Chapter 271 - 270: Love Rival
After Mrs. Wang left, Chen Afu skipped breakfast, bringing some steamed dumplings with him to the Tang Garden.
Dabao and Alu lived with Chu Lingzhi in a courtyard. When she arrived, the children were having breakfast.
Dabao was clearly distracted, his eyes slightly swollen from not sleeping well the previous night. Chu Lingzhi scolded him, "You are not behaving like a man, always clinging to your mother’s side. Look at me, I’ve been separated from my mother for so long, but I still eat and sleep as usual. My grandpa said that this is how you become a general and prosper in life."
Dabao retorted, "That’s because your family is rich and powerful. You never fear being separated from your mother, never fear being unable to see her again. I’m different. My family is poor, and my grandmother has mentioned more than once about selling me into the mountains, selling me into an opera troupe. If that happens, I’ll never see my mother again." He spoke steadily and in a low voice towards the end.
Chu Lingzhi responded dismissively, "Alu is part of your family, and he doesn’t fear being separated from his mother like you do."
Dabao blurted out, "That’s because I’m not..." and quickly covered his mouth, swallowing the rest of his words. It was the truth that he hated to acknowledge but couldn’t deny. He wasn’t his mother’s biological son, and everyone knew, which was why he felt even more scared.
He didn’t say another word, but the rims of his eyes turned red.
Alu understood why he was upset and quickly changed the subject, "Actually, I’m also afraid of being separated from my mother, but now that I’ve grown up, I’m a little less scared. But Dabao is still young, it will get better when he grows up." He then comforted Dabao, "Our family is not poor anymore, and General Chu has become your father. No one dares to bully us anymore, your auntie will no longer say those things to you."
Chu Lingzhi added triumphantly, "I don’t even need my elder brother to take action, I alone could take down your grandmother’s house with the help of my guards."
Chen Afu walked in and smiled, "Dabao, look at what your mother has brought you."