After putting on a show of deep affection between grandparents and grandchildren with the Old Madam Shen, Shen Haiyan reluctantly took his leave. "Grandmother, remember to send the things to the Princess Mansion."
"Oh right, grandson has a good memory. I've got all these items in mind. If any are missing, don't blame grandson for coming to ask for them."
Before leaving, Shen Haiyan couldn't help but take a look at the Old Madam Shen's gritted - teeth expression, which greatly improved his mood.
Yan Mingli looked at Shen Haiyan with admiration. "You're really amazing. With just a few words, you got so many things. The whole courtyard is almost emptied by you, Brother Haiyan."
"However, if this gets out, will it be bad for you, Brother Haiyan?"
Shen Baozhu was stepping on Yan Mingli's shadow, concentrating on her game. Yan Mingli was deep in thought. Subconsciously, he pulled Shen Baozhu to his side and asked, "Baozhu, aren't you worried that if this spreads, Brother Haiyan will be scolded for being unfilial?"
"Huh? Who dares to scold Third Brother? Third Brother is the most filial one!" Shen Baozhu was so angry that she lost interest in stepping on the shadow.
Under Yan Mingli's shocked gaze, Shen Baozhu said seriously, "Although grandfather and grandmother don't like Third Brother, he came to visit them as soon as his injury healed. That's already very filial."
"Moreover, grandmother often gives things to Eldest Brother but never to Third Brother. It's normal for Third Brother to be jealous and ask grandmother for some things!"
Yan Mingli, who had been doted on by his parents, grandparents, and protected by his two elder brothers since childhood, was even more shocked. "What about you, Baozhu? Does grandmother give you things?"
Shen Baozhu thought for a while. "It depends on who is with me. If father or Eldest Brother is with me, grandmother will give me things. But if mother or Third Brother is with me, grandmother will tell me to eat less."
The Dragon King: [Showing favoritism?]
Seeing that the Dragon King didn't know the true nature of the Old Madam Shen, Lin Yu kindly explained it to him.
After learning that the Old Madam Shen helped Shen Yunfeng, protected Bai Xinrou, and bullied Shen Baozhu everywhere, the Dragon King lost his smile.
The Dragon King: [The Shen family is really disgusting. Fortunately, Shen Haiyan is reliable.]
Yan Mingli silently shut up. Both the Xu family and the Shen family made his head spin.
The Xu family didn't treat girls as human beings, and the Shen family was overly biased.
Although Shen Baozhu didn't mention the Old Master Shen, according to Yan Mingli's speculation, the Old Master Shen was probably also biased.
Just as Yan Mingli was sighing in his heart that there were no such messy things in the Yan family, a familiar voice suddenly rang out in front of him.
He took a closer look. Isn't this the fool who bought his recipe? Oh no, the kind - hearted person!
Chen Liang was buying a roasted goose. Just as he turned around, he saw the rich fool who bought his recipe. Oh no, the great benefactor!
He quoted a price of 500 taels of silver, but this great benefactor actually transferred 600 taels of silver to him, giving an extra 100 taels directly. He was truly a great benefactor!
When the great benefactor met the kind - hearted person, they couldn't help but exchange a few words of greeting.
Shen Haiyan held Shen Baozhu's hand and stood quietly beside them, waiting for Yan Mingli to finish chatting.
After a brief greeting, Yan Mingli waved his hand. "I won't bother you anymore, Brother Chen Liang. I'll take my leave first."
Out of politeness, Chen Liang casually tried to persuade him to stay. "Where are you going? I just bought a roasted goose. Why don't you stay and have a taste?"
Chen Liang...
This somewhat familiar name made Shen Haiyan's heart skip a beat.
The Dragon King: [This name sounds a bit familiar.]
Lin Yu: [Isn't he the fiancé of Xu Yutang?]
Just as Yan Mingli was about to decline, Shen Haiyan stepped in first. "Then I'd better follow your kind invitation. Brother Yan and I were just about to go to the Drunken Song Tower. Why don't you come with us, Brother Chen Liang?"
At the mention of the "Drunken Song Tower", Chen Liang's eyes lit up. He had long heard of the Drunken Song Tower and wanted to go in and have a taste, but he was always short of money. Now that someone was willing to take him, just as he was about to agree, Chen Liang asked cautiously, "I've spent all my money on the roasted goose..."
Shen Haiyan casually put his arm around Yan Mingli's shoulder and said with a smile, "Don't worry. Brother Yan has a lot of silver stored in the Drunken Song Tower. It's enough for us to have a good meal."
Hearing this, Chen Liang felt relieved and followed Shen Haiyan and Yan Mingli into the Drunken Song Tower.
In a private room on the third floor of the Drunken Song Tower.
Shen Haiyan washed his hands and peeled shrimps for Shen Baozhu while casually trying to get information from Chen Liang.
Shen Baozhu was poking at the tender fish in her small bowl.
Looking at the cute - looking Shen Baozhu, Chen Liang had the urge to tease her. "Is it fun? Wasting food will give you nightmares!"
Shen Baozhu was concentrating on poking the fish and didn't even look up.
Chen Liang frowned, thinking that his words weren't scary enough. Just as he was about to say something else, Yan Mingli patted him on the shoulder.
Yan Mingli was peeling the chicken leg with chopsticks and said casually, "What are you talking nonsense about? No one here is wasting food."
"Baozhu, come and take a look at how well I've peeled this chicken leg. Will she like it?"
This "she" referred to Chen Miaochun.
Chen Miaochun had to gnaw on the bones left by the Wang family in the Wang household, which left a psychological shadow on her. As a result, she never ate meat with bones.
Shen Baozhu discovered this small detail a few days ago. After Yan Mingli learned about it, he had been practicing peeling meat diligently these days, determined to peel meat for Chen Miaochun for the rest of his life.
Shen Baozhu took the chicken leg meat and casually handed the bowl of boneless fish to Shen Haiyan. "Third Brother, try it! Have I removed all the fish bones this time?"
General Mu loved fish but disliked fish bones. Unfortunately, he didn't like to be served by servants. Every time, he would sigh in front of the fish.
Hearing that her grandfather was coming back soon, Shen Baozhu started practicing removing fish bones, planning to give him a big surprise when he returned.
After learning the truth, Chen Liang felt a bit guilty. He had made a preconceived judgment. He didn't expect that Shen Baozhu wasn't playing but was removing fish bones to show filial piety to her elders.
Looking at the filial Shen Baozhu, Chen Liang, who was usually not very kind - hearted, couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
He surprisingly started talking about his own past.
Chen Liang was born in a small town. His family ran a small inn. He heard that his grandfather used to own a restaurant in the city when he was young, but the people in the town didn't really believe it. They thought his grandfather was boasting, and even Chen Liang thought so.
Yan Mingli, who had bought the recipe, flashed a look in his eyes. As the owner of the Drunken Song Tower, he could see that there were merits in Chen Liang's recipe. According to the recipe, Chen Liang's grandfather probably wasn't lying.
Chen Liang casually picked up a wine cup and took a sip. Looking at Shen Baozhu, he sighed, "I also have a younger sister. After she was born, my parents kicked me out."
"They said that not only was I idle but also liked men. Just because I couldn't carry on the family line, they kicked me out? It's ridiculous, really ridiculous!"
As he was talking, Chen Liang suddenly raised his head proudly. "They also said that I couldn't marry a wife. But look at me now! I'm going to marry the granddaughter of the prefect as my wife. I'll eat meat every day, while they can only earn a little money meekly in the small town. Hahaha, they deserve it!"
The granddaughter of the prefect, Chen Liang.
There was too much information contained in these two words. Yan Mingli subconsciously jumped up. "You, you, you! You go to the men - only brothel and still want to get married? Have some shame!"
Chen Liang was already dizzy. He hugged the wine jug and laughed. "Hehe, compared to the Xu family, I'm already very good. Xu Yutang is marrying me. I'll just spend money and won't bully her. Unlike the Xu family, they're all eyeing her dowry mansion."
"Her stupid elder brother has been hinting for me to use the mansion to pay off the debt."
"How ridiculous! I'm not a fool. I won't pay the debt!"