Free Web NovelChapter 643: Chapter 643: Not Undermining the Stepdaughter
Everyone laughed and bantered.
One old lady even said she had originally considered marrying her niece to Mr. Su, but now she has given up that idea.
Tong Huaqiong said, "The good show is about to start. Everyone, seal your lips and listen carefully to the performance."
The women in Qinghe Bay could be quite fierce, and if Tong Huaqiong didn’t say anything, things might escalate quickly.
No matter how persuasive Mr. Su was, or how feisty Pandie was, they couldn’t keep up with the pace and would surely end up embarrassed.
"Yes, yes, the show is starting. Dajiao, come sit here."
"Owner, I have a spot here for you to sit first."
Everyone’s eyes shifted to Tong Huaqiong, urging her to take a seat.
Unable to resist everyone’s enthusiasm, Tong Huaqiong and Mrs. Hong had to sit down.
It was not a bad idea to experience the lively atmosphere of singing traditional opera during the New Year.
Mr. Su tugged on Pandie’s sleeve, and Pandie sat down and reached out to Hua Er who clung to Mr. Su and refused to leave his embrace.
At this moment, Pandie could finally make eye contact with Mr. Su, and both of their faces turned red.
Suddenly, a drumbeat sounded on the stage.
The noisy crowd fell silent, and the drama began.
The performance went on until midnight, and when it ended, everyone was reluctant to leave. It was only when the village chief said it would continue until the fifth day that they left reluctantly.
The leisurely first day of the new year was over, giving way to the busy second day.
On this day, married daughters would visit their parental home. Since Tong Huaqiong had severed ties with the Tong family, she naturally wouldn’t go back, but her stepdaughter Gu Baishuang would come to Qinghe Bay.
Tong Huaqiong had to host Gu Baishuang with her entire family.
Early on the second day, Gu Baishuang and Nie Mingyuan arrived at Qinghe Bay.
Followed by two stepsons and their wives.
Ever since Gu Baishuang, through Tong Huaqiong’s introductions, made a sizable profit with the Lu Family’s merchant ships, Nie Mingyuan had become even more respectful towards Tong Huaqiong than his own mother.
This past year, Nie Mingyuan suddenly realized that despite earning a lot through the Lu Family, the money and business were completely under Gu Baishuang’s control, and when he tried to get involved, he found he couldn’t.
He discussed with Gu Baishuang, asking her to hand the business reliant on the Lu Family ships over to their eldest son, but Gu Baishuang refused.
She didn’t even bother to make up an excuse, directly stating that the business was something she had painstakingly built up, and no one else could touch it.
Nie Mingyuan was furious, arguing fiercely with Gu Baishuang, demanding she relinquish control, but Gu Baishuang showed no fear.
Helpless, he tried to leverage the reputation of being a stepmother, but miscalculated as Gu Baishuang no longer cared about being a good stepmother.
Nie Mingyuan panicked.
Originally, with his younger son becoming a Deputy General, Nie Mingyuan thought his life was complete, yet he discovered that with the support of his younger son, his wife was uncontrollably independent.
He couldn’t even threaten to divorce her, knowing that Gu Baishuang now had the backing of her whole maternal family, with the Lu, Huang, and Liu families behind them.
He could not shake them.
During the entire Spring Festival, Nie Mingyuan was in a state of panic.
The two stepsons wanted to use the clan to pressure Gu Baishuang, but Nie Mingyuan rejected this, fearing that once his younger son knew, he would disown him as a father.
Thinking it over, Nie Mingyuan thought of Tong Huaqiong.
He hoped to persuade Gu Baishuang through Tong Huaqiong to hand over the business to the stepchildren.
Tong Huaqiong noticed this time not only Nie Mingyuan speaking kindly to her, but also Gu Baishuang’s two stepchildren, who were previously indifferent to her, were excessively warm.
Considering Tong Dajiao’s recollections from a previous life, the Nie trio were not people who made early rises without some benefit.
For them to ingratiate themselves to such an extent, they surely had an agenda.
During the banquet, Tong Huaqiong discerned that Nie Mingyuan wanted her to persuade Gu Baishuang to hand over the business.
She sneered in her heart, showing no emotion on her face.
"Hand it over, hand over my foot."
The reason Gu Baishuang gradually seized control of the Nie family business was due to her initial guidance, both morally and logically, she wouldn’t undermine her stepdaughter.
Why was Nie Mingyuan so sure she would help him against Gu Baishuang?
"...Mother-in-law, now that Xiao Feng has become a Deputy General, it is inappropriate for his mother to be running around doing business. This might give others reasons to attack him. Moreover, our third son will be taking the imperial exam next year, and given his abilities, he will definitely pass with honors. At that time, our family will have both civil and military officials. If his mother continues in business, her position will be sensitive. On one hand, there’s the brothers, on the other, the son. Others will say she is exploiting her connections with them for personal gain."
Nie Mingyuan spoke until his mouth was dry, seeing no response from Tong Huaqiong, he resorted to heavier implications.
He even dragged Gu Jingzhe’s future into it.
Tong Huaqiong put her chopsticks down and said, "What’s inappropriate about it? As if Xiao Feng isn’t a son of the Nie family. According to you, if a son holds an official position and needs to avoid suspicion, then shouldn’t you avoid it even more, since you bear the Nie surname? Anyone hearing your surname would know you are family. In contrast, if Gu Baishuang doesn’t speak about it publicly, who would know she is Xiao Feng’s mother."
"The court hasn’t decreed that if a business family has one official, the entire family must shut down their businesses, right?"
"Since you’re worried that my and Baishuang’s business affairs affect Gu Jingzhe and Nie Xiaofeng, we can just give up on the sons instead. However, you, Nie Mingyuan, still bear the Nie name. Can you sever ties with Xiao Feng? He bears the Nie name on the family register, so it’s you, the father, who risks being a burden to him."
Nie Mingyuan was dumbfounded.
What did the mother-in-law mean?
Was she suggesting that Gu Baishuang leave the Nie family, to undergo a separation like Tong Pandi?
Only such a method could separate from Nie Xiaofeng.
That absolutely couldn’t happen; if it did, Nie Xiaofeng wouldn’t acknowledge him as a father.
Moreover, Gu Baishuang now grasped the lifeline of the Nie family’s business, and until he had it in his hands, he would not feel secure.
"Nie Mingyuan, after marrying you, Baishuang served your parents for ten years and looked after your two sons until they married. She managed the entire household. Did you ever trust her? Each year, your earnings and business locations—did you ever disclose them to Baishuang?"
Never.
Nie Mingyuan was startled. How did the mother-in-law see through this?
"Now that your two sons are married with children, and Xiao Feng has made a name for himself, Baishuang steps out and earns some money, yet you can’t stand it. You insist she hands over the business in her hands and returns home to serve a big family, isn’t that so?"
Tong Huaqiong interrogated Nie Mingyuan sharply.
Breaking into a sweat, Nie Mingyuan said, "I didn’t tell her before because I thought she, being a woman, wouldn’t understand..."
"Don’t make excuses. Didn’t understand before and now? Currently, most of your family’s silver is earned through her dealings with the Lu Family’s merchant ships."
Nie Mingyuan was choked up.
Indeed, for the past few years, almost all the family’s silver was earned by Gu Baishuang. Precisely because of this, she changed.
From enduring the sons from the original marriage, she now put on a face when displeased.
Originally, Nie Mingyuan wanted to gauge how much business Gu Baishuang did with Tong Huaqiong.
Now, he dared not ask it.
The eldest son of the Nie family spoke up with dissatisfaction, "You misunderstood father. He just didn’t want mother to tire out. We want her to enjoy life. Besides, since my brother and I have our own families and children, it’s only right that we take over the business. Letting mother rest is our filial piety."
Tong Huaqiong gave the eldest son a cold look, saying, "Enjoy life? Say that to your father. If enjoying life is so appealing, let him do it at home. You know that both you and your brother have your own families and children, so why don’t you strive and venture out on your own, instead of coveting the little that your stepmother has?"
The eldest son of the Nie family was left speechless.
The second son of the Nie family wanted to retort but couldn’t find a way to do so.
