Golden Branch

Chapter 36 I support you

Little maid: ...

Can you still say that?
The Zhou Dynasty did promote filial piety.

But there is also a requirement of "kindness" towards elders.

As the saying goes, a wise king makes his ministers loyal, a kind father makes his sons filial.

If elders are unkind to their juniors, they will also be criticized.

Mrs. Cui is a person who cares most about reputation.

There's no way around it. She's the second wife, and if she's not careful, she'll easily get a bad reputation.

Mrs. Cui had been performing in the Lou family for more than ten years and had earned a good reputation for being kind. She would never allow the possibility of "all her previous efforts being wasted."

The little maidservant also belonged to Madam Cui, so she naturally understood her master's thoughts.

After hearing what Lou Dalang said, she nodded and shook her head: "Little, little lord is right, the lady is the most kind and gentle——"

But, when it comes to this, the little maid is speechless.

She didn't know how to proceed.

His original intention was to continue humiliating Lou Dalang, but unexpectedly, the other party set a trap for him.

The maidservant and other kitchen servants were all at a loss.

The little overlord is actually not reckless at all, he is very good at sophistry.

"Da Lang! What are you doing?"

Before she knew it, Mrs. Cui was already standing at the door.

She had no idea how much of the conversation in the kitchen she had heard.

Mrs. Cui smiled slightly, her kind face full of the tolerance and pampering of an elder towards a naughty younger generation.

When she said "You're making trouble again", it was not a scolding, but an intimate scolding.

It’s like the most loving old grandmother who sees her most precious grandson “making trouble”. She “blames” him with her mouth, but loves him in her heart.

Lou Dalang's eyes flashed, "Tsk, it started again!"

This old woman wears a mask every day and she doesn't feel tired.

Lou Dalang didn't say anything, but stuck out his neck, looking like a stubborn kid who was being bullied but refused to give in.

Mrs. Cui saw this and a look of satisfaction flashed in her eyes:
After all, he is just a child. No matter how domineering and lawless he is in normal times, he will be afraid now that he knows he is going to fall out of favor!
"Hey, why aren't you talking? Are you being wronged?"

Mrs. Cui still behaved like a loving grandmother, and her tone of voice was teasing but also heartache.

"Come, let Damu see who has offended our Dalang?"

The cook was also smart. Upon hearing what Madam Cui said, he quickly stepped forward respectfully with a flattering smile on his face. "Madam, it's all my fault. Dalang wanted to eat beef steamed buns. The beef was killed this morning and the blood has dried up. I was afraid it wouldn't be fresh, so I thought I'd make it for Dalang the first time tomorrow when I have fresh beef!"

"But Dalang misunderstood and thought I was deliberately treating him badly! On the conscience of heaven and earth, Madam, even if I had a hundred guts, I would not dare to treat Dalang badly!"

"But, I have finally displeased Dalang. I am willing to accept the punishment!"

As he said this, the chef knelt down in front of Madam Cui.

Lou Dalang: ...Wow, this chef is not only good at cooking, but also has great speaking skills.

Listening to what he said, he not only explained his "rebellion" but also demonstrated his loyalty.

Finally, he asked for punishment by "bearing humiliation"!

I have to say, she is worthy of being Old Lady Cui. Like her, she likes to pretend.

"You really deserve to be punished! If you knew Dalang liked to eat beef, you should have prepared more."

"...However, considering that you were wholeheartedly doing this for Dalang and took the initiative to admit your mistake, I will fine you half a month's salary."

Mrs. Cui first scolded the cook, then softened her tone, still the old ancestor who was kind to the younger generation and generous to the servants.

"Thank you, madam!"

The chef was "punished", but he still thanked the chef happily.

Haha, it’s just half a month’s wages. A cook like him who is valued by his master doesn’t rely on monthly wages at all.

Any reward from his master is equivalent to his monthly salary for half a year or even a year.

Moreover, this time he was acting according to his master's orders.

On the surface, the master punished him, but then he would find a random reason to reward him, and the reward would definitely be several times or even dozens of times the fine!
"Alright, get up! Send someone to kill the cow and get some fresh beef, and cook it for Dalang right away!"

"Da Lang is young and in the prime of his growth. If he misses his evening meal, it won't be as simple as just fining him his monthly salary!"

Mrs. Cui gave a few instructions, and the servants, including the kitchen staff, bowed and said "yes".

Then, everyone got busy.

A little maid ran out to pass on the message, and within a quarter of an hour, another calf "died" of illness in the pen in the backyard of the manor.

Immediately afterwards, the soldiers carried the slaughtered beef to the kitchen.

The chef took out the dough that had been fermented long ago and instructed the servant to chop the meat filling, while he was responsible for the subsequent preparation of the filling.

Crackling, clanging... In less than half an hour, the steaming and fragrant beef steamed buns were served to Lou Dalang.

Lou Dalang: ...Old Lady Cui’s “show of force” was really clever.

He made a fuss but still couldn't get fresh beef, but at the command of Old Lady Cui, the beef that had been killed and cooked first was served.

Is Old Lady Cui reminding herself that in the Lou family, she is the real master?

And he, Lou Dalang, is just a disfavored person who is about to be adopted out?
Hum, dreaming!

It is not Cui’s turn to make decisions in the Lou family!
Just as Lou Dalang was secretly sneering, the "beef incident" was spreading rapidly through various channels. Wang Family Manor, located only a few miles away from the Lou Family Manor, was the first to receive the news.

Of course, this also has something to do with Zheng Yi's extraordinary ability.

I don’t know how Zheng Yi did it, but she had only been here for a few days and she had already successfully established a communication channel in the Lou family.

If there was any unusual movement at the Lou family manor in the morning, Zheng Yi would receive the news at noon.

After waking up from a nap, Wang Heng could drink the milk tea brought by Wang Mian while listening to Zheng Yi's "storytelling".

"What? Beef? Just because of a piece of beef, Lou Dalang and Madam Cui had a fight?"

After listening to today's "Lou Family Story", Wang Heng couldn't help but widen her eyes.

She had already learned from Aunt Zheng that Lou Jin was going to get married, and also knew about the feud between the Lou and Dugu families.

Even the "adoption scandal" that had just begun to spread in the Lou family manor was known to Wang Heng first.

Lou Dalang will fall out of favor and become destitute... Wang Heng could guess it.

It’s not that Wang Heng has become smarter or more perceptive, but that she “feels the same”—

When her stepmother, Cui, came into the family, she could not tolerate her being the eldest daughter, so she tried every means to drive her to the farm.

Lou Dalang is even more miserable than himself. What he is about to welcome is not a stepmother, but a legal mother.

The legitimate mother is the original wife and the legal wife, and is more noble than the second wife.

Lou Dalang, the eldest son of a concubine, is more annoying than Wang Heng, the eldest daughter of a legitimate wife.

adopt?

It is also a way to protect Lou Dalang, which is better than letting him live under the control of his stepmother.

Madam Cui, a step-grandmother, wants to praise Lou Dalang to death. His biological mother, who has a more direct interest relationship with Lou Dalang, is very likely not to let Lou Dalang grow up!
If he is adopted and given some generous property, Lou Dalang can at least grow up smoothly, learn martial arts, study, and make a future for himself.

In addition, General Lou is his biological father after all, although not in name only. He will secretly take care of Lou Dalang because of the blood relationship.

As long as Lou Dalang stops being naughty and works hard to make progress, he will always have a prosperous and smooth life.

...Some of these were thought up by Wang Heng herself, and some were given to her by Professor Zheng Yi.

Knowing that Lou Dalang might have suffered some injustice, but would not be too embarrassed, Wang Heng did not run to comfort him immediately.

"That's perfect. Let's take this opportunity to teach him a lesson. Don't mess around anymore!"

In the past, Lou Dalang was arrogant because of his favor, but now that his favor is gone, he must learn to behave according to the rules and be a good person.

It has been several days and Wang Heng doesn't dare to eat barbecue.

She was afraid that the thing on the grill was something she could not accept.

Humph, this is all Lou Dalang’s fault.

He prevented Wang Heng from enjoying the food peacefully, so Wang Heng was ready to wait and make him suffer!

But at this moment, after hearing about the "beef incident," Wang Heng couldn't help but feel sad:
A few days ago, Lou Dalang could just give an order and have beef delivered immediately.

Besides, he didn't want to eat the beef himself, he just used it to tease the fat girl next door.

Now, if Lou Dalang wants to eat, he still has to rely on Madam Cui’s “charity”.

Inexplicably, Wang Heng felt a sense of sadness and bitterness.

Perhaps it was true that they were "all wanderers in the same world," Wang Heng forgot her resentment towards Lou Dalang and stood up directly: "I want to go to the Lou family manor!"

……

"...Fat girl?"

Seeing Wang Heng coming to him on her own initiative, Lou Dalang was a little stunned, and also a little surprised.

Hey, the fat girl finally came to find me.

But soon, Lou Dalang thought again that it had been several days since the incident and the fat girl just came!

"What are you here for?"

Lou Dalang's expression changed slightly. He said coldly, "Did you hear something? Are you here to pity me?"

He can tolerate betrayal, scheming, and even humiliation from others, but he will never allow the fat girl to pity him?

"Are you pitiful?" Wang Heng asked habitually.

"...I'm not pitiful!" Lou Dalang habitually spoke stubbornly.

"You don't even think you're pitiful, so why should I pity you?"

“…” It made so much sense that Lou Dalang was speechless.

Being left speechless by the fat girl, Lou Dalang couldn't help but feel a little angry and embarrassed: "Fat girl, what on earth are you doing here?"

"Apologize! I already know about Bunny. I misunderstood you!"

"Hmph! If you really wanted to apologize, why didn't you apologize right away, but waited a few days?"

"Although I misunderstood you, I'm still angry. You don't know, I don't even dare to eat barbecue now!"

“…”Uh, it was indeed his prank, Lou Dalang was speechless again.

"Brother, come with me to my farm!"

"Why are you going to your farm?" This fat girl didn't really think that he was suffering in the Lou family and was about to be kicked out.

"...Well, Amian and I have built our pig farm, and we have sugarcane. My mother also helped me ship a boatload of it from the south..."

Wang Heng waved her fingers, recounting the recent happy events on her farm. As she spoke, she blurted out, "Brother, don't worry. I'll take care of you!"

(End of this chapter)