Mo Lingxi said they were on the mountain, and Tao Lengshuang understood. Being stuck on the mountain in the dead of winter would be quite miserable, but they deserved it.
The family of three ate happily, feasting on the not-so-delicious meat and fish, while watching the Tao family members search everywhere for the middle-aged man.
Their mood couldn't have been better.
After the three of them had eaten their fill and packed up all the food, the Tao family, who couldn't find the man, returned to the main hall.
As a result, they only saw an empty table.
Then, smelling the lingering aroma of meat in the air, they were both angry and delighted.
"You've eaten it all?" Madam Yu rubbed her hands, her calculating smile hard to hide.
"Yes, we've eaten it all. The taste wasn't very good," Tao Lengshuang picked up her teacup and took a sip, feeling exceptionally good.
Madam Yu tentatively asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"
As if to make amends, she added, "I was worried you might have eaten too much and felt uncomfortable."
Tao Lengshuang stated that her family was perfectly fine and not uncomfortable in the slightest.
Madam Yu and the others exchanged glances. Why were Tao Lengshuang and her two companions completely fine? They had administered a sufficient amount of the drug.
That drug was given by that person, and it was said that a tiny bit could knock out a black bear.
"Are you really okay?" Madam Yu asked, unwilling to give up.
Tao Lengshuang glanced at her mockingly and reiterated that she had no problems. Then she started talking about how much money such good food must have cost.
"Old Master Tao, now that you and your wife have received so much money, how do you plan to divide it?"
She counted the sons and grandsons present: "Over a dozen descendants... Oh, and the new house that's being built, that's top-notch. Who will inherit it in the future?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the various branches of the Tao family became wary of each other, their eyes filled with calculation as they looked at Old Master Tao and his wife. Everyone wanted to get all the couple's property.
Old Master Tao, having some sense, immediately changed the subject: "These are all matters for the future."
"Lengshuang, look, your nieces are not yet married. Speak to that noble young master for them, so that your nieces can marry into his family and help the household."
Tao Lengshuang's eyes were filled with disgust, her eyes slanted upwards: "Which niece do you want me to help marry him?"
"That noble young master can at most fancy one. But you have five granddaughters."
Before the words even fell, the eldest son Tao rushed to say, "Lengshuang, my family's two daughters, either of them can marry him."
"Nonsense!"
The second son Tao spat at him, pouting, "Your two trash daughters, the noble young master wouldn't even spare them a glance, finding them too dirty. Why would he want them?"
The eldest son Tao turned and started arguing with him.
You curse my daughters, I curse your daughters,
Like shrewish women scolding in the street.
The third son Tao seized the opportunity to recommend his daughter, but was stopped by his wife. He understood and stood still.
"The dowry that noble young master gives will certainly not be small."
Tao Lengshuang said languidly, "At least a hundred taels of dowry, and after marrying, she will be served and have whatever she desires."
As soon as these words were spoken, the third son Tao and his wife could no longer hold back. They quickly declared that their daughter was the best and most suitable for the noble young master.
How could the eldest son Tao and the second son Tao allow someone to snatch their potential marriage? They joined forces and started arguing with the third son Tao.
"Old Master Tao, do you and your wife think which granddaughter is suitable?" Tao Lengshuang added fuel to the fire.
Old Master Tao felt that any granddaughter would do, but thinking of his sons' past actions, he worried that his sons would not let him live a good life after his granddaughters married. He was very hesitant.
While he was hesitating, the three branches of the eldest son Tao rushed to him, chattering about wanting Old Master Tao to choose their daughters.
Tao Fangfang was also unwilling to be outdone, stating that whoever helped their family, their family would stand with them.
The entire living room was as noisy as a marketplace.
Tao Lengshuang and her two companions watched coldly, happy to see the Tao family arguing amongst themselves.
The Tao family argued for a long time but couldn't reach a conclusion.
Just as they were about to resort to violence, Tao Lengshuang calmly and at just the right pace said, "If there is enough betrothal gift, perhaps the noble young master will choose the other party."
As soon as the branches of the eldest son Tao heard this, they surrounded Old Master Tao and his wife, demanding betrothal gifts. They all wanted the couple to help their daughters, otherwise, they would not provide for them in their old age.
This infuriated Old Master Tao and his wife, who cursed the eldest son Tao and the others as unfilial scoundrels.
"Father, I found the box where Grandpa kept the silver."
At this moment, Tao Dagou, as if presenting a treasure, held up a wooden box, not mentioning that he had stolen over ten taels of silver.
As soon as these words were spoken, they instantly shifted the attention of everyone in the Tao family.
As if driven mad, they lunged at the wooden box.
"You dog, that's my silver, give it back!"
"Who says it's yours? I am the eldest son, and I should inherit everything in the family. Dagou did well, quickly give me the wooden box."
"Big brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Father said whoever he gives it to, it goes to them. This family is not for you to rule."
With several thuds.
The Tao family fell to the ground like a stack of pancakes.
Then they quickly got up, either rushing towards the wooden box or getting into a brawl, neither letting the other have their way.
"Everything in this family is mine. If you dare to snatch my things, I will kill you today!"
"Ah! How dare you grab my face, see how I deal with you!"
Even the children of the Tao family started fighting, causing the wooden box to fall to the ground. The silver, silver bracelets, and other good things inside spilled everywhere.
This made the Tao family fight even more fiercely.
They looked like vicious dogs fighting over food.
Tao Lengshuang watched leisurely, and finally added fuel to the fire: "If anyone can take charge of the household, there will be enough betrothal money, and then their daughters will have a chance to marry the noble young master."
This was like pouring oil on the fire, making the Tao family fight even more intensely. They even started attacking their daughters.
They all wanted to ruin the purity and appearance of each other's daughters so that their own daughters would have a chance to marry the noble young master.
Tao Lengshuang felt no sympathy for the Tao family's daughters. Back then, her nieces had helped the Tao family bully and abuse Xiao Feng, and had used her family as a punching bag.
These nieces of hers, weak and inferior in the Tao family and afraid to resist, had vented all their resentment on her family.
About half an hour later.
All the members of the Tao family lay on the ground, seriously injured, occasionally kicking or scratching each other, not wanting the other to have an easy time.
"Oh dear, you all need to prepare yourselves. The noble young master will be here in a few days."
With that, Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi, father and son, left.
The Tao family members all looked at each other with vigilance and suspicion, unwilling for the other to snatch this good marriage. They also wanted to curry favor with Tao Lengshuang, hoping she would speak well of them to the noble young master.
"I think we should divide the family!" The second son Tao wiped his bloody nose and said sinisterly, "Father and Mother will come with our family. Our family has always been the best to Father and Mother."