"If you have nothing to do these days, you might as well come to the General's Mansion more often. As your father, I have not taught you enough," Ling Yunzhou said earnestly when Ling Dapeng said goodbye to Zhou Xiaoyun.
Ling Dapeng's face turned green. What was he doing at the General's Mansion? Was he there to eat something dark and murky, or to train?
“Your physique is indeed not strong enough. If a man has a strong body, why would he worry about not being able to support his wife and children? You are about to have your second child. Ten taels of silver a month will be a lot of work in the capital,” Ling Yunzhou continued.
"Father, I...I'm very busy, I...I need to go see Mother and help her with her chores," Ling Dapeng stammered, not daring to look at Ling Yunzhou.
“Yes, Father, even though we’ve separated our households, we still go back to see Mother often,” Zhou Xiaoyun immediately added. She never expected that her trip to the General’s Mansion would result in her eating wild vegetables.
“That’s only right, Dapeng. Your mother raised you and even bought you a house. You mustn’t be unfilial to her. Separating the family just means we won’t live together anymore, but your filial piety can’t be diminished in the slightest.” Ling Yunzhou’s expression was solemn. “If I find out you’re unfilial to your mother, I won’t hesitate to personally teach you what it means to be a human being!”
Ling Dapeng nodded vigorously, his smile more like a grimace.
“Dad, that’s my mother, my own mother. Of course I will do my best to be filial.”
"Also, if you find raising a wife and children a bit difficult, I wouldn't mind letting you raise this son." Ling Yunzhou's gaze fell on Ling Zhi. Such a young child could still be taught well.
Zhou Xiaoyun immediately hugged her son tightly; no matter how hard it was, she would never give up on him!
"Dad, we're leaving. Zhi'er needs to go home for a nap!" Zhou Xiaoyun said nervously.
“Yes, Dad, we’re leaving now, goodbye!” Ling Dapeng said immediately.
"No need to rush, I'll take you back. I haven't even been to your new home yet." Ling Yunzhou strode ahead of Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun.
Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun became even more nervous. They came to the General's Mansion to plead poverty, but what if their father found out they had bought two servants...?
However, Ling Yunzhou was clearly going to take a look over there, and the carriage was already prepared.
Like ducks being forced onto a shelf, Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun had no choice but to obediently get into the carriage. Facing Ling Yunzhou, who was sitting upright in the carriage, neither of them dared to breathe loudly.
"Master~" The clueless Ling Zhi sucked his fingers and shouted at Ling Yunzhou.
"Not bad, you even know how to flatter me," Ling Yunzhou said with a stern face.
Zhou Xiaoyun held her child tightly; she was willing to fight her mother-in-law to the death for this child.
"Father, Zhi'er is my life, and no one can take him away from me," Zhou Xiaoyun said, mustering her courage.
"If anyone wants to take him away, and you can raise him well yourselves, why should I interfere?" Ling Yunzhou retorted.
“Father, we can raise him well, we will never let Zhi’er suffer,” Ling Dapeng immediately said.
“Suffering is nothing. Only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one rise above others. Are you sure you won’t let your grandson go hungry?” Ling Yunzhou retorted.
"No, absolutely not, Dad. We have money. Mom bought us a house and gave us two hundred taels of silver. We're not suffering. Once the restaurant opens, I'll have wages," Ling Dapeng immediately declared.
"Oh, it seems Wan Niang treats you quite well, buying you a house and giving you over a hundred taels of silver." Ling Yunzhou raised an eyebrow. "However, even with this money, you can't squander it, understand?"
“We know, we know,” Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun replied immediately.
The carriage soon arrived at the place Ling Dapeng had mentioned. Since his own father had arrived at the door, there was no reason not to let him in.
Ling Dapeng jumped off the carriage first, then helped Zhou Xiaoyun, who was holding the child, off the carriage. The two of them waited anxiously for Ling Yunzhou to get off.
"Father, we have two more people we hired to help out at home. They're both from poor families," Zhou Xiaoyun said tactfully.
“Yes, Dad, they were desperate and were sold by human traffickers. We felt sorry for them and bought them,” Ling Dapeng added.
Ling Yunzhou raised an eyebrow. The young couple were indeed on the same page. After he learned about the family division, he had someone inquire and found out that they had indeed bought two servants, but they also required indentures. What kind of service was this?
Ling Yunzhou didn't say anything for the time being. When Ling Dapeng knocked on the door, he followed him inside and looked around. It wasn't bad at all, which showed that Tao Wanniang had been very kind and righteous to her son's family.
"Cao'er, Aunt Liu, this is my father," Ling Dapeng introduced him somewhat awkwardly.
Cao'er and Liu Ma immediately greeted him respectfully, "We greet you, sir."
Ling Yunzhou waved his hand, signaling the two to leave.
This small courtyard is quite nice for living in, and there's an open space in the center of the courtyard.
"If you build a wall, fill it with soil, and plant some vegetables, you'll have something to eat every day."
“I see there are still chickens and ducks. When they lay eggs, we won’t need to buy them from outside.”
Ling Yunzhou said with a knowing air, "Now that you've separated your families and are living separately, then live well. Your mother has treated you all well."
“Dad, I know Mom treats me well, but a man has to leave home when he grows up.” Ling Dapeng would never say that it was all because of Zhou Xiaoyun. “Dad, I will still be filial to Mom, really.”
Ling Yunzhou gave his second son a deep look. He had never raised him properly, but he believed that Tao Wanniang's upbringing would not produce a heartless son.
"If one day I find out that you are not filial to your mother, you will no longer be my son!" Ling Yunzhou said coldly.
Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun immediately expressed their opinions, with Ling Dapeng even vowing to be filial to his mother.
After seeing Ling Yunzhou off, Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Dapeng, is Dad doing this on purpose?" Zhou Xiaoyun asked. "Does he want us to never forget Mom's kindness?"
“Isn’t it intentional?” Ling Dapeng sighed. “Xiaoyun, we all underestimated your father. In your father’s eyes, your mother is perfect.”
Zhou Xiaoyun bit her lip, her eyes immediately reddening as she said, "Dapeng, do you resent me? It's because I don't get along with Mother, because I feel like Mother is always targeting me, because I'm not comfortable there, that's why I want you to separate from the family."
Seeing that Zhou Xiaoyun was about to cry, Ling Dapeng sighed, patted her shoulder, and pulled her into his arms.
“Silly wife, you are my wife, the mother of my son, and I will definitely live with you from now on.” Ling Dapeng knew his wife’s reasons, of course. “We’ve already broken up, why think about those things?” Anyway, his mother didn’t want him to go back. Ling Dapeng felt like crying and regretted it, but he didn’t want his wife to worry.
"Dad is right. This empty land is just sitting there anyway, so let's use it to grow vegetables. That way, we can save money because we have what we need at home!"
“Okay, from now on you can work outside, and I'll manage the money at home for you. We'll definitely be able to make a good living for our family,” Zhou Xiaoyun replied, encouraging herself. Now that they were separated, she would never let her mother-in-law laugh at them in the end.
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