The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 51: Ridiculed

"Second brother, third brother!"

"Mom and I are here."

Taohua stood up and waved to Dashi and Jingzhe.

"Mom, sister."

The two quickly pushed the cart over to Mr. Xu’s carriage.

Actually, Taohua didn’t even need to call out; she was sitting too conspicuously, and Dashi and Jingzhe had already noticed her.

Since the business has been booming, Taohua Dessert celebrated its first victory, so Tong Huaqiong felt quite good seeing her two bargain sons.

"Mom, my third brother and I deliberately detoured through the town, just hoping to encounter you and sister," Dashi said.

Originally, the two brothers went to the vicinity of Crispy Food Garden first but couldn’t find anyone after searching around. They happened to meet someone asking about Taohua Dessert; the lady selling wontons next door said the stall had been taken down. So, the brothers brought the piglet to where Mr. Xu parked.

"You two have a quick pace, arriving just as your sister and I were packing up to head home."

Tong Huaqiong glanced at the pig on the flatbed cart, which grunted a few times. Perhaps it was her illusion; she felt that the pig shrank back when meeting her eyes.

Poor little boar, it deserves a few good meals as compensation back home.

Besides feeding it the freshest grass, add some wheat bran and corn.

"Hey, Dashi, where have you and your brother been? Did you buy a new piglet?" Aunt Wang asked, eyeing the pig on the flatbed.

Everyone turned to look at the flatbed, smiles appearing on their faces.

This piglet looked a bit large, not very energetic, lying listlessly on the flatbed, occasionally grunting.

It appeared to be a sick pig.

Dashi eats without working, Jingzhe read himself silly; these two brothers are a useless pair probably swindled while buying pigs, ended up with a sick pig but feeling quite pleased.

"This isn’t a new piglet..."

Tong Huaqiong quickly interrupted Dashi, saying, "This is our original piglet, hasn’t been eating well lately, so I asked the brothers to take it to Pingchuan to see a vet."

Tong Huaqiong didn’t want the villagers to know their pig had been castrated, so she found an excuse to brush it off.

However, Tong Huaqiong’s made-up story still caused a small-scale commotion.

What?

See a vet.

The people in the carriage found it unbelievable; it was too unwise to take a pig to Pingchuan County for treatment.

Most people in Qinghe Bay would go to the mountains to pick herbs and boil them when sick, only asking the village doctor when they couldn’t take it anymore, but never went to Pingchuan for treatment.

Let alone for a pig.

Widow Tong’s actions were increasingly beyond understanding.

Since Dashi and Jingzhe were pushing the cart, Tong Huaqiong and Taohua didn’t need to take Mr. Xu’s carriage.

Today, Mr. Xu’s carriage was more crowded than usual, Tong Huaqiong had been standing selling cakes all day, and sitting in the carriage, she couldn’t even stretch her feet.

Today, she had her sons pull her back, which they should as her sons serving her.

Since Mr. Xu hadn’t returned yet, the fare hadn’t been paid, there was no need to haggle.

Tong Huaqiong and Taohua jumped off the carriage.

"Mom, you packed up your stall quite quickly," Jingzhe said, smiling as he pulled his things from Mr. Xu’s carriage.

Quick packing implies good business, he was happy for his mom and sister.

"Today’s business was great, not a single piece of cake left. Now the whole town knows Taohua Dessert," Taohua happily boasted to her brothers.

She originally wanted to share the earnings she made today with her brothers, but looking at the people in the carriage, she pursed her lips.

Mom had warned her not to reveal her wealth; she remembered it well.

"Isn’t that Jingzhe? Heard you’re not studying anymore. Tsk, tsk, tsk, you’re our village’s first child student, supposed to be a Champion Scholar and official in the future, different from us. Can you wield a hoe with your pen-holding hands?" A young man, about the same age as Dashi, eyed Jingzhe and said with a mocking smile.

Other people on the cart looked at Jingzhe, their eyes filled with surprise, ridicule, disdain...

Jingzhe was previously courteous to villagers, but since passing the child student exam, he seemed aloof, looking down on them.

His face was full of "I’m different, I’ll be an official" boasting!

Tong Huaqiong didn’t speak; she wanted to see Jingzhe’s reaction.

"Brother Wang, you’re mistaken. My family’s from a farming background, I’m no different. Sure, the hoe’s heavier than a pen, but you get used to it," Jingzhe said as he lifted a bag of flour, looking at the Wang man, seemingly unfazed by the mockery.

The Wang man showed brief disappointment and awkwardness.

This wasn’t what he expected; he thought Jingzhe would be irritated.

Tong Huaqiong observed others’ reactions, spotting similar disappointment in others. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

These people waited for Jingzhe to get angry, so they could ridicule him.

But instead of anger, Jingzhe calmly accepted the taunt, leaving them uncertain what to do.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please don’t mock me anymore. I really am not studying, just farming like everyone else and might go out for work later—mocking me is indirectly mocking yourselves," Jingzhe said seriously.

The provoking Wang was tongue-tied.

Jingzhe’s straightforward attitude made villagers feel a bit embarrassed.

"Jingzhe truly is a literate man, can pick himself up, whatever he does, he’ll succeed," an old lady commented.

"Yes, yes."

"Definitely."

Some people concurred.

Living in the same village, offending Jingzhe wouldn’t benefit them; what if he becomes successful?

Never say never—Widow Tong made Taohua Dessert famous within days, who knows where the Gu family’s pinnacle lies.

Better to leave room for getting along later.

Jingzhe spoke no more, and with Dashi, they fetched all goods Tong Huaqiong bought and neatly placed them on the cart.

"You did well."

"Don’t be elated by gain, nor crestfallen by loss."

Tong Huaqiong patted Jingzhe’s hand, encouraged him with a smile.

Jingzhe was accustomed to his mom’s recent pearls of wisdom, smiled upon hearing this, and said, "Mom teaches well."

Tong Huaqiong supported herself by the shaft and climbed onto the cart, scaring the pig into grunting loudly.

Riding with a pig was a first-life experience.

On the flatbed, the pig occupied a portion, Tong Huaqiong sprawled, taking a large space; plus half the cart filled with goods, Taohua contemplated where to sit, standing at the front.

"Taohua, are you getting on the cart?" Dashi looked tense.

The cart was packed full; Taohua’s stone-like frame might topple it.

"Why not."

"I’ve been shouting and working all day; does Second Brother expect me to walk home? You’re really heartless!"

Taohua pounded Dashi with her fists, nearly knocking him off balance.

"Whoa, whose hand!"

While Tong Huaqiong smiled, watching Taohua and Dashi banter, a cry came from Mr. Xu’s ox cart.