With strong winds and torrential rain, the already dilapidated thatched hut was now teetering on the brink of collapse.
Even though it was late at night, Chen Yaozu dared not close his eyes, nor could he close them.
This thatched hut had fallen into disrepair years ago. It was alright most of the time, just a bit drafty, but once it rained, the roof became practically useless, leaking everywhere. When it was pouring rain outside, it was drizzling inside!
The only sturdy spot was the headboard, where he and his father, Chen Danian, had to squeeze together to avoid getting wet.
It's winter now, and they're already wearing their winter clothes. If they get wet, they'll probably freeze to death before dawn.
However, the kang (heated brick bed) was too small, and the two of them were really cramped. Chen Danian was old and frail, and wanted to be lazy, so he leaned his body against his son to take a short rest.
Chen Yaozu felt the weight gradually pressing down on him from the side. This weight pressed down on his body, but it also seemed to press down on his heart, making him feel heavy and his thoughts wandering uncontrollably.
He thought of the news he had heard in town earlier that day.
Upon ascending the throne, the new emperor rewarded his meritorious officials and bestowed great honors upon them.
One of them was particularly eye-catching, not only because she was a woman who received the honor of being granted the title of a prince by a different surname by the new emperor, but also because of her background. She was not a young lady from the capital, nor did she come from a prestigious family. She was actually just a village girl from an unknown small village in the south!
Of course, I heard that this village girl is very capable. She has long been running her own business, with shops all over every prefecture in Dajing City. Moreover, I heard that the signboard was bestowed by the late emperor... no, by the eldest prince during his reign.
When the new emperor was vying for power, he heard that he owed great debt to this female shopkeeper. Not to mention that she also played a significant role in the rebellion of the northern barbarians later on.
Therefore, when the new emperor ascended the throne and rewarded those who had contributed, she received the greatest credit.
It's a pity that she actually refused.
The person who spoke of it was both envious and disdainful: "She's a woman after all, long hair but short-sighted! She even turned down such a great opportunity. If she were my wife, I'd beat her to death..."
"Shh! Quiet!" The person speaking to him was startled and whispered a reminder: "The one sitting on the throne now... is a woman! This is a sensitive time, be careful what you say!"
The man felt a little guilty, but he couldn't let go of his pride, so he stubbornly said, "So what? Does that mean people can't even tell the truth?"
Upon hearing this, the person who had given the advice stopped trying to persuade him and got up to leave—others might think they had too much life, but he was very sorry for his own!
The stubborn person was left sitting there, feeling utterly bored.
Seeing this, Chen Yaozu, who was usually timid and cowardly, somehow found the courage to step forward and ask, "May I ask what words are written on that sign?"
The other person gave him a disgusted look. Normally, he wouldn't bother talking to a beggar like that. But now, the other person's words had conveniently relieved his predicament.
He scoffed, "You don't even know that? 'Gan Kee'!"
Rumble...
Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, Chen Yaozu was stunned into silence by those two words.
Over the years, he was not unaware that Gan Li had expanded Gan Kee, but even so, the news he heard today had never shocked him as much.
In his memory, that woman, though she had been incredibly attentive to him, was already old and faded, and all she ever talked about was money!
When he was young, he didn't think there was anything wrong with his mother's behavior. It wasn't until he went to school that he saw his classmates' mothers, who were all young and respectable, which made his mother seem like a commoner and not presentable.
Chen Yaozu couldn't understand why his father, a scholar, had married such a country woman. As a result, he was also ridiculed by others!
So when Zhao Juan appeared, he only struggled for a moment before quickly accepting her.
It's normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines, isn't it? Besides, his father was a scholar, and he was already being treated unfairly by his mother. How can you expect him to remain chaste?
Not to mention, she's the richest woman in town. Although Zhao Juan is a widow, she's lived a life of luxury for many years. Such a stepmother is much more respectable than her old and faded biological mother.
Therefore, after discovering his father Chen Danian's affair with Zhao Juan, Chen Yaozu was not angry at all, but rather somewhat pleased—if this matter succeeded, he would see who would dare to laugh at his mother for being a country bumpkin!
According to his plan, as long as he could keep Zhao Juan in check, he would live a life of wealth and honor.
But who could have imagined... that what happened next would be completely different from what he had planned!
The once incredibly wealthy Zhao family collapsed overnight, while the mother, whom he had previously looked down upon, became a successful businesswoman and transformed into the highly respected and admired manager of Ganji Restaurant.
During those turbulent years, when he and his father Chen Danian were wandering and homeless, Gan Li's business grew bigger and bigger, and his poor maternal grandfather's family lived a good life thanks to her. Even Chen Pan'er, who was not worthy to carry his shoes before, actually began to call him servants!
And what about him?
Since that year, when he and his grandmother, Granny Lü, sold their house to bail out his father, Chen Danian, from prison, they have lived a nomadic life ever since.
A year or two later, Grandma Lü suddenly died of a serious illness. Coupled with the instability of the court's internal affairs and the invasion of barbarians from the outside, the lives of the people in the country were also turbulent due to internal and external troubles.
Their reputations were ruined, and they couldn't survive in Cangxi Town, so they decided to go out and make a living.
But little did they know that life outside was also tough. The father and son had no money or connections, and after spending all the travel expenses they had painstakingly saved, they had to beg for a living, living a life of unbearable hardship!
Why are there such big differences between children born to the same mother?
Chen Yaozu had been harboring a sliver of resentment, and this resentment finally burst forth today when he heard that Gan Li had almost been granted the title of a prince by the new emperor!
Although Gan Li refused, why should she? They not only enjoy wealth and luxury, but have also become the new emperor's favorites, while he can only live such a rat-like life!
"I refuse to accept this!" Chen Yaozu suddenly stood up.
Lightning illuminated the night as if it were daytime, followed by a deafening roar of thunder.
Chen Danian looked somewhat frightened, unsure whether he was startled by his son's sudden outburst of anger, by the deafening thunder, or perhaps both.
He heard what his son said, a seemingly random sentence, yet he understood it, and his expression became very complicated.
Over the years, he had regretted it. If he hadn't been so ruthless in just six months, perhaps he could still be enjoying a life of luxury with that haggard wife now.
Unfortunately, there's no going back in this world.
But even if Ganli doesn't care about him, the son is still hers, right?
Thinking of this, Chen Danian gritted his teeth and said, "Let's go to the capital and demand an explanation from her!"
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