Ling Ce was pleased, but also somewhat ashamed.
I never imagined that a woman in the village would be so passionate about calligraphy and painting! Her passion is so undisguised!
I heard that her husband was a scholar. Not only did he teach his own children to read, but he also taught all the children in the village, regardless of gender. They were a family of farmers and scholars, a family steeped in literature. This love was ingrained in their bones, something he could not match.
Shui Qing didn't understand the meaning of Ling Ce's sudden excitement and admiration, but with her mind on selling the calligraphy and paintings to the mall to make money, the smile on her face was obviously much more genuine.
Both the gift-giver and the gift-recipient were very satisfied, and both host and guests had a pleasant time.
When the gate was opened, Sang Rou was already smiling gently, standing quietly by the gate like a willow swaying in the breeze.
Ling Qiang's thin body was slightly hunched, as if he were respectfully waiting for his father to come out.
Shui Qing glanced at the two of them and sighed, "They can bend and stretch."
The group walked towards the village entrance. Because of the large number of people, Sang Rou lagged slightly behind and stood beside Shui Qing.
Her eyes were fixed on Ling Ce ahead, a faint smile on her face. Though her voice was soft, her words were anything but polite: "Don't think that you can rest easy just because you've climbed onto the master's coattails. You should know that the decades-long friendship between the master and me cannot be erased by a few words. Once we return to the manor, everything will be back to normal."
Shui Qing nodded indifferently.
Sang Rou saw herself as a vine that needed to depend on others to live, but she only wanted to be a big tree of her own, without needing to climb on anyone.
Sleeping soundly without worry? There is no such thing as true peace of mind in this world. Only through continuous effort and planning can one overcome every obstacle.
She didn't expect Ling Ce to suddenly become a good father. Indeed, as Sang Rou said, it wasn't something she could erase with just a few words. But once the seed of doubt was planted, it would sprout and take root.
Not receiving a rebuttal, Sang Rou's pent-up anger intensified, and she continued, "Do you think Ling Ran can defeat me?"
So what if Zhu's family background, upbringing, and social standing were all good? She still couldn't hold onto her husband's heart, and in the end, her husband, family fortune, and son all fell into my hands.
"Even Ling Ran, the eldest son, was defeated by me. The Ling family will ultimately belong to my son!"
Shui Qing looked up at the smug woman beside her, feeling no shame, only pride.
Sang Rou overlooked the biggest problem.
In the past, her rival was Madam Zhu. A wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a stolen affair. Sang Rou was the one outside, occupying the romantic and tender moments, while Madam Zhu's side was all about family matters and daily necessities. She lost to her not because Madam Zhu was incompetent, but simply because their positions were different.
Now that Sang Rou, the mistress, has taken over, she's become the one in charge of the daily chores!
Furthermore, Ling Ran's feelings for Ling Ce are familial. Many men would choose their mistress over their wife, but between a mistress and a child, they often care more about the child—the older they get, the more they value the child. This is because when they are young, they only want love and romance, but when they get older, they can't do that anymore and they rely more on their children.
Ling Ce may not need his son to support him in his old age, but he needs someone to manage the Ling family and bring it to prominence. So, it all comes down to which son is more capable.
Seeing that Hu Shuiqing remained silent, as if hitting a cotton ball, Sang Rou's anger not only did not subside but intensified. She threatened, "What, scared? Or don't believe me? Just you wait and see!"
Shui Qing finally replied, "Okay, I'll wait and see."
Ling Ran's path is already different from theirs.
Even without relying on the Ling family, he can carve out his own niche. From now on, it won't be him relying on the Ling family, but the Ling family relying on him.
She believed she could see what would happen to Sang Rou, who thought she had defeated the legal wife and ousted the legitimate son.
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