"Why are you asking so many questions? Anyway, you're not stealing or robbing, so you don't need to worry about the authorities coming to arrest you."

Er Gou gave vague answers, refusing to directly address Hei Niu's questions.

"I'm asking you one last time, where did all of this come from!"

Black Bull gradually lost his patience and questioned his son sternly.

After a moment of silence, Er Gou said directly, "Alright, it's fine to tell you. I've been selected for the Jingbian Army. These are all gifts from my superiors when I enlisted!"

"What? Say that again!"

Upon hearing this, the woman immediately became anxious.

"Aren't you studying at the Imperial Academy? According to the laws of Shu, scholars are not required to serve in the military?"

Black Bull also asked, "Yeah, what exactly happened? Explain it to me clearly."

Er Gou said casually, "I volunteered. In three days, I will be going to Xiliang with the army to defend against the attack of the Great Wilderness Barbarians."

"You bastard!"

Enraged, Black Bull swung his cane, ready to strike.

"Father, what are you doing!"

"Honey, don't hit him!"

The woman clung tightly to her crutch, preventing the black bull from harming her son.

Er Gou quickly stepped aside, trying to stay as far away from his father as possible.

Black Bull's eyes turned bloodshot with rage as he roared, "You unfilial son! I fought those barbarians to the death, and even lost a leg in the process!"

What was the purpose of all this? Wasn't it so that you could have a chance to study and become a civil servant, living a stable life? But instead of studying, you chose to join the army!

"Are you trying to drive me crazy? You think joining the army is so easy? People can die there!"

Er Gou got angry when he heard this: "Do you think I don't know that people die on the battlefield?"

"But look at the state of our family now! If this continues, we won't even be able to afford a meal!"

"You dare talk back? I'm going to beat you to death today!"

Black Bull shoved his wife aside and raised his cane as if to hit Er Gou.

"Enough!" Er Gou suddenly roared, snatching the cane away. "Can you stop showing off your airs as the head of the family?"

She nags all day long, and all she ever talks about is how good she feels about herself, as if she's made some huge contribution to the family!

So what if you have a limp? What good has it done for this family? The military has been promising you compensation for years, has anything happened yet?

Looking at this house, they're so poor even the rice jar is empty! If I hadn't joined the army, I'm afraid I wouldn't have survived this winter!

Black Bull was stunned, staring at Er Gou with disbelief on his face.

Er Gou continued, "Dad, do you think I don't want to study hard? But do you know what I went through at the academy? Have you ever asked me about it?"

Given our circumstances, we're just targets for the rich to bully and manipulate. They don't even consider us poor people worthy of their attention.

Even the teachers called us commoners lowly and said we were unworthy to study alongside the children of wealthy families.

Whenever we clash with the sons of wealthy families, it's always us who get punished by the teacher!

Black Bull fell silent and slowly lowered the hand holding the cane.

"So, what other choice do I have but to join the army? At least by joining the Jingbian Army, I can at least get a full meal."

Dad, go to the academy and find out how different the treatment is between the children of wealthy families and us military dependents.

In winter, dozens of us would huddle around a brazier, while the sons of wealthy families and military officers each had their own brazier, and some even had special jade warmers for their hands.

Even at meals, we weren't qualified to sit at the same table as them; our tables and chairs were even shorter than theirs.

Do you think someone like me, with no connections and no money, can really integrate into upper-class circles?

Upon hearing her son's tearful account, the woman covered her face and couldn't help but cry.

Black Ox tried to argue, "But this is a great opportunity to study, given by the King of Shu. Are you really going to give it up?"

Er Gou scoffed disdainfully, "Father, do you really think the King of Shu cares about us? He is..."

"Shut up!" Black Ox interrupted Er Gou sharply. "The King of Shu loves his people like his own children; he is the savior of the people of Shu."

How dare you, a mere youth, make up such things? You can't say things like that; if people hear it, they'll gossip about you behind your back!

Er Gou: "Dad, do you even believe that yourself? You say you love the people like your own children, but look at our family, what kind of miserable life are we living?"

You are a retired veteran of the Jingbian Army, but since you retired, has the King of Shu ever mentioned you even once? Has he offered any substantial assistance?

Black Bull roared, "Shut up! Don't say anything more! No one can hear this!"

"I can't even say a few words when I'm about to die?"

"I told you to shut up, shut up, did you hear me!"

Black Bull was clearly in a hurry, roaring loudly as if trying to drown out Er Gou's words.

"Honey! What did our son say wrong? Actually, I've wanted to scold him for a long time."

The woman stood in front of the black bull, preventing him from harming her son.

"Before I followed you to marry into the Shu region, I heard that the Xu family loved the people like their own children. But so many years have passed, can you tell me how they loved the people like their own children?"

I don't know how he treated others with the same love and care, but I just want to ask you, you've served the Xu family for over a decade, have they ever shown you even the slightest bit of concern?

Black Bull: "What do you know, you woman? Looks like you didn't get enough of a beating just now? Watch me..."

Er Gou suddenly pulled his mother behind him: "If you want to hit someone, hit me, don't touch my mother!"

"Get out of the way!"

“No!”

The father and son were locked in a passionate confrontation.

After a long silence, Black Bull suddenly flung his cane away and plopped down on the ground: "It's my fault for being useless."

"I've caused you all to go hungry, and you're even at risk of saving your son's life. I'm useless, I'm so useless!"

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