Chapter 454 - 448_1
Although Zhao Xinglin had decided to work with Zhao Erhu, the matter of returning to the countryside remained unchanged. There was no longer a need for him to go to the government office every day, and naturally, there was no need to live in the city. Residing in the village would also allow him to cultivate those few acres of land, achieving self-sufficiency without having to spend money on purchases. A deeper concern was that if he went south with Zhao Erhu, leaving his wife and children alone in the city was somewhat worrisome. It would be better to return to Zhao’s village, where the neighbors could look out for one another so that they wouldn’t be completely unaware if something were to happen.
Zhao Xinglin was well aware that the person he had offended in the government office had finally, as he wished, become an arrest officer, and was very likely to come knocking for trouble. Hadn’t it been for that man’s obstruction and collusion with Master Wei, he would not have been unable to find work all this time, so being guarded was necessary.
After Zhao Erhu and the others had returned for so many days, Master Wei finally received the news and came to Zhao Lingxiang with two purposes in mind: firstly, to discuss Zhao Erhu’s affairs, as Master Wei was still not giving up on Zhao Erhu’s recipe for ingredients, and secondly, to visit his son. Though frail at birth, a late-born child is always adored, and it wasn’t easy for Master Wei to have a son at his age, so he couldn’t help but check in on him at Zhao Lingxiang’s courtyard every few days.
It was no surprise to Zhao Lingxiang that Master Wei had come. She now truly understood the difference between a woman in a grand household with or without a son. Now, favored by Master Wei and with a son to depend on, there was nothing more satisfying to her. The only regret was that she couldn’t get rid of that poisonous woman, the wife.
"Master is here. The child was just fed by the wet nurse and is now sleeping soundly. Should I bring him to see Master? He was frail at birth but is getting stronger as he grows. He looks like someone who will be blessed," Zhao Lingxiang was shrewd enough to know that much of Master Wei’s fondness for her actually hinged on the child, so she never forgot to use her son to ingratiate herself further in Master Wei’s presence.
"No need, let him sleep. Come and sit with me." Normally Master Wei would certainly want to see his own son, but today he had things on his mind and thus gestured for the concubine Zhao to come over.
"Master, is there something you came for today?" Zhao Lingxiang found Master Wei’s behavior a bit out of the ordinary and cautiously inquired as she massaged his shoulders, gauging his expression.
"Have you returned to your parental home these days? Have you heard any news?" Master Wei was quite satisfied with Zhao Lingxiang’s skillful care, and he asked languidly with a squint.