Chapter 3498 Mr. Zhuang 13
Zhuang Dalang was being pulled by him, his face full of helplessness, "My children at home have no experience, if they go to the capital and get into trouble, won't that bring trouble to their father?"
Zhou Silang said, "Even if your family is ignorant, they have been educated since childhood. There are many people in my family who can't even read a single word, but they are living well in the capital, aren't they?"
He said, "As long as we are honest and have good character, that's all. If we don't provoke trouble, how can we get into trouble?"
Zhuang Dalang lowered his eyes and said, "My father is a man of noble character and honesty. He never causes trouble, but when he does, isn't it still a disaster?"
Zhou Silang pulled him away and said, "You can't stop walking just because you're afraid of falling. Come on, let's go home and talk."
Zhou Silang pulled Zhuang Dalang back home, um, the banker.
When Mrs. Zhuang saw Zhou Silang coming back with Zhuang Dalang, she was stunned for a while, then she reacted and quickly invited them in.
Mrs. Zhuang treated Zhou Silang very politely. After asking him to sit down, she hurriedly called her grandchildren over and stuffed a handful of money into them. "Hurry up and go to the restaurant at the corner of the street to buy some food and a pot of good wine."
The children happily agreed, pocketed the money and ran away.
Zhou Silang thanked Mrs. Zhuang and took Zhuang Dalang in his arms, saying, "You're just too cautious. It's not that you're wrong, but who in this world would refuse to eat or drink just because they might choke? Think positively. If we go to the capital, not only will the children have better education and a brighter future, but you'll also be able to fulfill your filial duties to your master, right?"
Zhou Silang's eyes started to tear up again as he spoke. He held onto his father's hand and cried, "You don't know how lonely Mr. Zhuang has been all these years in the capital. Although my sister and brother-in-law are with him, there's still a difference between a disciple and a son. Every festive occasion, Mr. Zhuang always thinks of you, and his expression is so sad."
Zhuang Dalang looked skeptical. He only knew that his father used to talk about his junior brothers and sisters during the New Year and other holidays at home. He would either tell the children that they went hiking together, or that they went out for picnics and drinks together.
He hesitated for a moment and then said, "My father has always been aloof. Surrounded by friends and disciples, would he look sad?"
"Yes, put yourself in their shoes. If your children were not around and you were alone at home during the holidays, wouldn't that hurt you?"
Zhuang Dalang has always valued family affection and remained silent after hearing this.
Zhou Silang said, "Sir, it's not that you're not sad, you just don't want others to see it. He's a father, and you can't let him express his longing for you first. You're a son, so why not be a little more gentle?"
Zhuang Dalang: "...Silang, this isn't how you should be gentle and kind."
"Oh, as long as the meaning is right, you are a scholar and smart, so you should understand what I mean, right?"
Zhuang Dalang was silent.
Zhou Silang urged him, "Are you filial or not? Think about how old Mr. Zhuang is. My sister said, if a tree stands still, even the wind won't agree. If you don't think about filial piety now, when Mr. Zhuang is a hundred years old, even if you still think about it, Lord Tianzun won't be able to conjure up a Mr. Zhuang for you."
Zhuang Ji'an, who had returned home at some unknown time, stood at the door and said, "The tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop; the son wants to support his parents but they are no longer there."
Zhou Silang was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, that's what I mean."
He glanced at Zhuang Dalang, then turned back to ask Zhuang Ji'an, "Ji'an, do you think what I said makes sense?"
Zhuang Ji'an nodded slightly and looked at Zhuang Dalang, "Father, perhaps grandpa really misses you."
"Of course I did. Otherwise, why would I come all the way back home?" Zhou Silang sighed. "You know me. I only go back home around the New Year to buy tea. It's only autumn now, and I was originally going to go north. But Mr. Zhuang received the letter you sent back and was so sad. I really couldn't bear it, so I volunteered to come here."
Zhou Silang dragged a chair over to sit next to Zhuang Dalang, hugged his shoulders and said, "Brother Zhuang, what's our relationship? Let's not beat around the bush. I know you didn't have a good childhood. Alas, I didn't have a good childhood either."
Zhuang Dalang: ...
"But no matter how bad you are, Mr. Zhuang only has you as his son. He has ambitions and wants to make a name for himself, but he values you as his son more. Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought you back home." Zhou Silang scratched his head and couldn't help but say, "Honestly, I don't understand why you scholars are so sad."
He said, "You scholars think too much and are sensitive. You can't stand even the slightest setback. Unlike us farmers, we just want to survive."
"If you really care about everything, I don't even need to live anymore," Zhou Silang counted on his fingers. "Look at how many brothers and sisters I have? Seven in total. I, the fourth child, am stuck right in the middle, neither up nor down."
"Since I was little, my parents always picked my eldest and second brothers to discuss things with. The spoiled children were Manbao, the fifth and sixth brothers. My third brother and I were not in the same league, but my third brother was honest. My parents always felt that he was at a disadvantage when they saw him, so they also favored him. I was the only one left, so pitiful. I never took it to heart, otherwise I would have died of heartbreak."
Zhuang Dalang looked at him in disbelief.
"You don't believe me," Zhou Silang slapped his thigh and said, "Among the brothers in my family, I was the one who got beaten the most. My father would chase me around the village three times with a stick. In serious cases, he would break my legs. When he was angry, he would kick me out of the house. Do you think I'm sad?"
Zhuang Dalang was surprised, "Mr. Zhou looks like a very gentle person..."
"Oh, that's all appearance. Mr. Zhuang looks cheerful and generous, but when he's sad, he'll still cry while hugging the wine jar."
Zhuang Dalang was shocked. "Father...really cried?"
"You're crying!" Zhou Silang held his hand and looked at him eagerly. "If you really can't bear to leave Luojiang County, then you can ask for leave and go to the capital to visit Mr. Zhuang. Staying there for two months will ease Mr. Zhuang's longing for his son."
"Don't you see how old Mr. Zhuang is? Do you still want him to travel back and forth between the capital and Luojiang County?" Zhou Silang, seeing him lost in thought, seemed to have his Ren and Du meridians opened up. He urged him earnestly, "Just go to the capital to visit relatives for two months. The children won't get into any trouble, right? It will also help them gain some experience."
Zhuang Dalang had no good impression of the capital and muttered, "What's so good about the capital..."
"You've been there, so of course you can say that. But the kids haven't seen it, so of course they want to see it."
Mrs. Zhuang, who had been silent all the time and had been refilling their glasses with wine, suddenly said, "I haven't seen it either."
Zhou Silang immediately smiled and said, "Yes, it's time to let my sister-in-law go see the prosperity of the capital."
He smiled and said, "When we get to the capital, let Manbao greet you. You are her senior brothers and sisters-in-law. The princess's mansion she lives in now is even bigger than the county government office..."
(End of this chapter)
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