ASFTB 47: Then Let the General Divorce Me 2

Jian Chengxi noticed Alice coming over, and said, “If Alice wants to play, she needs to wash her hands first.”

Alice nodded obediently. “Okay!”

Jian Chengxi was making dumplings. He placed the filling into the dough, then with familiar movements, folded both sides of the dough together. With his index finger and thumb, he pinched them carefully, forming a beautiful wavy shape.

Every dumpling looked plump and beautiful.

Alice watched for a while, and, feeling a bit unsure, she tentatively asked, “Can Alice try making some?”

Jian Chengxi nodded and said, “Sure!”

He walked in front of the three children. He took out a piece of dough, then patiently and carefully showed them how to do it.

Although his teaching was already great, the dumplings still weren’t pinched properly, and some even had a tendency to open up. Alice felt a little anxious inside, but the more she tried to pinch them properly, the more the dough slipped apart.

She broke into a sweat.

She thought she might be criticized.

However, a voice from beside her came, “Suisui’s done making them!”

Alice took a look. Suisui’s dumplings were filled with a lot of filling, not fully sealed, and some even had cracked skin. These dumplings definitely weren’t perfect and would be criticized.

However—

Jian Chengxi took a look, smiled, and praised, “Hmm? Suisui works really fast.”

Li Suisui’s fair face showed a somewhat proud smile, and the little girl had a slowly developing sense of confidence.

Jian Chengxi patiently asked, “Why did you put so much filling?”

He didn’t even blame the child for not sealing them properly.

Li Suisui stood beside the table while holding the dumpling. She said, “This one is for Daddy. He needs to eat more.”

A smile appeared on Jian Chengxi’s face. He casually took a piece of dough and patched up the broken part of Suisui’s dumpling, and with a smile in his voice, he said, “Then Daddy will make a mark, and when it’s cooked, he’ll fish it out and put it in his own bowl.”

Li Suisui raised her hand, full of energy and enthusiasm. The little girl’s voice was crisp as she said, “I’ll be watching next to the pot later!”

Jian Chengxi nodded, his voice so gentle as he said, “Okay.”

Their family of three was so harmonious.

Alice couldn’t help but feel a little dazed. In her own home, her dad was always very strict about rules, insisting that she do her best at everything. Her mother always told her, “Alice, you need to be an excellent child. You are Mom’s pride, and Mom’s counting on you.”

So, she always wanted to do everything perfectly.

She didn’t dare to be a bad child, and didn’t dare to do anything that went against etiquette or rules.

Yet today, she finally realized for the first time. It turns out that it’s okay not to be perfect, and even if it’s not the best, she can still be praised.

…

Dinner—

After the dumplings were cooked, Jian Chengxi called for everyone to come down for dinner.

The first time making dumplings was very successful. Unfortunately, there was no dipping sauce, but the aroma of the dough and the filling itself was very inviting.

The three children ate happily.

Especially Alice, who was eating this kind of food for the first time. She happily ate half a bowl without lifting her head.

Jian Chengxi ate for a while, then said strangely, “Why hasn’t anyone eaten the coin?”

He was hoping to eat the coin and get rich.

Just as he was thinking, a dumpling was suddenly placed into his bowl.

Jian Chengxi was stunned for a moment.

Li Lingfeng glanced at him sideways, and with a calm expression, said, “Eat.”

Jian Chengxi cautiously took a bite, and after biting, his teeth hit something. His eyes widened and he looked at Li Lingfeng, picked up the dumpling, and looked at it. His eyes lit up. “A coin!”

The others also looked over.

Jian Chengxi smiled. “I really ate it.”

Li Suisui, sitting to the side, said, “Daddy’s going to get rich!”

Jian Chengxi spat the coin to the side and looked at Li Lingfeng, saying, “How did you know there was a coin in this dumpling?”

Li Lingfeng’s voice was very calm, “Didn’t you mark the dumpling with the coin? This dumpling’s shape is obviously different from the others.”

The dumplings made by the children were crooked and uneven.

However, the dumplings Jian Chengxi marked clearly showed skilled technique. The way they were pinched was the only different one.

Jian Chengxi was amazed by the man’s sharp observation skills. He smiled awkwardly and said, “You noticed that?”

Li Lingfeng gave him a calm glance and didn’t say anything.

Jian Chengxi thought for a moment and still felt a bit strange. He leaned over to say, “Then why give it to me to eat? Doesn’t the general want his wish to come true?”

Li Lingfeng sat beside him and ate slowly. The man wasn’t particular about how he ate, eating neither too fast nor too slow, yet there was an inexplicable elegant air about him. His handsome face turned sideways, and all that could be seen was his perfect jawline. Hearing this, he glanced at him sideways and said in a low voice, “No need.”

Jian Chengxi was puzzled. “Why?”

Li Lingfeng’s gaze was dark and deep. He said slowly, “Because only you can make my wish come true.”

Jian Chengxi: “…”

After a brief pause, he realized and froze in place, his earlobes turning completely red.

Anyway, he had already eaten the coin.

This wasn’t just his matter, anyway. It all depends on Li Lingfeng’s own skills.

He doesn’t care!

It was late at night, and it was time for the children to go to bed.

Jian Chengxi took care of the three children, helping them wash up. Usually, Li Suisui and Li Chen’s baths were simpler, but today with Alice added, luckily, Suisui was very good at taking care of others.

After taking a bath, they went to sleep on their little beds.

Luckily, the custom-made bed was especially large. Jian Chengxi sat in the middle, with the children lying beside him. He was responsible for telling bedtime stories.

Jian Chengxi turned the light to its lowest setting, cleared his throat, and said with a soft voice, “Today, let’s tell the story of The Frog Prince.”

The children listened very attentively.

Jian Chengxi said in a low voice, “A long, long time ago, there was a kingdom, and in this kingdom, there was a very beautiful little princess. The little princess had a golden ball she loved very much. One day, while playing with her golden ball in the forest, the ball accidentally fell into a well. The little princess was very sad, and while she was crying, a frog in the well spoke up…”

Alice asked, “Why can the frog talk?”

Jian Chengxi paused. “This…”

Li Suisui was the first to answer. “Suisui knows, because the frog is a monster!”

Alice’s eyes widened in surprise.

Jian Chengxi didn’t know how much of an impact this new creature had on the children, and just continued telling the story, “Then the frog said, ‘Poor princess, what trouble have you encountered?'”

“The princess said, ‘My golden ball fell in, would you be willing to help me? As long as you’re willing, I can exchange my clothes, my crown, and everything I have for the golden ball.’ But the frog said, ‘I don’t want your clothes, crown, or jewelry. I only want your kiss.’ After the princess agreed, the frog indeed brought the golden ball up. The princess kept her promise and gave the frog a kiss, and the frog turned into a prince. From then on, the two lived happily ever after.”

He finished here.

He wanted the children to understand the importance of keeping promises.

A look of emotion appeared on Alice’s face. The little girl said, touched, “What a kind frog and princess, such a touching story. I’m so glad the princess kept her promise. From now on, Alice will help others too.”

Jian Chengxi was a bit moved. This child is so perceptive.

Li Suisui puckered her lips with a small frown. “The sly little frog, not wanting jewelry but asking for a kiss, isn’t this a way to get both clothes and jewelry?”

Jian Chengxi was momentarily speechless.

Alice said in a soft voice, “Suisui, don’t say that. The frog had good intentions too.”

Li Chen, from another side, said, “Foolish princess. If it were me, I would have just drawn all the water from the well.”

Jian Chengxi: “…”

It’s okay, go to sleep.

The next day—

Jian Chengxi woke up in the middle of the night.

Today is the day of the engagement between Byrne and the daughter of the Fuchs family.

No one could have predicted that the situation would develop like this. When he woke up, he found that Alice had already been sent back by Li Lingfeng’s men. Early in the morning, he turned on the TV, and the news was already airing.

Chairman Byrne suddenly started coughing up blood and couldn’t stop at the engagement party.

His legal wife, who was supposed to be in the hospital, suddenly appeared at the engagement party, revealing the truth about Byrne’s heartless and unfaithful behavior over the years. The engagement party turned into a complete mess.

Byrne, who was originally running for election, saw his reputation plummet, and there was no longer any chance for him to run.

Jian Chengxi watched the news. His heart raced, feeling a bit worried, so he made a communication call to Li Lingfeng who immediately picked up.

Li Lingfeng’s voice was deep and powerful, “What’s wrong?”

Jian Chengxi said anxiously, “What about Byrne…”

Li Lingfeng said, “He won’t win the election again. The empire’s hospital will do everything to treat him, he won’t die.”

Jian Chengxi responded, but still said worriedly, “What about Alice…”

“Once Byrne falls, their matriarch will be Feiyun. Feiyun is not as weak as you imagine. When Byrne managed to make a comeback, it was largely thanks to her strategies behind the scenes.

Li Lingfeng said slowly, “Now that Byrne has fallen, with Feiyun in charge, their family won’t fall into chaos.”

Jian Chengxi sighed with relief, but then he thought about Feiyun’s health.

Li Lingfeng said, “Mirage is there, you don’t need to worry.”

“Once Byrne falls, their matriarch will be Feiyun. Feiyun is not as weak as you imagine. When Byrne managed to make a comeback before, it was largely thanks to her strategies behind the scenes.”Li Lingfeng said slowly, “Now that Byrne has fallen, with Feiyun in charge, their family won’t fall into chaos.”

Jian Chengxi sighed with relief, but then he thought about Feiyun’s health.

Li Lingfeng said, “Mirage is there, you don’t need to worry.”

Jian Chengxi always felt that Li Lingfeng had already anticipated his next question, and gave a soft smile.

The man in his family was cold by nature.

And he was someone who tended to be a bit troublesome. Li Lingfeng didn’t like such things, yet he would pay attention to them because of him.

Inexplicably—

He felt a bit of small happiness.

Life isn’t always smooth sailing, but if you can find beauty in the ordinary days, then isn’t that a kind of happiness?

Li Lingfeng’s voice came from the other side of the communication, “What are you laughing at?”

Jian Chengxi shook his head, he said softly, “What do you want to eat tonight? I’m going to stock up on some things. Winter is coming soon.”

Li Lingfeng didn’t mind. “Anything is fine.”

Jian Chengxi thought for a moment and said, “Then I need to go back to the Underground City today. I heard from the doctor that the fruit trees are mostly bearing fruit by winter, and the people in the Underground City have fewer sources of food, so I want to check it out.”

If they can build greenhouses and grow houses, it might solve the problem.

Li Lingfeng said, “Hmm, don’t come back too late.”

Jian Chengxi smiled and said, “Got it.”

He had already planned out his afternoon schedule, but when he stepped out, he happened to run into the doctor.

The doctor said to him, “Where are you going?”

Jian Chengxi said, “I’m planning to go to the Underground City.”

The doctor said, “Alright, it’s on the way, I’ll give you a ride.”

In the past, Jian Chengxi always used the airships arranged by Li Lingfeng, but now, thinking that he didn’t need to trouble others specifically, he simply nodded and said, “Okay!”

He boarded the doctor’s airship.

In the past, Li Lingfeng’s airships could directly fly out of the floating island, but the doctor’s airship needed to go to the island’s entrance to go through some procedures and processes.

When they went over today, the entrance seemed to be very noisy.

Jian Chengxi asked in confusion, “What’s going on?”

The doctor glanced at him and said, “I don’t know. I’ve seen this person several times recently, but I’m not sure what she’s doing.”

Jian Chengxi, seeing her say that, didn’t think it mattered much, and prepared to look away.

However—

When they got closer, they happened to hear someone speaking to the gatekeeper, “Hurry up and let us in. My son lives here, who are you to stop me?”

The gatekeeper soldier said, “Sorry, ma’am. You don’t have an invitation or a resident ID card, you can’t enter.”

“What?” The woman said in surprise, “Do you know who I am?”

The soldier had no expression.

The woman was wearing somewhat rough clothes. She put her hands on her hips and said, “I am Li Lingfeng’s mother and you dare block me and not let me go in. Believe it or not, I’ll make you unable to finish eating and having to carry your bowl away!” **means I’ll make you suffer a consequence you can’t digest/endure.

Jian Chengxi shivered all over.

Seeing the doctor about to leave, he stopped her, “Sorry, I want to go down there and have a look.”

The doctor said, “Do you know her?”

Jian Chengxi shook his head. He saw the gatekeepers and others were there so there should be no security issue, so he got off the airship.

The woman was still shouting. When she saw Jian Chengxi coming over, she looked at him in surprise and doubt.

Jian Chengxi walked over and stood in front of her, and said gently, “Hello, may I ask, you just said you are… who?”

The woman seemed to be getting on in years, but her clothing was still decent and elegant. The clothes seemed to be made of good material and fabric, but they were somewhat worn out.

She said, “I am Li Lingfeng’s mother, who are you?”

Jian Chengxi said, “I am his wife.”

The woman was momentarily surprised.

Yet she realized soon, and with some disdain, she looked at Jian Chengxi and said, “My son is already a great general, how could he marry a half-elf?”

“…”

Jian Chengxi was silent for a moment, then he spoke, “How come I never heard the general mention you?”

The woman snorted lightly and said, “What do you know? How long have you been married to him? What could you possibly know? I’m Gu Jinman, your mother-in-law. You better show some proper attitude. You came at just the right time. Hurry up and contact Li Lingfeng, tell him to come see me!”

Jian Chengxi was surprised by her confident and forceful manner.

It seemed like she wasn’t pretending.

After all, who would dare to mention the general’s family? Isn’t that simply asking for trouble?

Yet he still hesitated for a moment. “Since you say you are the general’s mother, I’ve been married to the general for many years now, and our child is already three years old. Why is it that during those years when the general was away at war, I had such a hard time with the child, and never saw you?”

Gu Jinman choked up for a moment, as if she knew she was in the wrong.

However, she soon glared at Jian Chengxi. “What do you want from me? How could I possibly go to a place like the Underground City? Now that he’s successful and returned to Sky City, it’s only natural that he should recognize his roots and return home!”

Jian Chengxi inexplicably began to understand.

This woman was probably really Li Lingfeng’s mother, but she must have abandoned him when Li Lingfeng was young. For all these years in the Underground City, she had been indifferent and uninvolved.

Li Lingfeng married the original body without her.

During those three years, the child almost starved to death, and she was not there.

She was living in luxury in Sky City, completely indifferent to the lives of others. Now that Li Lingfeng became a marshal and gained power, she came looking for him.

Jian Chengxi sneered.

Gu Jinman glared at him. “What are you laughing at?”

Jian Chengxi said, “I just didn’t expect my general to be in such a miserable situation, having a mother like you.”

Gu Jinman’s eyes widened. She angrily said, “What did you just say?”

Jian Chengxi said expressionlessly, “The literal meaning. If you don’t understand, you can go back and check the dictionary.”

Gu Jinman was so angry that her hands were trembling. She pointed at Jian Chengxi and said, “You are truly an ignorant and defective product from the Underground City. How dare you speak to me like this? Just wait, after this, I’ll definitely arrange for a proper family’s child to marry my son and straighten out the family’s reputation!”

Jian Chengxi rolled his eyes.

He had never imagined he would have such a day.

The doctor came down from the airship and glanced at the scene. She smiled and said, “Oh, are you Marshal Li’s mother?”

Gu Jinman said arrogantly, “Yes, and who might you be?”

The doctor smiled and said, “I’m a neighbor.”

“A neighbor.” Gu Jinman snorted and said, “Then you help me contact him, quickly get him to come see me. When I reunite with my son, you will certainly get your reward.”

The smile on the doctor’s face deepened. “That won’t do. I can’t report an unidentified person to the marshal.”

Gu Jinman glared at her. She surprisingly took a childhood photo out of her pocket, pointed at it, and said, “This is him. You’ll believe it now, won’t you?”

Jian Chengxi leaned over and took a look.

A little unexpectedly, the childhood version of Li Lingfeng looked like a younger version of Li Chen, both having cold and emotionless faces. Yet that somewhat mature appearance was inexplicably cute.

He pressed his lips together and smiled. Surprisingly, he felt like he wanted to keep it.

Gu Jinman put the photo away and said, “Hurry up and let me in.”

Jian Chengxi replied, “Ma’am, since you have a childhood photo, why don’t you have one of his after he became an adult? Can someone who gave birth but didn’t raise him really be called a mother? I can’t do anything about my general’s matters, but I’ll ask him when he returns. Please go back for now.”

There were many vehicles passing by here, and many people were looking over.

Gu Jinman seemed to have been triggered by something, and collapsed on the ground, crying, “I really have a hard life! My son made money and doesn’t recognize me as his mother anymore. I worked so hard to give birth to him, and now he found a wife like this to anger me!”

Jian Chengxi: “…”

He helplessly watched the woman cry.

This island surprisingly has many officers and nobles.

Gu Jinman cried while looking at the crowd, and continued wailing, “How did I give birth to such an unfilial son!”

It was clear that the rhythm was being thrown off by her.

Jian Chengxi took a deep breath, and spoke to the doctor beside him with a somewhat mournful tone, “My poor general, how did he end up with such a mother. Having a child but not raising him, abandoning him in the Underground City and ignoring him. Now that he’s risen in status and wealth, she’s coming to claim family ties…”

Gu Jinman: “…”

No, you’re really something.

Jian Chengxi pretended to cry, and even acted more convincingly than she did.

The doctor covered her mouth to hide a laugh, and secretly gave him a thumbs up.

Gu Jinman was so angry at Jian Chengxi that she was nearly choking with rage. She pointed at him and said, “What do you know? It’s because his mental power is abnormal—he’s not even a normal beastman. A defective product like him can’t even be entered into the family register. It’s his bad luck that he’s disabled, what does that have to do with me?”

Jian Chengxi looked at her somewhat surprised—a mother cursing her own child.

“He was abnormal as a child. While other kids were afraid of beasts, he could actually strangle a beast to death!” Gu Jinman looked fearful as she spoke, “I knew he was abnormal, and the family doctor came to assess him later and said his mental strength was different from normal people and that he has no normal emotions. Didn’t you notice he was abnormal yourself?”

Jian Chengxi realized.

Sometimes he felt his own marshal was too cold and heartless.

Now he understood. It wasn’t his fault, he was just sick, and different from others.

Jian Chengxi said, “I didn’t notice.”

Gu Jinman was stunned. “What nonsense are you talking about? He killed Marshal Ike in front of everyone, didn’t everyone see that? He has never changed, but I still raised him until he was five years old. I am still his mother. Now that he’s back, he should recognize his roots and return home!”

“That’s because Ike caused the deaths of over a hundred thousand people. He deserved to die,” Jian Chengxi said. “Even if he’s congenitally abnormal, there’s no reason for you to abandon him. It’s fine if my general doesn’t recognize a mother like you!”

Gu Jinman was furious. “What nonsense are you saying? Who are you to command anyone? Believe it or not, I can have my son divorce you!”

Jian Chengxi couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to her.

Gu Jinman had always been a strong-willed person. She chased after him and said, “What kind of expression is that? What’s there for you to be arrogant about? Let me tell you, if it hadn’t been for me being absent these past years, a person like you would never be allowed into the Li family!”

Jian Chengxi got fed up with her constantly talking about “background,” and simply spoke, “Fine, then let the general divorce me.”

Gu Jinman was stunned.

Jian Chengxi snorted lightly. “If he wants to divorce me, I have no objections.”

Gu Jinman had never seen such rude and unruly behavior. She was so angry that her hands were shaking. “Y–you, what do you think you are? A prized catch? A half-elf from the underground city with no family!”

Jian Chengxi saw her angry, but instead, he wasn’t angry himself. He wore a smile on his face and slowly said, “So what if I’m a half-elf? No choice, my general likes me this way, he loves me to death.”

Gu Jinman was so angry that her whole body trembled, “You… you…”

Jian Chengxi was pleased and full of himself when someone nudged his arm, and he looked at the doctor in confusion.

Jian Chengxi saw her angry, but he wasn’t angry himself. He wore a smile on his face and said slowly, “So what if I’m a half-elf? There’s nothing I can do about it. My general likes me this way. He loves me so much, he just can’t help it.”

Gu Jinman was so angry that her whole body trembled. “You… you…”

Jian Chengxi was pleased and full of himself when someone nudged his arm. He looked at the doctor in confusion.

The doctor curled her lips and glanced to the side.

Jian Chengxi followed the gaze and looked over. He saw not far behind them on the lawn, a warship was parked with a tall and handsome man standing at the hatch.

Li Lingfeng stood there, not knowing how long he had been listening.

Their eyes met.

Jian Chengxi had just finished speaking harshly when the main person appeared and saw him. His smile froze on his face.

“…”

I don’t want to live anymore, waah.