Seeing the complaints in his words, Old Man Chen felt deeply saddened. He frowned and reprimanded him sternly.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Your mother and I just bought some fine rice to eat, is it really necessary for you to be so sarcastic and critical?"
Because of you, we have nothing left at home. What can your mother and I do? How can you even say such heartless things?
"Alright, old man, stop talking for a bit." Old Mrs. Chen was too weak from hunger. She looked at Chen Zhancai with pleading eyes, "Son, I haven't eaten a single grain of rice since this morning. Could you get us something to eat first?"
Chen Zhancai's eyelids drooped, and his tone was somewhat dissatisfied, "Mom, I'm not trying to criticize you, but why didn't you eat when you came? Everything is expensive in town. How much would it cost to eat out!"
"Son, if you're worried about spending money, you can take us back to your place. Your father and I will make do with whatever you have to eat." Old Mrs. Chen felt weak all over and longed to eat something right away, even if it was just a cornbread bun.
Old Chen was also starving, so he nodded in agreement, "Yes, let Ruhua make us something simple to eat, just enough to fill our stomachs."
"Where would Ruhua find the time to cook for you?" Chen Zhancai quickly refused, not wanting the old couple to know that he had sold Ruhua.
Old Mrs. Chen was taken aback. "Why doesn't Ru Hua have time? What is she doing?"
Chen Zhancai said irritably, "I don't have time, that's all. Why are you asking so many questions? You're just worrying unnecessarily!"
Old Mrs. Chen felt terrible. She had thought that finding her son would give her enough to eat, but now it didn't seem to be the case at all!
She really wanted to use her maternal authority to scold Chen Zhancai a few times.
But she dared not; she could no longer count on the eldest and second eldest sons.
Now, whether the old couple lives or dies is entirely in the hands of the third son; they absolutely cannot afford to fall out again.
"Okay, I won't worry about it. I'll just make myself something to eat!"
Chen Zhancai waved his hand irritably, "What are you going to eat? There's not a single grain of food in the house, and I'm starving! You guys should hurry home while you still have some energy, or you won't have the strength to walk in a bit."
“Son, your mother is so hungry that she can’t walk anymore. Please let us have something to eat first, and then give us some money so we can buy some rice to take back.”
"You keep asking for money, it's really annoying. Do you think I run a money exchange? Where would I get money for you? Go home and stop causing trouble for me." Chen Zhancai looked disgusted and wanted to get as far away from them as possible.
Old Mrs. Chen frowned deeply, her face contorted with grief. "Son, it's not easy for your father and me to come all this way. You can't let us go back empty-handed!"
Seeing that Chen Zhancai remained unmoved, Old Man Chen was so angry that his teeth itched, and he opened his mouth to curse.
"Chen Zhancai, what nonsense are you spouting? We've run out of food, and your mother and I are starving when we come to you for money. How is that causing you trouble? Don't forget how our family got to this point. Back then, we sold our grain and land to support you so you could go to school, and this is how you repay your mother and me!..."
"Alright, are you ever going to stop? All you ever talk about are those old, trivial matters. What's the point of saying so much?"
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Zhancai interrupted him impatiently.
"If you weren't always thinking about bringing glory to your ancestors and achieving great success, would you have sold your houses and land to support me?"
All he talks about is providing for my education, providing for my education.
Now you're putting all the blame on me? Do you think I wanted to study?
I'm not the only son in the Chen family. Why don't you go ask the eldest and second eldest sons for money? Do you think I'm an easy target because I'm an educated person?
"Let me tell you, you're all born of the same parents, so don't come to me with every little thing. If you have any problems, go back to your two sons and talk to them. Don't bother me!"
Old Chen was so angry at these words that he trembled all over. He looked incredulously at his son, whom he had raised with such care, for saying such heartless things. He could only gasp for breath, unable to utter a single word.
Grandma Chen was also stunned. She never dreamed that her usually filial son would be so heartless, watching the two of them starve without doing anything.
In the past, when he asked his family for money, they would give him whatever they had without the slightest hesitation.
He also made a vow that he would take good care of his parents in the future and let them live a life of luxury.
Those words sounded so comforting and agreeable at the time. It made them feel that their son hadn't been unfairly favored; they were counting on him to support them in their old age.
It looks like they're going to hang the old couple on the wall now!
A wave of regret washed over her. If she hadn't separated from her eldest and second sons and severed ties with them, she would never have stood idly by.
But now there are no "what ifs". She personally kicked them out, breaking their hearts!
Old Mrs. Chen felt bitter and resentful. "Zhancai, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. You know better than anyone why your eldest and second brothers divided the family property. Now you want me to ask them for money? How can I have the face to do that?"
Besides, you patted your chest and promised that you would be filial to your father and me, and that even if you became a teacher, you wouldn't let us go hungry. Shouldn't your parents be counting on you?
"Rely on me? I'm penniless right now, who can I rely on?"
"You, you're trying to anger me to death!" Old Mrs. Chen clutched her chest, afraid that her anger would burn her heart and cause her to vomit blood.
Seeing their agitated state, Chen Zhancai, fearing he might anger the elderly couple to death in the street, quickly softened his tone.
"Mother, please calm down. It's not that your son is unfilial, it's just that I really don't have any money to give you right now."
Hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen's mood, which had been as cold as ice, eased a little. "Zhancai, you've been in town for quite some time now. Haven't you found a job yet?"
"Yes, you're a scholar, finding a job shouldn't be difficult for you, so why are you living such a hard life?" Old Chen asked casually.
Chen Zhancai's skill in fabricating lies had reached a level of perfection; he could tell lies without batting an eye or even blushing.
"You have no idea what I've been doing these past few days. First, I went to teach at the academy, and after working there for more than ten days, they finally told me there would be a one-month probationary period."
During this month, they only received a few dozen coins for living expenses.
I immediately objected. I have parents to support; how can I manage without earning money?
I immediately packed my bags and left. The teacher at the academy tried his best to persuade me to stay, saying I should be patient for a few more days, but I didn't even glance at him.
Then I found a job copying books, but to my surprise, I offended quite a few people after only three days.
My colleagues were envious of my beautiful handwriting and jealous that I could copy books faster than they could.
Those bastards gossip behind my back and make things difficult for me.
The bookstore owner completely ignored them and remained respectful to me.
But I couldn't stand this humiliation, so I just left, unwilling to get entangled with those petty people.
Later, I didn't want to work for others anymore, so I set up a small stall and wrote letters for people.
Although I don't have many customers yet, I believe that as long as I work hard, things will get better.
......
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