"Mother, we're back!" As evening fell, the Ling brothers stood at the door with their wives and children, banging on the door vigorously, their faces beaming with undisguised joy.
“It must have been something Mother said, Brother. It was the right decision to have Lord Qian make this trip.” Ling Dapeng said smugly. “Mother must have missed us, so when Lord Qian came to our door, she and Lord Qian brought us back.”
"It's so comfortable at home. Why is no one answering the door? They should be cooking dinner by now." Ling Dahu knocked for a long time, but no one answered, which puzzled him.
"Oh, you're back?" Wang Fugui from next door was walking home when he saw the Ling family and teased them, "I just ran into your mother and the others going out. They said they were going to a restaurant for dinner. What, you didn't know?"
The Ling brothers looked at each other, wondering if their mother should be waiting for them at home.
"Master Wang, you said my mother went to the restaurant. Was she invited there by someone?" Ling Dahu asked cautiously.
"I don't think so. It was just four people and a little kid, chatting and laughing as they went." Wang Fugui found it somewhat amusing to see the Ling brothers looking so dazed.
"Master Wang, did they mention which restaurant?" Wang Hongyu asked immediately when she saw the Ling brothers were dumbfounded.
"No, there are so many restaurants in the capital, who would know?" Wang Fugui smiled and walked towards his home.
The heavy lock on the door blocked the Ling brothers' way home. It was getting dark, and the cold wind blowing on their faces made them feel icy cold.
"Let's get in the carriage first," Wang Hongyu said. Fortunately, she drove the carriage herself on the way there and back.
"Mother, I'm hungry." Little Feng'er was very popular with the nannies in the General's Mansion. In the past few days, her face had become rounder, and her bright black eyes blinked, making her especially lovable.
“I’m a little hungry too, sister-in-law, let’s find a restaurant to eat at,” Zhou Xiaoyun said with a complicated expression.
“Yes, you can’t go hungry.” Wang Hongyu nodded and then urged the Ling brothers to get on the carriage again.
"Shouldn't Mother be waiting for us at home?" Ling Dapeng asked again, puzzled. "Doesn't Mother feel sad at all that we're not here?"
Ling Dahu pursed his lips, frowned, and did not answer. He vaguely felt that perhaps they had been too presumptuous.
Finally, Ling Dahu sighed and patted his younger brother on the shoulder.
"Let's go, get in the carriage first, then find a restaurant to fill our stomachs."
"Brother, did you bring any money?" Ling Dapeng asked Ling Dahu. "Xiaoyun and I didn't bring any. We're going to Dad's place, so I was wondering what money we should bring."
Ling Dahu was also taken aback and looked at Wang Hongyu.
Wang Hongyu was taken aback. Yes, she hadn't planned to bring any money when she went to the General's Mansion! Their money was hidden deep inside the cabinets!
"We didn't bring any either," Wang Hongyu said bitterly. A gust of cold wind blew by, and she shivered. A faint sorrow welled up in her heart; they were penniless!
"Hey, Ling brothers, we have no guests at home today. Why don't you come and sit at my Wang family's house?" Wang Fugui said, waving to the Ling brothers from his doorway.
A warm feeling ignited in the eyes of the Ling brothers. A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative; Mr. Wang next door is truly a good man.
"Coming, coming, Master Wang, thank you."
This was the first time the Ling brothers had visited the Wang family. The Wang family servants helped them park their carriage, and after entering the house, servants led the way. Once seated, servants served tea. However, having spent seven days at the General's Mansion, the Ling brothers remained unfazed by all this.
"Young man from the Ling family, why aren't you staying at home during the New Year? Where have you gone?" Wang Fugui asked tentatively.
“We stayed at Dad’s for a while,” Ling Dahu said.
"Father? If I remember correctly, your father has already passed away, hasn't he? Wasn't it me who found someone to make that memorial tablet for you?" Wang Fugui asked in surprise.
“We thought Dad was gone, but then we were reunited,” Ling Dapeng replied.
"Oh, there's such a thing? So your father is also in the capital?" Wang Fugui asked curiously. So Tao Wanniang wasn't a widow after all!
"Yes, it's in the capital."
Wait a minute, Wang Fugui took them to make memorial tablets before, and Tao's husband was named Ling Yunzhou, could it be...?
"Young man from the Ling family, don't tell me your father is the current Grand General Ling Yunzhou!" Even Wang Fugui himself was somewhat incredulous.
“Yes, Mr. Wang, you know quite a lot, don’t you?” Ling Dapeng asked in surprise. “Or is it that my father’s name is a household name?”
Wang Fugui's heart skipped a beat; it really was true. Now he was even more surprised. "Since General Ling is your father, then wouldn't Tao be the general's wife? Why didn't she go to the general's mansion?"
"This... my mother isn't going." Ling Dahu had been given a lot of advice at the General's Mansion for the past few days, so he knew that some things could be said and some things couldn't.
Wang Fugui's gossipy nature was aroused, and he deliberately sighed and said, "So you went to the General's Mansion. No wonder Sister Tao has been so happy at home these past few days, cooking delicious food every day. The aroma has even wafted into our house."
“On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, my eldest son brought his wife and children back, and they happened to find your mother roasting a whole lamb at home. The taste was amazing!” Wang Fugui recalled. “We shamelessly went to her house to ask for some lamb soup, and your mother was very generous, giving us a whole leg of lamb.”
The Ling brothers grew increasingly upset as they listened; they had never even tasted a whole roasted lamb before!
Seeing the Ling brothers' expressions, Wang Fugui almost laughed.
"I reckon your mother is eating at some restaurant right now and won't be back for a while. How about this, I'll have someone set up a table for you in the main hall. With children around, how can you let them go hungry?"
"Master Wang, you are such a good person." Ling Dapeng felt an urge to cry. In the days when their mother was away, they ate and slept well, while they were treated like unwanted children!
Wang Fugui smiled. So Tao Wanniang is the general's wife. No wonder she associates with so many noble people. However, there are rumors that the general and the princess are getting married soon. Tsk tsk, this is complicated!
The Wang family was very efficient. After Wang Fugui gave the order, someone quickly settled the Ling family in the flower hall, and then the dishes were served one after another.
At this moment, Tao Wanniang is enjoying the local cuisine in a luxurious restaurant in the capital.
"When cooking, you should occasionally try other people's cooking so you don't become complacent. After all, there's always someone better than you," Tao Wanniang said. The four adults and one child ordered six dishes and a soup.
"Big sister, are you sure it's not because you're too lazy to cook and you look down on what we make?" Bai Yumei teased. "If we were to open a restaurant like this, how many people would we need!"
"Who said that? Xiao Qiao'er's cooking has three-tenths of my flavor. I'm not picky," Tao Wan's mother denied at first, then smiled and said, "I'm just taking advantage of the fact that the two brothers and their wives and children aren't here, so I can save myself some trouble!"
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