Chapter 92 Dad, please give me a message
Chen Biao stayed with them for a while. After he had eaten his fill, he repeatedly reminded his father not to drink, and then went to find his mother and brother.
Today happened to be the day when Ma Xiuying was not feeling well, so Ma Xiuying did not come out to receive Zhu Yuanzhang's subordinates.
When Chen Biao was cooking for a few people, he had already brought the food for Ma Xiuying and her younger brothers over.
Chen Biao's four younger brothers, who had been active during the day, had exhausted their energy and gone to bed early. Ma Xiuying wasn't feeling well, but she still lit a candle to read the account books.
Chen Biao complained, "Mom, what account books do you need to look at right now? Even if it's really urgent, am I just a decoration?"
Ma Xiuying touched her son's face and smiled, "Your father pushed his work onto you. How can I add to your burden?"
Chen Biao sat down next to Ma Xiuying, leaned against her and said, "Working for mom is not a burden, working for dad is a burden."
Ma Xiuying couldn't help laughing: "Okay. But you definitely don't want to read these account books. I'll go to bed after I finish this one."
Chen Biao's face immediately fell: "Is she my father's new concubine?"
Chen Biao would review all the family's financial expenditures, so even if his parents didn't say it, he would certainly know that the family had several more women.
After so many years of being accustomed to the feudal era, Chen Biao no longer had much negative psychological fluctuations towards his father's concubines. But when his mother actually endured the discomfort and stayed up late because they were looking at the account books, Chen Biao was angry.
Ma Xiuying sighed, "There is a concubine with a special status. She is my adoptive father's illegitimate daughter. The other concubines can tolerate and live with others, but this one needs special care."
Chen Biao's face fell even more.
He knew that his mother, like Madam Xiuying, had once been the adopted daughter of a general.
This is very common. As long as Chen Biao's uncles got married after serving in the army, it is very likely that their wives or concubines had adopted daughters from other families.
They did not have that many daughters at home, and they were reluctant to let their subordinates who were not from high-ranking families but were capable marry their biological daughters. Therefore, most generals adopted daughters, gave some to others, and took some as concubines.
In this era of the collapse of rituals and music, it was not uncommon for concubines to adopt daughters for their living sons.
The Chen family was just a merchant family, and only became wealthy after Chen Biao became the head of the family. Therefore, Chen Guorui was naturally not eligible to marry the general's daughter, and could only marry the general's adopted daughter.
Since he was old enough to understand, Chen Biao has never seen his mother's family.
He had heard from his mother that his maternal grandfather had no relatives left, and that his adoptive parents had a conflict with his father and they no longer had any contact.
Who would have thought that the adoptive parents would actually marry their own daughter to my father as a concubine?!
Even as a concubine's daughter, she could see the humiliating expressions of the family begging for peace.
Ma Xiuying observed Chen Biao's expression and felt a little uneasy.
She had been hesitating whether to tell Chen Biao about this.
Biao'er was so smart that she could tell that there was a "special" person among the concubines this time just by looking at the family expenses.
In order to prevent Biaoer from misunderstanding that Zhu Yuanzhang was not good to them and their mother, and had a "new favorite" outside, and also to let Biaoer know about the Guo family who wanted to get close to her, Ma Xiuying thought about it and still felt that it was necessary to trust her son and not hide it from him.
Chen Biao was irritated for a moment, but then he quickly calmed down: "Mom, tell me about the past of your adoptive parents' family and my family."
Ma Xiuying breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again. She pulled Chen Biao into her arms and said, "My adoptive parents are also businessmen. Your father originally worked in my adoptive parents' shop. Because he was very capable, he was quickly promoted to manager. My adoptive father and brothers had limited talents, and soon my adoptive parents' business was entirely managed by your father."
Chen Biao's eyelids twitched. "Did they hurt my father and you because they were afraid of him, or did my father directly seize the family business of my mother's adoptive parents?"
Ma Xiuying said, "It's all of that. First, they were wary of your father, so they stripped him of his position as chief steward and nearly had him killed. Then your father started from scratch. Although he nominally worked under my adoptive father, he was actually starting his own business. Later, without your father's help, the family business was nearly taken away, but your father took it back. After your father died, since most of his assets were earned by your father, the stewards all became dependent on him."
Ma Xiuying touched Chen Biao's head and didn't say what happened next.
Chen Biao asked, "Mom, where is your adoptive father's son?"
Ma Xiuying continued to remain silent.
Chen Biao scratched his head with both hands, making his hair a tangled mess.
Ma Xiuying explained on Zhu Yuanzhang's behalf: "Don't blame your father. After your adoptive father died, his son once tried to murder your father."
Chen Biao stopped scratching his head and said, "Mom, I'm not blaming my dad. I always stand on my family's side in matters like this. If anyone threatens your safety, not to mention Dad, I will be ruthless as well."
Chen Biao made a vicious expression as if he was about to kill someone.
Ma Xiuying helped Chen Biao comb his hair: "I hope you don't blame him."
Chen Biao said, "I'm just worried that Mother will have a grudge against Father because of this matter. Since Mother doesn't care, I care even less. Now your adoptive father's family has finally realized that they need to please my father, so they are sending their daughter to be a concubine?"
Ma Xiuying: "Yeah."
Chen Biao asked, "Is that woman domineering?"
Ma Xiuying shook her head. "She has a good personality. But your adoptive father's family wants a grander ceremony, different from the other concubines."
After all, Ma Xiuying and Zhu Yuanzhang relied on the Guo family to make their fortunes, and one of the Guo family's two legitimate sons died in battle, and the other was killed by Zhu Yuanzhang . Once this woman entered the Zhu family, Ma Xiuying and Zhu Yuanzhang had to favor her to silence the gossip.
"Oh." After Ma Xiuying helped him tie his hair again, Chen Biao jumped out of bed and walked out. "Mom, you go to sleep first. I'll take care of this."
Ma Xiuying was helpless: "Biao'er, even if your father dotes on you, you can't stop him from taking a concubine even if you control everything in the world."
Chen Biao nodded: "I know, I won't care. Mom, believe me, I'm not the kind of person who would mess around."
Ma Xiuying sighed: "Okay."
Chen Biao said, "Mom, you should get some rest soon. If you don't, I'll really take care of you."
Ma Xiuying quickly said, "Okay." She didn't know whether it was right or wrong to tell Chen Biao about this.
When Chen Biao returned to the courtyard, he smelled a strong smell of alcohol.
He immediately became angry.
Yes, that’s right, a son can’t stop his father from taking a concubine.
The son can't even stop his dad from drinking!
"Dad!" Chen Biao roared loudly with all his strength.
Zhu Yuanzhang was drinking with his subordinates when he heard Chen Biao's voice and almost choked.
"Ahem, Biao'er, didn't you go to bed? Why are you back again?" Zhu Yuanzhang quickly hid the wine jar under his feet.
Liao Yongan and others were speechless.
My lord, you are trying to cover up your mistakes!
Chen Biao said with a straight face, "It's okay for you to drink, but if Uncle Liao gets any health problems from drinking, you'll all be held responsible!"
Zhu Yuanzhang quickly picked up the bowl in front of Liao Yongan and handed it to Chen Biao: "It's water, drink it!"
Chen Biao sniffed it and nodded: "That's good. By the way, Dad, I have something to tell you, come here. Just a few words, then I'll go back to sleep, you continue drinking."
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately put down the bowl of water and followed him happily.
Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang's attentive appearance, Liao Yongan was shocked again.
He seemed to find that his lord was a little... ahem, it must be an illusion in front of the young lord.
Chen Biao brought Zhu Yuanzhang to the corner of the yard and said in a low voice, "Uncles and uncles should not be able to hear us here."
Zhu Yuanzhang squatted down, looked Chen Biao in the eye and said, "Biao'er, you seem very unhappy. What's bothering you? Daddy will help you solve it!"
Chen Biao sighed, "Actually, I shouldn't say this. But we're different from other fathers and sons. There's nothing to hide, right?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded vigorously: "Yes."
Chen Biao said, "Father, as a son, I have no right to interfere with your taking concubines, and I have no intention of doing so. Besides, I know that most of the concubines in your backyard are women sent by other generals or even the lord, and they have special meanings. You have placed all the concubines in the other courtyards and never let me come into contact with your concubines. I know that father treats me best."
Chen Biao opened his arms and hugged Zhu Yuanzhang's neck: "Dad, thank you."
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then hugged his son back: "Why, your mother was wronged? You want to complain? Whoever bullied your mother, tell me quickly. Even if it was a woman sent by the lord, I will not forgive her!"
Chen Biao shook his head. "With my mother's personality, how could she be wronged? Even if we think she's been wronged, she herself doesn't think she's wronged. Dad, I just want you to help me pass on a message to the family you're marrying into."
Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "What did you say?"
Chen Biao tightened his arms and said, "The marriage is for profit. I will be the head of the Chen family in the future. If they don't want their interests to be damaged after I take over, then they should behave themselves."
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a while, then said in a strange tone, "Biao'er, are you also warning your father?"
Chen Biao said, "How could that be? Dad is the best to me and my mother. He would never do such a thing as favoring a concubine over his wife, nor would he favor a concubine's son over his legitimate son."
Zhu Yuanzhang said awkwardly: "Okay, okay, I know you are warning me, hey!"
Zhu Yuanzhang hugged Chen Biao and said with a smile, "I know you only consider your parents and your brothers from the same mother as your family. I won't make things difficult for you."
Chen Biao said with a stern face, "And I'm super fierce! I hold grudges! I don't care about ethics, morals, or face! If anyone makes my family uncomfortable, I'll make their whole family uncomfortable! Dad, I'm your son. I'll definitely die after you. You can't protect them. Awooo!"
"Good, good, woof," Zhu Yuanzhang said happily, "Son, you usually don't fight or compete, and you're so kind. I was worried that you wouldn't fight back when you were bullied. Now that you have this awareness, Dad is very happy."
Chen Biao continued to try to keep a straight face and said, "I've always been fierce! Chen Han's 600,000-man army all know how fierce I am!"
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "Yes, yes. But they are enemies, that's different. Biao'er, you haven't even realized how soft-hearted you are. No matter who offends you, you won't take it to heart, and you won't use your power and status to bully others. Dad is really worried about you."
Chen Biao's expression could no longer remain calm. "I'm really not kind at all...ah, you too, and mother too. Mother told me about her adoptive father today. She was probably worried that someone would gossip about me behind your and my mother's backs. She kept saying that you had excusable circumstances and that you had no choice...well, mother thinks too much. A kind person like her would ignore everything and immediately stand on our side when it comes to matters between father and me. I'm not even as kind as my mother."
Chen Biao forced out a ferocious expression: "Anyone who bullies you and your mother must die!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned.
Chen Biao looked up: "Are you scared?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's tears welled up in his eyes.
Chen Biao: “!!!!” Could it be possible that Dad could be scared to tears by me!
