The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 271: Stole the County Magistrate’s Son’s Jade Pendant

Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Stole the County Magistrate’s Son’s Jade Pendant

Tong Huaqiong took Gu Taohua to the Tian Family after dinner.

She feared that Old Lady Luo and Tian Fugui would trouble Mrs. Cao and her daughter.

Indeed...

On the way, Tong Huaqiong encountered Mrs. Zhao, who informed her that Chun Ni couldn’t go to the Black Dragon Pond for now. That family was willing to offer thirty taels of silver, and many families were vying for the adopted daughter-in-law position.

The family was still choosing, thinking Chun Ni was a bit old and fearing she wouldn’t adapt well.

Tong Huaqiong breathed a sigh of relief for Chun Ni upon hearing the news.

Upon arriving at the Tian Family, the front door was left open. Through the window, she snickered as Tian Fugui was dreaming away.

How could she let a domestic abuser come work at her place? She must be out of her mind.

"Fugui, you’re not suitable to work at my place."

Tong Huaqiong spoke as she entered the main room of the Tian Family, Gu Taohua following suit, showing their mother-daughter duo as intimidating.

"Dashi’s mother, have a seat." Old Lady Luo wiped her feet and stood up to invite Tong Huaqiong to sit down, then extravagantly lit an oil lamp.

"My Fugui can slaughter pigs. Isn’t your pig farm in need of workers? My Fugui works better than his wife," Old Lady Luo said.

Her son may not be good for nothing, but he’s definitely better than a woman, right?

Tong Huaqiong replied, "Right now, my place only hires women."

Such words—

Old Lady Luo didn’t understand, men are stronger than women, so why does Widow Tong only want women and not men?

Could it be that after so long in widowhood, she’s developed disdain towards men?

Old Lady Luo tried to argue for her son, "The corn will soon be harvested. We have five acres, and my daughter-in-law and Chun Ni have to work on our own tasks."

Tong Huaqiong said, "No problem. If your daughter-in-law’s busy with your work, I’ll hire other wives. There are plenty of able wives in the village."

Old Lady Luo: "..."

Tian Fugui: "..."

Tong Huaqiong wasn’t concerned about what Old Lady Luo and Tian Fugui thought. She was the one paying, hiring the people, choosing men or women, old or young—it’s all her decision to make.

Old Lady Luo dared not to argue further.

She feared that arguing more would make Tong Huaqiong upset, leading her to drop both Mrs. Cao and Chun Ni.

Right now, people sought work, not work seeking people.

If this job fell through, her family would lose income, and how would her eldest grandson be able to eat meat every day?

However...

Old Lady Luo smiled wryly, "Her Aunt Dajiao, my daughter-in-law and granddaughter will work at your place. About the wages?"

Tong Huaqiong responded promptly, "The wages will match what I’m paying other hired workers."

Old Lady Luo smiled, agreeable; the pay wasn’t low.

"At that time, just hand the money to me. Those two can’t hold on to the money," Old Lady Luo said. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Mrs. Cao’s face turned pale.

Why hadn’t she thought of that?

Tong Huaqiong said, "I can’t give it to you. I’m here today to discuss this matter. The other day, you hit the County Magistrate’s young master’s back. I spent ten taels of silver to treat his back. This matter reached County Magistrate Liu... I intervened, preventing him from demanding accountability from you, helping you suppress the Lord County Magistrate. Originally, I thought you’d repay me ten taels and we’d clear this matter, but I doubt you can come up with ten taels."

Old Lady Luo gasped audibly.

She had known Tong Dajiao wasn’t to be messed with; here she was to settle scores.

Her family altogether had twenty taels but couldn’t bear to give up ten; thus, she said, "We don’t have ten taels, what should we do?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "It’s easy; these ten taels will have your daughter-in-law work at my place to pay off the debt."

Widow Tong was ruthless, demanding ten taels straight out.

But it didn’t end there; Tong Huaqiong spoke with a smile to Chun Wang, "Chun Wang, you took Young Master Liu’s jade pendant. You’ll have to compensate him."

At those words, not only were Old Lady Luo and Tian Fugui stunned, but Mrs. Cao was frightened as well.

Chun Wang had actually taken the County Magistrate’s jade pendant.

Old Lady Luo defended, "My Chun Wang has never taken a single needle from others. Aunt Dajiao, don’t falsely accuse him."

Mrs. Cao joined in, "Aunt Tong, you shouldn’t make such claims lightly."

Tong Huaqiong just smiled at Chun Wang, saying, "Whether it’s slander or not, whether it’s false or not, that’s not for me to decide. This is something Chun Wang will need to answer. Chun Wang, where’s the jade pendant?"

Chun Wang’s eyes flickered uneasily, his entire body fidgeting.

Old Lady Luo and Tian Fugui saw Chun Wang’s demeanor, legs weak from fear.

Realizing the matter was absolutely true.

How could Chun Wang have dared to steal the Young Master’s jade pendant?!

"Where’s the jade pendant?"

Gu Taohua asked impatiently; she greatly disliked Chun Wang acting so obstinately.

"I...didn’t steal..." Chun Wang mumbled.

The last time, he was beaten by Liu Yanhong for snatching Chun Ni’s corn. Unable to swallow his anger, he swiped the jade pendant from Liu Yanhong’s waist.

Nervous for days, he only relaxed when Liu Yanhong headed back to Pingchuan County this morning.

Winlow Tong hadn’t known how he found out; Chun Wang intended to deny it.

Tong Huaqiong’s smile grew even kinder, she said, "You denying won’t matter. Tomorrow the officials will bind you and drag you to court, just like they did with Xu Si. By the way, that jade pendant was exceedingly valuable. Stealing something so precious from someone may just land you in prison."

Gu Taohua added, "Court trials use torture. Chun Wang is young so they might not use harsh tools, but having fingers squeezed or needles thrust under fingernails is unavoidable. After one trial, your fingers would likely be ruined."

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua didn’t mind launching a psychological attack on Chun Wang, nor did they fear leaving him with lasting trauma.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Cao clasped her hands together and uttered a prayer, urgently telling Chun Wang, "Where’s the jade pendant? Hurry and return it."

Chun Wang, nearly driven to tears by fright, trembled, "It’s in the room..."

Old Lady Luo and Tian Fugui breathed a sigh of relief; the pendant was in the room, retrieving and returning it to the Young Master would suffice.

"Chun Wang, hurry and hand it over to Grandma Tong." Tian Fugui made a show of removing his shoes to threaten spanking, but merely for show.

Chun Wang headed to the inner room.

"Dashi’s mother, Chun Wang didn’t steal it. It must have been a mischief among kids that caused it accidentally to come off, or maybe Young Master Liu discarded it casually and Chun Wang picked it up," Old Lady Luo tried to gloss over it.

Even if Chun Wang did take the pendant, admitting it was not an option.

Her grandson was young, surely incited by someone.

"Aunt Tong, look at the mess this has caused. Chun Wang’s young and ignorant, please pardon him this time." Tian Fugui apologized on his son’s behalf.

But he wouldn’t scold his son, like Old Lady Luo, he believed his son was unaware, unintentional.

Chun Wang soon returned from the room, trembling as he approached Old Lady Luo.

"Give Grandma Tong the jade pendant, quickly." Old Lady Luo held Chun Wang close, internally furious at Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua for frightening her eldest grandson.

Chun Wang clenched his fists, face pale under the lamp light.

Tong Huaqiong asked, "Chun Wang, you didn’t sell or lose the jade pendant, did you?"

"Chun Wang, hurry and take it out." Mrs. Cao was breathing heavily from the sidelines.

Chun Wang extended his hands, bursting into tears.

Old Lady Luo glanced at Chun Wang’s hands, nearly fainting. The jade pendant was broken into two pieces.

"What happened?" Tian Fugui asked hurriedly.

Chun Wang cried, "I hid the pendant under the pillow, it was fine during the day, but don’t know why it broke into two pieces at night."