Chapter 531 Of course he would feel wronged

Under everyone's shocked gaze, the second brother rubbed the third brother's head and touched his wine glass to the third brother's.

"Okay, it's settled then, it's a deal."

The fourth brother, half-sober, stared at the second brother in astonishment, never expecting that someone as thin-skinned as the second brother could so easily say such a thing.

Sanwa, holding the wine, was in tears, wiping away his tears with his left and right hands.

"Second brother, I have no complaints. I herded sheep because I didn't want to go to school. Herding sheep was my own choice. You don't owe me anything." After saying this, Sanwa brought the wine to his lips.

He was certainly aggrieved; in those years, he felt like the least valuable person in his family.

But he cried because his second brother said that he had suffered a lot over the years. Since he returned to school, he had never dared to put down his books. He would keep a book by his pillow at night and look at the knowledge he had pondered in his dreams to see how different it was from what he had read in the books.

Aside from big occasions like his wedding, he spent almost seven or eight hours a day reading.

Everyone says he's amazing, that he passed the imperial examination without years of hard study. But nobody knows that during the nine years he herded sheep, he secretly took books that his fourth and second brothers wouldn't read and studied them while chasing sheep on the mountain.

He clearly spent more time than anyone else, and those books that many people thought were unimportant were the ones he read the most.

He wrote what he considered a perfect answer sheet by repeatedly reading those books that everyone else had overlooked while herding sheep, which brought him to tears in the examination room, and he wrote with great passion and emotion.

Perhaps it was because God saw how difficult things had been for him that he was allowed to barely become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

This is already his limit.

He's not a genius; he got to this point through sheer hard work and sacrifice.

The day he came out of the exam hall, he collapsed at the inn and slept for two days and two nights.

He never felt that his journey had been easy; it was just that God had given him a hand.

The fourth brother also stood up, holding his wine glass in both hands and looking at the third brother.

"Hey, Sanwa, oh no, Third Brother, let me toast you. Over the years, we all owe you a word, even if it's just a casual remark, we can't bring ourselves to say it without drinking. We can't admit that you were the one who paid for our education back then."

As he spoke, the fourth brother bowed deeply to the third brother.

His speech was unclear, but every word he uttered struck a chord deep within people's hearts.

“I’m still taking the hard-earned money you made, and I’m not learning from good people. I’m sorry to you. Everything you have today is the result of your own hard work. You studied hard for years, and on snowy mornings, you would wear gloves and a hat to study behind the haystacks in the field. In those cold days, none of us have ever experienced the hardships you endured for your studies.”

“We didn’t achieve anything because we were not ambitious enough. Third Brother, I have always believed in my heart that you are the most promising and courageous among us brothers.”

As he spoke, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass.

"Third Brother, you're awesome!"

The third child was crying so hard that snot and tears were streaming down his face. Mulan handed him a handkerchief and wiped her own tears as well.

The eldest son also came over, looked down at the third son who was crying like a child, and his eyes also welled up with tears.

"Sanwa, thank you for your hard work. As your older brother, I feel guilty." He coughed lightly. "Congratulations to you too. You have guts. No pain, no gain. You've done it. I wish you a bright future."

The third child cried so hard he could barely breathe, then turned and wrapped his arms around Mulan's waist.

Song Chunxue was already in tears; she never imagined she would witness such a scene in her lifetime.

...

The next day, the Jiang family of sixteen, along with Xie Dong, the steward of Lord Xie, squeezed into three carriages and headed to Zhuanglang County.

Xie Zheng stood at the door and said goodbye to them.

As the carriage gradually drove out of the alley, he slowly turned around to enter the courtyard.

Wang Can has been recuperating at home recently, and the yamen is very quiet. He doesn't plan to continue claiming illness at home, but instead goes to the yamen to take a look.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; how could he possibly miss it?

Suddenly, he heard a clear bell sound and a gust of wind blew towards him.

When he turned around, he saw a familiar figure appear in the empty alley.

Dressed in a long, dark robe and holding a whisk, he appeared before Xie Zheng like a god descending from heaven.

Seeing Xie Zheng's surprised and astonished look, he raised his hand to stroke his beard and said loudly, "Lord Xie, how have you been?"

Xie Zheng steadied himself and took a step forward. "Daoist Master? When did you return?"

He couldn't help but turn his head to look in the direction the carriage had left. "Song Chunxue is anxious about your whereabouts and wishes she could go to Liangzhou to find you right now. If it weren't for Sanwa's matter, she would have already set off. Why didn't you appear sooner?"

The Taoist priest smiled slightly, "That's why I didn't dare to show myself earlier. She's cultivated herself to be less cautious. I'm afraid that if she lets the children go back to perform the sacrifices, she'll inevitably be criticized. It's better to wait for her to come back."

"Besides, I came to see you because I have something important to discuss with Xie Da, and I have to go back afterwards. I wouldn't be showing myself now unless the situation was critical."

He looked serious and turned to look at the eastern sky.

"The appointed time has not yet arrived. I shouldn't have come to Jincheng. Lord Xie, may I speak with you in private?"

Xie Zheng quickly stepped aside and raised his hand, "Please come into the study."

...

Back in Zhuanglang County, they planned to rest for a day, buy some things, and then return to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors.

With so many people going back, they'll definitely have to prepare their own banquet. This time, they'll certainly host a feast for their fellow villagers and celebrate properly.

There were many things to prepare, and with many hands make light work. The three children started to divide the work, made a list overnight, and followed Xie Dong's instructions to prepare many things that they hadn't thought of but were very important.

The four brothers and one son-in-law were going in and out of the main house and kitchen, and also went to the storeroom to put away the things that could be used in advance.

The women and children went inside to sleep, and Xu Dahong took the children to the attic.

Hearing the lively commotion downstairs, the children were too excited to sleep and all ran upstairs to sit and look at the stars.

They stretched their legs out through the gaps in the railing, gripped the wooden bars, rested their chins in front of them, and looked up at the Milky Way and stars in the sky.

Mulan told them stories: the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, Hou Yi shooting down the suns, and Nuwa patching up the sky. The children listened with great interest.

Hongying's three children all went to school, listened to the stories told by the teacher in the school, and also told the stories to the other children.

They didn't go back to their rooms to sleep until they were so sleepy they could barely keep their eyes open.

Song Chunxue was packing her things in her room. She planned to bring some things for Zhao Yufang and Li Dazui, since they had some connection and she would inevitably have to ask them for help when she went back this time.

Oh, and Li Mengchun, we'll definitely need a temporary steward to prepare the banquet.

Otherwise, Xie Dong wouldn't be able to understand the people on the estate, which would definitely put him in a difficult position.

She didn't dare to really treat Xie Dong as her steward. Right now, he was in the Taoist priest's room, where he had moved a brazier, heated a hot water bottle, and rested.

"Mother, are you asleep?"

Mulan entered from outside, leaning against the door frame, her face full of conflict.

"What's wrong?"

Mulan sat in the chair, looking hesitant.

"Go ahead and say it, I'm not scary."

In the dim candlelight, Mulan hesitated for a long time before speaking in a hoarse voice: "Mother, I was thinking that after I return, before going back to Jincheng, could I take a day to go back to my parents' home?"