Chapter 5: The Money-Grubbing Mother and Son

The sound of constant wailing caused many of the mothers present to show expressions of pity.

"Miss Ling, this... the child is young and doesn't know any better, just scolding him is enough, please don't lay a hand on him." The shopkeeper could not bear to see Ling Xiaobai get hurt; he no longer cared about the night-luminescent pearl and hurriedly pleaded for mercy.

"Hmph, come back with me." Perhaps because of the shopkeeper's intercession, Ling Ruoxi loosened her fingers, switching to grabbing Ling Xiaobai by the collar. She lifted him into the air, tapped her feet lightly against the ground, and like a phantom, vanished from the spot in an instant. With a few leaps, she returned to the independent mansion located on the west side of Sunset City.

"Thud!" Ling Xiaobai was slammed hard onto the ground, landing on his bottom. The pain made tears stream down his face.

"Ow, ow, ow, it hurts so much! Mother, you’re trying to murder your own flesh and blood!" He turned his accusatory gaze toward the imposing woman standing not far away.

Unfortunately, his look had zero lethality against Ling Ruoxi. She held out her palm, raised an eyebrow, and said as a matter of course, "Hand over the loot. Time to split the spoils!"

He knew it would be like this.

Ling Xiaobai pouted in dissatisfaction, but the next second, he shamelessly fawned and rubbed up against Ling Ruoxi. "Mother, let’s make a deal. Can we not split it this time? It took a lot of effort for me to get it."

His rosy lips were slightly pursed, and the cowlick on his head swayed in the breeze.

Ling Ruoxi gave him a heavy flick on the forehead. "Escaping school without permission is an additional crime."

With that, she reached out and plunged her hand directly into Ling Xiaobai’s sleeve, taking the night-luminescent pearl for herself.

"Mother!" Ling Xiaobai stomped his feet, his face full of resentment.

"What are you shouting about? This is your future dowry for a wife, do you understand?" Ling Ruoxi examined the pearl in her hand; it was round and lustrous—truly a top-tier item.

Wife dowry?

Ling Xiaobai’s head was covered in black lines. How many times had Mother said this? Every time, he was the one who put in the effort and labor, but in the end, Mother took all the benefits. This was nothing but highway robbery!

"I’m going to expose Mother’s true colors to everyone," Ling Xiaobai said, baring his teeth and making a show of walking toward the courtyard gate.

"I seem to recall seeing someone hiding things they shouldn't under their bed last time." A soft, airy whisper successfully froze Ling Xiaobai in his tracks. He had hidden them so secretly, how could Mother know?

Ling Ruoxi flicked her sleeve gently, and a surge of profound energy radiated from her body, creating a massive suction force that pulled a chair from the hall to her side. She sat down lazily.

*I am definitely not someone who can be threatened!* Ling Xiaobai steeled his resolve and was just about to continue forward when her voice sounded again: "The mouse hole in the kitchen..."

*Swish!* Ling Xiaobai immediately turned around, baring his teeth in a silly grin. "Baby was just playing with Mother. You are Baby’s own mother, how could I ever report you? Don't you think so?"

Why...

Why did Mother know where he hid his private stash? Ling Xiaobai wept silently in his heart.

Ling Ruoxi nodded with satisfaction. "That’s a good boy. Keep up the good work next time and bring back more good things. Mother feels that this house is a bit too empty."

"..." Ling Xiaobai silently looked at the colorful carved porcelain vase in the front hall, then at the white jade copper tripod nearby. Could this be called empty? Even though he was resentful, he dared not show it in the slightest. With an expression of "I am very obedient," he nodded heavily. "Yes! Baby will definitely work hard next time and will never let Mother’s teachings down. I will strive to ensure Mother lives a good life."

"Good. Tomorrow, go tell the antique shop owner that the favor for delivering his goods last time doesn't need to be repaid." Weighing the night-luminescent pearl in her hand, Ling Ruoxi was uncharacteristically generous. Half a month ago, she had helped Boss Mo escort a batch of goods safely back to Sunset City; as for the payment, it seemed she had already received enough.

"Mother, how can that be? A fair day's work for a fair day's pay. We can't give up the payment we deserve just because of one little night-luminescent pearl," Ling Xiaobai said righteously.

Ling Ruoxi’s eyes turned cold. "How did Mother teach you? One shouldn't be greedy for money, understand?"

*Mother, when you say things like that, could you please not look at the pearl with your mouth watering?* Ling Xiaobai’s mouth twitched. Compared to him, who was the one actually greedy for money?

"What, do you think Mother is wrong?"

Ling Xiaobai shook his head immediately, with such intensity that he looked like he wanted to shake his head right off his neck. "No, no, no! Everything Mother says is right. Even what’s wrong is right. Mother is the greatest woman in the world. Mother is definitely not greedy for money, Mother is the most..."

"Alright, go cook!" Ling Ruoxi felt wonderful hearing this and tucked the pearl into her bosom.

"Yes! I shall obey Mother’s decree." Ling Xiaobai, unwilling but resigned, hopped and skipped over to Ling Ruoxi, gave a standard military salute, and wiggled his bottom as he ran into the house. Not long after, the sound of a fire being stoked drifted out, interspersed with the child’s cheerful singing.

"I am a little ugly duckling, yi ya yi ya yo."

"Shut up! Change the song!" Ling Ruoxi rubbed her ears, which were being assaulted by the demonic noise, and ordered coldly. This little thing was good at everything except for being tone-deaf. He could make a beautiful melody sound like ghosts howling, yet he insisted on treating it as his second greatest hobby in life, refusing to change despite repeated corrections.

Ling Xiaobai stripped himself bare and climbed into a wooden tub filled with hot water, pouting sullenly: "Sister, you sit at the bow of the boat, and I, your brother, walk on the shore..."