The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 238: Reversal

"I made the pesticide to combat corn cob rot. It was definitely me who made it."

The two government officials exchanged glances, their expressions complex.

Zheng Junren and Mrs. Zheng’s faces were as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Xu Zaohua didn’t notice their expressions and continued talking to herself.

"My uncle hasn’t been working in the fields for many years. Even though he lives in the village, he’s not very skilled at tending crops. How could he make any pesticides? He’s been the Qinghe Bay Village Chief for so many years and still couldn’t solve the corn cob rot problem."

"After I made the pesticide, I couldn’t conveniently return to Qinghe Bay, so I gave it to my uncle to distribute to the villagers. I’m not afraid to confront him about this face-to-face."

"Did my uncle take credit for himself? Claiming that the pesticide was his creation? Luckily, Lord Liu was wise enough not to believe what she said."

Xu Zaohua’s honesty left the two officials at a loss for words.

She directly admitted it.

Is the Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family a fool?

Clearly, Mrs. Zheng was constantly giving her winks, but she didn’t notice?

Zheng Junren and Mrs. Zheng didn’t expect Xu Zaohua to be so foolish, rendering them speechless with her words.

Xu Zaohua thoroughly disgraced the Zheng Family, not only creating fake pesticides but also getting reported to the government. What’s more infuriating is how she voluntarily confessed like a fool.

Doesn’t she wonder why the officials came?

If her pesticide were effective, wouldn’t it be the government beating gongs and carrying plaques in her honor instead of officials interrogating like criminals?

"I’ve been working in the fields at Qinghe Bay since I was young. Seeing the corn suffer from cob rot year after year, I thought of creating a pesticide. After so many years, I finally made it."

After criticizing Xu Yong and explaining her journey of creating the pesticide, Xu Zaohua noticed that the officials did not gaze at her with admiration or praise as she expected.

Instead, they had an inexplicable odd look about them.

It was then that Xu Zaohua realized the awkwardness of the situation.

"Eldest Young Madam, Xu Yong has been selling fake pesticides around Yan Guan Town, damaging many farmers’ corn. The villagers have reported him to the authorities. Xu Yong claims that the pesticide he sold was made by you and that he did so at your instruction." the official said.

"Now it seems Xu Yong was telling the truth."

What?

Xu Zaohua felt her temples throb, as if the world were spinning around her.

How could the pesticide she arranged to be made turn out to be fake?

How could her pesticide be ineffective?

Her first thought was, could it be that her uncle secretly made pesticides too, and he actually used his own rather than hers?

Thinking this, Xu Zaohua blurted out, "The pesticide my uncle sold must have been made by him."

"The pesticide I made would definitely have no issues."

The slightly older official said, "That’s why we specially ask the young mistress to come to the county government. If you really didn’t make fake pesticides, just clear it up in person, Lord Liu won’t wrong anyone."

Xu Zaohua gasped.

How could she come out unscathed after going to court?

Her uncle and her family aunt Yan Pozi had been to court over Xu Si’s matter, and she had heard her family aunt’s tearful recount of how unpleasant it was.

Moreover, if the Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family goes to court, how would that reflect on her image?

Even if she’s proven innocent in the end, who knows what rumors might spread?

Besides, she’s not even certain if her pesticide has problems.

If the pesticides Xu Yong sold to the villagers were truly hers...

Xu Zaohua dared not think further.

She looked helplessly toward her parents-in-law.

Zheng Junren and Mrs. Zheng’s faces were so dark, water could be wrung from them.

"Xu Yong’s sale of fake pesticides has resulted in many villagers’ crops being damaged. This is a serious matter. Mr. Zheng, you know, crops are vital to people’s livelihood and mustn’t be destroyed. We have to investigate the fake pesticide issue thoroughly, so the young mistress must come with us. Sorry for the trouble!"

Zheng Junren folded his hands towards the officials, looking troubled. Naturally, he didn’t want his daughter-in-law to go to court.

The Zheng Family couldn’t afford the disgrace.

But the officials’ words left him without a way to refuse.

It’s just that his daughter-in-law is too foolish.

"I understand that you two gentlemen are upholding the law, and I won’t obstruct. But I hope you’ll be discreet when she faces the court." Zheng Junren said through gritted teeth.

Xu Zaohua felt a chill run down her spine.

It seemed the Zheng Family didn’t plan to protect her.

They didn’t even care about the ’fire’ she bore in her belly.

Fire, the ’fire’ in her belly.

Xu Zaohua clutched her belly and with a cry contorted on the chair.

"My belly."

"Oh, my belly."

Xu Zaohua cried out, her forehead beaded with sweat.

Zheng Junren and Mrs. Zheng panicked and hurriedly ordered someone to call for a doctor.

They had been so caught up in their anger that they forgot their daughter-in-law was with child.

Fortunately, there was this child, so Xu Zaohua might not have to go to court.

The two officials also became flustered; the Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family was indeed pregnant.

How can a pregnant woman go to court!

Xu Zaohua was supported to Mrs. Zheng’s room.

"I truly apologize, esteemed officials. My eldest daughter-in-law is with child. Perhaps someone from her retinue could go to court on her behalf?" Zheng Junren said to the two officials.

There’s no other way!

After being diagnosed with no issues, Xu Zaohua, upon learning someone went to court on her behalf, lay on the bed frightened and tearless.

How did things end up like this!

"Alright, stop pretending." Mrs. Zheng sneered, "It’s a good thing you weren’t entirely foolish and thought to fake a bellyache; otherwise, you’d have thoroughly disgraced the Zheng Family."

Xu Zaohua, ashamed and angry, dared not lift her head.

"The Zheng Family’s face is already lost. I knew you didn’t have the skill to make pesticides. Turns out it was fake stuff." Zheng Junren was very angry.

No wonder Xu Zaohua was unwilling to hand over the formula to the Zheng Family—it was fake from the start.

This daughter-in-law really has some nerve.

Xu Zaohua tried to defend herself weakly, "It must be my uncle framing me. The pesticide I made clearly could cure the cob rot."

At this moment, Xu Zaohua deeply regretted trusting that Jianghu Sorcerer’s words, that person tricked her out of 500 liang of silver.

That was her savings after marrying into the Zheng Family.

Zheng Junren sneered, "No matter the case, this trouble is of your own making. If you’d given the pesticide to me, none of this would have happened. You’re part of the Zheng Family now, yet you gave the pesticide to a distant uncle. Now that there’s trouble, the Zheng Family has to clean up your mess."

Xu Zaohua bit her lip, not daring to continue defending herself.

Mrs. Zheng said, "If that crop-destroying pesticide was indeed made by your hand, the Zheng Family would gain notoriety across Pingchuan County, and not in a good way."

What Mrs. Zheng mentioned was exactly what Xu Zaohua feared most.

The Zheng Family sent someone to court to gather further details, but they hadn’t returned yet.

It was still unclear whose pesticide was involved—Xu Zaohua’s or Xu Yong’s.

As Xu Zaohua slowly regained her composure, she realized she knew her uncle too well; no matter whose pesticide was involved, he would hold her accountable.

Surely, the Zheng Family wouldn’t want her blamed for creating fake pesticide and harming crops.

Xu Zaohua, of course, wanted all the blame laid on Xu Yong, but as she reconsidered, she realized there was someone more suitable to bear the blame than Xu Yong.