Free Web NovelChapter 650: Chapter 650: All Thanks to Aunt
The news of Tong Pandi’s remarriage reached the Tong Family.
Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang initially thought it was false. When they confirmed it was true, their jaws dropped in shock.
What they couldn’t understand was why Mr. Su, a respected teacher, would want to marry a woman who had been divorced?
If Mr. Su wanted to get married, many families around Black Dragon Pond in Yan Guan Town would be willing to offer their daughters to him. Why did he choose Tong Pandi?
They never expected that the disgrace of the family, Tong Pandi, would marry better and better each time.
In contrast, after Tong Zhaodi married into the Wu Family, the village chief was dismissed, making it a complete waste of a daughter.
Even though he no longer recognized Tong Pandi as his daughter, Tong Fusheng was still happy enough to buy two pounds of wine to celebrate.
After his daughter’s divorce, people in the village gossiped about him. Now he couldn’t wait for the news of Tong Pandi marrying Mr. Su to spread throughout the village.
He regretted the harsh words he said to Tong Pandi back then. If only Tong Pandi could return home with Mr. Su, it would be even better.
"Pandi indeed has some skills to persuade Mr. Su to marry her," Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but exclaim, with a sense of pride in her heart.
Then she became angry and said, "That girl! She got remarried without telling us. Shouldn’t she abide by the order of her parents and the advice of a matchmaker even after divorce before remarrying? Shouldn’t she get married from her maternal home?"
Tong Fusheng pondered for a moment and said, "This marriage was probably arranged by her aunt. My sister is now running such a big business, and Jingzhe has become a scholar. Many people want to be related to the Gu Family. The Gu Family has only one Taohua, so they set their sights on Pandi. Even if Pandi remarried multiple times after divorce, someone would still be willing to marry her."
Mrs. Wang was displeased that Tong Fusheng attributed Pandi’s remarriage success to Tong Huaqiong and said sulkily, "I don’t know if your good sister found her a good husband, but I do know she incited Tong Pandi to not acknowledge her parents."
Tong Fusheng thought for a while and said, "You were right earlier; even after divorce, one must abide by the order of the parents and the advice of a matchmaker. Mr. Su, being a teacher, knows many principles and would surely disagree with Tong Pandi severing ties with us. Otherwise, how could he teach his students? We’ll go to Qinghe Bay in a few days to visit our new son-in-law."
Mrs. Wang nodded.
Since Tong Pandi remarried, it restored some dignity to the Tong Family, allowing for forgiveness and reconciliation.
The couple discussed visiting Qinghe Bay and also bringing along Tong Zhijie, hoping Mr. Su would teach him to study.
If he could teach Gu Jingzhe, perhaps he could train a scholar for the Tong Family too.
The more they talked, the happier they became. Seeing Tong Pandi marry so well, Tong Fusheng even thought about having Tong Zhaodi divorce Wu Musheng.
After all, the fall of the Wu Family brought no further advantage to the Tong Family. It would be better for Tong Zhaodi to divorce and remarry an old widower or a wealthy landowner eager for a son.
Mrs. Wang hesitated, "But Zhaodi is pregnant?"
Tong Fusheng replied, "What do you know? Doesn’t Pandi have two children, both daughters, and yet she remarried? If Zhaodi is pregnant, it shows she can give birth; having a son would be even better. It shows she can bear sons. After she gives birth, we’ll have her remarry as a concubine to a wealthy household in the city. Those rich folks seeking progeny don’t care about divorce; as long as she can bear children, that’s all that matters."
"Besides, Zhaodi is prettier than Pandi. Back then, a wealthy old landowner from the city took a liking to her at first sight. Marrying her to Wu Musheng was a wrong move on our part. Who knew Wu Ren would be so incompetent?"
Mrs. Wang listened to her husband in everything, and after hearing Tong Fusheng’s analysis, she agreed that it would be better for Tong Zhaodi to divorce and remarry, rather than stay with the Wu Family.
The couple decided to persuade Tong Zhaodi to divorce and remarry after they visited Tong Pandi.
...
After the sixteenth of the first lunar month, Tong Huaqiong’s shops and the Weaving Workshop opened.
With the hot sale of cotton fabrics, the Weaving Workshop expanded and needed to recruit a new batch of weavers after the New Year.
Tong Huaqiong entrusted Song Qiaoniang and Gu Xiaoxue with the recruitment, with the maid Su Qing assisting them.
She herself was pondering new dyeing techniques with the workers.
While busy at the Weaving Workshop, Tong Huaqiong was unaware that her brother, sister-in-law, and nephew had arrived at Qinghe Bay.
Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang brought Tong Zhijie to Qinghe Bay to visit Tong Pandi.
"Dad, Mom, this is Auntie’s Weaving Workshop," said Tong Zhijie, pointing at the sign as they passed by the workshop.
Tong Fusheng looked up and saw the four large characters: Tong Family Weaving Workshop.
How did his relationship with his sister become so strained? In the past, wouldn’t the Tong Family Weaving Workshop have been his?
"Wow, such a big workshop! So many people inside!" Mrs. Wang exclaimed, looking through the main door at the busy figures inside, feeling a twinge of envy rising in her heart.
The little sister-in-law was becoming more and more capable.
Previously, when Tong Zhaodi mentioned that Tong Huaqiong had opened a Weaving Workshop in Qinghe Bay, she thought at most it would have only two looms.
But now seeing inside, there must be at least a dozen. Such a large Weaving Workshop must earn a lot of money in a year?
Since it’s called the Tong Family Weaving Workshop, shouldn’t half of the money belong to the Tong Family? The little sister-in-law was indeed too heartless, using the Tong Family’s name to open the workshop, yet not sharing a penny with the Tong Family.
Tong Pandi had been led astray by her.
In the past, Tong Pandi doted on Zhijie, but now, even if he died in front of her, she probably wouldn’t shed a tear.
Tong Fusheng quietly said to Mrs. Wang, "Today, our main purpose is to visit our daughter and son-in-law; once we win over the son-in-law, can money be far behind?"
Mrs. Wang smiled.
Given that Mr. Su is Gu Jingzhe’s teacher, surely Mr. Su can speak on behalf of Tong Huaqiong.
The highly respected Mr. Su surely can’t accept the severed relationship between Tong Huaqiong and her brother and sister-in-law. With Mr. Su mediating, Tong Huaqiong will reconcile with them sooner or later.
Once reconciled, won’t they give them money?
If they refused to listen...
Tong Fusheng squinted his eyes, planning to spread rumors about Gu Jingzhe disrespecting his teacher, which would ruin his reputation and his prospects for officialdom.
Tong Zhijie said, "Dad, ask brother-in-law if he can speak to Aunt on my behalf so I can work as a steward at the Weaving Workshop."
Seeing many young and pretty girls at the Weaving Workshop, Tong Zhijie thought if he could work there as a steward, being the nephew of the owner, it wouldn’t be much different from being the Young Master. In the future, wouldn’t he be able to choose any girl he wanted to marry?
Tong Fusheng scowled and said, "Scholarship, agriculture, industry, commerce. No matter how much money commerce makes, it cannot present a respectable front. Aim higher; we brought you to Qinghe Bay to study with your brother-in-law, not to venture into business with your aunt."
Tong Zhijie rolled his eyes.
Study, study, he had no interest in studying.
However, thinking about studying in Qinghe Bay and relying on his brother-in-law for money made him happy.
The three of them left the Weaving Workshop doorway, stopped a passerby to ask for Tong Pandi’s residence, and learned she lived in Tong Huaqiong’s old courtyard.
They headed toward the old courtyard.
"Did you bring the secret formula for a male heir?" asked Tong Fusheng.
Mrs. Wang patted the pouch on her waist and said, "I have it with me, don’t worry, this secret formula for a male heir will surely win over our daughter and son-in-law."
Mrs. Wang held tightly onto the formula. This secret for a male heir was something Mrs. Qiao had spent a fortune on for Tong Zhaodi before Wu Ren was removed from the village chief position.
Now, Mrs. Wang had gotten it.
Mrs. Wang believed that after the marriage, Mr. Su and Tong Pandi would surely want a son. Tong Pandi, being unable to produce a son and only daughters, would surely welcome the secret for a male heir with gratitude.
Mrs. Wang was confident that by using the secret formula for a male heir, she could easily manipulate Tong Pandi.
