The evening is gradually falling.
The hustle and bustle of the streets are fading as pedestrians rush ho.
Smoke curls up from the chimneys of each household.
Wei Shouzhong and Zhao Yong are each leading a spirited calf back ho.
Zhao Yong seems to be in deep thought.
Wei Shouzhong remains silent.
Hui Niang cos out from the busy kitchen, surprised: "How did we also end up buying one?"
Wei Shouzhong responds: "The cowshed at ho is ready, we can’t leave it empty, and it will be more convenient for travel in the future."
Ever since the old cow died, Wei Shouzhong had this thought.
A countryman, digging the earth all his life.
In earlier years, he worked hard, but Mrs. Wei ddled and made trouble. As a result, Wei Shouzhong put in the most effort but got the least grain, and the main house took full advantage of it.
Working the fields is exhausting.
Every ti the Village Chief’s family plowed with oxen, it was easy for them.
It would be false to say that Wei Shouzhong wasn’t envious.
Before, they couldn’t afford it, so he didn’t dare to think about it. Finally, they got one, but it died.
Coincidentally, Yu Tingwan ntioned it.
Wasn’t it a perfect match?
Hui Niang nods upon hearing this.
"The al is almost ready, just wait a little longer."
As Hui Niang is about to return to the kitchen, she notices that Wei Shouzhong looks unwell and senses sothing is wrong.
"What’s the matter?"
Zhao Yong looks at Wei Shouzhong, then at his sister. This kind of matter is not convenient for him to speak of, so he chooses to remain silent and continues feeding the calf with the fodder in his hand.
The Yu Family is already worried about the neighboring son.
She heard her sister-in-law say that Zhao Yu was called by the county’s Mr. Zhao.
The matter between the two of Chu Chi, the Yu Family still holds a grudge.
To be honest, she doesn’t have much hope anymore.
After all, the town didn’t want Ah Yu, and in the county...
She fears that the Wei Family might use connections for this.
Neighbors, who usually visit and help each other. Sending so vegetables or helping to sew a shoe sole is entirely normal.
In this world, scholars are precious.
Years ago, it took three years before they could get Ah Yu into the town academy.
The county academy is probably even harder.
The neighbor willing to help is mostly for the sake of the Wei Family.
How to repay this favor?
The Yu Family also worries that Ah Yu can’t keep up with the county’s teaching.
But Yu Tingwan noticed her concern and spoke gently.
—"These years, parents have always relied on uncle and aunt to help. If there’s any debt, it’s us who owe it. We don’t differentiate in a family, accepting our uncle and aunt’s kindness happily. Mother, please don’t refuse."
—"Studying is the most important thing for a cousin. My husband just initiated the contact; the outco still depends on Ah Yu."
—"All these years, there aren’t people who tried to slide so silver note to Mr. Zhao to buy favor and push soone into the academy. If Mr. Zhao accepted everything, wouldn’t the academy be in chaos? Not long ago, Hu Yaozu even wanted to apprentice under him, appearing humble and respectful, but his character was not up to par, and he was directly driven out without rcy."
The girl’s voice was soft and tender, enough to soothe the hearts of others.
—"If Mr. Zhao allows Ah Yu into the academy, it’s because Ah Yu caught his eye, and not related to us."
The Yu Family keeps an eye on the neighbor’s movents. Seeing that it’s been so long and Zhao Yu hasn’t returned, she gets a bit anxious.
But now seeing the expressions of Wei Shouzhong and Zhao Yong as being off, she can’t help but squint her eyes.
The sister-in-law still asks what’s the matter?
Sothing must have happened!
The Yu Family was just about to pull her own husband to ask.
Wei Shouzhong finally speaks: "On the way, I saw my mom and my elder brother and the others."
Hui Niang is shocked.
Throughout the years, she has suffered quite a bit, so much that even without seeing them, she has developed a deep-rooted aversion and fear.
"Could it be they’re here, having found our place and looking to stir up trouble?"
Seeing her scared, Wei Shouzhong quickly reassures her.
"It’s not that, don’t worry."
"Previously, when I returned to the village to repay the money borrowed, so people inquired, and I only ntioned that Lang’s health has improved, nothing else was revealed."
Life has finally cald down, and he doesn’t want it disrupted.
The day he went around repaying debts caused a stir. The main house got wind of it and ca out to check specifically.
Wei Shoucai and Zhuang i, the couple, with a shrewd, calculating gleam in their eyes, approached, entirely forgetting previous grievances.
—"Second brother, how did you suddenly beco prosperous after going out? Don’t forget us poor relatives. We were wrong to you before, but those things are in the past; do you an to hold a grudge forever?"
Mrs. Wei, on the other hand, was still aggrieved over the family separation, speaking sarcastically and harshly.
—"Don’t go praising him. Who knows if this money is clean? It’s a joke, really, what’s he capable of? Even his own mother doesn’t care about him. Does a heartless person get rich?"
Wei Shouzhong listened with one ear in and out the other, not taking it seriously.
If those words could infuriate him, he would have been dead from anger a long ti ago.
But now...
Wei Shouzhong is quite puzzled: "To buy cattle at the market, I happened to pass through the street by the city gate. I saw them all handcuffed and shackled, being escorted by constables towards the jail."
"Who knows what they did?"
"They saw too and kept calling ."
Yet, a constable’s scolding quieted them like quails.
Upon hearing this, Hui Niang appears displeased.
"The main house has offended many over the years. Probably got reported. If they’re guilty, it’s just retribution; if innocent, they won’t suffer much before being released."
"It’s true they gave birth to you and raised you."
"Our son has so connections with the Post Station, but don’t think of using them to get the main house people freed."
Wei Shouzhong, already clumsy with words, explained hurriedly seeing Hui Niang annoyed.
"It’s not that."
"If there’s anything, it’s them reaping the consequences of their actions."
Encountering them on the street, Wei Shouzhong deliberately turned and walked away.
But Mrs. Wei called him.
Asking him to save her.
Wei Shouzhong pretended not to hear.
!!!
Then!
Wei Shouzhong, irritated: "Mother turned and told the constable I’m her second son, and if they’re arrested, I should be too."
Hui Niang: ???
The Yu Family: ...
Zhao Yong remains silent.
He feels sorry for Wei Shouzhong.
Walking decently on the street, yet his own mother points him out, wishing for misfortune to fall upon him too.
The whole way back, Zhao Yong couldn’t find words of comfort.
Wei Shouzhong: "Over the years, I’ve honored my filial duties, endured enough suffering. I truly cannot go around worrying and trying to fix things for these people."
What concerns him the most.
"I wonder what cri they committed, whether it’s severe or not. If it involves us too, what should we do?"
Yu Tingwan, who had been silently at the side: ...
"Is there a possibility..."
She softly hints.
The girl’s soft voice: "It’s the matter of bribing the Governnt Office with the recruitnt of soldiers and falsifying records along with that constable."
The Yu Family spits at the ntion: "That would be they deserve it!"
She chokes a bit, emotionally.
"If Lang were ho, with him protecting his sister, perhaps Lady Xiao wouldn’t have... wouldn’t have ended up like that."
Though young, Wei Shen is fierce.
He once brandished a kitchen knife at Mrs. Wei.
Mrs. Wei is very domineering, thus she detests this grandson more and more.
Count it all, Lady Xiao’s misfortune has ties to the main house!
The Yu Family: "Had Lang not replaced Wei Qintian back then at the border, would his health deteriorate so much? Now needing to take dicine every day?"
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