Chapter 67 The Prodigal Brother (Part 7): The Merchant's Son's Path to Becoming a King of a Different Surname...
Lu Bantou led the way with steady steps, while Song Ce gently carried Song Yu close behind.
Along the way, the people on both sides of the street cast curious glances at them, whispering among themselves. Seeing this, Song Yu simply buried her face in Song Ce's arms, only revealing her eyes, timidly observing the people around her.
When they arrived at the entrance of the Song residence, Lu Bantou looked at Song Ce with some surprise: "Young Master, do you live here?"
"Exactly."
Lu Bantou muttered, "Truly, even bad bamboo produces good shoots..."
"What did you say?" Song Ce asked.
"It's alright, it's alright, young master, please take your sister back quickly!" Lu Ban Tou smiled, then waved his hand casually, "No need to see me off." After saying that, he left directly.
Song Ce gently rocked the nearly asleep Song Yu in his arms. At this moment, A Bao and A Luo, who had been hiding to the side, carefully jumped out after Lu Ban Tou's figure had completely disappeared, and greeted him with smiles: "Young Master, Young Master!"
"You two have finally shown up." Song Ce smiled gently when he saw them. "We owe you a lot this time. If you hadn't found the constables in time, who knows how much trouble we would have gone through!"
After hearing this, Abao scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Young master, we were just doing what we were told, and we weren't much of a help. Now that all the bad guys have been caught and Miss is safe and sound, it's a happy ending for everyone! It's just that..."
Seeing that A Bao's voice unconsciously lowered, A Luo bit his lip, mustered his courage and stepped forward, bravely asking, "Young master, the silver you promised us today... I wonder... will you give it to us now..." The boy's voice stammered, after all, it was still a little embarrassing for a boy of his age to ask for silver directly.
Upon hearing this, Song Ce laughed heartily: "It's my fault, it's my fault. You two come with me into the mansion first, and I'll go get you the money right away." With that, he carried Song Yu into the mansion.
Seeing this, Abao and Alu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with unease. Their hands unconsciously rubbed the patched corners of their clothes as they cautiously followed behind Song Ce, heads down, not daring to look around.
The gatekeeper opened the gate and saw the young master carrying the young lady back. His previously weary face immediately brightened, and he said with a smile, "Young master, you're finally back! Madam and Master have been waiting for you in the main hall for a long time! Butler Wen specifically instructed me that if we saw you, we must ask you to come to the main hall immediately."
Song Ce nodded and led A Bao and A Luo straight toward the main hall.
As soon as the group stepped into the main hall, Madam Song, who had been holding back her tears, burst into tears. She pushed away the hand that Li Mama was holding, and hurried forward, her voice trembling with sobs: "My poor daughter!"
"Mother, my sister is fine. She was just drugged by those three villains. The officials said that she'll be fine after a nap," Song Ce reassured her.
Madam Song carefully took Song Yu from Song Ce's hands. She gazed at her daughter intently, as if her daughter would fly away the moment she closed her eyes. She reached out and gently stroked Song Yu's little face, tears streaming down her face and falling onto Song Yu's clothes.
"Mother, don't cry... I'm fine... Mother is fine too..."
Song Yu was still somewhat dazed, but upon hearing Madam Song's worried voice, she reached out her small hand and gently wiped away the tears from Madam Song's face.
Hearing Song Yu's obedient and sensible words, Madam Song could no longer hold back. She hugged Song Yu tightly and cried uncontrollably.
In the original owner's memories, Madam Song had always been dignified and composed. Even after the family suffered a great upheaval, she had never lost her composure like she was now. But now, facing her daughter who had been lost and found again, she had completely lost her former composure. She held Song Yu tightly in her arms, as if her daughter would disappear again if she let go.
Faced with the distraught Madam Song, Song Ce patiently comforted her. Seeing that Madam Song had slowly stopped crying, he smiled and said, "Mother, since my sister has returned home safely, this is a great joy. You should be happy."
"Yes, yes, my son is right." Madam Song wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief and hugged Song Yu.
At this moment, in the main seat of the central hall, Master Song looked at the scene before him with some embarrassment. Seeing that Madam Song had stopped crying, his expression softened, and he breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "It's good that my son is alright, it's good that he's alright!"
The room fell silent immediately upon hearing this.
After a long silence, Madam Song slammed the handkerchief in her hand onto the low table. Her emotions, which had begun to calm down, were instantly reignited by Mr. Song's words. She turned around abruptly, her eyes blazing with anger as if she wanted to burn him to ashes: "How dare you say such a thing! If it weren't for such a huge gambling debt, how could my poor child have suffered such a calamity? If it weren't for my son's wisdom in finding our daughter in time, those villains would have tortured her terribly!" As she spoke, Madam Song was overcome with grief and began to sob again.
Whenever Mr. Song saw Madam Song crying, he felt extremely annoyed, and his brows unconsciously furrowed into a deep frown.
"Fortunately, our daughter is alright and has returned home safely. Who is Madam crying for?" As soon as these words were spoken, even Master Song realized that something was amiss.
Upon hearing this, Madam Song immediately stopped crying. She slowly raised her tearful eyes and stared incredulously at Master Song in the main seat.
At this moment, in her eyes, the husband who had been with her for so many years seemed to have become a complete stranger. Beneath his familiar face lay such a detestable indifference and ruthlessness. It was as if the affection between husband and wife, the blood ties between father and daughter, were utterly worthless in his eyes.
Seeing this, Master Song lowered his head, not daring to meet Madam Song's cold gaze. He picked up the teacup on the wooden table and took a sip as if to cover up his rudeness, before stammering, "Madam, I... spoke rudely, please don't take it to heart."
Madam Song chuckled softly and shook her head. "After so many years of marriage, I naively believed that you still had some affection for me and for our two children. So many years, so many years..."
"Mother..." Seeing that Madam Song was not in good condition, Song Ce quickly stepped forward and took her hand.
“My son, I’m alright. Look at him, take a good look at this father sitting so high in the main seat. Your sister has been found for so long, and he hasn’t even come to see her once. Tell me, even if she weren’t his daughter, just an ordinary child, whether it was genuine or not, shouldn’t he at least come and show some concern? Your sister is his own daughter! How can he… be so cold and heartless? My son, tell me… what’s wrong with his heart? Has it really turned into iron?”
Hearing this, Master Song felt even more guilty. He quickly got up and walked towards Song Yu, who was in Madam Song's arms. He reached out, wanting to touch the top of Song Yu's head, intending to show his tenderness and affection for her.
Just then, Song Yu opened her eyes and vaguely saw that Master Song was reaching out to her with a complicated expression. For some reason, she subconsciously shrank into Madam Song's arms and dodged the hand that Master Song was offering.
Master Song's hand froze awkwardly in mid-air, unsure whether to move forward or backward. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his throat felt as if it were blocked with cotton, and he couldn't utter a sound.
At this moment, the air in the main hall seemed to freeze.
Mr. Song lowered his hand with considerable embarrassment. In an instant, an unnamed fire suddenly surged from the bottom of his heart. He was so angry that he wanted to show his authority as the head of the family, but when his eyes met his wife's wary and disappointed gaze and his eldest son's calm and unwavering expression, the fire of anger was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head and was extinguished instantly.
He gritted his teeth, suppressing his inner turmoil and unease, and took a step back.
Just then, Master Song's gaze inadvertently swept towards the entrance of the main hall, where he saw A Bao and A Luo standing awkwardly outside, trembling.
"Where did these little beggars come from! They're filthy and stinky! Butler Wen! Butler Wen! Get them out of here right now!" Master Song finally found an outlet for his anger and roared at A Bao and A Luo outside the main hall.
Upon seeing this, Song Ce immediately stepped forward, blocking A Bao and A Luo, and said coldly, "These two young brothers are my sister's saviors. If it weren't for their help, I wouldn't have been able to find my sister so quickly. These two children have helped our family so much, and instead of being grateful to them, you want to kick them out of the manor. What kind of logic is that?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Song stepped forward with Song Yu in her arms and sneered, "Reason? Your father has been so indiscriminate in his judgments for quite some time now."
A Luo's eyes were now filled with tears of fear. Seeing this, A Bao shielded his younger brother behind him and said in a trembling voice, "Master, Madam, we...we just came to collect the silver that the young master promised us...we didn't mean anything else."
Seeing the increasingly tense atmosphere in the main hall, Song Ce said to Madam Song, "Mother, please take my sister to rest first! She was frightened today and needs to recuperate for a while. You can leave Abao and Alu to me to take care of!"
Madam Song glanced at Song Yu, who was looking rather listless in her arms, then at her eldest son, and nodded, saying, "Very well." She then smiled at A Bao and A Luo, saying, "Today, on behalf of my daughter, I thank you both."
"I dare not accept such thanks from you, Madam," Abao said, flattered.
Madam Song smiled again, then ignored the somber-faced Master Song and carried Song Yu away from the main hall.
Song Ce smiled faintly, walked to A Bao and A Luo's side, and said with a smile, "I'm sorry to have startled you. Come, follow me." He then ignored Master Song standing to the side and led the two of them toward his courtyard.
Master Song stared intently at their departing figures, the pent-up anger in his chest threatening to consume him. He suddenly raised his hand and slammed it heavily onto the wooden table. Still not satisfied, he grabbed the teacup he had just used and smashed it to the ground with all his might.
The teacup shattered into pieces the moment it hit the ground. Looking at the broken pieces, Mr. Song felt a slight relief from the pent-up anger in his chest.
"This rebellious son! He's probably going to rebel!"
Master Song cursed angrily, then strode toward Concubine Wen's room in the backyard. Along the way, he was thinking about how to save face. None of the family members took him seriously. It was outrageous!
When Concubine Wen saw Master Song enter the room with a furious expression, she quickly dismissed the maidservant who was attending to her, then gracefully stepped forward and asked in a sweet voice, "Master, what's wrong? What's troubling you that makes you so angry? Could it be something about the eldest young master...?"
Upon hearing this, Master Song plopped down in his chair and slammed his hand on the table: "Don't mention that unfilial son to me!"
“My lord, if you are unhappy, why don’t you tell me?” Aunt Wen said softly.
"You have no idea what happened today..." Master Song said indignantly, recounting the events of the day and what had just occurred in the main hall to Concubine Wen. He concluded by gritting his teeth, "That wretched child! Now she doesn't even respect her own father! And Madam, she dares... she dares to give me attitude!"
After hearing this, Aunt Wen rolled her eyes and said softly, "Master, please don't get angry and harm your health. Why don't you listen to what I have to say first?"
"Speak quickly if you have something to say," Master Song said impatiently.
“Master, the eldest young master is gaining more and more prestige in the manor now. Think carefully about what you just said. How much respect does the eldest young master still have for you? Master, you must think of a way to curb the eldest young master’s momentum,” Aunt Wen said with a smile.
"Do you even need to tell me? If I had a way, I wouldn't be putting up with this humiliation!" Master Song said angrily.
"Well, I do have an idea, but I don't know if it's appropriate..." After saying that, Aunt Wen whispered a few words in Master Song's ear.
After listening, a smile gradually appeared on Master Song's previously gloomy face: "Good! Good! I knew you were clever. Alright, I'll do as you say."
Aunt Wen smiled gently and leaned tenderly against Master Song. After a moment of tenderness, Master Song stroked Aunt Wen's small hand gently and whispered, "Kexin'er, do you have enough money here?"
"Master... what do you mean by that?" Aunt Wen's smile froze upon hearing this, and she asked dryly.
"I've really had a lot of bad luck these past few days, and it's time for my luck to turn around, so I was thinking of taking some money from you... I promise you, if I make a profit, I'll compensate you double, how about that?" Master Song said gently, kneading Concubine Wen's ample breasts.
Aunt Wen knew all too well Master Song's temperament. If the money was given away, it would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone forever.
"I... live in the manor for food, clothing and daily necessities, and my monthly allowance is fixed. In addition, I have to manage things for everyone, so I really don't have much money left."
"No problem, no problem, bring me whatever you have, ten taels is not too little, ten thousand taels is not too much." Master Song rubbed his hands and laughed.
...Ten thousand taels, he really dares to dream. Aunt Wen couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly, then swayed her hips to the wardrobe where she usually kept her clothes and took out a small box from it.
While Master Song appeared to be admiring the ornaments at the foot of Concubine Wen's bed, he had secretly been observing where Concubine Wen kept her private belongings.
"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub... You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub..." Aunt Wen silently repeated to herself twice before reluctantly handing over a small packet of silver to Master Song.
"My lord, this is all I have left."
"Haha, it's alright, it's alright." Master Song was in a great mood, and as he took the silver, he casually gave Aunt Wen's soft little hand a good squeeze. Just then, a pair of Xiuyan jade bracelets slipped off Aunt Wen's wrist.
The jade bracelet was perfectly smooth and well-formed. Even though Mr. Song was used to going to jewelry shops to buy things for his lover, he had never seen such a beautiful and lustrous bracelet.
When Master Song saw it, he was taken aback: "Kexin'er, this bracelet has a unique design. Where did you find it?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Wen's expression changed slightly, but she forced a smile and said, "Master, this was given to me by my mother before she passed away. It is a memento from my late mother and is not anything of value."
"I see..." Master Song touched the jade of the bracelets and murmured thoughtfully.
On the other side, Song Ce brought A Bao and A Luo to his courtyard, and then said to Mo Yan, who was arranging books, "Mo Yan, go to the kitchen and bring over a few plates of the pastries you've made."
"Yes." Mo Yan replied and then walked out of the flower hall.
"Abao, Alu, please sit down." Song Ce gestured for the two brothers to sit down, then went to the bedroom to retrieve the silver and solemnly handed it to Abao, smiling as he said, "This is the silver I promised you, and I also thank you for helping me find my sister. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to my residence. I will inform the gatekeeper in advance."
Holding the four whole silver coins in his hands, A Bao was so excited that he immediately stood up. His eyes were slightly red as he bowed deeply and repeatedly thanked him, saying, "Thank you, young master, thank you, young master!"
"No need for thanks, you deserve it," Song Ce said with a smile.
"Mr....Mr."
Unexpectedly, A Luo knelt down in front of Song Ce and said, "My brother and I are still young, and it will not be easy for us to keep this much money. If you don't mind, I hope you can help us find a stable job. We don't need wages, as long as we can eat and stay warm."
This was the first time Song Ce had heard A Luo speak such a long passage. He was taken aback for a moment, then helped A Luo up and said gently, "Get up quickly. A man's knees are worth gold. Just say what you have to say. There's no need for such a grand gesture."
“Young master, my brother and I have been begging for a living in this city since we were young, and we have experienced all the hardships of life. But since we met you, young master, A Luo has known that you are a kind person. Today, we shamelessly beg you to give us a meal. From now on, we will serve you wholeheartedly and without any disloyalty.” A Luo raised his head and said earnestly.
Song Ce was taken aback, not expecting that A Luo had some knowledge and culture. He nodded, and A Bao, quite tactfully, stuffed the silver into Song Ce's arms and knelt down on the ground with his younger brother.
"These are two separate matters. Please take the money." Song Ce pondered for a moment, then said gently, "My mother owns a bookstore in the city. Business is quite good, and we're currently short of two diligent assistants. If you're willing, I'll take you there tomorrow and have the manager arrange suitable jobs for you. What do you say?"
Abao and Alu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with joy, and hurriedly said, "We're willing, we're willing! Young master, we'll be content as long as you give us a bite to eat."
Song Ce laughed and said, "Where do you find workers who work for free? The manager will explain the wages to you when the time comes."
"Thank you, young master." Abao and Alu bowed to Song Ce in unison to express their gratitude.
At this moment, Mo Yan came in carrying a tray with four plates of freshly made pastries. Seeing that the atmosphere in the room was just right, he placed the pastries on the table and said with a smile, "The pastries you ordered have been brought."
Song Ce nodded, gesturing for A Bao and A Luo to try some: "You've been traveling back and forth all day, and you probably haven't had time to eat. Have some pastries to tide you over, and you can eat some more when the kitchen has a proper meal later."
The two brothers naturally had to bow repeatedly, and then somewhat reservedly picked up the pastries, taking small bites, afraid of losing their dignity in front of the young master.
"Young Master." Mo Yan glanced at the two nervous people and stepped forward, saying, "I have some half-new clothes here. Shall I take them downstairs to get them dressed?"
Upon hearing this, Abao quickly swallowed the pastry and waved his hand, saying, "How can this be..."
“Mo Yan is the most thoughtful.” Song Ce turned to look at A Bao and A Luo with concern. “You two should go with Mo Yan. Take a good look around and change into some clean clothes. You two brothers will be working at the bookstore from now on, so it’s always good to be clean and efficient. You can rest in my courtyard for the night, and I will take you to the bookstore early tomorrow morning.”
Upon hearing this, the two blushed slightly and nodded quickly.
Seeing that his and Abao's assignments were settled, Alu said with a choked voice, "Young master, my brother and I have troubled you."
"It's alright. You saved my sister, so you are honored guests of our household. To me, you are more like benefactors," Song Ce said gently.
Upon hearing this, A Bao and A Luo quickly knelt down and bowed. Then, somewhat awkwardly, they also bowed to Mo Yan before obediently following him out of the flower hall.
After sending the two little maids, Shuyuan and Shuxi, away, Song Ce sat alone in the flower hall, watching the new tea leaves floating and sinking in his teacup. Although the rising steam from the cup blurred his vision, his thoughts became clearer and clearer.
He pondered Master Song's words and actions throughout the day, and couldn't help but let out a soft snort. This Master Song was simply a thoroughly worthless scoundrel. He showed no warmth towards his wife and daughters, was extremely cold-hearted, and was completely absorbed in his own absurd behavior without even realizing it. He was utterly unworthy of being a husband and a father! If things continued like this, it was only a matter of time before he destroyed this family.
We can no longer allow him to continue acting so recklessly.
Thinking this, Song Ce stood up and went straight to the bedroom. He found a wooden box and carefully placed the silver notes and land deeds that Madam Song had given him a few days ago into it. Just as he was about to leave after he had finished tidying up, he heard a series of light footsteps coming from outside the flower hall.
Song Ce subconsciously looked up and saw Li Mama walking hurriedly towards him. After entering the house, she bowed to Song Ce and said solemnly, "Young Master, Madam requests your presence. She says she wants to discuss some important matters with you."
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Author's Note: Cutting ties with the scumbag father is in progress~ 40% complete~ [starry eyes]
The three brothers who have already gone in (Erkang's hand): We have something to say~ [crying][crying]
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