Chapter 261: Treating Each Other with Respect (Part 2)
However, Ling Fu recalled their previous argument and coldly said, "Serves her right. I told her not to participate this year, but she just wouldn't listen."
"This year is a year of reform, and many things are still unclear. Only she is so disobedient, insisting on rushing into it."
"So what?" Du Yue'e disagreed, her voice involuntarily rising, "A year of reform means it's an opportunity to stand out!"
"If His Majesty wasn't short of capable people, why would he make such a move at this time? If one can get involved now, they might quickly be heavily relied upon, and their official career would be smooth."
Upon hearing this, Ling Fu fell silent.
He knew this wife of his had always been intelligent and came from a prestigious family. Although they always disagreed, what she said was correct.
Du Yue'e became angry as soon as she saw Ling Fu fall silent.
"What, do you think what I said is wrong? Or, do you not even dare to admit that I'm right?"
"No, my wife is right."
Ling Fu replied sullenly, unwilling to quarrel with Du Yue'e.
Du Yue'e couldn't stand his appearance, but she still had to speak.
"Fortunately, you, this blockhead, still know how to care for your daughter and told her about it. Although she didn't last until the end, her performance should still be acceptable, right?"
Ling Fu nodded noncommittally, his face grim, indicating his agreement.
"Her ranking shouldn't be bad either?" Du Yue'e knew that Ling Fu being able to come home meant that some tricky matters regarding the Examination had been resolved, and the ranking should also be clear by now.
Ling Fu did not answer her directly, only vaguely saying, "Still under discussion."
He saw Du Yue'e's expression and immediately added, "However, it's acceptable."
Du Yue'e was very satisfied after hearing this.
"Indeed, our Yu Ke is intelligent and knows best how to seize opportunities, unlike a country bumpkin like you who doesn't know how to seize opportunities to advance."
Ling Fu frowned upon hearing this.
"Why are we talking about this again?"
"What?" Du Yue'e raised her voice, raising an eyebrow, "Which sentence do you think I said was wrong?"
"Not knowing how to seize opportunities? Or... calling you a country bumpkin?"
Ling Fu was silent again.
But this was precisely the look Du Yue'e detested the most.
Perhaps when they were first engaged, there was still a filter, and she felt that Ling Fu, silent and like a cold mountain, was different from those flattering Young Masters.
But once they were truly married, she felt increasingly stifled. Sometimes, she'd rather they had a big argument than live such a lukewarm life.
Thinking of this, Du Yue'e was full of anger and continued to scold, "At first, your Ling Family lied to us, saying you were the eldest son of the main branch, suitable for a marriage alliance with our Du Family."
"What was the result? A collateral branch boy from a rural area, it was simply a deception!"
Ling Fu frowned and said, "It wasn't deception, my uncle recognized me as his son..."
"But you simply can't get rid of that rustic smell of yours, and you're always thinking about helping and inquiring about your poor relatives every other day."
Upon hearing this, a rare flash of anger appeared on Ling Fu's usually calm face. He slapped the small table on the soft couch, clearly enraged.
"Who are you calling poor relatives?"
Du Yue'e, however, was not afraid of him. She loved to see him angered into showing his true self; it was better than his constant pretense.
"Why are you being so fierce? Are you feeling guilty?"
"What poor relatives am I talking about? Why are you pretending? Isn't it your sister in the Little Green Garden? Don't think I don't know you're secretly still in contact with her, and covertly using the family's money to help her."
Ling Fu did not refute, only saying, "It wasn't much money, and besides, that's my sister..."
"So what if she's your sister? How did you promise our Du Family back then? To be a good eldest son of the Ling Family's main branch and not bother with your messy past."
"But what about you? How did you do it?" Du Yue'e mercilessly continued to poke at his sore spot, "I remember your so-called brother-in-law didn't have money to open a restaurant in that poor place, and he asked you for it, didn't he?"
"That was a loan," Ling Fu said, "and it was repaid long ago."
"I don't care if it's repaid or not. In short, you violated your word." Du Yue'e crossed her arms and said coldly.
"Yes, I violated it, so what do you want?" Ling Fu said irritably.
"Nothing, just remember that you will always owe me, owe the Du Family, that's all." Du Yue'e's lips were tightly pursed, not yielding an inch.
Anyway, what could be done about things that had already happened?
Life had to go on.
"Oh, right, I saw what your so-called sister said. Her daughter is coming to the capital, entrusting you to take care of her, and even wants that girl to stay at our house." Du Yue'e suddenly brought up a matter, her tone sharp, "I'm telling you, I don't agree."
Ling Fu's face instantly turned cold: "You secretly read my spirit message?"
"What? Can't I?" Du Yue'e sneered, "We are husband and wife; why can't I read your spirit message?"
"Could it be that there's something I shouldn't see?" She said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
"No," Ling Fu said indifferently.
"Then that settles it?" Du Yue'e was very satisfied with Ling Fu's submission, "In short, you know my stance: no."
"She didn't even say she was really coming."
"What if that girl really proposes to stay?" Du Yue'e demanded.
Ling Fu, however, did not answer, falling silent again.
Du Yue'e knew this was his attitude and immediately let out a cold laugh.
"What's wrong? Even if she's not my niece, she's a distant relative. Why can't she stay for a while?" Ling Fu couldn't stand the contempt in her cold laugh and immediately stood up in anger.
Du Yue'e, being looked down upon by Ling Fu, did not back down an inch, looking at him with her neck stiff.
"She can perfectly well stay at your uncle's house, why must she come to my house?"
"She is my sister after all..."
Ling Fu said, then closed his mouth.
"See? You're still thinking about it."
"What else do you want? I haven't seen my sister in almost twenty years!" Ling Fu's veins bulged with anger.
Du Yue'e's laughter became even more scornful: "See? Just now you agreed so nicely, and now your true colors are exposed."
Ling Fu just glared at her fiercely, not speaking, his chest heaving violently.
"It's a good thing..." Du Yue'e stared back at him, drawing out her words, "Our Yu Ke isn't as foolish as I am, finding such a hypocritical and useless husband."
"What do you mean?" Ling Fu frowned, not understanding.
How old was Ling Yuke, and why was she suddenly talking about finding a husband?
"Your daughter found herself a good husband, and he said he'll be coming to propose in a few days." Du Yue'e's lips curved upwards, smiling very smugly.
"Who?" Ling Fu asked coldly.
Du Yue'e was even happier to see Ling Fu's rare expression of shock and confusion.
She slowly said, "Who else could it be? Yu Ke, that girl, is very stubborn. She will only be with someone she likes; she won't even glance at other men."
Ling Fu frowned deeply, searching his mind, but still didn't know who she was talking about.
"Hmph, you don't even know this? I wonder how you got the reputation of Minister of Works who loves his daughter like his life." Du Yue'e scoffed, "Instead of bothering with your poor relatives, you might as well care about your daughter."
"Stop rambling about these messy things, quickly, who is it?"
Ling Fu was anxious and had no time to argue with Du Yue'e anymore; he just wanted to know who dared to steal his family's cabbage.
Du Yue'e became even more smug and slowly began, "Naturally, it's the one all the girls in the capital love to stare at..."
"Wen Shoufu's Young Master—Wen Xuanning!"
One more chapter!