Perhaps hearing the conversation outside, the reading inside stopped.
Not long after, a door opened, and a handsome young man came out, “Brother, what did the County Magistrate say? Did he agree?!”
Bai Lixin looked at the young man across from him. He appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, his features slightly younger than Xia Chi’s.
He wore a clean bright blue robe, which made him look refined without being extravagant.
Zhang Biao coughed lightly, “Brother, this is Master Bai Lixin. Quickly pay your respects to him.”
The young man then looked at Bai Lixin and respectfully bowed, “Greetings, Master Bai Lixin.”
Zhang Biao’s face showed a hint of pride. He smiled at Bai Lixin, “My younger brother is very polite.”
Bai Lixin returned the gesture, “You are courteous.”
Zhang Biao: “Sir, please sit. Let’s go inside and talk.”
The three of them entered the main hall. As soon as they sat down, the young man asked again, “Big brother, what did the County Magistrate say? Can I become a scribe at your yamen?”
He looked at Zhang Biao eagerly, his face filled with anticipation.
Zhang Biao glanced at Bai Lixin and explained somewhat awkwardly, “Brother, Master Bai Lixin here is our yamen’s scribe. He is very talented and more than capable of handling the duties of a scribe.”
The young man, who had been smiling, immediately frowned, “But, brother, didn’t you say you were ninety percent sure of success? You promised me. If you can’t do it, you shouldn’t have made such a promise in the first place!”
Zhang Biao looked flustered, “Brother, please don’t be angry. I said it was ninety percent certain, not one hundred percent. Master Bai Lixin is excellent, and he…”
Zhang Biao suddenly stopped speaking.
He wanted to say “Bai Lixin is more suitable for the scribe position than you,” but he couldn’t say such words because, in his mind, his younger brother was the most outstanding person in the world.
And he couldn’t say it because if those words came from him, his younger brother would be hurt.
Zhang Biao lowered his head and swallowed the last words.
The young man stood up, his face cold as he looked at Zhang Biao, “Brother, I’ve never asked you for anything from childhood till now. I’ve never demanded anything from you. Now, I’m asking you for this one thing, and you can’t even do it. You used to tell me how powerful you were in the yamen, how the County Magistrate relied on you. It seems all those words were just lies to deceive me.”
“I’m a fool to believe everything you say. Now, I’ve been deceived by you. Not only did you not secure the scribe position for me, but you also brought someone home for me to see. You’re clearly stabbing me in the heart.”
“What am I supposed to see? That he’s more handsome than me? That he’s more talented than me?”
“Brother, you’re my real brother. How can you treat me like this? You’ve really disappointed me.”
The young man ranted like a popping bean and then turned and slammed the door shut.
Soon, Bai Lixin heard a loud sound of a door slamming shut from the adjacent room.
Zhang Biao looked somewhat embarrassed as he smiled at Bai Lixin, “He’s just a kid, he’s naturally a bit impulsive. I apologize for his behavior. When I was his age, I was even more impulsive. I was the devil here back then, anyone who saw me would run away.”
“My younger brother emulated me and learned some bad habits. I regret it now. If I knew my younger brother would turn out this way, I wouldn’t have behaved so recklessly back then.”
After saying this, Zhang Biao’s face turned red again. He shifted the topic awkwardly, “Sir, let me make tea for you.”
As he stood up from the chair, a figure walked in.
“Biaozi, how did you upset your younger brother again?”
The person who came in was an old woman, likely Zhang Biao’s mother, judging by her age and tone.
“Mother, it’s my fault for not treating my younger brother well.”
Different from the arrogance in the yamen, Zhang Biao at home was like a tiger with its teeth pulled out, not daring to make a sound.
After explaining the situation, the woman sighed, “You know your younger brother is a scholar, he always thinks more than us. By bringing someone back like this, aren’t you just rubbing salt in his wounds?”
“Mother,” Zhang Biao explained anxiously, “but Master Bai Lixin is truly outstanding. He saved a brother of mine in the gambling den today. If not for him, my good brother would probably have been beaten to death.”
“The person next to you is a scholar, and your good brother is at the yamen. Can’t you remember there’s a real brother at home?” The woman disapproved, giving Zhang Biao a stern look. “It’s rare that your younger brother finally found something he wants to do.”
“And you went into the gambling den again? Have you forgotten what I said? Haven’t I told you? If you take one step into the gambling den again, you will kneel in front of your father’s tablet and self-punish with thirty lashes.”
“Zhang Biao, I don’t expect you to be a hero. Your meager salary is just enough to sustain our family. Do you think your brother wants to work at the yamen because he’s greedy? No, he just wants to earn more money. He will participate in the provincial examination in a few months. How can we support your brother when we have nothing?”
“But he went to the gambling den to save someone,” Bai Lixin intervened.
“Saving people is not enough!” The woman shot a glare at Bai Lixin. “Sir, this is our family matter. Please don’t interfere.”
Zhang Biao shook his head secretly at Bai Lixin. His tall figure stooped in front of the petite woman. He lowered his head and answered dejectedly, “Yes, Mother. After Master Bai Lixin finishes his meal, I will accept the punishment.”
“Meal?” The woman pursed her lips. “I didn’t hear it just now. Isn’t the person with you also someone who entered the gambling den? How did he save your brother? Could it be he used gambling to save him too?”
“Zhang Biao, you know what I hate the most, right? I won’t provide meals for gamblers.”
After the woman spoke, a young man’s angry shouts came from the neighboring room, “Let my brother go! I don’t want to see him!”
Zhang Biao’s expression became even more awkward.
He didn’t expect the situation to escalate like this.
He looked at Bai Lixin apologetically, feeling at a loss.
Sir obviously did nothing wrong. Not only did he save people, he also closed the casino.
In the end, Bai Lixin smiled and said, “In that case, I will take my leave.”
With that, Bai Lixin didn’t linger anymore. He brushed past the woman and left.
Seeing this, Zhang Biao hurriedly followed, catching up with Bai Lixin and saying anxiously, “Sir, I apologize for the inconvenience!”
Bai Lixin: “It’s fine. You better go and appease your mother and brother. Your mother seems to detest gambling greatly?”
Zhang Biao: “Whether you believe it or not, my mother is not usually like this. Today, maybe because my younger brother was angry, so my mother vented her anger through this.”
“Our family despises gamblers because my father was beaten to death due to gambling. I was twelve years old, and my brother was only five at that time.”
“After my father’s death, our source of income was cut off. My mother made my brother and me swear in front of my father’s memorial tablet, pledging never to touch gambling for our entire lives.”
“I like playing with dice, but I don’t dare to play at home, only at the yamen with my brothers.”
“After my father’s death, our family was in dire straits. My mother fished in the river during winter and did handicrafts at night to make a living.”
“We did all kinds of dirty and tiring jobs, and the money earned was barely enough to repay debts. My father might have died, but we still had his debts to clear.”
“They often came to our house to cause trouble. Once, they even tried to harm my mother physically.”
Bai Lixin interrupted, “So, you became a little tyrant to intimidate these people, hoping to make them behave with your ferocity? When did you start working?”
Zhang Biao: “Ah, sir, you guessed it right. I started to fight and act tough to intimidate these people.”
They happened to pass a noodle stall. It was just getting dark, and the stall wasn’t busy. Bai Lixin pointed to an empty table, “If you’re not in a hurry, we can talk there. I’m quite interested in your experiences.”
Zhang Biao agreed, “Oh, of course. I can’t go back now anyway. I’ll return when they’ve calmed down.”
The two found a clean table and sat down. Zhang Biao immediately asked, “Sir, what would you like to eat?”
Bai Lixin replied, “Plain noodles.”
Zhang Biao quickly nodded, “Boss, two bowls of plain noodles, and a plate of side dishes, please.”
After ordering the food, Zhang Biao apologized, “I originally planned to entertain you properly, but we ended up at a roadside stall. I’m really sorry.”
Bai Lixin shrugged, “It’s okay, continue your story. Where did you leave off? Oh, how old were you when you started working?”
Zhang Biao: “I started working when I was thirteen. I didn’t want my mother to be so exhausted. Fortunately, although I was young, I was sturdy, so I could handle a lot of heavy work. In those years, I earned some money doing labor, which I used to repay my father’s gambling debts.”
“I really liked the thought of working at the yamen. I felt like I could punish the wicked and promote the good. So, I joined the yamen. I was strong and had some martial arts skills, so I easily became a constable. Later, because I did well, I became the head constable.”
“But, you’ve probably noticed, I have a quick temper,” Zhang Biao scratched his head sheepishly. “I got used to talking this way when I was a kid. Even though I don’t need to anymore, I can’t change it, so I’ve been like this.”
Bai Lixin asked, “You started earning money to support your family at thirteen. How old is your younger brother now?”
Zhang Biao answered, “He’s eighteen years old this year.”
Bai Lixin inquired, “What has your younger brother been doing?”
Zhang Biao : “Sir, please don’t misunderstand my younger brother. He is diligent. My mother has always hoped that our family could produce a scholar. I couldn’t, but my brother can. To help with the family finances, he sometimes works as a private tutor for wealthy families.”
Bai Lixin looked at Zhang Biao’s anxious expression and asked, “Does your brother bring any money from home?”
Zhang Biao: “He gives all his earnings to my mother. She saves it for him to buy a house and get married in the future.”
Bai Lixin asked, “What about your house? Aren’t you getting married?”
“I will, of course. Our family is fine. I’m a rough man, having a place to live is enough for me. But my younger brother is different. When he was young, my mother sent him to live with relatives in order to avoid those debt collectors. Our relatives are quite wealthy, and my brother got used to living in a big house. I, as an older brother, have no ability. If I could earn more money, I would have bought my brother a house a long time ago.”
Bai Lixin fell into silence. “…”
The younger brother worked as a private tutor in wealthy households. Could it be because he didn’t want to stay in this house and wanted to live in a better place?
——————————-
In the live broadcast room
[This Zhang Biao might look rough, but he’s really miserable. Such a decisive person outside, but at home, he’s constantly manipulated.]
[Exactly, he’s already become the head constable, yet his mother seems to still look down on him. Clearly, this child has contributed the most to the family, yet he can’t compare to a single word from his younger brother. Isn’t this too biased?]
[Although they say parents love their children equally, in reality, the scale is unsteady. It’s just that parents don’t say it out loud.]
——————————–
While chatting, their plain noodles arrived quickly.
They also got a plate of peanuts as a side dish.
The dishes were simple. They chatted for a while longer, and by the time they finished, the night had fallen completely.
After the meal, the two stood up, and Bai Lixin saw Zhang Biao heading in the opposite direction of his home.
He asked curiously, “Zhang Biao, where are you going?”
Zhang Biao: “Oh, I’m going to visit Chang Song’s house. I have to let his family know they don’t need to wait for him to return and let them know that he is safe.”
Bai Lixin pondered for a moment, then said, “Let’s go together. I have nothing else to do anyway.”
Zhang Biao was somewhat surprised but agreed to Bai Lixin’s suggestion.
Chang Song’s house wasn’t far; their living conditions seemed even worse than Zhang Biao’s.
There was no fence, bamboo was used to form a rudimentary barrier.
If a thief wanted to steal something, he could easily climb over.
Looking inside from the barrier, everything in the yard was visible.
In the darkness, there was no one inside the yard. Two plots of land were dug, with vegetables like Chinese cabbage growing on the ground.
The gate was locked, but in the closed room at the end of the yard, flickering candlelight could be seen.
Zhang Biao stood at the doorway and called out, “Mrs. Chang, Mrs. Chang!”
Soon, a woman opened the door and walked over. “Head Constable Zhang, I knew it was you when I heard your voice. What’s the matter? Where’s my husband?”
“Oh, there’s a case at the yamen, and Chang Song is needed for a few days. He had to leave in a hurry and didn’t have time to come back and tell you. Before he left, he asked me to inform you.”
Mrs. Chang Song asked, “When will he be back?”
Zhang Biao: “If it’s fast, it might be four or five days. If it’s slow, it could be seven or eight days.”
“Ah, there’s nothing we can do then. Yamen matters are important,” Mrs. Chang Song nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Head Constable Zhang. It’s troubling you to come here again.”
After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Biao asked, “Mrs. Chang Song, how is his mother’s health recently?”
Mrs. Chang Song: “The old lady is still very healthy. She’s even doing household chores like this and doesn’t seem like a woman in her seventies at all.”
Zhang Biao sighed in relief, “Oh, I see. I’ll take my leave then. Mrs. Chang Song, remember to lock the door at night.”
Zhang Biao had just taken a few steps away when he was suddenly called back by Mrs. Chang Song.
“Head Constable Zhang.”
Zhang Biao turned around and saw Mrs. Chang Song looking at him hesitantly. “Is it really true that Chang Song has gone on a long journey? He didn’t go gambling again, did he? He seemed a bit off yesterday, like he was craving to gamble. Could he have been beaten up by people from the gambling den and doesn’t dare to come home?”
“How could that be,” Zhang Biao suddenly burst into laughter, “you’re really good at imagining things, Mrs. Chang Song. Chang Song hasn’t gambled for a long time. He quit a while ago, didn’t he?”
“Oh, then you guys at the yamen have to keep an eye on him for us. Even though we scold him, only you can discipline him.”
“Sure, don’t worry!” Zhang Biao patted his chest, “Leave it to me, I promise to keep an eye on him for you.”
As the two walked away, Bai Lixin looked back and saw Mrs. Chang Song still standing at the door, watching them.
Zhang Biao sighed deeply, “Chang Song’s family used to be wealthy. When he first came to work at the yamen, we teased him, calling him a rich young master just here to play.”
“Then, one day, he suddenly started gambling. At first, he won a bit, a few taels at a time. Later, it became tens of taels at a time.”
“Then he started losing money. But he always thought he could win it back, so he kept gambling and gambling until he lost all the family’s wealth, even the land deed.”
“His mother got so angry she fell ill several times. She’s already so old and yet has to experience the hardships ordinary people face. It’s really hard on her.”
“We’ve talked to him many times. After Chang Song secretly gambled away the land deed, I almost killed him. He was probably scared, so he swore he would never gamble again.”
“For several months after that, Chang Song really didn’t gamble. The old madam and old master had experienced a lot in their lives and gradually accepted the situation. They felt as long as he changed his ways, it was fine. They gradually got used to life here.”
“Ah, but these are just their words. Who knows if they secretly regret and cry in the quiet of the night.”
“I thought Chang Song had truly changed, but I didn’t expect him to cause such trouble again today.”
“That’s why I didn’t want him to come home. Seeing these injuries, his family will definitely know what Chang Song has done. Those two old people might really be driven to death because of anger.”
“To be honest, sir,” Zhang Biao sighed deeply, his voice heavy with helplessness, “maybe it’s because the disappointment has come too many times, even if Chang Song cuts off a finger today, I don’t believe he can change.”
Bai Lixin fell into silence.
Many hardships in life could be avoided.
For a person like Chang Song, it’s hard to say if he can truly reform or if he’ll continue down the same path.
Perhaps hearing the conversation outside, the reading inside stopped.
Not long after, a door opened, and a handsome young man came out, “Brother, what did the County Magistrate say? Did he agree?!”
Bai Lixin looked at the young man across from him. He appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, his features slightly younger than Xia Chi’s.
He wore a clean bright blue robe, which made him look refined without being extravagant.
Zhang Biao coughed lightly, “Brother, this is Master Bai Lixin. Quickly pay your respects to him.”
The young man then looked at Bai Lixin and respectfully bowed, “Greetings, Master Bai Lixin.”
Zhang Biao’s face showed a hint of pride. He smiled at Bai Lixin, “My younger brother is very polite.”
Bai Lixin returned the gesture, “You are courteous.”
Zhang Biao: “Sir, please sit. Let’s go inside and talk.”
The three of them entered the main hall. As soon as they sat down, the young man asked again, “Big brother, what did the County Magistrate say? Can I become a scribe at your yamen?”
He looked at Zhang Biao eagerly, his face filled with anticipation.
Zhang Biao glanced at Bai Lixin and explained somewhat awkwardly, “Brother, Master Bai Lixin here is our yamen’s scribe. He is very talented and more than capable of handling the duties of a scribe.”
The young man, who had been smiling, immediately frowned, “But, brother, didn’t you say you were ninety percent sure of success? You promised me. If you can’t do it, you shouldn’t have made such a promise in the first place!”
Zhang Biao looked flustered, “Brother, please don’t be angry. I said it was ninety percent certain, not one hundred percent. Master Bai Lixin is excellent, and he…”
Zhang Biao suddenly stopped speaking.
He wanted to say “Bai Lixin is more suitable for the scribe position than you,” but he couldn’t say such words because, in his mind, his younger brother was the most outstanding person in the world.
And he couldn’t say it because if those words came from him, his younger brother would be hurt.
Zhang Biao lowered his head and swallowed the last words.
The young man stood up, his face cold as he looked at Zhang Biao, “Brother, I’ve never asked you for anything from childhood till now. I’ve never demanded anything from you. Now, I’m asking you for this one thing, and you can’t even do it. You used to tell me how powerful you were in the yamen, how the County Magistrate relied on you. It seems all those words were just lies to deceive me.”
“I’m a fool to believe everything you say. Now, I’ve been deceived by you. Not only did you not secure the scribe position for me, but you also brought someone home for me to see. You’re clearly stabbing me in the heart.”
“What am I supposed to see? That he’s more handsome than me? That he’s more talented than me?”
“Brother, you’re my real brother. How can you treat me like this? You’ve really disappointed me.”
The young man ranted like a popping bean and then turned and slammed the door shut.
Soon, Bai Lixin heard a loud sound of a door slamming shut from the adjacent room.
Zhang Biao looked somewhat embarrassed as he smiled at Bai Lixin, “He’s just a kid, he’s naturally a bit impulsive. I apologize for his behavior. When I was his age, I was even more impulsive. I was the devil here back then, anyone who saw me would run away.”
“My younger brother emulated me and learned some bad habits. I regret it now. If I knew my younger brother would turn out this way, I wouldn’t have behaved so recklessly back then.”
After saying this, Zhang Biao’s face turned red again. He shifted the topic awkwardly, “Sir, let me make tea for you.”
As he stood up from the chair, a figure walked in.
“Biaozi, how did you upset your younger brother again?”
The person who came in was an old woman, likely Zhang Biao’s mother, judging by her age and tone.
“Mother, it’s my fault for not treating my younger brother well.”
Different from the arrogance in the yamen, Zhang Biao at home was like a tiger with its teeth pulled out, not daring to make a sound.
After explaining the situation, the woman sighed, “You know your younger brother is a scholar, he always thinks more than us. By bringing someone back like this, aren’t you just rubbing salt in his wounds?”
“Mother,” Zhang Biao explained anxiously, “but Master Bai Lixin is truly outstanding. He saved a brother of mine in the gambling den today. If not for him, my good brother would probably have been beaten to death.”
“The person next to you is a scholar, and your good brother is at the yamen. Can’t you remember there’s a real brother at home?” The woman disapproved, giving Zhang Biao a stern look. “It’s rare that your younger brother finally found something he wants to do.”
“And you went into the gambling den again? Have you forgotten what I said? Haven’t I told you? If you take one step into the gambling den again, you will kneel in front of your father’s tablet and self-punish with thirty lashes.”
“Zhang Biao, I don’t expect you to be a hero. Your meager salary is just enough to sustain our family. Do you think your brother wants to work at the yamen because he’s greedy? No, he just wants to earn more money. He will participate in the provincial examination in a few months. How can we support your brother when we have nothing?”
“But he went to the gambling den to save someone,” Bai Lixin intervened.
“Saving people is not enough!” The woman shot a glare at Bai Lixin. “Sir, this is our family matter. Please don’t interfere.”
Zhang Biao shook his head secretly at Bai Lixin. His tall figure stooped in front of the petite woman. He lowered his head and answered dejectedly, “Yes, Mother. After Master Bai Lixin finishes his meal, I will accept the punishment.”
“Meal?” The woman pursed her lips. “I didn’t hear it just now. Isn’t the person with you also someone who entered the gambling den? How did he save your brother? Could it be he used gambling to save him too?”
“Zhang Biao, you know what I hate the most, right? I won’t provide meals for gamblers.”
After the woman spoke, a young man’s angry shouts came from the neighboring room, “Let my brother go! I don’t want to see him!”
Zhang Biao’s expression became even more awkward.
He didn’t expect the situation to escalate like this.
He looked at Bai Lixin apologetically, feeling at a loss.
Sir obviously did nothing wrong. Not only did he save people, he also closed the casino.
In the end, Bai Lixin smiled and said, “In that case, I will take my leave.”
With that, Bai Lixin didn’t linger anymore. He brushed past the woman and left.
Seeing this, Zhang Biao hurriedly followed, catching up with Bai Lixin and saying anxiously, “Sir, I apologize for the inconvenience!”
Bai Lixin: “It’s fine. You better go and appease your mother and brother. Your mother seems to detest gambling greatly?”
Zhang Biao: “Whether you believe it or not, my mother is not usually like this. Today, maybe because my younger brother was angry, so my mother vented her anger through this.”
“Our family despises gamblers because my father was beaten to death due to gambling. I was twelve years old, and my brother was only five at that time.”
“After my father’s death, our source of income was cut off. My mother made my brother and me swear in front of my father’s memorial tablet, pledging never to touch gambling for our entire lives.”
“I like playing with dice, but I don’t dare to play at home, only at the yamen with my brothers.”
“After my father’s death, our family was in dire straits. My mother fished in the river during winter and did handicrafts at night to make a living.”
“We did all kinds of dirty and tiring jobs, and the money earned was barely enough to repay debts. My father might have died, but we still had his debts to clear.”
“They often came to our house to cause trouble. Once, they even tried to harm my mother physically.”
Bai Lixin interrupted, “So, you became a little tyrant to intimidate these people, hoping to make them behave with your ferocity? When did you start working?”
Zhang Biao: “Ah, sir, you guessed it right. I started to fight and act tough to intimidate these people.”
They happened to pass a noodle stall. It was just getting dark, and the stall wasn’t busy. Bai Lixin pointed to an empty table, “If you’re not in a hurry, we can talk there. I’m quite interested in your experiences.”
Zhang Biao agreed, “Oh, of course. I can’t go back now anyway. I’ll return when they’ve calmed down.”
The two found a clean table and sat down. Zhang Biao immediately asked, “Sir, what would you like to eat?”
Bai Lixin replied, “Plain noodles.”
Zhang Biao quickly nodded, “Boss, two bowls of plain noodles, and a plate of side dishes, please.”
After ordering the food, Zhang Biao apologized, “I originally planned to entertain you properly, but we ended up at a roadside stall. I’m really sorry.”
Bai Lixin shrugged, “It’s okay, continue your story. Where did you leave off? Oh, how old were you when you started working?”
Zhang Biao: “I started working when I was thirteen. I didn’t want my mother to be so exhausted. Fortunately, although I was young, I was sturdy, so I could handle a lot of heavy work. In those years, I earned some money doing labor, which I used to repay my father’s gambling debts.”
“I really liked the thought of working at the yamen. I felt like I could punish the wicked and promote the good. So, I joined the yamen. I was strong and had some martial arts skills, so I easily became a constable. Later, because I did well, I became the head constable.”
“But, you’ve probably noticed, I have a quick temper,” Zhang Biao scratched his head sheepishly. “I got used to talking this way when I was a kid. Even though I don’t need to anymore, I can’t change it, so I’ve been like this.”
Bai Lixin asked, “You started earning money to support your family at thirteen. How old is your younger brother now?”
Zhang Biao answered, “He’s eighteen years old this year.”
Bai Lixin inquired, “What has your younger brother been doing?”
Zhang Biao : “Sir, please don’t misunderstand my younger brother. He is diligent. My mother has always hoped that our family could produce a scholar. I couldn’t, but my brother can. To help with the family finances, he sometimes works as a private tutor for wealthy families.”
Bai Lixin looked at Zhang Biao’s anxious expression and asked, “Does your brother bring any money from home?”
Zhang Biao: “He gives all his earnings to my mother. She saves it for him to buy a house and get married in the future.”
Bai Lixin asked, “What about your house? Aren’t you getting married?”
“I will, of course. Our family is fine. I’m a rough man, having a place to live is enough for me. But my younger brother is different. When he was young, my mother sent him to live with relatives in order to avoid those debt collectors. Our relatives are quite wealthy, and my brother got used to living in a big house. I, as an older brother, have no ability. If I could earn more money, I would have bought my brother a house a long time ago.”
Bai Lixin fell into silence. “…”
The younger brother worked as a private tutor in wealthy households. Could it be because he didn’t want to stay in this house and wanted to live in a better place?
——————————-
In the live broadcast room
[This Zhang Biao might look rough, but he’s really miserable. Such a decisive person outside, but at home, he’s constantly manipulated.]
[Exactly, he’s already become the head constable, yet his mother seems to still look down on him. Clearly, this child has contributed the most to the family, yet he can’t compare to a single word from his younger brother. Isn’t this too biased?]
[Although they say parents love their children equally, in reality, the scale is unsteady. It’s just that parents don’t say it out loud.]
——————————–
While chatting, their plain noodles arrived quickly.
They also got a plate of peanuts as a side dish.
The dishes were simple. They chatted for a while longer, and by the time they finished, the night had fallen completely.
After the meal, the two stood up, and Bai Lixin saw Zhang Biao heading in the opposite direction of his home.
He asked curiously, “Zhang Biao, where are you going?”
Zhang Biao: “Oh, I’m going to visit Chang Song’s house. I have to let his family know they don’t need to wait for him to return and let them know that he is safe.”
Bai Lixin pondered for a moment, then said, “Let’s go together. I have nothing else to do anyway.”
Zhang Biao was somewhat surprised but agreed to Bai Lixin’s suggestion.
Chang Song’s house wasn’t far; their living conditions seemed even worse than Zhang Biao’s.
There was no fence, bamboo was used to form a rudimentary barrier.
If a thief wanted to steal something, he could easily climb over.
Looking inside from the barrier, everything in the yard was visible.
In the darkness, there was no one inside the yard. Two plots of land were dug, with vegetables like Chinese cabbage growing on the ground.
The gate was locked, but in the closed room at the end of the yard, flickering candlelight could be seen.
Zhang Biao stood at the doorway and called out, “Mrs. Chang, Mrs. Chang!”
Soon, a woman opened the door and walked over. “Head Constable Zhang, I knew it was you when I heard your voice. What’s the matter? Where’s my husband?”
“Oh, there’s a case at the yamen, and Chang Song is needed for a few days. He had to leave in a hurry and didn’t have time to come back and tell you. Before he left, he asked me to inform you.”
Mrs. Chang Song asked, “When will he be back?”
Zhang Biao: “If it’s fast, it might be four or five days. If it’s slow, it could be seven or eight days.”
“Ah, there’s nothing we can do then. Yamen matters are important,” Mrs. Chang Song nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Head Constable Zhang. It’s troubling you to come here again.”
After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Biao asked, “Mrs. Chang Song, how is his mother’s health recently?”
Mrs. Chang Song: “The old lady is still very healthy. She’s even doing household chores like this and doesn’t seem like a woman in her seventies at all.”
Zhang Biao sighed in relief, “Oh, I see. I’ll take my leave then. Mrs. Chang Song, remember to lock the door at night.”
Zhang Biao had just taken a few steps away when he was suddenly called back by Mrs. Chang Song.
“Head Constable Zhang.”
Zhang Biao turned around and saw Mrs. Chang Song looking at him hesitantly. “Is it really true that Chang Song has gone on a long journey? He didn’t go gambling again, did he? He seemed a bit off yesterday, like he was craving to gamble. Could he have been beaten up by people from the gambling den and doesn’t dare to come home?”
“How could that be,” Zhang Biao suddenly burst into laughter, “you’re really good at imagining things, Mrs. Chang Song. Chang Song hasn’t gambled for a long time. He quit a while ago, didn’t he?”
“Oh, then you guys at the yamen have to keep an eye on him for us. Even though we scold him, only you can discipline him.”
“Sure, don’t worry!” Zhang Biao patted his chest, “Leave it to me, I promise to keep an eye on him for you.”
As the two walked away, Bai Lixin looked back and saw Mrs. Chang Song still standing at the door, watching them.
Zhang Biao sighed deeply, “Chang Song’s family used to be wealthy. When he first came to work at the yamen, we teased him, calling him a rich young master just here to play.”
“Then, one day, he suddenly started gambling. At first, he won a bit, a few taels at a time. Later, it became tens of taels at a time.”
“Then he started losing money. But he always thought he could win it back, so he kept gambling and gambling until he lost all the family’s wealth, even the land deed.”
“His mother got so angry she fell ill several times. She’s already so old and yet has to experience the hardships ordinary people face. It’s really hard on her.”
“We’ve talked to him many times. After Chang Song secretly gambled away the land deed, I almost killed him. He was probably scared, so he swore he would never gamble again.”
“For several months after that, Chang Song really didn’t gamble. The old madam and old master had experienced a lot in their lives and gradually accepted the situation. They felt as long as he changed his ways, it was fine. They gradually got used to life here.”
“Ah, but these are just their words. Who knows if they secretly regret and cry in the quiet of the night.”
“I thought Chang Song had truly changed, but I didn’t expect him to cause such trouble again today.”
“That’s why I didn’t want him to come home. Seeing these injuries, his family will definitely know what Chang Song has done. Those two old people might really be driven to death because of anger.”
“To be honest, sir,” Zhang Biao sighed deeply, his voice heavy with helplessness, “maybe it’s because the disappointment has come too many times, even if Chang Song cuts off a finger today, I don’t believe he can change.”
Bai Lixin fell into silence.
Many hardships in life could be avoided.
For a person like Chang Song, it’s hard to say if he can truly reform or if he’ll continue down the same path.
