Just as everyone had taken their steamed buns, Mu Xiao came over. He was there to pick up Mu Xiuyu so they could have dinner together at Doctor You's!
To everyone's surprise, Mu Xiuyu was already eating there. When Liu Zheng saw Mu Xiao, she asked Qin Liang...
"My lord, is this Xiaoyu's cousin?"
Qin Liang nodded and introduced
"This is Mu Xiao, Xiao Yu's cousin. He's now acknowledged Doctor You as his father!"
Mu Xiao clasped his hands in a fist salute to Liu Zheng.
"Hello, sister-in-law. My son Xiaoyu has caused you so much trouble. Mu Xiao is extremely grateful!"
Mu Xiao knew that in this famine year, everyone would hoard food, especially since Qin Liang's family had four children.
They not only fed Mu Xiuyu, but also cleaned him up and gave him a small cloth bag. They also saved his life. It would be an understatement to say that I am extremely grateful!
Liu Zheng quickly waved her hand
"Brother Mu, you flatter me. Now that you've acknowledged Doctor You as your father, you and my Qin Liang are practically brothers. There's no need for such formalities. Haven't you eaten yet? Why don't you join us for something?"
"My dad's already prepared it. I originally came to pick up Xiaoyu to eat there, but since he's already eating here, I'll go back and eat with my dad first!"
Mu Xiao turned to look at Mu Xiuyu: "Xiaoyu, can I come pick you up after you finish eating?"
Mu Xiuyu refused and threw a small package at Mu Xiao.
"Uncle, please leave! These are the dirty clothes my aunt gave me. Take them back and don't come looking for me again! I want to stay with my older brother and sister!"
Mu Xiao: What on earth happened? How could I have been abandoned so quickly?
Qin Liang burst out laughing.
"Haha, well, why don't you go back first? Let Xiaoyu play here! Kids always love playing with other kids!"
Mu Xiao laughed awkwardly after hearing this.
"Hehe, yes! Young Master has never played with so many children before!"
After he finished speaking, he bid farewell to Qin Liang and went to see Doctor You.
Liu Zheng only remembered to ask Qin Liang after Mu Xiao left.
"Husband, where's Da Mao? Why didn't he come for dinner?"
"I'll go take a look!" Qin Liang walked towards the temporary residence of Da Mao and Old Lady Ma.
As Qin Liang approached, he heard Old Lady Ma muttering curses, while Da Mao squatted silently beside her.
Wiping away tears every now and then, Qin Liang finally understood what had happened after being told the whole story by the person next to him.
It turned out that Old Lady Ma said she had difficulty walking and wanted to ride in Qin Liang's donkey cart.
Da Mao was sent to talk to Qin Liang, but Da Mao disagreed, saying he would carry Old Lady Ma on his back.
Old Mrs. Ma was displeased, saying that Da Mao was heartless and an ingrate.
They've raised them themselves for over a decade, yet it's not as good as the few steamed buns Qin Liang's family gave them.
Tell Da Mao to ask Qin Liang's family if they want to buy him back as a servant.
She looked at Da Mao's bowing and scraping manner, and saw that he was just like those servile lackeys who sold themselves into servitude!
He even insulted Da Mao, saying he was just like his mother who died young, and that Da Mao's mother was a slut, and that the child she gave birth to was also a little slut.
They said that Da Mao would die young like her mother sooner or later. Out of filial piety, Da Mao didn't dare to talk back and could only squat there and silently wipe away her tears!
Qin Liang felt sorrow for him after hearing these words, but in this dynasty, filial piety was of paramount importance.
Even if Ma's wife verbally abused or even physically assaulted Da Mao, Da Mao still had to protect her, respect her, and serve her!
Qin Liang ignored Old Lady Ma and pulled Da Mao away. Old Lady Ma immediately started mocking him.
"Oh! Isn't this Master Qin? What? Here to make our Da Mao work for you again? A scholar, my foot! Bah! I think you're just a heartless landlord, all you know is to make people work, but you never pay a penny!"
When Da Mao saw that his grandmother had slandered the Master, he immediately spoke up to clarify.
"No, Grandma, don't talk nonsense. The teacher sends me to him every day, not to do chores, but because he knows I'm always hungry, so he sends me to get food!"
Upon hearing this, Old Lady Ma burst into a tirade.
"Well, you heartless little beast! Don't you go around badmouthing me every day, saying that I, an old woman, don't feed you?"
Da Mao quickly waved his hands and explained, "No, Grandma, I didn't!"
"Still lying? You think I can't teach you a lesson because I'm crippled, huh? You think Qin Liang is some kind of good person? He's just a gigolo who lives off women!"
"Grandma, don't talk nonsense!"
Da Mao bowed to Qin Liang in apology.
"Master, I'm so sorry, my grandmother has gone mad. Please don't take it to heart, Master. I'm truly sorry. Please go back now!"
Qin Liang felt particularly sorry for Da Mao, seeing how sensible he was.
He still didn't let go of Da Mao's hand.
"Come on, let's get something to eat, otherwise we won't have the energy to keep going!"
Da Mao's tears streamed down his face: "Master, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault!"
Qin Liang gently patted his back to comfort him.
"This has nothing to do with you. Some things are beyond your control, and you can't stop other people's thoughts. You're not wrong; others are. You don't need to blame yourself!"
Looking at the two of them, Old Lady Ma was furious.
She shouted loudly
"Well, well, you Qin Liang! I bet you two are father and son! No wonder you feed this ingrate every day, he couldn't possibly be your son with that bitch Bai Ling, could he? Oh, my son! Your life is so miserable! If I hadn't discovered this today, you'd probably be wearing this green hat even in your ghosthood!"
Old Mrs. Ma was unreasonable, like a madwoman, slapping the ground and wailing loudly.
Qin Liang was truly enraged this time. If Old Lady Ma weren't a woman, Qin Liang would have rushed up and beaten her, but she was, after all, a woman.
He could only rebuke them: "You're spouting complete nonsense and are utterly unreasonable!"
People around were saying that Old Mrs. Ma had lost her mind, that she wouldn't even spare her dead son and daughter-in-law!
Da Mao was so ashamed and furious that he wanted to die. He roared at Old Lady Ma.
"Enough, Grandma! What nonsense are you spouting? If you're not thinking straight, don't speak. If you keep causing trouble, I'll report you to the authorities and say you've gone mad, leaving you to fend for yourself!"
Old Mrs. Ma paused for a moment, then began to curse again.
"You heartless bastard! Don't think that just because someone's backing you up, you can be so unfilial to me! Didn't you always ask about your mother? Let me tell you today, your wretched mother was just a courtesan in a brothel; she's probably been violated by countless men!"
Then she looked at Qin Liang with disdain and said nonsense.
"Perhaps! Your beloved Master Qin is one of them! Hahahaha~"
Qin Liang couldn't stand the foul language and was about to pull Da Mao away when he felt something gust of wind blow past him.
He followed the shadow and realized it was his wife, Liu Zheng…
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