The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 343: Who Are You Calling "Big Sister"?
Nervously walking through the courtyard to the main room, Tong Fusheng and his wife were ushered to their seats by Wu Ren, while Mrs. Qiao instructed a maid to serve tea.
Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang were flattered and surprised.
What’s gotten into the in-laws?
Why are they being so enthusiastic towards them?
Wu Ren spoke directly, "Today I heard in the county that Qinghe Bay has been granted the title of Sui Feng Village Lady, and I wondered who it was. Turns out it’s our sister."
If Tong Huaqiong knew Wu Ren referred to her as "our sister," she would have spit right in his face.
Disgusting!
Tong Fusheng wasn’t Tong Huaqiong; not only did he not find it disgusting, he even felt a little proud.
His sister became a village lady, and even though he hadn’t seen her face, he was already basking in her glory.
Even the attitude of his in-law towards him had completely turned around.
Tong Fusheng felt a little regretful, wishing he had not upset his sister last time.
Tong Fusheng said with a laugh, "Yes, it’s a decree from the emperor. A few days ago, my sister sent me a message through someone, and I thought it’s surely very lively these days with all the people coming and going, so I planned to visit her in a few days."
Mrs. Qiao asked, "How did your family’s eldest aunt get named a village lady?"
Mrs. Wang said, "Do you know why our corn had a bountiful harvest this year? The medicine that cured the ear rot disease was developed by our nun."
Mrs. Wang wore a smug expression, finally getting a chance to boast in front of the mother-in-law.
Mrs. Qiao felt uneasy.
Mrs. Qiao looked down on the Tong family, never caring for anyone or anything about them. When her husband said the sister-in-law had been granted the title of village lady, it took her a moment to remember such a person existed.
She had seen her at the full moon ceremony of her eldest granddaughter. Her loud voice was like drums, and when she suggested to Tong Pandi to think more about the Tong family, Mrs. Qiao had whispered her disapproval that Tong Pandi, as the Wu family’s daughter-in-law, should naturally prioritize her husband’s family, receiving a few retorts from the sister-in-law.
How could someone so uncouth catch the emperor’s eye to be made a village lady?
Though she didn’t understand how high the rank of a village lady was, seeing how her husband was so eager to please, she knew it was certainly higher than a village chief.
Mrs. Qiao was displeased that from now on, Tong Pandi could rely on her village lady aunt to lord over her.
Wu Ren said with a smile, "Even though your eldest aunt was made a village lady, she’s ultimately a woman. Let me put it bluntly, there must be many outside looking to take advantage of her. Not to mention, as a widow, she would be bullied even within the clan. As her brother, you should support her."
Tong Fusheng said, "That’s true, but, not hiding anything from my in-law, my sister has a bad temper. We had a conflict last time, and although she sent me a message through someone, she still holds a grudge. I was just thinking of finding someone to mediate."
Wu Ren said, "In-law, you’re too rigid. There’s no overnight grudge between siblings. Let me be the mediator. I’ll definitely reunite you siblings. Let’s go to Qinghe Bay tomorrow."
Tong Fusheng gritted his teeth and said, "Alright."
It wasn’t until the next day, standing at the entrance to Qinghe Bay, that Tong Fusheng regretted coming to Tong Huaqiong’s house uninvited.
If his sister didn’t mind past grievances, then everyone would be happy.
If she still held onto her temper, then he would be utterly embarrassed in front of his in-law.
As the carriage rode along the village path of Qinghe Bay, Tong Fusheng glanced at Wu Ren and his wife sitting next to him, along with the half-carriage of gifts, thinking that his sister might let them in because of Wu Ren.
After all, Wu Ren was the village chief, making this connection worth mentioning.
Since Tong Huaqiong was named the village lady, people have been visiting her daily.
All the welcoming and seeing off was really tiring.
She had refused visitors for the past few days.
Upon hearing the knocking, Tong Huaqiong didn’t move, but as the knocking continued persistently, she got up and opened the door.
A strange carriage was parked at the entrance.
As Tong Huaqiong wondered which family was here to climb social ranks, a middle-aged man in a long robe and a woman in deep purple got off the carriage.
As soon as they saw Tong Huaqiong, they called her "little sister."
Tong Huaqiong thought, who are you calling little sister? Do we even know each other?
Seeing Tong Huaqiong’s confused look, Mrs. Qiao inwardly sneered; of course, now as a village lady, she had become arrogant.
Thinking like this but wearing a smile, she stepped forward, saying, "Little sister, you’re forgetful with so much going on. I’m Pandi’s mother-in-law."
Pandi, mother-in-law?
Tong Huaqiong finally remembered that she had a niece, Tong Pandi, whom she had never met.
As she searched through Tong Dajiao’s memories, her expression immediately froze over, realizing this couple were pure villains.
They had drowned Tong Pandi’s baby daughter, and in a previous life, Tong Dajiao had pulled this mother-in-law’s hair in a confrontation for Pandi.
Tong Huaqiong coldly said, "Who are you calling little sister? Pandi’s mother-in-law has nothing to do with me."
After saying that, she turned and locked the door.
Wu Ren and Mrs. Qiao looked at each other, speechless.
They were respected in Black Dragon Pond and Yan Guan Town’s vicinities. Wherever they went, they were seen as an honor, but faced with a cold shoulder for the first time.
Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang hadn’t even left the carriage and were already frozen in place.
Mrs. Qiao wanted to curse, but Wu Ren stopped her.
Wu Ren still wanted to build a connection with Tong Huaqiong, the village lady.
Thinking it was probably because he and his wife were too presumptuous, as the sister-in-law wasn’t an ordinary farmer’s wife but a village lady personally named by the emperor. No wonder she was upset when they called her little sister.
They should have respectfully addressed her as the village lady.
Wu Ren invited Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang off the carriage, asking them to knock on the door.
Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang reluctantly knocked on the door.
Tong Huaqiong opened it, and just as the four people at the door were about to speak with a smile, she drenched them with a basin of water.
"Get out! Tong Fusheng, I’ve already severed ties with you, so stop coming around."
Tong Huaqiong’s angry shout drew Liu Tieshan, the village chief, who was taking a stroll in the village.
Seeing it was Tong Huaqiong’s brother, Tong Fusheng, Chief Liu knew they had a falling out before. Now that Tong Huaqiong was a village lady, her family must be coming for her favor.
In the spirit of Qinghe Bay’s civil construction, Chief Liu naturally wouldn’t let such shameless people disturb Qinghe Bay’s village lady. So he called on young men from the village to chase them away.
Wu Ren said, "But I’m the village chief of Black Dragon Pond."
Chief Liu replied, "You’re Black Dragon Pond’s village chief; what does that have to do with Yan Guan Town?"
Enraged, Wu Ren cursed.
Chased out of the village, the four were soaked, and the autumn wind nearly froze them unconscious.
Mrs. Qiao’s old resentment towards Tong Pandi and new resentment towards Tong Huaqiong exploded in her chest and poured onto Mrs. Wang.
Mrs. Qiao pointed at Mrs. Wang’s nose, cursing, "Look at your eldest aunt, still a village lady; the emperor must be blind to name her that. And your well-raised daughter—now I see who Pandi resembles. She’s just like her aunt, both stubborn and foul."
"Look at your Tong family raising such daughters; one lost her husband, the other is a barren hen. We can’t afford a Tong family daughter. If Pandi’s current pregnancy is also a girl, take her away after birth, so she doesn’t bother me."
Mrs. Wang held her anger back, wanting to retort that the Tong family’s daughter had nothing to do with her being a Wang, but fearing to add fuel to the fire, she didn’t dare provoke her in-law further, fearing the Wu family might truly divorce Pandi.
