"Mu Yun, eat up, try the longevity noodles your mother made."

Cheng Muyun took a bite. "It tastes the same every year."

Mrs. Cheng's eyes crinkled with laughter, and upon closer inspection, the mother and son really did look alike.

"From now on, Zhuohua will be in charge of making your longevity noodles. I've already taught her how."

Cheng Muyun smiled and glanced at Xu Zhuohua, "But my son still wants to eat the longevity noodles you make, and eat them until he's a hundred years old."

Madam Cheng said, "By the time you're a hundred years old, I reckon I won't even be able to hold a bowl."

Cheng Muyun said, "How could that be? Mother will never grow old."

Madam Cheng sighed, "You'll understand when you have your own child. People age very quickly. By the way, why hasn't Zhuohua's belly shown any signs of pregnancy?"

Xu Zhuohua glanced awkwardly at Cheng Muyun, and their eyes met in mid-air.

Xu Zhuohua blushed instantly.

Based on Cheng Muyun's frequency, Xu Zhuohua would have been pregnant long ago.

Cheng Muyun grasped Xu Zhuohua's hand, "Mother, you're too hasty. We've only been married for a short time."

Madam Cheng said, "Our family is too small; it's time to add some members."

The young couple kept their heads down and didn't say anything.

Cheng Yuguang placed the teacup heavily on the sandalwood table, the porcelain striking the wood with a jarring, crisp sound.

"She hasn't gotten pregnant after all this time," he said slowly, wiping the rim of his cup. His cloudy eyes swept over Xu Zhuohua, who was sipping her soup with her head down. "I guess Zhuohua's health isn't good. Why don't we just take her as a concubine?"

These words struck the table like a hammer blow, abruptly stopping the crisp sound of chopsticks hitting bowls and plates, and leaving everyone breathless.

Cheng Muyun's knuckles, gripping the ivory chopsticks, suddenly turned white, the cold, hard bones almost piercing his skin. "I will not take a concubine."

Cheng Yuguang suddenly overturned the teacup beside him, the dark brown tea flowing like a river on the carved tabletop: "What? Is the Cheng family's task of continuing the family line relying on a woman who transports weapons? You're happy with it, I'm not worried about being gossiped about!"

Cheng Muyun suddenly stood up, the legs of his military-style chair dragging on the blue brick floor with a harsh sound.

He stared intently at his father, his gaze like an icy blade: "Father, I've said it many times, that's the Xu family's business, Zhuohua is just managing it! Besides, the Dongxing South Line is a goldmine right now, hasn't the Cheng family also benefited a lot?"

"Benefits?" Cheng Yuguang slammed his hand on the table, making the dishes clatter. "The Zhou Minhai and Si Ke families are watching you! If you don't choose a side now, how long do you think you can hold out?"

Cheng Yuguang's finger almost poked his son's nose. "You, this unfilial son, are going to ruin the foundation of the Cheng family!"

The entire hall trembled at his roar.

Cheng Muyun suddenly slammed his hand on the table, causing the sandalwood tabletop to make a deafening roar. The bowls and plates were shaken so much that they jumped half an inch into the air, and soup was spilled onto the expensive brocade tablecloth.

"Father! I've said it before! I will never associate with those people!"

His chest heaved violently, the brass buttons on his military uniform collar gleamed coldly under the light, and the unhealed wound on his waist throbbed with pain from the exertion, but it couldn't outweigh the surging anger in his eyes.

Cheng Yuguang's face turned a deep purplish-red, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"Don't you understand the principle of blending in with the world?" The veins on his neck throbbed as he slammed his fingers heavily on the table, causing the hot soup in the porcelain bowl to splash.

"I didn't ask you to get a divorce! As long as you marry Yunqiao as a concubine and keep Chairman Luo as your father-in-law, I guarantee you'll have a bright future! What else could you possibly want!"