Chapter 877: Sowing Discord

"Alright, let's head back immediately."

"Let's go, it's time to eat."

Reminded by their daughter's phone call, the two of them realized it was already noon, and it was time for lunch.

They had left early in the morning and neither had eaten much for breakfast; if they hadn't been talking and keeping their minds occupied, they would have been hungry long ago.

"Zichen, Xiao Fei, time to eat!" Sheng Hanyu cupped his hands into a megaphone shape and shouted to the two children.

"Mom and Dad, you go ahead first, we want to play a little longer," Zichen shouted back.

Shi Youxuan:...

Sheng Hanyu:...

If Xiao Fei had shouted this, it wouldn't be strange at all.

But what was strange was that it had actually come out of Sheng Zichen's mouth.

For a little foodie to delay eating in order to play, could this be considered progress?

Sheng Hanyu took his wife's hand and started walking: "Let's go eat, let them play here." Missing a meal or two wouldn't starve them, and if Zichen could change his hobby, that would truly be great.

"No, it's too dangerous for them to be by the sea alone, I'm not at ease."

She was not at ease and insisted on going back with the children.

The two were in the middle of playing and didn't want to leave at all.

Sheng Aifei: "It's fine, don't worry. I grew up by the sea; even a force ten gale couldn't blow us away. I can protect him."

Shi Youxuan flatly refused: "No. I didn't see what you were like before, but since you are my son now, I have to protect you. There's no room for negotiation, come with me to eat."

Sheng Zichen acted spoiled and stubborn: "No, no, we still want to play for a while..."

Sheng Aifei said: "Mm, I'll listen to Mom."

Sheng Zichen:...

What happened to always seeing eye to eye?

He defected so quickly.

The family of four arrived at the restaurant.

Everyone else was there, just waiting for them.

Today's dishes were all prepared according to the Small Fishing Village's recipes; all the local specialties were there, plus the Fish Cake unique to the fishing village.

Fish Cake was Xiao Fei's favorite food, though the ingredients were not complicated.

It was a snack made by grinding fish bones into powder, adding salt, seasonings, and wheat starch, then steaming it together.

It looked semi-transparent on the outside and was quite presentable.

Sheng Zichen had never eaten it before, and seeing his father introduce it as Xiao Fei's favorite, he picked up a piece and put it in his mouth—Ptooey!

"Ptooey, ptooey!"

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!"

He spat it all out.

What kind of taste was that?

For a foodie, this taste was an insult to the taste buds!

It was fishy, salty, and stuck to his teeth.

The texture was coarse; it shouldn't even be called a snack.

Shi Youxuan glanced at her son indifferently and instructed: "Sheng Zichen, clean it up yourself."

The Sheng Family had rules; although there were far fewer rules now than before, basic manners still had to be observed.

No matter how bad it tasted, one could not do that at the dining table in front of everyone!

Zichen had been a bit full of himself lately; the little guy needed to be taken down a peg.

She would discipline her son behind the scenes and deal with him after they got home.

Sheng Zichen also knew he hadn't acted correctly, so he picked up the Fish Cake he had just spat onto the floor and even apologized to the waiter: "I'm sorry, I couldn't help it just now."

The waiter was a bit flustered; she wasn't sure if the Madam was blaming her or really blaming the young master.

"It's okay, I'll clean it up," she said to the guest vacationing here.

"No, this is my fault, I will clean it up until it's spotless."

He did what he said, picking up the snack crumbs and throwing them into the trash can, then using a paper napkin to wipe the dirty spot on the floor clean.

Then he went to wash his hands before sitting back down in his chair.

Sheng Aifei stuck out her tongue: "Why did you pick it up immediately? Couldn't we just sweep it up after we finished eating?"

"No, this is the rule."

"Oh."

And so, in Sheng Aifei's little heart, this rule was deeply engraved.

The meal continued, and that plate of Fish Cake had been placed in front of Sheng Aifei, but Sheng Zichen didn't touch it again.

Watching her eat it with such relish, he asked curiously: "Something that tastes this bad, how can you swallow it?"

"It's delicious."

"It's not delicious."

"It's delicious."

"It's not delicious."

"It's delicious."

"Fine." Sheng Zichen compromised: "Your taste buds have a problem."

After the meal, it was nap time.

The adults had all gone for their afternoon nap, and the two boys snuck out to play by the seaside.

"Xiao Fei." Yafang stood not far away, waving at him.

"Auntie Yafang." Sheng Aifei was very happy to see her.

Yafang was a relative of Yafei, and the little fellow felt very close to her upon meeting an auntie in Jiangzhou.

"Aifei, come with me; I have something to tell you."

Xiao Fei did not go alone, pulling Sheng Zichen's hand to go together.

Yafang looked troubled: "Young Master Zichen, why don't you go find your mother? I have something to say to Aifei in private."

"Okay."

He went to find his mother.

Half an hour later.

Zichen was bored: "Mom, I want to go out and play."

"Go ahead, but don't run too far, and you cannot go to the seaside alone."

"Mm."

He didn't run far, and didn't even run outside, but instead went to the staff dormitory to find Xiao Fei.

The two were usually inseparable and did everything together; Zichen was already used to it, and playing by himself without Xiao Fei was no fun.

They had private things to discuss; surely they should be done talking after such a long time?

The staff dormitory was right next to the dining hall and was easy to find.

Just as he was about to knock on the door, he heard instigating words coming from inside: "Sheng Aifei, don't be a fool. When your mother gave you this name, it was to tell you that your father loved your mother, not that woman..."

"If it weren't for that woman, your mother wouldn't have died, and the Eldest Young Master of the Sheng Family right now would be you, not that glutton..."

"Bang!"

Sheng Zichen kicked the door open and entered, extremely angry: "You're lying! My father loves my mother the most. You don't know anything, so you aren't allowed to spout nonsense."

"Yo-Young Master, why are you here?" A flash of panic crossed Yafang's face.

"Xiao Fei, let's go. Don't pay attention to her; she's a big villain."

The brothers held hands and walked out, but she blocked their path: "What did you hear just now?"

"I heard everything you said, you villain. Just wait to be fired."

Working for their family yet gossiping behind their backs—Mom hated people like this the most, and she would definitely be fired.

"Don't go out and spout nonsense. I'll make you something delicious, okay? Yes, I'll teach you how to cook."

Yafang panicked; she attempted to bribe Sheng Zichen.

"I don't want it, move aside."

Although Sheng Zichen was obsessed with culinary arts, he was not a child who couldn't tell right from wrong. Thinking he could be made to deceive his mother with such small favors was impossible!

"Get in there."

In her desperation, Yafang shoved Zichen, and he fell hard onto the ground.

"Bang," the door closed.

Yafang leaned against the door and warned Sheng Zichen viciously: "After you go out, you aren't allowed to talk nonsense, you hear? If you don't listen, I'll put poison in your food and poison you into a Yaba."

"Wah—"

Sheng Zichen was terrified and wailed loudly.

"I know, I won't talk nonsense. Please don't poison me into a mute; I don't want to become a child who can't speak, it's too pitiful, boo-hoo-hoo..."

His voice was loud, and the room wasn't very soundproof, so it was impossible for anyone not to know.