As for Lin Mingyue, she had already been helped up by her maid. Her big eyes were full of tears, but she dared not cry out. As long as her mother was alright, that was all that mattered.
Upon hearing this, Liu Guisheng's barely concealed anger subsided, and he asked, "Is that how Mingzhu and Mingyue are?"
Mingzhu really didn't want to talk to her father. He only saw the surface and was too busy to care about anything at home, leaving everything to her stepmother. If he didn't see the consequences, wouldn't she, Mingyue, and Aunt Lin suffer the consequences?
Mingyue still had tears on her face, and she said cautiously, "Yes, Father."
Liu Guisheng knelt down and wiped away Mingyue's tears. He turned to Liu Mingjie and scolded him:
"Mingjie, why are you running around like that? You're getting more and more unruly. If you really bump into your Aunt Lin, you'll be in big trouble."
She then turned to her eldest daughter, who was looking away from her, and said, "Mingzhu, don't be angry. Look, your brother didn't do it on purpose. Your father has already scolded him."
Liu Mingzhu still wouldn't look at her father, and let out a snort.
The maidservant serving beside her looked anxious. Her young mistress always treated her master with such disrespect and rudeness. Over time, in her master's eyes, her young mistress was just a spoiled, willful, and ignorant spoiled young lady. But the young mistress was not like that at all.
And this is exactly what the First Madam wanted to see. Although the young lady is insightful, she can never help herself.
Madam Su said, "What you say is true, sir. I will discipline Mingjie properly. It's normal for Mingjie to be active. Don't talk to Mingzhu like that. Mingzhu is a bit spoiled because she lost her mother at a young age. It's all because I love my sister's only child too much and can't bear to scold her, which has led to her having this kind of personality."
As Ms. Su spoke, her eyes welled up with tears.
Liu Guisheng's face showed some emotion when she mentioned his deceased wife, but he still said:
“Those who need discipline should still be disciplined. Mingzhu, it’s wrong of you to push your own brother like that. When you get home, copy the ‘Instructions for Women’ three times.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Mingzhu immediately protested, "It was clearly Mingjie who did wrong, why punish me? Father, you always do this without distinguishing right from wrong, I hate you, waaaah..."
Liu Mingzhu ran away crying.
Lin Taohua said anxiously, "Mingzhu, Mingzhu... hurry, hurry and chase after her, don't let the young lady get hurt or get lost."
Liu Mingzhu's maid had already chased after them, and upon hearing Lin Taohua's words, several servants standing nearby also went to chase after them.
Liu Guisheng watched Liu Mingzhu run away crying, a look of anxiety appearing on his face. He still said, "Why is this Mingzhu girl becoming so unruly? Your brother did it accidentally, and she even brought up your father..."
Madam Su stepped forward and said, "Master, Mingzhu has always been like this, so please don't really blame her. If you have to blame someone, blame me; I spoiled her too much..."
Watching this farce unfold, Song Anxin frowned and shook her head inwardly. This little Su was quite cunning and manipulative. It seemed that all the rumors about Madam Liu being virtuous and kind were false. In the eyes of the Liu family, her sister-in-law was not living as well as she claimed.
Lin Fengyao, who was sitting closest to the door, knew the situation best. He saw that the little girl had been wronged and was about to speak up for her when his mother stopped him.
"Feng Yao, come in quickly."
Lin Fengyao looked at her, and Song Anxin gently shook her head at him. Now that the matter was settled, if the Su family of Tusheng went back, they would definitely not let her sister-in-law and the two little girls go.
Liu Guisheng already knew that this family was there, and many diners around were also peeking in. But seeing that their own problems had been resolved, they quickly withdrew their necks.
But he happened to be standing right in front of this family's private room, so he cupped his hands and said to Song Anxin inside:
"Please forgive my son, ladies and gentlemen. He was playing around and disturbed you. I will have the waiter bring you a pot of wine later as an apology."
Song Anxin returned the greeting, saying, "Master Liu, there's no need to be so polite. We're relatives, after all. It's been so long since I've seen my sister-in-law."
She smiled at Lin Taohua: "Fengyao, a year of plenty, a bountiful harvest, why don't you hurry up and call her aunt?"
Lin Fengnian had already recognized his aunt, but looking at the group of people whose clothes and aura were all rich and imposing, he didn't dare to go up and acknowledge his aunt directly. Besides, his mother had told him not to disturb his aunt's life.
Only after his mother spoke did he quickly step forward, his mouth trembling a few times before he finally managed to call out, "Little...Little Aunt."
The children then realized that the pregnant aunt in front of them was their aunt.
She followed her older brother, saying, "Auntie, Auntie..."
Lin Taohua's eyes almost welled up with tears as she listened. It had been so long since she had seen her family. She couldn't believe how quickly they had grown up. And the youngest one by the door must be Feng Yao, right? He was just a baby when she got married.
Liu Guisheng looked slightly surprised, then glanced at his aunt and suddenly realized that Aunt Lin did indeed have a family in the countryside. These people were Aunt Lin's family members? How could country folk have money to eat in a private room at the Yuelai Restaurant?
He maintained his smile and said, "So you're from Aunt Lin's family. What a coincidence! Aunt Lin, what's wrong? Don't you recognize your own family?"
Lin Taohua then came to her senses and quickly said, "No, no, sir, I was just too excited to see my family. Second sister-in-law, what a bountiful harvest... And this must be Aunt Song and Brother Anbang, right? It's been such a long time."
Grandma Song quickly stood up, stared intently, and exclaimed, "Oh my, it really is the Lin family's peach blossom! I almost didn't recognize it!"
Song Anbang also stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings, Master Liu and Madam Liu, greetings, Aunt Lin."
The younger children around him also followed his example, bowing and greeting him: "Greetings, Master Liu and Madam Liu."
Liu Guisheng and Xiao Su nodded with smiles in response.
Lin Taohua was so happy she almost cried, and she wiped her eyes.
Liu Guisheng said, "Why are you so agitated? If you miss home, just visit your parents more often. Don't harm the baby."
Lin Taohua repeatedly said, "Yes, yes, yes."
Although Xiao Su had a smile on her face, there was no smile in her eyes, and even a hint of contempt. What was there to associate with such a rural farmer?
At this moment, Manager Meng came up.
"Master Liu, what... what happened? What's going on at the door of Sister-in-law Lin's private room?"
Liu Guisheng said, "It's nothing, I just ran into my in-laws. They are my concubine Lin's family."
Shopkeeper Meng exclaimed with delight, "Oh my, what a coincidence!"
He said to Song Anxin inside, "Second Sister-in-law Lin, I didn't expect you to be related to Master Liu's family by marriage. In the future, if your family produces anything good, don't just think about your in-laws and forget about me."
Song Anxin smiled and said, "Manager Meng, what are you saying? We've been partners for a long time, how could we forget you?"
Liu Guisheng looked puzzled by their words and asked, "What makes you say that, Manager Meng?"
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