Master Wang hugged his younger brother tightly and burst into tears as well. “Miwa, it’s all my fault! I’m so sorry! Instead of staying home to take care of Mother, I insisted on going out to study. As a result, you were harmed by evil people, and you have suffered so many years. I regret it so much, sob sob… I wish I were dead!”
Li Lao Er hugged his elder brother tightly and pounded his back forcefully.
He wasn't without resentment; his elder brother was the person he admired and was closest to since childhood.
After their father passed away, their eldest brother became their father figure, their most trusted support and pillar.
My eldest brother passed the imperial examination at a young age and became a scholar. Everyone said that the Li family had produced a literary star. They were so envious at the time, but after my eldest brother disappeared, they were so gloating.
He was originally in his early childhood and also wanted to study for the imperial examinations.
But the eldest brother is gone, the mother is too sick to get out of bed, and the younger brothers are still too young.
He had no choice but to put down his books and work as a shop assistant, enduring being yelled at and scolded. Finally, he worked his way up to the position of accountant, which was a bit better.
He thought countless times: if his elder brother were still at home, would he have already passed the imperial examination and become a scholar? Would the family business be prosperous? Would he have continued to study?
Unfortunately, it's all just a hypothetical.
He waited year after year, believing his elder brother had died far away, but heaven took pity on him, and the family was finally reunited...
"Big brother, big brother! Do you know how much we miss you and how much we hate you? Why did you have to go abroad to study, leaving us and Mother behind? Mother is sick and almost cried herself blind. The third and fourth brothers are fighting with other people every day."
“I’m only a teenager, and I’m scared too, but I have to get my mother treated, protect my third and fourth children, and earn money to support the whole family! Big brother, I also want to study, I want to become the top scholar… but I can’t, I can only be a beast of burden. Big brother, where are you? You’re so unfilial!”
Master Wang cried so hard he almost fainted, feeling so guilty he wanted to skin him alive!
Separation by life and death—that is the greatest tragedy in the world.
Wang Fu, who was not far away, also pulled up his sleeve and kept wiping away tears.
But with people coming and going, it was best not to attract attention from outsiders, so he quickly stepped forward to persuade them.
"Master, Second Master, the past is the past. Now that we are reunited, let's think about the future. We mustn't cry now."
Li Lao Er released Wang Yuanwai, wiped away his tears haphazardly, and suddenly remembered what Wang Yuanwai had just said, "Brother, what do you mean by being framed by evil people? What exactly happened back then?"
Master Wang took a few deep breaths and cried his heart out before feeling much better.
He pulled his younger brother further into the nearby woods and whispered about the Wang family's scheme.
Li Lao Er's eyes widened in fury upon hearing this, and he turned and walked out, shouting, "I'm going to kill their whole family!"
"Second brother, come back!" Master Wang quickly pulled his younger brother back, anxiously trying to dissuade him, "Killing them would be too easy for them. I have a plan, and I need your help!"
Li Lao Er panted for a long time, then slapped himself twice before he finally calmed down and came to his senses.
"Brother, we must avenge this! You can't be soft-hearted!"
“Of course,” Master Wang said, his eyes filled with gloom, “I want to take the children back to our home. They are the bloodline of the Li family! I also want to take back the family business I have painstakingly expanded over the years, but I will destroy everything else. The Wang family harmed me in order to protect their family business and continue their lineage. I will make them fail at the last moment, and I will make that old beast angry to death!”
Only then did Li Lao Er feel relieved.
The eldest brother has been married to the Wang family girl for many years. If he softens his heart, all their plans may end up going down the drain.
"Okay, brother, tell me how you need my help?" Li Lao Er asked.
Master Wang pulled him aside and gave him a few simple instructions, which Li Lao Er listened to and nodded repeatedly.
After a short while, the two brothers discussed it and went to the hot spring canal to wash their faces thoroughly. They made sure that no outsiders could tell that something was wrong before they dispersed.
Li Lao Er hurriedly called Jia Yi and Liu Yang to go to Madam Cui's estate to help deliver a message.
No sooner had Wang Yuanwai entered Xindu than he went to a restaurant and got drunk before returning home.
Wang E was really worried and wanted to ask her husband what was wrong, but he kept repeating the same few sentences.
It's nothing more than outsiders looking down on merchants, so he wants to send his son to an academy and make him the top scholar in the imperial examinations.
She called Wang Fu over to question him. Wang Fu was honest and simple, but he gave a clear account.
"Master went around asking for favors today, hoping to send the eldest son to Luo'an Academy. I heard that this academy doesn't discriminate based on family background and has a good academic atmosphere. But who knew that even after eating, drinking, and accepting gifts, they wouldn't give a definite answer, probably because they look down on Master for being a businessman..."
Wang E was both distressed and angry upon hearing this. She chased away Wang Fu and went to her family home with her maid.
The Wang family's main residence was not far away, but their mansion was a large courtyard with seven courtyards and a garden of five acres in size. It was extremely grand and showed the heritage of an old family in Jiangnan.
Wang E's family was a collateral branch. Old Master Wang and the head of the main branch of the family were cousins and had grown up together since childhood.
After growing up, Old Master Wang refused to study and went into business. He also helped his family quite a bit, so even now that he's dead, he still has some dignity left.
Today, Wang E suddenly came to the door, so Old Madam Wang invited her in to sit and have some tea.
Wang E personally presented a small basket of fruit and said with a smile, "Auntie, these are fruits that we occasionally get from outside. There aren't many, but they taste really good. I brought them for you to try today!"
"Well done, it's kind of you to have such a filial heart."
Madam Wang glanced at the fruit basket and was also surprised by the pleasingly red color of the fruit. She smiled and started chatting with Wang E, "Xiao E, it's been a while since you've come over. Are you very busy at home? How are the children?"
Wang E smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Auntie. Things have been quite hectic at home lately. Cat Boy had a cold that dragged on for almost a month before he finally recovered, but then my husband started having headaches, and I'm at my wit's end..."
"Xinqiu's headache hasn't gotten better yet?" Old Madam Wang was kind-hearted and asked, "Because of the relocation of the capital, many good doctors have come to our city. Should I have someone introduce two to Xinqiu for a proper pulse diagnosis?"
Wang E's eyes flickered, and she quickly shook her head in refusal, saying, "Auntie, you don't know, our master has had this ailment for over ten years. He's seen countless doctors, and the fact that he only gets occasional headaches now is already a very good result. His recent headaches are due to something else..."
"What's wrong?" Old Madam Wang asked curiously. "Your third brother didn't say anything about any mistakes or oversights in the family business, did he?"
On the main family side, Old Master Wang now holds the title of Grand Secretary. Although he doesn't participate in politics, he still has many social engagements due to the family's status.
The eldest and second masters of the Wang family were respectively a secretary in the Ministry of Rites of the imperial court and a fifth-rank official in the provinces.
Since the third master failed in his studies, he took over all the business and affairs of the Wang family.
Wang Xinqiu also usually helped out with this Third Master, so they had more frequent interactions and became more familiar with each other.
Wang E's eyes reddened, and she said to her aunt in a coquettish tone, "Aunt, it's not about business. It's that our master wants to send Li Ge'er to the academy. But he's asked many people for help, but it hasn't worked out. They look down on our family because we're in business. Our master has been so angry that he's been drunk for the past two or three days, and his headaches are getting worse."
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