The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 366: Not Paying New Year’s Respects to the Clan Leader

Chapter 366: Chapter 366: Not Paying New Year’s Respects to the Clan Leader

In her previous life, Tong Huaqiong was not too keen on returning to her hometown with her parents for New Year visits during the Spring Festival.

The people in her hometown always spoke with a concerned tone, advising her, a girl, not to study too much, asking if she had a boyfriend, and upon learning that she didn’t, urging her to find one quickly... They even extended the conversation to hurry her into having children after graduation, ideally a second child—one boy and one girl—to form the perfect character.

Bound by familial ties and unable to escape, she would always respond with a smile at such times.

Now, in Tong Dajiao’s world, there was nothing wrong with making New Year visits, as no one was pressuring her to get married anyway.

She, a widow, would certainly not be forced into marriage, right?

At home, she was at the top of the food chain, being honored and respected. In the eyes of young people in the village, she was an aunt or mistress, and to outsiders, she was Manager Tong, the Sui Feng Village Lady.

Her status was clear; it was only her giving moral lessons, not the other way around.

Thus, she did not reject making New Year visits.

As they were discussing New Year visits, the front gate of Tong Huaqiong’s house swung open.

"Aunt Dajiao, we’ve come to wish you a Happy New Year."

"Aunt Tong, are you up yet? Happy New Year!"

A crowd noisily entered the courtyard.

It was the villagers coming to exchange New Year’s greetings.

The first group of visitors was comprised of workers from Tong Huaqiong’s household, including Ergouzi, Gu Xiaocao, Qin Qingyou, and his wife Liu Qiaoyun, leading the way.

"Boss, we’ve come to wish you a Happy New Year. Happy New Year." Liu Qiaoyun began with a smile.

"Happy New Year." Tong Huaqiong greeted everyone with a smile.

People were about to kowtow in the courtyard, which scared Tong Huaqiong into quickly urging everyone to get up.

Tong Huaqiong said, "We don’t do this custom here. It’s enough to kneel to heaven, earth, and parents; your goodwill is appreciated."

She could accept the children and grandchildren at home kneeling and wishing her a happy new year, but having outsiders kneel all over the place made her uncomfortable.

It would shorten her lifespan.

Tong Huaqiong asked Gu Dahuan and Gu Dashu to serve sunflower seeds, peanuts, and pastries to everyone.

"Grandma Tong, here’s a New Year’s gift for you."

After the New Year visitors left, Chun Ni stayed behind and handed Tong Huaqiong a scarf.

"You knitted this yourself. How skillful," Tong Huaqiong accepted the scarf.

Chun Ni nodded and shyly said, "My mom crocheted the flowers."

Tong Huaqiong liked children like Chun Ni, who were grateful and repaid kindness.

"This outfit suits you well," Tong Huaqiong looked Chun Ni up and down, seeing her dressed in new clothes and knew that Ms. Luo dared not deny Chun Ni the silk she had given.

Chun Ni pursed her lips and smiled.

Chun Ni said to Tong Huaqiong, "Grandma Tong, my mom asked me to wish you a Happy New Year on her behalf."

These days, Tong Huaqiong had given Mrs. Cao some time off. Mrs. Cao couldn’t rest at home, as her mother-in-law, Ms. Luo, made her take care of the whole family and likely kept her so busy she wouldn’t allow her to leave.

Upon hearing footsteps outside, Chun Ni knew another wave of visitors was coming to wish Tong Huaqiong a Happy New Year, so she was about to leave.

"Chun Ni, wait a moment. I also have a gift for you."

Tong Huaqiong went to the room to fetch the prepared gift.

"Here, this is your New Year’s gift." Tong Huaqiong handed Chun Ni a box of hand lotion for chapped hands and a pair of gold earrings.

Chun Ni did not expect a New Year’s gift.

Knowing Tong Huaqiong’s temperament, she wouldn’t give without sincerity. Refusing would seem deliberate, so Chun Ni happily accepted it and thanked her gratefully.

Besides doing chores in the pigsty, Chun Ni had to help Mrs. Cao with household chores when she returned home. Given Chun Ni’s young age, Gu Dahuan only tasked her with feeding the pigs; she was never assigned heavy work.

At home, however, things were different. She had to do laundry and wash vegetables. Ms. Luo cherished hot water and only allowed her sons and grandsons to use it, so Chun Ni’s hands had cracked from washing Chun Wang’s clothes at home in recent days.

The hand lotion was a special gift for Chun Ni from Tong Huaqiong.

After stepping outside, Chun Ni opened the box and was deeply moved.

Seeing her grandmother, Ms. Luo, making New Year visits in the village, Chun Ni quickly tucked the hand cream and gold earrings into her pocket.

She had a bold thought after seeing how her mother was bullied by her grandmother these past days. If Grandma Tong’s niece, Duo’s mother, could divorce, couldn’t her own mother do the same?

If her mother divorced her father, she could, like Duo and Hua Er, leave the Tian Family with her mother and live with her.

By working for Aunt Tong, they could survive even if they lived in a rundown temple.

She didn’t want to use her own earnings to support the ungrateful Chun Wang’s education.

When she broached the subject of divorce, her mother was so frightened she covered her mouth.

Just as things settled down in Tong Huaqiong’s courtyard, a second group of New Year’s visitors arrived.

This time it was Liu Yueer’s brother and sister-in-law’s family, along with Liu Tong, the village chief’s son.

After the New Year greetings, Tong Huaqiong still gave each child a red envelope, containing pre-exchanged pieces of silver.

Liu Yueer’s niece, Liu Xiuxiu, said she was grown up and shouldn’t take it, especially as she was being specially trained at the Taohua Dessert Bakery and getting paid. Many girls in the village envied her, and she felt very satisfied already.

Tong Huaqiong laughed and said, "Today, we’re not focusing on employer and employee relations, but on elders and juniors. Since I’m your elder, you should accept it. If you’re left out while others aren’t, wouldn’t that show favoritism?"

Liu Xiuxiu, embarrassed by Tong Huaqiong’s words, accepted the red envelope.

After the Liu Family left, yet another group came for New Year greetings.

This time it was the students from the private school, coming to wish their teacher, Su Chengmin, a Happy New Year.

The children crowded the courtyard, boisterously performing the teacher appreciation ceremony for Su Chengmin.

Even the usually annoying Chun Wang looked sharp within the crowd of children.

With the sun rising, it was time to make New Year visits around the village.

Tong Huaqiong visited only a few close families and a couple of befriended clans from the Gu Family, while for the rest, a dysfunctional group could go separately.

The Gujia Clan Leader sat in the house, waiting for Tong Huaqiong to come and wish her a happy new year.

Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t attend the ancestral hall ceremony but had to come wish her, the clan leader, a happy new year to save face.

New Year greetings to the clan leader was an annual tradition.

Now that she had been titled the Village Lady, countless eyes were on her. Not visiting the clan leader’s house would hand ammunition to others, potentially leading to allegations of disloyalty to her clan, which could be a problem when Jingzhe became an official.

For the sake of her reputation and Jingzhe’s future, not visiting was out of the question.

Outside, Tong Huaqiong’s laughter could be heard as the clan leader adjusted her attire, awaiting her entrance.

But she waited a long time, and still, Tong Huaqiong never came.

The clan leader sent her grandson, Gu Dahu, to investigate, only for him to return saying Tong Huaqiong had gone to visit the Third Grandpa’s house next door.

The clan leader was so angry he nearly pounded the ground.

This Widow Tong really gave no face at all.

He had been hoping Tong Huaqiong would veer into his house after visiting next door, but the New Year greeting hours passed without her stepping into the clan leader’s home.

After finishing her New Year visits, Tong Huaqiong returned to her own warm and cozy house.

The entire first day of the new year was spent either visiting or receiving visitors.