Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun were sent back. Tao Wanniang sent a message to the General's Mansion, saying that she wanted to talk to Ling Yunzhou.
"She wants to see me and wants me to come over?" Ling Yunzhou was somewhat surprised upon hearing the message. Didn't Tao Wanniang say she wouldn't see him again? "Do you know what it is about?"
Is it because he had a problem with Shi Tianbao planting potatoes on the estate, or something else?
Ling Yunzhou arrived at Zhaixing Tower with a heavy heart. Tao Wanniang had informed Chen Liansheng beforehand, and upon seeing Ling Yunzhou arrive, the latter immediately ordered someone to take Ling Yunzhou to a private room and also sent someone to inform Tao Wanniang.
Tao Wanniang put aside her own affairs and went straight to Ling Yunzhou. She really didn't want to deal with Ling Dapeng's son anymore.
"Manager Tao, is there something important that you want to see me about?" Afraid of misunderstanding and incurring Tao Wanniang's displeasure, Ling Yunzhou composed himself this time.
“Ling Dapeng went to my estate to steal potatoes, and he was caught by my men for the second time.” Tao Wanniang didn’t mince words and went straight to the point about Ling Dapeng. “This son of mine is not well-behaved even on the estate. Think of a way to keep him away from me.”
Ling Yunzhou was taken aback, and a strange feeling welled up inside her. Even if her son was no good, a mother shouldn't despise him so much.
“This isn’t the first time he’s caused trouble. He’s working the land on the estate now, so I think it’ll be fine if we keep a closer eye on him!” Ling Yunzhou said.
"Everyone in your village knows his identity. What good is it to keep him under strict control? Can you really treat everyone equally?" Tao Wanniang said sternly. "He's only so fearless because of his status. He dug up a few of my potatoes today, what kind of trouble will he cause tomorrow?"
"It's just a few potatoes, isn't it? How much can something that grows in the ground be worth?" Ling Yunzhou didn't quite agree with what Tao Wanniang said. He hadn't seen Tao Wanniang get this angry before when they gambled or borrowed money for gambling.
"Manager Tao, I'm quite curious. This son is yours to raise. How can you just abandon him like this?" Ling Yunzhou looked Tao Wanniang up and down, still feeling that Tao Wanniang's decision was too much.
"This child isn't some random cat or dog. You're willing to keep your eldest son by your side and nurture him, so why do you dislike this second son so much?"
What could Tao Wan's mother say? She really wasn't the one who gave birth to these two sons!
"Don't I treat them equally?" Tao Wan's mother retorted. "I give them all the same opportunities. The eldest son is down-to-earth and hardworking, while the second son is ambitious but unrealistic. They're not three-year-olds anymore. Am I supposed to take care of them until they die?"
“You can’t say that. Even if he’s no good, he’s still my son. Now that you have the ability to help him, why…” Ling Yunzhou stopped halfway through his sentence. He was still the child’s father. He hadn’t taken care of the child before, and he did bear responsibility for how the child had turned out.
Tao Wanniang looked at Ling Yunzhou with a half-smile, then said sarcastically, "Speak, continue. This son of yours has gone astray. How do you think we should bring him back to the right path? How do we make him realize his own abilities and get him to farm properly?"
“That man isn’t necessarily limited to farming. Dapeng is still so young…” Although Ling Yunzhou also felt that his son was a headache, he was still his son after all. In addition, Tao Wanniang disliked him so much, so he subconsciously disagreed with her.
"Fine, mind your own business!" Tao Wanniang said to Ling Yunzhou without any politeness, "Why don't you teach me step by step!"
“Didn’t you say you’d throw it on the estate?” Ling Yunzhou retorted.
"I told you to throw it, so I told you to throw it further away so it wouldn't get in my way, why didn't you listen?"
Tao Wanniang's words left Ling Yunzhou speechless. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Then I really will teach this son myself. If he complains about how hard it is, don't feel sorry for him again."
Tao Wanniang's smile was somewhat indifferent, as if the person Ling Yunzhou was talking about was insignificant.
"I've already protected him by not handing him over to the authorities," Tao Wanniang said. "He took bribes and then dug up my potatoes. What wouldn't he do if they offered a better price next time?"
“Since that’s the case, I’ll train him myself.” Seeing Tao Wanniang’s resolute attitude, Ling Yunzhou already had a plan in mind. “He is tall and strong. Since he doesn’t want to farm, then let him train in martial arts. My General’s Mansion is currently without a successor, and my two grandsons are too young. I’ll use this kid to train him.”
"It's up to you to decide." Tao Wanniang didn't object. As long as Ling Dapeng could settle his mind, she felt that throwing him into the army was acceptable.
Once the matter was settled, Ling Yunzhou was at a loss for words. Tao Wanniang stood there calmly and composedly, as if she were in complete control. He understood Tao Wanniang even less.
"Well... since we're already here, let's have some wine and some dishes!" Ling Yunzhou said after a while, "Don't say I'm not patronizing your business."
"Okay, wait a moment!" Tao Wanniang didn't hesitate and turned to leave.
In the end, Ling Dapeng was indeed captured by Ling Yunzhou from the manor and brought back to the capital, along with Zhou Xiaoyun.
However, one was thrown into the army camp and the other was left in the general's mansion. These things were mentioned by Qian Feng when he came to Zhaixing Tower that day.
Zhou Xiaoyun has entered the General's Mansion, isn't that exactly what she wanted? Tao Wanniang couldn't help but sigh!
"But how should I put it, no one in the General's Mansion really treats Zhou Shi as the young mistress," Qian Feng gossiped. "The General has sent two nannies to keep an eye on her behavior, and she hasn't been allowed to take care of the two young masters. Unless she can truly be gentle and virtuous!"
"Study hard, you'll learn eventually. Is she satisfied?" Tao Wanniang asked perfunctorily.
"She complains every day. The nannies say it's very difficult for her to play the zither with those hands. Sigh, Manager Tao, if you have nothing to do, you can go and visit the General's Mansion." Qian Feng chuckled.
"How could I be unharmed? Thank you, Lord Qian, for informing me of my unfilial son's recent situation. I must go and attend to my duties now!" Tao Wanniang said before leaving.
Luneng has returned from Wangjing. The Zhaixinglou there is quite well-maintained. Potatoes and tomatoes still need to be sourced from there. Tao Wanniang has told us how to grow these two things, but we don't know when they can be planted there.
News also came from Sifang City that the old building would be demolished and rebuilt, which would take longer. However, they also suggested sending someone over to learn cooking skills, and they are waiting for Tao Wanniang's reply.
"Manager Tao, feel free to send people over. I've been thinking about it, and this is for the benefit of our restaurant, saving your chefs from having to make a huge fuss," Lu Neng said after reading the letter from Sifang City.
"Manager Lu is indeed wise," Tao Wanniang nodded. "Our Zhaixinglou restaurant isn't afraid of being copied; our advantage lies in constantly innovating. I'm planning to open another hot pot restaurant. Manager Lu, would you be interested in learning more?"
It's summer now, and the desserts at Zhaixinglou are very popular. Tao Wanniang wants to open her own hot pot restaurant in late autumn, so it's time to start preparing.
"A hot pot restaurant?" Luneng was puzzled. What was that?
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