Chapter 228 Senior Sister Departs, Husband Fears

Zhang Ting sympathized with her senior's plight and wanted to comfort her, but after much deliberation, she felt that she was in a worse situation.

Looking back on these years, starting with just a few copper coins, facing both open and covert attacks, and teetering on the brink of life and death several times, how can the word "miserable" possibly describe it?

Zhang Ting said, "Senior sister hasn't eaten yet, shall we go eat?"

Interrupted, Chen Fu's grief came to an abrupt halt. He stared blankly, his face in his hands, and exclaimed, "Huh?"

In the shadows, Zhang Shu, whose face was streaked with tears, suddenly choked up and peeked out to look.

Zhang Ting shivered; the night wind was really cold. Without saying a word, she pulled her senior sister to the dining room.

The dining room was warm and cozy, filled with delicious and steaming dishes that were intoxicating, but only for Zhang Ting, who was enjoying her meal.

Chen Fu's expression was unpleasant. "I was opening up to my junior sister about my past, and you suddenly interrupted me to come and eat. Isn't that incredibly disrespectful?"

Zhang Shu leaned against the door, straining his ears to listen.

Zhang Ting thought her senior sister was too idealistic, so she put down her bowl and only ate half full. The food tonight was quite good; she'd give the kitchen maid an extra string of coins later.

"Senior sister, have you ever thought about what would happen if you gained your mother's approval? You also have an outstanding older sister and a younger sister with formidable power who is eyeing you covetously. Your mother's gaze will inevitably linger on them. At that time, what will you still crave? Senior sister, happiness is always relative."

"Your lack of your mother's favor means it's nearly impossible for you to get involved in political turmoil or have a peaceful and relatively wealthy life. Others may secretly despise you and cause you trouble, but openly they would never dare to disrespect you as a princess. In this chaotic and disaster-prone era, you have enough to eat, power and influence, the ability to study, and the freedom to choose your own life. Compared to others, you are already far ahead."

Chen Fu turned his head away. "Junior sister, I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart to you today, partly to give myself a break and partly to gain your understanding, not to hear your rebuttal."

She suddenly stood up and said sadly, "Your talent is unparalleled, your career as a general and prime minister has been smooth sailing, and you are always the center of attention. How could you know the hardships I have endured? The hatred buried deep in my heart? You laugh at my affectation in your heart, but I truly have no interest in power, fame, or wealth. I have already submitted a letter to resign my title and official position, and I will be leaving the capital tomorrow. Today, I have come to say goodbye to you." After speaking, she turned and walked out.

Zhang Ting sighed softly and asked a seemingly random question, "Senior Sister, do you know what kind of inertia a person's body will retain if they go hungry for a long time, even if they later have enough to eat and wear?"

Chen Fu thought she still wanted to teach him a lesson, and he was angry. He turned around and was completely stunned.

"It will be like this." Her eyes were so calm, but her hands were trembling uncontrollably.

Zhang Shu, behind the door, abruptly covered his mouth, forcibly suppressing the sobs escaping his throat, but tears flowed even more profusely. Heaven is blind! How could it treat Xiao Ting like this! It would be better to tear out this old woman's heart while she's still alive.

Zhang Ting lowered her hand and smiled. "Senior sister, don't look at me like that. I don't think I'm pitiful, nor do I need any pity." She pulled the other person to sit down again. "I chose this path myself. There are gains and losses, and I take responsibility for them. Besides, I'm already luckier than most people in the world."

“What I said to you wasn’t to lecture you, nor was it because I thought you were being pretentious. What I wanted to express was that if a person only looks up, it’s a self-tortured torture that will eventually become a mountain that crushes them; contentment brings happiness, and looking down from time to time allows one to realize that they are already blessed.”

"Life is not just about parental love, but also about the kindness of teachers and mentors, and lofty ambitions."

"Senior sister, you're too deeply entangled in your fantasies."

That night, Chen Fu cried for a long time, as if he wanted to cry out all the obsessions of the first half of his life.

She left the next day after all. Zhang Ting was disappointed, but everyone has their own way of living, and you can't force it.

That night, not only the old man was eavesdropping, but also a little kid.

Tun Tun blinked her curled eyelashes and asked, "Mommy, does Auntie really not have the ability to love?"

Zhang Ting bent down and hugged her daughter, giving her a kiss. "A person who is truly emotionally deprived wouldn't cry like that. Your aunt is too oblivious." Back then, Yang Fuchen was as noble and distinguished as a scholar, with an excellent reputation and dignified appearance. Was it really true that no powerful family wanted him?

Everything is understood without words.

Tun Tun smiled, her eyes crinkling, and pressed her cheek against Tun Tun's, giving her a sweet kiss. "Your son has so much love, he loves Mommy so much~ He loves Mommy the most!"

"Really? Who was it yesterday who said they hated me and only liked Dad?"

Tun Tun couldn't believe that adults could be so petty and hold grudges. She pouted and said, "Yesterday's child doesn't define today's child. A child is closest to their mother!"

"Does Mommy love her baby?" A round, fluffy head poked its head onto Zhang Ting's face, its eyes blinking expectantly.

"These little rascals are the most fun," Zhang Ting said, feigning hesitation. "Well..." she fell into deep thought, as if she had encountered a huge problem.

The little piglet immediately became anxious, wiggling its bottom and leaping upwards, its chubby hands grabbing its mother's head and shaking it violently, "Mother, speak! Mother loves me! Speak!" It was as if it was forcing its mother to like it if she didn't.

Don't let the tiny piglet fool you; it's surprisingly strong. It shook Zhang Ting so much that her brain almost popped out of her head. She shakily steadied herself and tore the little thing off.

I dislike children who lack a sense of boundaries.

"You were born of your mother, how could your mother not love you?" The child, whose head was buzzing, was being dismissed with a perfunctory shout.

Tun Tun was satisfied. "I understand, little one." After a moment, she put her hands behind her back in a mature manner. "You adults are so shameless. You always have 'I love you' on your lips." Although she complained, her little short legs were moving around quite happily.

"Go play by yourself, little brat." Zhang Ting put her down on the ground and realized that while it was easy to tease a child of this age, it wasn't so easy to get back to her.

The kid's dad is more fun.

She's going to find the child's father to exchange parenting tips.

"Ah—" Before she even entered the house, Zhang Ting heard a scream. It was Zong Suyi's voice. She rushed inside.

Slightly out of breath, she asked, "What's wrong? What's wrong, Xiaoyi?" Was there a thief, or did a snake or rat sneak in?

Zong Suyi ran over and huddled against her, pitifully clutching her sleeve, pointing at the bed and trembling as she said, "There's something inside, something slippery all over, twisting and turning, it's so scary!!"

"This is a snake," Zhang Ting asked. "What color is it?"

Zong Suyi cried, "Red, no, no, no purple!! It's so ugly and disgusting!"

She reassured her husband, "It's alright, it's alright, I'm here." In reality, she was on high alert. Red and purple snakes sounded like highly venomous snakes, but she had never heard of them in Kyoto.

Zhang Ting told her husband to go out first, and then she speared the snake out.

Zong Suyi refused no matter what, holding her tightly, sobbing and whimpering, "I dare not." He felt that apart from his wife, the entire household was as if that thing had crawled over it.

Zhang Ting told her husband to calm down and follow her instructions not to move around. Then, she took precautions, carefully approached the bedside with a fork, and was extremely tense, repeatedly replaying the possible changes that might occur in her mind.

Zong Suyi clutched her clothes, her breath almost stopping.

Zhang Ting took the opportunity to lift the covers, and then saw—

Um, a wriggling little earthworm.

That's it?

Zhang Ting was speechless, then picked up the small earthworm with one hand and held it in front of Zong Suyi, "This?"

Zong Suyi jumped around wildly, immediately retreating from her side, crying helplessly, "Get away from me!! Don't come any closer!"

Zhang Ting pursed her lips, glanced at the little earthworm in her hand, and suddenly a mischievous idea popped into her head, a playful smile appearing on her face.

She walked over with a relaxed air, saying, "Don't be afraid, my lord, Little Red is very cute."

Zong Suyi hid behind a pillar, crying and cursing, "Bastard, get away from me!"

“Little Red is rosy and plump, well-behaved and lively, but it’s not our species, so please don’t discriminate against it.” Zhang Ting felt that what she said made perfect sense, and even Little Red was moved to bow to her, although Zhang Ting couldn’t tell where its head was.

She started by upholding equality for all beings, because everyone says she is kind and benevolent.

Perhaps this is the arduous path of good people; even without the approval of their husbands, they must forge ahead.

Zong Suyi cried pitifully, stamping her feet and begging for mercy, saying, "Good wife, please don't do this, I'm really scared."

Persuasion should be done in moderation, otherwise it may harm family harmony.

Zhang Ting regretfully placed Xiao Hong on the handkerchief. "Since my husband is not interested, I will introduce Xiao Hong to you next time." Her voice rose at the end, her tone unable to suppress its lightness.

Zong Suyi clearly saw through her ill intentions. Her fair face flushed with anger. She walked over and angrily slapped the scoundrel's arm, letting out a 'humph' from her nose. "I told you not to scare me like that."

Zhang Ting hadn't washed her hands after touching the earthworm, and when she held them out in front of him, the man swiftly retreated behind a pillar.

She couldn't help but laugh out loud, the laughter echoing throughout the room. Zong Suyi gritted her teeth in anger, hating this wicked person! She angrily turned her head away, "I don't want to sleep with you tonight. You can go to the study or I'll go to the side room."

Zhang Ting immediately regained her composure and said, "That won't do."

If a girl wants to sleep well, her husband has to coax her.

But before she could unleash her sweet words, the clueless little thing slipped in, "Mommy, where's my friend? Have you seen him?" He came running over on his short legs.

Zhang Ting picked up something in her hand. "You mean this little earthworm?"

Tun Tun was displeased, her cheeks puffed out in anger. "This is Zai's friend, she's not called Little Earthworm, she's called Little Beauty!"

Zhang Ting thought to herself: "This little brat's temper is growing, so don't blame me for apologizing on your behalf. He just needs someone to appease his father's anger."

Zhang Ting glanced helplessly at her husband, "My lord, the earthworm is the child's. Look at this..."

Zong Suyi was absolutely furious with the brat. She rolled up her sleeves and yelled, "Zhang Xiaozhu, what are you doing putting that kind of thing on the bed! Are you itching for a beating?"

With her head tilted back and hands on her hips, Tun Tun, small in stature but arrogant in spirit, declared confidently, "Friends should sleep in the best and warmest blankets with their babies!" She even wiggled her bottom and made a face.

The father and daughter, neither willing to back down, started arguing loudly.

The little brat had somehow picked up a twisted logic that left his father speechless and furious, forcing him to turn to his wife for help.

The beauty gently bit her red lips, condensing all her grievances into her watery eyes.

What more can be said? As the head of the family, Zhang Ting naturally chose to side with what is right, not with her relatives.

He casually pulled out a thin bamboo stick from the corner of the wall. Such things were originally rare, but because a certain cunning little pig liked to hide bamboo sticks everywhere, they became so abundant that they became a plague throughout the entire household.

She waved a bamboo stick in her hand and laughed, "Little Zhang, please stick out your precious buttocks."