The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 307: Fulfilling Filial Duty

Tong Huaqiong took Gu Taohua and Chen Sufen to eat sour soup dumplings.

And I must say, these sour soup dumplings are indeed delicious.

Tong Huaqiong ate two large bowls, wiped her mouth with satisfaction and returned to the inn. She tidied up the things she needed to take back to Qinghe Bay the next day, then planned to turn off the lights and go to sleep.

Before sleeping, Liu Yueer came to Tong Huaqiong’s room, carrying a jar of chicken soup.

Liu Yueer’s face was full of smiles, and she said, "Mother, I borrowed the inn’s stove and specially simmered this chicken soup for you."

Tong Huaqiong said, "I appreciate your filial piety."

Tong Huaqiong gestured for Liu Yueer to place the chicken soup on the table.

She had eaten too many sour soup dumplings and couldn’t drink the chicken soup.

Liu Yueer coming to her room this late to show filialness certainly had her own agenda.

Liu Yueer said, "Mother, a couple of days ago when I argued with Dashu, you always stood by my side, and I don’t know how much gratitude I feel in my heart."

If you’re grateful, you wouldn’t disturb my sleep.

Tong Huaqiong grumbled in her heart, interrupted Liu Yueer, and asked, "Stop babbling; what exactly do you want from me?"

Liu Yueer, gritting her teeth, said, "Mother, I won’t hide it from you. I really have something to ask of you. I want to stay in Prefecture City."

Tong Huaqiong said, "The Taohua Dessert in Prefecture City has enough staff. Why do you want to stay?"

Liu Yueer said, "I don’t plan to interfere with the management of Taohua Dessert. I want to run the pesticide seed shop with Dashu."

Liu Yueer shared her plans.

Tong Huaqiong understood Liu Yueer’s thoughts.

Her staying wasn’t for the pesticide seed shop; she was mainly scared by Xian Xian’s incident.

Only upon arriving at the Prefecture City did she realize that Gu Dashu was no longer the countryside farmer from Qinghe Bay, but a listed young master in Prefecture City.

If one Xian Xian pounced over, there would be a second Xian Xian pouncing over.

She felt a strong sense of crisis, worried that Gu Dashu might be taken away.

Back then, when Xian Xian’s incident emerged, Tong Huaqiong indeed wanted Liu Yueer to stay.

However, after visiting the Lu Family, Liu Yueer’s behavior regarding Gu Taohua’s marriage made Tong Huaqiong change her mind.

She was concerned that if Liu Yueer stayed in Prefecture City, she would become arrogant and exert a hidden influence on Gu Dashu.

In Prefecture City, with no one to restrain her, she was the young lady of Taohua Dessert, the young mistress of the pesticide seed shop owned by Widow Tong, being flattered and unable to recognize her position.

By then, if she considered the pesticide seed business as the accomplishment of the second house and developed a monopoly mentality, she would surely clash and cause strife with the main house and Gu Taohua.

How is this any different from Jin Fengxiang?

In reality, Tong Huaqiong’s worries were justified. Liu Yueer was indeed afraid of losing Gu Dashu, and her staying in Prefecture City was indeed motivated by a desire to control the pesticide seed shop.

Considering the current business development of the Gu Family, Taohua Dessert would later be led by Gu Taohua, the family’s pig farms currently managed by the main house, Gu Jingzhe pursuing an official career; as for their second house, they had no advantage at all.

She had to stay in Prefecture City and firmly hold onto the pesticide seed business with Gu Dashu.

After marrying into the Gu Family, Liu Yueer became adept at guessing Tong Dajiao’s thoughts.

Now Liu Yueer felt her mother-in-law’s thoughts became increasingly difficult to guess.

Just like now, she couldn’t tell if her mother-in-law would allow her to stay or not.

Seeing Tong Huaqiong silent, Liu Yueer said, "Mother, as the saying goes, ’With a united heart, even metal breaks easily.’ If I stay in Prefecture City, things like Second Young Master Chen plotting against Dashu likely won’t happen, and moreover, two people can better manage the pesticide seed shop."

Tong Huaqiong thought, worried that with your united heart, not only would metal not break, but instead you both would become arrogant, focusing solely on dealing with the main house and Gu Taohua.

"Mother, what do you think about me staying here?" Seeing Tong Huaqiong remain silent, Liu Yueer once more proposed staying.

Tong Huaqiong then spoke.

"No, you can’t stay in Prefecture City."

Liu Yueer found her reasons for staying in Prefecture City quite convincing; she really didn’t expect Tong Huaqiong to refuse her without hesitation.

"Why?" Liu Yueer couldn’t help but ask.

Tong Huaqiong initially didn’t want to explain the reason to Liu Yueer.

As the mother-in-law, the superior in the family, there was no need to explain to the daughter-in-law.

Even if it’s just a reason requiring Liu Yueer to serve her, that alone was sufficient.

Tong Huaqiong nonetheless explained a bit, saying, "The shop in town needs staff, if you suddenly leave, I won’t find suitable replacements quickly."

Liu Yueer didn’t believe it.

Manager He is far more important than her, him since these days at Prefecture City manage Yan Guan Town’s Taohua Dessert, what more she leaves what impact may happen.

If there aren’t enough staff, just hire more.

Now, who in Yan Guan Town doesn’t want to break their head to work at Taohua Dessert!

Seeing Liu Yueer showing a lack of compliance, Tong Huaqiong directly said, "Precisely because Dashu is in Prefecture City unable to fulfill filial duties, hence needing you to fulfill them for him."

Just this reason was sufficient.

Liu Yueer was dumbfounded.

Was this still the few days ago understanding and empathetic mother-in-law she praised?

How did she suddenly revert to the old unreasonable mother-in-law?

However, Liu Yueer dared not refute this reason. Once labeled as unfilial, even Gu Dashu wouldn’t support her.

"What, are you unwilling to serve me?" Tong Huaqiong asked. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Liu Yueer awkwardly said, "No... I’m willing to serve you."

Tong Huaqiong was satisfied, having given Liu Yueer a metaphorical stick, planned to offer her a carrot, saying: "Rest assured, if Dashu ever has wandering thoughts in Prefecture City, I’ll break his legs. Now the business in Prefecture City isn’t fully established yet; when the family business truly picks up, not just you, the whole family will move to Prefecture City. By then, you and Dashu won’t be separated by two places."

Liu Yueer knew once her mother-in-law made a decision, she wouldn’t change it. Despite her unwillingness to return to Qinghe Bay, she understood she had to wait for the day the whole family moved to Prefecture City.

The next morning, Tong Huaqiong arrived early.

After eating, Qin Qingyou had already harnessed the horse carriage waiting outside.

Going to Prefecture City didn’t take much, and one carriage was sufficient.

Returning, they carried many items.

There were silks, foods, cosmetics bought by Tong Huaqiong, Gu Taohua, and others, as well as gifts for various families.

Also, items He Chao brought for Mrs. Hong, and Mid-Autumn gifts Qin Qingyou procured for his own family, altogether couldn’t fit everything into one carriage, and even the pony needed a separate cart.

Originally, Tong Huaqiong planned to hire another carriage, but the Lu Family intervened, dispatching their carriage.

Upon learning Tong Huaqiong had bought a pony, the driver thoughtfully tethered a flatbed to the carriage, placing hay on it, then ushered the pony onto the bed.

The pony found a comfortable spot on the flatbed, lay down accordingly.

Very gentle.

Mr. Lu dispatched his personal butler to see them off, who said to Tong Huaqiong, "My master mentioned, Master Tong shouldn’t forget to keep an eye out for suitable girls for my young master, we’re counting on you for my young master’s marriage."

Tong Huaqiong: "..."

Seems like escaping the fate of a matchmaker isn’t possible.

She decided she had to go to Pingchuan County upon returning, consulting with Mrs. Han, the County Magistrate’s mother, about which family’s girl might be suitable.