Chapter 185 Severing Ties

Duan Feiyang stood at the entrance of the yamen, hesitant to step inside.

Old Man Duan pleaded with him, "Eldest son, your mother is blinded by greed; that's why she had such evil intentions."

“You grew up in our family. No matter how poor or miserable we were, we never thought of abandoning you.”

"Your mother may not have done anything outstanding, but she certainly worked hard!"

Duan Feiyang pursed his lips tightly; he didn't look at Old Man Duan.

He always thought his mother was biased because he wasn't as sweet-talking as Duan Feicheng.

Since he couldn't speak, he did a lot of work; he was the one who did most of the work at home and in the fields.

If it weren't for Dan Niang forcing him to join the navy, he would still be the Duan family's hardworking ox by now.

Danniang has said many times that she is not afraid of hard work, but she just doesn't want them to work hard while the second son's family just lies in bed waiting to be fed.

He felt that as the eldest son in the family, all of this was a matter of course.

Later, he added these same things to Dan Niang's name.

Everything was his own doing.

Duan Feiyang gave a wry smile.

Now he was glad that Danniang had left early.

Seeing his unmoved eldest son, Old Man Duan gritted his teeth and knelt down.

"Boss, I'm kneeling before you!"

Duan Feiyang was startled and quickly helped him up.

"Father! What are you doing!"

Old Man Duan held his hands tightly. "Eldest son, your mother is senile and deserves punishment, but please don't take her life!"

Duan Feiyang looked into his father's pleading eyes, and his lips trembled slightly.

His hand was gripped tightly for a moment, then released.

"Child, we raised you, so spare your mother's life."

"Let's call it even."

The old voice trembled slightly.

Making a final struggle.

The spring sunshine shone on their heads.

They are not biological father and son, but they have been calling each other "father" for twenty-five years.

Duan Feiyang never doubted his origins.

In one night, he learned that his respected parents wanted him dead, and that he was an adopted child.

His father was right; without them, he wouldn't be where he is today.

"Soaring..."

"good."

Duan Feiyang's voice was low.

The spring sunlight was behind him, and he was completely enveloped in shadow.

He did not appear when Granny Duan was released.

There was only Old Man Duan standing at the entrance of the county government office.

Her beloved son, who had been pampered since childhood, did not appear at all.

He no longer cares what they're thinking.

Just like Old Duan said, we're even.

This kinship was severed the moment the knife was used.

He sat on the rooftop, motionless for a long time.

When He Ran passed by, she wanted to call out to him, but Meng Xingjiang led her away.

“Bookworm, he’s been up there for three hours already.”

Meng Xingjiang said, "Even if the Duan family treated him badly, he still had his parents and family in his heart."

"He has nothing now, let him have some peace and quiet."

He Ran was now curious about how he knew Duan Feiyang was going to be killed and even had someone secretly keep watch nearby.

How did you know the Duan family would be in trouble?

Meng Xingjiang raised his head slightly, "Eyes."

"A look that a mother would never give her son."

He Ran hadn't witnessed that day's scene, so she couldn't imagine what kind of look Duan's mother had in her eyes.

"Didn't Dan Niang ask us to bring something to her mother? Why don't you have Brother Duan deliver it?"

He Ran's eyes lit up. "Yes, we can have him deliver it."

"I may not have my own mother, but I still have my mother-in-law!"

She smiled, her eyes crinkling. "When we left from the border region, my mother packed a lot of dried meat into our car, afraid that we would go hungry on the road."

Meng Xingjiang thought of Madam He's instructions, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Let Brother Duan deliver it."

When Duan Feiyang took the huge bundle, he couldn't manage a smile.

Dan Niang had been married to him for five years, but Granny Duan forbade her to return to her parents' home. She could only go back secretly, and even if she wanted to buy something for her mother, she was always short of money.

Now that Danniang has left, we can openly and legitimately send things.

This huge bag of stuff was like a slap in the face to him.

Let him sober up again.

He Ran took out another money pouch. "Dan Niang said her mother is not well, and told us to remember to tell her not to be afraid to spend money, since she can earn money now."

Dan Niang doesn't spend money on food, clothing, or daily necessities now; she has saved all her money.

Duan Feiyang nodded heavily. "Okay."

The Duan family's village, Duanjia Village, is not far from the neighboring Luojia Village.

Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast.

As soon as Duan Feiyang entered the village, he was met with hostile stares from all sides.

It seems that he was the one who was about to commit the murder.

Dan Niang's family lived at the end of the village. Her husband had died young, her daughter was married, and her son worked in a mine in Dengzhou.

Luo's mother is now all alone at home.

Duan Feiyang entered the Luo family's courtyard, and Luo's mother immediately closed the gate, blocking the neighbors' curious gazes.

"Are you alright? Has no one given you any trouble?"

Luo's mother looked at him with concern.

She knew her son-in-law better than anyone; he was good to her daughter and good to her too.

She didn't believe the rumors circulating in the village.

Her gaze fell on the large bundle on his shoulder. "Are you going on a long trip?"

"These are things that Dan Niang prepared for you."

Luo's mother is still unaware that her daughter has taken her granddaughter to the capital.

They assumed their daughter was currently in Ding County.

Duan Feiyang placed the heavy bundle on the table.

"This girl is wasting money again!"

Luo's mother then advised, "Don't take some of these words to heart. There's no hurdle that our family can't overcome."

After a pause, Duan Feiyang told the truth.

He was very lucky. The marriage he had arranged for Duan Feicheng was ruined when Luo's mother fell ill, and all the dowry and betrothal money he had prepared for Luo Dan's mother was spent.

Granny Duan felt indignant, but breaking off the engagement was not worthwhile, so she gave the marriage to Duan Feiyang instead.

In this kind of last-minute marriage arrangement, the Luo family could come knocking on the door.

However, after speaking with him for a few minutes, Luo's mother said that he was a trustworthy person and agreed.

When Luo's mother heard Duan Feiyang's words, she felt not only astonishment but also heartache.

Duan Feiyang was known in the village for his filial piety and diligence.

Such a good child, even if not biologically related, so what?

Duan Feicheng is their biological son, and he's been spoiled rotten. In the future, the Duan family will only have Duan Feicheng. He's hopeless and they'll see what their parents can rely on.

"Don't be afraid, you can come here with Danniang from now on."

Duan Feiyang couldn't bring himself to say that Dan Niang had already been driven away by him.

He was afraid; he was afraid that even this last home would be gone.

Luo's mother felt sorry for her son-in-law's situation, "You sit down, I'll go cook!"

"By the way, when is Dan Niang arriving?"

After Danniang started working in the city, she and Duan Feiyang often couldn't meet during their breaks.

So they often arrive one first and the other later.

Duan Feiyang pulled his mother-in-law to sit down, saying, "Don't bother with that."

He has over a month left before he takes up his post in Jianzhou; he's going to the capital! He apologizes to Dan Niang!

"This is the silver that Dan Niang gave you. Please keep it safe."

Mrs. Luo was startled by the heavy money bag. "Why are you giving me so much money!"

Duan Feiyang didn't give his mother-in-law any chance to refuse and pulled her to sit down.

"Mother, please send a message to my younger brother and tell him to come back. They're going to start mining in Ding County too."

“The magistrate is currently lacking an experienced person. I have been working at the Dengzhou mine for several years and I am familiar with everything. It will be convenient for him to come back and take care of you.”

"Neither Danniang nor I are here..."

"Nobody's here?" Mother Luo then realized, "Right, right, you're going to Jianzhou to do something important, so Dan Niang naturally has to go with you."

"You two should hurry up and have another son! I'll take care of Dan Niang during her postpartum period!"

Duan Feiyang's lips twitched. "Danniang suffered when she gave birth to Xuan'er. Fairy, having Xuan'er is enough."

"That won't do. Having a son gives us hope, doesn't it?"

Duan Feiyang did not argue with Luo's mother.

This is a common thought, and it's not surprising at all.

Having children is for the purpose of continuing the family line.

But whose lineage is he now passing on, and whose successor has he taken over?

In the end, it's all for nothing.

Who knows what his children and grandchildren will be named in the future? They will have long since turned into dust.

Who cares?

Duan Feiyang has gone to Beijing.

He also got out of the mire, though the way it happened hurt him.

But isn't this also a good thing?

The farthest place he once went was Jianzhou, which was taken there by Lord Zhou.

Now he's going to go even further.

The capital city.

It's like a distant dream, something I wouldn't even dare to imagine.

Now it's within his reach.

The capital city is very large and bustling.

Duan Feiyang stood at the city gate, looking at the wide street where four carriages could ride side by side.

The buildings are arranged at varying heights.

The soldiers at the gate checked his travel permit. "He's from Ding County."

Duan Feiyang came to his senses and said, "Yes, it was opened in Ding County."

The officers and soldiers didn't say anything more, returned the travel permit to him, and let him pass.

The officers asked one more question, not because they doubted his identity.

Instead, it was the previously unknown Dingxian County, but now most of Beijing knows about this small place.

Before recognizing his ancestors, the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was just a minor county magistrate.

He's still just a minor county magistrate.

Everyone is now speculating about what Meng Gong is really up to.

The grandson, whom they had finally found, was abandoned again in that small mountain valley.

*

Fu'er and Xuan'er were the youngest children at the Imperial Academy.

In ordinary noble families, children would receive their early education at home, and would only be sent to the Imperial Academy after they were seven or eight years old.

Just like when they were at the Duke of England's mansion, Zhao hired Zhang Shichong as Fu'er's tutor.

Meng Gong was the first person to directly send his child to the Imperial Academy.

Two children, one three years old and the other five years old.

Despite their young age, they are very serious.

On the contrary, it was the seven- or eight-year-old sons of noble families who gave the teacher a headache.

The Imperial Academy Chancellor, Master Wen, was so angry that his beard stood on end.

"You're not even as good as a three-year-old girl! You can't read! Your handwriting is like a dog's crawl! And now you dare to climb the wall and skip school!"

Two young boys stood at the gate of the Imperial College, scolded until their faces were red.

It was right when school was letting out.

Fu'er and Xuan'er walked out hand in hand.

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy happened to see the two youngest and most worry-free students.

That's why I pointed at the two of them and said those words of disappointment and frustration.

These words did not make them feel ashamed; on the contrary, they made them feel ashamed because of these two children.

The following day.

The two children blocked them at the school gate when they were leaving school.

"You two, one surnamed Yao and the other surnamed Duan, what exactly is your relationship with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?"

"Could it be that Miss Meng had a child with different men?!"

The two boys smiled, their words malicious yet seemingly unaware of their own malice.

But they ended up blocking the two children at the school gate when they were leaving school.

It seems he wants to avenge yesterday's humiliation.

Since arriving in the capital, Fu'er has heard a lot of things, whether they are veiled or not.

Even if she didn't understand before, she now knows it wasn't something nice to say.

She gritted her teeth, rushed forward, and rammed her head into the chest of one of the boys, knocking him off the steps!

"ah!--"

After the screams.

Another child was so angry that he wanted to hit him.

His raised hand was grabbed by a large hand.

Xuan'er rushed over in delight.

"Father!"