The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 339: People from the Heroine’s World

Chapter 339: Chapter 339: People from the Heroine’s World

Just like last time when they hosted a banquet, Tong Huaqiong had Gu Dahuan prepare two tables of food in the house.

One table was to welcome the notable figures from Yan Guan Town, such as Village Chief Liu and other local gentry, while the other was for Mrs. Han, Old Mrs. Huang, Mrs. Hong, and the family women.

The table for the gentry was placed in the side room, while the women’s table was set in the main room.

Traditionally, the men’s table should have been in the main room, but Tong Huaqiong insisted on doing otherwise.

Even though the village chief thought her arrangement was improper, he didn’t dare show his disapproval; after all, Tong Huaqiong was already a village noblewoman.

He had to bow when he saw her.

The Gujia Clan Leader had expected Tong Huaqiong to invite him to the table with the village chief and gentry in front of everyone, but even as the dishes were being served, no one approached him.

He was so angry he wanted to storm off.

But he couldn’t really leave, as the aroma of the food kept enticing him; missing a meal would be a shame.

The Gujia Clan Leader caught Gu Jingzhe and said, "Jingzhe, your mother becoming a village noblewoman is a blessing from our Gu Family ancestors. According to reason, your mother should be entered into the Gu Family Ancestral Hall, but as there’s never been a precedent for women entering the hall, the clan might not agree. I plan to gather everyone to discuss this."

Gu Jingzhe glanced at the clan leader.

He felt like laughing.

The clan leader was using his mother’s entry into the ancestral hall to entice him to side with the clan leader for benefits from his mother.

Speaking of benefits, like sitting at the main table and using his mother’s noblewoman title to enhance his status in the village, earning the respect of the village chief and gentry.

Does he deserve it?

Even the emperor referred to his mother as Tong, not Gu Tong, in the edict; would she be interested in entering the Gu Family Ancestral Hall?

Gu Jingzhe had sworn to himself that if he had children in the future, one would take the surname Tong, and he would establish a Tong Family Ancestral Hall dedicated to his mother.

His mother would be the ancestor of that line’s Tong Family Ancestral Hall.

Gu Jingzhe said, "Clan Leader Grandfather, let’s discuss this later. The dishes are already being served; why don’t you find a seat at a table first?"

The clan leader was delighted, thinking Gu Jingzhe would take him to the main table.

Gu Jingzhe, being a scholar, was particular about etiquette.

Gu Jingzhe pointed to a corner of the courtyard and said, "Clan Leader Grandfather, sit there; it’s cool in the shade."

The clan leader was so angry his nose was bent out of shape.

Cool, indeed, but does he not see what season it is? The leaves are about to fall.

Gu Jingzhe smiled brightly as he went to greet other guests.

The clan leader looked around; due to waiting for Tong Huaqiong and Gu Jingzhe to invite him to the main table, he had delayed sitting down.

All the other tables in the courtyard were already full, except for an extra table set up for the children dismissed from the village school, which was the table in the corner that Gu Jingzhe pointed out.

Being seated with a group of children infuriated the Gujia Clan Leader, making him curse Gu Jingzhe internally.

As a dignified clan leader sitting with children, what a disgrace.

The disrespectful ingrate, judging by his current attitude towards the clan leader, even if he becomes an official, the clan won’t benefit from it. Why let him study then?

A shadow fell over the clan leader’s eyes.

He had heard that the second son of the second household was doing well in his studies. He wished the second household, along with Tong Huaqiong’s in-laws, would heed his call to return, when he, as the clan leader, would lead everyone to support the second son, thus quelling Gu Jingzhe’s arrogance.

In the main room.

The women gathered around the table, Tong Huaqiong sat at the main seat, closely surrounded by Man Er and Xiao Long, with Liu Yanhong and Yaozu sitting next to Xiao Long.

Old Mrs. Huang, Mrs. Han, and Huang Jingshan were seated across.

Tong Huaqiong also had Aunt Qin, Mrs. Zhao, the village chief’s wife, and Mrs. Hong seated to accompany the guests.

Aunt Qin and Mrs. Zhao were so excited their eyes were warm, constantly admiring how Tong Dajiao did not treat people by their status despite being a village noblewoman.

Being able to dine with the wealthiest old lady in Yan Guan Town and the mother of a county magistrate was surely an honor to brag about.

"Yue Er, you sit too."

Liu Yueer brought in a jar of wine, and Tong Huaqiong had her sit down to eat as well.

Man Er, laughing and chatting, recounted to Tong Huaqiong what she had learned that morning.

"Man Er learns better than Yaozu, who keeps getting distracted," Liu Yanhong said.

Yaozu flushed with anger and said, "I’m not distracted."

Liu Yanhong replied, "Grandma Tong, if you don’t believe me, ask Xiao Long; Yaozu keeps looking outside."

Xiao Long, expressionless, said, "I didn’t see anything."

Yaozu grew smug and said, "I will surely learn better than Sister Man Er in the future."

Man Er was unhappy with this and said, "You might not even learn as much as I do, as Grandma and Aunt teach me writing and bookkeeping. I’ve learned a lot of characters, but you haven’t learned any yet."

Liu Yueer gave Man Er a look, feeling uncomfortable.

What’s the use of a girl learning so much if she can’t take exams?

Her own Yaozu, not to mention anything else, could at least become a scholar.

Man Er had a knack for showing off in front of others at a young age, not knowing how to restrain herself.

"Man Er is smart, recognizing characters just by observing," Mrs. Han praised, then turned to scold her grandson, "Yan Hong, see how Man Er is? You should learn from her."

Despite being scolded by his grandmother, Liu Yanhong laughed cheerfully, not at all upset.

He admitted he wasn’t as smart as Man Er.

Old Mrs. Huang was surprised, "Does Man Er also attend the village school?"

Tong Huaqiong nodded and said, "Yes, it’s never a bad thing for girls to be literate."

Old Mrs. Huang admired Tong Huaqiong’s open-mindedness and added, "My granddaughter also learned to read and write since she was young, but we never thought of sending her to a village school. Even if we did, schools wouldn’t accept girls. Qinghe Bay is more lenient."

Tong Huaqiong wanted to say it was the same everywhere, but since she funded the school, she had the authority.

Old Mrs. Huang patted Huang Jingshan’s hand and said, "I’m not boasting, but my granddaughter is proficient in the four arts and is no worse than the official families’ daughters in the prefecture city. If my granddaughter were a boy, she could take the imperial exams and possibly outshine the Wanliu Academy students."

Huang Jingshan smiled beside Old Mrs. Huang, her presence like sunlight on snowy mountains.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t a boy.

Every time she held a book, her mother urged her to learn more about female crafts, emphasizing that when getting married, they are marrying a daughter-in-law, not a scholar.

Especially now that she was engaged, her mother urged her to focus on female crafts, the nagging causing her ears to grow calluses.

"If Aunt Jingshan is so knowledgeable, why doesn’t she become a teacher?" Man Er suddenly asked. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Amused, Huang Jingshan laughed again and said, "There are no female teachers."

Tong Huaqiong remembered what Magistrate Yao had said, that the late empress had established a female academy in the imperial palace, with female teachers lecturing.

She somehow felt that as the heroine of her past life, those around Man Er would have some connection to her previous life.

Recalling this, Tong Huaqiong searched Tong Dajiao’s memories for information on Huang Jingshan.

After Man Er became an Imperial Concubine, she reinstated the late empress’s female academy.

Not only did she open a female academy in the palace, but she also established female academies among the common folk, selecting talented women to learn history, agriculture, and commerce.

An icy and strict female official with the surname Huang was responsible for the female academy by the side of the Imperial Concubine.

Tong Dajiao’s commandery princess daughter-in-law was scolded by this Huang female official for being disrespectful to Zhao Zhao after the Imperial Concubine found out.

The commandery princess daughter-in-law hurled abuses at the female official, mocking her for only being able to read and not produce children, leading her to be divorced.

If this Huang female official were Huang Jingshan, it would imply that the current marriage arranged by the Huang Family might not be a good match.

What kind of good family would divorce a daughter-in-law?

Tong Huaqiong decided to investigate the Lian Family, to whom Huang Jingshan was engaged, thoroughly.

Huang Yuanwai was the first person of this era to help Tong Huaqiong, and she hoped his beloved daughter Huang Jingshan wouldn’t fall into an unfortunate marriage as she did in her past life.