Old Master Ling heard the movement at the doorway and hurried to check.
"Old Master, I have done as you instructed, but the young madam and young general refuse to return. They said if they don't get the two young masters back today, they will stay in this courtyard until they do."
The steward repeated Feng Jin's words with a troubled expression. Caught in the middle as a messenger, he had run back and forth so many times his old legs were about to give out.
"Two stubborn mules, I wonder who they take after. And that brat Ling Mo Han is useless, he can't even control his own wife. What good is he!"
He just wanted to keep the two children with him for a few more days, and these two actually forced their way to his doorstep.
Old Master Ling, furious, was bristling with anger. If this were any other time, he would have grabbed a stick and chased them out.
But times were different. He was in the wrong this time, with a weakness in the hands of others, so he could only endure it.
"Grand... Grand, Grandfather... Hug..."
"Hug... Grand... Father..."
As the two little ones began to babble, they stretched out their small hands, crying to be held.
Old Master Ling, who had been full of rage, instantly broke into a smile at the sight of the two children and scooped them up, one in each arm.
Having finally found an opportunity to bring the two little ones back, he hadn't even had his fill of cherishing them before they were clamoring to take them away. How could he bear it?
"Old Master, this standoff is not a solution. We can't keep the young masters locked up in the room all the time. How about we let the young masters go back with the young general and his wife for now? We can pick them up again when you miss them."
The steward was also tired of the ordeal and began to persuade Old Master Ling to send the children back.
Logically speaking, it was only natural for their parents to come and pick up their children. It was Old Master Ling who had forcefully kept them and refused to let them go.
"Hmph, that little girl Feng Jin is so sly. If I let the children go back with her, it will be difficult for me to pick them up later. And that brat Ling Mo Han, he's been spoiled rotten and now he only listens to his wife!"
What angered him the most was Ling Mo Han. Of all his grandchildren, he doted on Ling Mo Han the most. Now that he had married, he had forgotten his grandfather, raising a thankless wretch.
"Grandfather, what you're saying is unfair. First, you took the children away when we weren't home, and now you're keeping them by force!"
Ling Mo Han and Feng Jin pushed open the door, followed by several housekeepers.
Feng Jin glanced at Old Master Ling and the two older boys in his arms. Just as she had expected, the steward would have rushed back to report to Old Master Ling.
Following behind the steward, they had easily tracked them down, without any effort.
"Mom... Mom..."
"Hug... Mom... Mom..."
Dabao and Erbao instantly became excited upon seeing Feng Jin, squirming to be held by her.
Feng Jin stepped forward and took the two children. Although Old Master Ling was reluctant to part with his great-grandchildren, he was even more worried about them getting hurt during a struggle, so he did not object, allowing Feng Jin to take the children.
"Grandfather, you took Dabao and Erbao away without a word, and Feng Jin and I searched all night. Today we came to pick up the children, and you deliberately hid them, even claiming you were out. What lies will you tell next? Have you thought of another excuse?"
"Hmph... next time, I'll just take the children and flee, so you can't find us!"
Old Master Ling said these harsh words in a fit of pique, but he would never actually take the children and leave.
"Grandfather, stop fooling around. We can finally have a peaceful sleep. Why are you still causing trouble?"
Ling Mo Han was utterly speechless. If his grandfather hadn't hidden the children, they wouldn't have wasted so much time here.
"You brat, you're complaining about me? I'm telling you now, it's impossible for you to take the children away today!"
"Grandfather, please stop this tantrum!"
Ling Mo Han pressed his aching temples. What a mess this was, and why did it have to be him caught in the middle, suffering?
"Grandfather, I am taking Dabao and Erbao with me today!"
Feng Jin's stance was equally firm, showing no inclination to compromise, and the situation quickly escalated to a boiling point.
"Feng Jin!" Ling Mo Han stepped forward and tugged at Feng Jin's sleeve. "Besides, Grandfather is an elder. It's not proper for you to talk to him like this."
Ling Mo Han quickly stepped forward to mediate, offering a way out. Old Master Ling's expression softened considerably.
"Alright, I won't make things difficult for the two of you. From now on, let the two children come and stay with me for a few days every few days."
The ambiguity of "a few days" was deliberately left by Old Master Ling.
"Within a month, the children can stay with Grandfather for four days."
Feng Jin made her final concession. Staying for four days each month was her bottom line.
"Four days? No, that's too little!" Old Master Ling rejected it without hesitation. He was the children's great-grandfather and didn't even have the right to speak.
"Then they won't stay a single day!"
"You! You really want to anger me to death!"
"Grandfather, four days is four days!" Ling Mo Han quickly squeezed between them. "When we bring the children over, how many days they stay will be up to you. Just agree to it for now, and we can discuss it further after this passes."
Old Master Ling looked at Ling Mo Han with satisfaction. "You boy, you're actually somewhat useful!"
"Fine, it'll be four days a month as you said. You two hurry up and take the children and leave, don't bother me here anymore."
Feng Jin did not linger. She picked up the children and turned to leave.
"Young General, Young Madam, it's almost time for lunch. Why don't you eat before you go?"
As the steward's plea to stay fell, Old Master Ling's angry voice came from behind, "Eat what? I'm already full from being angered!"
"I, on the other hand, have a good appetite. When we get back, we'll have Golden Soup Beef Slices, roast duck, and a small cake."
Feng Jin's voice was loud, and every word was clearly heard by Old Master Ling. After speaking, she pulled Ling Mo Han away.
"Old Master, what would you like for lunch?"
"What's there to make? You're clueless. We'll go eat at the East Courtyard directly."
The dishes Feng Jin had mentioned before leaving were all his favorites. This was clearly an invitation for him to apologize to her. Seeing that there was food, he would reluctantly overlook her actions.
"Tell the small kitchen to make more dishes later. Grandfather, you should come and eat with us too."
"Okay, I'll go and tell them."
Ling Mo Han replied softly. His grandfather's temper was becoming more and more like a child's, very particular about certain things, and unwilling to compromise if things didn't go his way.