After listening to his long-winded explanation, Old Mrs. Chen shook her head and gave a wry smile, "Zhancai, all you've got to say is that you haven't made any money yet!"
Chen Zhancai nodded, then sighed helplessly, “Being born is easy, living is easy, but life is really not easy. Let’s take things slowly!”
Upon hearing this, Old Man Chen became anxious and agitated. "Zhancai, don't talk about things that are difficult or not. The family is about to run out of food. To be precise, we won't even have rice bran to eat. You have to think of a way!"
"What can I do? Do you want to force me to my death? If you had just ignored my suggestion to sell the land back then, would things have come to this?"
And the eldest and second eldest sons, if it weren't for my mother always trying to control them, would they have been able to separate from the Chen family and sever ties to find peace of mind?
Now you're making me shoulder all the responsibility and pressure alone. How could you be so heartless? I beg you, please stop pushing me, okay? I'm so tired of living like this.
Chen Zhancai pretended to be innocent. He was completely unaware that he was responsible for the Chen family's current situation. He felt no remorse and even blamed everything on Old Man Chen and his wife.
He subconsciously touched his pocket; he had to hold onto this money tightly.
If they loosen their grip even slightly, given the old couple's temperament—they'll ask for a little today, and be stingy tomorrow—they'll be penniless in no time.
When that time comes, we'll have to beg for food.
Old Man Chen nearly choked on his anger at his words. "You good-for-nothing! You've wasted your education! When you were trying to fool me and your mother with your sweet talk, you didn't say this at all. Now that you're a scholar, how can you treat your parents like this? Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?"
Old Man Chen's words were dripping with blood, each sentence a gem of wisdom, venting his dissatisfaction with Chen Zhancai.
Chen Zhancai's face turned pale after being rebuked. "Dad, how can you talk about your son like that? Did I say I wouldn't take care of you? Am I such a stingy person? I already said that I can barely take care of myself, how can I have the ability to take care of you?"
As he spoke, he even forced out a few tears.
"Son, I don't blame you for not having money." Seeing her son cry, Old Mrs. Chen softened and sighed. "I remember Fengjiao said that if Jiye works as a page for the young master of the Wang family again, he can earn some money every month. Can you go to Fengjiao and get some money for your parents to get by?"
Mentioning Chen Jiye, Chen Zhancai felt a chill in his heart. Chen Jiye truly looked down on him from the bottom of his heart, speaking coldly to him and never giving him a kind look.
“Mother, Fengjiao is now looking after the courtyard for Wang Qichang’s family. She gets food and lodging but no wages. As for Jiye, forget about him. That kid is getting worse and worse. He’s lucky if he doesn’t belittle me when he sees me. He won’t get any money.”
Old Mrs. Chen pleaded, "Son, since you have no money, we won't make things difficult for you. But could you buy your parents something to eat? If you go home hungry, your father and I might starve to death on the way."
Chen Zhancai initially didn't want to help the elderly couple, but seeing how weak they were from hunger and barely had the strength to speak, he felt a pang of pity.
Forget it, just consider it as encountering two beggars. Giving them a few coins is a good deed.
Thinking of this, he rummaged in his pocket for a long time before finally pulling out a few copper coins from the loose silver and handing them to Old Lady Chen.
"This is all the money I have left. Take it and buy some rice bran to tide you over when you get home."
"This little bit of money won't last long!"
"You're so ungrateful. I don't even know if I'll be able to eat dinner tonight with this little bit of money. If there are no customers at my stall this afternoon, I'll go hungry." Chen Zhancai said impatiently, then added with a serious expression, "You two go home and think of a solution. Eldest brother and second brother's families are living such good lives, I don't believe they'll just watch you starve to death."
"Fine, even if I starve to death now, it's my own fault. I'm leaving." Old Mrs. Chen had lost the energy she had when she first arrived, and suddenly looked several years older.
Just as I was about to leave, I suddenly remembered the woman who sold tofu earlier, and a vague sense of unease crept into my heart.
She changed the subject, "Son, I haven't seen Ru Hua in a long time, I want to go see her."
After her reminder, Old Man Chen nodded repeatedly, "Yes, your mother has been wanting to see Ruhua for a while now. Take me there quickly and say a few words to her."
Chen Zhancai scoffed dismissively, "I think you guys are just bored and have nothing better to do. Ruhua is perfectly fine, you don't need to worry about her. Just leave!"
The more he said that, the more worried Old Mrs. Chen became. “Son, during the months you were in Ningjing, Ruhua did her best for us. To put it bluntly, she was more filial than you. I’ve missed her terribly since I last saw her. Let me see her just once, and then I’ll leave.”
"You're getting more and more ignorant as you get older." Chen Zhancai completely lost his patience and said fiercely to Old Madam Chen, "Ruhua has already been divorced by me. If you want her, go find someone else. Don't bother me."
When Old Mrs. Chen heard these words, she was struck dumb, stunned, and felt dizzy. Her vision blurred and she almost collapsed.
Fortunately, Old Man Chen, who was quick-witted and agile, rushed forward and supported Old Woman Chen's arm, saying, "Old woman, you have to hold on!"
Old Mrs. Chen was heartbroken. She steadied herself and pointed a trembling finger at Chen Zhancai, "You, you, you heartless bastard! Ruhua was such a good wife, how could you divorce her?"
"Yes, Ruhua is a good woman who is good at managing a household. She listens to you and is very filial to us. How could you do such a heartless and ungrateful thing?" Old Man Chen was so angry that he stomped his feet.
Chen Zhancai glanced at the two of them disdainfully and said indifferently, "That's enough. Stop dawdling. Ruhua is my woman. Whether she stays or leaves is none of your business. Mind your own business and don't meddle in things you shouldn't. Aren't you tired of worrying about this?" After saying that, he left without looking back.
Grandma Chen wanted to say something more, but after opening her mouth, she swallowed the words back.
Old Chen shook his head helplessly and sighed, then advised her, "Alright, old woman, a son is beyond his mother's control once he grows up. We can't control this!"
"I just don't understand. Ruhua was such a good wife, hardworking and willing to do anything. Why did Zhancai divorce her?"
“My silly old woman, how can you still not see through this? Zhan Cai is a complete liar. Some things are not as he says at all. If I’m not mistaken, he must be short of money, which is why he sold Ru Hua.”
Old Mrs. Chen also realized this. Her son had changed. He had become a stranger to her, cold and indifferent, without any human touch.
It seems she made the wrong bet. She thought she had someone to rely on for the rest of her life, but now it appears she can't count on this son at all.
She regretted it. If she had known this would happen, she should have treated everyone equally from the beginning, and things wouldn't have turned out this way...
“Old man, you’re right. That woman must be Ru Hua. Let’s go see her.” Old Mrs. Chen said, turning to leave.
Old Chen quickly blocked their way, "Alright, old woman, she's long gone now. Where are we going to find her? Besides, even if you did see her, what could you say? Forget it, let's just buy some rice bran and go home early!"
Grandma Chen thought there was some truth to it, so she stopped insisting and bought some rice bran before heading home.
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