The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!

Chapter 566: Mutual Probing, Mutual Deception

Widow Tong is actually Gu Honglian’s sister-in-law?

Gu Jingzhe is actually Gu Honglian’s nephew?

Fan Tong was stunned by this news.

He never thought that Gu Honglian and Tong Huaqiong had such a relationship.

Sister-in-law and sister, that’s not much different from parents and children.

This ordinary-looking country girl actually has a strong background.

At the same time, he blamed Gu Honglian for not telling him earlier; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so cold to her.

"Mr. Fan, what’s wrong?" Gu Honglian asked when she saw Fan Tong dazed for a long time.

Fan Tong suddenly laughed and said, "Your sister-in-law is truly amazing. She runs a dessert shop, a general store, and now a weaving workshop."

Gu Honglian said, "My sister-in-law has always been amazing."

Fan Tong was not aware that Tong Huaqiong and Gu Honglian didn’t get along.

It’s said that the oldest sister-in-law is like a mother, so naturally, he thought Tong Huaqiong, as the sister-in-law, cherished her younger sister-in-law. No wonder the courtyard was bustling, yet Gu Honglian was leisurely.

Initially, Fan Tong wanted to find ways to win back Gu Taohua, but now it’s no longer necessary.

Gu Honglian is also quite a catch.

And Gu Honglian seems gentler and more docile than Gu Taohua, who hits people at the slightest provocation.

"I was shortsighted, not realizing you were Jingzhe’s aunt."

This remark from Fan Tong made Gu Honglian’s heart skip.

She didn’t want to be regarded as an elder by Fan Tong.

The next words from Fan Tong stirred Gu Honglian’s heart.

Fan Tong said, "Since that’s the case, I have a question I’d like you to resolve: should I follow Jingzhe’s lead and call you aunt, or should I call you Miss Honglian?"

Gu Honglian replied without hesitation: "Jingzhe is Jingzhe, and I am me. We each go our own way. Just call me Honglian."

Fan Tong smiled brightly at Gu Honglian and said, "Alright, I’ll call you Miss Honglian then."

The way he called her Miss Honglian made Gu Honglian’s heart melt.

Fan Tong seized the moment and probed, "Your sister-in-law must cherish you a lot?"

Gu Honglian naturally didn’t dare to tell Fan Tong the truth and said, "Of course."

"Why don’t you, like Gu Taohua, help out at Taohua Dessert or the weaving workshop?" Fan Tong restrained himself but still asked the question that was bothering him.

Gu Honglian said, "I’m the same age as Taohua and Jingzhe and have lived with my sister-in-law since I was young. She cherishes me more than Gu Taohua. My sister-in-law says I’ll be married off in a few years, so as a girl, I’m a cherished guest in the family and don’t need to work."

Fan Tong thought that Gu Honglian seemed straightforward and probably wouldn’t deceive him.

Gu Honglian mentioned getting married, and Fan Tong continued probing: "A few years until marriage? Could it be that Miss Honglian is already engaged?"

Fan Tong finished speaking and stomped his foot in annoyance, blushing and pretending he shouldn’t have asked.

Gu Honglian was thrilled and said, "I haven’t been betrothed yet. My sister-in-law always says that once a girl gets married, life at the in-laws is not as free as at home, so she doesn’t want me to get engaged too early, letting me enjoy a few more years at home."

Fan Tong suddenly understood Tong Huaqiong’s attitude towards him.

Gu Taohua and Gu Honglian are about the same age, so no wonder no one has proposed yet. It turns out Widow Tong wants to keep the girls at home for a few more years.

In the past, Gu Taohua showed interest in him, but he didn’t consider her worthy. Who would’ve thought Gu Taohua would have such fortune, running shops with Widow Tong and earning silver?

Now, Gu Taohua has a misunderstanding about him due to Widow Tong’s influence, and he saw in town that Gu Taohua treats a carriage boy unusually well.

Gu Taohua slipped away from his grasp, and now he has no better marriage prospects. He might as well humble himself and become Gu Taohua’s brother-in-law.

Gu Honglian has a sister-in-law who cherishes her and a promising nephew. This marriage is currently the best he can reach.

As for Gu Honglian’s looks, one can’t expect everything to be perfect.

Later, he could use the Gu family’s money to study in the capital and take a concubine after passing the imperial examination.

Originally, Fan Tong wanted to ask whether Gu Honglian’s marriage was decided by the sister-in-law or her parents but thought it too hasty to ask.

A straightforward girl like Gu Honglian is easy to manipulate; no matter who makes the decision, as long as he wins her heart, it’s enough.

Luckily, Mr. Su teaches at Qinghe Bay, so he can use the excuse to visit Mr. Su and have more contact with Gu Honglian.

Thinking of this, Fan Tong smiled at Gu Honglian and then turned his back, blushing.

Gu Honglian thought, this little scholar blushed upon hearing she wasn’t engaged.

This made her more certain that Fan Tong was interested in her.

Gu Honglian had already inquired in town. Fan Tong’s family hadn’t married him off yet. He was previously engaged to the village head’s daughter in Wild Ox Valley Village but broke off the engagement later.

The reason for breaking the engagement, Gu Honglian didn’t want to pursue it. Hadn’t she also been rejected?

Thinking this way, Gu Honglian felt she and Fan Tong shared a common misfortune, making them somehow destined.

This scholar’s wife is bound to be her.

Gu Honglian began to complain about her parents favoring her second brother too much. If her parents hadn’t completely offended her sister-in-law, given the relationship between Gu Jingzhe and Fan Tong as fellow disciples, she could have her sister-in-law arrange the marriage with Fan Tong.

The door of the private school creaked open, and many children said goodbye to Mr. Su before rushing off to the village in all directions.

Fan Tong saluted Gu Honglian and said, "Miss Honglian, I must go meet the teacher now. Thank you for keeping me company here."

Gu Honglian was a bit reluctant but waved her hand, saying, "You should go in now. Next time you come to see the teacher, you can wait at my place, so you don’t have to stand in the wind."

After speaking, Gu Honglian covered her face and ran off.

Fan Tong smiled slightly and then stepped into the private school.

...

Gu Honglian returned home and saw Gu Ruinian tinkering aimlessly in the courtyard, kicking a sulfur pile on the ground, causing both of them to cover their noses and cough due to the pungent powder.

"Are you out of your mind?" Gu Ruinian shouted angrily.

Gu Honglian snorted and walked into the house.

"Where have you been?" the old lady of the Gu family asked.

Gu Honglian replied, "I went to take a look at my sister-in-law’s weaving workshop."

Old Mrs. Gu snorted.

Gu Honglian said, "My sister-in-law’s weaving workshop is bustling. Not only girls and daughters-in-law from our village apply, but those from surrounding villages come too. With a dozen looms and cotton machines set up inside, how much silver can be earned daily once operations start? Those girls and daughters-in-law are trying all they can to get in as weavers, since my sister-in-law offers good wages, saying each woman can earn three to four taels of silver a month after starting. Who wouldn’t want to join?"

Mrs. Jia felt uncomfortable hearing this.

Gu Xiaoxue had now joined the weaving workshop, so wouldn’t Xiaoxue earn three to four taels a month?

Three to four taels a month, nearly fifty taels a year, enough for Ruinian to study and marry.

If she had known this earlier, she would have fought to keep Gu Xiaoxue from living with Gu Fengnian, and now all the silver would be in Fengnian’s hands.

Mrs. Jia thought her eldest son was honest and simple-minded, surely influenced by Mrs. Wei to have Gu Xiaoxue separate from the family.

Gu Xiaoxue had always been gentle and obedient, never defying her elders, and Mrs. Jia couldn’t understand why Gu Xiaoxue’s temperament suddenly changed overnight.

The family hadn’t mistreated her, providing food and drink—how could she want to poison the entire family then?

It must have been her elder daughter-in-law instigating her.