The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 60: Allowance

Chen Sufen heard from inside the house that her mother-in-law and Gu Taohua had reprimanded Xu Si today, and she felt a burst of satisfaction, as if her mother-in-law had vented for her too.

With Chen Sufen overseeing the kitchen, a full table of dishes was quickly prepared.

Lu Zhaoyang’s meals were specially served in a clean bowl.

Tong Huaqiong specifically checked to ensure there were no flour-based products inside before allowing it to be served.

After Lu Zhaozhao served it and took it back out, Tong Huaqiong found that he had barely touched it.

Perhaps this is the appetite of a rich young man, like a cat.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t inquire further, as long as Lu Zhaoyang didn’t eat any flour-based food, he wouldn’t fall ill; whether he could sustain his life had nothing to do with the Gu Family.

Tonight’s dinner was particularly lavish, with lamb, fish, and roasted chicken.

Tong Huaqiong tore off the four legs from the two roasted chickens and distributed them to herself, Man Er, Gu Taohua, and Chen Sufen in turn.

Gu Yaozu looked eagerly, but Tong Huaqiong was unmoved, tearing off a chicken wing for him.

Having learned from the jujube cake incident, Gu Yaozu didn’t dare snatch Man Er’s chicken leg anymore, obediently gnawing at his chicken wing.

He was afraid that if he made a fuss, he wouldn’t even get the chicken wing.

Although Liu Yueer felt uncomfortable, she gradually accepted Tong Huaqiong’s favoritism toward Man Er.

This scene shocked Gu Dahuan, nearly causing him to drop his bowl.

In the past, their stepmother wouldn’t even let the chicken bones fall into Man Er’s and Chen Sufen’s bowls, let alone chicken legs.

Chicken legs were exclusively for Gu Taohua and Yaozu.

Before dinner, Chen Sufen told him in the house that their stepmother had become better recently, favoring their family.

Man Er tugged at her clothes, saying they were bought by grandma, and mentioned that grandma cared for her, even hugging her to sleep.

He naturally didn’t believe his wife and daughter’s words.

Even though Tong Huaqiong’s favoritism toward Man Er and Chen Sufen was happening before his eyes, he thought he was mistaken.

It’s not strange he thought this way, as he had been oppressed by his stepmother too severely before. He didn’t understand why his stepmother suddenly treated their family so well, and appeared to have become more rational than before.

He didn’t know what happened while he was away, as Chen Sufen hadn’t explained in detail before going to cook.

Gu Dahuan was itching, desperate to find out what exactly had happened.

After dinner, Tong Huaqiong instructed Liu Yueer, Gu Dashu, and Gu Jingzhe to clean the table. She then pulled Chen Sufen into a room, taking out a tael of silver and handing it to her.

Chen Sufen was too frightened to accept it.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Take it, it’s your pocket money. You’ve been exhausted from making these pastries recently."

Chen Sufen said fearfully, "I don’t want it, Mother."

Tong Huaqiong said, "Take it. I’ve given it to Taohua too. A woman needs to have silver in her hands."

Chen Sufen still didn’t dare accept, saying, "I have no use for money."

Tong Huaqiong insisted, "Whether you need the money is another matter. You can save it privately or use it on yourself, or for Man Er. It’s your freedom, I won’t interfere or expect you to report to me."

While Chen Sufen hesitated, Tong Huaqiong got angry.

"Have you become complacent these days, even daring not to listen to my words?"

Chen Sufen feared Tong Huaqiong’s anger the most. Her mother-in-law’s hostile behavior triggered her fear of Tong Huaqiong, so she accepted the silver without further thought.

"Mother, I... thank you... I’ll be filial and work hard from now on," Chen Sufen promised anxiously.

At the same time, she felt like crying a little. For someone from her natal family to in-laws, this was the first time she had any private money.

Chen Sufen clenched the silver tightly.

Tong Huaqiong smiled gently, saying, "I’ll give it to you every month once we earn money. I saw you made all those pastries at home today, truly impressive."

Receiving praise from her mother-in-law, Chen Sufen’s eyes turned red. She didn’t forget to speak up for Liu Yueer, who helped with the cooking, saying, "My sister-in-law helped a lot!" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Tong Huaqiong then chased Chen Sufen back to her room.

"That’s it for tonight, you don’t need to help. Go back to your room."

Chen Sufen knew her mother-in-law was allowing her a moment with Gu Dahuan, showing understanding.

Without further ado, and eager to share much with Dahuan, she wiped her tears and returned to her room.

"Tell me, what’s going on? What’s the story? I see how much she’s favoring you and Man Er," Gu Dahuan asked while holding Chen Sufen’s hand as soon as she entered.

The "she" in Gu Dahuan’s words naturally referred to Tong Huaqiong.

After sitting down, Chen Sufen extended her hand, the silver in her palm almost blinding Gu Dahuan.

"This is silver from mother, as private money for me. She said she’ll give me silver every month once earned," Chen Sufen choked up a bit.

Even though she repeatedly emphasized she didn’t need silver, the feeling of having it in her hands still excited her.

Mother was right; having money gives confidence.

Under the lamp, Gu Dahuan carefully observed Chen Sufen. She wore new clothes, had flesh on her cheeks, and appeared younger with her smile.

More importantly, the timid, petty demeanor was gone, replaced by confidence and vitality.

Gu Dahuan remembered how gentle and smiley Chen Sufen was when they first married, and how she became increasingly silent and sorrowful under her stepmother’s torment.

Reflecting on this, Gu Dahuan felt an overwhelming heartache.

"Has she changed like this because she harbors some intention toward us?" Gu Dahuan asked, looking worried.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Sufen shook her head and said, "I believe mother has truly changed. You asked what happened at home, this starts about half a month ago... Third Brother wanted to study at Wanliu Academy..."

Upon hearing Gu Jingzhe almost sent Man Er to the Zheng Family for luck in exchange for studying at Wanliu Academy, Gu Dahuan stood up abruptly.

He suffered under his stepmother’s oppression, worked tirelessly outside just to earn money for Gu Jingzhe’s education, for what?

Wasn’t it all for them to treat his wife and daughter better?

In the places he couldn’t see, they nearly sold his daughter.

The usually honest Gu Dahuan couldn’t tolerate it anymore and was about to demand an explanation from Gu Jingzhe.

"Don’t rush, let me finish," Chen Sufen held Gu Dahuan back.

"I stopped Man Er from going out and knocked mother unconscious. When she woke up, she was completely transformed..."

"First, she beat and scolded Taohua, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, and Yaozu, canceled the deal with the Zheng Family, and vowed to lead everyone to a better life. I initially didn’t believe it, but the next day, she started organizing ways to earn money, baking pastries daily, taking Taohua to town to sell them, and they’ve been selling for many days."

"Otherwise, how else could you have run into mother and Taohua on your way today?"

"You know, from mother’s learning with Uncle during her maiden days, she wasn’t an ordinary mind. She came up with pastry recipes that were quite popular; even Huang Yuanwai from the town ate them once and directly ordered our family to cater pastries for his mother’s birthday banquet."

Seeing Gu Dahuan remain skeptical about Tong Huaqiong leading the family to a better life, Chen Sufen hurriedly explained further, detailing Tong Huaqiong’s efforts in making pastries and selling them.

She also mentioned how everyone in the family now respected her as the eldest sister-in-law.

The plot’s direction bewildered Gu Dahuan.

"I know you feel bad that Man Er was almost sold, and I feel the same. But don’t confront Third Brother for accountability, as mother has already forbidden his studies, demanding he stay home to farm. For Third Brother, not being able to study is more painful than death."

When mentioning Gu Jingzhe’s withdrawal from school, Chen Sufen showed a hint of pity.

At the same time, she felt that stopping Gu Jingzhe from studying was the most fitting punishment.

Gu Dahuan was nearly choked with surprise on hearing about Gu Jingzhe leaving school.

Gu Jingzhe’s education was the most important thing for the Gu Family, surpassing all other matters combined.

What triggered the stepmother to suddenly go so far as to stop his schooling?