The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 46: The Three Major Patrons

Huang Yuanwai’s home was at the easternmost end of Yan Guan Town.

Tong Huaqiong, along with Gu Taohua, crossed two streets to the east of the town, and stopped a child to inquire. The child’s hand pointed.

"See, right there under the Big Locust Tree beside the three springs."

Tong Huaqiong looked up and saw a grand mansion, with a plaque at the entrance that read "Huang Mansion."

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua arrived at the entrance of Huang Mansion and knocked on the door.

"Who are you?"

The young servant who opened the door looked up and down at Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua.

Due to Mr. Huang’s reputation for generosity spreading beyond Yan Guan Town, there were often people knocking on the door trying to freeload or beg for food, which tired the doorkeepers over time.

"I am Widow Tong from Qinghe Bay."

"I brought my daughter to deliver pastries to Mr. Huang," Tong Huaqiong said directly.

"We sell mung bean cakes at the market, Mr. Huang found them delicious, and placed an order for a batch three days ago," Gu Taohua quickly added, fearing they wouldn’t be let in.

The young servant was initially startled when Tong Huaqiong introduced herself, thinking there might have been rumors of their master having an affair with a widow followed up on by someone at the door.

Upon hearing they were delivering pastries, he breathed a sigh of relief.

When he saw that Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, mother and daughter, one thin and one plump, carrying baskets on their backs and holding more in their hands, with clean clothes and neat appearances, they didn’t seem like freeloaders, so his expression softened.

It did seem like there was something like this.

The master had indeed instructed that someone would come to deliver pastries today.

"The master is at home waiting, come with me," said the young servant.

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua followed the young servant into Huang Mansion, one behind the other.

"Quickly go and tell the master that Widow Tong from Qinghe Bay is here with pastries," the young servant said as he stopped a pretty maid at the entrance of the main house.

The pretty maid glanced behind the young servant, motioning to Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, "Come with me."

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua followed the maid into a side room.

"Please wait here," the pretty maid said.

Tong Huaqiong saw through the side room’s door that the maids in the main hall were busy setting up the meal.

No wonder they were asked to wait in the side room; it appeared the Huang family hadn’t had breakfast yet.

However, not having had breakfast was a good opportunity.

When people are hungry, their satisfaction with pastries is even higher.

Tong Huaqiong knew Mr. Huang was a good man, but if Old Mrs. Huang turned out to be picky and was already full from breakfast, she might disdain the pastries, which would be detrimental to their business.

So Tong Huaqiong cheerfully said to the pretty maid, "Miss, we still have to rush to the market to set up our stall; can we see the master first?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The pretty maid raised her eyebrow and said, "My master and Old Mrs. Huang do not like being disturbed during meals."

Tong Huaqiong, unfazed, took out two pieces of coconut shortbread from the basket and handed them to the pretty maid, "Miss, this is our family’s pastry, please try it."

The pretty maid didn’t really want to accept it, thinking she had tasted all sorts of pastries at the Huang Family.

Not knowing what enchantment the master was under, choosing not to have pastries from the Crispy Food Garden but rather ordering from a small stall.

But the tempting aroma of the coconut shortbread was too great, and having not eaten breakfast, the more she smelled the delicious scent, the more her stomach growled, making her wish she could tear away the paper and eat it.

"Auntie, please wait a moment, I will tell the master," the pretty maid said reluctantly, taking the pastry.

"Gee, they say a kind heart is reflected in appearance, no wonder you are so outstanding, it’s all due to your kind nature," Tong Huaqiong flattered the pretty maid, following the snake with a stick.

The pretty maid left with a shy smile.

As the saying goes, when you take someone’s gifts, you owe them. When you eat someone’s food, you have to be considerate.

The pretty maid didn’t want to break the rules, but the pastry smelled too delicious, she couldn’t bear to return it.

All she had to do was go and say a word, whether the master wanted to meet before breakfast was beyond her control.

"Quick, Taohua, uncover all the basket and basket lids, and display them at the door," Tong Huaqiong said.

Gu Taohua did as told.

As soon as the lids were lifted, the aroma wafted out, attracting the maids in the main hall to frequently peek into the side room.

"Tell them I will see them after breakfast..."

"Hmm, what did the kitchen make today? It smells so wonderful."

Huang Yuanwai and his wife supported Old Mrs. Huang as they walked into the main hall, slightly grumbling over Tong Huaqiong disrupting their breakfast. He, Huang Yuanwai, was a man of his word, wasn’t he going to pay for their pastries? What was the rush?

As soon as he stepped into the main hall, he could smell the captivating aroma.

"This morning, my son must have given me something good out of filial piety." Old Mrs. Huang sniffed deeply, wondering what this enticing aroma was.

"Master, this fragrance is coming from Widow Tong’s pastries," the pretty maid said at the right moment.

Just as she stepped out of the side room, she stuffed a coconut crisp into her mouth.

It was so delicious, even better than the pastries from Crispy Food Garden.

She swallowed it before she could savor it properly.

"Is this the new pastry you mentioned ordering for me?" Old Mrs. Huang couldn’t help but roll her eyes searching for the source of the aroma.

"Yes," Huang Yuanwai replied.

"Where are they?" Old Mrs. Huang asked.

"They’re waiting in the side room," the pretty maid answered.

"What are we waiting for? Quickly, have them bring the pastries up so I can try them with breakfast," Mrs. Huang instructed while supporting Old Mrs. Huang as she sat down.

Mainly, he couldn’t resist the allure of the fragrance either.

Tong Huaqiong had waited for less than a quarter of an hour when the pretty maid lifted the curtain and said, "Aunt Tong, our old madam wants to see you. Quick, bring the pastries along."

Saying this, she personally helped Gu Taohua cover the baskets and carried one herself.

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua followed the pretty maid to the main hall.

A vibrant old lady sat at the head of the dining table, flanked by Huang Yuanwai and Mrs. Huang.

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself that she must maintain a good relationship with these three big benefactors.

"Oh, Sister Tong, dear niece, you’ve come quite early." Although they had only met twice, Huang Yuanwai was already calling Gu Taohua dear niece.

"Greetings to the old madam, sir, and madam," Tong Huaqiong, accompanied by Gu Taohua, respectfully greeted the benefactors.

Old Mrs. Huang sized up Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, noting how different they were from what she imagined as a widow and orphan.

They showed no signs of sorrow, dressed neatly, the widow appeared young and fair, and the plump girl looked blessed with good fortune.

From the start, Old Mrs. Huang had a favorable impression of Tong Huaqiong and her daughter, especially appreciating their self-reliance which added to their impression score.

"I’ve tried your mung bean cakes and pastries; they’re tastier than those from Crispy Food Garden. What pastries have you brought today?" Mrs. Huang asked.

"There are quite a few..."

"Sister Tong, just bring them out," Huang Yuanwai urged eagerly.

Tong Huaqiong agreed with a smile, and with the help of Gu Taohua and a nearby maid, brought out an assortment of pastries and placed them on the table.

With a glance, Huang Yuanwai noticed characters written on the packaging paper of the pastries, and being somewhat pretentious, he nodded approvingly at the thoughtfulness.

"This is date paste crisp."

"This is coconut crisp."

"This is a cookie."

"This is chestnut crisp."

"This is honey three cuts."

...

As the maid opened each piece of packaging paper, Tong Huaqiong announced the name of each pastry.

The date paste crisp, chestnut crisp, and honey three cuts were familiar to everyone; they were sold at Crispy Food Garden.

But the coconut crisp and cookies were new pastries, the first time everyone had heard of or seen them.

As the packaging paper was peeled away, the pastry aroma became even richer, and combined with their beautiful and unique appearance, they were highly appetizing.

Tong Huaqiong seemed to hear the sound of people swallowing their saliva.

"Mother, you should try something you’ve never tasted before," Huang Yuanwai handed a cookie to Old Mrs. Huang.

Already tempted by hunger, Old Mrs. Huang took the cookie and took a bite.

It was crumbly but not falling apart, crisp but not hard, and posed no challenge to her slightly loose teeth.

As she swallowed it, a pleasant aroma lingered in her mouth.

The richly layered aroma directly pierced through her senses to her soul.

It was incredibly delicious!

Old Mrs. Huang’s eyes lit up.

Her son certainly showed his filial piety well.