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Hu Laowu sneered, “You’re right, old man. Raising children to prevent aging. Since you’ve found your eldest son, and there’s still a younger son in the family, it should be the responsibility of your two sons to support you in your old age. My second brother’s family doesn’t need to provide you with any more old-age silver.”
Old Wang became agitated and exclaimed, “How can that be?”
Hu Laowu coldly snorted, “You talk about raising children to prevent aging, meaning children should support their parents in old age. Once a daughter marries into another family, she belongs to that family.”
Luo Xiao chimed in, “Mr. Wang’s military pay is only one or two silver coins per month. He also has to support his wife and children. Fine, let him give you two hundred wen each month, that should be enough.”
Old Wang, in disbelief, said, “What? Chengzi only gets one or two silver coins a month?”
Wang Cheng scoffed, “I’m just a stable hand. Due to my age, the officer looks after me, which is why I receive this much military pay. Other soldiers don’t get as much. If you don’t believe me, go ask the military.”
Old Wang pondered. If he demanded money for care from Wang Cheng, his daughter might stop caring for him. Two hundred wen couldn’t compare to two taels of silver. Tearfully, he said, “I didn’t come here to ask for money from Cheng. If his days are hard, it’s fine. I came to see him, I’ve missed him for over twenty years, and today I finally get to see him.”
Seeing old Wang’s expression, Wang Cheng’s concerns for him gradually faded.
Frowning, Hu Laowu said, “Old man, let’s go. Mr. Wang still needs to pack, and he’s setting off early tomorrow.”
Luo Xiao added, “Old man, you’ve had your fill, it’s time to leave.”
Old Wang looked at Wang Cheng and said, “Cheng, I don’t need your old-age money. I don’t have any other hobbies, I just like to have a sip of wine…”
Wang Cheng, with a stern face, took out a silver coin and handed it to him, “Take this to buy some wine.”
Old Wang happily accepted the coin, saying, “You don’t have to give me old-age silver every month. But occasionally showing filial respect by giving me money for wine is respectable and gives you face.” He then turned to Mrs. Wang and said, “Daughter, I haven’t paid for the ox cart outside yet.”
The group saw old Wang off, Mrs. Wang paid for the ox cart and watched him depart before Hu Laowu returned to the village.
Later, Luo Xiao went back to Luyuan and presented Wang Cheng with a hundred taels of silver as a gift. Sixty taels were from old Marquis Chu, thirty from Chen Feng, and ten from the Luo family.
The next morning, Wang Cheng and his party were set to depart at dawn, before Chen Feng was awake. So, Luo Xiao was tasked with delivering the gift to them beforehand.
The Chu family treated Wang Cheng with such respect not only because he was Chen Feng’s uncle but also because he was a hero in court, wronged by corrupt officials and deprived of his military achievements for over a decade.
Grateful for the generous gesture, Wang Cheng humbly expressed, “Please convey my thanks to General Chu and old Marquis Chu. When I left the capital, Third Madam Chu and Mrs. Lin had already given me a hundred taels as a parting gift. Now, old Marquis Chu has bestowed upon me even more. I’m deeply grateful for the Chu family’s kindness, a debt I’ll never forget. The love my nephew-in-law has shown me will be remembered for a lifetime.”
Seeing her daughter and in-laws treat Wang Cheng so generously, Mrs. Wang beamed with joy. It was a matter of pride for her.
Concerned about her son being extorted by Wang Cheng, Grandma Chen stayed in the eastern side room.
Peeking through the window and witnessing Luo Xiao giving Wang Cheng such a substantial sum of money left her eyes wide in astonishment. Goodness, the Chu family had given Wang Cheng a total of one hundred and sixty taels of silver at once.
Recalling the faint rumors about Wang Cheng and Mrs. Wu expressing gratitude to Feng for purchasing a courtyard in Dingzhou Prefecture, grandma Chen initially thought she had misheard. After all, this uncle had never done anything to assist Feng, and the Chen family had supported Feng until she turned fifteen. Feng had never bought a house for her, so how could she buy one for them? Today, it seemed that the purchase was indeed a reality.
A courtyard in Dingzhou Prefecture would cost at least a hundred taels, coupled with the money from herself and the Chu family, possibly even more undisclosed funds. It amounted to three hundred taels, or perhaps even more.
Seeing her second son gleefully laughing nearby, Grandma Chen’s eyes welled up with sadness.
Without comparisons, she had thought Feng treated her and her eldest son fairly well. But now, with this comparison, she felt that something was amiss. Perhaps it was Mrs. Wang’s doing, it was likely she had instructed Feng to act this way. And to think her second son was also concealing things for his wife.
After Luo Xiao left, Wang Cheng and Mrs. Wu returned to the east wing to pack their belongings, while Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang went back to the main room. Seeing the elderly lady wiping away tears with a handkerchief and ignoring them, Chen Ming exclaimed, “Mother, what’s wrong? Who has upset you?”
Through tears, Grandma Chen replied, “Who else but your daughter?”
Startled, Mrs. Wang quickly inquired, “Mother, what do you mean? If there’s anything improper about my daughter, please tell me.”
Grandma Chen explained, “You are the wife of the Chen family, a Chen by marriage. Why are you pushing A’Feng to favor Wang Cheng over the Chen family? A’Feng, who married out of my Chen family, should prioritize her maternal family, which should be us, the Chens, not the distant Wang family. Why move all the money and the house to the Wang family?”
Chen Ming and Wang Cheng understood that the elderly lady had found out about the silver Luo Xiao had given Wang Cheng and the conversation they had.
Helping the elderly lady to sit down, Chen Ming instructed Mrs. Wang, “Go help Cheng pack his things, my mother and I need to talk.”
Once Mrs. Wang left, Chen Ming continued, “Mother, how could Juan and A’Feng neglect the Chen family for Wang Cheng?”
He then calculated how much Feng had given to the eldest son, the shares in Prosperous Grand Restaurant, which brought in several tens of taels of silver annually, and the future plans for a store in the capital. Additionally, the profits from the seeds Feng provided for the melon harvest and the upcoming winter wheat yield, all contributed to the family’s financial well-being. The third branch also benefitted from Feng, generating more income.
Grandma Chen coldly remarked, “All this money was earned through our efforts, unlike Wang Cheng, who received silver and a house directly.”
Chen Ming explained, “Wang Cheng is disabled, his wife is seriously ill and unable to work, and their two children are young…” He helplessly added, “Mother, I am your biological son and naturally lean towards you and my elder brother. I will not let you suffer any losses. A’Feng has done so much for the Chen family, in terms of gratitude, it has been repaid. She is not our blood relative, and if we continue to hurt her, we may lose her completely. Please refrain from picking faults and instead try to strengthen the relationship with A’Feng. This will benefit everyone in the long run.”
After contemplating his words, grandma Chen agreed, especially moved by Chen Ming’s final remarks.
Drying her tears, she instructed Chen Ming, “I understand and will speak more to your elder brother. However, it’s best to keep the matter of giving silver and houses to Wang Cheng a secret from them.”