Chapter 15 Extensive Compassion
It's always a good thing to be able to cry. What's wrong with that? It's better to cry than to keep it inside.
But you can't keep crying.
It's not easy to come back, time is precious, and important things need to be done. How can you keep crying?
Shanlai comforted himself, slowly stopped crying, got up, wiped away his tears, wiped his own, and then raised his hand to wipe Yao Yong's tears, "Dad, don't cry."
The daughter had stopped crying, and the father, who was supposed to protect her from the wind and rain, naturally couldn't cry anymore, so he quickly stopped crying as well.
From the moment Da Shan took it upon herself to sell herself, she could be considered an adult, capable of taking responsibility, so she was also able to make decisions about entertaining guests.
She asked Yao Yong for money, and when she got it, she gave it all to Aunt Wang, asking her to help her figure out how to prepare some food and wine to entertain the Zhao couple who brought her back, as well as the neighbors who had taken care of Yao Yong while she was away. She also gave the snacks and fruits she had brought from the Liu family's kitchen that morning to another close neighbor, asking her to distribute them to the people at her doorstep.
As she methodically arranged everything, she didn't notice that her father, sitting on the bed behind her, was looking at her with the same vast compassion he had shown her before.
Those who took the money and the things left, leaving only the father and daughter in the room. Shanlai sat back on the bed, looked at her father's face, and whispered, "Dad is indeed much better."
Yao smiled bitterly and said, "I'd rather die than have you sell yourself to save me..."
Hearing these words, Shanlai was not surprised at all. Of course she understood her father, which was why she was willing to risk her life to save him.
"Father, don't say such things. What will I do if you die? Go to Widow Huang's house? That would be better than death. Father, living well is what's truly for my good." Saying this, he took out the hundred taels from his pocket and handed it over, "Father, take this, use it for your future marriage."
Yao Yong was quite shocked when he saw that it was money, a hundred taels of silver. "Where did this come from?"
"The old lady from the Liu family gave more than just money; there were other things in the car as well."
Yao Yong was silent for a moment, then asked, "It's not unusual for a master to bestow gifts, but how could there be so much? And the money you received for selling yourself... they gave it to me, five hundred taels... I've never heard of buying a maid for five hundred taels in my entire life."
Shanlai felt there was nothing to hide from her father, “because his old lady seemed to want me to be his young master’s concubine, but his old lady never said that. I heard it from his servants.”
Yao Yong once again revealed the same expression as before, that vast compassion.
Yao refused to take the money, so Shanlai stuffed it into his hand.
"Father, take this. When you get better, I'll arrange a marriage for you... Just for my sake. Whether it's a younger brother or sister, they're family. Even if you're gone in the future, I won't be alone... I'm so scared. You're not even dead yet, and those people are already plotting to eat me..." She cried again, filled with fear and grievance. "I'm so scared..."
Her tears touched Yao Yong's heart, so Yao Yong also started to cry.
The two cried for a while. Yao turned around, took out a wad of cloth from the middle of the pillow, unfolded it, and found it was full of money, including silver notes, loose silver, and a large amount of copper coins.
“The money they brought, except for what I’ve spent, is all here… How can I use this money to get married? They’re right, I have to live first… Only by living can I earn money, and with money, I can redeem you.”
Shanlai shook his head, “There’s no need to redeem me. I want my father to get married. Father, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m doing well there. The old lady and young master of the Liu family are good people. I haven’t been wronged.”
Yao Yong became somewhat anxious, "You can't think like that! How can you become someone's concubine! Even if you marry a peasant, you should be his legal wife! Concubines of wealthy and powerful families may enjoy wealth and honor, but they are still servants in the end, and their life and death are at the mercy of their masters!"
These are things that Shan Lai had already thought about.
"I am loyal to the emperor because I eat his food. They did not force me. I signed the contract willingly. I have already taken their money, so it is not good to break the contract. Of course, if they let me go on their own initiative, that would be a different story."
She possessed a determination rarely seen in a nine-year-old child. Yao Yong knew he couldn't persuade her, so he turned to trying to persuade himself instead.
It's actually for the best. She's always been a smart girl. Even if she becomes a concubine, she'll find her own way out. Besides, being a concubine means spending her whole life confined to the inner quarters, rarely seeing anyone. It might not be so bad...
Thinking this way, I felt much more at peace.
When Shanlai saw that Yao Yong no longer had any objections, she thought that he had accepted her choice and felt a little relieved. She thought that the matter was over and changed the subject, asking Yao Yong about the situation at home after she left. She wanted to know who was taking care of Yao Yong's life so that she could bring something to thank them.
Yao Yong also felt that he should repay the kindness of his neighbors, so he carefully recalled everything and told Shan about it in detail.
As the two were talking, Shanlai suddenly heard footsteps, turned around and saw Chunyan's mother rushing in.
A woman in her thirties, with gray hair, tall but fat, with a round head, no neck, a thick back and round shoulders, a prominent chest, a thick waist, and fat legs, stood in the glaring midday sun, grinning at people, the sunlight clearly illuminating the oily sweat on her face.
She smiled and said, "Shanlai, you've really made something of yourself this time! I saw the carriage and asked around. They said his mother asked them to send you back by carriage. She thinks highly of you! Unlike my Chunyan, who has to hire a carriage herself every time she goes home. By the way, how is my Chunyan? Did she ask you to pass on any message?"
Shan Lai vaguely remembered the first time he saw this person. What he remembered most vividly was her thinness—thin as a demon, with a sallow complexion and disheveled hair. Not only did she resemble a ghost, but her children also looked like ghosts, a bunch of ghosts running around. She would smash them over their heads with an iron spoon, cursing incessantly as she did so, her face filled with hatred, as if the children under her were not her children, but her enemies. Now, she was very fat. It was only after selling Chunyan that she suddenly gained weight. Chunyan would send money home, even if it meant borrowing. He also remembered how she would beat the children, always with righteous indignation, gritting her teeth and cursing, "You grew up drinking my blood! How dare you disobey me!"
The child grew up by drinking the mother's blood. After the child grew up, the mother began to devour the child's flesh and blood, which is why the child is so fat and muscular.
It's so pitiful, the child is pitiful, and the mother is pitiful too.
Shanlai suddenly understood Chunyan, so she nodded to Chunyan's mother and said, "She asked me to bring something to you, Auntie."
Money is not to be touched, so Shanlai took out two pieces of fine fabric and some food and handed them to Chunyan's mother.
"Sister Chunyan said that these two pieces of fabric are for making clothes for Auntie."
Chunyan's mother silently accepted it, her face showing no joy.
Knowing that it was inappropriate to say anything more, Shan Zi remained silent.
Chunyan's mother left carrying Bujuejue; the flesh on her body trembled and seemed about to burst out.
Shanlai suddenly thought of Chunyan. What was Chunyan doing right now? Was she tending the fire? The large stove, the flames licking the bottom of the pot, also scorching people's faces, making their faces shiny with oil, their hair full of soot, but when Chunyan came home, she was all dressed up, with painted eyebrows and wearing gold and silver. One person, two faces... Shanlai couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
After having lunch with Yao Yong, Shanlai tidied up the house thoroughly. After finishing, he took gifts and went door-to-door to express his gratitude. After making his way around, it was already evening when he returned. Zhao Er said that they could not delay any longer, or they might be locked out of the city gates. They had to go back.
Zhao Er was telling the truth, and Shan Lai knew it, so he didn't say much. After packing his things, he calmly said goodbye to Yao Yong.
"I have to go now. Dad, please take good care of yourself at home."
Yao Yongye had already convinced himself that there was indeed no better option at the moment, so he didn't say much, only saying, "Take care of yourself too."
Shanlai nodded, picked up his bundle, and turned to leave.
As Yao Yong watched his daughter's retreating figure, a sudden buzzing sound filled his ears, and he felt dizzy. Fortunately, he quickly regained his senses. He calmed himself down and thought that he couldn't let her leave like this, so he opened his mouth and shouted, "Shanlai!"
Shanlai heard this, turned around, and asked, "Did Father have any other instructions?"
Yao Yong shook his head and said, "I have nothing more to say, but I want to see you off. Please wait for me." As he spoke, he propped himself up on the bed to get up.
Upon seeing this, Shanlai hurriedly ran back and grabbed Yao Yong's arm.
"It's windy outside, and Dad isn't better yet, so don't see him off."
Yao Yong insisted, "I can't just do nothing."
Shanlai said, "What's wrong with that? Don't I know how good my father is to me?"
Yao Yong still insisted on seeing you off. He moved his legs off the bed and said, "I can't not see you off... I beg you, Dad..."
His determination was so firm that Shanlai could say nothing more and could only nod with tears in his eyes.
Yao was supported by two men and slowly approached the carriage.
Shanlai stood in front of the carriage, looking at his father's frail and sickly appearance, and suddenly his nose tingled, and tears streamed down his face.
Seeing her like this, Yao Yong felt a pang of heartache. He wanted to wipe away his daughter's tears, but he was too weak to even lift his hand. In this situation, he couldn't help but cry as well.
The father and daughter faced each other, tears streaming down their faces.
After crying, Yao choked out, "Take good care of yourself. I'll definitely bring you back someday..."
A single sentence stirred her emotions, and Shanlai's previous composure vanished completely. In front of everyone, this woman who valued her reputation so much burst into tears.
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