The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 48: The Middle-Aged Artistic Man

"Take a look, have a taste, my family’s pastries are truly delicious."

"Taohua Dessert’s pastries focus on being sweet. If they aren’t sweet, you don’t need to pay; if they aren’t fragrant, you don’t need to pay."

"All pastries can be tasted for free."

With several more customers tasting and then purchasing without hesitation, Gu Taohua’s confidence was fully ignited. She transformed into a human loudspeaker, actively shouting.

Tong Huaqiong stood in front of the stall, introducing and promoting the products to customers.

"What’s this?"

"Jujube paste puff, there’s a sample for tasting here, please give it a try."

"What’s this? The design is quite appealing."

"Cookies, you see, there’s a floral design, and a pig design. You can buy them for the kids at home; they’ll surely love it."

"This is jujube cake, soft and fluffy, fragrant and sweet, perfect for elders with good teeth and appetite."

"Yes, yes, yes, no matter what kind, they can all be sold individually."

...

Tong Huaqiong was surrounded by customers, back and forth, and with her and Gu Taohua working in harmony, they instantly heated up the atmosphere around the stall.

"Hey, hey, hey, sister over there, feel free to taste, but please don’t walk away with the plate after tasting!"

Tong Huaqiong swiftly snatched the sample plate from the hands of an aunt. Upon inspection, good grief, she had already eaten half of the plate.

The aunt is really something!

"Would you like to buy some?" Gu Taohua timely asked.

The aunt shook her head like a rattle-drum. She had heard from her sister-in-law that the pastry stall opposite Crispy Food Garden offers free samples, and she rushed over for the freebie, only to find that Tong Huaqiong had already closed the stall previously. After two days of waiting, she finally seized the chance, indeed confirming all sorts of pastries were available for free tasting.

Why pay when it’s free!

"That old lady is really like a Pixiu!" Gu Taohua was so angry she wanted to curse.

"Why rush? Everyone is a guest; eventually, they will buy." Tong Huaqiong said.

Since she started offering free samples, she knew there would be such customers who only taste without buying.

But these customers are surely the main force for clearing inventory later.

She couldn’t guarantee that all pastries would sell out the same day, and those remaining or less popular ones would need clearance, triggering the action of these bargain-loving aunties during discount promotions.

"Round cakes like chewing on the moon, with puff and syrup inside."

Tong Huaqiong looked up to see a middle-aged man dressed in a blue shirt with a literary flair. He stood with his hands behind his back, reciting the words on the packaging while watching Gu Taohua pack pastries.

Some of the poems on these packaging were thought up by Gu Jingzhe, while others by Tong Huaqiong.

For example, the poem read by the literary middle-aged man from the chestnut puff package was one Tong Huaqiong borrowed from Mr. Su, the poet.

"These pastry packages are quite interesting." The literary middle-aged man said with a smile.

"Not just the packages; the pastries are even more delicious." Tong Huaqiong replied with a smile.

Taohua Dessert’s brand and packaging are extremely appealing to such literary middle-aged men.

Tong Huaqiong was delighted to have such literary men visit; their words and pens were excellent promotional tools.

"How do your desserts compare to Crispy Food Garden?" The literary middle-aged man asked.

"This can’t be compared directly. Tasty or not, each customer has their own scale in their heart. How about giving it a try for yourself?" Tong Huaqiong said with a smile as bright as a flower.

Presented various samples in front of the literary man.

The literary middle-aged man picked up a cookie slice, put it in his mouth, and started chewing.

The aroma was so delightful that it made him almost spin around and jump with closed eyes.

Hold steady, hold steady; he’s a teacher!

"I haven’t seen these pastries at Crispy Food Garden; this is the first time I’m trying such pastry." The literary middle-aged man nodded satisfactorily.

Indeed, don’t be fooled by how common cookies were in Tong Huaqiong’s previous life—they were a creation ahead of their time here.

"You have a keen eye for picking cookies to sample right away. I dare say, for now, they are exclusive to my stall." Tong Huaqiong pointed at the cookies on the stall with a smile.

"Cookies? The name is indeed unique; does it have a special meaning?" The literary middle-aged man asked.

"These cookies were created unintentionally by my young granddaughter, and she picked the name casually, without particular meaning." Tong Huaqiong replied.

"Oh?" The literary middle-aged man was intrigued.

"While we were making pastries at home, I didn’t want her stirring up trouble, so I gave her a ball of dough to play with. She unexpectedly mixed it with sugar, almonds, and other ingredients, shaping various designs and baking them in the oven, and they turned out tastier than any cookie I had before."

"I then adapted her accidental idea with a recipe, baking hundreds of batches before achieving this delicious taste."

Tong Huaqiong began telling a story.

Such culinary tales are common in later times, like Beggar’s Chicken, Crossing-the-bridge Rice Noodles.

Similar to Qianlong Cabbage, Cixi Wo Wo Tou, they were somewhat alike.

It’s just that Qinghe Bay doesn’t have any celebrities. If there were, Tong Huaqiong would have definitely tagged them onto Taohua Dessert pastries.

"Therefore, food and life are quite alike; sometimes deliberately seeking might lead to dead ends, while natural spontaneity may reveal unexpected scenery." Tong Huaqiong spoke with profound insight, drawing a life lesson and conclusion.

The literary middle-aged man was visibly moved after listening.

Unexpectedly, a woman selling pastries at a small stall had such understanding.

It is indeed true that there are masters among the folk.

"Give me two pounds of cookies, then another two pounds of chestnut puffs, and the jujube cake looks good too, give me two pounds of that as well." The literary middle-aged man casually pointed and said.

Tong Huaqiong took the money, and Gu Taohua swiftly packed and handed it to the literary middle-aged man.

"Where’s your home, brother? If you want to savor them later, there’s no need to trouble yourself to come by; you can pre-order, and I’ll deliver." Tong Huaqiong asked casually.

"Widow Tong, don’t you recognize him? He’s our private tutor, the renowned Mr. Su." Someone nearby said.

"Wow, Private tutor Mr. Su? That means he’s my third brother’s tutor." Gu Taohua said.

"Who’s your third brother?" Mr. Su asked while accepting the pastries.

He didn’t recall which student’s mother and sister were selling pastries at the market?

"My third brother’s name is Gu Jingzhe; he passed the child student exam last year."

Tong Huaqiong didn’t even get a chance to interrupt Gu Taohua; an excited Gu Taohua immediately revealed Gu Jingzhe’s name.

At this moment, Tong Huaqiong didn’t want any association with Gu Jingzhe. From what she knew, Gu Jingzhe was probably quite annoying at the private school, and all his unsavory matters with the Zheng Family might have spread across the school.

If Mr. Su knew she was Gu Jingzhe’s mother and taught her a lesson publicly, wouldn’t it damage Taohua Dessert’s reputation?

She didn’t hope for Taohua Dessert to face setbacks right at its inception.

Mr. Su glanced at Tong Huaqiong, pondering how she didn’t quite fit the image of a vicious and unreasonable widow.

He had heard that Gu Jingzhe’s widowed mother was most unreasonable, and Gu Jingzhe’s twisted character was due to her indulgence, placing Tong Huaqiong on his blacklist even before they met.

Gu Jingzhe’s withdrawal from school was always seen by him as a pity. Such a talented youth, if corrected, might have a chance of success.

"Mr. Su," Tong Huaqiong awkwardly smiled.

"I know my son has been a handful at the private school, causing trouble for you. He presumed too much after passing the child student exam, so I figured if that’s the case, reading is futile for him. I let him quit school to grind his character first before anything else." Tong Huaqiong took the initiative, placing the burden on Gu Jingzhe.

Meaning, I’m his mother, wanting to manage him, but his bad character worries me too, so I let him quit school.

She felt she was doing right by Gu Jingzhe, at least she didn’t crush his character thoroughly.

Rather redirected it to his young arrogance after passing the child student exam so when Gu Jingzhe returns to school, his character wouldn’t be judged through colored lenses.