The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 90: Breaking the Monopoly on Food

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua spread the reputation of Taohua Dessert at the birthday celebration of Mrs. Huang Yuanwai, making the entire family very happy.

Besides Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, the happiest person was Chen Sufen.

Mother-in-law promised her that once Mrs. Huang Yuanwai’s birthday was over, she could take Gu Dahuan and Man Er back to her mother’s home.

Chen Sufen walked briskly while making dinner and wouldn’t even let Liu Yueer help, as she felt her sister-in-law should rest after a busy day out looking for shops.

Gu Jingzhe took the initiative to help in the kitchen with his sister-in-law, which gave Gu Dahuan a newfound appreciation for Gu Jingzhe.

Previously, Gu Jingzhe would wait to be served, but now he knew to take on family responsibilities.

The dinner was sumptuous.

Tong Huaqiong took out all sorts of meats given by Huang Yuanwai and served them on the table.

The whole family had a hearty meal.

"If only every day could be like this," said Gu Dashu, burping with satisfaction and longing.

"Mother said it will come true soon," Gu Taohua replied, confident about the days when the Gu family could eat meat daily.

Gu Dashu completely agreed.

During their recent trip to town, he and his wife found out that Taohua Dessert had already become well-known in the surrounding areas.

Once the shop opens, they would surely see an influx of silver every day.

"Mother, I’ll never be lazy again, and I’ll surely listen to you and live life seriously," Gu Dashu sincerely assured Tong Huaqiong.

Initially, he didn’t quite believe it when Tong Huaqiong said she would lead them to a good life.

Now, having tasted the sweetness of a good life, he was more willing to follow Tong Huaqiong’s lead.

While looking for a shop in town, he told his wife Liu Yueer that since Mother was working so hard making and selling pastries, he also needed to step up.

"Talk is cheap, you must act."

Tong Huaqiong felt gratified by Gu Dashu’s heartfelt promise.

Gu Dashu nodded.

After dinner, Tong Huaqiong instructed Man Er to take out a basket of cherries brought from Huang Yuanwai’s house from her magical space.

The cherries remained fresh and juicy after a day in the magical space.

Their bright red luster whetted everyone’s appetite.

Seeing the cherries, everyone thought Tong Huaqiong would use them to make pastries, but when she instructed Gu Jingzhe to wash them for everyone to eat, the Gu Family Mansion was filled with joy.

Such fresh, seasonal fruits were rare in the Gu family, and even if they occasionally bought some, they often ended up in Gu Taohua and Gu Yaozu’s stomachs.

Now, Tong Huaqiong had set a new rule that no one in the Gu family should eat alone, everyone should eat together.

Of course, she added that she was the exception since she was the most senior and the primary earner.

After the cherries, Tong Huaqiong began preparing the pastries for the next day’s stall.

Most pastries were baked by Chen Sufen during the day, but key products like taro pastries needed Tong Huaqiong’s personal attention for quality control, so she instructed Chen Sufen to leave those for her to bake at night.

Gu Dashu and his wife Liu Yueer actively helped out in the kitchen, with Gu Jingzhe joining them in stoking the fire.

Liu Qiaoyun brought over a basket of eggs to the Gu family, observing the bustling kitchen with surprise.

Who could have thought that just two months ago, the Gu family, all Tong Dajiao’s biological kin, were still doing nothing and only causing trouble?

The Gu family, indeed, had changed.

Under Aunt Tong’s leadership, they embraced a new atmosphere.

She planned to spread this positive change throughout the village.

When Chen Sufen wanted to help, Tong Huaqiong sent her back to her room to rest early, as she needed to leave early the next day to visit her own family.

After returning to her room, Chen Sufen repeatedly admired the gifts her mother-in-law Tong Huaqiong bought for her family, carefully unwrapping and repacking each item.

Her excitement was beyond words.

After discussing with Gu Dahuan for half the night, they finally fell asleep.

The next day, when Tong Huaqiong woke up early, she found that Chen Sufen had already fed the pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese.

Tong Huaqiong couldn’t help but marvel at how Chen Sufen seemed like an AI that never got tired, always waking up before anyone else in the Gu family, leaving no one to know when she started her day.

Chen Sufen called out, "Mother."

Tong Huaqiong carefully observed Chen Sufen, nodding silently.

Chen Sufen wore bright new clothes, with powder and rouge on her face, and had styled her hair in the latest fashion with a new hairpin gifted by Tong Huaqiong. With the comfortable days and good nutrition, her face gained a healthy glow, making her look irresistibly charming.

Chen Sufen, still young, had always worn patched, dull clothes, making her look like a sister to Tong Dajiao. But now, with some grooming and a new look, her natural beauty shone through.

"Is my outfit inappropriate?" Chen Sufen asked as her mother-in-law stared at her, touching her hair uncomfortably.

This hairstyle was taught by her sister-in-law Gu Taohua, who said it was popular among married women in town.

She hadn’t intended to dress up, but her sister-in-law said this hairstyle suited her, and even Dahuan thought it looked good.

Besides, women love to be beautiful, and she was no exception; that’s why she got up early to dress this way.

If it were before, dressing like this, her mother-in-law might have scolded her for being flirtatious and seductive.

"It’s nice, it suits you, and it looks great. This hairpin complements you well, too," Tong Huaqiong sincerely praised her, adding, "You should dress beautifully; you’re still young; why wear such plain outfits every day?"

Chen Sufen blushed, feeling very happy inside.

"Mother, can I stay at my family’s home for a day?" Chen Sufen asked.

After speaking, she felt nervous, lowering her head, not daring to look at her mother-in-law’s reaction.

The wheat in the fields was nearly ripe, and with her mother-in-law doing business in town, there was so much work at home and in the fields. Still, she was about to take Dahuan and Man Er and stay at her family’s place overnight, feeling a bit guilty towards her mother-in-law.

But she hadn’t been back to her family’s home in years and wanted to stay for one night.

Initially, she didn’t dare to ask, but her mother-in-law had previously instructed her not to hide anything but to speak directly.

So she spoke directly.

"Sure, stay if you want," Tong Huaqiong replied bluntly.

"Don’t worry about the house, it won’t collapse. Second and Third can do the fieldwork, and there are your sisters-in-law for housework, and Yaozu can gather pigweed," Tong Huaqiong said.

Chen Sufen appreciated her mother-in-law’s understanding and fairness.

She decided that once she returned from her family home, she wouldn’t go anywhere else and would focus on working at home.

With that thought, Chen Sufen went to wake Man Er up.

She worried that if the sun rose too high, Man Er would get hot, so it was better to start the journey early.

Watching the joyful Chen Sufen, Tong Huaqiong doubted she would be able to spend that night at her family’s home.

Gu Dahuan borrowed a cart from Qin Qingyou’s family, and Liu Yueer, rarely, borrowed a donkey for the eldest brother’s family from her parents’ home.

The couple in the elder’s residence loaded the cart with gifts for Chen Sufen’s family, then set off with Man Er to Chen Family Village.

Liu Yueer was somewhat dissatisfied with the gifts her mother-in-law prepared for the Chen family.

Gu Dashu, showing rare sensibility, persuaded Liu Yueer, "Your parents live just in the same village; you can visit anytime. Sister-in-law hasn’t visited her family in years, so bringing more gifts is only right. Just wait until we harvest the wheat this year, I’ll help with the work at your parents’ place."

Finally, Liu Yueer was pleased.

After seeing off the elder’s family to Chen Family Village, Tong Huaqiong took Gu Taohua to set up their stall again.

Today, she planned to discuss renting a shop in Rouge Alley, where Gu Dashu had mentioned a liquor store.