Chapter 196 Zhao Lingmeng's Teachings
"Can we help them?"
Zhao Lingmeng touched Zhao Houming's head and said, "If you want to help, you can help."
Zhao Houming was a man of impetuous temper: "Then ask the driver to stop the car!"
"You're not going to give them our food or something?"
Although Zhao Lingmeng expressed her disapproval, she agreed in her heart. At least these children were compassionate people.
After hearing what their mother said, Zhao Houming and Zhao Houjing looked at Zhao Lingmeng in confusion, "Isn't that so?"
"No, although you are helping us, if we stop to distribute food and cloth, I guarantee that the road will be blocked in no time. What will we do then if we have nothing to eat and can't move on?"
"What should we do then?" Zhao Houming looked at Zhao Lingmeng dejectedly.
"Giving them a little of your stuff won't change anything, because the world is so vast, and there are so many poor people like this. And Jing State has been at war for years, so most of the young and middle-aged people are on the border. The families are full of the elderly, the weak, and the sick, so it's impossible to grow crops well. And if there's a disaster or illness, it will be even more difficult.
But you see, the people of Jingguo have such a hard time, yet they don't complain. Do you know why?"
"Why?" Zhao Houyang pretended not to know at first, but after hearing his mother say this, he became very interested and asked actively.
"Because they know that these tax revenues aren't just for anyone; they're all spent on the border. If the border can't be defended and other countries invade, their lives will only get worse. So even though they live in poverty, they don't complain. This is the way things are!"
The three brothers were thoughtful after hearing what their mother said, but they were still very young and ignorant. Zhao Houming was anxious, "Then you still haven't told me, how can we help them?"
"You... the greatest help is to study hard. You can either become a great general, invincible and guarding a region; or you can become a truly capable official, leading the people of a region to have enough food and clothing.
As for smaller help, you can give me your own personal savings, and I'll have people donate at the city gate, but not in our name. After all, you're not seeking fame, right?"
The three brothers Zhao Houjing had no objection to this. They just felt pity for the people hurrying by on the side of the road. They really wanted to help them and had no intention of making a name for themselves.
Zhao Houyang looked at his small arms and legs and asked sadly, "Mom, I'm so thin, how can I be an invincible general?"
"Even if that doesn't work out, you can work hard to become the top scholar and start as a county magistrate. First, make the people of the county rich, teach them how to grow crops, and find them things to do during the slack season so they can earn some extra money. You can even find or cultivate high-yield grain varieties."
You can first help them to have enough food and clothing, and then help them to have enough food and clothing. But these women don’t know how to do that, so you need to learn from different people.”
After Zhao Lingmeng finished speaking, not only Zhao Houyang, but also Zhao Houjing and Zhao Houming thought it was very interesting. It would be great if they could really do what Cheng Niang said! None of the three brothers had any talent for martial arts, but for the first time, they felt that being a civil official was no worse than being a military commander.
The three of them had these ideas entirely because Jing State was in constant war, so they definitely valued military power over culture.
But Zhao Lingmeng very much agrees with the saying, "Civil officials die for remonstration, and military officials die for battle." Civil and military officials each perform their duties and complement each other.
After Zhao Houming heard what his mother said, he was silent for a long time. Then he said with a solemn vow: "Mom, I will study hard in the future, and I will also learn to farm well!"
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
Zhao Houjing and Zhao Houyang also rushed to make up their minds. They also wanted to become the kind of official their mother had described, not the kind of official who could only talk. The most important thing was to be able to teach people how to fish.
"It's okay. This is my highest hope for you, that you can learn a skill and benefit the people. But if you really don't have enough talent, I just hope you can be a decent person who can support yourself. It doesn't matter if you live an ordinary life.
As long as you don't commit crimes, and don't betray your country, you will always be my good sons, and I will always love you."
When the three brothers Zhao Houjing heard their mother say this, their eyes immediately turned red. Zhao Houyang even came over and sat next to Zhao Lingmeng's legs.
He leaned his head affectionately on Zhao Lingmeng's legs and said, "Mom, have I ever told you that I love you so much? Will you live with me in the future? I'll take care of you in your old age?"
Zhao Houjing patted Zhao Houyang on the head. "What are you talking about? First come, first served, don't you understand? I'm the eldest brother. How can it be your turn to take care of Mom in her old age?"
"That's right! Your second brother is still standing here! I am my favorite son. When I get old, I will definitely want to live with my favorite son."
"Tsk!" Zhao Houjing and Zhao Houyang both made disdainful sounds when they heard this.
"Mom, just tell me who you want to be with when you're old?" Zhao Houming wasn't afraid! When Mom was in her most difficult time, she had only him and her to rely on. He felt that even if Mom had other children, he would still be the most special. He had always had this confidence.
Zhao Houjing and Zhao Houyang also stared at Zhao Lingmeng with eager eyes, almost saying that they would make a scene if she didn't choose them.
Who was Zhao Lingmeng? She was someone who never followed conventional paths. She gave each of the three brothers a pat on the head, showing no partiality.
"I will never grow old!"
The three Zhao Houjing brothers could only cover their heads and sit on the other side of the carriage, looking as if Zhao Lingmeng was bullying them. Who was Zhao Lingmeng? He just leaned against the wall of the carriage, looking unmoved.
Seeing that this trick didn't work, Zhao Houjing and the other two returned to their normal expressions, but they didn't move from the corner. Instead, the three brothers squeezed in the corner, whispering to each other all the way.
Zhao Ling dreamed that the three brothers were having a great time in a corner. She really didn't care about them anymore and just leaned against the bed and fell asleep.
She was really sleepy. She had thought about the steps of refining salt from seawater last night. She wanted to figure out all the links as soon as possible and then submit it to the emperor. She wanted him to send someone to try it out first. Whether it would work or not would only be known after a try.
When Zhao Houming saw that his mother fell asleep, he immediately took off his cloak and put it directly on Zhao Lingmeng.
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