Chapter 420 The Strange Mother

Song Chunxue did not refute, but smiled bitterly to herself.

It's strange, but this is the child she gave birth to.

That's just his personality; he's not particularly imposing or righteous. He's just good-looking, but otherwise, he only thinks about himself.

Selfish people always end up doing well.

If Sanwa could have been like him, perhaps he would have stayed in this fertile land long ago, just like those other young people from the village who left for other places.

She could neither change nor stop what had happened before.

However, she had to set clear rules for the future and not let them continue like this.

This time, the second son didn't go to Jingzhou, which means that his son will be very close to her in the future and will know that she has such powerful connections as Lord Xie.

After a long pause, her tone turned cold.

“I know, if I didn’t understand that, I would have beaten up your second brother right now.”

"Second brother, you went to see Lord Xie on your own initiative, using me as a pretext. You've made me owe Lord Xie a huge favor, do you understand?"

The second son nodded, then lowered his head and stared intently at his fingers without saying a word.

“You are my son. Whatever choice you make, you must understand that I am your mother. I have the right to know about your decision to become a live-in son-in-law, don’t I?” Her voice was deep and authoritative. “I don’t like to act first and ask questions later.”

In the second son's eyes, his mother, who was now standing in front of him, seemed like a completely different person.

There was no shouting or yelling, but it sent chills down his spine; the voice was frighteningly cold.

She was calmer and more rational than before, and she could even see through the flaws in his words, which made him feel a chill down his spine.

Did you hear that?

Seeing that he remained silent, Song Chunxue's temper flared up, and she slammed her hand on the table again.

"I heard you." The second son immediately sat up straight. "I will never do that again."

Song Chunxue didn't believe what he said.

“Let me make this clear from the start: if there is a next time, don’t acknowledge me as your father. I was illiterate before, and I never taught you to take me seriously, to be filial, or to consider me in everything you do.”

“But I see that people who are illiterate and have never read a book all day still know how to behave without being taught. Besides, you used the money that Sanwa earned from herding sheep to read so many books.”

The second and fourth brothers kept their heads down like quails, not daring to utter a single word.

"You surely know that I work myself to the bone to grow crops and support your education, hoping to share in your good fortune. Even if you go far away in the future, I can still have someone to rely on in my old age."

At this point, she gave a self-deprecating laugh, "Forget it, I don't need it anymore. I just ask that you don't cause me any trouble. Remember Lord Xie's favor, and in the future, be grateful for his help and don't cause him any trouble."

"When you go to the county government office in the future, never say that you were arranged by Lord Xie. Otherwise, if you do something wrong, you'll just be causing trouble for them, understand?"

The second son nodded. "Understood."

“People are willing to associate with me because they know I have a hard time. Don’t take advantage of their kindness and ask them for everything. If I find out, I will never help you again.”

It sounds a bit inhumane. Is this still his mother?

She's become so cold-blooded.

"Yes, I understand." The second son put away his pitiful act, his lips pale. "It was my oversight. I will never cause Mother any more trouble in the future."

Song Chunxue understood what he meant; it was said in anger, but it was also the truth.

Didn't he not cause trouble for him in his past life?

"Alright, I'm going back to rest. Fourth brother, look after your second brother and take him to the clinic to get him checked out. Make sure he eats according to the doctor's orders." Song Chunxue walked to the door. "I've given you the money. Don't be extravagant, but don't be stingy with yourself either. It's not like we can't afford it."

The fourth son nodded. "Mother, I understand."

Song Chunxue was worried. "Don't think about going out to play. Be more attentive."

"I've got it. Don't worry, Mother."

The second son's face fell as he watched his mother leave the room.

"Fourth brother, will Mother always be like this?"

The fourth brother poured himself a cup of tea. "Yes, she treats everyone like this now. Although the third child is obedient and studies hard, Mother doesn't treat him the way she treated the eldest son."

"Not to mention the eldest son, even though Mother seems to be quite wealthy now, she didn't let him live in the county. She just gave him some money to build a big house in the countryside."

“My sister told me that the day they moved into the courtyard that Mom bought, they happened to run into the eldest son’s family. That night, Mom had a few drinks and gave the eldest son a good scolding,” the fourth son clicked his tongue twice. “Before, Mom would always be on top of the eldest son, but now it seems like she’s holding a grudge.”

The second son seemed thoughtful. "And what about you? Didn't Mom buy you a yard?"

"Don't even think about it. My mother sees me doing nothing and is too lazy to arrange a marriage for me. She just tells me whichever girl I like and she'll arrange a marriage for me. She hasn't even thought about finding a good girl for me. She says she'll listen to me, but I know that my mother really doesn't expect anything from us anymore."

The second son was silent for a moment, then asked, "What did Mother say before you came? Did she mention anything about me getting married?"

"No," the fourth brother stroked his chin, looking at him with interest. "Was that girl pretty? If you hadn't met Lord Xie, were you really planning to go to Jingzhou?"

The second son got up and limped to sit down on the edge of the bed.

"I spent several years in the army and got nothing. I might even lose a leg and have to go home, unable to farm. I'm not even as good as Sanwa. What would you choose?"

The fourth son pursed his lips. "Forget it, don't try to play tricks on your mother. Not only can she read now, but she also knows a little about medicine. She meditates almost every day, and she has a lot of strength in her hands. I didn't tell you that last time the bandits stormed into the city, your mother and the Taoist priest killed them."

Mentioning the Taoist priest, the second son asked curiously, "The Taoist priest seems to take good care of Mother. Why didn't he come? Between him and Lord Xie, who is more powerful?"

The fourth brother looked at him with a knowing smile, "What, do you also think one of them is suitable to be a stepfather?"

The second son's face turned cold. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm worried that Mother will be deceived."

The fourth brother smiled faintly, "Just don't lie to your mother."

The second brother exuded a cold and stern aura and remained silent, but the fourth brother sensed that he was angry with him.

"Let's go to the clinic, or I'll find a doctor to take a look at you. It's not convenient for you to go out right now." The fourth brother walked to the door. "What do you want to eat first? I'll tell the kitchen to send it up. Don't worry, Mother gave me five taels of silver."

The second son remained silent, thinking that his mother was indeed very disappointed in him. Even though he looked so miserable now, his mother did not intend to give him any money to spend herself.

My mother has become a stranger.

He needed to understand her temperament again.

However, he hadn't slept well for several days and was very tired.

"I want to eat stir-fried noodles, and I also want to eat a pig's trotter." As he spoke, the second son lay down on the clean and spacious bed. "I'll talk about it when I wake up."

The fourth brother looked at his leg and said, "Doesn't your leg hurt? Let's wait until we see a doctor."

"Whatever you say. I haven't been in much pain these past few days, and you weren't here before anyway."

The second son was still angry when this was mentioned.

But then he remembered what his mother had said, and he suddenly realized that he and his brothers were all acting independently, unlike other brothers who were so united.