Courtyard tales, passed down through generations
Shen Jiayan brought his son, Shen Mingyu, with him on his trip back to Jiangnan. Shen Mingyu is the ninth-generation descendant of the Shen family. He just turned ten this year, is intelligent and quick-witted, and is full of curiosity about the Shen family's past.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Shen Mingyu tugged at Shen Jifang's sleeve, bombarding her with questions: "Great-aunt, are there many stories about our Shen family here? Was our great-great-great-grandfather very powerful? Was our great-great-great-grandmother very beautiful?"
Shen Jifang laughed heartily at his words and patted his head: "Yes, there are many stories of our Shen family here, and every story is wonderful. Your great-great-great-grandfather, Shen Qingci, was the top scholar in the imperial examination. He served the country with his honors but was framed and exiled to Ningguta. However, he always stayed true to his original aspirations and never gave up. In the end, he cleared his name and became a wise minister."
"And what about my great-great-great-grandmother?" Shen Mingyu pressed.
"Your great-great-great-grandmother, Su Yunqing, was a woman of superb medical skills and kind heart. To follow your great-great-great-grandfather, she braved hardships and traveled thousands of miles to Ningguta to accompany him through his most difficult years. Their love was steadfast and unwavering, becoming a timeless tale," Shen Jifang said slowly, her eyes filled with reminiscence.
She also recounted the stories of Shen Nianqing assisting the court, Shen Chengyou guarding the border, Shen Jiye providing disaster relief and reconstruction, and Shen Chengze assisting the emperor. She spoke of the Shen family's bravery on the battlefield, their integrity and outspokenness in the court, and their benevolence and compassion among the people. She talked about how they upheld the belief of "loving one person for life and protecting one country with one heart," and how they wrote a legend of loyalty, responsibility, love, and patriotism with their lives.
Shen Mingyu listened with great interest, his eyes filled with admiration: "Great-aunt, our ancestors were amazing! I want to be like them in the future, to be a useful person to the country and the people, and to bring honor to the Shen family!"
Shen Jifang nodded: "Mingyu, I am very happy that you have this ambition. But you must remember that to be a useful person to the country and the people, you not only need to have lofty ambitions, but also to work hard in a down-to-earth manner. No matter whether you choose to pursue a career in literature, martial arts, medicine or business in the future, you must stay true to yourself, be honest and trustworthy, kind and upright, and never let down your ancestors' expectations or your family's honor."
Shen Mingyu nodded emphatically: "Great-aunt, I remember! I will definitely study hard and become a great hero like our ancestors in the future!"
Shen Nian'an and Shen Chengze watched this scene with smiles of satisfaction. They knew that the Shen family's story was not just a collection of past memories, but also a precious spiritual treasure. These stories would be passed down from generation to generation, inspiring each and every descendant of the Shen family to stay true to their original aspirations and live up to the expectations of their family and country.
The flowers and trees in the courtyard are still lush and verdant, and the koi in the pond swim freely. The story of the Shen family is like the spring water in the courtyard, flowing endlessly and never drying up; like the trees in the courtyard, with deep roots and lush foliage, it is ever-renewing.
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