Poisonous Peasant 'Concubine' Ch 53 - Hyacinth in Bloom

Chapter 53 — Ling Li-shi’s Visit • Another Trouble Arises

What Ling Jingxuan did not expect was that, upon returning home, an unexpected person was waiting at his doorstep. It was his eldest uncle’s wife, Ling Li-shi, his aunt from his maternal side—the niece of the old matriarch. Unlike the scene yesterday when the old madam and her people had tried to force their way in, she stood quietly at the door, facing the sun. In her forties, she still looked well-maintained, with a slender and graceful figure. From the back, no one would guess her age; though she was his mother’s elder sister-in-law, she appeared far younger.

“Jingxuan, you’ve returned? I knocked, but no one answered, so I thought you might have gone out to forage for wild vegetables. I didn’t expect you to return so quickly. And this must be Zhao Dalong’s child, right? So adorable.”

As soon as she saw Ling Jingxuan approaching, Ling Li-shi smiled warmly, her tone excessively gentle, as if nothing had happened between him and the Ling family, as if she were still his dear aunt. She even reached out to caress the child’s face. Ling Jingxuan subtly shifted his body to avoid her hand, stepping back to create some distance before coldly speaking, “Aunt Ling, do you need something?”

In his memories, Ling Li-shi had always been the epitome of grace—obedient to her parents, kind to younger relatives, and on good terms with her sisters-in-law. She was the ideal daughter-in-law, the kind every family would envy. But perfection… it always made him wary. The more perfect she seemed, the more suspicious he grew. She had never once checked on him during the years he’d been cast out from the Old Ling family. And now, she was suddenly showing up at his door, acting like the ever-gracious aunt. There had to be something behind it.

“Mm? No, nothing.”

Ling Li-shi clearly didn’t expect his cold response. Recalling the words of her husband and son, she tightened her hand hidden in her sleeve, then forced another sweet smile. “You know, your mother and the others made a scene here yesterday. I heard that third sister-in-law even hit Xiao Wen, so I thought I’d come and check on you. And, of course, see the child. Jingxuan, I know it’s wrong of them to come without understanding the situation, but your grandfather has already scolded them. Please forgive them. After all, they’re your direct relatives, aren’t they? We’re family.”

So now she was trying to get closer?

Ling Jingxuan raised an eyebrow, giving her a sideways glance. This woman was interesting. Just the day before, Ling Qiyun had made it clear that they were done with him, and now, not even a full day later, this so-called ideal daughter-in-law was practically begging to speak with him. If he believed there was no ulterior motive here, he’d be a fool. He thought back to meeting her second son in town the day before, as well as the way Ling Jingpeng had hesitated to speak—now he was almost certain: they were after something, though he didn’t yet know exactly what.

“Squeak!” The back door, which had been tightly closed, suddenly creaked open, and Ling Wen’s frail figure appeared in the doorway. Ling Li-shi’s eyes brightened, only to quickly hide the expression. What she didn’t know was that even that brief shift in her demeanor hadn’t escaped Ling Jingxuan’s notice. His lips twisted into a mocking smile—weren’t they thinking of targeting his child too?

“Daddy, you’re back? And Teiwa’s here too! Come inside. Daddy, who’s this?”

Ling Wen stepped up next to Ling Jingxuan, his eyes naturally falling on Ling Li-shi. Seeing this, Ling Li-shi was about to step forward and introduce herself, but before she could, Ling Jingxuan stood between them, casually placing Teiwa down. “She’s Aunt Ling from the Old Ling family. She has nothing to do with us. You take Teiwa inside to play, I’ll be right there.”

“Okay! Daddy, hurry up! I’ve memorized the Three Character Classic you taught me yesterday. Little Uncle and the others aren’t back yet. Teach me the next part.”

Upon hearing that she was from the Old Ling family, Ling Wen immediately lost any affection for her. He grabbed Teiwa’s hand and was about to turn away, but Ling Jingxuan gently patted his head. “Good, but you’ll need to teach your brother and Teiwa too.”

The two little ones nodded obediently, holding hands as they went inside. Only then did Ling Jingxuan turn back to face Ling Li-shi, who was still lingering by the door, and coldly said, “Aunt Ling, please leave. I have no relations with your Old Ling family. If you stay any longer, the old madam might find out, and you know how that will end, right?”

Whether her intention was to target him or his child, he wasn’t interested in finding out. He had no plans to entertain her. The path they were on was not the same, and he wanted nothing to do with the Old Ling family.

Ling Li-shi’s face flickered with a hint of anger but quickly masked it with an awkward smile. “Then I’ll go now. I’ll come visit again sometime.”

With that, Ling Li-shi turned to leave. Watching her walk away, Ling Jingxuan’s sharp, captivating eyes darkened suddenly, a dangerous glint flashing in them. It seemed his methods weren’t sharp enough yet—some people clearly hadn’t learned their lesson.

The brief encounter was soon over. Though Ling Jingxuan was still uneasy, he hadn’t expected someone to act with such audacity. The moment he let his guard down, they had already made their move.

As per his instructions, Ling Jingpeng had brought back two piglets, fifty chicks, and five hens that were laying eggs. When they returned, Ling Chenglong and his wife were also there. Together, they quickly built a simple pigsty and chicken coop in the backyard. The three little ones were thrilled to see the animals, chasing after the hens and laughing joyfully. Even the little wolf cub tied up in the yard was howling nonstop, frightening the chicks into huddling together, too afraid to move.

“Daddy, what are you doing?”

Seeing Ling Jingxuan crouched under the only large tree in the backyard for a long time, the three little ones curiously ran up to him. Ling Jingxuan, with his hands covered in mud, smiled gently. “I’m digging for earthworms. The chickens love them, and if the hens eat them, they’ll lay eggs for you every day.”

“Really? Then I want to dig too! Once the chicks grow, we’ll have endless eggs to eat!”

Ling Wu smacked his lips and snatched the little shovel from his father. He’d heard his uncle say that they would keep all the eggs from their chickens for themselves. He was already imagining all the eggs they’d get once the fifty chicks were fully grown.

“Uncle, I want to help too.”

Teiwa was just as eager. Without hesitation, he joined in. Ling Wen didn’t show as much excitement, but his hands were moving just as quickly as the others. The three little ones excitedly pushed past Ling Jingxuan, and with him having started the digging, they all jumped in to help. Ling Jingxuan shook his head with a smile. Before standing up, he suddenly said, “I remember we can raise earthworms ourselves. Don’t feed the ones you’ve dug up to the chickens yet. I’ll teach you how to raise them.”

“Okay, Daddy, you go ahead. We’ll take care of this.”

The three little buns, without looking back, hurriedly dismissed Ling Jingxuan. It wasn’t clear who suggested it, but before long, the three of them, while still digging for earthworms, began reciting the Three Character Classic. The dilapidated yard was occasionally filled with Ling Wen’s corrections, followed by Ling Wu and Teiwa admitting their mistakes. A warm, pastoral comfort began to settle over the scene.

“That goat milk smells, why are you buying that stuff?”

By the time they finished their chores, it was almost dusk. Ling Jingxuan had his parents and Teiwa stay for dinner before asking Ling Wen and Ling Wu to take Teiwa home while the evening light still lingered. Ling Chenglong and his wife stayed in the main room, chatting with Ling Jingxuan while they waited to get the medicine for Ling Jinghan.

“Just add some jasmine tea to it and boil it; the smell will go away. Goat milk is really nutritious. It’s perfect for supplementing Xiao Wen’s and the others’ health. When you all move here, I’ll buy a milk cow. We’ll drink it every day, and won’t have to worry about our health anymore.”

He’d originally planned to buy a milk cow, but thinking he should buy land first, he decided to go with a milk goat instead. After all, with a cow, they wouldn’t be able to finish all the milk every day—and he certainly didn’t want to hear the little buns complain about it.

“Really? That sounds great. If it really removes the smell, goat milk is indeed a good thing. Jingxuan, I know you don’t like hearing this, but I still have to say it: now that you’ve made some money, buy what’s needed, but don’t overspend. There will be many more expenses ahead. You must save a little. Your father and I can’t help you much, so you should have some savings in hand.”

Ling Wang-shi didn’t know he had only earned one hundred taels of silver today. Seeing him buying pigs and chickens, she couldn’t help but go on a bit of a lecture. However, Ling Jingxuan didn’t show any signs of impatience. Instead, he turned and gently took her hand.

“Mother, what are you saying? With you and father as my parents, my brothers and I couldn’t be happier. How could we…?” His words trailed off as he suddenly pressed her hand onto the table, gently feeling her pulse. “Wait, mother, have you not had your period for a while?”

Ling Wang-shi was so embarrassed that her face turned bright red. Stammering, she replied, “It’s… it’s been almost two months. My periods have always been irregular. It should be fine, right?”

“Hehe… It’s alright, it’s alright. Congratulations, father and mother, you’re going to be parents again.”

Ling Jingxuan grinned widely, cupping his hands in salute to them. This was truly what family life should be like. Not long from now, they’d be welcoming a little princess or prince into the family.

“Huh?” Both Ling Chenglong and his wife froze, mouths agape, and it seemed like they could fit an egg in there. After a brief daze, Ling Jingpeng, who had been silent, snapped back to reality, his face lighting up. “That’s great, father and mother! You’ll give us a little sister, and our lives will have something to look forward to.”

The Ling family’s first and third branches had daughters, and Ling Jingpeng had always hoped for a little sister since he was young. But when his mother had him and his second brother, her health had suffered, and the doctor had said it would be hard for her to conceive again. But now… he was finally going to have a little sister.

“Ah! This is so embarrassing! You’re all grown up, and I’m pregnant again?”

Ling Wang-shi, flustered, covered her face with her hands. Her ears were visibly flushed with a soft red. Ling Jingxuan and his brothers exchanged amused glances, then chimed in unison, “What’s so embarrassing about it? Mother, you and father are only in your thirties. Isn’t having children normal? We’re all so happy.”

“Yeah, mother! You don’t know how much I’ve wanted a little sister!”

“These two little troublemakers, what are you saying?”

Hearing their teasing, Ling Wang-shi felt even more embarrassed. She turned to Ling Chenglong, seeking refuge, but he scratched his head and smiled foolishly. “This is a good thing. We should be happy, right? Happy, right?”

“Haha!”

The two brothers laughed so hard they nearly fell over. Ling Wang-shi glared at her silly husband, her red face unable to hide her smile. Lately, it seemed like the heavens were smiling upon them—one good thing after another. Was their good life finally coming to fruition?

“Mother, you can’t be doing farmwork anymore. You’d better not take on housework either. The Old Ling family isn’t just relying on you as the only daughter-in-law. Let the others do it. The first three months of pregnancy are crucial. It’s better to be cautious than sorry. I’ll go into town tomorrow and bring back some herbs to help with your pregnancy. You’ve already lost strength from carrying Jinghan and the others. This pregnancy can’t be taken lightly.”

The laughter faded, and Ling Jingxuan suddenly turned serious. If he hadn’t casually grabbed her hand earlier, he might not have noticed the unusual pulse. He shuddered at the thought of what could have happened had they not been careful. Reflecting on yesterday’s events, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear. Thank goodness everything was fine. Otherwise, he would’ve taken severe action against the Old Ling family.

“Sigh, I’m aware. We left our chores behind today to come to you. Your father and I have figured things out. We’ll do what we’re supposed to, and we won’t hold back. But for the things that aren’t ours to do, we won’t fight to do them like before.”

After yesterday’s events, Ling Wang-shi had finally come to see things clearly. No matter how hard they worked for that family, they’d never be forgiven—let alone receive any gratitude. It was better to save their energy.

“Exactly. The more you act weak, the more they think you’re easy to push around. Mother, father, I’m not telling you to neglect your parents, but filial piety should be done right. Don’t keep doing things just to be seen as ‘good children.’ The most important thing is that you shouldn’t take away others’ chance to show their own filial piety.”

He smiled lightly at the end, bringing some lightness back to the room. The whole family burst into laughter, and as they chatted, the sky darkened. Ling Jinghan’s medicine was finally ready, but seeing that the little buns hadn’t returned yet, Ling Jingxuan couldn’t help but feel a bit worried. He decided to go outside with his parents.

“What? They already went back?”

When Ling Jingxuan knocked on the door of Zhao Dalong’s house, Han Fei informed him that after sending Teiwa back, the two little buns had gone straight back home. In an instant, Ling Jingxuan’s expression darkened. A storm seemed to gather in his eyes. The smiles of Ling Jingpeng and Ling Chenglong’s couple vanished just as quickly. Zhao Dalong, who had come out upon hearing the noise, noticed the sudden shift and his face grew grim, sensing something was wrong. He exchanged a worried glance with Han Fei, both looking at the leader of the group, Ling Jingxuan.

“Damn it! Jingpeng, do you know anything about Ling Jingwei?”

Suddenly turning around, Ling Jingxuan’s entire demeanor became one of cold fury. When coming over, he had been cautious, specifically paying attention to the road to avoid missing the children. If Han Fei said they had already returned, the only explanation could be that they had been forcefully taken. And the only ones capable of doing that is the main branch of the Ling family. How else could he explain their strange behavior?

“Jingwei? Have you seen him?”

Before Ling Jingpeng could answer, Ling Wang-shi hurriedly stepped forward, her brows knitted tightly, clearly aware of something. Ling Jingxuan sneered. “You saw him yesterday, didn’t you? Mother, what exactly are you hiding from me?”

“No, it’s not that I wanted to hide it from you. It’s just that they mentioned it in passing, and I really didn’t take it seriously.”

“Then what is it, exactly?”

Ling Jingxuan’s voice deepened as he struggled to suppress his frustration. Unable to bear their delay any longer, he asked again. Ling Jingpeng, fearing that his mother wouldn’t be able to explain clearly, quickly took hold of her and spoke to Ling Jingxuan.

“Brother, you don’t know… Jingwei and his wife have been married for several years without having any children. Normally, he could take a concubine, but his wife’s family didn’t approve. Because of the general store, he had to hold back. A couple of months ago, he sent Aunt Ling to speak with Father and Mother, saying that he wanted to adopt your child. Father and Mother outright rejected it. But… brother, are you sure this was really Jingwei’s doing?”

The situation felt like they were literally stealing people! How could they do this?

“Nine times out of ten,” Ling Jingxuan replied, his expression darkening. “I didn’t tell you earlier, but this morning, Aunt Ling came to see me. She kept trying to cozy up to me, acting like she wanted to make peace. You know my temper—I didn’t give her any face. I’m guessing she told Jingwei, or maybe even discussed it with the eldest branch and the others. They probably thought I’d never agree to the adoption and figured they could take the children by force. Hmph, they dare to lay their hands on my children? Jingpeng, wait here for a moment. We’re going to the town.”

As he spoke, Ling Jingxuan turned toward Zhao Dalong and said, “Brother Zhao, please take us to the town.”

If Zhao Dalong still didn’t realize what was happening by this point, then he would have to be a fool. Nodding, Zhao Dalong handed Teiwa to Han Fei and turned toward the backyard.

“Jingxuan, shouldn’t we go back to the Old Ling family first? Maybe the children are there.”

Ling Wang-shi anxiously tried to stop Ling Jingxuan, who was about to run off. She couldn’t have imagined that they would actually resort to kidnapping people.

“It’s impossible. If Aunt Ling had any sense, she wouldn’t bring two living children back to her home. If I’m right, the children must be with Jingwei in the town. You and Father go back home and don’t cause any alarm. Pretend you don’t know anything. Don’t worry, I’ll bring them back safely.”

To think they dared to abduct his children right under his nose—he’d show them what it meant to mess with him! “Ah, be careful. If anything happens, go to the authorities. I don’t believe they can really get away with something so lawless.”

“I understand, Father. You take mother back.”

With that, Ling Jingxuan turned and ran back home. Since he was going to the town to “visit relatives,” how could he possibly go empty-handed? Hmph, they couldn’t have children of their own, so they thought they could target his kids? He wasn’t going to let them off easily. If he didn’t teach them a lesson, they’d never learn. This time, he’d make sure they were terrified.

The storm is here!! (,,>﹏<,,)

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Translator: LazyHermitGal