The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 66: Tired of Endless Guessing

The pig in the pen snorted twice.

Tong Huaqiong temporarily spared Liu Yueer and went to the pig pen to check on the piglets that had been castrated overnight. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The little pig looked lively and stretched its neck toward the trough when it saw Tong Huaqiong approaching the pen.

Tong Huaqiong jumped into the pen, held down the little pig, and checked between its legs, finding that the redness from yesterday’s wound was no longer visible.

She had thought that if the wound became inflamed, she would have some anti-inflammatory medication to apply.

It seemed that the unfamiliar Master Tan was indeed skillful with the knife.

Tong Huaqiong climbed out of the pen and instructed Liu Yueer to bring wheat bran and crushed corn mixed with fresh forage to pour into the trough. The little boar, starving overnight, buried its head into the trough as if possessed when it saw the food.

"Mom, I heard from the villagers who went to the town market that our family’s pastries are famous in town and have many customers. You said before that when the business gets better, you’d let me go to town to attend to customers. Now that I have nothing to do at home, why not let me go with you to town?" Liu Yueer said.

Tong Huaqiong glared with wide eyes and scolded.

"You have nothing to do at home because you’re lazy. There are so many things to do at home—feeding the chickens, feeding the pigs, cooking. Are you blind? Don’t think I don’t know; you’re pushing it all onto your sister-in-law. Let me tell you, Liu Yueer, these days, you’ll wash, cook, feed the chickens, and feed the pigs at home for me. If I find out you’ve been lazy, don’t even think about going to town in the future."

"If you don’t want to do the housework, let Dashi do it at home in your place, and you go to the fields to weed and water. If our wheat yields one pound less than others, I’ll have you make it up to me."

Liu Yueer defended herself: "I haven’t been lazy. Yesterday I helped sister-in-law with the fire, and I washed your clothes too."

If Liu Yueer hadn’t defended herself, it would have been better; her defense only fueled Tong Huaqiong’s anger more, scolding: "You make a fire, and you think you’re a big hero in the Liu Family, right? What do you think, I should honor your name in front of the ancestors for praise? I’m the one sweating blood to earn money, and washing a piece of clothing is too much for you? Fine, don’t do it anymore. The Liu Family is just a stone’s throw away, pack up and go home, and take Gu Dashu with you to marry into the family."

Liu Yueer, scolded into silence, regretted not serving her mother-in-law in the morning and instead trying to curry favor with Lu Zhaozhao.

She indeed got a piece of clothing but angered her mother-in-law.

She had seen how her mother-in-law tormented Chen Sufen before, and now that Chen Sufen’s status had risen, her own status was sure to fall.

Her mother-in-law was now frequently threatening to send her back to her parents’ house.

She couldn’t return to her parents’ house, especially as the Gu family’s days were getting better.

"Mom, I’m the daughter-in-law of the Gu family, and I won’t go anywhere. I want to be filial to you." Liu Yueer raised her hand as if taking an oath.

"Okay, stop with the theatrics. Doing more work is better than anything. Watch the pigs finish eating, then add clean water. After you’re done, there’s a heap of dirty laundry, dust in the house, pots and pans in the kitchen...where isn’t there work, you take care of it all."

"Got it." Liu Yueer felt a slight ache in her arms; all this work for her.

Tong Huaqiong made Liu Yueer guard the pig pen and tied her with lots of housework to physically cut her off from Lu Zhaozhao.

In her past life, she bullied Lu Zhaozhao with the Commandery Princess, so let them be this life.

Tong Huaqiong noticed that her three stepsons were all out this morning.

Stepson Gu Dahuan seemed to want to say something to her last night but never did. She was too tired and didn’t engage, planning to discuss it with him before heading to the market, letting him resign from the Lu family and stay home.

Of course, Tong Huaqiong’s decision wasn’t out of atonement for Gu Dahuan; she had her reasons.

The wheat was about to ripen, and observing silently, she saw that Gu Dashi and Gu Jingzhe were not particularly good at farming; they would struggle to stabilize their position in the fields in the short term.

The fields needed someone to watch over them now, and that person could only be Gu Dahuan.

After all, Gu Dahuan had worked in the fields under the PUA of old man Gu and his stepmother since childhood, and the land was his comfort zone. With him there, one needn’t worry about the fields.

If it hadn’t been for Gu Jingzhe’s need for school tuition, Tong Dajiao wouldn’t have sent Gu Dahuan out to do hard labor.

Her plan was to earn enough money to purchase vast lands, hire people to farm, and turn the Gu family into a new generation of landlords, where Gu Dahuan’s role would be significant.

Furthermore, she had no intention of keeping Gu Jingzhe and Gu Dashi continuously busy in the fields.

Ultimately, Gu Jingzhe would still focus on his studies.

As for Gu Dashi, his lively personality made him unsuitable to be tied to the land.

She intended to cultivate Gu Dashi’s business acumen, to later venture out and expand the business landscape; utilizing this son well could make him a pillar in business.

"Where’s Dahuan?" Tong Huaqiong asked Chen Sufen.

"He took his second and third brothers to water the fields." Chen Sufen said.

Tong Huaqiong nodded; as expected, Gu Dahuan was capable, already at work in the fields early.

"Mom..." Chen Sufen hesitated.

"What is it? Speak your mind." Tong Huaqiong said.

Chen Sufen was fine in many ways; sometimes, however, her character was indecisive, speaking with a lack of assurance.

It’s understandable, given she wasn’t a favored daughter in her birth family. Considering how Tong Dajiao’s reputation spread due to her stepmother’s harshness, yet the Chen family still married Chen Sufen to Gu Dahuan, it’s clear of her status in her original family.

Arriving at the Gu family and dealing with a stepmother for survival amplified her timid nature.

Though in recent days, Tong Huaqiong had intended to elevate her position, changes don’t come overnight. Chen Sufen remained somewhat intimidated by her.

Chen Sufen lowered her head and said, "Last night, when I mentioned that you planned to have Dahuan stay at home, Dahuan expressed he still wished to go to the Lu family, saying they offer him three liang a month."

Tong Huaqiong thought for a moment and asked Chen Sufen, "What do you think?"

Chen Sufen quickly glanced at Tong Huaqiong and said, "I will do as you say."

Tong Huaqiong was left speechless, feeling a stir of impatience asked sternly, "I’m asking what you think. Just speak honestly, it’s not like I’m a tiger ready to devour you!"

If not for Tong Dajiao’s influence, Chen Sufen wouldn’t dare speak the truth.

Tong Huaqiong was irked by Chen Sufen’s demeanor.

If it weren’t for Chen Sufen’s diligence and devoted care for her, and having some knack for baking, Tong Huaqiong might have scolded her like she did Liu Yueer.

"I think... I’d like Dahuan to stay at home." Chen Sufen mustered her courage to speak her mind, her voice as soft as a whisper.

"Then let him stay at home." Tong Huaqiong said straightforwardly.

Then she reasoned with Chen Sufen: "I’m telling you, eldest daughter-in-law, you’ve seen how I’ve been these days. Don’t put on that grievance-laden young daughter-in-law facade for me. If you have any requests or concerns, just say it openly."

"If you continue like before, it means you still harbor resentment towards me. In-laws can never be like mother and daughter. I don’t expect you to treat me like a daughter, nor will I treat you like I do Taohua. It’s fine if we are just courteous with each other. If you want to be as filial as a daughter to me, I accept that, but don’t be overly burdened by it. I’m busy with a lot of things, and I don’t have time to guess your thoughts."

Chen Sufen nearly knelt when she heard this.

This was far beyond her understanding, especially when scolded by her mother-in-law for feeling burdened, and expecting courtesy between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

This made Chen Sufen feel profoundly rebellious.

"Mom, I’m sorry."

"I didn’t mean it, I’m not burdened." Chen Sufen stammered.

"I understand your intentions, and I hope you understand mine. In short, there’s no pretense between us in-laws, just be straightforward with me, like speaking of Dahuan staying home directly. I know you’re testing me because you’re afraid I’d blame you if Dahuan quit his three liang job at the Lu family. Eldest daughter-in-law, something like this doesn’t need all that." Tong Huaqiong bluntly called out Chen Sufen.

Chen Sufen’s true thoughts were laid bare, her face alternating between red and white.

Of course, Tong Huaqiong expressed that she wasn’t angry and, on the contrary, understood Chen Sufen.

She was so forthright with Chen Sufen because she hopes that in the future, if there’s anything, Chen Sufen will express it straightforwardly too.

Guessing games among family are tedious, aren’t they?