Shipin Dalizheng

"Third Master, what do you think? If it doesn't work..."

"OK, OK!"

The third master had no choice but to agree, even if it meant using all the family savings to buy him a donkey.

"It's like this, Third Master. The road is too far, and it's inconvenient for Uncle Dashan to travel. Besides, if there's something going on there at night, we have to call him. It's better for him not to come back and live there. We'll arrange a house for him there, and provide food and accommodation. I'll pay him one or two taels of silver a month. It's not good for a grown man to go out without a woman to take care of him. So let Aunt Dashan go too, and mend clothes for the people on the farm. As long as she's not idle every day, she'll get paid. Do you think this is feasible? As for the child... Erya can go too. After all, she's hardworking and can help her mother."

The Third Master's hand, which was about to pinch a handful of tobacco leaves, stopped and he felt a chill.

"Third Master, is that not possible?"

The third master trembled his lips and said, "All three members of this family are gone. I, I have to discuss this with my wife and Dashan and see what he thinks."

Rong An almost lost his temper and agreed on behalf of Rong Dashan, but was stopped by Rong Tang's eyes.

"Third Master, a true man has ambitions for the world. He shouldn't just guard a small piece of land. What's more, this piece of land was given by the royal family and may be gone at any time. Fuxinzhuang is not far away. If you miss home, you can come back anytime. Third Master can also go there at any time. Let me know after we discuss it. I will leave later."

The Third Master subconsciously asked, "Why don't you stay home for a few more days?"

"Third Master, I'm busy. Many people in Fuxin Village have nothing to eat or wear. I have to worry about everything."

The Third Master's hands were trembling slightly. Prince Tang was not only the Prince Tang of his family, nor was he just the support of Rongjia Village. He was also the support of Fuxinzhuang.

"Okay, Grandpa has made the decision. Let them go. The whole family should go."

After sending Rong Tang away, the Third Grandma lost her temper and said, "Old man, how could you agree to this? I have no objection to Dashan going out to earn money, but what is a woman like Zhou doing there?"

"Do you want your eldest son to be a bachelor with a wife out there, with no one to take care of him or do his laundry?"

"But...but why would Erya go with them? The family of three is gone. Daya is working in the courtyard, and Sanya has been sent over there. The family of five is no longer in sight."

Qian interrupted, "Aren't all the housework done by Erhe and me? Dad, you can't be so partial."

The Third Master felt exhausted. "Old woman, think about it, are you reluctant to leave the eldest family? You're afraid that they're no longer around, and you won't be able to control any of them. You're scared. Qian, check your conscience too. You said that the eldest family is gone, and you're doing all the work. So, won't you eat all the meals? Why do you complain about the eldest family having too many people at mealtimes, and then worry about the lack of people at work?"

Qian's face flushed, "Dad, that's not what I meant."

"Okay, I know what you mean. You're worried that if the first wife leaves, the second wife will do all the work, and the first wife won't be able to pay the money on time, so you can't give it to your little treasure right away."

Qian was so embarrassed that she wanted to dig a hole in the ground to crawl into, because in her heart...

The Third Grandmother had more to say, but the Third Grandfather stopped her again, "Old woman, you've always disliked Zhou and the three maids. Now they're all gone and no longer a nuisance to you. You should be happy. Besides, you always scolded the three maids for eating for free, but now they're not eating for free, saving money. You should be happy too. Isn't this the fulfillment of your wish?"

The third grandmother's expression changed drastically. "Old man, but if this happens, what's the difference between this family being divided and now and then?"

"Of course it's still different."

The Third Master said, "It's just that they've gone out to work and haven't taken anything with them, and the division documents haven't been signed, so outsiders won't say our family has been divided. If we continue to muddle along, and wait for our sons to lose their minds and start beating and scolding each other and demanding a division, that would be truly disgraceful. Of course, you can always disagree and make a fuss about letting Dashan and his family stay home, and then watch other children and grandchildren flourish and build careers, while your son can just plant a few acres of sorghum and occasionally pick up firewood to exchange for a few copper coins to buy salt. Your son crawled out of your belly, so you have the right to speak, and you make the decision."

The Third Master spoke slowly, seemingly neither anxious nor irritable, but the Third Grandmother had been married to him for decades, so how could she not hear the frustration in his words?

The old man is completely disappointed in himself!

The third grandmother cried uncomfortably, "Old man, you make the decision. You make the decision on everything. I won't say anything from now on. I will listen to you."

Rong Tang returned to the compound and asked Rong Shen to make a few new molds, and asked Chuncao to pay attention to the sweet wine, which should be opened and checked tomorrow. As for the sorghum wine, he would wait until he came back.

He rushed back to the capital almost without stopping, and saw that it was time for Tang Fuyun to resign.

He rode his horse slowly towards the Ministry of Industry workshop, intending to wait for Tang Fuyun at the workshop door.

After waiting for a while, everyone who should have come out came out, except Tang Fuyun. Rong Tang stopped the workshop manager, the one who had paid for the parts for him last time, and asked him a question.

The person in charge said, "Fuyun! He said he had something to do and left for a while."

That means they just missed each other. Rong Tang thanked him and took a gift from his horse's saddlebag to express his gratitude.

The person in charge said that they were family and there was no need to be polite. Rong Tang asked more and found out that the person in charge was Mrs. Tang's brother Sima Xin. He had always known that his niece Tiantian and Rong Tang were engaged. He met Rong Tang in person last time and thought he was a good guy, so he paid for him to befriend him.

Rong Tang's mouth twitched.

The two were talking as they walked. When they passed by the entrance of a house, they heard the sound of fists hitting flesh inside and couldn't help but look inside.

Tang Fuyun, with curly hair, was seen holding his head with his arms, facing the wall, being beaten by two half-grown boys without fighting back.

While beating him, he cursed him, "You are a barbarian bastard, not Uncle Tang's biological son. I will beat you to death, beat you to death."

This was simply unbearable. Rong Tang pulled his horse over, jumped behind the three men, and then jumped off his horse and started beating them up, leaving the two boys with bruises and swollen faces, crying for their parents.

With the last two kicks, he kicked them out of the alley and threatened them with his fists, "If you see me next time, avoid me, or I'll beat you up every time I see you."

The older one cried, "Who are you? Do you dare to tell me your name? My uncle is the second brother of Mr. Tang, the doctor of the Ministry of Works."

Rong Tang was so angry that he laughed. "You are a worthless person, yet your own son wants to bully others and even has to claim his uncle's name. This uncle has to rely on my third brother to make a living. Where do you get the courage to bully Young Master Tang?"

The older child twisted his neck and said, "Uncle Tang doesn't like this son. He's a big fool."

"If he doesn't like his own son, does he like you two? Are you two Lord Tang's biological sons? Rong Zhan, you mentioned these two wild children and asked their parents if this is the case. If it is, I won't say anything. If it is not, let them kneel outside the Tang Mansion tomorrow morning and apologize to Young Master Tang. Lord Tang will not intervene, but I will."

Rong Zhan agreed, picked up the two boys, and rode away.

Sima Xin was so disappointed that he said, "Fuyun, why didn't you fight back? You let them beat you and bully you."

Tang Fuyun said, "I have a heavy hand and want to hit the bad guys. Dad doesn't like it."

Sima Xin burst into tears and explained to Rong Tang, "He was born with great strength. When he was young, he didn't know how to control his strength and hurt people. The beating by Lord Tang hurt his brain, and he is a little dull in thinking."