I just want to find someone to have a couple of drinks with, but there's no one around. If you have time in the future, come often.

Bring a plate of peanuts, and I'll provide the alcohol!"

"Sure, sure."

Old He shouted to his son:

"Chu, go buy some groceries from outside."

"Got it, Dad."

He Chu went out.

Old He brought over two more stools, gave one to the elderly servant standing behind the middle-aged man and sat down on one himself.

"Don't feel it's too much trouble; my son only went out to buy groceries, he's really buying groceries, at home, there's plenty of cured meat and pig heads, heh heh, before coming to the capital, I was a butcher."

"Oh, from your accent, even if you're not a native of the capital, you must be from nearby."

"You guessed right, I was born and raised in Nan'an, in Tiancheng District."

"Then why come to the capital?"

"Sigh, don't laugh at me, when daughters grow up, they don't listen to their fathers. My own daughter picked a man from the capital, got me a son-in-law from here.

Thinking of being closer to my daughter, we moved over."

"Oh? In that case, it should be your son-in-law helping you settle in. How come you had to rent a place yourself? That's outrageous. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Unless, is your son-in-law's family struggling?"

"That's not the case, that's not the case. My son-in-law is from a wealthy family. The house, he arranged it well, the courtyard is very spacious, but I didn't live in it."

It's not just spacious, even the servants and maids were prepared in advance.

In the past, when Chengjue was at his poorest, he lived off the cornmeal sent by Lord Zheng;

But now he's in charge of the Ministry of Revenue behind the scenes, there's no need to be frugal, when it comes to spending, there are few in all of Yan richer than Ji Chengjue.

"Then why not?"

"Think about it, it's my daughter who married into their family, not me and my son. Why should we live off them?

This would unfairly make it difficult for my daughter to hold her head high in her husband's family.

Don't you think that's reasonable?"

"That makes sense."

"Sigh."

Old He sighed and said:

"I don't expect any meteoric rise to great wealth; I've always thought that a peaceful life is the biggest satisfaction. Now, I don't know if this is a good fate or a bad one."

"Since your daughter married into a wealthy family, it's naturally good."

"You're from a wealthy family too, right?"

"Me?"

"From your attire and speech, I can tell, you're not an ordinary commoner. You must know, wealthy families have high walls, but also high standards.

Previously, I thought about bringing in a son-in-law, or finding someone nearby, so I could keep an eye while I'm around, and her brother could watch over when I'm not.

There's no way I'd let my daughter go without meat, or let her be bullied.

But now, there's nothing I can do even if I want to manage it."

The middle-aged man nodded upon hearing this and said:

"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, each generation has its own destiny."

"What you said, brother, is very insightful."

The elderly servant, hearing this form of address, moved his hands slightly.

The middle-aged man casually said:

"Indeed, I also have a few sons."

"A lot?"

"Quite a few."

"Oh, then you're blessed."

"They're all trouble-makers. Several of them are hoping I die early so they can split the inheritance."

"Listen to yourself, how can that be?"

"I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but that's exactly what some of them think. Only the youngest one is still young, his wings haven't hardened, so I reckon he doesn't want me dead yet. The other grown ones feel uneasy with me living even another day."

"Brother, that's not the right way to see it."

"Oh, how so?"

"Whether children are filial or not, whether siblings are close, ultimately depends on their parents."

"Parents?"

"Exactly, brother, don't blame me for speaking bluntly, but don't be quick to blame the children for being unfilial or inconsiderate.

At the root of it, the father himself didn't teach right."

"......" The old servant.

The middle-aged man took a deep breath and said: "Go on, please."

"I've traveled a lot in and around Nan'an County because of my work collecting pigs, so I've seen a lot.

I've seen plenty of unfilial children who don't serve their parents.

But most fit a certain pattern,

It's either the parents weren't decent themselves, didn't set a good example, or couldn't treat the children fairly from the start;

Or they spoiled them too much or treated them poorly from the start. In short, they weren't properly taught.

As the saying goes, if the upper beam isn't right, the lower beam will be crooked.

Perhaps it's because you were busy doing business outside for too long, and never had time to manage the kids from a young age.

Look at my son, not to boast, but except for slaughtering pigs, he has no other skills, but he has a good character, is steady, and knows ethics!"

The middle-aged man nodded and said: "I learned a lot."

"Oh dear, look at me, look at me, my mouth, I said something wrong, said something wrong. I used to run a shop in the county, got used to chatting and gossiping with the neighbors every day. On the road to the capital, I just met someone I can talk to, and my mouth just wouldn't stop.