Chapter 999 Killing the Sheep

When his son was mentioned, Song Zhizhu's smile faded slightly.

"He has come back a few times, but he is disobedient and cannot be disciplined at all. It makes me so angry that my heart skips a beat."

He sighed and looked at the once quiet manor, which was now bustling like it was New Year's Day because of those boys.

“I’ve figured it out now. I don’t care anymore. Anyway, the child has his own ideas, and whatever he says is wrong and will only be disliked. I’ll just let him be. Let him do whatever he wants, as long as he’s healthy.”

Song Chunxue understood that his nephew was daring and enterprising, capable of making money outside, and a man who could take risks. But when people become bold, they tend to indulge themselves in other ways.

For example, he still thinks about his childhood sweetheart, and even though she is married and has children, he doesn't avoid suspicion and even takes her out with him when he comes back.

Unfortunately, the woman's husband was also generous, and because of the benefits his son gave him, he turned a blind eye.

Outsiders can't understand it, and they don't want to delve into it.

But since everyone else is able to get by, and the nephew and second brother aren't at a disadvantage either, what else is unacceptable?

Although I felt a tightness in my chest and a sense of disappointment, I stopped caring so much after a while.

“Sigh, children shouldn’t be too opinionated, but being too obedient is also worrying.” Song Zhizhu sighed. “At this point, we can only console ourselves; there’s no other way.”

Worries, worries, worries arise from the mind; if you let go of them in your mind, you will naturally have no worries.

"Don't worry, my nephew knows what he's doing. Just make sure he brings you good food and drinks so you can build a new house and live a good life."

Song Zhizhu snorted coldly, "You can't count on him. He'll probably only be able to give me a grand funeral when he dies, but he's stingy and reluctant to spend this or that, far less generous than you."

At this point, he smiled and patted Song Chunxue's shoulder heavily, "Thanks to Fifth Brother, I can eat meat every day and drink good tea."

Anyway, he knew he didn't need to save money for his funeral. He only had one son who cared about his reputation. No matter how stingy he was normally, he would be willing to spend money on everything after his son died.

So now he eats and drinks well and doesn't mistreat himself at all.

“We should share the good times and the bad, who would want my second brother to be so good to me?” Song Chunxue walked up the slope. “This slope at Fourth Sister’s house is long and steep enough. You could kill a donkey here if you were hauling grain or manure.”

“Yes, every year when it’s time to haul grain, your sister-in-law and I come to help. Otherwise, your fourth sister would have to carry it all back by herself, bit by bit.” Song Zhizhu smiled smugly. “But now that your fourth sister has money, she can use gifts to exchange for favors and borrow donkeys to help haul the grain. It’s much easier for her now.”

The brother and sister chatted and laughed as they climbed up the slope.

As he spoke, Song Zhizhu became breathless.

"You two should talk less. You'll struggle to climb up. This road is difficult to walk on."

Just then, the second sister's voice came from above, along with the laughter of several other children watching the commotion.

They all crouched down by the low wall, looking down like a row of sparrows.

“Master, you look like a moving potato to me, hahaha, so funny.”

"Hahaha, my second uncle looks like a long-legged potato, with huge feet, hahaha, the kind that's already sprouting."

"Pfft, hahahahaha..."

These words caused everyone to burst into laughter, because they realized that it was because Song Zhizhu had little hair, and the sparse tuft tied on top of his head made it look like a potato sprout.

The more they laughed, the funnier it became. Tu Dan'er couldn't help but sit on the ground, clutching his stomach and laughing uncontrollably.

Master Zhang walked over and grabbed his ear, saying, "You laughed the loudest. Do you think you have more hair than your second uncle at your age?"

"You can't keep your mouth shut, so I'll punish you by making you stand in a standing position for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea."

Tu Dan'er laughed and hugged Zhang Daoren's leg, "Master, I just finished eating, I can't stand for that long."

Song Zhizhu came up from below, showing no sign of anger whatsoever.

"What's the big deal? They're just kids. To be honest, if adults still hold a grudge, it just shows they're petty. My hair just fell out early, and I'm bald on top. The only thing I envy about you cultivators is how well you take care of your hair."

As they were talking, Song Zhizhu walked through the gate. "What are you cooking today? It smells really good."

"Fourth brother has killed a sheep and is cooking the mutton." Song Chunmei came out of the yard carrying a firewood basket. "Fourth brother is really sincere. We'll take some piglets and buy them in a few days to fifth brother's house to slaughter."

“Don’t be like that,” Master Zhang shook his head and laughed. “We’re all chatting and laughing together, but the animals are the ones who suffer. Eating preserved meat is fine. We’ve killed a lot of chickens lately, so we’ve had our fill.”

Song Chunmei laughed and said, "That's different. So many distinguished guests have come this time. I guess it will be hard to get such a large group together again in the future. We couldn't afford to slaughter a pig before, but thanks to Lao Wu's help over the years, we can easily gather a pig."

"Master, please don't worry about it. Actually, we're just craving it too. We've never had such a lively New Year's celebration before, so we should have a big meal together to make it complete, right?"

Song Chunxue smelled the aroma of mutton and thought that her fourth and second sisters were good cooks, but she wondered how well they cooked mutton.

Song Chunxiang saw Song Chunxue and asked with a smile, "Didn't Fifth Brother go to buy bedding? How's the house being furnished?"

"Huh?" Song Chunxue was taken aback.

Master Zhang transmitted his thoughts telepathically, saying, "Just tell them it's all bought and I've already made the arrangements."

Song Chunxue hadn't quite come to her senses yet, but she nodded. "Oh, I don't know. Second sister, what are you washing?"

"Sheep's stomach, once cleaned, is also a plate of meat." Song Chunxiang squatted by the wooden basin, vigorously rubbing something.

"Then I'll go help in the kitchen."

"No need, go and refill the Taoist priests' tea, see what they need." She said helplessly, "A-Lai was pulled away by those guys, otherwise this job would have been his."

When Ah Lai encounters a group of boisterous peers, even the most rigid and mature Ah Lai will be influenced.

"Then I'll go take a look."

She went to the north room, where Master Han was not sleeping on the kang (a heated brick bed) this time, but was sitting cross-legged in meditation.

Lord Zhao was leaning against the headboard, brewing tea.

"Are you all getting used to it? Is it dry lately?" Song Chunxue took out a jar of lilies. "Senior Brother can put in two petals."

Lily nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, calms the mind and soothes the nerves, and beautifies the complexion.

They've been getting a sore throat from sleeping on the kang (heated brick bed) lately.

"It's really dry, my hair is crackling with lightning," Lord Zhao said casually as he took the paper. "How has Xie Zheng been lately?"

"Fortunately, even the civil officials in the military camp have become rough men."

"That's true. Xie Zheng is just good-tempered and submissive. If it were me, I would have quit long ago. He has one trick after another to make things difficult for people. He should go to the palace and make a huge scene. If all else fails, he should kill the emperor so that his son can ascend the throne sooner and perhaps prolong the life of the court."

Master Han opened his eyes and looked at Zhang Chengxuan. They exchanged a quick conversation before he looked away again.

"Unfortunately, Xie Zheng lacks the courage, and there aren't many capable people in the court," Lord Zhao lamented. "If someone in the court could take that step, we could turn the tide and prevent the rebel army from entering the capital."