Chapter 452: Chapter 452: The County Government Doesn’t Belong to My Family

Tong Huaqiong said, "Lai Fu indeed won’t be a teacher anymore. When there was no teacher in the village, he filled in for a few months. Now that a teacher is here, we don’t need him. You might not know yet, but Mr. Su will officially start teaching the children at our village’s private school from tomorrow."

Mr. Gu was deeply disappointed, wanting to say something but hesitated.

Why would Mr. Su give up teaching at a private school in town to come to the village? Could it be that he really fancies his own daughter-in-law?

Mr. Gu suppressed his feelings and said, "Mr. Su? It’s not quite appropriate for him to come to the village, haven’t you heard the rumors outside?"

Tong Huaqiong thought Mr. Gu was referring to the rumors about Mr. Su and Tong Pandi, dismissing it casually, saying, "You don’t need to worry about that, just treat those words as nonsense."

Mr. Gu was nearly infuriated; if he didn’t care, his son’s grave would be green all year round.

With such a family business, why should Mr. Su have any stake?

"There’s only one teacher at the private school, which will eventually lead to insufficiency. How about letting Rui Nian teach together with Mr. Su? He can at least teach some basic characters."

Mr. Gu initially wanted to speak harshly but still wished to fight for Gu Ruinian’s chance, so he tried to keep calm.

Tong Huaqiong said, "I’ll be direct, Rui Nian is too ambitious and unsuited to teach in the village. Isn’t he planning to take the scholar exam next year? He should study hard and not get distracted, it’ll be awkward if he fails again."

Mr. Gu had also considered this. The family couldn’t afford to support his studies, so he thought of finding him an easy job that wouldn’t interfere with his studies and could earn him a little bit of money.

Since the eldest daughter-in-law rejected Gu Ruinian, Mr. Gu didn’t get angry; he still had matters regarding Gu Fengnian to request assistance for.

He sighed and said, "You know the second son’s household is struggling now. Since Rui Nian can’t teach at the private school, can you help Feng Nian instead?"

Tong Huaqiong asked, "How to help?"

This was like buy one, get one free.

Tong Huaqiong felt Mr. Gu’s true intention was not about Gu Ruinian but rather Gu Fengnian.

Mrs. Wei, Gu Fengnian’s wife, had sought work from Tong Huaqiong without success, unbeknownst to them, yet here they came again?

It was likely because Tong Huaqiong treated Mrs. Wei and the Yao family well, which led Mr. Gu to mistakenly believe she was willing to help Gu Fengnian.

She wanted to hear how Mr. Gu intended her to help Gu Fengnian.

Mr. Gu said, "I heard the county is recruiting government officials. Although it’s not an official court position, it’s tough work but pays monthly with grain and food. I’ve heard the requirements aren’t high; literacy and strength are enough, which suits Fengnian. With your good relationship with County Magistrate Liu, could you put in a word to let Fengnian become a government official?"

Mr. Gu’s notion of government official was akin to modern-day temporary workers.

Despite being temporary jobs, they were not easy to secure, as literacy alone eliminated many applicants.

However, Tong Huaqiong was unwilling to help with this matter.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Since it’s recruitment, it must be an open and transparent process. What’s the point of us taking shortcuts? My family wants Jingzhe to pursue a political career in the future; I can’t tarnish his reputation. If you think Fengnian is suitable, just let him apply."

These words were a refusal.

Mr. Gu continued to press on, saying, "One pen can’t write two Gu characters. Regardless of any misunderstandings you may have with your second brother, Fengnian has always respected you. Even if you don’t care for him, for the sake of his respect, help your nephew. You’ve helped Qin Qingyou and Gu Xiaocao in our village; isn’t helping Fengnian just as easy?"

Tong Huaqiong laughed angrily.

How presumptuous of them to expect her to help Gu Fengnian!

Gu Fengnian indeed showed her respect outwardly, calling her ’big aunt’ whenever they met, but when Gu Youtian wanted to snatch her shop, Gu Fengnian remained silent.

He likely hoped his father’s scheme would succeed so he could become the young master.

Now that the second family is failing, Gu Fengnian begins to behave submissively; when he benefited, he certainly didn’t consider his aunt Tong Dajiao.

Tong Huaqiong said, "The county government isn’t run by me. Why would County Magistrate Liu listen to whatever I say? I don’t have that kind of influence. You should ask someone else for help with this matter, old master."

To prevent similar requests in the future, Tong Huaqiong said, "From now on, don’t come to me for help regarding matters of the second family. I can’t help with them. Also, tell Gu Youtian that He Chao is the shopkeeper I hired. What right does he have to boss He Chao around? If he doesn’t respect himself in the future, I’ll go teach him a lesson."

Gu Youtian had been spreading malicious talk within the clan, saying the shop belonged either to the first family or He Chao.

When these words spread, they got twisted, implying He Chao had usurped authority at Taohua Dessert and ruled unchallenged...

It made villagers think that He Chao held the keys to Taohua Dessert.

It left He Chao running to her, declaring he absolutely harbored no ulterior motives.

Even worse, Gu Youtian told these things to Gu Dahuan and Gu Taohua, trying to sow discord—if that’s not provocation, then what is?

But it turns out Gu Dahuan and Gu Taohua wouldn’t fall for it.

Such behavior is utterly disgusting.

Mr. Gu was flat-out rejected by Tong Huaqiong, his negotiation wasted, leaving him furious, his beard visibly trembling.

At this moment, he regretted not bringing Mrs. Gu along, as at least she could directly scold the daughter-in-law.

An older father-in-law yelling at his daughter-in-law on the village road is always inappropriate.

Mr. Gu had come to ask Tong Huaqiong to help Gu Fengnian become a government official with full confidence.

He believed Tong Huaqiong’s good treatment of Mrs. Wei and the Yao family indicated that she was only against Gu Youtian, not Gu Fengnian.

Moreover, Mrs. Wei’s scheming for employment from Tong Huaqiong had failed, leaving her no face to mention it to the people in the old house, so Mr. Gu hadn’t heard of Tong Huaqiong rejecting Mrs. Wei already.

Now, Tong Huaqiong shattered his assumptions.

Mr. Gu angrily returned and lay on his bed, and Mrs. Gu saw with just a glance that he had failed to get the government official position for his grandson.

"That venomous woman, how did Fengnian going to be a government official hurt her? She didn’t even want to help with just words," Mrs. Gu scolded Tong Huaqiong behind everyone’s back.

Knowing about Tong Huaqiong’s refusal to help him get a word in with County Magistrate Liu, Gu Fengnian felt uneasy and complained a little before bedtime.

Mrs. Wei said, "You can hardly blame your big aunt. Just look at what your dad did. As the saying goes, ’debts of the father are repaid by the son,’ and enmities likewise fall to the son. Would your dad have helped Gu Dashu?"

Gu Fengnian remained silent.

Mrs. Wei continued, "Your big aunt isn’t unreasonable. Look at how she stands against Granny Huang but still hires Granny Huang’s granddaughter, Gu Xiaocao, at Taohua Dessert as a clerk. Do you know why? Because Gu Xiaocao’s family has separated from Granny Huang’s family. If we were to split the family, who knows..."

Gu Fengnian interrupted Mrs. Wei once again, "Could you stop mentioning splitting the family? I’ve heard it so many times that my ears have calluses. Even if I’m not going to be a government official, I won’t split the family."

...

Very soon, another Dragon Boat Festival arrived.

This time, everyone in Tong Huaqiong’s household was in high spirits.

One reason was that Mr. Gu’s sea vessel had returned from its voyage, and this time, Tong Huaqiong used the silver from selling the goods to buy merchandise from Southeast Asia. She plans to open a "grocery" store in Yan Guan Town and Pingchuan County, similar to a modern supermarket, where those exotic goods from Southeast Asia and the Western world would be displayed and sold.

With a plan in place, Tong Huaqiong soon found suitable stores in Yan Guan Town and Pingchuan County.

The store in Yan Guan Town was provided by Gu Baishuang, obtained from Nie Mingyuan’s hands for Nie Xiaofeng. Due to its large space, it had been difficult to rent out, which troubled her. Now Tong Huaqiong’s supermarket was a perfect fit.

Tong Huaqiong stated she wouldn’t pay rent; Gu Baishuang could invest by providing rent as equity.

Of course, Gu Baishuang agreed; she now trusts her stepmother completely, firmly believing following her stepmother would lead to prosperity, especially after making money through her stepmother’s connections with Mr. Lu’s sea vessel.

Tong Huaqiong’s supermarket is scheduled to open after the Dragon Boat Festival.