If he had known this, he would never have driven Lu Shi away. Was it too late to regret it now?
"Aren't you going to hurry? The milk this morning is fresh."
Feng Jin urged him on, as milk squeezed later in the day would not be as good.
Ling Mohan sighed, resigned, and picked up the bucket, walking towards the cow.
Having learned from the last experience, Feng Jin had already retreated indoors this time, only peeking her head out to watch.
"Go slower, be careful not to hurt the cow... Be gentle with your hands..."
Feng Jin, hiding behind the door, gave anxious instructions, afraid that Ling Mohan would accidentally hurt the cow by being too rough.
She had a great use for this cow and was counting on milking it every day for fresh milk.
After a fierce struggle, half a bucket of milk was finally squeezed out. Ling Mohan's outcome was slightly better than Lu Shi's.
Feng Jin peered into the bucket at the pitifully small amount of milk, and her face immediately fell. "Is this all? It's less than yesterday's."
Yesterday, Lu Shi had squeezed a full bucket of milk. Today, there was half as much. Ling Mohan's efficiency was too low, not as high as Lu Shi's.
"We'll make do with this for now," Ling Mohan said in a low voice, a foul and sour smell emanating from him. He needed to change his clothes quickly.
"This isn't enough. Go squeeze some more."
Feng Jin blocked his path, forcing Ling Mohan to squeeze more milk.
"When Lu Shi gets back, let him squeeze it."
"You, you were the one who drove Lu Shi away. If you don't finish the task today, you're not leaving!"
Ling Mohan was filled with regret. If he had known, he would never have sent Lu Shi away. Under Feng Jin's coercion, Ling Mohan had no choice but to reluctantly squeeze out a full bucket of milk.
Only when Feng Jin was satisfied did she let Ling Mohan go.
After Ling Mohan left, he immediately sent someone to summon Lu Shi back, just in case Feng Jin suddenly wanted milk again. It was better to have Lu Shi on standby.
Lu Shi, who was inspecting the West Army Camp, had just finished his duties and was about to rest when he was urgently summoned back by Ling Mohan's three orders.
He hadn't even caught his breath after arriving at the Ling mansion before Feng Jin dragged him off to milk cows. By the time Lu Shi finally had a moment to rest, it was already sunset.
Feng Jin worked until midnight before finally finishing the cakes. Since there were two babies, Feng Jin specifically prepared two identical cakes to ensure neither of them felt unfairly treated.
The next day, as the sky just began to show a faint hint of dawn, everyone in the Ling mansion began to bustle about. This was because it was the full moon banquet for the two young masters.
Old Master Ling woke up early, overseeing the household staff's work. He inquired about every detail, for fear of any oversight that might displease his precious grandsons.
Even Second Master Ling was dispatched to the main gate to welcome guests. All members of the Ling clan had arrived early, and invitations had even been sent to their married daughters.
Only Grand Master Ling was stationed at the border. Without the Emperor's decree, he was not allowed to return to the capital city without authorization. However, he had sent people specifically from the border to deliver three large chests of gifts for the two children.
When Feng Jin opened the chests, she was utterly stunned by their contents. Many were children's clothes and toys, but it was understandable to include writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. But what was the meaning of eighteen types of weapons?
"Ling Mohan, can you explain what your father meant by sending weapons for the children?" Feng Jin picked up a long spear and asked Ling Mohan.
"Ling family disciples have practiced both literary and martial arts since childhood. Father also wanted to cultivate the children from a young age. If you look closely, the long spear and sharp sword are shorter than the normal size. They are specially made for children to use, and they can be used when the children are older."
He had grown up with these spears and swords and had also planned to have weapons made for his two children, as they could use them when they got older. He hadn't expected his father to think the same way and have them prepared so early.
Feng Jin's mouth twitched uncontrollably. She was truly shocked by their family's educational methods. How old were the two little ones, and they were already preparing these things for them, with their futures already planned out?
"Leave these children's clothes and toys here for now," Feng Jin said, picking out the useful items from the chests. As for the scrap metal, it was of no use for the time being. She immediately sent people to move everything into the storeroom.
"It's fine to leave them here for now. They'll be usable in a while anyway."
As Ling Mohan finished speaking, he received a few glares from Feng Jin. "Are you out of your mind? How old are your sons? It will take at least three years before they can even lift these weapons. What's the point of keeping them here!"
"Why three years? Once they can walk, they'll start learning to wield swords."
In Ling Mohan's view, these things needed to be learned from the very beginning. He had experienced it himself, and of course, his two children should be educated the same way.
"They are not allowed to learn anything before the age of three."
Feng Jin reprimanded him sternly. The period before the age of three was the fastest stage of development, and there could be no mistakes. If Ling Mohan were to teach them, she couldn't even imagine the scene, fearing that she would fly into a rage and explode.
Just as Ling Mohan was about to argue with Feng Jin further about the children's education, a knock sounded from outside the door. "Young General, Young Madam, Old Master wants you to quickly bring the two young masters over."
Cai Qing stood outside the door, knocked a few times, and shouted loudly inside.
"Cai Qing, go and tell Old Master that we're coming."
After speaking, Feng Jin wrapped the new quilts she had prepared for the two children, and then the two of them each carried a child and went out.
When they arrived at the main hall, Feng Jin was stunned to see the crowd filling the house and courtyard. She had been told that it would be a simple affair, with only relatives invited. But how had so many people arrived today? Even royalty and high officials from the capital, basically anyone of importance, had arrived.
"Weren't we just having a simple gathering? Why are so many people here today?" Feng Jin whispered to Ling Mohan.
"It's Grandfather. He thinks a baby's full moon banquet is a major event and must be celebrated grandly to bring good fortune to the child."
Ling Mohan had initially objected, but he couldn't dissuade Old Master Ling, so he simply let him do as he pleased. He hadn't expected such a grand spectacle, which showed how much his grandfather valued the two children.
"My precious grandsons are here! Hurry and let your great-grandfather hold them." Old Master Ling quickly took the children.