The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!

Chapter 375: Choosing Lanterns

Xiao Long always gets inexplicably angry.

Man Er noticed that Xiao Long was upset again.

She didn’t know why Xiao Long was angry. Could it be that he was upset because he wasn’t allowed to choose a lantern first?

Man Er decided to have a good talk with him about it when she got home.

However, she thought, he’s pitiful enough without parents, so Man Er stepped forward and handed him a golden dragon lantern.

"This one’s for you. Look, the golden dragon even has patterns on it," Man Er said.

Xiao Long snorted and took the lantern.

There were three lanterns left: a peony, a magpie, and a tiger.

Man Er took the peony, and Yaozu took the tiger.

Originally, Yaozu was worried that if he didn’t get to choose first, the good ones would be taken by others.

Fortunately, no one else chose the tiger he wanted.

"The last one is for Hua Er," Mr. Su handed the magpie lantern to Tong Pandi.

Tong Pandi, looking surprised, said, "Hua Er is only two months old and can’t choose a lantern yet."

Mr. Su said, "Then wait until she can choose."

Tong Pandi accepted the lantern, touched by Mr. Su’s thoughtfulness.

All the children got their lanterns and gathered to admire each other’s lanterns.

Every child was very happy.

Especially Duo Er and Chun Ni, as it was their first time receiving a lantern.

In the past, Chun Ni envied the children carrying lanterns on the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Grandmother Ms. Luo would buy a lantern for Chun Wang every year, and she could only watch longingly.

Thinking of Chun Wang, Chun Ni thought she should hide the lantern in the pigsty; if she took it home, it wouldn’t be hers anymore.

Mr. Su saw the children’s happy faces, especially Duo Er’s smile, which was very comforting to him.

If Duo Er was happy, then Tong Pandi would be happy.

Mr. Su wasn’t actually there to see Gu Jingzhe. He had seen beautiful lanterns in town and thought of Tong Pandi’s two adorable children, so he couldn’t resist buying two and holding them in his hands.

Thinking that giving only to Tong Pandi’s two daughters might not look good, as if he had certain intentions, he simply bought one for every child he knew and headed straight to Qinghe Bay.

Tong Pandi smiled with joy, and Mr. Su’s mood naturally brightened.

Next, he had more gifts for Duo Er and Chun Ni.

Mr. Su opened the wooden box, took out a calligraphy practice booklet and a pen, and said, "This is for Duo Er. I saw Duo Er learning to read with Man Er; this ’Young Learner’s Pearl Forest’ calligraphy book is just right for Duo Er to practice writing. This pen is specially chosen, suitable for children just starting to learn."

Tong Pandi was so pleasantly surprised that she nearly cried.

On New Year’s Eve, Mr. Su had seen Duo Er practicing calligraphy with Man Er and remembered it.

He specially bought a beginner’s calligraphy book and a brush for Duo Er.

After accepting the gift, Tong Pandi repeatedly urged Duo Er to thank Mr. Su.

"This set is for Chun Ni," Mr. Su’s words left Chun Ni with a look of envy replaced by shock.

Mrs. Cao was also shocked; there was something for Chun Ni too.

Mr. Su was deeply impressed by Chun Ni.

The last time he came to Qinghe Bay, he saw this little girl writing with stones by the riverbank. Though not well written, it was clear she was earnest.

Mr. Su had asked who taught her to write, and Chun Ni said she learned by passing by the private school.

As a teacher of guiding and enlightening students, Mr. Su liked self-motivated and perseverant students the most.

Whether male or female.

Therefore, this time he not only brought Duo Er a calligraphy book and pen but also brought a set for Chun Ni.

Chun Ni accepted the calligraphy book and pen, her throat choking up.

She couldn’t even manage a thank you.

Mrs. Cao thanked him, her eyes reddening.

She thought, if only Chun Ni were a boy, Chun Ni was so smart, learning words Chun Wang couldn’t master just by passing by the private school.

If she were a boy, she could sit in the private school studying, becoming a prodigy like everyone praised Gu Jingzhe for.

"Mr. Su, it’s almost noon, you haven’t been to aunt’s house yet, let’s go together," Tong Pandi happily said.

Mr. Su helped her feed the pigs and brought lanterns and calligraphy books for Duo Er. Tong Zhaodi’s earlier mood disruption gave way to hope for life in Tong Pandi.

Mr. Su was naturally willing to join Tong Pandi for lunch at Tong Huaqiong’s house, holding Hua Er in his left hand and Man Er in his right, while Man Er held Xiao Long’s hand, following Tong Pandi to the Gu Family like a chain.

Gu Jingzhe had just finished reading and was gazing into the distance when he saw Mr. Su and assumed his teacher had come to supervise his studies.

"Teacher, why are you here? I’ve been reviewing my lessons, just stepping out for a break."

Gu Jingzhe worried that the teacher might think he wasn’t diligent, so he preemptively defended himself.

Mr. Su sternly said, "I’ve just stood here at the entrance. If I hadn’t come, who knows what you’d be doing? Until the private school starts, I’ll be here every day to supervise you."

Gu Jingzhe: "..."

Tong Pandi cheerfully told Gu Jingzhe, "Cousin, Mr. Su’s jacket is too thin; could you find him a thicker piece of clothing?"

Gu Jingzhe agreed and went inside.

From the courtyard came the sound of exerted breaths, revealing that Nie Xiaofeng was practicing martial arts with Su Chengmin.

Since the second day after the start of the lunar year, Nie Xiaofeng had been learning martial arts from Su Chengmin and persistently wanted to become his disciple.

He had already forgotten his vow to be at odds with the Gu Family.

Previously, he was hostile towards Tong Huaqiong, Gu Taohua, and Gu Jingzhe, but now, to apprentice with Su Chengmin, he forced his way into the Gu Family’s door, addressing Tong Huaqiong warmly as grandmother and eagerly calling Gu Taohua and Gu Jingzhe aunt and uncle.

In the bitter cold of January, with the wind blowing fiercely and icicles hanging under the eaves, Nie Xiaofeng, in only light clothing, was covered in sweat from practice, his rolled-up sleeves revealing sinewy muscles glistening in the sunlight.

Nie Xiaofeng feared Mr. Su the most.

Upon seeing Mr. Su, he immediately shrank his head like a quail.

He hadn’t done any of the homework assigned by the teacher.

"Teacher," Nie Xiaofeng greeted Mr. Su honestly.

"Practicing martial arts?" Mr. Su asked.

Nie Xiaofeng nodded honestly.

"You’re doing well," Mr. Su continued, "Since you don’t have the mind for academic study, don’t waste time going to private school anymore. You won’t learn there anyway. As long as you know enough characters to understand military books, it’s fine."

Tong Pandi’s mouth twitched as she slipped into the main room to nurse Hua Er; Mr. Su seemed amiable, but he certainly had a sharp tongue for his students.

Nie Xiaofeng’s eyes lit up, saying, "Teacher, if it weren’t for my mom forcing me, I wouldn’t want to go to private school in the first place. How about I just don’t go when it opens the day after tomorrow, and you can say I’m expelled? Otherwise, my mom will still drag me there."

Mr. Su straightforwardly replied, "Okay."

Nie Xiaofeng thought for a moment, suddenly grinning, "Teacher, you just said it’s enough if I can understand military books. Does that mean I can join the army?"

Why else would he read military books?

Nie Xiaofeng grew excited and made a further request to Mr. Su, "Teacher, could you speak to my mom and let me join the army?"

Nie Xiaofeng had always wanted to join the army, but Gu Baishuang opposed it.

Gu Baishuang feared he’d die on the battlefield, so the mother and son couldn’t talk about it; mentioning it broke her heart as if he had indeed died.

Seeing Mr. Su’s speechless face, Nie Xiaofeng optimistically said, "I think I can do it; even Grandma says I have the potential to be a general."

Tong Huaqiong’s offhand comment had been taken seriously by Nie Xiaofeng.