"Come on, Zhiwen, eat more to nourish yourself!" At the dinner table, Mrs. Chi kept adding food to Feng Zhiwen's plate. "I specially asked the kitchen to make chicken soup, isn't it delicious?"
"It's delicious! My aunt is so good to me!" Feng Zhiwen used his left hand to pick up the chopsticks, and his movements were inevitably a little clumsy. Everyone was considerate of his self-esteem and pretended not to see it, and no one dared to help him.
Although he acted as if nothing was wrong, everyone knew that truly accepting himself as he is now was a long process.
After finishing her meal, Shen Tangning had just returned to her courtyard when Feng Zhiwen followed her over, saying, "Sister-in-law."
She looked at him with some surprise: "Why are you here? Your cousin isn't home right now."
“I know.” Feng Zhiwen took two steps forward, then suddenly made a sudden movement, slamming his knees heavily on the ground, his face resolute. “I’m here to thank my cousin-in-law.”
Shen Tangning paused, looking down at him with an unreadable expression.
Feng Zhiwen lowered his head in shame: "I had no idea that my cousin-in-law had gone to the Crown Prince to plead for help because of the trouble I had caused. If it weren't for my cousin-in-law, my father probably wouldn't have gotten away so easily."
He knew very well that the Crown Prince had only believed the matter so quickly because of her, and had taken precautions in advance.
He had treated her so badly before, yet she held no grudge at all.
“Sister-in-law, now I realize how wrong I was. I can never repay this kindness in my lifetime. In the future, if you give me a single command, I, Feng Zhiwen, will do anything for you, even at the cost of my life!” His eyes were bright and burning, and his expression was exceptionally resolute.
When he came to apologize to Shen Tangning before, it was partly out of a desire to ask his cousin to save his father, but now he is genuinely grateful to her.
Shen Tangning looked him over and slowly said, "After going through all this, you are indeed very different from before. Stand up and speak."
Feng Zhiwen stood up, a self-deprecating smile on his lips: "Sister-in-law, you're joking. After such a change, if I still haven't made any progress, wouldn't I be beyond redemption?"
She studied his expression and said calmly, "It's never too late to make changes. Many people only begin their real lives after experiencing major changes. You have a long road ahead of you."
His expression darkened, and his tone became somewhat strained: "In my current state, what future can I talk about?"
For a proud and arrogant young master, physical disability was a significant blow.
Shen Tangning stared at him intently: "Do you intend to remain mediocre forever? After this ordeal, you must know that without power, the Feng family is like fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others. If it doesn't work this time, there will always be a next time. Are you willing to be at the mercy of others?"
Feng Zhiwen paused, then looked up at her: "What does my cousin-in-law mean?"
Shen Tangning slightly raised her chin and looked into the distance: "There are many ways to get ahead. If you want to enter officialdom, what does it matter if you are physically disabled? If you can't hold a pen with your right hand, then practice with your left hand. As long as you are willing to work hard, one day your left hand will be as flexible as your right hand."
Feng Zhiwen had also considered this method, but he hesitated, saying, "If I were to take the imperial examination, it would take me at least three to five years to enter officialdom."
This doesn't even include the possibility of failing the exam, which would take too long, and he worried that the Feng family wouldn't be able to wait that long.
Shen Tangning had been waiting for him to say those words. She turned her gaze slightly to his face, and raised the corners of her lips slightly: "How about this, I'll show you a way out, it just depends on whether you can endure the hardship?"
Feng Zhiwen's eyes hardened: "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I can endure any hardship!"
Compared to the torment he suffered in that dark woodshed, what hardship could he not endure?
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