Nothing happened that night. When Tao Wanniang woke up the next morning, the morning light filtered through the leaves, birds chirped joyfully, and she was in a good mood as she smelled the fresh scent of nature.
But her good mood was ruined when her gaze fell on the people of Lingjia Village.
These people haven't left yet. Are they thinking of getting a free breakfast?
"Waaah~" Little grandson Er Gou woke up, probably because he was wet and hungry, and used crying to wake the adults.
Then, the child's mother, Zhou Xiaoyun, immediately woke up, quickly got up to hug her son, and changed his diaper.
As Zhou Xiaoyun woke up, the others woke up one after another.
"Mother, you're awake. What's for breakfast? Porridge?" Ling Dahu asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes, as he saw Tao Wanniang standing up.
Tao Wanniang glanced at the people from Lingjia Village; with these people around, she had no appetite.
"Mother, we're all from the same village, why don't we invite them to breakfast together?" Ling Dahu said weakly. As for what Tao Anna said yesterday, nothing happened, so he thought it was only right for villagers to help each other.
"Ha, did your grain come from the wind?" Tao Wanniang immediately started berating Ling Dahu.
"Who bought our rice and flour? You're so kind, but don't forget what it's like to go hungry when there's no food."
Everyone heard Tao Wan's mother scolding her son.
Ling Dapeng was a little confused. Why was his older brother being scolded by their mother so early in the morning? He was about to step forward to stop him when his sister-in-law, Wang Hongyu, pulled him back.
Wang Hongyu shook her head. Her mother-in-law must have had a reason for scolding people, and she also saw her mother-in-law pointing towards the villagers, so she could guess the reason for their argument.
The people of Lingjia Village were all awake. They neither left nor went forward to persuade them. The grain that Tao Wanniang and her group had brought was really too tempting for them.
"Sure, if you want them to have a meal, go up to them and say, 'Give them the money!'"
Finally, the Taowan woman shouted loudly, "Our food was earned by me working from dawn till dusk, making wontons, penny by penny!"
Ling Dahu opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't argue with Tao Wanniang anymore.
"Mother, the fire's lit. Do you need to wash the rice?" Wang Hongyu asked immediately upon seeing this.
"Er Gou was crying from hunger, so I thought I'd cook some porridge so the kids could eat it."
“Sure, let’s make porridge. Wash two eggs and cook them with the rice,” Tao Wan’s mother said. “I’ll never mistreat my own family.”
Ling Dahu sighed and forced himself to walk towards the people of Lingjia Village.
"Uncle, uncles and aunts, my mother just has this bad temper, but it's true that all the grain in our family is bought with money earned by my mother."
Ling Dahu said apologetically, silently adding in his mind that it was all thanks to his deceased father, the money given by Xiao Qiao'er's father, and the money given by Miss Bai, but it was all thanks to his mother.
“Dahu, you’re both so grown up now, it’s time to take charge of the household. The Tao family really is…” Uncle Ling sighed heavily, “Your family is just missing a man!”
“Yes, Da Hu, your mother is getting on in years and has worked too hard. Finding a reliable man is the most important thing.”
“Ling Gu’s wife died on the way to escape the famine. He and your mother had a past relationship. As her son, you should also think about your mother’s future!”
“That’s right. Also, why go to the capital? There are only two able-bodied men in your family, you and your brother. You’ll be looked down upon in the capital. Why don’t you come with us and find a village where we can farm to settle down and carry on the tradition of our Ling Family Village?”
Ling Dahu's mind went blank, his eyes wide as he watched his uncles and elders each say something, and for some reason, he felt a sense of resistance.
Mother said that people should have great ambitions. They can all go to the capital to do business, so why don't they go?
His mother raised him and his younger brother with great difficulty, so it's only right that she should be the one in charge of the family. Besides, his mother is devoted to their deceased father, so how could she let another man take care of her? If they wanted to take care of her, couldn't the two brothers do it themselves?
Ling Dahu glanced at Ling Gu, whom they were talking about. What an old geezer! How could he be worthy of my mother?
“Mother said that it’s not that I can’t take you out for breakfast, but you can give me some money. Our rice is running out.” Ling Dahu said sternly. “Where are you planning to go? You should get going as soon as possible. Rice costs two hundred coins a dou. But since we’re all from the same village, I’ll give you a jin.”
After Ling Dahu finished speaking, he straightened his back, turned around and left, leaving the people of Lingjia Village looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Ungrateful wretches, what a family of ungrateful wretches!" Uncle Ling said with heartache. "How could Lingjia Village produce such a heartless woman who has corrupted the children of our village!"
"Brother Yunzhou died young. If he knew that his wife and son refused to help the villagers in their time of need, he would die with regrets!"
The sounds of cursing and swearing from the people of Lingjia Village soon reached them. Ling Dahu turned around in shock, but quickly returned to Tao Wanniang's side.
"Mother, they..." Ling Dahu was so angry that he couldn't even finish his sentence.
“Your mother isn’t deaf. Those words have all floated over to me. Go and get them a pound of rice. We Ling family keep our word.”
Tao Wanniang said calmly, "Dapeng, get the kitchen knife out. Perfect timing, I was just about to sharpen it!"
The number of people on our side is about the same as that of Lingjia Village, but most of them are adults, and the youngest are children around ten years old. So, what if the people of Lingjia Village are tempted by the money?
"Huh?" Ling Dapeng was taken aback. There was no whetstone here!
“Don’t we also have a wood-chopping knife? Take it out and let’s see if you need it sharpened!” Tao Wanniang added.
On her side, she only has two grown sons to act as a figurehead. If it really comes down to a fight, she'll probably have to do it all by herself. She's not strong enough, so of course she'll need to find some tools!
Ling Dahu, with a somber expression, took a bag of rice and went over.
“Uncle, uncles, aunts and uncles, our family is supported by my mother. My brother and I are not very capable. Our wives and children are all supported by our mother. If you treat my mother badly, don’t blame us for disowning you!”
The people of Lingjia Village looked at the bag of rice, angry but dared not speak out. This was rice, rice that could keep them from going hungry!
Ling Dahu put the rice down and turned to leave.
On Tao Wanniang's side, the pot was already emitting a fragrant aroma. Wang Hongyu ladled rice porridge for the children and continued cooking.
The people of Lingjia Village smelled the aroma, their stomachs rumbled, and their mouths watered.
"Uncle, why don't we go? With this rice, we can last for a while," the villagers suggested. Watching Tao Wan's mother and the others eat was too much of a hassle!
"The world is going to the dogs! Heaven has no eyes! How can such heartless people make money while we honest, law-abiding people don't even have a place to stand? Heaven, open your eyes!" Uncle Ling looked up and cursed in anguish.
"Come on, take out the eggs, peel them, yes, like this. Then take a bowl, mash the eggs, and everyone get a bowl of porridge, then sprinkle some mashed eggs on top. It tastes pretty good!"
Tao Wan's mother ignored the old man's veiled insults and called out to her family to drink egg porridge!
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