Speaking of eating, Han Qingfeng was indeed hungry. He had rushed home in haste, dusty and weary from the journey, without a proper meal along the way.
He instinctively turned to look at the dining table, where a large round table was set with dishes of greens and tofu. Each dish looked particularly plain and bland, without even a hint of meat.
Han Qingfeng took two steps closer to the table. “Is this what you’re eating?”
He grew angry again. “Song Yao, as the mistress of the Marquis Manor, you actually serve the family such food?”
“How are you managing as the lady of the house?”
Song Yao smiled faintly. “If the Marquis feels I am unfit to be the mistress of the Marquis Manor…”
“Very well, from now on, let the elder sister-in-law take charge of the manor. I won’t interfere anymore!”
Chunlan Xiu waved her hands repeatedly. “No, no, I can’t handle this.”
“Sister-in-law, you mustn’t listen to your brother-in-law. Everything in the household should still be managed by you. I’m not up to it!”
Song Yao said, “Elder sister-in-law, don’t be modest. When duty calls, you must step up.”
“I’ve already managed the household so poorly that I can’t even provide you with a bit of meat.”
“If everyone starves, the Marquis will surely devour me.”
Surprisingly, Chunlan Xiu spoke up in Song Yao’s defense.
She said to Han Qingfeng, “Brother-in-law, you mustn’t blame your sister-in-law.”
“This isn’t her fault. The Marquis Manor is facing difficulties now, and we must all work together to get through this.”
“Eating this is better than having nothing at all.”
“We used to eat lavish feasts all the time, and that grew tiresome. Now, eating like this can help cleanse the greasiness from our stomachs.”
Han Qingfeng was skeptical. The Marquis Manor in difficulties?
He said, “Such a grand Marquis Manor, no matter how difficult things are, shouldn’t be reduced to having no meat to eat.”
Again, Chunlan Xiu defended Song Yao.
She was afraid Song Yao would abandon her responsibilities.
If Song Yao stepped down, the Marquis Manor might truly face dire straits.
Chunlan Xiu informed Han Qingfeng that the household had indeed been tight on funds lately.
His sister-in-law said all the shops were suffering severe losses, so they had to make do with such meals for now.
Things would improve once they weathered this period.
Hearing Chunlan Xiu’s words, Han Qingfeng’s heart skipped a beat.
Had Song Yao discovered he had withdrawn money from the shops?
Han Qingfeng cleared his throat and said, “No matter how difficult things are, surely we can still afford a bit of meat?”
“It doesn’t matter for us, but Mother is getting on in years. You can’t expect her to eat like this every day.”
Song Yao glanced at Han Qingfeng and Han Zhang.
Indeed, this father and son were cut from the same cloth.
If they wanted to eat well, they should just say so, instead of using the old lady as an excuse!
Song Yao silently cursed them in her heart but maintained a calm expression. “There’s nothing to be done. The manor is facing difficulties now, and this is all we have to eat.”
“I understand that the Marquis wants to show filial piety to his mother. But without money, there’s simply no money.”
“Marquis, you must also understand my position. The burden on my shoulders is heavy.”
Song Yao took a breath and continued, “I know the Marquis has always preferred simple meals over lavish feasts.”
“Eating like this for a few days won’t be a problem for you.”
“As for the Marquis wanting to show filial piety to his mother and buy her some good food…”
“I have an idea. Why not pawn your favorite inkstone? That would give you the silver to buy meat and nourish Mother.”
The “inkstone” Song Yao mentioned was one Han Qingfeng had purchased at a high price.
Song Yao asked him to pawn his favorite inkstone to buy meat to nourish his mother.
Han Qingfeng immediately refused without a second thought: “How could that be? You know full well that inkstone is my beloved possession, yet you still want me to pawn it.”
Song Yao glanced at Madam Jin. “Marquis, which is more important—your mother’s health or an inkstone?”
“No matter how valuable the inkstone is, it’s still just a lifeless object.”
“The mother who gave birth to and raised you is the only one in this world. You can’t possibly neglect our mother’s health for the sake of a valuable lifeless object.”
“Marquis, if you treat your mother this way, you truly are being unfilial.”
Song Yao’s words instantly put Han Qingfeng in an impossible position.
This time, his expression turned truly ugly—as ugly as it could get.
Just as Han Qingfeng was about to say something, Song Yao had already shifted her gaze to Madam Jin.
“Mother-in-law, please don’t be angry with the Marquis. That inkstone is his beloved possession.”
“Since the Marquis is unwilling to pawn the inkstone to buy meat to nourish you, then I, as your daughter-in-law, will surely fulfill his filial duties on his behalf.”
“However, the household is indeed facing difficulties lately. For now, you’ll have to eat the same as everyone else.”
“Until the shop’s losses are recovered, the household can only afford this for every meal. Mother-in-law, you must bear with it.”
Your mother is your own mother, Han Qingfeng. This old lady will no longer fulfill your filial duties toward your mother on your behalf.
After saying this, Song Yao added, “Everyone, please sit down and eat. I still have unfinished tasks, so I’ll get back to work.”
The entire family’s expressions grew increasingly unpleasant after hearing Song Yao’s words.
Now, seeing Song Yao turn to leave, Han Lingyue, who had remained silent for a long while, suddenly spoke up.
“Mother, could it be that you’ve hidden some delicious food in your room and plan to enjoy it alone in secret?”
Song Yao, who had already reached the doorway, paused in her steps, her back turned to the crowd behind her. “Han Lingyue, don’t call me mother. From now on, I am not your mother.”
Song Yao’s resolute stance made Chunlan Xiu’s heart sink deeper and deeper.
Her daughter’s marriage prospects still depended entirely on Song Yao.
If Song Yao truly stopped caring for her daughter, it would all be over.
Chunlan Xiu hurried over to block Song Yao’s path. “Sister-in-law, please don’t take it to heart with a child.”
“Then again, it’s only right for you to be angry. Anyone would be.”
“Lingyue, come over quickly and apologize to your mother.”
Song Yao refused. “Her apology is something I cannot accept.”
“Calling her mother by name behind her back, and now openly making up stories about me.”
“Such an ill-mannered girl—from today onward, I return her to you.”
“Zhang’er is still relatively well-behaved. Han Zhang… I will continue to keep him by my side.”
“As for Han Zhi and Han Lingyue, from now on, you, elder sister-in-law, will raise them yourself.”
Han Qingfeng didn’t understand what was happening and was about to ask.
But Han Zhang, standing beside him, pulled him back.
Han Zhang signaled him to remain silent.
Chunlan Xiu continued to plead earnestly with Song Yao.
After a long while, seeing that Song Yao no longer refused outright,
Chunlan Xiu immediately called out to Han Lingyue, “Yue’er, come over quickly and apologize to your mother.”
“Hurry! If you keep acting so unreasonable, your aunt will truly be angry.”
Han Lingyue was extremely unwilling.
But her birth mother kept giving her meaningful glances.
Han Lingyue had no choice but to step forward and bow her head to Song Yao. “Mother, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have…”
Song Yao interrupted, “You are not wrong. I am the one who is wrong.”
“I raised you all these years, giving you the best food, the finest clothes, everything good.”
“And yet, the daughter I raised with my own hands lacks even the slightest grace of a well-bred young lady. It seems my way of raising you was mistaken.”
“I have raised you to be so lacking in manners. I truly feel ashamed before your uncle.”
“From today onward, you will return to your birth mother’s side…”