Tao Wanniang looked at Ling Dapeng's expression and laughed in anger. What could the harvest of the estate have to do with one person?
Ling Dapeng's current state makes it understandable that he wouldn't go to the manor, so his mind has changed! Tao Wanniang found it incredibly ironic that he used to be so protective of Zhou Xiaoyun, yet now he could say such things.
"Your father has returned to the capital." Tao Wanniang said calmly after entering the house and sitting down. "You should stay at home in peace. I don't mean to interfere in the affairs between your wives and concubines, but Zhou Xiaoyun just gave birth, and you can't ignore it."
"Mother, what can a grown man like me do? Aren't there still Cao'er and Aunt Liu to take care of things?" Ling Dapeng said with distress. "This child cries as soon as I hold her, she's not close to me!"
"Heh~" Tao Wanniang scoffed. "This premature baby is a bit weak. The mother's body is the safest place. What an irresponsible father would say something like that."
"Ling Dapeng, have some decency! Spend the next month with your wife and child. Your son was premature, don't you understand?"
“Mom, although it was premature, it’s quite big,” Ling Dapeng said. “Xiaoyun said it’s because of the medicine she was given, but I see that it’s fine.”
Tao Wanniang didn't want to talk anymore. She used to think Ling Dapeng was lazy and stupid, but now she thought he was bad, really bad!
“Dapeng, your words are making your sister-in-law uncomfortable. This baby is not even full-term yet and it has already worn Xiaoyun out. If it were full-term, she might not have been able to give birth.” Wang Hongyu said, “Dapeng, spend more time with Xiaoyun. Sigh, she is in a lot of pain after giving birth.”
“That’s right, Dapeng, Xiaoyun grew up with you. You can’t dislike her just because she’s gained weight.” Ling Dahu also chimed in, wondering when his younger brother had become so annoying.
Ling Dapeng felt frustrated. He was scolded by Zhou Xiaoyun every day, and the child would cry at the slightest touch. He just couldn't stand being around her.
"Mom, can I really stay for a month?" Ling Dapeng sighed. His own wife was actually reluctant to leave him.
"Just stay put and think it over carefully, you two. Whether you want to continue the marriage or not, what will happen to the children if you don't? If you really don't want to continue, you should think about the future." Tao Wan's mother said with annoyance. This second son of hers was simply too much for her to bear.
“Mom, no, I definitely want to stay with Xiaoyun.” Ling Dapeng immediately stated, “It’s just… sigh, let’s stay for a month first!”
As they were talking, Zhou Xiaoyun came over. The baby had finished drinking milk and was asleep, so Cao'er was watching over him.
"Mother, you really have to help me!" Zhou Xiaoyun knelt down in front of Tao Wan's mother as soon as she arrived. "I'm still in pain. The baby is drinking my blood! I have no complaints about my own child, but this child is not just mine."
"Get up and speak." Tao Wanniang couldn't bear to see Zhou Xiaoyun kneeling.
"Mother, if Ling Dapeng goes to find Shishi, what's the point of me living? Wouldn't the child still be a burden to him?"
“Xiaoyun, what nonsense are you talking about? I’ve never thought of that.” Ling Dapeng immediately said, “I… you’re the one who scolds me every day, and I’m just here to be scolded.”
“Was I wrong to curse? Are you still thinking about Shishi? Don’t you want to stand up for me and our son?” Zhou Xiaoyun stood up and pushed Ling Dapeng. “Do you know how hard it was for me to give birth? It’s not like I’ve never given birth before. If it were a normal second pregnancy, I wouldn’t have bled so much. I almost died, do you know that?”
"But...but there's no evidence! You can't just accuse someone of doing it when you've caught them red-handed!" Ling Dapeng said weakly.
"Mother, did you hear that? He's still saying that. He's still protecting Shishi." Zhou Xiaoyun cried.
Tao Wanniang looked at the two people with great disdain.
"If you want to know if Shishi was behind it, it's simple. A month later, Ling Dapeng, go back to the manor and say that Xiaoyun had a severe hemorrhage after giving birth, the baby was premature, and she died after a month."
"Mother!" Ling Dapeng exclaimed in shock, "This... isn't this cursing Xiaoyun and the child?"
"You should spend this month with Xiaoyun. I'll tell you what to do before we go back to the estate." Tao Wanniang already had an idea in mind.
"Well... alright!" Ling Dapeng also wanted to know whether Shishi had done anything.
"Alright, you all live your own lives, I'm leaving!" Tao Wanniang didn't want to stay any longer; just looking at her made her angry.
Ling Dapeng knew that Tao Wanniang was unhappy, so he didn't dare to say anything more. He saw Tao Wanniang, Ling Dahu, and Wang Hongyu to the door before whispering, "Mother, if I don't go to the estate, what if we run out of food at home..."
"Ha, do you think you'd go hungry?" Tao Wanniang said sarcastically, then left in a huff. This second son was just too infuriating.
Back at the restaurant, Tao Wanniang asked Ling Dahu to send some grain over there when he had time, but she knew in her heart that this was just Ling Dapeng claiming poverty. She was only doing it out of pity for the child.
Time flies. Liu Yueniang made the taro balls that Tao Wanniang had given her. They were white and round, with mung bean balls and topped with boiled sugar water. They were sweet and refreshing.
Furthermore, adding some chopped fruit and serving it in a glass bowl makes it look very nice.
In terms of pastries, Liu Yueniang made some pastries with a rich milky aroma. It turns out that using milk to make pastries can create so many new varieties.
The new pastries at Zhaixinglou were all given away in small portions as a gift, but they quickly became popular with customers, especially the wives and daughters of officials, who were willing to spend money on the expensive desserts.
As the reputation of Zhaixinglou pastries spread, Ling Yunzhou's health improved significantly. He couldn't wait to visit Tao Wanniang at Zhaixinglou.
“Wan Niang, I know you saved me. I think you can’t bear to see me die, so…” Ling Yunzhou said, seeing Tao Wan Niang’s impatient look.
"So, give me the money!" Tao Wanniang said directly. "I spent a hundred taels of silver on the medicine to save you. There's only one such injection in the world. Lingyunzhou, you can decide how much to give yourself!"
Ling Yunzhou was stunned. She admitted that she had saved him, but asked for money.
"You don't think I have any feelings for you, do you?" Tao Wanniang continued, "If your steward hadn't come to persuade me, I wouldn't have planned to save you. After all, the princess is deeply in love with you and can take good care of you."
“Wan Niang, if you still care about me, you can just say so,” Ling Yunzhou said earnestly.
“I didn’t care about you,” Tao Wanniang said directly. “I really hoped you would be with the Princess, and I even suggested that she revise your past. It seems she failed!”
"What did you say?" Ling Yunzhou was stunned. Could it be that the nonsense the princess had been telling him was at Tao Wanniang's behest?
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