Zhang Liang looked at the cards in his hand, somewhat doubting the meaning of life. Why hadn't he managed to pay off his debt of one hundred taels, and instead lost even ten taels of silver?

"Big sister, are you sure this is your first time playing?" Zhang Liang asked, his voice trembling slightly.

“Yes, Yu Mei told me about these rules,” Tao Wanniang said readily.

“Although I hate these things, I learned a lot of them in the past to persuade my father,” Bai Yumei said wistfully. “I didn’t want to win money either.”

“Yu Mei used to be my neighbor across the street. Her father was a gambler. He would always grab anyone he could and play a few rounds. I picked up the habit from a young age.” Chen Liansheng said helplessly, “Sorry, Brother Zhang, you’re the only one who lost.”

"Zhang Liang, are you still playing? This ten taels of silver isn't considered a debt, but what about later... don't you want to reconsider?" Tao Wanniang kindly reminded him.

Zhang Liang gritted his teeth. If he insisted on continuing this game, wouldn't it be a bit too obvious?

"Well... let's leave it at that for now, big sister, your talent for playing leaf cards is amazing!"

"I've had pretty good luck ever since I left Lingjia Village. I guess I'm one of the people God favors," Tao Wanniang said with a smile, her face neither flushed nor out of breath.

"Yes, sister, you really are!" Zhang Liang gave Tao Wan's mother a thumbs up. He couldn't help but admire her!

"Then let's take a break. A little gambling is harmless, but we can't get addicted to it," Tao Wanniang said, getting up and stretching, laughing it off.

"Big sister, if everyone had as much self-control as you, I think there wouldn't be so many gamblers in the world," Bai Yumei said with a sigh, her expression somewhat wistful.

"Yu Mei, the past is the past, don't be too sad," Chen Liansheng immediately advised.

“I’m not sad at all. I’ve never been sad for him since my father sold me to the Huang family as a concubine,” Bai Yumei said, then covered her mouth and yawned, her tone becoming a little languid.

"This flower hall is so warm that I'm getting sleepy. Since you've rested first, I'll go back to my room for a nap too," Bai Yumei said as she stood up, then turned and left.

"Yu Mei!" Chen Liansheng immediately followed, not forgetting to turn back to Tao Wanniang and Zhang Liang and say, "Although Yu Mei says she doesn't care, this may really remind her of sad things. I'll go and check on her."

In the flower hall, only Tao Wanniang and Zhang Liang remained, and the smile on Tao Wanniang's face gradually faded.

"Zhang Liang, you're playing tricks right under my nose."

Zhang Liang was startled and immediately replied, "Big sister, what do you mean? I don't understand."

"What, do you want to win money from me, or do you want me to get involved in the evil of gambling?" Tao Wanniang sneered. "This is my first time playing this leaf card game, but the things I've played are things you can't even imagine."

Zhang Liang chuckled and apologized to Tao Wanniang, saying, "Elder sister, you're too kind. I didn't think that much about it. I just had a little idea that I could pay off this debt of one hundred taels. Who knew, alas, elder sister, you're truly a hidden talent!"

How could he forget that Sister Tao wasn't just an ordinary peasant woman as he saw her? How could such a simple cardboard sign be a challenge for her!

"I don't mind you jumping around, but I'll show you that no matter how much you jump, you can't escape my grasp," Tao Wanniang sneered. "The leaf cards are quite interesting. If you want to play, I can play with you again."

Seeing Tao Wanniang's posture, Zhang Liang shuddered for no reason. He blamed himself for having unrealistic ideas!

"Alright, alright, elder sister, I won't dare to do it again. Sigh, I used to be the chieftain of Black Wind Stronghold. When will I ever be able to pay back this hundred taels of silver?" Zhang Liang sighed.

“I won’t mistreat those who are truly loyal to me. To be frank, I’m not holding you back. You’re wondering if you really want to follow me, and I’m also assessing whether you’re a reliable person. Don’t worry, when the time comes, I’ll give you the antidote.” Tao Wanniang said calmly. “This card game can’t be set up right now. You should pack up and I’m going back to rest.”

Having said that, Zhang Liang couldn't explain anything further and readily agreed.

After Tao Wanniang left, Zhang Liang shook his head self-deprecatingly. He was supposed to be a bandit leader, but why did he feel like he was completely seen through by Tao Wanniang?

Without her son and daughter-in-law, Tao Wanniang lived a very leisurely life. Even if she had to cook, she didn't mind. There were only a few people, so she didn't have to work for too long. With Xiao Qiao'er and Bai Yumei helping out, she even found cooking enjoyable.

The Ling family members in the General's Mansion were in a terrible state.

The Ling brothers are all about height but not brains, and Ling Yunzhou scolded them severely. Whether he was angry with Tao Wan's mother or genuinely disliked his two sons, he had them woken up early in the morning to practice horse stance at the martial arts field, saying it was to strengthen their bodies.

As the eldest daughter-in-law, Wang Hongyu was taught how to manage household affairs by the stewardess of the general's mansion. Zhou Xiaoyun, being pregnant, escaped unscathed, but the head maid still challenged her with strict rules.

The children, however, were very popular with everyone in the general's mansion, for they were the general's grandchildren!

After nightfall, Ling Dapeng, whose physique had been strengthened and who had been taught a lot of etiquette and rules, lay sprawled on the bed with a mournful expression.

"Wife, I want to go home. This isn't my home." Ling Dapeng felt increasingly wronged. "I've never been this tired even when I'm working in the fields."

"I want to go back too. This general's mansion is too scary. Dapeng, I'm pregnant, and they even control how I sit," Zhou Xiaoyun said with distress. She had thought that coming to the general's mansion would be a blessing, but this blessing was too difficult to enjoy.

The couple exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

Not to mention Ling Dapeng and his wife, even Ling Dahu and his wife were finding it hard to keep up.

Inside the house, the son wasn't there and was arranged to sleep in a separate room. Only the youngest daughter was still small enough to sleep in a separate room, but there were two beds in the room, and the child slept in one of them.

"Dahu, when are we going home? There are too many rules in this General's Mansion," Wang Hongyu said wistfully. "Do you think Mother will miss us?"

"I'm so tired, honey, I'm really so tired." Ling Dahu lay on the bed and complained, "Dad said that a man should have a strong body and a heart that can bear all things. In the morning, I do horse stance, and after that, I read the Four Books and Five Classics. At noon, I learn how to be a good person, and in the afternoon, I have to go for a run. Honey, I think Dad wants me and my second brother to go to war!"

"Mother, I miss you so much. Wife, am I really that useless?" Ling Dahu's voice was choked with sobs. This life was worse than going back to farming!

Wang Hongyu's eyes also reddened; her father-in-law was too cruel.

“I miss my mother too, but I miss Rui’er even more. He’s still so young, how can he sleep alone in a room? And there’s no one to help him pee at night,” Wang Hongyu said worriedly.

"Wife, why don't we tell Dad we should go home?" Ling Dahu couldn't help but say. "I think Mom must be worried about us and waiting for us to come back!"