Free Web NovelChapter 670: Chapter 670: Female Household Registration Can Be Established
Mrs. Hong had a meal at Tong Pandi’s place, then carried Hua Er and went to Tong Huaqiong’s place.
She told Tong Huaqiong that Tong Pandi and Scholar Su were newly married and she would have Hua Er sleep with her.
Since Hua Er had been raised by Mrs. Hong since childhood, she already treated Mrs. Hong as a grandmother, and Tong Pandi was more than willing to entrust Hua Er to her care.
At this moment, Hua Er nestled milkily in Mrs. Hong’s arms, very well-behaved, sweetly called Auntie to Tong Huaqiong, and handed over a chirping cricket she was holding to Tong Huaqiong.
"So good, the baby plays with it herself."
Tong Huaqiong hugged Hua Er, squeezed her chubby little hand, and called Chen Sufen to take Hua Er to play with Ying Er.
She had things to discuss with Mrs. Hong.
After Hua Er was taken away, Tong Huaqiong revealed that the Li Family was plotting against Li Mingxiu and aiming their schemes at her and Manager He.
Mrs. Hong was shocked internally; she never expected that her own man’s achievements could attract people who had no connection to them to come and claim a share.
This Li Family had absolutely no relationship with the two of them.
This couldn’t just be called shameless anymore, but rather being so shameless that they had no face left.
"Why didn’t Aunt Qin mention this at first," Mrs. Hong said.
Tong Huaqiong replied, "She originally wanted to tell you, but you left before she could finish. However, you were right to be mad at her; otherwise, everyone would feel entitled to meddle in your life. We may have a good relationship with Aunt Qin, but if we feel uncomfortable because of her, we need to keep a distance."
Mrs. Hong nodded.
Just as Tong Huaqiong said, these were people who had no real connection, and perhaps soon the He Family demons and monsters from Pingyang County would also start making noise.
As for this matter of taking a concubine and bearing children, she was no longer very concerned after venting her anger, as long as He Chao didn’t have that thought, it wouldn’t happen.
If He Chao had that thought, there would be no need for others to persuade him.
Of course, whoever tried to snatch her possessions would be in for a try.
Aunt Qin, having incurred Mrs. Hong’s wrath and further displeased Tong Huaqiong, returned home feeling flustered and sighed constantly.
Daughter-in-law Liu Qiaoyun, who was nursing her child at home, heard this and asked what was going on.
Aunt Qin then recounted what her cousin said at home, how she suggested Mrs. Hong take a concubine for her husband... sharing everything with her daughter-in-law.
Liu Qiaoyun listened, expressionless, and said, "I’m not saying this lightly, but you indeed overstepped. Do you always assume that you can say anything because of your good relation with the host and Aunt Hong? What does it mean to do it for their good? You don’t even know what they need and end up offending people for nothing. What sort of person is Manager He? Don’t you think Aunt Hong understands whether there should be a concubine or if they should have children better than you do?"
Aunt Qin felt increasingly that she had made a mistake, slapped herself, and said, "I’m to blame for this."
Then worriedly asked, "Do you think Dashi’s mother might harbor any prejudice against you because of this?"
Liu Qiaoyun was a clerk at Taohua Dessert and had been allowed to take "maternity leave" by Tong Huaqiong because of her recent childbirth, intending to return to Taohua Dessert after her child was older.
Having tasted the fruits of earning money, she didn’t want to stay at home looking after her child.
When she returned to work, she would leave the child with her mother-in-law, and hire someone to do the cleaning and cooking, avoiding mixing with local gossipmongers.
Liu Qiaoyun replied, "The host isn’t someone who can’t tell right from wrong, given how capable I am, why would she not want me? I’m still a clerk at Taohua Dessert, I’m on vacation, not quitting."
Feeling slightly relieved that her daughter-in-law’s position at Taohua Dessert was secured.
"Mother, next time don’t listen to Auntie’s nonsense, just chase her out with a big stick if she comes around again." Liu Qiaoyun thought her mother-in-law was quite a good person, but was led astray by Auntie.
Aunt Qin suddenly recalled something; her cousin mentioned a family plan to assign Li Mingxiu to Manager He as a concubine, but did her cousin’s mother-in-law know about this?
Afraid she’d be kept in the dark, it was probably calculated privately among the siblings and in-laws.
No way, she definitely had to visit her cousin tomorrow to inform her cousin’s mother-in-law.
Thus she might redeem her reputation and improve her standing with Mrs. Hong and Tong Huaqiong.
Early the next morning, Aunt Qin set out to the neighboring village.
"Ming Xiu, has your grandmother come to see you in the past few days?"
Tong Huaqiong, while guiding work at the weaving workshop, took advantage of Li Mingxiu’s break to ask.
Li Mingxiu replied, "No."
Li Mingxiu didn’t like to go home, ever since she worked at Tong Huaqiong’s place spinning cotton, she mostly lived at the weaving workshop.
Sometimes at night when Tong Huaqiong got up, she could hear the sound of cotton spinning in the workshop.
Li Mingxiu wouldn’t go home, but her grandmother often came to see her.
Li Mingxiu had mentioned she could earn silver and someday buy a house in town, relocating her grandmother there and hiring a maid to care for her while she continued to spin cotton and earn money at Tong Huaqiong’s workshop.
"Did something happen to my grandmother?" Li Mingxiu asked in a panic.
She was raised on rice soup and goat’s milk by her grandmother, who fiercely defended her from being traded for silver by uncles multiple times.
Consequently, she held a deep bond with her grandmother, who was the most important person to her in the world.
Any matter concerning her grandmother worried Li Mingxiu.
Why would the host, out of the blue, inquire if her grandmother visited her?
Tong Huaqiong spoke frankly.
"Your aunt visited Aunt Qin’s house days ago inquiring about the He family, and she wants to give you to Manager He as a concubine."
Li Mingxiu’s expression turned iron-like.
Her uncle and aunt had calculated against her more than once or twice; just when she settled at the workshop, making a livelihood with her own hands for herself and her grandmother.
How long had the good days lasted before they became restless again?
Ever since she started earning money at the workshop, her relatives’ attitude noticeably softened, even showing signs of currying favor.
Despite the outward friendliness, she courteously reciprocated but never gave them a penny.
They had contemplated going to the workshop to collect her monthly dues, but Tong Huaqiong’s workshop policy was to only distribute dues to the person themselves.
The uncles probably felt that since they couldn’t access her money, it’d be better to sell her to a wealthy man as a concubine.
"Not just being Manager He’s concubine, even if they sent me to the palace as a royal consort, I wouldn’t care," Li Mingxiu stated.
Li Mingxiu wasn’t very familiar with Manager He, having only interacted during the initial days of the workshop; she was well-acquainted with Mrs. Hong.
Mrs. Hong managed the workshop accounts.
The uncles learned that Manager He and Mrs. Hong were childless and aimed to sell her as a fertility tool.
If the host and Mrs. Hong were truly malicious, their plot might succeed.
One cup of wine could render her helpless.
Unfortunately, neither Tong Huaqiong nor Mrs. Hong were such people.
Thus, Li Mingxiu learned of the family’s scheme in advance.
Tong Huaqiong stated, "I’m afraid they’re keeping this from your grandmother, I’m telling you to prepare. If they plot once, they’ll do it again, perhaps you should stay away and establish your own household."
With Li Mingxiu’s parents deceased, her matchmaking was controlled by her uncles.
Should her uncles decide on a marriage for Li Mingxiu, she’d be quite passive.
Li Mingxiu pursed her lips and her eyes shifted slightly.
Previously, the thought of setting up her own household seemed daunting, considering her grandmother’s reluctance to leave the Li Family. But now she could earn money, it seemed feasible to start.
