The Glory After Rebirth

28 - 30

C28: Family Feast

On the way to the front hall to attend the family feast, it became obvious to Ling Zhang that the atmosphere in the mansion had changed. Those servants who used to greet him with a smile now merely gave him respectful bows.

The reason for this was obvious.

Ling Zhang didn't find this to be all that bad. Besides, he was no longer the man he used to be. Asking him to revert back to his usual laughing self was completely impractical.

When he arrived at the front hall, Ling Zhang noticed that in addition to Ling Xingzhong, Ling Zhaowen and Ling Maomao, Fu Caiwei was also there. Ling family was a relatively small family, so unlike other families, they weren't too finicky when it came to certain rules.

Fu Caiwei was waiting in front of the hall. Her eyes brightened the moment she noticed Ling Zhang's approach, "Come on over here. The weather has gotten colder. You should help yourself to some hot soup."

Ling Zhang hurried forward to greet his aunt. "Aunt, you shouldn't stay out here for so long. It's too cold out here."

"Oh, I'm fine," Fu Caiwei answered.

The two of them entered the hall together, where they saw Ling Maomao running out excitedly.

Moments before Ling Maomao reached Ling Zhang, Ling Zhaowen cleared his throat, causing Ling Maomao to stop short. Reluctantly, Ling Maomao changed his demeanor into a respectful one. "Big brother," Ling Maomao greeted.

With his back to his father, Ling Maomao made a face at Ling Zhang. "My father's eyes are so sharp," he whispered.

Ling Zhang's eyes softened and he winked at Ling Maomao furtively.

The brothers walked hand in hand until they were standing in front of the table. Ling Zhang bowed to Ling Xingzhong and Ling Zhaowen in greeting. Then, he and Ling Maomao took their seats at the table.

Fu Caiwei placed a bowl of soup in front of Ling Zhang, "Here, drink it while it's still warm."

Ling Zhang thanked his aunt and took a sip of the hot soup. Although the soup was a bit hot, it was delicious and fragrant. Warmth spread out in his stomach after he swallowed it, expelling the coldness he had felt during the way here.

He knew that his aunt had prepared the soup the moment he drank it. How long had it been since he last tasted his aunt's soup?

Ling Zhang lowered his head slightly, not daring to expose the intense emotions in his eyes. He finished the soup slowly. Once he had calmed himself, he looked back up again.

He didn't notice anything strange in his grandfather and his uncle's expressions since he got here. Their faces looked completely normal as if they had no idea about the things that had happened in his yard.

"Hurry up and dig in, everyone. I'm sure you're all starving after the long day," Ling Xingzhong said, which prompted everyone to pick up their chopsticks.

Ling Maomao was sitting next to Ling Zhang. After two mouthfuls, he reached out and carefully placed a piece of meat in Ling Zhang's bowl. "Here, big brother. Chicken thigh, your favorite."

Ling Zhang glanced down at the meat in his bowl and swallowed the feelings of bitterness that had risen inside him. Then, he returned the favor by putting a piece of Ling Maomao's favorite meat into Maomao's bowl. "This is your favorite," he said.

Ling Maomao laughed happily. He briskly picked up the meat that Ling Zhang had picked for him and took a big bite.

Ling Zhang did the same for his grandfather and uncle too. He couldn't do the same for his aunt, though. It would be inappropriate for a man to place food into a married woman's bowl unless he was the woman's husband. Instead, he whispered to his aunt to eat more.