largest pastry shops in Ning City, Gaoxiangji was a newcomer that once defeated the most famous Jin Fengxiang, now having the most branches and greater fame in Ning City.

Her Taohua Dessert coming to the capital would naturally view Gaoxiangji as a competitor. She hoped to share the market with Gaoxiangji in the short term and in the long run, become the most renowned pastry shop in the capital.

Taohua Dessert opened yesterday, with Wanliu Academy’s students boosting its reputation, claiming that Taohua Dessert is superior to Gaoxiangji in both taste and innovation.

The city is big, but no fellow trade would want new competitors. After all, who dislikes having more customers or earning more money?

The entry of Taohua Dessert indicates it will take a share of the existing market.

The fellow trade won’t sit idly by, and Tong Huaqiong, who values fair competition, isn’t afraid; she fears the sneaky backstab instead.

Therefore, in Tong Huaqiong’s imagination, whoever among the four major pastry shops would attack Taohua Dessert first would most likely be the most famous Gaoxiangji.

It’s not surprising for Tong Huaqiong to think so, considering Gaoxiangji battled through intense business competition to secure its current top position, and such shops generally have a strong sense of crisis, often proactively striking against competitors.

So, neither He Chao nor she paid attention to other shops, focusing solely on Gaoxiangji.

"This is tea money for Miss Xian Xian." Tong Huaqiong placed fifty silver taels on the table.

Tong Huaqiong is such a person.

Since Xian Xian and Aunt Mo had changed their minds and were willing to tell her who was behind it all, she was willing to exchange silver for the information.

Xian Xian weighed the silver and said, "Master Tong, now that Mom has told the truth, no matter how your battle with Jin Fengxiang ends, don’t involve our Tianxiang Building."

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "Of course. To express my gratitude to Miss Xian Xian, I have an investment opportunity to share with Aunt Mo and Xian Xian. Mr. Lu’s big ship will be sailing in some days; I hear this time he’ll take more private ships along. I plan to invest. If Xian Xian and Aunt Mo have spare money, would you like to join?"

This news was told to Tong Huaqiong by Lu Zhaoyang yesterday.

Why did Lu Zhaoyang tell Tong Huaqiong? Certainly to help her earn a fortune.

Aunt Mo’s eyes lit up hearing about this opportunity.

It’s said that overseas ventures are profitable. Who wouldn’t want to set sail with Mr. Lu? But not everyone has the connections or ships, nor can everyone catch Mr. Lu’s attention.

For example, Tianxiang Building was excluded.

This time, Mr. Lu might not want to take her along either.

Aunt Mo sighed, "I don’t have as much influence as Master Tong."

She always wanted to connect with Mr. Lu, but he always looked down on the romantic business; she couldn’t even insert herself.

Tong Huaqiong knew Aunt Mo’s concerns and, with open palms and a smile, said, "If you trust me, give me the silver. Does Mr. Lu really want to question where my silver comes from?"

Aunt Mo said, "I’m grateful Master Tong is taking me along—what is there not to trust."

If asked why she trusts Tong Huaqiong, someone she had just met, did she have a choice?

No!

If she wanted to connect with Mr. Lu’s business, Tong Huaqiong was the only way.

She was willing to take the gamble.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Alright, bring the silver to my shop tonight, and I’ll write you a contract."

Aunt Mo said, "Alright, it’s a deal."

Tong Huaqiong took a sip of tea, stood up, and before leaving, asked Aunt Mo, "This tea isn’t bad—may I know where you purchased it from?"

Aunt Mo said, "It’s Liu’an Guapian, ordered from the Lu Family’s tea shop. If Master Tong likes it, I’ll send you two boxes."

Saying this, she had someone bring out two boxes of tea leaves.

Tong Huaqiong accepted them with a smile.

Aunt Mo wanted to forge a good connection with her.

It wasn’t that Aunt Mo was fickle, but she never had an alliance with Jin Fengxiang; it was simply that Jin Fengxiang’s second son had recently gotten close with Xian Xian.

Earning money from both ends, Aunt Mo felt no guilt at all.

So, as soon as she dealt with Widow Tong, she found another business opportunity.