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

Chapter 9 The Pretty Widow Goes to the Zheng Family
The next day, Tong Huaqiong got up very early.

Stepping out of the house, Tong Huaqiong saw Chen Sufeng chopping vegetables in the kitchen and Man'er tending the fire. She got angry and started yelling and cursing in the yard.

"Gu Dashu, Gu Jingzhe, Gu Taohua, Liu Yue'e, Yaozu, are you all dead? Are you waiting for Sufeng and Man'er to serve you? You black-hearted, rotten bastards, get up and get to work."

Although Gu Dashu and the others swore to respect their elder sister-in-law and treat their niece well, after sleeping all night, they had long forgotten their oaths and waited for Chen Sufeng to prepare breakfast before getting up.

Upon hearing Tong Huaqiong's powerful and resounding curses, he quickly got up and got out of the room.

Despite her reluctance, she still got to work under Tong Huaqiong's piercing gaze.

Gu Dashu chopped firewood, Gu Jingzhe swept the yard, Gu Taohua lit the fire, Liu Yue'e took the kitchen knife from Chen Sufeng, and even Xiao Yaozu carried a basket to collect firewood.

That's already pretty good; at least they're willing to work!
Breakfast was still unhulled millet, which was hard to swallow, and the side dish was pickled radish.

Tong Huaqiong ate a few bites and then put down her bowl. She took out a piece of mung bean cake that Gu Jingzhe had bought in town and popped it into her mouth.

It's too dry and greasy, with a faint, lingering bitterness in the aftertaste.

She took a bite and shook her head. It seemed that even the best pastry shops in town were nothing special. If she were to bake a batch herself, the shops in town would probably go out of business.

No rush. Once she's finished dealing with the Zheng family's affairs in the next couple of days, she'll start making money!
Tong Huaqiong shared the remaining mung bean cakes with Man'er and Chen Sufen. Yaozu and Taohua looked on longingly, wanting to eat as well, but Tong Huaqiong pretended not to see them.

Usually, the best food at home is always reserved for these two, the aunt and niece. One has become incredibly plump, while the other is so fleshy that she can't be pinched. Compared to the two, Chen Sufeng is extremely thin, and Man'er is practically skin and bones. From now on, the best food should be reserved for Chen Sufeng and Man'er.

Of course, the kind-hearted Chen Sufeng couldn't bear to eat alone. When Tong Huaqiong got up to go inside to change her clothes, she shared the mung bean cake with her sister-in-law and nephew.

Is Sister Tong home?

Upon hearing the voice, Chen Sufen and Man'er trembled with fear, and the mung bean cakes in their hands lost their appeal.

The visitor was none other than Wang, the famous matchmaker from Yanguan Town.

A few days ago, she acted as the middleman and finalized the marriage between the Gu and Zheng families.

She stepped through the door while shouting, giving Chen Sufeng an unfriendly look. If it weren't for the eldest daughter-in-law of the family stopping her, things would have been done long ago.

Now she has to make another trip.

Let her run around as much as she wants; anyway, the money the Zheng family gives her after it's done is enough to live on for a year, so she won't lose out!
It just took a little more effort.

I just hope this trip will go smoothly and get things done.

"Aunt Wang is here. My mother-in-law is changing her clothes. Please wait a moment."

Liu Yue'e brought out a stool and invited Wang the matchmaker to sit down.

Hearing the noise, Tong Huaqiong smoothed her hair and walked out gracefully.

"Sister-in-law Wang, I was just about to go out to look for you, but you've arrived first. Perfect timing, saves me the trouble of making an extra trip," Tong Huaqiong said with a beaming smile.

"Tong, you look quite pretty today."

Wang the matchmaker glanced over and saw what a charming and alluring widow.

The widow was fair-skinned and wore a delicate pink dress. The dress was a bit loose and tied at the waist with a ribbon, which made the widow look even more charming.

She had applied rouge to her cheeks and wore several pearl flowers in her hair.

She looks ten years younger than she did a few days ago.

Everyone says cats go into heat in spring, could widows be the same? She guessed that Widow Tong was longing for a man. Longing for a man was good; Matchmaker Wang didn't mind doing another job, she had several old widowers waiting to be introduced to potential partners.

So what if she's already a grandmother? This widow Tong is only forty; she hasn't lost her health enough to carry on the family line yet.

"Since it's a happy occasion, let's dress up a bit."

Tong Huaqiong gave Wang the matchmaker a wink. It has to be said that Tong Dajiao's fleshy body actually exuded a certain charm when she wore Gu Taohua's clothes and beaded flowers.

Although Wang the matchmaker was secretly planning to arrange a marriage for Tong Huaqiong later, she still felt contempt for Tong Huaqiong's behavior. She wondered who this widow Tong was dressing up so provocatively for.

Gu Dashu and the others were stunned when they saw the widow's attire.

What are you doing, Mother?!
Gu Dashu wanted to ask on behalf of the whole family: was what his mother said last night about going to the Zheng family for a celebratory event just a joke?
Mom really has a wild imagination!
Sun Mantang is making a scene here, isn't he afraid of getting beaten up? "I came to offer my congratulations. The eldest son of the Zheng family is in critical condition. He was gasping for breath all night yesterday and is now hanging on by a thread. The Zheng family sent someone to tell me to come and pick him up as soon as possible."

"After the person is delivered, the Zheng family is willing to pay an additional five hundred taels of silver."

Matchmaker Wang slapped her thigh in congratulations, her face contorted with excitement.

Chen Sufen was so frightened that she trembled and wanted to kneel down to her mother-in-law on the spot.

She was afraid that her mother-in-law would go back to being greedy for money after a good night's sleep.

Five hundred taels of silver is something a farmer could never save up in a lifetime; who wouldn't be tempted by that?

"Five hundred taels of silver, that's great! Let's go now!" Tong Huaqiong said excitedly.

"Sister Tong is so straightforward, the carriage is right outside."

Matchmaker Wang was knocked on the door by people from the Zheng family in the early hours of the morning, who told her to come to the Zheng family early to demand her return.

As previously agreed, there's no need for a wedding ceremony; just bring the person to the Zheng family first.

Clutching the hundred taels of silver given to her by the Zheng family, Wang, the matchmaker, arrived early in the morning, hoping that if she arrived late, the Gu family's girl might really be holding the memorial tablet of the eldest son of the Zheng family for the wedding ceremony.

At this moment, Chen Sufeng was so frightened that she almost fainted, and Man'er was so scared that she wanted to run away.

Tong Huaqiong gave Chen Sufen and Man'er a reassuring look, and said to Taohua, "Taohua, go and take the four gold ingots and the rest of the cloth that the Zheng family gave you."

Although Peach Blossom didn't understand the meaning, she always listened to her widowed mother, so she went to get it when Tong Huaqiong told her to. She took the gold ingots and cloth, and also dressed herself up a bit.

Looking at the newly dressed Gu Taohua, the matchmaker asked with slight doubt, "Sister-in-law Tong, wasn't it said that the young girl was getting married?"

As she spoke, she pointed at Man'er, who was so frightened that she moved behind Chen Sufeng.

"I've thought about it, and I'm afraid that little girl is too young to handle Young Master Zheng's illness," Tong Huaqiong said calmly.

Chen Sufeng breathed a sigh of relief; Man'er was safe!

"Yes, yes, it is indeed a bit small."

Matchmaker Wang had a big smile on her face.

It's good to have Gu Taohua instead. She's a bit chubby, but being chubby can suppress evil spirits.

This way, she can give an explanation to the Zheng family.

Given that Young Master Zheng looks like he could kick the bucket at any moment with a collar around his head, why bother about being fat or thin?

At the time, she didn't specify which girl it was to the Zheng family, for fear that a six-year-old girl might reveal it beforehand and cause the Zheng family to object. After all, as long as the eldest son of the Zheng family was alive, the family wanted to continue the family line; a six-year-old child who was still wetting his pants couldn't possibly have any descendants.

Anyway, she only said that she was a girl from the Gu family. Whether she was six or fourteen, she was a girl, it was all the same.

As long as people can be sent in, that's fine.

However, Widow Tong dotes on her daughter, giving her gold and fine fabrics as gifts. Does the Zheng family lack such things?

Tong Huaqiong slung a bundle over her shoulder, pulled Gu Taohua along, and said to Matchmaker Wang, "Sister-in-law Wang, let's go."

With a beaming smile, Wang the matchmaker walked out with her backside sticking out.

"Dashu, Yue'e, Yaozu, you guys come too. And take the basket of steamed buns from the pot with you," Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Dashu and the others.

Wang the matchmaker gave a disdainful smile. No wonder everyone says Widow Tong has a strange personality. She even carried a big steamed bun to the Zheng family. Does the Zheng family need a bite to eat from you?
Gu Dashu obediently carried the large steamed buns that Chen Sufeng had prepared early that morning on his back.

"Su-Fen, you and Man-Er wait at home."

"Jingzhe, go and pull the weeds out of the wheat field. If you don't pull them all out, I won't let you off the hook."

Tong Huaqiong climbed onto the carriage and gave instructions to everyone left at home.

(End of this chapter)