Wang Fu hesitated for a moment, then cautiously suggested, "Sir, I heard that those people from the casino are really pressing for repayment, and they're going to make trouble at Uncle Zhong's house tomorrow. Why don't we hold off on helping Uncle Zhong pay off his debts for now? That way, it'll be easier for you to ask them anything."
Master Wang picked up the teacup, but didn't drink it for a long time.
Back then, he was seriously injured and lost his memory. When he opened his eyes, the first person he saw was Uncle Zhong. It was dark and there were few carriages or pedestrians. It was Uncle Zhong who carried him until dawn before they followed Old Master Wang into the city and arrived at the Wang family's residence.
Over the years, he has remembered this kindness and taken good care of Uncle Zhong.
Later, it was only after Uncle Zhong voluntarily retired that the news of him was completely cut off.
He didn't want to hurt the old man if he could retain even a modicum of affection, but there were some things he needed to find the answers to.
"Okay, let's take him to the West Courtyard tomorrow afternoon."
Wang Fu nodded in agreement and left.
The next day at noon, after returning from Broken Gold Beach, the master and servant went to the small courtyard in the west of the city.
This small courtyard was bought a few years ago and registered under Wang Fu's name. He and his wife would occasionally come over to stay.
Master Wang has some private matters that he doesn't want the Wang family to know about, so he comes here to handle them. For example, recently he has been coming here often to drink medicinal soup.
Once Cat Brother's tonic is finished, the family can no longer prepare medicine, as it would be easily discovered.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Sister Wang sitting under the eaves doing needlework, and next to her was an old man, over fifty years old, with gray hair, a thin figure, drooping eyes, and a worried look on his face.
Perhaps he had experienced something bad, for the old man's face was covered in bruises and swelling, and he looked quite disheveled.
Upon seeing Master Wang enter, the old man hurriedly stood up, rubbing his hands together, his expression a mixture of trepidation and complexity.
"Son-in-law! This old servant pays his respects to you!" The old man knelt down, about to kowtow.
Master Wang helped him up and said with a smile, "Uncle Zhong, don't be so polite, please sit down."
Only after seeing Master Wang sit down did Uncle Zhong dare to lean over the edge of the stool and carefully sit down.
Master Wang looked him over a few times, sighed, and asked, "Uncle Zhong, you've aged a lot in the years I haven't seen you. Have you been having a hard time?"
Uncle Zhong's face darkened, and he replied softly, "Having an unfilial son in the family will only lead to suffering in old age."
Master Wang frowned and asked, "When Uncle Zhong wanted to go back to enjoy his old age, I gave him a lot of money. Has it all been squandered in just a few years?"
Uncle Zhong's eyes reddened. "My wife was seriously ill, and my son has picked up a gambling habit. Even mountains of gold and silver can't keep up with the expenses..."
Master Wang nodded and replied, "I've heard a few things too. Did the casino people cause trouble at your house?"
Uncle Zhong subconsciously touched his calf; it had almost been broken today, but his wife pleaded with him to save it.
He thought of his emaciated wife and his son lying in bed, and immediately knelt down and burst into tears.
"Young master, please help this old servant. I really can't stand their debt collection anymore. Waaah, my family really can't survive. Please, young master, give me some money. I will do anything to repay your great kindness."
Master Wang bent down to help him up, patted his shoulder, and said, "Uncle Zhong, don't cry. Anything that can be solved with money is a small matter. But I have a big problem here that I need Uncle Zhong's help with."
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Uncle Zhong was a little stunned, and felt inexplicably uneasy.
Master Wang raised his hand to pour him tea. “Back then, I was seriously injured in an accident. You and the old master were complete strangers to me, yet you came to my rescue, which is why I am where I am today. Otherwise, I would probably have died on the roadside long ago. Nobody would know where my hometown is or what my name is. Even as a ghost, I would be a lonely wanderer.”
Uncle Zhong's face changed upon hearing this, and he shrank back.
Master Wang glanced at him and asked, "Uncle Zhong, the old master said that you were out on business with him when something came up and you had to rush home overnight, which is how you found me by the roadside. Didn't I have any servants or pages with me at that time? Or was there anything that could prove my identity?"
Uncle Zhong was so frightened that his legs went weak and his back teeth were chattering. He used all his strength to squeeze out a sentence.
“Son-in-law…it’s been so long, I’ve forgotten about it…”
"Is that so?" Master Wang replied casually, toying with the jade pendant in his hand. "Does Uncle Zhong not remember, or is he afraid to remember, or does he remember but dare not tell me?"
Uncle Zhong knelt down with a thud. He no longer had any hope. His son-in-law knew about what happened back then, or rather, he had doubts about what happened back then.
But he had sworn a solemn oath before his death that he would not utter a single word about what had happened to the old man.
“Uncle Zhong, you should know that nothing stays hidden forever. You’re getting senile, but some people have good memories. If I hear it from someone else, you’re useless.” Master Wang said slowly, his tone not cold at all, but it made Uncle Zhong tremble even more.
“Young master… this old servant promised the old master that I would never utter a word, even if it meant death. This old servant truly didn’t know, I’ve completely forgotten!” Uncle Zhong kowtowed heavily, trying to persuade him, “Besides, young master, you’ve been in the Wang family for so many years and have never been mistreated, why do you still want to ask about what happened back then…”
A cold glint flashed in Master Wang's eyes as he replied, "The Wang family has not mistreated me, but I have not mistreated the Wang family either! Anyone with eyes should know what the family was like when the old master died, and what it is like now! I wasn't born from a stone; I also have parents who raised me. Have you thought about what will happen to my parents and my family if I stay here?!"
Uncle Zhong's face was as white as paper. "Young master, this old servant doesn't want the money anymore. Please, young master, don't make things difficult for this old servant. This old servant cannot speak!"
After saying that, he started kowtowing frantically, and soon blood started flowing from his forehead.
Master Wang stared intently at him and took a deep breath.
"Go on your way. Come back and let me know when you change your mind. I won't change my promise. I'll clear my head and solve your problems."
Uncle Zhong felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and he stumbled out of the room.
Master Wang stared at the courtyard gate, his eyes flickering with light, lost in thought.
Wang Fu and his wife exchanged a glance, both sighing inwardly.
Uncle Zhong will be back in a couple of days.
Because the master still cherished their years of friendship, he was unwilling to force the issue, but the casino's thugs were ruthless...
At dusk, in the Wang family mansion, Wang E was instructing the servants to prepare the dinner table. Seeing her husband return from outside, she smiled and said, "Master, why are you so late today?"
"I went out to look at estates today, but I was too late; there weren't any good places left," Master Wang replied while washing his hands.
Wang E handed over a clean cloth and advised, "Then don't buy it. Why bother walking around outside all this time?"
“I’ve got nothing better to do anyway, so running around outside helps ease my headache.” Master Wang lowered his sleeves and looked at his wife’s changing expression reflected in the basin of water. He sneered inwardly and added, “My headache was terrible this morning, but it’s much better now.”
Wang E secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Then it's up to you. I don't understand what's going on outside anyway."
Just then, the two children came in from outside. Cat Brother jumped straight into his father's arms and cried, "Dad, when are you going to take me to take a bath again? I want to play again!"
Master Wang picked up his son and replied, "It's so hot, do you want to be steamed alive? Let's go in the fall. I heard there are fruit trees planted in that valley, and we'll take you to pick some fruit then."
"Great! Dad's the best!" Cat Bro's sweet words made everyone laugh.
When the sun is high in the sky, it's a rare quiet time in the hot spring valley, as all the guests who were supposed to come have already entered the valley.
It's a bit too early to prepare lunch at this time. Apart from the guests asking for tea, there's nothing else to do.
So, in the wooden house at the mouth of the valley, everyone found a shady spot to sit and chat, and pick vegetables.
Tao Hongying kept glancing at the intersection, her mind preoccupied with her mother-in-law and daughter.
I thought they would come back after staying in Luo'an for one night, but I never expected that they would stay for two days and two nights.
I don't know if my daughter is too young to adapt, or if she will cry.
Aunt Wu also knew that Old Lady Li had gone to the academy, and she was also concerned about her son becoming a page.
These past two days, she has been taking her son to learn how to cook simple meals, make beds, and do laundry, all in case the Li family changes their minds again, in which case there will be no hope for her son's future.
Just then, Li Laosan appeared at the intersection driving his mule cart, and Tao Hongying happily dropped her vegetable basket and ran over.
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