"Mom, mom. Please stop, please stop."
Nie Xiaofeng dodged while shouting.
The two subordinates who accompanied Nie Xiaofeng to the Gu family heard Nie Xiaofeng’s hoarse cries and quickly rushed over to see what was happening.
As soon as they peeked in, they saw a dark figure running around the table, pleading for mercy, while the woman he called "mom" was chasing him with a feather duster.
This was the deputy general’s mother reconnecting with her son, even if their way of bonding was a bit unusual.
With expressionless faces, the two returned to stand guard at the door.
"Mom, I was wrong."
"Please stop."
Nie Xiaofeng begged.
"Grandma, please make my mom stop." Nie Xiaofeng hid behind Tong Huaqiong.
"It’s no use asking anyone."
Gu Baishuang, out of breath, stood with hands on hips.
"Mom, save me some face. I’m already a deputy general, and if word gets out, it’ll be quite embarrassing for me." Nie Xiaofeng peeped out and said.
"Even if you’re a general, you’re still my son. As your mother, I can’t hit my son?"
Seeing that Gu Baishuang was about to swing the feather duster again, Nie Xiaofeng pleaded, "I was wrong, I really was."
"Big sister, you haven’t seen Xiaofeng for three years, and you mention him every day at home. Why did you start hitting him as soon as you met?" Chen Sufen tried to persuade.
"Xiaofeng has become a deputy general, such an accomplished child that others would envy. Please stop hitting him." Mrs. Hong and Old Mrs. Huang also tried to persuade.
Mrs. Zhao stood by without saying a word; she had a different perspective.
She thought Gu Baishuang was right to hit him.
So young and driven by hot-bloodedness, he dared to rush to the border and join the army, completely unaware of the hardship and struggle his mother endured during these three years. Now, as a deputy general, imagine if he had died on the battlefield — wouldn’t his parents have been heartbroken?
In her view, he got off lightly.
Nie Xiaofeng saw that Gu Baishuang had stopped hitting him, so he took the feather duster from her hand while she wasn’t looking and tried to ingratiate himself by offering to massage her arms.
"Just now you said you were wrong. What were you wrong about?" Tong Huaqiong didn’t let Nie Xiaofeng off, suddenly asking.
Nie Xiaofeng responded, "Was it wrong for me to defend the country?"
As soon as he said that, not only did Gu Baishuang want to continue swinging the feather duster, but even Tong Huaqiong wanted to give him a piece of her mind.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Of course, there’s nothing wrong with defending the country. But do you think you’re a big hero and the whole family should thank you for leaving without a word back then?"
"Do you know what kind of situation your mother was in after you left? She thought about you every day, feared you’d get hurt, worried you didn’t have enough to eat or wear, and was even more afraid of the ruthless battlefield. These three years of concern have given her white hair. And you just walked off to the border without leaving a single word or note."
"You think you’re so righteous, that your decision to join the army was because your mother would have stopped you if she knew? Then you’re underestimating your mother’s understanding. What’s wrong with wanting you to live a stable life? What mother wants her child to go to the battlefield and face life and death? If the country truly needed protection, even if reluctant, a mother would personally send her child to the battlefield."
"Not wanting her child to experience war and being willing to send her child to defend the country are not contradictory. If you had told your mother back then, she might not have stopped you. Your mistake was in hiding it from your mother, in making her worry for three years."
"You think becoming a deputy general has glorified your ancestors, and it’s no longer about you. But in your mother’s heart, your safety far outweighs the title of deputy general. Why did your mother want to hit you? Now you’re a deputy general, and if conflict arises either inland or along the coast, the last thing she wants is for you to leave without saying a word like last time."
Tong Huaqiong’s lecture brought out Nie Xiaofeng’s sense of guilt.
Originally, he was quite proud of accumulating military achievements at such a young age and becoming the youngest deputy general.
In the military, who wouldn’t envy him?
When news of his accomplishments spread back to Yan Guan Town, how proud must his mother have been?
Tong Huaqiong’s words made him realize how tough his mother’s days must have been during these three years.
No news for three years, alive or dead unknown, leaving his mother in an awkward position within the Nie family; once he left, she was even more alone.
Grandma was right, if he had openly expressed his intent to join the border forces, although his mother would have been reluctant, she wouldn’t have stopped him.
Just like when he didn’t want to study and wanted to learn martial arts from Su Chengmin, didn’t his mother agree?
The more Nie Xiaofeng thought, the more he felt guilty towards Gu Baishuang. He knelt with a thud before her, crying, "Mom, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have left without saying a word, causing you to worry day and night for these three years, it was my fault."
Gu Baishuang, with tears in her eyes, caressed Nie Xiaofeng’s face.
There was a scar on the right side of his chin.
His hands also bore old wounds.
These were only the visible ones; there were likely more unseen ones on his body.
"Does it hurt?" Gu Baishuang asked, choking up as she touched the scar.
Nie Xiaofeng shook his head, saying, "It doesn’t hurt anymore."
Only then did Gu Baishuang say, "Good child. Your grandma is right, in the future, whether you want to go to the borders or climb mountains and cross seas of fire, you must let your mother know."
Nie Xiaofeng nodded, "I understand, mom. I truly realize my mistake and will never let it happen again."
Then Nie Xiaofeng also thanked Tong Huaqiong for pointing out his mistake, otherwise, he would have thought he was entirely justified and felt wronged by the feather duster beating.
"I heard the emperor bestowed you a grand house?" Tong Huaqiong asked.
Nie Xiaofeng nodded, "This house will serve as my mom’s base in the capital."
Gu Baishuang replied, "I’ll buy my own house; yours should be kept for marrying a wife."
Nie Xiaofeng blushed and said, "I’m not getting married. By the way, mom, didn’t dad come along?"
In Nie Xiaofeng’s memory, Nie Mingyuan was very fond of him as his son, even though three years ago during the Spring Festival, Nie Mingyuan had a falling out with Gu Baishuang, Nie Xiaofeng still felt dad was dad, mom was mom.
Once both older brothers moved out, his parents would reconcile.
As a son, he wanted both parents to see how accomplished he was.
Gu Baishuang replied in a calm tone, "Your dad has your two older brothers; naturally, he doesn’t need you to worry."
In the past three years, Gu Baishuang had grown increasingly distant towards Nie Mingyuan, not even maintaining the semblance of mutual respect.
At this time, Nie Mingyuan was with the two sons doing business in Su and Hang, unaware that Gu Baishuang had come to Shengjing.
Nie Xiaofeng said, "Mom, two brothers are two brothers, and I am me. If the two brothers feel dad is biased, then they can split the family assets. All the assets in dad’s hands can be given to them; I’ll earn my own family estate."
Gu Baishuang said, "We’ll talk about this later."
Gu Baishuang thought, why should she not want Nie Mingyuan’s assets?
Even though her own business was more profitable than Nie Mingyuan’s and earned more silver, there was no reason to give up on Nie Mingyuan’s assets either.
The reason Nie Mingyuan could accumulate such a massive family business was because she took care of the two step-sons and attended to their family.
Half of that business belonged to her, and she was unwilling to give it away.
Of course, she needed to explain this slowly to Nie Xiaofeng.
Seeing that Gu Baishuang was not keen on discussing Nie Mingyuan, Nie Xiaofeng obediently held his tongue.
Tong Huaqiong said to Nie Xiaofeng, "Xiaofeng, you shouldn’t worry about your parents’ affairs; sometimes respecting both parents’ wishes is also a form of filial piety."
Fearing that Nie Xiaofeng still harbored illusions about Nie Mingyuan.
Unbeknownst to him, in a past life, Nie Mingyuan never intended to give his family assets to Nie Xiaofeng.
Adults, wherever their love lies, their money follows.
One could only say Nie Mingyuan didn’t care for this son.