The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 49 Strengthening the Master-Disciple Relationship
After listening to Tong Huaqiong's explanation, Master Su was impressed.

His opinion of Tong Huaqiong has softened.

Judging from the way this cake-selling woman speaks and acts, she doesn't seem to be the heartless person described in legends.

It turns out that Gu Jingzhe wasn't spoiled by his family, but rather became arrogant after passing the imperial examination at a young age.

In a way, the private school also bears some responsibility, as it failed to properly guide him to focus on his studies.

However, Gu Jingzhe's mother's direct approach to cutting off his path to education was perhaps too drastic.

"Master Su, please allow me a moment to speak."

Seeing that the peak customer flow had passed and there weren't many cakes left, Tong Huaqiong realized that Gu Taohua could manage, so she asked Master Su to talk to her aside, away from the customers.

“Master Su, you must have heard about Gu Jingzhe and the Zheng family in Pingchuan County,” Tong Huaqiong said.

Master Su adjusted his hat and said carefully, "I've heard about it, but I think it's all just rumors. Although Gu Jingzhe is usually a bit arrogant, he would never do something like selling his niece for his future."

Tong Huaqiong sneered and said, "Master, don't try to defend him. This isn't a rumor; he really almost did something so despicable."

Master Su was rendered speechless by Tong Huaqiong's frankness.

“I, as his mother, bear a great deal of responsibility for this. Ever since his father died, I have lost my backbone. Our family, which was not well-off to begin with, became even poorer after losing a breadwinner. Jingzhe’s tuition also became a problem. In order to study, he was almost led astray by someone’s encouragement.”

"Furthermore, after he passed the preliminary examination and received a few words of praise from the education commissioner, he thought he had the potential to become the top scholar and became completely arrogant. He acted without thinking and only cared about his own future. Fortunately, I found out, otherwise a big mistake would have been made. Now my little granddaughter is doing well at home, the money from the Zheng family has been returned, and I have temporarily stopped him from studying."

“After this incident, I realized that only if I, as his mother, stand up for him can he change. Since it was all caused by the money needed for his studies, I will solve the money problem first. I don’t know how to do anything else, but I can bake some pastries, so I will start by selling pastries.”

“I’m not saying this to Master Su to defend myself, but to tell him the reason why he’s not studying during the Jingzhe Festival, so that he won’t misunderstand me as his mother and think that I’m ruining his future. As his mother, I also hope that he will have a good future, but if that good future is obtained by selling my conscience, then it’s better not to have it.”

Tong Huaqiong told Su Fuzi all this because she had no intention of letting Gu Jingzhe stop studying.

Gu Jingzhe will return to the private school in town sooner or later, and then he will still need to rely on Master Su.

She needed to establish a good relationship with her husband beforehand.

After hearing what Tong Huaqiong said, Master Su's impression of this widowed mother was completely positive.

Gu Jingzhe's widowed mother was not an ignorant woman; those rumors were all false.

“I truly admire your insight. Gu Jingzhe is incredibly fortunate to have a mother like you. However, I also have something to say. Gu Jingzhe is still young, and he has gone astray for a time. I believe that with a mother like you guiding him, he will eventually return to the right path,” Master Su said.

He truly believed it from the bottom of his heart.

“I can’t say whether I’m happy or not being her mother. But these days I’ve been keeping him at home farming, and he’s reflected on his mistakes and realized them. But I don’t think it’s enough; I need to keep working on him,” Tong Huaqiong said.

“He has indeed become a bit arrogant these past two years, but that’s just youthful impetuosity; it depends on how he’s guided. He’s quick to learn and a promising student. It’s too drastic of you to cut off his education altogether. Please take my advice: once Jingzhe has sincerely changed his ways, let him continue his studies,” Master Su said.

Tong Huaqiong nodded and said, "I'll have to trouble you to take care of things then."

Master Su nodded in agreement, then took his leave.

In Tong Huaqiong's memory, Master Su was a powerful figure hidden in the countryside.

In her previous life, when Gu Jingzhe met Master Su again, Master Su had already become the Crown Prince's teacher.

Because Gu Jingzhe's attempt to sell Man'er for a better future failed to be reversed in his previous life, Master Su loathed Gu Jingzhe to the extreme, thus severing their teacher-student relationship.

Later, they even clashed head-on with the imperial court.

In this lifetime, she will definitely let Gu Jingzhe continue his studies. She doesn't want Gu Jingzhe to sever his relationship with his mentor. Moreover, she wants Gu Jingzhe to strengthen his mentor-disciple relationship with Master Su.

With Master Su watching over him, Gu Jingzhe will surely walk straighter and straighter on the right path.

She will not repeat the fate of Tong Dajiao.

Thinking this, Tong Huaqiong said goodbye to Master Su and turned to walk towards the stall.

While she was talking to Master Su, Gu Taohua had already sold most of the remaining pastries.

At this moment, Gu Taohua was holding a plate of tasting food, smiling radiantly as she tried her best to persuade the young man in front of her to try it.

Tong Huaqiong sneered.

Well, Fan Tong is at it again, trying to provoke Gu Taohua. "Brother Fan, please have some more. There's not much left today, just Sachima and Honey Three-Cut Pastries. How many pieces would you like? If you like them, come earlier next time."

Gu Taohua wished she could shove the plate into Fan Tong's mouth.

"Peach Blossom Desserts, what a great name! Peach Blossom Girl has a sweet smile, and the pastries she makes are sweet too." Fan Tong praised Gu Taohua as if she had honey on her lips.

Gu Taohua chuckled upon hearing this.

Tong Huaqiong stood coldly to the side, remaining expressionless.

"How much Sachima and Honey Three-Cut (a type of fried dough), Brother Fan?"

"Four pieces of each, please," Fan Tong said.

"Brother Fan, please take this."

Gu Taohua handed the wrapped Sachima and Honey Three Knives to Fan Tong. Tong Huaqiong noticed that Gu Taohua had given her two extra pieces of each.

"How much?" Fan Tong first reached into his purse.

"Brother Fan, you're too kind. Don't mention money. These are just for you to eat. Just help promote my family's pastries at the private school." Gu Taohua's eyes were brimming with tears.

"Peach Blossom Girl, you're too kind." Fan Tong said politely, but her hand left the money bag and reached for the pastries.

It was snatched away by Tong Huaqiong.

Gu Taohua is generous, but she doesn't spoil her.

"Sixty coins in total." Tong Huaqiong held out her hand to Fan Tong.

Fan Tong's expression stiffened.

"mother."

Gu Taohua called out softly.

My mother really embarrassed her.

Tong Huaqiong ignored Gu Taohua and stared at Fan Tong with a half-smile.

Unable to withstand Tong Huaqiong's gaze, Fan Tong reached for his money pouch again, pulled out sixty coins, and handed them to Tong Huaqiong.

"Young Master Fan, please take care. Come again if you like it." Tong Huaqiong took the money without any hesitation, handed the pastries to Fan Tong, and smiled warmly.

Fan Tong fled in panic.

"Mom, do you have a problem with Brother Fan or something? Why do you always embarrass him?"

"I work myself to the bone setting up this stall, can't I even give Brother Fan a few pieces of pastry?"

Gu Taohua felt both wronged and angry.

How will she talk to Brother Fan in the future?

"You think you're right? We're in business, not charity. If you give away a few dollars today and a few dollars tomorrow, how are we supposed to do business?"

"You know perfectly well that it's not easy to work your ass off setting up a stall, yet you still won't accept money? Who are you trying to impress with your act of generosity?"

"Don't think you can do whatever you want just because this stall is named after you. Let me tell you, this stall belongs to me. If you dare to give away pastries to others without my permission again, don't blame me for being rude to you."

He doesn't even deserve to complain about being wronged by a man.
Tong Huaqiong launched into a tirade of abuse, while Gu Taohua's eyes reddened with grievance.

“What kind of good man is Fan Tong? As soon as you said you wouldn’t take his money, he didn’t even try to refuse. He just took it without a second thought. I can’t stand a man who likes to take advantage of others.”

Tong Huaqiong firmly expressed her dissatisfaction with Fan Tong to Gu Taohua.

Gu Taohua lowered her head and remained silent. After Tong Huaqiong's reminder, she also felt that Fan Tong was indeed being too presumptuous.

Even so, she still had a soft spot for Fan Tong.

(End of this chapter)