In the dead of night, Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun sneaked out of the house. One carried a hoe and the other carried a lantern. They walked in the deserted fields. From a distance, the single light looked somewhat eerie.
The two of them were quite familiar with the route. Having done it once before, Ling Dapeng was even more adept at digging potatoes this time.
"That's enough, that's enough. People will find out how much you're digging." Zhou Xiaoyun said, her heart pounding, as she watched Ling Dapeng digging so enthusiastically.
"Okay, okay, that's fine, I'll bury this soil properly." Ling Dapeng replied excitedly when he saw that a pile of soil had been dug out.
The tenant farmers on night watch had already heard the commotion, and the lantern seemed to be there as if they wanted everyone to know that the potato field had been dug up.
"Hmm!" With a soft cough, light appeared in the ground, startling Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun so much that they fell to the ground with a thud.
As the tenant farmer on night duty struck the gong, people emerged from the makeshift thatched huts.
"Where did this petty thief come from, stealing from our village?" After banging the gong, the man caught Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun red-handed with a pitchfork.
"Don't shout, it's me, it's me, I'm your boss's son!" Ling Dapeng was startled by the sound of the gong and immediately shouted.
Even late at night, the sound of a gong can travel far. Lin Zhuangshi had something on his mind and kept thinking about it. When he heard the gong, he immediately woke up the two tenant farmers and they rushed to the potato field together.
The tenant farmer on night duty was named Wu Ping'an. He did not recognize Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun, and he did not believe Ling Dapeng's explanation.
"You little thief, what nonsense are you spouting? What kind of person is our boss? How could he possibly have someone like you..." As Wu Ping'an spoke, he sized up Ling Dapeng, "A son with shady hands?"
"Big brother, please have mercy on us and let us go! We don't want these potatoes anymore!" Zhou Xiaoyun pleaded as she helped Ling Dapeng to his feet.
"No way! This is our boss's exclusive property. This isn't the first time you've dug it up. This matter must be reported to the authorities!" Wu Ping'an said, pointing a fork at Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun.
"Come on, follow me to the manor to see the manager. If you dare to run away, I'll give you a fork!"
“My mother is Tao Wanniang. If you dare to hurt me, you’ll regret it!” Ling Dapeng said defiantly, sticking his neck out.
"You think you can justify stealing? If you were the owner's son, he certainly wouldn't let it go so easily!" Wu Ping'an was an honest man. Stealing, no matter what you steal or whose it is, is a very bad thing!
"Go, get out of here right now!" Wu Ping'an urged Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun.
Ling Dapeng was about to say something, but Zhou Xiaoyun held his arm tightly. He wondered if he should run away, but when he saw Zhou Xiaoyun's pale face, he finally gave up.
It's just a few potatoes, what's the big deal? Report it to the authorities? So what if I report it? His mother is the owner, even if he's a thief, he's a thief within the family, and a thief within the family... does that count as stealing?
Lin Zhuangshi and his group encountered Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun on the way, who were being threatened by Wu Ping'an with a fork to go to the manor.
It was these two people! Lin Zhuangshi couldn't help but think how troublesome it was. But why did these two have to come and steal potatoes?
"Oh, you two, this is a difficult situation. Should we send you back to the estate to talk to the manager, or should we send you into the city to talk to the owner?" Lin Zhuangshi yawned. It's the middle of the night, and he can't even get a good night's sleep. Isn't that annoying?
Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun exchanged a glance, then said in unison, "Let's go see Mother!"
Lin Zhuangshi made no other sound, glanced at the two men without leaving a trace, and continued walking into the manor.
There were still empty rooms in the village, but they hadn't been cleaned. Lin Zhuangshi only asked the two of them to make do for one night, and then sent the others back to sleep.
"Xiaoyun, we're going back to the capital. This time we absolutely have to go back!" Ling Dapeng said through gritted teeth. "Even if we don't stay in the capital, we'll stay in this manor!"
"Mom doesn't agree!" Zhou Xiaoyun said in distress. "I shouldn't have agreed to let you go dig potatoes. We've never eaten them before. Are they really that good?"
“Are they stupid to spend a hundred taels of silver to buy potatoes?” Ling Dapeng had already made up his mind. “I know Mother doesn’t agree, but we have to be firm. So, if we take a step back, we can stay on this estate. When the time comes, I’ll keep one or two potatoes for myself when we dig them up, and that won’t be considered stealing.”
Ling Dapeng had spent some time with Shishi and picked up the bad habit of gambling. He didn't learn any good things, but he did learn a lot of bad ones.
After listening to Ling Dapeng's words, Zhou Xiaoyun pondered for a while and whispered, "Dapeng, if Mother wants us to work here, then just focus on doing our jobs well. And don't even think about stealing potatoes!"
“Xiaoyun, are we going to farm for the rest of our lives? I want you to have a good life too. We’ll never get ahead in that village.”
Zhou Xiaoyun felt uncertain; she just wanted a peaceful life. "Let's go to the city and take a look first!"
The next day, Lin Zhuangshi, along with Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun, went to the Star-Picking Tower.
Knowing that Ling Dapeng had stolen the potatoes, Tao Wan's mother was both surprised and unsurprised; this son was beyond saving!
"Mother, it's just a few potatoes, please let us go!" Ling Dapeng said ingratiatingly to Tao Wan's mother. "Mother, we want to go back to the capital. You're so busy with your business right now, so let us help you out!"
Tao Wanniang scoffed and slapped Ling Dapeng across the face without any politeness.
"My son, Tao Wanniang's son, has started stealing chickens and other petty things. It's truly shameful!" Tao Wanniang waved her hand dismissively. She rarely hit people in the past; after all, her son was a father now, and she hadn't actually raised him, so she couldn't be bothered to interfere. But now, her second son had gone completely astray!
Ling Dapeng was stunned when Tao Wanniang slapped him. He was so tall, yet he was slapped in the face by Tao Wanniang!
"Mother, no!" Zhou Xiaoyun immediately stood in front of Ling Dapeng.
"Mother, let's go back to the village and work hard. Please don't hit Dapeng anymore."
"Tell me, what did you do with my potatoes?" Tao Wanniang ignored Zhou Xiaoyun and stared at Ling Dapeng, saying, "Do you know what you've touched? These are things I painstakingly carried all the way from Youzhou, and what have you done with them?"
Perhaps Tao Wan's mother's cold face was too intimidating, because before Ling Dapeng could speak, Zhou Xiaoyun immediately said, "It's sold. Someone paid Dapeng to dig it up. Mother, we...we just want to live a better life!"
"When you had good days before, you didn't cherish them, and now you're even stealing chickens and dogs!" Tao Wan's mother thought about it and realized it was true. It was just ten potatoes. Even if they were planted, whether they would survive was another matter. And even if they did survive, it would take about two months for them to grow into potatoes. Plus, the current season wasn't suitable for potatoes to grow...
Tao Wanniang already had a plan in mind. Looking at Ling Dapeng, who was still defiant after being beaten, she said indifferently, "Don't call me 'Mother' anymore. I really don't want this son of yours. Whether you want to go back to the manor in Lingyun Prefecture or become an official, the choice is yours!"
Ling Dapeng looked at Tao Wanniang in disbelief. Just for a few potatoes, she wanted him to see the authorities? But at this moment, Tao Wanniang's indifferent expression left Ling Dapeng speechless!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com