Chapter 41: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Just as Liu Huaizhi was about to strike the fourth time, Xu Zeping immediately rushed forward. He turned his back to Liu Huaizhi and tightly held Xu Zeli's hand in his own, his voice trembling with emotion: "Sir, sir, my elder brother is taking the county examination in April! His hands cannot be injured!"
Liu Huaizhi's ruler hung in mid-air, and he snorted lightly: "Remembering the county examination now? Why didn't you remember it when you were late? If everyone acted like you two, ignoring rules, what would happen?"
"You are absolutely right, Zeping, move aside." Xu Zeli patted Xu Zeping's back with his right hand, his voice stern: "If the sir makes an exception for me today, how will he face other students in the future?"
Hearing this familiar nickname, Xu Zeping was momentarily stunned. This was the first time Xu Zeli had called him by his nickname; before, he always called him Zeping or youngest.
Taking advantage of Xu Zeping's momentary distraction, Xu Zeli pulled his left hand away.
— Slap!
Liu Huaizhi struck down without mercy.
Xu Zeping reacted instantly. As Liu Huaizhi prepared to strike the fifth time, he pushed Xu Zeli's left hand away and extended his own left hand.
— Slap!
The sharp pain instantly reached Xu Zeping's brain, and he couldn't help but tear up. His tender, pale hand quickly turned red and swollen.
It hurt so much.
Xu Zeli sighed, pulling the stubborn child close and gently wiping away the tears from Xu Zeping's eyes with his right hand: "I'm here, don't be strong. Be good."
Meeting those identical phoenix eyes, Xu Zeping felt a surge of emotions, experiencing for the first time the feeling of having someone stand up for him. Was this what it felt like to have an older brother protect you?
— Slap, slap, slap!
Liu Huaizhi paid no heed to their brotherly affection and finished the remaining strikes.
The thin silhouette of the young man imprinted itself deeply in Xu Zeping's mind, and the sweat rolling down his jawline etched itself into his heart.
At that moment, all the barriers between them seemed to dissolve...
Xu Zeli endured nineteen strikes, his palm bloody and raw, crimson blood dripping from his fingertips, yet he still managed a smile and said to Xu Zeping: "Don't worry, I'm not in pain."
With beads of sweat on his forehead, how could he not be in pain?
Tears welled up in Xu Zeping's eyes. He knew crying was embarrassing, but he couldn't control the sting... the only thing he could do was stop the tears from falling.
Liu Huaizhi's heart wasn't made of stone. How could he not feel for his disciple? After the punishment, he said: "Xu Zeping, go back to your seat and review today's lesson. As for you, Xu Zeli, come with me."
News of Xu Zeli passing the county examination had already spread throughout Qingshui Town, and the students in Class B naturally knew about it. Seeing even the top student receive punishment for breaking rules, they all diligently copied their assignments, fearing they might also receive the ruler...
After all, they had seen both Xu Zeli's and Lin Wenhao's palms. The force used was far greater than for ordinary mistakes. If the sir punished them with such force... the students of Class B shuddered collectively. Oh God, please take pity.
After school, Xu Zeping didn't bother to gather his scattered books and rushed out, ignoring Liu Huaizhi who hadn't left yet. He was the first to dash out of Class B.
Liu Huaizhi watched the lightning-fast little one and shook his head. These brothers truly cared for each other.
Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered the little boy who used to follow him... it had been a long time since he returned home.
Thinking of the county examination, Liu Huaizhi decided on the time to return to his hometown.
Class A and Class B were only a few meters apart, and Xu Zeping ran quickly, reaching the door of Class A in just a few steps.
Although it was past dismissal time, no students in Class A had left; they were all engrossed in writing essays.
Hearing the sound of writing, Xu Zeping hesitated. He tiptoed to the door, peeking inside at Xu Zeli, who was seated in the center of Class A. He wanted to enter but feared disturbing them.
At that moment, a student sitting in the front row looked up and met Xu Zeping's clear phoenix eyes. He blurted out: "Xu Zeli, your younger brother is here."
Liu Wenran was known for his loud voice in Class A. With his shout, over ten pairs of eyes lifted and looked towards the door of Class A.
The Xu brothers looked alike, but while Xu Zeli was reserved and determined, Xu Zeping appeared more innocent, with a pale, round face that made people want to pinch it.
There was no helping it. Who could resist Xu Zeli's superior essays and his smooth, charming personality, which made everyone love and hate him, yet unable to do anything about it!
Now there was a vulnerable little guy to pinch. How could they resist?
Xu Zeping's hair stood on end, sensing their malicious intent. He shrank back, "Elder brother."
A glance from Xu Zeli silenced everyone.
Then, Xu Zeli waved him over: "Come here."
"Why did you come? Is there something you didn't understand?" Xu Zeli put down his brush as the youngest bounced over.
Xu Zeping shook his head and looked up: "Elder brother, I wanted to see your left hand."
The soft, innocent youngest made Xu Zeli's heart soften. He extended his bandaged left hand: "The sir has applied medicine; it's fine now."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Hearing Xu Zeli's sincere voice, Xu Zeping relaxed: "Then I'll go back now?"
Xu Zeli glanced at the hourglass on the lectern and stood up: "Jixiang should be bringing lunch. Let's eat together."
"Okay."
The students of Class A watched the obedient little bun following Xu Zeli, feeling extremely itchy.
As Xu Zeping approached Liu Wenran, a pair of strong hands suddenly grabbed his back. An excited voice boomed into Xu Zeping's ears: "Little guy, what's your name?"
Xu Zeping turned around to see a tall, burly scholar leering at him, causing him to stumble in fright.
The other students in Class A, seeing that Ding Yiqiang had already made his move, rushed forward all at once, extending their claws toward Xu Zeping...
In his helplessness, those claw-like hands pinched Zeping's little face.
—Hey, it's pretty soft!
—Yeah, yeah! I wonder if Zeli's face feels the same.
...
For a moment, many lecherous laughs reached Xu Zeping's ears, making him want to cry for help!
Someone, these scholars are all perverts!
Chapter 42: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town (Bug Fixing)
Xu Zeli stood at the entrance of Class A with a smile on his face, never having imagined that so many people would like the youngest one...
"Big Brother, help me!"
A pitiful voice reached Xu Zeli's ears. He looked down and saw a small figure with eyes full of accusation.
Xu Zeli cleared his throat. "Have you all had enough fun? If you don't stop now, I'll call Mr. Liu."
Mr. Liu was the trump card; upon hearing his name, the students of Class A stopped their mischief and gradually returned to their seats.
"Tsk, if only my little monster were as obedient as you!" Only the tall and sturdy boy remained, still pinching Xu Zeping's cheeks. "Hey, kid, why don't you recognize me as your godbrother? My house has endless pastries~"
Hearing this, Xu Zeli quickly stepped forward and pulled Xu Zeping to his side with his good right hand, proudly saying, "Of course! Look who raised him! Ding Yiqiang, you seem like an honest guy, but you're trying to steal someone else's fruits."
Ding Yiqiang looked at Xu Zeli, who was puffing up like a rooster, and snorted, "You always act so refined, but today you're spouting nonsense. It's just recognizing a godbrother, not taking your brother away. How is that stealing?"
"If you wrote articles as smoothly as you talk, you wouldn't have come second in the county exam." Xu Zeli smiled elegantly but delivered a sharp jab.
"You!" Ding Yiqiang's face turned dark, but he quickly retorted, "It's just the first place in the county exam. What's there to be proud of? Why don't you try for the Triple First? Don't fail and end up nowhere."
"Thank you for your concern, Ding classmate. Instead of worrying about me failing, why not worry about today's assignment? I've already figured it out and will start writing after lunch." Xu Zeli stepped forward, patted Ding Yiqiang's shoulder, and said with a worried expression, "I hope you can solve it and write an article better than mine."
With that, Xu Zeli didn't wait for a reply and led Xu Zeping away.
Ding Yiqiang watched the Xu brothers leave, grinding his teeth in frustration.
Sitting down to look at the assignment, he grew angrier, unable to calm down. All he could think about was food!
He must be a reincarnation of the Heavenly Marshal!
Despite his grumbling, Ding Yiqiang was indeed hungry.
Calculating the time, it was almost lunchtime... His eyes darted around, and he immediately got up and walked outside.
Xu Zeping looked up at Xu Zeli. "Big Brother, is this okay?"
Xu Zeli knew Ding Yiqiang well—a smooth-talking and strong-willed individual.
Ding Yiqiang, in the previous life, was the top student in Heluo County in February of Sheng'an Fifth Year.
In April of the same year, he topped the Prefecture Exam.
In August, he ranked eighth in the Academy Exam, becoming a top scholar and entering the Prefecture City's official school, receiving a stipend.
In Sheng'an Eleventh Year, he placed thirty-sixth in the provincial exam, earning the title of juren.
In Sheng'an Twentieth Year, he ranked eighty-ninth in the imperial exam, becoming a gongsheng.
That same year, he placed eighty-fifth in the Jinshi exam, earning the title of jinshi.
After becoming a jinshi, Ding Yiqiang chose to serve as a local official instead of staying in the capital.
Even though they didn't interact much, Xu Zeli knew he was a fair and dedicated official. Despite being a civil servant, he handled military duties—drainage, flood control, bandit suppression... Ding Yiqiang's reputation was renowned throughout the Great Jing Dynasty.
His efforts paid off. By the time Xu Zeli met his fate, he learned from his father-in-law that the emperor intended to promote Ding Yiqiang to the position of Left Censor in Huguang Province.
Xu Zeli became a jinshi in Sheng'an Eighteenth Year.
Ding Yiqiang became a jinshi in Sheng'an Twentieth Year, two years later.
While Xu Zeli relied on the Minister of Justice to reach the fifth rank, Ding Yiqiang achieved the fourth rank through sheer effort.
Xu Zeli smiled and shook his head. "Ding classmate is used to joking with me; there's no harm."
As the Xu brothers walked into the garden, they met Jixiang carrying a food box.
"Master Zeli, did you wait long?" Jixiang scratched his head. "I chatted a bit with Boss Qian and almost missed the time."
"No worries; we just arrived."
"That's good, that's good." Jixiang chuckled and placed the food box on the stone table in the garden. As he prepared to set out the dishes, he noticed the bandage on Xu Zeli's left hand and panicked. "Master Zeli, what happened to your hand? This is serious; you still need to take the Prefecture Exam!"
"It's just my left hand; it doesn't affect my writing." Xu Zeli waved it off nonchalantly, not wanting Jixiang to upset their parents. "It's a minor injury; it'll heal in a couple of days. Don't mention it to Father or Mother, or I'll skin you alive."
Facing Xu Zeli's calm gaze, Jixiang shivered and promised, "I won't say a word, I swear!"
Xu Zeli nodded in satisfaction. "Serve the dishes."
For some reason, Jixiang feared Master Zeli more than Master Songshan and his wife, feeling that a single glance could see through his thoughts.
The Xu brothers had different tastes; Xu Zeli preferred light flavors, while Xu Zeping liked spicy food. Thus, the meal included both steamed and spicy dishes.
"Big Brother, try this steamed carp made by Grandma. It's delicious."
"Just a few slaps from Mr. Liu, I'm not incapable of removing fish bones." Xu Zeli watched the youngest one picking out fish bones and putting them in his bowl, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I can do it myself. Zeping, eat your food before it gets cold."
As the Xu brothers enjoyed their lunch, Ding Yiqiang appeared with a food box, smiling and offering various pastries. "Hey, kid, want some osmanthus pastries or peach blossom cakes? Call me brother, and you can have them!"
Just as Ding Yiqiang confidently expected a "brother," Xu Zeping continued eating his spicy fish without looking up.
Xu Zeping rolled his eyes inwardly, thinking, _Do you really think I'm a child?_
Chapter 43: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Ding Yiqiang was also known for being stubborn. The more you ignored him, the more he persisted. He picked up a plate of thousand-layer pastries and sat down next to Xu Zeping. "Sweet and delicious thousand-layer pastries, are you sure you don't want some?"
His bulky frame startled Xu Zeping so much that his hand shook, nearly dropping his chopsticks on the ground. Fortunately, he reacted quickly, clamping them between his legs with both knees.
Hearing Ding Yiqiang's tempting voice, Xu Zeping steadied himself, relieved that Ding Yiqiang wasn't there to fight. If it were a fight, even five of him wouldn't stand a chance against Ding Yiqiang, considering his height and weight.
At least 1.75 meters tall and weighing 160 pounds, Ding Yiqiang was intimidating in an era where ninety percent of the population struggled to get enough food.
Xu Zeping secretly glanced at Xu Zeli across from him. His elder brother was well-developed for his age; at twelve, he was already 1.65 meters tall, but still shorter than Ding Yiqiang.
Xu Zeli noticed his youngest brother's glance and assumed he wanted the pastry. "Zeping, calling your older brother isn't shameful, especially since Ding classmate is older."
Xu Zeping hastily shook his head and explained, "Elder brother, children should eat fewer sweets, or they'll get cavities like Ding brother, who has a missing tooth!"
Xu Zeping had seen this by chance when Ding Yiqiang leaned down to tempt him. On the left side of his upper jaw, one tooth was black, and another had a large hole.
Seeing the child's innocent expression, Ding Yiqiang turned red, unable to utter a word.
Ding Yiqiang had always been a glutton, especially for sweets. His mother's dowry included a pastry shop, which only fueled his addiction.
Whenever new pastries appeared, he would be the first to eat until he was stuffed!
If he didn't eat enough, he would sneak out at night to steal pastries from the shop. Even if caught by his father and punished, he never changed his habit.
Despite beatings and scoldings, he couldn't break this habit, so his parents eventually gave up.
His father ran a security escort service and had to personally oversee deliveries, while his mother managed the pastry shop. They had no time to watch over him. His grandparents believed that a well-fed grandson would grow strong and take over the family business.
Ding Yiqiang eventually broke his sweet tooth habit due to those two cavities.
Anyone who has had cavities knows how excruciating the pain can be.
When he was ten, his face swelled like a bun, and he rolled on the ground in agony. Thinking about it now, it was embarrassing.
Xu Zeli watched Ding Yiqiang's face turn red and then black, almost choking on a piece of fish. He swallowed hard and sternly said, "Zeping, don't mock Ding classmate; it's impolite."
"Okay." Xu Zeping put down his chopsticks, turned his head, and politely apologized to Ding Yiqiang, "Brother Ding, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have mocked you. Please forgive me."
Ding Yiqiang, with words stuck in his throat, could only wave his hand and say, "It's okay, it's my own fault for being greedy."
With that, Ding Yiqiang hurriedly grabbed his food box and ran off, embarrassed.
The two brothers exchanged glances, their smiles lingering.
Xu Zerou sat in the courtyard, embroidering a handkerchief. Upon closer inspection, one could see patterns on both sides: lotus flowers on one side and cranes on the other.
This rare double-sided embroidery technique was taught to her by Madam Jiang, who learned it from her old master.
Now, Madam Jiang decided to pass on this unique skill to Xu Zerou...
Thinking about it, Madam Jiang sighed. She never imagined that her old master's exclusive technique would end up in the hands of an outsider.
Her old master was a second wife, and the heartless old lady feared she might bear a child, which would be detrimental...
Fortunately, the young master was filial and took care of her old master's later years.
But thinking about the hardships her old master endured trying to bear a child, Madam Jiang felt heartbroken... remembering the moment her old master died, knowing the truth.
Madam Jiang shuddered, knowing her old master died with unfulfilled wishes.
Had it not been for her old master's last wish for her safety, she might have become a pile of bones.
From afar, Xu Zerou heard laughter and looked up to see her eldest brother and youngest brother walking through the corridor, chatting happily. She wondered aloud, "Is the sun rising from the west today?"
Isn't her eldest brother usually cold towards the youngest?
"Zeping, did you have fun today?"
Xu Zeping tilted his head at his sister's sweet voice. "Yes, I had fun."
"Having fun with your brother? You don't usually smile like that."
Xu Zeping scratched his head, smiling innocently. "Brotherhood, Sister, you wouldn't understand."
Xu Zeli observed Xu Zerou's expression and saw that she seemed normal, knowing Ji Xiang hadn't revealed his injured hand.
He was pleased. Good.
Taking advantage of the siblings' conversation, he slipped back to Donggen courtyard, carrying his book box and pondering a plan. He decided to have Da Hu bring dinner from Xiheyuan.
For the time being, he would avoid showing his face, citing the need to focus on writing essays for the upcoming examination as an excuse to dine in his courtyard, saving time and effort.
Xu Tangshi walked out of the flower hall and called out loudly, "Wash your hands, it's time for dinner."
Xu Zeping loved these family dinners, full of warmth and joy.
Recalling the past, such moments were rare.
Often, when it grew dark, his stepfather was still at the construction site.
He and his mother would quickly finish a meal together, barely managing.
After Minxue was born, dinners became more like chores, as her frail health often kept them in the hospital for weeks...
After entering society, he often ate alone.
Looking at the steaming dinner, Xu Zeping's face was filled with a smile: "Mom, it's bone and potato soup~ It's just right for Axiang to rest his hand!"
Xu Zeli was still racking his brains for a solution, unaware that his good little brother had let slip about his injured hand.
Chapter 44: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Hearing Xu Zeping's words, everyone in the Xu family perked up their ears. It wasn't that they were overly sensitive; they knew how crucial hands were for a scholar!
If his hands were ruined, it could mean the end of his future.
The Xu family had high hopes for Xu Zeli.
Suddenly faced with so many pairs of staring eyes, Xu Zeping was taken aback and began to stammer, "M-Mother, why are you all looking at me?"
Xu Songshan spoke first, "Youngest, tell Father, what happened to your brother's hand?"
Under Xu Songshan's piercing gaze, Xu Zeping suddenly remembered his brother's warning to keep it a secret from Jixiang... But facing Xu Songshan's scrutinizing look, Xu Zeping's resolve hardened. If his brother didn't want to say anything, he should keep the secret.
Xu Zeping, like a child who had done something wrong, lowered his head and fiddled with his hands, remaining silent.
Xu Linshi subtly tugged at Xu Songshan's sleeve. She was a woman who revered her husband and wouldn't embarrass him.
Xu Songshan realized his attitude had frightened the youngest.
Seeing the pale face of the youngest, he felt regretful and wanted to say something comforting but saw Xu Linshi shake her head.
Xu Linshi wiped her hands on her apron, walked over to Xu Zeping, and gently squatted down, pulling the frightened youngest into her arms. "Zeping, dear, Father didn't mean to scare you. He was just too worried."
As she comforted him, she continued, "Zeping, do you understand the importance of hands? If they get injured, your brother might not be able to become a great official in the future, and then he won't be able to take you to eat delicious food or play fun games..."
Though Xu Linshi was a woman who revered her husband, she was also a gentle and kind mother. Under her tender approach, Xu Zeping could no longer hold back and recounted everything that had happened today...
From this, it was clear that Xu Zeping was someone who responded better to kindness than harshness.
When the family heard it was only his left hand that was injured, they relaxed a bit.
With more than a month until the provincial examination, there was still time to recover.
After Xu Zeping finished speaking, he added, somewhat awkwardly, "Mother, don't blame Brother. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have played yesterday."
Xu Linshi patted his head, "Zeping, you should apologize to your brother. You've wronged him, not us."
Xu Songshan smiled reassuringly, "It's natural for an older brother to protect his younger brother, but as the younger one, you must repay him when you grow up. No one should always be expected to give without receiving."
"Okay! I understand."
At that moment, Dahu nervously entered the flower hall.
This was Dahu's first time lying, and naturally, he was a bit timid. Pretending everything he said was true, he gathered his courage and said, "Sir, Madam, Young Master Zeli said he wants to focus on preparing for the provincial examination and asked me to bring his meals to Xiheyuan recently."
Dahu seemed calm, but his trembling voice betrayed him.
Xu Songshan sneered, "Dahu, you honest boy, when did you become like Young Master Zeli?"
Dahu was confused, "What do you mean?"
"Lying without any preparation," Xu Songshan glanced at Dahu. "Tell Young Master Zeli to come out for dinner. We already know what happened."
Dahu scratched his head in embarrassment. Seeing Xu Zeping shrugging nearby, he knew who the culprit was. He chuckled and apologized, saying he would fetch Young Master Zeli.
Within a few minutes, Xu Zeli arrived.
He noticed his youngest brother avoiding eye contact, knowing the little one was feeling guilty.
"Father, Mother, Grandmother, I'm sorry for making Dahu lie." Xu Zeli didn't hesitate and directly apologized, "I just didn't want you to worry, so I kept it a secret."
"You're a foolish child!" Xu Tangshi scolded, walking over with her cane and tapping his right arm twice. "Do you think we wouldn't find out? This injury needs special care. What if it leaves a scar? Don't you fear your future wife will dislike you?"
Xu Zeli didn't mind most of what Xu Tangshi said, except for the last part. Su Yuheng, his future husband, was very particular about appearances. Though he liked to scratch and grab, he would definitely complain if Xu Zeli had scars.
Thinking of this, Xu Zeli quickly admitted, "Yes, Grandmother, I know I was wrong. Please help supervise my diet to prevent any scarring."
Xu Zeli thought about mentioning he would marry a husband, not a wife, but decided against it to avoid further questions. He wisely kept quiet.
Seeing the eldest's sincere apology, Xu Songshan and his wife didn't say much more and called for dinner.
However, this meal was destined to be difficult for Xu Zeli, as most dishes contained ginger and garlic, which could affect healing and cause scarring.
After dinner, Xu Zeping was supposed to follow Xu Zeli to study.
This time, Xu Songshan intervened, citing Xu Zeli's need to rest and prepare for the provincial examination. For the next month, he forbade Xu Zeping from disturbing his brother.
As the patriarch, Xu Songshan's authority was absolute. His firm stance left no room for argument.
Xu Zeping thought about the new desk in his room, realizing it would finally be put to use.
Xu Linshi, being a loving mother, hurriedly instructed her husband to buy some ointment, even though the eldest had assured her that Mr. Liu had already treated the wound. She still felt uneasy and wanted to have some high-quality medicine at home.
In the past, the Xu family always kept medicine on hand because the eldest was often injured, but since he became Mr. Liu's student, they hadn't needed it anymore.
Understanding his wife's concern, Xu Songshan didn't argue and turned to call Jixiang to prepare the horse.
Although Xu Zeping was forbidden from bothering his brother while studying, he was not prohibited from visiting him. After practicing calligraphy and bathing, Xu Zeping sneaked out of his room and headed towards Donggen courtyard.
Through the bright lights, he saw two figures standing and sitting in Xu Zeli's room. From the shadows, he recognized Xu Linshi and Xu Zeli.
As he pondered how to avoid getting caught, he spotted the study nearby and quickly hid inside.
Fortunately, he hid just in time, as Xu Linshi had finished changing the bandage and was leaving.
Hearing the footsteps fade away, Xu Zeping cautiously emerged from the study and approached Xu Zeli's room. Before he could knock, he heard Xu Zeli say, "Little mouse, come in."
Xu Zeping retorted, slightly annoyed, "Brother, I'm not a little mouse."
Xu Zeli chuckled, "Sneaking around and fidgeting, you really are just like a little mouse."
Xu Zeping knew he was no match for him, so he didn't argue further and instead asked, "Elder brother, how did you know I came?"
Xu Zeli wouldn't admit that he had been standing there and said mysteriously, "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed."
Xu Zeping rolled his eyes inwardly. Fine, if he didn't want to say, then he wouldn't. He wasn't that curious anyway.
After calming himself down, Xu Zeping immediately apologized to Xu Zeli, promising never to stay up late playing again and to get up fifteen minutes earlier every day from tomorrow on...
At this time, Xu Linshi had already returned to Xiheyuan and habitually went to the second son's room first. From Cuiguo, she learned that the second son was already asleep, so she quietly withdrew, of course, not forgetting to remind Cuiguo to take good care of Miss Rou.
After leaving the second son's room, she went to the youngest son's room. Seeing the candlelight extinguished through the window, she carefully pushed open the door and walked from the outer room to the inner room... Seeing the empty bed, she felt very angry.
This youngest son had indeed learned to play tricks.
Last night, she had come in and seen the extinguished candlelight, assuming he was asleep. She hadn't expected that this naughty boy would pretend to sleep while playing with the nine-link ring!
Today, when she came to clean the room, seeing the scattered silver rings on the floor, she nearly exploded with anger.
After a whole day to calm down, plus the sincere apology from the youngest tonight, she had completely cooled off. But now, seeing the empty room, her anger flared up again.
Just as Xu Linshi was about to lose her temper, Xu Zeping stumbled into the room from the outer room, rubbing his eyes and mumbling, "Mother, why are you here?"
Seeing his dazed expression, Xu Linshi held back her anger, "Where have you been at this hour of the night?"
Hearing the anger in Xu Linshi's tone, Xu Zeping pouted, "Mother, I ate too much tonight and just came back from the outhouse."
After saying that, Xu Zeping tried to hug Xu Linshi and act cute.
The outhouse was like a rural dry toilet; even a short stay left one smelling bad.
Sure enough, as soon as Xu Zeping hugged her, Xu Linshi smelled the stench and said disapprovingly, "Alright, your mother knows. Go to bed early. Your nine-link ring is already put away. You can have it back when you visit your maternal grandparents during the field break this year."
Xu Zeping, still sleepy, kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto the bed.
As a mother, how could Xu Linshi truly dislike her own son? After Xu Zeping lay down, she took off his outer clothes, covered him with a blanket, straightened his shoes, and then left with her lantern...
After Xu Linshi left, Xu Zeping opened his eyes wide, relieved that he had gone to the outhouse due to urgency; otherwise, he would have gotten a beating.
When Xu Linshi returned to her room, Xu Songshan was reading on the couch. Hearing familiar footsteps, he turned and asked, "Are they all asleep?"
"All asleep."
Xu Linshi closed the door and instructed, "Remember to buy some celery and meat strips tomorrow. We still need these two items for the youngest's apprenticeship ceremony."
The Xu family knew from Xu Zeli's previous apprenticeship that the six items required were: celery, lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, longans, and dried lean meat strips.
Xu Zeli and Liu Huaizhi had agreed on the apprenticeship date for the third day of the third month, which was the day after tomorrow.
Unlike lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, and longans, which are preserved, celery and meat strips do not last long.
Xu Songshan got up, walked from the couch to the bed, and replied, "I understand. I've already arranged for Jixiang to order them today. They will deliver them early the day after tomorrow."
Xu Linshi lay in Xu Songshan's arms, her voice softening, "Erlang, I haven't visited my parents' home for a long time. When the children have their field break, can I take them back for a visit?"
Thinking of his elder brother's suggestion to send Zebi and Zeying over, Xu Songshan hesitated slightly, "My elder brother wants to wait until Zeli passes the child scholar exam and then send them over to play..."
The prefectural examination is in April, and the field break is in May.
Calculating the timing, it would coincide with the announcement of the prefectural examination results and the start of the field break.
But seeing Xu Linshi's disappointed look, Xu Songshan quickly changed his stance, "It will take three or four days to travel from Prefecture City, and with the children's luggage, it might take even longer. How about this: you take the children to your parents' home first. When Zebi and Zeying arrive, I'll send someone to bring you back immediately, okay?"
Women's emotions change like the weather in June.
Hearing Xu Songshan's words, Xu Linshi immediately smiled and gave him a big kiss on the cheek, "Erlang, you're so nice!"
After kissing him, she pulled the covers up and fell asleep.
Left alone, Xu Songshan was still excited. When he came to his senses, he found she was already asleep...
Xu Songshan gritted his teeth and "angrily" pinched her cheek.
Chapter 45: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Xu Zeli had also been a child once, and he knew well how easily children could forget things. He thought Xu Zeping's promise to wake up fifteen minutes earlier every day was just a joke...
But when he entered the flower hall, Xu Zeping was already seated at the round table, drinking porridge heartily. Seeing him, Xu Zeping greeted him cheerfully, "Brother, good morning!"
"Zeping, good morning."
According to the Xu family's custom, whether it was breakfast or dinner, everyone had to be present before the meal could begin. However, because of the two brothers' tardiness and their punishment with the ruler the previous day, an exception was made for them to eat early and leave promptly.
The Xu family's breakfast options were limited, usually porridge with steamed buns or egg noodles.
On Lanzar Star, not only would children but even adults would be sick of such a monotonous diet...
But Xu Zeping ate with great satisfaction, as most people in their current situation struggled to have enough food. Many farmers had only two meals a day, and those meals were often coarse grains mixed with white rice.
Xu Zeping didn't want to delay his brother, so he quickly finished a bowl of porridge and two steamed buns, then stood up. "Brother, I'll go get my school bag from the room and wait for you at the front gate."
Without waiting for Xu Zeli's response, Xu Zeping rushed off toward the room.
Watching the youngest brother hurry away, Xu Zeli shook his head amusedly but didn't waste any time either. He quickly finished his breakfast, took the school bag from Da Hu, and headed to the outer courtyard.
Because they left fifteen minutes early, they managed to arrive just in time for class.
Gao Yan, seeing Xu Zeping panting after taking his seat, asked curiously, "Zeping, isn't your home close by? Why are you so out of breath?"
After catching his breath, Xu Zeping replied, "The school bag is too heavy. I still can't carry it well, but I'll get used to it soon."
Hearing that it was heavy, Gao Yan couldn't help but lift the school bag with one hand and weighed it, estimating it to be about five pounds. "It's not heavy at all?"
Seeing Gao Yan lift it effortlessly, Xu Zeping widened his eyes slightly. He looked Gao Yan up and down, wondering how a child weighing around fifty pounds could be so strong?
In their conversation, Xu Zeping learned that Gao Yan lived in Gaoshan Village, which was below Qingshui Town. It took him an hour to walk there every day, and he also helped chop wood at home.
Xu Zeping guessed that Gao Yan's family wasn't well-off, but he didn't expect it to be this difficult...
While they were talking, Liu Huaizhi entered Class B, assigned the day's lessons, and then left.
After finishing the day's teaching, Liu Huaizhi assigned homework and announced that classes would be suspended the next day without giving a reason.
For these children, a day off was a welcome surprise, and they happily left the school with their school bags.
The next day, at the first hour of Chen, Xu Zeping arrived at the main entrance of Qinghai Private School with his father and brother. Liu Quan was already waiting at the main gate and hurriedly opened it to welcome them in.
Usually, students like Xu Zeping entered through the side door, while servants and younger students came through the corner gate.
Today, however, Xu Zeping and his companions entered through the main gate.
This was due to a change in status. From today onward, Xu Zeping was no longer a student of Liu Huaizhi but his disciple.
Of course, Xu Zeli also had the right to enter through the main gate, though it wasn't necessary to be so formal.
Although Liu Huaizhi had many students, he had formally taken on very few disciples. Xu Zeping was his sixth and final disciple.
Liu Huaizhi's eldest disciple, Li Chengxue, was a renowned scholar like him, having won the imperial examination in the twenty-second year of Emperor Wenjing. He now served as a Grand Secretary in the Hanlin Academy and Chancellor of the Imperial College.
He was also a close friend of Xu Zeli's father-in-law.
Liu Huaizhi's second disciple, Zhang Zhiying, was a source of deep sorrow for him.
Compared to Li Chengxue, Liu Huaizhi had invested more effort and care into Zhang Zhiying, personally recommending him to Long Zhaocheng, who was then the Crown Prince, as his advisor. Zhang Zhiying did not disappoint and became Long Zhaocheng's trusted strategist within three years...
However, he tragically died during the northern campaign.
Whenever Liu Huaizhi thought about it, he felt immense regret. If he hadn't made that choice, Zhang Zhiying might still be alive.
Liu Huaizhi's third disciple, Ouyang Xu, was a brilliant writer but disliked officialdom and preferred nature. After winning the provincial examination in the twenty-eighth year of Emperor Wenjing, he joined the Bo Wen Academy in Jiangnan as a teacher and now serves as its principal.
Liu Huaizhi's fourth disciple, Lin Sanxing, passed the imperial examination in the thirty-fourth year of Emperor Wenjing and is a pragmatic official. He currently serves as the Governor of Tongzhou, a direct-controlled state like Youzhou, one of the five major states of the Great Jing Empire.
Liu Huaizhi's fifth disciple, Xu Zeli.
And his final disciple, Xu Zeping.
As his final disciple, Liu Huaizhi placed great importance on Xu Zeping. Apart from Li Chengxue, who was far away in the capital, the other two disciples, Ouyang Xu and Lin Sanxing, had specially come for the occasion!
Both Ouyang Xu and Lin Sanxing were over forty years old. Compared to the hardworking Lin Sanxing, Ouyang Xu was more elegant, dressed in blue robes and wearing a scholar's cap, with graceful manners.
Lin Sanxing had served as an official for decades, always working tirelessly for the people, and the hardships showed in his weathered, dark skin. Despite being a government official, his hands were calloused from labor.
Though Xu Zeli had never met them in this life, he recognized them immediately from his past life.
After Liu Huaizhi introduced them, Ouyang Xu and Lin Sanxing presented gifts to the new disciples without any sign of disrespect.
They had already learned about the Xu brothers from Liu Quan, so they prepared identical gifts for both.
Ouyang Xu brought a Huizhou Duan inkstone, while Lin Sanxing brought a Huzhou wolf-hair brush.
Their gifts were generous, and although the Xu brothers initially tried to refuse, they eventually accepted after some persuasion.
After the greetings, they officially entered the apprenticeship ceremony.
Step 1: Adjust clothing and attire.
Step 2: Conduct the apprenticeship initiation ceremony.
...
Once the apprenticeship ceremony concluded, it was already past noon.
As the host, Liu Huaizhi naturally invited them to stay for lunch.
Compared to Ouyang Xu, Lin Sanxing had even busier official duties and left Qingshui Town on horseback after lunch.
Ouyang Xu stayed at the Qinghai Private School for two or three days, during which he lectured the Xu brothers for the same duration. Of course, the content of his lectures differed: he discussed current politics with Xu Zeli, while he shared his insights from his early education with Xu Zeping...
Unlike Liu Huaizhi's serious and meticulous style, Ouyang Xu's lectures were more leisurely and humorous.
Of course, Ouyang Xu also had his own academy to manage, and staying for two or three days was already the limit. On the fourth morning, he left Qingshui Town by carriage.
Before leaving, Ouyang Xu also said—welcoming them to come to Jiangnan for further studies.
Chapter 46: The Xu Family in Qingshui Town
Xu Zeli had originally intended to see the youngest sibling's embarrassment, but he did not expect that the youngest had indeed managed to wake up fifteen minutes earlier every day, and now it was the first day of the fourth month at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM).
This year, the prefectural examination was scheduled for the fifteenth day of the fourth month.
Heluo County is under the jurisdiction of Yongan Prefecture, which is merely a scattered prefecture and itself belongs to Huahu Prefecture.
Huahu Prefecture oversees four subordinate prefectures and ten directly governed counties. Each subordinate prefecture governs at least three to eight counties, so the number of candidates participating in the prefectural examination is always over a thousand, while only eighty are admitted, making the competition extremely fierce!
Unlike the county examination, Xu Zeli must go to Huahu Prefecture City for the prefectural examination. It takes at least eight days to travel from Qingshui Town to Huahu Prefecture City, and with many students taking the exam, accommodations can be scarce. Therefore, Xu Zeli and his companions agreed to depart at the hour of Si (9-11 AM) on the first day of the fourth month.
The journey to Huahu Prefecture is long, and there is a section that is not entirely safe, often frequented by bandits. Xu Songshan was naturally worried about Xu Zeli traveling with Dahu and his classmates, so he decided to accompany them.
Ten students from Qinghai Private School passed the county examination this time. They were all classmates and chose to travel together for safety.
Xu Zeping, Xu Linshi, and others stood at the gate, seeing off Xu Zeli and the other two as they boarded the carriage. Xu Linshi, Xu Tangshi, and Xu Zerou, the three of them being very emotional, could not help but tear up: "Leave early and return early."
Xu Zeping and the others had initially planned to send them off at the town entrance of Qingshui Town since that was their agreed departure point... However, Xu Zeli said that too many people pass through the town entrance, so it would be better to say goodbye at home.
Xu Songshan could not bear women crying, so he quickly whipped the horse and set off: "Understood!"
In previous years, when going to the prefecture city for the examination, they would choose a merchant caravan, which always had guards and was the safest option. This year, due to Ding Yiqiang, they did not join a merchant caravan but instead had the Ding family escort service accompany them to the prefecture city!
The Ding family escort service is a well-known large escort service in Heluo County, having traveled extensively and fought many bandits, rarely failing in their missions.
As for the bandits they might encounter on the way to Huahu Prefecture City, not only did the Ding family recognize them, but Xu Zeli also knew them—these were the same bandits from Yin Gou Village who had colluded with the youngest sibling in the past life. It was embarrassing because Yin Gou Village was within their own Yongan Prefecture.
Ding Yiqiang looked at Xu Zeli getting out of the carriage and said somewhat disappointedly: "Your youngest sibling didn't come to see you off?"
Xu Zeli gave him a half-smile and glanced at him: "Why, still hoping he'll call you brother?"
Ding Yiqiang rubbed his nose, his eyes flickering, and immediately put his arm around Xu Zeli's shoulder: "Ah Li, I heard you have a younger sister? What do you think of me? I'm tall, strong, and talented. How about I lower myself a bit and become your brother-in-law?"
"Get lost, go find somewhere cool!" Xu Zeli's face darkened upon hearing this, "Don't tarnish my sister's reputation!"
Saying this, Xu Zeli actually considered the matter seriously.
Despite Ding Yiqiang's current unseriousness, he was indeed a loyal man. As far as Xu Zeli knew, Ding Yiqiang had only one wife in his past life and never even had a concubine.
Thinking about it, he seemed like a good match... But wouldn't it be unfair to Ding Yiqiang's wife from his past life?
Seeing Xu Zeli's serious expression, Ding Yiqiang immediately realized his rudeness. Discussing a woman's affairs in public was indeed unbecoming of a gentleman.
As they talked, the ten students from Qinghai Private School and their families had all gathered.
The students came from different backgrounds, and not everyone had a carriage... Fortunately, Ding Long, Ding Yiqiang's father, had considered this and arranged enough carriages after understanding each student's family situation.
Thanks to his meticulous planning, the seven families without carriages avoided any awkwardness.
Ding Long rode a white horse at the front, followed by three black horses carrying three middle-aged men with a strong presence, clearly trained fighters.
Behind the three black horses were six carriages, followed by four more black horses...
With Ding Long's order, "Depart!"
Watching the Xu family's carriage disappear into the dust, Xu Zeping silently calculated the time. The prefectural examination consists of five sessions, one per day, finishing on the twentieth day of the fourth month.
The results are announced about fifteen days after the examination, plus an eight-day return journey... It seems they will return around mid-May.
By then, the rice seedlings would have been planted, and Xu Zeping had hoped to join his elder brother in planting them. Now it seems impossible.
Xu Zeping felt a bit disappointed.
Although he lived a hard life in his past life, he had never planted rice seedlings. He wanted to experience what it felt like!
The Xu family is a farming and scholarly family. Even though they are now wealthy, Xu Songshan still leads Xu Zeli to the fields to plant rice during the annual field break, saying that only by experiencing farming can one understand the value of food!
In previous years, he was too young to participate. Now that he is nearly four, Xu Zeli joked that he should experience planting rice...
Xu Zeli said this partly to tease him, as he had been planting rice every year since he was six... Not only that, but he also had to harvest rice every August.
Planting and harvesting rice are the most strenuous activities for the back. After each session, he would be sore for two or three days.
He thought the youngest would refuse, but surprisingly, the youngest eagerly agreed, vowing to join him in planting and harvesting rice!
Seeing the youngest's enthusiasm, Xu Zeli shook his head inwardly: "Really too young."
Xu Zerou noticed the youngest looking sadly at the departing carriage and asked curiously: "Pingping, do you want to go to the prefecture city with your elder brother?"
Xu Zeping shook his head: "No, although the teacher went back home for half a month, he assigned me tasks. I must memorize *Youxue Qionglin* and *Shenglv Chuxin* within these fifteen days. When he returns, he will teach me poetry and writing, so I don't have time to go to the prefecture city."
"Then why are you disappointed?"
Xu Zeping scratched his head, "I was calculating the time, and it seems my elder brother will miss our agreement to plant rice together..."
Seeing the youngest's hopeful look, Xu Zerou suddenly felt a lump in her throat. The youngest was still endearingly naive.
Chapter 47: Small River Village (Part 1)
Xu Linshi had originally planned to take the children to their maternal grandparents' house during the field break in May. Now, coincidentally, her youngest son's teacher was returning to his hometown for half a month of lectures... After some consideration, she decided to take the youngest and Xiao Rou for a short stay at their maternal grandparents' place. As for the eldest, he could visit on his own when he had time later.
Xu Linshi had this plan partly because Zebo and his brother were due to return soon. If they came back and found her absent, there would surely be rumors about her not caring for them as an aunt.
With this decision made, she went to discuss it with Xu Tangshi.
Xu Tangshi, being a reasonable mother-in-law, did not make things difficult. Upon hearing Xu Linshi's proposal, she agreed immediately and even advised her to bring more gifts to her parents' home to avoid any gossip.
Once Xu Tangshi gave her consent, Xu Linshi and her three children set off for Small River Village the next day in a carriage...
Xu Linshi's visit to her parents' home lasted about half a month. Originally, Cuiguo and Cui Zhu wanted to accompany Xu Zerou, but Xu Linshi was concerned that bringing four or five people might leave Xu Tangshi feeling lonely. So, she left Cuiguo and Cui Zhu behind, along with Madam Jiang, who taught Xu Zerou etiquette.
As soon as they boarded the carriage, Xu Zerou relaxed slightly, her straight back loosening a bit.
Xu Linshi understood her daughter's fatigue and did not say much, only instructing Jixiang to drive the carriage.
Xu Zerou smiled sweetly, burying her head in Xu Linshi's chest and cooing, "Mother, you're so kind~"
Xu Linshi stroked her daughter's soft, fair hand, her eyes filled with tenderness. She hoped her daughter would always live such a happy life, not necessarily in great wealth, but at least free from hardship. Such a life was what her father and brothers could provide.
"Xiao Rou, do you blame Mother and Grandmother for being too strict with you?"
Xu Zerou shook her head obediently, "I'm grateful, how could I blame you? I know you're doing it for my good."
Seeing her understanding daughter, Xu Linshi felt deeply touched. She gently caressed her daughter's smooth, dark hair and began recounting amusing stories from her childhood.
She spoke of the clearest river with the most fish, the mountain with the most persimmon trees and chestnut trees...
While the two shared these stories, Zeping sat quietly beside them, engrossed in reading "Youxue Qionglin." The book had four volumes and thirty-three sections, all of which they had already completed.
Now, Zeping was reviewing. Traditional characters differ from simplified ones; a single wrong stroke can ruin the entire character.
Despite having an exceptional memory, he still strived for caution and frequent review.
Seeing her clever and studious youngest son, Xu Linshi felt immense happiness. Her eldest was steady and ambitious, her second child gentle and obedient, and her youngest smart and lively. Plus, she had a considerate husband. She felt blessed beyond measure.
Worried that reading in the carriage might strain his eyes, she said, "Zeping, be careful not to hurt your eyes."
Hearing his mother's reminder, Zeping acknowledged it and put the book away in the box.
Unlike women, men naturally have less to say, so Zeping opened the window, knelt on the seat, and gazed out at the scenery.
The carriage driven by Dahu to Prefecture City belonged to the Xu family, while this one was borrowed from another merchant by Jixiang for a fee.
They had already left Qingshui Town and were now on a mountain road, which was bumpy and slow compared to the flat official roads in town.
Through the window, Zeping enjoyed the lush greenery, feeling a sense of freedom.
Just as he looked back, he noticed a cart following their carriage...
The cart was driven by a middle-aged man, and a woman with a pockmarked face tightly held a child against her chest, concealing the child with fabric similar to her clothes...
Zeping found this behavior strange and told Xu Linshi, "Mother, there's a cart following our carriage..."
Hearing her son's words, Xu Linshi was alarmed. She recalled the incident where a child almost got abducted from the silk merchant and feared it might be kidnappers.
She wanted to ask but hesitated, considering the lack of physical strength among their group. Ultimately, she chose safety over justice.
She could not risk her children's lives or betray her family.
Gently, she said, "Zeping, listen carefully. You didn't see anything. We'll reach your grandparents' house in half an hour."
Small River Village was quite remote. It took nearly an hour by carriage from Qingshui Town, and at least two hours on foot. Along the way, they would pass through several villages: first Da Wan Village, then Xiao Wan Village, followed by Gaojia Village, Liuhu Village, Dahua Village, and finally Small River Village. Beyond Small River Village was Houyan Village, the most remote and poorest village.
Xu Linshi silently prayed that if the child was lucky, the cart would follow them until the fork in the road near Small River Village, where she could call for help from her father.
If not, and they lost the cart anywhere along the way, she clenched her fists, knowing she could not be blamed.
Seeing Xu Linshi's stern jawline, Zeping wanted to speak but held back. He silently watched the cart following their carriage through the window.
His gaze was complex. The man driving the cart was in his forties, wearing coarse linen clothes, and looked strong from years of labor. The woman had a pockmarked face but wore makeup and fine cotton clothing, making them seem unrelated.
The child, though obscured, wore tattered clothes and shoes with exposed toes, adding to Zeping's suspicion that the child did not belong to either of them.
He noticed the couple in the cart did not interact at all, each lost in their own thoughts.
Xu Linshi, fearing Zeping would be discovered, quickly admonished him, "Zeping, sit down!"
Zeping understood his mother's concerns. Compared to the strong man, they had no means of self-defense. His mother was a gentlewoman, his sister a delicate lady, and Jixiang, despite being somewhat strong, was still slight.
In modern terms, he was just a skinny kid.
Zeping sighed silently, wondering if he was truly powerless.
Chapter 48: Small River Village 2
Although the youngest obediently sat down, Xu Linshi could see from his furrowed brows that he was still preoccupied with the matter.
Girls are naturally more timid and fragile than boys. After hearing her younger brother's words, Xu Zerou was so frightened that her face turned pale. She couldn't help but imagine herself in that situation—just thinking about being forced to leave her parents made her heart wrench with fear.
Xu Linshi pulled her daughter into her arms and gently comforted her, "Xiao Rou, be good. As long as you don't wander off and stay close to me, no one can take you away."
Under Xu Linshi's soothing words, Xu Zerou gradually calmed down.
Nestled in her mother's embrace, Xu Zerou asked timidly, "Mother, would he also be as scared as I am if he were taken by those kidnappers?"
The line between good and evil is often just a thought away. Xu Linshi was not a cruel person, and upon hearing her daughter's question, her conflicted heart began to sway.
As a mother, she understood the pain of losing a child.
But they were powerless women...
Xu Linshi covered Xu Zerou's eyes and softly said, "Xiao Rou, be good. Once you fall asleep, you won't think about these things anymore."
She then softly hummed a lullaby.
While her mother was putting her sister to sleep, Xu Zeping stood up again and slightly opened the window. Sure enough, he saw the ox cart slowly trailing behind the horse-drawn carriage.
It wasn't that the ox cart didn't want to overtake them; it was just that the mountain road was rugged and narrow, barely wide enough for one vehicle.
Xu Zeping tried hard to remember the features of the man and woman on the ox cart. The man, though muscular, had a distinctive scar—a long centipede-like mark on his left arm. The woman, despite her fine clothing and rich fabrics, had a posture that seemed particularly out of place.
Indeed, out of place.
Xu Zeping thought for a while and finally found a word to describe her: vulgar!
Upon closer inspection, Xu Zeping felt that the word "vulgar" fit her perfectly.
Red flowers in her hair, tea-red lipstick, and a green dress with a swaying waist.
As Xu Zeping observed them, he faintly heard a man and woman bickering, but due to the distance and their hushed voices, he couldn't hear clearly.
He only caught the woman saying, "Hurry up! I have a lot to do!"
The man replied helplessly, "Don't rush me. Can't you see there's a horse-drawn carriage ahead?"
"Poor fool, if you had enough money... I wouldn't have to..."
Hearing their muffled argument, Xu Zeping frowned even more.
After putting her daughter to sleep, Xu Linshi still couldn't shake off the matter. She opened the right side of the carriage window and glanced out, only to widen her eyes in shock because she recognized the man!
Her action seemed to alert the man, and Xu Linshi quickly closed the window and instructed Xu Zeping to do the same.
Xu Zeping complied without delay, lowering the window.
Chen Dayong's sharp eyes narrowed slightly. Was it just his imagination?
"Mother, did he notice us?" Xu Zeping whispered, afraid of alarming the people behind them.
Xu Linshi's pounding heart gradually settled, and a hint of relief flashed through her mind. She knew this man, Chen Dayong, a well-known hunter in their village!
Though not always accurate, he was skilled at hunting. However, his life seemed difficult.
Having five daughters in a row, the villagers gossiped about his excessive killing, saying it was divine punishment for not having a son.
Finally, his sixth child was a son, but he was sickly and blind.
Logically, after six children without a son, one should stop, but he persisted!
Eventually, his seventh child was a son, but he was born weak and blind.
This left the Chen family ridiculed in Small River Village, and to support his son, Chen Dayong sold two of his daughters...
To provide for his son, he even sold their ancestral home and moved to a thatched hut on the outskirts of Small River Village.
As for the woman on the ox cart, Xu Linshi didn't recognize her but sensed she wasn't a good person. Dressed in red and green, she didn't seem like an honest woman but rather like someone from a brothel.
Thinking of the small feet she glimpsed, Xu Linshi lowered her eyes, suspecting Chen Dayong's motive—to buy a child bride for his son!
If so, why not go to a proper market to buy a legitimate child or girl?
Reflecting on this, she remembered the few girls they had bought. She realized why—legitimate girls with proper registration were expensive, costing at least several taels of silver!
A kidnapped child without registration would cost half as much, saving enough to cover a month's worth of medicine for Chen Dayong's son.
Xu Linshi smiled bitterly, knowing that before having this son, the Chen family, relying on Chen Dayong's hunting skills, lived comfortably in Small River Village. Now...
Fortunately, her father was wise and refused the marriage proposal from the Chen family patriarch!
The Chen family's preference for sons was a family tradition; the patriarch had divorced three wives to have a son!
Chen Dayong didn't divorce his wife because she was formidable, adept at crying, shouting, and threatening suicide.
Thinking of this, Xu Linshi felt relieved. The Chen family lived on the outskirts of Small River Village, but they would have to pass through the village entrance. When they did, she would call out and stop them.
"Zeping, I know this person. He's from your grandfather's village..."
Hearing this, Xu Zeping understood. If they were from the same village, he had a way to make them hand over the child.
Listening to the creaking wheels of the horse-drawn carriage, Chen Dayong's heart grew heavier. Looking at the rising sun, he felt no warmth.
If his son hadn't fallen ill again, he wouldn't have bought this sickly boy for good luck.
Not only was his birth tainted, but he was also on the brink of death. The only advantage was that he was cheap, costing only two taels of silver!
If there was another positive, it was that he had a big bottom and plenty of flesh.
Old Lady Hua had even guaranteed with her head that if he was well-nourished, he would surely give birth to a healthy, chubby grandson in the future!
Thinking about this, Chen Dayong's heart swelled with joy, wishing his son would grow up immediately and his chubby grandson be born right away.
With his mood lifted, Chen Dayong quickly consoled himself. What did it matter that he had nothing now? In the future, he would have descendants.
Chapter 49: Small River Village 3
Before Chen Dayong could even begin to feel relieved, he heard a woman jump off the front carriage and shout loudly, "Help! Human traffickers have entered Small River Village!"
Immediately, a group of men gathered around in response to the woman's cries.
At that moment, Chen Dayong realized that he had driven his ox cart following the carriage all the way to the banyan tree at the entrance of Small River Village.
Seeing familiar villagers surrounding his cart, he turned red with anger. "Lin Dazhuang, what do you mean? Do you think I'm a human trafficker? Are your eyes blind? I'm Chen Dayong!"
"The old woman sitting on your cart, if I'm not mistaken, is that old prostitute from the dark alley!" Lin Dazhuang was related to Xu Linshi and naturally trusted his fellow clanswoman more than Chen Dayong. He quickly added, "I saw her last time when I followed Cuicui to catch her husband cheating!"
Chen Dayong stepped down from the ox cart and glared at Lin Dazhuang. "None of your business! Get out of my way before I make you."
Lin Dazhuang, though strong in Small River Village, still fell short compared to Chen Dayong, who hunted daily, and thus took a half-step back.
Seeing Lin Dazhuang retreat, Chen Dayong couldn't help but smirk.
But before he could fully enjoy it, an elderly man with a walking stick approached. "This isn't about Dazhuang, but it is about me!"
Chen Dayong looked closely and recognized Uncle Lin Qi.
Uncle Lin Qi was the village chief's father, a learned man despite never passing the imperial exams, and held considerable respect in Small River Village.
Leaning on his walking stick, he spoke with a trembling voice. "Dayong, when you borrowed my cart today, you swore you were going to buy grain. Now you bring an old prostitute from the dark alley into our village. Regardless of whether she has any diseases, her tainted reputation alone dirties my ox cart. Who will dare to ride in it again?"
The old woman, who wasn't known for being easy to get along with, had been holding back because Chen Dayong had paid her. She feared losing the remaining silver coins if they quarreled. But now, hearing them repeatedly call her an old prostitute, she couldn't hold back anymore and stood up. "Hmph! When you were seeking pleasure, you didn't call us prostitutes then!"
"Now that you're done using us, we're suddenly old prostitutes? Why didn't you feel disgusted while using us?" The old woman glanced at Uncle Lin Qi and sneered. "Now you feel disgusted and dirty? If you have the guts, keep your village men from coming to us! You can't control your own desires, yet you dare to blame me for being dirty?"
Uncle Lin Qi, angered by the shameless old woman, nearly fainted, but Lin Dazhuang caught him in time.
Seeing how effective the shameless tactic was, Chen Dayong felt a sense of satisfaction. He had always despised Uncle Lin Qi's moral preaching. Wanting to earn money while maintaining a facade of righteousness was truly disgusting.
Seeing the old woman gain the upper hand, Chen Dayong continued, "Uncle Qi, I paid you for borrowing your ox cart. What do you care what I carry?"
Xu Zeping noticed that the two were diverting everyone's attention. Taking advantage of his small size, he slipped to the front when Xu Linshi wasn't looking and said, "That's right, this old man can't stop you, but the county magistrate can!"
— "According to the laws of the Great Jing Dynasty, anyone caught trafficking people privately will be punished with the extermination of their entire clan!"
Chapter 50: Small River Village (3)
Chen Dayong looked at the sharp-tongued boy with yellow teeth and couldn't suppress his anger any longer. He burst out, "You little brat who hasn't even grown all your feathers, get out of here! If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll kill you!"
Lin Tianshi came over and shielded Xu Zeping behind him, holding a chopping axe and pointing it at Chen Dayong. "Chen family boy, who are you threatening to kill? Who are you threatening to kill?"
Xu Linshi, upon seeing her father arrive, felt a sense of relief.
Lin Tianshi was a well-known figure in Small River Village. In his youth, he had traveled extensively with a merchant, earning a considerable amount of silver. However, he chose to use that money for the benefit of Small River Village...
From the name Small River Village, it's clear they built their settlement near a river.
Thirty years ago, three steps away from this banyan tree, there was a two-zhang-wide river. This river was a tributary of the Clear Water River, and villagers had to cross it to reach the other side.
Many villagers' fields were on the other side, so they built a wooden bridge over the tributary. It was fine for walking empty-handed, but impossible for carrying heavy loads or carts... which was a great inconvenience for them.
After earning his silver, Lin Tianshi paid to narrow the tributary and build a sturdy cement bridge, making travel much easier for the villagers.
This act of kindness earned him the scorn of the merchant he once worked for, but Lin Tianshi simply smiled without responding.
His father died early, and his mother abandoned him. He grew up eating the charity food provided by the villagers of Small River Village, which is why he repaid them without seeking anything in return.
Without the support of the elders in Small River Village, he would have starved to death long ago.
It was because of his selfless contributions that Lin Tianshi gained a respected position in the village. Even during the election for village chief, his reputation surpassed that of Uncle Lin Qi's son, though he declined the position due to his dislike of such formalities.
Seeing Lin Tianshi arrive, Chen Dayong felt intimidated and immediately said, "Uncle Tianshi, let's talk things out. No need for knives, right?"
As he spoke, Chen Dayong tentatively tried to pull the chopping axe from Lin Tianshi's hand.
Lin Tianshi was merely intimidating Chen Dayong and didn't really intend to use the knife. Seeing Chen Dayong back down, he allowed him to take the knife away.
Xu Zeping recognized the tall, thin elder standing in front of him as his grandfather.
Lin Tianshi rarely visited the Xu family, fearing his daughter might be embarrassed. Even when he went to town, he would meet Xu Linshi at a teahouse for meals.
Knowing his daughter was happy in the Xu family, he was content.
During festivals, the gifts from the Xu family were always generous, indicating that his daughter held a significant position within the family.
Moreover, his son-in-law Xu Songshan allowed his daughter to visit Small River Village every few years, which further pleased him.
Although Lin Tianshi seldom visited the Xu family, Xu Zeping remembered him because he had lived in Small River Village for half a month as an infant.
Chen Dayong put the chopping axe aside and forced a smile. "Uncle Tianshi, you know I'm just a blunt man. This boy accused me of secretly trafficking people and threatened to have my whole family executed. How could I not be angry?"
Lin Tianshi snorted. "Is it not true?"
Though Lin Tianshi was reasonable, he was protective of his family. Compared to Chen Dayong, an outsider, he naturally believed his grandson.
"Of course not!" Chen Dayong said indignantly. "I bought this boy from Old Lady Hua with my own silver. She assured me that the boy was sold by his uncle! We even have the transaction documents."
Chen Dayong's confidence made Lin Tianshi hesitate. He stroked his chin, pondering what to say next.
Xu Zeping stepped out from behind Lin Tianshi and calmly said, "If that's the case, let Old Lady Hua show us the boy's household registration. Let's see where he's from and what his heartless uncle looks like... so we can avoid future troubles."
The villagers agreed with Xu Zeping. They feared that if they married into a bad family, their children might suffer the same fate.
Even if they had to sell their children, they preferred sending them to wealthy families as servants, at least ensuring they remained chaste and had a chance to improve their lives.
Chen Dayong turned to Old Lady Hua. "Old Lady Hua, show them the boy's household registration!"
Old Lady Hua, sensing the tension, said nervously, "I forgot to bring it in the rush. I'll go fetch it now!"
She turned to leave.
"Disgusting!" Lin Tianshi hated traffickers. He grabbed Old Lady Hua by the collar. "Who makes a deal without proof? You old trafficker, everyone, tie her up! We'll send her to the officials and have her locked up!"
As the villagers began to bind Old Lady Hua, Xu Zeping climbed onto the ox cart and lifted the cloth covering the boy.
Upon lifting the cloth, he met the wet, cat-like eyes of the child.
The child's face was flushed red, unable to speak, only making incoherent sounds.
Xu Zeping knew something was wrong. He touched the child's forehead and cheeks, feeling their heat. He shouted, "Mother, help! Oh no, save him, quickly save him!"
Xu Linshi rushed over and, without hesitation, embraced the dirty child.
An hour later, after everything settled down, Xu Linshi called for the village doctor to examine the child.
The doctor said the child had a high fever affecting his throat and organs. Treatment would likely cost ten taels of silver... all he could do was give some medicine to reduce the fever.
Xu Linshi frowned, then fed the child the medicine prescribed by the doctor.
First, she needed to lower the fever and save the child's life.
As for the rest... she sighed, hoping to find the child's family.
Xu Zeping heard the doctor's words.
Ten taels of silver was a significant sum.
It was a year's worth of expenses for an ordinary family. No wonder Old Lady Hua sold the child cheaply to Chen Dayong, tricking the simple-minded man.
During the procession to the officials, Chen Dayong confessed everything about Old Lady Hua luring him into buying the child for good luck.
Watching his mother leave the house, Xu Zeping wanted to follow her. He wondered if she would be willing to treat the child.
But when he was about to follow, he realized that the child was tightly gripping the hem of his clothes.
Xu Zeping turned around and looked at the child with closed eyes, trying to quietly pull his sleeve free from the child's grip. However, as soon as he touched it, the child suddenly opened his eyes.
With clear, alert eyes, it was evident that the child had not been sleeping at all.
Clearly, he had heard everything the barefoot doctor said earlier.
Seeing Xu Zeping try to pull away, Cheng Ge Er thought he was being considered a burden and wanted to abandon him... At this thought, his eyes immediately welled up with tears, which streamed down his face.
The moment Xu Zeping saw him crying, he understood what must have happened. Without hesitation, he hugged the child and awkwardly tried to comfort him, mimicking Xu Linshi: "Don't cry, don't cry. We don't think you're a burden; I just wanted to go get some water to wash your face."
Xu Zeping let the child sob on his shoulder, soothing him while gently patting his back.
He didn't know what the child had gone through during their journey, but he understood the fear of being separated from loved ones at such a young age.
Once the child stopped sobbing, Xu Zeping gently pushed him away to check on him, only to find that he had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
Xu Zeping sighed softly and carefully laid the child down to sleep peacefully.
Just then, Xu Linshi entered carrying a wooden basin and, hearing his sigh, scolded him, "Children aren't allowed to sigh!"
Upon hearing her familiar voice, Xu Zeping immediately smiled and gestured towards the sleeping child, making a hushing motion.
Seeing his mother enter with the basin, Xu Zeping tried to move aside, but found that the child still clung tightly to his sleeve.
He thought to himself, could this be the so-called imprinting behavior? But upon reflection, it didn't quite fit.
Xu Linshi noticed this and, setting down the basin, bent down to touch Cheng Ge Er's forehead. Though still warm, it was better than before. By tonight, after taking another dose of medicine, the fever should subside.
She handed the damp cloth to Xu Zeping and said with a smile, "Take care of the person you saved."
Xu Zeping had no choice but to comply and do the work.
After wiping the dust off the child's face, he realized that the child was quite handsome, albeit very thin, almost gaunt.
Having cleaned the child's face, he began to wipe his hands. When he tried to unbutton the child's outer garment, however, he met with strong resistance...
Looking at the restless child even in sleep, Xu Zeping belatedly remembered something.
There were beings like Ge Er in this world...
These beings could bear children...