Before the words had even fallen, they were met with strong opposition from Old Master Tao and his wife, who adamantly refused to divide the family.
It was a joke; they were living perfectly well, so why would they divide the family?
Wouldn't that make them a laughingstock in the village? They couldn't bear such shame.
However, the other branches of the Tao family were all contemplating division, and each wanted to be the one to support Old Master Tao and his wife.
"We can divide the family, but Father and Mother must live with us."
Eldest Brother Tao put on airs of the eldest son managing the household. "I am the eldest, and according to tradition, Father and Mother must live with us."
"Eldest brother, that's not right."
Third Brother Tao said sarcastically, "Who Father and Mother live with depends on their own wishes. Who says they have to live with you?"
"Exactly."
Second Brother Tao spat, glaring fiercely at Eldest Brother Tao. "Who doesn't know your intentions and schemes?
"Eldest Brother Tao, I'm telling you, you want Father and Mother to live with you? No way!"
Tao Fangfang's family remained silent.
Tao Fangfang's idea was that whichever family their parents lived with, their own family would also live with them. In any case, their family would not live separately.
Old Master Tao and his wife were shouting about not dividing the family, saying they would never divide it, even if it meant death.
But no one paid any attention to the couple.
The various branches of the Tao family argued fiercely, each wanting to support Old Master Tao and his wife to obtain the house and all their property.
As they argued, the branches began to fight.
In the end, they were all lying on the ground, still cursing.
Meanwhile, Tao Lengshuang and the other two returned home. Before they could even sit down, they learned from their secret guards about what had happened in the Tao family.
"This is just the beginning."
Tao Lengshuang's voice was faint. "Everyone in the Tao family has always been selfish. Now, faced with such a good marriage prospect and so much property, they will do everything they can to achieve their own goals."
What she wanted was for the Tao family to keep causing trouble, thereby forcing the middle-aged man to help them. Only then would she have a chance to find out the middle-aged man's identity.
Mo Lingxi reminded her with concern, "Be careful, and guard against the Tao family taking extreme measures."
Tao Lengshuang nodded understandingly, indicating she would be more careful. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning." He was a little reluctant to leave.
"Oh."
Tao Lengshuang didn't know what else to say and lowered her head to chat with Xiao Feng.
Mo Lingxi gazed at the mother and son, who were happily chatting, with gentle eyes, feeling increasingly reluctant to leave.
Here, he felt warmth.
Unlike the coldness and dislike of the past, it was now warm and comfortable.
"By the way, the house can be renovated, and we should add what's needed."
Tao Lengshuang, however, said it wasn't urgent. "Who knows how long this mess with the Tao family will take."
"It's not too late to renovate and add things after dealing with the Tao family. We can still live here now."
Mo Lingxi hummed in agreement. "We can get some things for Xiao Feng."
"Let's wait until spring."
Tao Lengshuang sighed with worry. "I don't know if life will get better."
When she first transmigrated, life was relatively good.
Now, not only was there a shortage of supplies, but there were also many heavy taxes and levies, and they still had to face the emperor's various unreasonable decrees.
Mo Lingxi was more aware of these situations and told Tao Lengshuang not to worry too much. "It will get better after spring."
Tao Lengshuang knew that Mo Lingxi was comforting her. Although she hadn't experienced civil unrest in her past life, she knew how much crisis civil unrest could bring and how much suffering the common people would endure.
"You must also be careful when you are out," she reminded him.
Mo Lingxi patted Xiao Feng's head and agreed.
"Daddy, Mommy, your conversation is so strange, like two people who know each other are chatting," Xiao Feng suddenly said.
Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi glanced at each other, then simultaneously looked away.
"It's not strange."
Tao Lengshuang looked at Xiao Feng gently. "Your Daddy and I do know each other. How can we be a couple if we don't know each other?"
Xiao Feng felt that something was not right, but being so young, he couldn't figure out what it was: "That's right."
Tao Lengshuang changed the subject appropriately, talking about making dumplings and buns tomorrow.
This instantly shifted Xiao Feng's attention.
However, it failed to shift Mo Lingxi's attention. He looked at the gentle and patient Tao Lengshuang, feeling a bit uneasy.
"You can lose weight, but pay attention to your health."
Hearing his words, Tao Lengshuang replied without looking up, "I am a doctor and I know very well how to take care of myself."
"Doctors aren't omnipotent."
"Why do I feel like you're looking for something to talk about?"
Mo Lingxi cleared his throat as if to cover up. "No, I just think you're losing weight too quickly and worry you won't be able to take good care of Xiao Feng."
Xiao Feng, who was mentioned, had a question mark slowly appearing above his head. What did it have to do with him?
Tao Lengshuang glanced at Mo Lingxi and said faintly, "You can rest assured about this. I will take good care of Xiao Feng and won't give you the chance."
Mo Lingxi frowned. It seemed, perhaps, he had said the wrong thing?
"That's not what I meant."
After a pause, he added, "If you only focus on losing weight, Xiao Feng will be very worried, and it won't be good for your health either."
Tao Lengshuang looked at him strangely. Was he trying to fix what he had just said wrong?
Why was he so strange?
"Did you take the wrong medicine?"
Mo Lingxi choked and rubbed his temples. "I'm just giving you a couple of reminders."
Tao Lengshuang still found it strange. She pointed at him, then pointed at herself. "Is our relationship good enough for this?"
Mo Lingxi was speechless.
Tao Lengshuang didn't mind and continued to tell Xiao Feng about making dumplings and buns tomorrow.
Mo Lingxi felt a bit defeated and didn't understand why he was acting this way.
But he knew one thing: he didn't want to be like this with Tao Lengshuang anymore. He wanted to get along well, as they used to.
That would be a real home.
...
In the evening.
When Tao Lengshuang was preparing to coax Xiao Feng to sleep, Xiao Feng suddenly said.
"Mommy, if I sleep here, how will you and Daddy make younger brothers and sisters?"
Tao Lengshuang almost had a heart attack upon hearing this and explained powerlessly, "Xiao Feng, your Daddy and I will not have any more children."
"Don't mention it again, okay?"
Xiao Feng could see that his mother was a little unhappy. Although he didn't want to, he obediently agreed and promised not to mention it again.
"Go to sleep. When you wake up, we can make dumplings and buns," Tao Lengshuang patted him lightly.
It wasn't that she was unwilling to have more children for Xiao Feng, but that she and Mo Lingxi would eventually part ways, and more importantly, they had no feelings for each other.
Xiao Feng closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
As Tao Lengshuang was also preparing to sleep, she heard Mo Lingxi speak.
"Xiao Feng really wants a younger brother or sister."
Tao Lengshuang gave him a cold look, her emotions unreadable. "What do you want to say?"
Mo Lingxi shook his head, indicating he didn't know what to say. He truly didn't know what he wanted to say.
Tao Lengshuang rolled her eyes and turned her back to him to sleep.
Mo Lingxi found it difficult to sleep. He rested his head on his hands, gazing at the roof beams, and he himself didn't know what he was thinking.