Chapter 341 The Emperor’s Favor
"Mom, you will be the village queen from now on. Then no one will dare to mess with us when we do business."
After Tong Huaqiong received the imperial edict, the whole family sat together to have tea and snacks. Gu Taohua happily asked about the impact of the title of Xiangjun on her business.
"Then no one in Pingchuan County would dare to mess with him," said Tong Huaqiong.
It may not be the case once you arrive in the city.
There are many hidden talents in the capital city, and there are also many families that have connections with the capital.
In the past, no matter how many prefects came to Ningcheng, they were unable to suppress these local tyrants. Only when Prefect Yao, who had the support of the Yao family, a century-old family, came to the prefecture city could he suppress them.
Gu Taohua smiled and said, "Then we just need to focus on doing business and don't have to worry about other people's calculations."
Even if it could bring such an effect to Taohua desserts, Gu Taohua would be satisfied.
After all, whether the pastries are delicious or not is useless despite the title of a local gentleman.
People come to buy cakes not because of his reputation as a village master, but because the cakes are delicious and reasonably priced.
Tong Huaqiong said: "If anyone in Yanguan Town dares to plot against the township lord, the emperor's edict will probably be in vain."
Gu Jingzhe said, "Sister, since mother is a county lady, she has to accept supervision from the local inspection offices. The more this happens, the more cautious we must be, and the more we must be honest. When you get to the store tomorrow, you must emphasize this to the employees. Don't let everyone get carried away just because mother is a county lady."
Gu Jingzhe knew that there were people from the Supervisory Office in every place. These people were responsible for supervising all officials, as well as princes, aristocratic families and other people who had connections with the royal family.
As a newly-appointed local ruler, Tong Huaqiong might be under the watchful eyes of someone secretly.
Therefore, the higher your status, the more low-key you should be.
Tong Huaqiong gave Gu Jingzhe an approving look.
This youngest son is on the right track.
In the past, whenever she encountered any problems, she could use the title of Widow Tong to throw a tantrum and everyone would regard her as weak and pitiful. But now, if she uses the title of Lady of the Country to throw a tantrum, people would only think she is bullying others by taking advantage of her power.
Therefore, the title of Xiangjun has both advantages and disadvantages.
Overall the pros outweigh the cons.
Gu Taohua nodded.
Don't say that the guy is getting carried away, she is a little carried away now.
No, we must stop.
Gu Dahan said: "No matter what the village master can bring to our family, we can just live our lives as usual."
Tong Huaqiong said, "That's what Dahan said. You all should remember this. When you do things outside in the future, you should not be afraid of trouble and you should not use your title as a village lord to cause trouble for me."
Gu Taohua and others rushed to promise not to cause trouble.
"Mom, now the emperor who is far away in Shengjing knows you. If we do business in Shengjing in the future, won't the emperor protect us?" Liu Yue'e asked happily.
Today, when she took the lead in entertaining the villagers for dinner, the villagers said that now even the Emperor of Shengjing is the supporter of her mother-in-law, and her mother-in-law's support is equivalent to the support of the Gu family.
Even if it is placed in the entire Pingchuan County, it is still an explosive existence.
Liu Yue'e was extremely proud. The Gu family used to be poor, but now they are rich. However, they are still a farming family like the people in Qinghewan. It is hard to say what will happen in the future.
When the emperor was mentioned, the whole family fell silent.
Liu Yue'e was completely unaware. Seeing Su Chengmin under the light, she said, "Laifu, have you ever seen the emperor in the capital before? What does the emperor look like? Is he kind and amiable?"
Liu Yue'e has a good impression of the emperor of Shengjing.
This old emperor is really good. He even recognizes the contribution of a country woman.
Tong Huaqiong frowned and scolded, "Yue'e, what nonsense are you talking about? How could Lai Fu have been to the capital to meet the emperor?"
Only then did Liu Yue'e realize that she had said something wrong.
Although her mother-in-law did not say it explicitly, Shengjing and the Emperor were taboo words for the Gu family.
If Tong Huaqiong had not received the imperial edict from Shengjing, the emperor would never have appeared in the lives of the Gu family.
She slapped herself lightly and said, "Mom, I didn't mean it. I was just being careless. Please forgive me."
Tong Huaqiong sneered: "If you talk about Shengjing and the emperor again next time, I will spare you."
Liu Yue'e felt a little aggrieved and stammered, "Isn't mother also personally conferred the title of Xiangjun by the emperor? We should naturally express our gratitude to the emperor for his grace."
If it weren't for the emperor's grace, no matter how capable her mother-in-law was, no one would have given her the title of a county lady.
Liu Yue'e felt that it was her duty to thank the emperor.
The mother-in-law can stop the family from mentioning the emperor because of Xiaolong and Su Chengmin, but her family should not be ungrateful to the emperor.
Before Tong Huaqiong could reprimand Liu Yue'e, a sneer came from the shadows, saying, "Sister-in-law Yue'e, you know that thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace. If the man on the dragon throne treats you well today, you should be grateful. If he chops off your head and turns you into a ghost tomorrow, you should also be grateful."
Liu Yue'e was provoked by Su Chengmin and said, "We civilians didn't participate in the rebellion, so it won't be our turn to be beheaded."
As soon as these words came out, everyone's expression changed.
Su Chengmin's eyes became stern.
Tong Huaqiong shouted angrily, "You are getting more and more ridiculous. Yue'e, let me tell you, don't say anything like the emperor is our backer or that treason will result in beheading. Don't go to the shop these days. Learn to read well at home. Copy each word I taught you in the next two days a hundred times. You can leave the house only when you have finished copying."
Liu Yue'e agreed reluctantly.
Her mother-in-law finally had a hold on her weak spot, and not allowing her to go out was like sentencing her to death.
She also had to practice calligraphy. Liu Yue'e felt that the punishment was too severe. She couldn't even hold the brush steadily.
After returning from the provincial capital, at the request of Tong Huaqiong, Liu Yue'e, Chen Sufen and Gu Dahan began to implement the literacy plan.
During the evening, sometimes Tong Huaqiong taught, sometimes Gu Taohua taught.
Now...
Tong Huaqiong looked at Su Chengmin and said with a smile: "Laifu, since you are the teacher of the private school, then I will give you the task of teaching Su Fen and Yue'e to read."
Can Su Chengmin refuse?
Obviously it can't.
Su Chengmin said, "Okay, leave the task of learning to read to me, brother and sister-in-law."
......
The news that Tong Huaqiong was named the Lady of the Country spread like wildfire in Yanguan Town, and the people of Heilongtan Town who came to Yanguan Town to visit relatives and friends and go to the market naturally heard about it.
The people in Heilongtan Town knew about it, so naturally the Tong family knew about it too.
Tong Fusheng and Wang naturally wanted to come to Qinghe Bay to take advantage of Tong Huaqiong's popularity, but Tong Huaqiong didn't recognize them when they came once in the summer, so they didn't dare to come this time.
Tong Zhaodi gave Tong Fusheng and Wang some advice, asking their married sister Pan Di to visit their aunt to ease the relationship.
After all, Pandi's father-in-law had just been promoted to the head of the village of Heilongtan, and it was not appropriate for the head of the village to congratulate the girl from his own town who had just married.
Tong Fusheng and Wang thought this was a good idea.
So he went to Tong Pandidi's door.
Tong Pandi was sitting at the door with her big belly, arguing with her mother-in-law.
Tong Fusheng wanted to go up and slap Tong Pandi in the face.
This girl has become like a possessed soul since she recovered from her illness last year, and her behavior is becoming more and more like her younger sister Tong Da Jiao.
Instead of serving her mother-in-law, she sat at the door and cursed at her. Tong Fusheng felt that he had lost all face.