Horse-head Wall Reflects the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 50: I don't ask for wealth and honor, but I hope to have peace of mind
"Sanheng, my husband and I can't give you what the Liu family can, nor can we support your parents." Waving her hands towards the clear stream beside her, Liu Jiaoan's gaze finally moved from the basket beside her to Sanheng.

Walking to the basket, Liu Jiaoan bent down slightly and picked up the basket, and once again walked around Sanheng who was standing in the middle, with no intention of handing the basket in his hand to the latter.

Madam's words stung Sanheng's heart, and he didn't know how much colder it was than the icy stream water. However, Sanheng just stood there and didn't rush to catch up with Madam: "Madam, Sanheng's parents work in the Liu family and can support themselves."

Although Sanheng's footsteps did not keep up with Liu Jiaoan, his words were obviously a statement to his wife. Sanheng's parents in the Liu family did not need Sanheng to support them, and Sanheng would not return to the Liu family for his parents.

"Your parents are old, and the Liu family is not like me and my husband." Liu Jiaoan rarely turned around and looked at Sanheng.

Although they are master and servant in name, both Liu Jiaoan and Guan Yin have always respected San Heng. This behavior is not like Liu Jiaoan's usual self.

But Liu Jiaoan was right. Sanheng's parents were getting older, and the illnesses that were not obvious when they were young had long accumulated. Now they were in their forties, and Sanheng's mother, who had lost her first child, had poor eyesight and could not do any delicate work.

Sanheng's father had suffered from the damp and cold winters in the past, so his waist and legs were no longer as nimble as they used to be...he was no match for a man in his twenties.

If they stay in the Liu family and cannot work, the Liu family will not provide any generous pension benefits to two such old and clumsy people for the sake of their so-called good reputation.

"Madam, Sanheng believes in her husband..."

"You don't have to believe the Liu family. My father is a high-ranking official." Liu Jiaoan finally turned around and looked at Sanheng who was about to take two steps forward. "He has been an official for a long time, and he no longer has such a big heart."

Thinking of her father, the emotions in Liu Jiaoan's eyes inevitably became complicated. Having been born and raised by his father, her life in the Liu family was luxurious. When she was a child, her father would take her to buy some small toys during his ten-day break to accompany her as she grew up.

Later, when Liu Jiaoan sold her daughter for fame, it was hard to say whether she was more attached to her father or more resentful. It can only be said that Liu's father pushed his daughter away and expressed his concern in a self-righteous way.

"Madam and my husband don't treat Sanheng as an outsider. Sanheng is willing to follow them." This time, Madam might really want to drive him away. Sanheng was anxious to explain, but he had to keep a reasonable distance from Liu Jiaoan.

"You don't have to explain to me."

"You rarely go to the market with me, but the Liu family specially arranged people to oppose me on those occasions, and you just happened to be by my side." Liu Jiaoan simply explained the matter to Sanheng, "I know your parents are in the Liu family, so... you might as well go back."

"If you don't get caught in the middle, it will be difficult for you, and my husband and I will not be able to live in peace."

"In this mountain, even if there is no work, we can live off the mountain. My husband and I have hands and feet, so we won't starve to death."

When Liu Jiaoan put the facts in front of Sanheng, the latter didn't know how to explain it so that he would look less suspicious.

Just before Sanheng was about to take the basket from his wife's hand and then think of a solution, Liu Jiaoan had already turned around and ran towards home without stopping for a moment - this time, she seemed to really not want to keep Sanheng.

If Sanheng was wrong, that was not the case. People are born and raised by their parents, and in Sanheng's opinion, Liu's father's actions were not entirely intended to hurt his wife.

On the contrary, an increasingly incompetent husband is of no benefit to his wife's life.

In Sanheng's heart, he obeys his wife first, thinks for his wife first, and then thinks for his husband - when his husband becomes a stumbling block that affects his wife's life, Sanheng will kick him away without hesitation.

"Madam, Sanheng..."

Obviously, Liu Jiaoan was not here to listen to Sanheng's explanation. Liu Jiaoan knew Sanheng's thoughts and who Sanheng was doing it for, and she didn't need Sanheng to explain it to her again.

But Sanheng is not a girl after all. She doesn't understand Liu Jiaoan's thoughts, let alone the circumstances of a girl. Besides feeling regretful, she can't help but feel aggrieved.

And this grievance will obviously explode on the husband one day.

Liu Jiaoan doesn't want such a day to come. In order to prevent future troubles, she must let Sanheng leave now.

"Madam, Sanheng was wrong. Sanheng will not do it again in the future."

Along with Sanheng's words, there was also the sound of something heavy falling to the ground. Liu Jiaoan guessed what was going on, but didn't dare to look back.

Once he turned back, Liu Jiaoan knew that he would be soft-hearted. Such soft-heartedness was not a good thing for Sanheng, because his parents could not afford to support themselves, and they needed Sanheng to return to the Liu family to earn money.

Such softness is not a good thing for me and my husband. Once some things are reported back to my father, everything will be ruined...

Liu Jiaoan walked in front without looking back, and soon saw Guan Yin standing at the door waiting for her. The tranquility and confusion on the latter's face made Liu Jiaoan more certain of her choice.

"Madam, where is Sanheng?" Sanheng had just gone out saying that he was going to look for Madam. Now that Liu Jiaoan is back, Sanheng is nowhere to be seen. Guan Yin's gaze passed over Liu Jiaoan and began to look for Sanheng.

"He, was..."

Before Liu Jiaoan finished speaking, a dishevelled Sanheng appeared on the path not far away. Both of them turned their eyes to Sanheng. Guan Yin looked at him with disbelief: "Sanheng?"

"How did it become like this?" Guan Yin's eyes wandered between the two of them, and for a moment he couldn't figure out what exactly had happened between them.

"Madam, Sanheng is wrong. Madam, please don't chase Sanheng away."

Seeing Sanheng kneeling straight in front of him, Guan Yin was stunned, and Liu Jiaoan no longer avoided him. The two of them looked at Sanheng with eyes as heavy as a thousand pounds...

"Hurry up and let the child get up!" Cheng Heng was facing the same dilemma.

The only one who was better than Guan Yin was Cheng Heng, who had kneeled on the stage and had seen other people kneel - of course, he had also kneeled in the Temple of the God of Wealth on auspicious days, or worshipped on the stage before the performance in accordance with ancient customs.

But Cheng Heng still couldn't get used to this kind of etiquette that clearly distinguished "superior and inferior", especially when the child in front of him had just made a mess and he just happened to come over to "join in the fun". When a person of no real significance was being treated with such a great respect, Cheng Heng wished he could just "bow to each other as husband and wife" with the person opposite him.

Of course, Cheng Heng suppressed his abstraction and chose to help Ying Sheng up first.

"Sir, there has been some trouble at home these past two days, and I have already taught my son a lesson... I hope you will not get angry because of his behavior during this period."

"I'm fine, but the child is not young anymore, so we should save some face in front of outsiders." When Cheng Heng was the same age, he already hoped that people around him would consider his face, and Ying Sheng must be the same. But Ying Sheng obviously didn't intend to buy it.

"I don't need your pleading." An old-fashioned teacher, who spoke only about various things, loyalty, righteousness, filial piety and brotherhood. Ying Sheng actually didn't like this teacher at all.

But my father said that if I want to succeed, I must learn from the teacher...

"If you can be an official, why do you want to be a teacher?" Ying Sheng shook off Cheng Heng's hand and turned his head away stubbornly. "What's more, you don't even have a wife. How do you know what love and free marriage are?"

"Bastard!" Ying's father was forced to curse in front of outsiders, and when he came to his senses, he had to give Cheng Heng an apologetic look.

It's ok that this rascal in front of me made the family a mess a few days ago, but now he has offended the teacher - what's the good of the new-style school? Who knows if he will become one of those who were beheaded one day?

The family was not very prosperous. Although Ying's father beat and scolded Ying Sheng at this time, what he really felt was "disappointment with his son". He hoped that his son would have a bright future and also hoped that he could live a good life.

"Dad, who knew that you and mom were truly in love? Others said that mom had no choice but to marry you...but mom's personality is obviously that kind of..."

"Shut up, you bastard!"

No matter what, the teacher is still an outsider. How can he tell outsiders about his parents' personalities? Ying Xuexin now wishes she could shut her son's mouth!
"Dad, I just know that you and mom are truly in love. Otherwise, I will definitely ask mom to find someone new."

Ying Sheng's words were not enough to shock people, and Cheng Heng, who had been single since birth, felt a little uncomfortable. After all, writing a script is one thing, but watching others show affection in front of you and listening to a little kid "talking nonsense" is another thing!

"Shut up!" Ying Xuexin didn't bear to hit the child anymore, but she stomped her feet in anger.

The family runs a medicine store. Fortunately, Ying Xuexin has taken good care of himself over the years, otherwise this one son would be enough to make Ying Xuexin so angry that he would have a stroke eight or ten times...

Ying Sheng was still fanning the flames. Cheng Heng knew that if he continued like this, he would not be able to achieve his goal today. He quickly spoke before Ying Sheng said anything shocking: "I am not here for anything else this time. Ying Sheng has his own ideas."

"He may not be able to concentrate on his studies here. It would be better for him to go home and have a rest... It's not good to ask all the students in the private school to get involved in the family affairs of the Ying family."

"All I have to do is follow your instructions." Ying Xuexin knew that Cheng Heng was unwilling to teach Ying Sheng, so she did not try to keep him.

After chatting, Ying Xuexin and his wife sent Cheng Heng out of the house.

With his wife by his side, Ying Xuexin finally calmed down and settled his mind. He looked at his son who was still kneeling, "Get up."

"lady……"

Without Ying Xuexin saying anything, the mother was of course worried about her son's health. She had already prepared the medicine and rubbed Ying Sheng's knees: "It will be too late when you say it."

In front of their son, the couple rarely quarreled, but Ning Yaosheng, as a mother, couldn't help but speak: "I said a long time ago that no matter whether it is a son or a daughter, I will not force them to be a certain way. Until now, you still..."

Her eyes fell on Ying Xuexin's slightly bitter brows, and Ning Yaosheng also knew why the former suddenly had the desire to make demands on his son.

One reason is that the world is in chaos, and there must be scholars to plan for a future for the world. Ying Xuexin did not ask his son to make big changes, but he hoped that he would not become a parasite that everyone despised.

The second reason was that the family's medicine shop was doing worse and worse. Not to mention the foreign medicines, even Ying Xuecheng and Ning Yaochen's shop was more popular than their own...

"Sheng'er, your parents just want you to live a good life, and they don't ask you to be an official."

"But you should understand the principles in books... You should also know about the East, those..."

"You shouldn't believe their lies. If you learn medicine from them, wouldn't that destroy the teachings of our ancestors? If they intend to harm you, the medicine you learn will become a poison that kills your compatriots!"

"My son is not a fool. He can tell the truth from the false!" Ying Sheng was full of youthful enthusiasm and stiffened his neck to compete with his father.

The teachers in the new-style schools said that learning those foreign things was to find useful things to save the country - instead of being like Mr. Lu, who still kept that pathetic long braid even though the imperial examination no longer existed.

Neither the father nor the son could explain clearly what was in their mind, so this conversation certainly would not have any real result. In the end, it was Ning Yaosheng who had to mediate between the father and son alone.

"Madam, I won't ask him for help until now... But those foreigners' artillery is clearly a national hatred and family feud, how can I go... Oh!"

Ying Xuexin was worried. She was worried that her medicine shop could not continue to operate. She was also worried that her son would continue to behave recklessly. The Ying family would be scolded and criticized!

"Mother, mother, I just hope that mother will not be wronged."

"Mom, I know that's not what you want to say... But your son doesn't think he is wrong. Did those things save people? Did those ethical principles save people?"

Ying Sheng was worried that his father would never understand him and insisted that he learn those harmful things from that old man...

Only Ning Yaosheng sees the difference between the father and son clearly. Today she thinks Ah Xin is right, and tomorrow she thinks Sheng'er is right. In her indecision, she makes the mess even more complicated.

People are in chaos, and the sky is chaotic too. The world, mountains and rivers are covered in a bluish-white eggshell. The rising and falling of the sun have become unclear. All that is known is day turns into night, and night turns into day. Time drives the confused people forward step by step.

After not attending the private school for three consecutive days, Ying Sheng and Ying An finally showed up at their usual places and listened quietly to a day's classes.

There must be something wrong when things are abnormal. Cheng Heng thinks that the two children can be so quiet, there must be bigger plans brewing behind the scenes.

But Ying An did not do that. She stayed in her corner as usual, completing all of Cheng Heng's requirements step by step. It was as if she was not the one who gave advice and tested her parents' love as Ying Sheng said.

Neither did Ying Sheng. He did very well in his homework and was able to answer Cheng Heng's "deliberate provocations" fluently - now it was Cheng Heng's turn to feel unconfident.

(End of this chapter)