The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 284: Such High Expectations

"Lu Zhaozhao, you’re here really early."

"Being the owner really makes a difference."

When Gu Taohua heard that Lu Zhaozhao was in Tong Huaqiong’s room, she hurriedly dressed and washed up to meet her.

Last night, Lu Zhaozhao was busy greeting customers, so she didn’t have a chance to chat with Gu Taohua.

Now seeing Gu Taohua, the two happily held hands and moved to a corner to whisper to each other.

Tong Huaqiong freshened up and was surrounded by her son, daughter-in-law, and daughter as they went downstairs for breakfast.

Seeing Liu Yueer’s red eyes, she couldn’t help but ask Gu Dashu quietly if he had argued with Liu Yueer.

"Nah, what argument? She just felt a bit jealous because I spent the whole night playing with Yaozu and Man Er. You see, she’s grown up; why be jealous over that? I said a few words to her last night, and she shed some tears," Gu Dashu said.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Your wife might not be upset over this. You better comfort her properly."

Gu Dashu chuckled, thinking it was no big deal. His wife was just a bit moody; a bit of coaxing would settle it.

"Mom, are you going to the Taohua Dessert or our pesticide seed shop today?" Gu Dashu asked as breakfast was almost over.

"I’m going to the pesticide seed shop," Tong Huaqiong replied.

Yesterday, after inspecting Taohua Dessert, she had given all necessary instructions and preparations. Everything was ready for tomorrow’s opening.

With He Chao, Hong Xiaoxi, Master Song, and others around, there was no need for Tong Huaqiong to worry.

The pesticide seed shop was their first shop in the county, and she naturally had to check it out.

First, to see how the shop was operating, and secondly, to evaluate Gu Dashu’s management skills.

If Gu Dashu was not up to standard, Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t let him manage the shop. She’d have him swiftly return to Taohua Dessert in Rouge Alley as a clerk, or go back to Qinghe Bay to raise pigs.

The pesticide seed shop was located in the Touku Market, which sold pigs, cows, sheep, and poultry.

It was a rented shop from the Lu Family.

The Lu Family had two or three empty shops in the county, and renting one in Touku Market was Tong Huaqiong’s idea.

Farmers would be buying and selling livestock in Touku Market, exactly their target audience for seeds and pesticides.

Ever since Tong Huaqiong developed a pesticide to treat corn ear rot, her fame spread throughout the Ning City area.

But it wasn’t under the name Tong Huaqiong; it was Widow Tong.

Tong Huaqiong went along with it, naming her pesticide seed shop "Widow Tong’s Seed & Pesticide Shop."

After the shop opened, people not only asked about the corn ear rot pesticide but also sought advice on various crop-related issues.

Because, after all, the era still revolved around agriculture, and the bountiful harvest of crops was a concern for most people.

Now, in addition to the ear rot pesticide, the shop offered several other pesticides.

Of course, Tong Huaqiong and a bunch of bad bamboo knew well that these pesticide formulas were obtained by cheating space.

The tricky part about this space was that she couldn’t directly sell the pesticides from it.

Tong Huaqiong had tried, and whenever she did, the space would stop granting her access.

So, Tong Huaqiong had no choice but to take the formulas and find someone to produce them.

It’s worth mentioning that any era has its talented individuals, and there indeed was someone who could create the products from the formulas.

This person came from an alchemy family; it’s said that his grandfather and dad were obsessed with alchemy. One got blown up, and the other died from alchemical poison.

After learning about this peculiar person from Lu Chaoyang, Tong Huaqiong quickly had Gu Dashu recruit him.

This person probably never expected that while he didn’t succeed in creating longevity pills, he managed to develop a variety of pesticides.

Since his ancestral home was destroyed in a pill furnace explosion during alchemy, he lived in a rundown temple in the county.

Following Tong Huaqiong’s instructions, Gu Dashu repaired his leaky roof and provided monthly silver and grains so he could focus on his chemical experiments.

Initially, Gu Dashu considered it inconvenient to visit the countryside regularly and thought of bringing him to the shop, but got scolded by Tong Huaqiong.

"You want the shop blown up too?"

Only then did Gu Dashu give up on the idea of bringing him to the shop.

At the inn’s entrance, Tong Huaqiong temporarily bid farewell to Lu Zhaozhao and went to the pesticide seed shop in Touku Market.

Lu Zhaozhao’s shop was also on Pearl Alley, not far from Taohua Dessert. Tong Huaqiong planned to visit Lu Zhaozhao’s Rouge Shop after returning from Touku Market.

Seeing that Tong Huaqiong had a large group but only one carriage, Lu Zhaozhao generously lent her own to Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong accepted without hesitation.

The group noisily made their way to Touku Market.

Tong Huaqiong entered her pesticide seed shop.

Currently, the shop had a clerk and a bookkeeper, and Gu Dashu served as both shopkeeper and clerk.

After meeting the clerk and bookkeeper, Tong Huaqiong began reviewing the account books.

Gu Dashu was extremely nervous.

While at Taohua Dessert, he learned from He Chao about managing a shop and reading accounts. Just as he was getting the hang of it, Tong Huaqiong sent him to the county to open the pesticide seed shop.

He feared discrepancies in the accounts would anger his mother, leading to him being stripped of his role as shopkeeper and sent back to farm and raise pigs.

Upon finishing her review, Tong Huaqiong frowned deeply.

Before Gu Dashu could say anything, Liu Yueer, worried, asked, "Mom, did Dashu do something wrong?"

Closing the account book, Tong Huaqiong said, "The accounts are fine."

Both Liu Yueer and Gu Dashu breathed a sigh of relief.

Patting his chest, Gu Dashu said, "You scared me! I thought something was wrong. Mom, I’m not bragging, but I’ve only been sleeping a few hours a day for the shop’s operations, checking the accounts repeatedly to ensure everything is accurate."

Tong Huaqiong commented, "I dislike your handwriting. Look at it; it’s like chicken scratch; so hard to read it hurts my eyes."

Embarrassed, Gu Dashu laughed, saying, "I’m not the third brother aiming to be a scholar or a champion. As long as it’s legible, it’s fine."

Gu Dashu’s writing was learned from Tong Dajiao. He’s not good at studying, so he only recognizes a few daily words, and his writing isn’t great.

Liu Yueer nudged Gu Dashu, saying, "From today on, you’re going to practice reading and writing. Next time, make sure Mom doesn’t strain her eyes while checking the accounts. And let me tell you, this isn’t my order; it’s Mom’s rule. Not just you, Yaozu and Man Er will start literacy lessons, and the first sister-in-law and I will also learn three to five words daily."

Gu Dashu was overjoyed to hear that his son was starting literacy lessons.

He thought the Gu Family only supported Gu Jingzhe to study.

But his son would also be studying!

In this era, who wouldn’t want their son to study and take the imperial exams?

Gu Dashu was no exception.

Ruffling Yaozu’s hair, Gu Dashu said, "You’re fortunate that your grandmother is willing to support your studies. Make sure you study diligently, understand? Aim to become a champion scholar like your third uncle."

The thought of becoming a champion left Yaozu bewildered; his father’s expectations were high.

Quietly, Yaozu said, "I’ll just aim to be a scholar."

Disappointed, Gu Dashu said, "Why are you so unambitious?"

Smacking Gu Dashu on the head, Tong Huaqiong said, "Enough, can you really criticize your son? Are you even aware of how many words you recognize? Without setting a good example, you expect him to become a champion; do you see me demanding that from your third brother?"

Gu Dashu thought, didn’t you? 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

When the third brother was starting his literacy lessons, you insisted he become a champion and a high official for you to earn a title.

"Fine, fine, I’ll listen to you, Mom. Starting tomorrow, I’ll relearn and practice writing."

But Gu Dashu didn’t dare say it out loud, fearing that if he did, his mother might actually clobber him.

So he just agreed.

Moreover, with his wife and first sister-in-law learning to read, it would be quite embarrassing for him to lag in literacy as the man of the house.

Learn, I must learn.