Chapter 162 He Doesn’t Care About His Stepmother
The Qian family was a grand and wealthy household, with blue brick walls and glazed tiles.
Qian Hui got off the carriage and went straight to the study of the Qian family patriarch, and then recounted the whole story of the stone roller.
Old Master Qian knew his grandson was good-for-nothing, so he hadn't been listening at all. But as he listened, he couldn't help but suddenly stand up, looking completely incredulous.
“Although I don’t know what a stone roller is, it must be a very important farming tool that made Magistrate Shen write a special report to the Prefect.” Old Master Qian said with a sigh, “Hui’er, who did you arrange to make this stone roller, which stonemason did you find, how long it takes to make a stone roller… record all of this in a book. Also, how to use the stone roller, how much manpower it can replace, you must write that down as well.”
Qian Hui scratched his head: "I only knew it was a stone, how would I know how to use it? I've never even seen one before."
"This won't do, you must get to the bottom of this!" Old Master Qian said sternly. "Although Shi Gun's idea came from Shen Zheng, it was you who had someone carry it out. The credit should be shared by both of you. Our Qian Family Business is too conspicuous. If we have credit to back us up, no one will dare to try to sabotage the Qian family again. You must take this credit. I'm going to find Magistrate Bai of Baiyun Town and have him write a memorial to the Prefect. This matter must be reported."
Qian Hui nodded: "Grandfather, I'm going to Dahe Village to find out how to use the stone roller, so I won't be clueless when asked."
Grandpa Qian was very pleased: "Hui'er has become sensible and can now share the responsibilities of the family. Take a few more people with you to avoid any mishaps."
"yes!"
Qian Hui happily agreed.
The sun is setting.
Cheng Wanwan served the food, and the family sat down around the table. As usual, Afu sat on a small stool by the door.
Cheng Wanwan rewarded Afu with an egg. The child went to Hekou Town before dawn and didn't return until evening, bringing back thirty catties of pork offal. If he had gone a little earlier, he could have brought back forty or fifty catties. However, Afu had already made arrangements with the Zhu family and paid a deposit. They would send someone to pick it up at noon tomorrow.
Thirty catties of pork offal were cooked in two pots on the stove, and the aroma wafted over from time to time. Zhao Sidan, who was eating, couldn't help but keep looking into the kitchen.
Zhao Ergou slapped him on the back of the head: "Even if it's cooked, you're not allowed to eat it. I'll rely on this to make money when I go to town tomorrow. If I make a lot, I'll bring you some good food."
Zhao Sidan chuckled, "I want a sugar figurine."
“In this weather, the sugar figurines we brought back have all melted. Let’s get you a different one!” Zhao Ergou thought for a moment and said, “I’ll bring you some fried shortbread. I heard it’s really delicious.”
Zhao Sidan turned to Shen Zheng and asked, "Brother Zheng, you're from the city, you should know what snacks are good."
Cheng Wanwan chuckled. How come these kids are so close? Yesterday he was Young Master Shen, and today he's Brother Zheng.
Shen Zheng was angry and snorted, ignoring him.
He had just discussed his parents' affairs with this kid, and the kid hadn't given him a friendly look. Why should he tell this guy about the best snacks in town?
He buried his head in his food and continued eating, shoveling large mouthfuls of rice into his mouth. He used to dislike eating white rice, but after coming to Dahe Village, he could eat two bowls in one meal, and he felt like he had become a bit stronger.
“Um, Mother…” Zhao Ergou put down his chopsticks and hesitated before speaking, “I want to ask you something.”
Cheng Wanwan assumed he was asking about business matters and nodded, saying, "Go ahead and ask."
"Well, that..." Zhao Ergou scratched the back of his head, "I remember once, Mother said in front of everyone in the village that she would never remarry and would stay with Father for the rest of her life. Does that still count?"
Shen Zheng suddenly looked up, his eating motions halting.
Cheng Wanwan was confused: "Of course it counts."
What's so great about men? Men only hinder her from having a good life. She's much happier living on her own.
"Zhao Ergou, you're all so selfish!" Shen Zheng slammed down his chopsticks and said with dissatisfaction, "Your mother is only thirty-three years old, in the prime of her life. Why should she be expected to stay with a dead man for the rest of her life? What will your mother do after you grow up, get married, and separate from the family? Will she be all alone and miserable?"
Zhao Dashan didn't know why the young master was so emotional, but he still wanted to make his position clear: "As long as our parents are alive, we will not separate from the family. As long as our mother is still alive, the four of us brothers will never separate and live separately."
Zhao Ergou nodded: "That's right, we won't separate."
Zhao Sanniu nodded as he ate, "I want to stay with my mother for the rest of my life!"
Zhao Sidan grabbed Cheng Wanwan's hand and said, "Mom, we will never be apart."
Cheng Wanwan was both amused and exasperated: "How did you all get onto this topic? Let's eat, let's stop rambling."
"snort!"
Shen Zheng threw down his chopsticks, turned around, and ran away.
Ah Fu hadn't even finished his meal when he chased after him, bowl in hand, "Young Master, what's wrong, Young Master..."
Cheng Wanwan squinted at the children sitting at the table. Cheng Zhao strictly adhered to the rule of not speaking while eating and ate in silence. Zhao Dashan and Zhao Sanniu also kept their heads down and ate. Wu Huiniang went to the yard to feed the chickens and ducks. Only Zhao Ergou and Zhao Sidan kept their heads down guiltily and didn't dare to look at her.
She said calmly: "Tell me, what are you hiding from me?"
Zhao Ergou poked Zhao Sidan: "Shen Zheng mentioned it to you first, you tell me."
Zhao Sidan lowered his head and counted the rice grains: "I am just a child and don't understand adult matters. Second brother, you should tell me."
Cheng Wanwan said coldly, "Ergou, you tell us."
"It's Shen Zheng, he wants to find a stepmother for himself!" Zhao Ergou said with a determined heart, "He thinks my mother treats him very well, so he wants her to be his stepmother!"
Cheng Wanwan: "???"
Is there something wrong with her ears? What did she hear?
Zhao Sidan shook her sleeves and said, "Mom, don't be so nice to him in the future. He wants to come and snatch you from us."
"Ahem!" As the eldest brother, Zhao Dashan's cough silenced his younger brothers, who all turned to look at him. He put down his chopsticks and said, "Although we are Mother's own sons, we have no right to make her never remarry. Er Gou, Si Dan, you two should say less."
Zhao Sidan's eyes widened: "Big brother, do you want Mother to marry Lord Shen? Then Mother will be Madam Shen, Shen Zheng's mother, and will have nothing to do with us anymore!"
“That’s not what I meant!” Zhao Dashan explained. “What I meant was that whatever choice Mother makes is her own business, and we shouldn’t take advantage of being her sons to influence her thoughts.”
Cheng Wanwan looked at Zhao Dashan with some surprise. Although she had never thought about remarrying, her eldest son was able to think about this from her perspective. Moreover, Dashan, who was usually taciturn, was able to say such a long sentence so fluently, which meant that he had thought it through carefully and it was not an impulsive decision.
She said, "Dashan is right. Everyone has their own choices. We can't influence others just because of our own selfish desires."
Zhao Sidan's eyes suddenly turned red: "Mom, are you really going to be Shen Zheng's stepmother..."
“You have your selfish motives, and of course I have mine,” Cheng Wanwan said with a gentle smile. “My selfish motive is you all.”
Zhao Sidan threw himself into Cheng Wanwan's arms: "I'm sorry, Mom, I was too selfish, but I really can't bear to part with you..."
Zhao Ergou pursed his lips and said, "Mother, I'm sorry, I was wrong. I always think of myself first, and I've never thought about this from your perspective."
"You are just a child, what's wrong with that?" Cheng Wanwan laughed helplessly. "I said I won't get married again. I mean it. Don't mention this matter again."
Shen Zheng, standing outside the door, bit his lower lip.
Fine, I won't marry him then. He doesn't care about a stepmother, humph!
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