"Mom, we were just talking, don't be angry," Wang Hongyu quickly said. "The food at the restaurant was so delicious, it's a bit of a shame for Xiaoyun, isn't it?"
“Everyone has to bear the consequences of their choices,” Tao Wanniang said seriously. “When her family discussed whether she should come to work at the restaurant or stay home to take care of the children, it was her own choice.”
“But someone has to take care of the child!” Wang Hongyu said in a low voice when she saw Tao Wanniang’s pale face.
Tao Wanniang glanced at Wang Hongyu and knew that her circumstances and perspectives were different from theirs.
"I will not argue with you about this matter; you can figure out how to balance it yourselves."
Ling Dapeng rushed home, and the sight of his home surprised and reassured him.
"Auntie, you should call me auntie!" Zhou Xiaoyun was playing with some children. Compared to the depressed feeling she had when facing Tao Wan's mother, she was much happier with the children.
"Auntie..." Ling Rui could already clearly say the word "auntie" in a childish voice, but Xiao Feng could only say one word.
As for his son, he was holding a rattle drum and making himself laugh.
"Why are you back?" It took Zhou Xiaoyun a while to notice Ling Dapeng watching her from the side.
“I was worried you wouldn’t be able to manage at home, so I came back to check on you. Xiaoyun, can you take care of three children?” Ling Dapeng asked with concern.
“How could I not take care of everything? The house is so big. When I’m busy in the kitchen, I let Zhi’er crawl around in the yard. Rui’er and Xiao Feng play with Zhi’er.” Zhou Xiaoyun said with a smile when she saw that her husband cared about her. “With Mother not here, I’m much more at ease. I also feed the chickens and ducks in the backyard.”
"My wife is really capable." Seeing Zhou Xiaoyun's smiling face, Ling Dapeng couldn't help but smile as well.
"Stop joking. If you come back, Mother will definitely be angry. I don't know what she'll think of me then," Zhou Xiaoyun said worriedly.
"No, Mother said so herself. I was worried, so I came back to check. Besides, the shop is empty after lunch when there are no customers. Xiaoyun, what did you eat for lunch?"
"Dinner's ready. I gave Zhi'er some rice porridge and half an egg, and Rui'er and Xiao Feng each got an egg. It's very convenient."
"What dishes did you make? We can't just eat plain rice, can we?" Ling Dapeng looked at Zhou Xiaoyun's rosy cheeks and couldn't help but touch them.
"What are you making? The kids are watching. I just stir-fried some greens and a few slices of tofu. That's enough for them," Zhou Xiaoyun said, slapping Ling Dapeng's hand away in embarrassment and annoyance.
Ling Dapeng felt a little sorry for them. He was eating very well, while his wife and children were only eating vegetables, tofu, and eggs.
"I'll bring back some dishes from restaurants later, so you and the kids can have meat."
“That would be so expensive! Mother will be angry.” Zhou Xiaoyun quickly stopped her. “Dapeng, we can eat meat and drink soup if we follow Mother, but I prefer it this way. Mother is too… scary.”
Ling Dapeng thought about how his mother had scolded him quite a bit at the restaurant at noon. He scratched his head and said, "Mom is just talking. What do you call that? Right, a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Xiaoyun, Mom is doing all this for the family. Don't worry. You stay home and take care of the children. Your husband is out there earning money, and it will all be yours!"
"You said all of this, so you'll have to give it all to me when the time comes," Zhou Xiaoyun said happily. "Zhi'er, come here, let Daddy hold you."
Ling Dapeng picked up his son and lifted him high, making the son giggle nonstop, which made Ling Rui and Ling Xiaofeng very envious.
"Alright, alright, quickly put Zhi'er down. You should hug Zhi'er and Xiao Feng too!" Zhou Xiaoyun said to Ling Dapeng with a smile as she watched.
"Xiaoyun, you're so kind." Ling Dapeng looked at Zhou Xiaoyun with eyes full of joy.
“Only you think I’m good enough. Mom definitely wouldn’t approve of me, but I just love taking care of the children and being with you. I don’t want to be in the spotlight. I don’t feel the need to shoulder the burden like my sister-in-law. I feel that having you support the family is enough,” Zhou Xiaoyun said with a smile. “Dapeng, do you think I’m right to think this way?”
“My wife is always right, as long as you’re happy,” Ling Dapeng said cheerfully.
"Then... when we have money in the future, can we live separately?" Zhou Xiaoyun asked tentatively with expectant eyes.
Ling Dapeng's expression turned awkward, and he put down Ling Rui and Ling Xiaofeng, whom he was holding.
"Xiaoyun, didn't we already talk about this before? We'll discuss it later."
A hint of sadness flashed in Zhou Xiaoyun's eyes, but she quickly concealed it.
"Hmm, let's talk about it later. You should go back to the restaurant. Zhi'er seems sleepy."
"Okay, I'm going now." Ling Dapeng seemed a little afraid to look at Zhou Xiaoyun. After saying goodbye to the child, he left in a hurry.
Back at the restaurant, Ling Dapeng found himself with nothing to do at the moment. There was still an hour or two until dinner!
"Big brother, where's Mother?" Ling Dapeng asked Ling Dahu, who was resting on the table.
"I'm resting. Mother said that from now on, only one of us should stay after lunch break," Ling Dahu said, rubbing his eyes. "Brother, are the kids at home alright?"
"She's fine. Xiaoyun said she's not tired at all, she can manage." Ling Dapeng replied, "I also held Rui'er and Xiaofeng. Brother, do you think Mother will be angry if I take the lunch back to Xiaoyun and the children in the future?"
"No, Mother said that whoever wants to send it back can send it back," Ling Dahu replied directly.
What a wonderful mother! Ling Dapeng felt a warm glow in his heart. He decided that he would run back and forth between them. He had to take care of his wife and children, but he also had to be filial to his mother!
Business was better at dinner than at lunch, but this also caused the restaurants to close early because they ran out of food!
"The kitchen must be thoroughly cleaned. You don't want to come in the next day and find rat tracks everywhere, do you?"
"Take the leftovers home. You can feed the chickens and ducks with the food you can't eat. Don't waste it."
Tao Wan's mother stood at the kitchen door with her arms crossed, ordering her son and daughter-in-law around to do chores.
Bai Yumei and Xiao Qiao'er were cleaning up the counter. Account books and silver couldn't be left in the restaurant. Everyone was busy, but Tao Wanniang seemed to be taking it easy.
"Sister Tao, are you closing so early?" Qian Feng poked his head in from outside the door.
"Yes, we're closed. We're out of food. There's nothing for you to eat here!" Tao Wanniang said without any politeness when she saw Qian Feng.
"Tsk tsk tsk, this business is really good. I've already eaten, but is the braised food all gone? Sister Tao, if you have any, sell me some more. Those bastards, they're not good at anything else, but they love those things. They always ask me to buy more for them to have with their drinks."
Qian Feng said cheerfully that he was not cunning and had no grudges after thinking it through, but he was still a little embarrassed to come and eat at every meal.
"I still have some braised dishes left, so wait here and I'll get you some more!" Tao Wanniang said. At this time, braised dishes were all they had left, so it seemed they could prepare another batch for tomorrow!
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