TSWPF -Chapter 265 Cried

After a hearty hotpot dinner that evening, Old Master Liu and Liu Wenjie returned home.

Once they were in the carriage, Liu Wenjie leaned against the wall, rubbing his stomach with a satisfied look. “After eating barbecue and hotpot today, I feel like all the meals I’ve had in the past few decades were wasted.” Especially the hotpot—it was spicy in a way that made him sweat even in the middle of winter, and it felt amazing. “Hey, Father, why didn’t you tell me about this when you tried it? I had to wait all this time to eat it.” If he hadn’t stubbornly insisted on following his father here, he might never have had the chance to taste such delicious food.

He decided then and there: he’d find reasons to visit the Xue household for meals every now and then—but of course, he wouldn’t go empty-handed.

Old Master Liu glanced lightly at Liu Wenjie and snorted, “Besides eating, what else can you do?” Still, Xiaoling’s cooking was really delicious; even he had eaten his fill today.

“Food is the most important thing in life. Being able to eat is a blessing,” Liu Wenjie chuckled. Seeing his father’s stern face, he wasn’t so afraid. “Father, once the stove is ready, we should have our own barbecue and hotpot too. How about it?”

Such delicious food wasn’t enough to have just once.

Old Master Liu closed his eyes slightly and hummed in agreement. After a moment, he spoke again, “I don’t care about other matters, just make sure you discipline your son properly. Remember, don’t let your wife be the one to teach him—otherwise, you’ll end up with a petty, nagging child.” He wondered if that grandson could even be corrected at this point. He hoped it wasn’t too late.

Why did it turn back to this topic again? Liu Wenjie scratched his head and nodded.

“Be a man and be firm. How did I raise you? Did I ever teach you to be so soft?” Old Master Liu’s chest ached with anger just seeing his eldest son act so timid.

In the past, he was busy leading campaigns and hadn’t really disciplined his eldest. He had grown up mostly under his wife’s guidance. By the time he wanted to correct his character, it was too late.

For the next three sons, he never let his wife raise them; he personally taught them, and those three grew up strong and resolute.

His second and third sons had also chosen military paths. As long as they didn’t make serious mistakes and used the connections he provided wisely, they would do fine.

The eldest son was lucky: he had a promising son who became a general at a young age. Otherwise, the main family branch would have already fallen.

Although he despised the eldest for not achieving much, what belonged to him would never be given to the other sons, preventing conflict among them.

Being scolded like that by his father, Liu Wenjie instantly straightened up, not daring to speak.

He knew his father was disappointed in him. Compared to the three younger brothers, he was the least accomplished.

If it weren’t for his father’s help, he probably wouldn’t even have his current fifth-rank official position.

He had always envied his fourth brother. Smart from a young age, he easily became a top scholar and chose not to join the court, living freely, beyond even their father’s control.

He wanted the same freedom, but he couldn’t. As the eldest, he had to support the Liu family and had no right to be selfish.

But he wasn’t as clever. No matter how hard he tried, he could never meet his father’s expectations.

Decades of this had left him exhausted.

“Father, why didn’t my fourth brother come to the capital? Is he still sulking and refusing to return?” he asked, finally seizing the chance. “It’s been over a decade—why is that kid so stubborn? When he comes back, I’ll have to scold him properly.”

Perhaps because the fourth brother also pursued scholarly life, Liu Wenjie felt closer to him.

Thinking of it, he missed that brat. When he was around, life felt lively and enjoyable. After he ran away from home, life became dull and uneventful.

“He can’t come back.”

“What?” Liu Wenjie looked at his father in confusion. “Father, what do you mean? What do you mean he can’t come back?” Could someone be stopping his fourth brother from returning? Who would dare treat his fourth brother like that?

Old Master Liu wiped his face and spoke gravely: “Your fourth brother and his wife… a few years ago… they… passed away.”

The death of his youngest son was a lifelong pain for him.

He had always blamed himself for it. If he hadn’t forced him to leave home back then, this wouldn’t have happened…

“Father… you’re joking, right? This isn’t funny…” Liu Wenjie’s voice trembled. He couldn’t believe that the brother he both loved and got frustrated with was gone.

“They died in the plague a few years ago…” Old Master Liu said, closing his eyes tightly, no longer speaking.

“Died in the plague…” These words kept echoing in Liu Wenjie’s mind. He remembered the outbreak years ago but never imagined his brother had perished in it.

He remembered clearly: the day before his fourth brother left home, he had shared a drink with him, laughing, saying that the Liu family would now rely on the three older brothers.

At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it, patting his fourth brother on the shoulder and promising not to disappoint him.

The next day, he woke up to find out his brother had left, only then realizing what he had meant.

He had thought his brother might return after a short time, but he never imagined he would leave for over a decade. The next news he received… was devastating.

Liu Wenjie covered his face and sobbed. His fourth brother had been so young—how could this happen?

No wonder Father had vomited blood earlier; it was surely from grief over this loss.

Thinking of this, Liu Wenjie reached for his father’s sleeve, choking back tears. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If I had known, I could have comforted you, helped you not be so heartbroken.”

Old Master Liu opened his eyes, patted Liu Wenjie’s shoulder, and said, “I wanted to protect Zhimou first. We planned to reveal it after the spring exams. But unexpectedly, he was recognized at the Capital Prefecture by the Duke, and the news got out… So, the news of your fourth brother had to be kept secret until after Zhimou’s exams. Understand?” He feared that revealing it too early would bring trouble to Zhimou.

Some people still didn’t know that his youngest son had passed, and knowing this would make them cautious.

Liu Wenjie wiped his tears and nodded. “If my fourth brother is gone, his child will be mine. I’ll take good care of them.”

“First, fix things with Hao’er!” Old Master Liu scowled at him. “I’ve never seen a father as cold to his own son as you are. I’m telling you, if you always obey your wife, one day you’ll regret it.”

When he arranged for his son’s remarriage, his son had chosen Jiang Yingying. He had investigated and thought she was fine, so he agreed.

He never imagined she would be so petty, corrupting Liu Zhishan and constantly inciting the eldest son, causing tension between him and his grandson.

If it weren’t for the fact that she bore grandchildren, he would have had her removed.

Liu Wenjie awkwardly smiled, trying to say something in her defense, but at his father’s cold snort, he dared not continue.

“The General’s mansion will be inherited by Hao’er. If you favor Shan’er so blindly now, when you grow old, do you think Hao’er will treat Shan’er sincerely? Huh? Such simple logic, and you don’t understand.” Old Master Liu shook his head in disappointment. His eldest son… really hopeless.

“They are brothers, Father…”

“Even brothers can’t stand a biased father, especially when they aren’t born of the same mother!” Old Master Liu cut him off coldly. His former eldest daughter-in-law had been admirable: dignified, generous, and had raised good children. Compared to the current eldest daughter-in-law, it was like night and day.

He had previously been indifferent to the household affairs, letting them do as they pleased.

Now that his youngest son was gone, leaving only a few lonely grandchildren, he had to intervene.

He needed to live longer to protect those grandchildren.

Upon hearing this, Liu Wenjie’s face went pale. Yes—no matter how close brothers are, they could grow apart, especially when they aren’t from the same mother.

When he grew old, and with his son acting the way he did… how could he handle it?

“Father, why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Ha… didn’t I?” Old Master Liu wanted to shake his eldest son’s head open to see what was inside. “I told you so many times, did you even listen? Maybe you remembered in the moment, but then your wife stirred things up, and you forgot what I said. After repeating it so many times, I didn’t want to say it again.”

It’s truly like the saying goes: with a stepmother comes a stepfather. Only poor grandson suffers.

Liu Wenjie blushed and kept his head down, realizing it was probably true.

“Reflect properly on this!”

After saying this, Old Master Liu got out of the carriage.

Liu Wenjie stayed seated for a while, expressionless, then went straight to the study.

Not long after, Jiang Yingying’s chief maid came looking for him.

Frowning, Liu Wenjie asked what she wanted. In his bad mood, he didn’t want to see anyone.

“Master, I don’t know exactly, the Madam only said it’s urgent.”

“Go tell the Madam I’m busy. She can wait until next time!” Liu Wenjie waved her off, sending her away.

After reporting back, Jiang Yingying herself stormed to the study, furious.

She pushed the door open and glared at him. “Why couldn’t you come to see me?”

With a sharp smack, Liu Wenjie slammed his brush onto the desk, his face cold. “Jiang Yingying, do you think just because I pamper you, you can do whatever you want?”

Is this the attitude a wife should have toward her husband?