TFS – Chapter 98 – Extra 3 + Extra 4

Tang Chunming had always felt sympathy for Zhao Mei, this little ge’er. Not to mention that he used to do the heaviest chores at home while living like an invisible person with no presence, even later, when the Zhao family came under Wang Chunhua’s control and his situation slightly improved, it was still difficult for Zhao Mei to get a good outcome given Wang Chunhua’s greedy nature. But no matter how much he sympathized with the ge’er’s plight, Tang Chunming never reached out to help—he had his own family to take care of.

Fortunately, later on, the boy in their family, Zhao Dong, no longer treated Zhao Mei as if he were invisible. He started looking after him, and at times even helped shield Zhao Mei from Wang Chunhua’s unreasonable scolding, reducing the instances of him being beaten.

Among the family, the one who had changed the most was undoubtedly Zhao Dong. The people of Pingshan Village still remembered how, when Zhao Dong was young, he used to bully other children in the village, relying on his large size and the indulgence of his mother and grandmother. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he was now carrying a hoe and working the fields—this shocked the entire village.

“It looks like Zhao Dong has really changed for the better. Though he wasn’t very good at farming at first, over time, he’s managed to get the family’s land in decent shape. He’s nothing like his parents at all. Seems like he was just spoiled rotten as a child,” the villagers discussed.

“Exactly. That’s why children shouldn’t be spoiled too much, or they’ll turn bad.”

“What a pity, though. The child has changed, but as for his mother, tsk tsk…” The speaker shook their head, and the listeners all understood. Their eyes were sharp—Wang Chunhua was still lazy and greedy. No matter how much money he had, he spent it recklessly. As for the younger brother he used to brag about all the time, years had passed, and he had never returned. Meanwhile, Old Madam Zhao had grown increasingly frail, and Third Granduncle Zhao had passed away just a year after Zhao Laosan left. Yet, Zhao Laosan hadn’t even come back for the funeral.

To this day, Third granduncle’s children and grandchildren still harbored resentment toward Old Madam Zhao’s family. No matter how flawed he was, Third granduncle was still their elder. They couldn’t openly criticize him too much, but the accumulated resentment had to be directed somewhere. Especially since, even after his granduncle’s passing, Zhao Laosan didn’t bother returning to pay his respects—such a cold-blooded and heartless act left people disgusted.

When it came down to it, the reason Third granduncle fell ill and passed away was directly linked to Zhao Laosan. If it weren’t for Zhao Laosan’s outrageous actions at the end, how could the old man have suffered such a heavy blow? His condition worsened to the point that even Doctor He, couldn’t pull him back from the grasp of death.

Because of this, after Third granduncle’s passing, no matter how much Old Madam Zhao begged the Zhao clan members to bring Zhao Laosan back, the clan leader only sent a letter to Dingzhou Prefecture out of respect for their shared surname. No one actually went in person. They didn’t have the face to show up at someone else’s residence uninvited.

Unexpectedly, Old Madam Zhao eventually became a little deranged. If people weren’t watching carefully, he would run out of the house, grab hold of villagers, and wail about Zhao Laosan.

Back at home, Wang Chunhua would curse at Old Madam Zhao, while Zhao Dong had no choice but to go around apologizing to the neighbors on his behalf. The poor boy had been completely dragged down by his mother. By now, even Tang Chunrong had already married a ge’er, yet Zhao Dong remained single. It wasn’t that no ge’er was willing to marry him—rather, everyone in the village knew the status of the Zhao family and had a clear understanding of what kind of person Wang Chunhua was.

No decent family would let their ge’er marry into such a mess. The ones who were willing to marry were either dismissed by Wang Chunhua as unworthy or were rejected by Zhao Dong himself. To him, they were either too similar to his mother in personality or too weak and submissive. In either case, life wouldn’t be good for them after marriage, so he simply kept delaying it. He waited so long that, by the time Wang Chunhua had squandered all his money, even if he wanted to marry, there was no silver left to fund a wedding.

Wang Chunhua soon set his sights on Zhao Mei.

Seeing what Li Conggen’s family had done before, he figured he could easily extract at least a few dozen taels of silver from a ge’er’s marriage. With that money, he wouldn’t have to worry about finding a ge’er for his son.

His son wasn’t as close to him as before—he no longer listened to his every word and even went so far as to take care of that old, useless thing.

Wang Chunhua made up his mind. He would find a ge’er he could control, someone who would make sure his son stayed obedient and devoted to her.

“Brother, what should I do? Mother really wants to sell me off as a concubine. Brother, I don’t want to go! I don’t want to end up like Brother Li!” Zhao Mei clung helplessly to his brother’s arm, his face deathly pale. Their mother had told him that marrying into that family would bring him a life of endless luxury, but who in Pingshan Village didn’t know the tragic fate of the Li family’s ge’er?

A few years ago, the ge’er from Li Conggen’s family had indeed lived well for a while. He even managed to get his whole family to move to town. To be fair, they had become so detested in the village that no one, except people like Wang Chunhua, wanted to associate with them. Others also feared Li Feng would come back for revenge. However, with Pingshan Village and Ping’an Town now more connected than before, news spread quickly. It wasn’t long before the villagers learned that the household Li Conggen’s ge’er had married into had taken another concubine. The Li family’s ge’er soon fell out of favor and, without bearing a child, life in the inner courtyard became increasingly difficult for him.

The household’s legitimate husband saw that Pingshan Village’s Li family no longer cared about this ge’er and that he had once offended the mighty General Li. So, he became bold in his mistreatment. It didn’t help that the ge’er had been too arrogant when he was favored, thoroughly offending the main wife.

Even so, the main wife showed some restraint out of consideration for the powerful General Li and didn’t push the ge’er to complete ruin. But later, the ge’er sealed his own fate when he became involved in a scheme to harm another concubine who was pregnant. That family had waited years for an heir, and when someone in the household finally conceived, the child became their top priority. However, the pregnancy attracted jealousy, leading to a sinister plot. No matter how much favor he had previously enjoyed, such a treacherous act could not be forgiven.

The master of the household was so furious that he wanted to beat the Li family ge’er to death or sell him off. In the end, they only expelled him.

Without a patron, could Li Conggen’s family continue living comfortably? They had hoped to return to Pingshan Village, but the Li family there refused to let them step foot back in. The ge’er’s malicious deeds had long since spread through the village—no one wanted to take in someone so vicious.

Naturally, such a lazy and greedy family only saw their situation deteriorate further.

Zhao Mei knew all too well that for someone like the Li family ge’er, even being beaten to death by his husband’s family wouldn’t have mattered. He had no illusions that his fate would be any better. He only wished to marry into an honest farming household, where he could have enough to eat. He never dared to dream of wealth and luxury.

Zhao Dong was equally lost. He had objected, but their mother refused to listen. He insisted that after raising Ah Mei for so many years, it was time for him to repay his mother. Besides, he said he was sending him off to a good life—what was there to complain about?

“Brother, why don’t we go and beg Uncle Ming? Or we can ask the clan leader for help…” Tears streamed down Zhao Mei’s face as fleeting images of Li Lin and Li Sen flashed through his mind. He had never forgotten that Li Lin and Li Sen were his blood-related cousins. Their relationship should have been just one step removed from his own brother, closer than anyone else in the village. Yet, now, their lives were worlds apart.

He envied his two cousins. He envied them for having a mother like Uncle Ming. More than once, he had wished that he had been born into Uncle Ming’s family instead.

They were all ge’ers, yet who in the village didn’t praise Li Lin for his intelligence and knowledge? He had even learned medicine. Though younger than Zhao Mei, he was already sought after as a highly desirable marriage partner. But Zhao Mei didn’t even dare to approach this cousin—he could only watch his figure from a distance. He feared attracting the wrath of his current father and Uncle Ming.

“Alright!” Zhao Dong steeled himself. For the sake of his younger brother, he had to at least try.

Once his brother left, Zhao Mei collapsed onto the ground, crying as he covered his eyes with his hands.

Zhao Dong went to find the clan leader. The leader’s attitude toward him had improved significantly compared to the past—mostly because Zhao Dong had shown that he was willing to work hard and change. If he had remained as stubborn and reckless as before, the clan leader wouldn’t have had the patience to deal with him.

Hearing Zhao Dong’s plea, the clan leader was furious. Wang Chunhua was causing trouble again. If not for Zhao Dong’s recent improvement, he would have been driven out of Pingshan Village just like Li Conggen’s family.

“How far has this gone?” the clan leader suppressed his anger and asked.

“M-Mother has already taken half the silver…” Zhao Dong hung his head in shame, feeling utterly humiliated.

“That wretched troublemaker!” The clan leader cursed, pacing back and forth. Even though he was the clan leader, he had no authority over this matter. The only one who could decide was Wang Chunhua, the boy’s own mother. As for Zhao Daniu, there was no point counting on him—he was as useless as a pile of mud, completely incapable of controlling his ge’er. He was only kept in check by the clan, forced to work the fields alongside Zhao Dong just to earn enough to eat.

“Here’s what you should do—take your brother and go to Dingzhou Prefecture to find Zhao Laosan. See if he can help. If possible, find a decent family for your brother to marry into. That way, he won’t have to stay here and be targeted by your mother.” The clan leader finally offered a solution. He remembered that Zhao Laosan had left some silver with Wang Chunhua when he last visited, meant as a filial offering to their elderly mother. Given that, he figured Zhao Laosan wouldn’t ignore his two nephews if they came seeking help. If things could be settled over there, all the better—he had no intention of pleading with Ming Ge’er for this troublesome family.

“Uncle Zhao?!” Zhao Dong was stunned.

“Yes. If we step in, you know how your mother is—he’ll make a huge scene, throwing tantrums and rolling on the ground. Who could stop him? And what would that accomplish besides embarrassing your family? Regardless of everything else, you and Mei Ge’er are the only remaining descendants of that branch of the Zhao family. Based on that alone, Zhao Laosan shouldn’t ignore you.” The clan leader was at a loss. If this turned into a scandal, the entire clan would be humiliated, and the Zhao family’s reputation was already in shambles. He didn’t want any more trouble.

“I’ll think about it,” Zhao Dong replied.

After leaving, Zhao Dong walked along the road and glanced toward Li Feng’s house. In the end, he didn’t dare take the step forward. He understood the clan leader’s message loud and clear—he was being told not to bother Uncle Ming.

When he returned home and passed by his mother’s room, he overheard him speaking to his father.

“I spent a lot of silver hiring a matchmaker, and I finally found a well-off family. The only issue is that it’s far away, and the man is older… but they’re willing to pay a good price—enough for Ah Dong to marry a good husband! Damn useless man, are you even listening to me? I must have the worst luck in eight lifetimes to have ended up with you!”

“…Whatever you decide is fine…” came the same weak, cowardly response as always.

Hearing this, Zhao Dong clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind. No more hesitation.

The next day, Wang Chunhua realized that neither of his sons was at home. He threw a huge fit, yelling and cursing. However, their former neighbors—who had long since moved away to escape the constant noise—were no longer around to be disturbed. So, even as he raged, few people were actually affected.

Still, the news spread quickly throughout Pingshan Village. Within days, even Tang Chunming had heard of it—Zhao Dong and Zhao Mei had run away from home.

At the time, Zhang Xiu, who was heavily pregnant, was resting comfortably. His husband, Dashan, took care of everything, leaving him plenty of time to chat idly. In contrast, Shen Fulang, who was at home looking after their grandson, had no time for such gossip.

It was Zhang Xiu who told Tang Chunming the news. At the time, Li Feng and Li Lin were also in the house. The couple discreetly observed Li Lin’s expression upon hearing the story.

Compared to his younger brother, the eldest son was fully aware of his origins. Tang Chunming had never intended to make him forget. Of course, this didn’t change the fact that Li Lin deeply cherished his current father. In fact, his attachment to his adoptive father was even stronger than that of his three younger siblings.

As expected, their eldest son frowned slightly upon hearing the news. Though he had long since cut ties with his old family, he still paid a little attention to his two cousins.

Tang Chunming couldn’t help but ask, “Where do you think they went? Has Wang Chunhua been causing trouble again? Pingshan Village had barely enjoyed any peace—was it his doing?”

His impression of Zhao Dong as a child wasn’t great, but after growing up, the boy had proven more responsible than his own parents, holding their household together. As for Zhao Mei, he was so quiet and unnoticeable that Tang Chunming never paid him much attention. Even if he sympathized with the boy’s situation, he wouldn’t go out of his way to get involved. Still, now that the two had run away, his first thought was that it must have been Wang Chunhua’s doing.

“You guessed it. Wang Chunhua made this mess. Just like Li Conggen’s family, he tried to sell off his own ge’er as a concubine. He even negotiated the deal! The man he picked was as old as Zhao Daniu, and the family was about to come and take the boy. But now, they’re gone. Wang Chunhua wasted all his effort for nothing and won’t get a single coin!” Zhang Xiu smirked. “Serves him right! When a child is finally mature and responsible, he chooses to stir up trouble instead of enjoying a peaceful life. Now, he’s ruined everything, and his own son has turned his back on him.”

“How can he even be considered a mother?!” Tang Chunming said in disgust. “He values silver more than his own children. But where could they have gone?”

“Some villagers think Zhao Dong might have taken his brother to find Zhao Laosan. It’s possible—after all, Zhao Dong is the only heir left in that branch of the family.”

Though no one said it outright, if Zhao Laosan had any conscience, he should take care of his nephews. That way, he would have someone to rely on in the future.

Tang Chunming chuckled, then changed the topic. He and Zhang Xiu continued their conversation about other matters.

At some point, Li Lin quietly left the house.

Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned around and saw his father approaching.

Li Feng reached out and ruffled his eldest son’s hair. “Are you worried about them?”

Li Lin held onto his father’s hand and rubbed against it. Now that he was older, he could no longer be carried in his father’s arms like when he was little. Back then, he had thought his father was his entire world, that nothing could hurt him as long as his father was there. Even now, that feeling remains unchanged.

Li Lin smiled. “It’s good that they went to find Uncle Zhao. Maybe they’ll have a better future that way—at least they won’t be… ruined.” He didn’t even want to mention Wang Chunhua’s name, finding it distasteful. From childhood until now, there were two people he despised the most: Old Madam Zhao and Wang Chunhua.

He would never forget—they had tried to sell him and his mother. Even though Old Madam Zhao was his biological grandmother, even if he had gone completely mad, Li Lin had never once softened his heart enough to visit him.

He addressed Zhao Lao San as “Uncle Zhao San,” never considering himself a part of the Zhao family. His surname was Li, and naturally, he belonged to the Li family.

“Ah Lin has a kind heart.” Li Feng looked at Ah Lin approvingly, realizing that Ah Lin didn’t blame him and Ming Ge’er for not stepping in to help. “I imagine that some of the Zhao clan members must have helped with this matter; otherwise, they wouldn’t have had enough travel money or known where to find that person.”

“So that’s how it is. Then there’s nothing to worry about.” Li Lin’s face brightened with a smile.

As for how Zhao Lao San was doing these days, Li Feng and Tang Chunming knew a little about it. Even if they weren’t fully informed, they knew that his current life was far from what he had hoped for. However, taking care of two nephews shouldn’t be difficult for him—if he was willing.

A few days later, Zhao Dong and Zhao Mei arrived in Dingzhou Prefecture. The sheer size and prosperity of the prefectural city were beyond their imagination. Among the two, only Zhao Dong had been to the county town before, while Zhao Mei had never traveled farther than the nearby market town. Upon arriving in the city, he was completely overwhelmed, leaving Zhao Dong to take the lead in asking for directions. Eventually, they found their way to a large residence called the “Yu Mansion.”

This alley was lined with homes of wealthy families. Even Zhao Dong, who had some experience, had never encountered such grandeur. He felt a mix of awe and resentment toward his third uncle. Why was he living in such luxury yet never returned to visit their grandmother? Although most people saw their grandmother as a wicked woman, he had always treated Uncle Zhao San like he was his lifeblood. Even when Zhao Dong, as the eldest grandson, had to yield to his uncle in all matters when they were young. But now, their grandmother had gone mad, and Zhao San hadn’t even bothered to check on her. This thought made Zhao Dong angry, and he hesitated to step forward.

Beside him, Zhao Mei nervously tugged on Zhao Dong’s sleeve, pulling him back to his senses. Even if he didn’t want to do this for himself, he had to do it for his younger brother. He sighed—aside from the time their grandmother had tried to sell him and Zhao Mei, he had actually treated him quite well in the past. When he had food and clothes, he shared them with him. Now that he was old, it was only right that he looked after him.

Summoning his courage, Zhao Dong straightened his clothes and stepped forward to ask the gatekeeper, “Excuse me, sir, but is there someone named Zhao Pingchuan in this residence?”

“Zhao…?” The gatekeeper’s eyes widened. There was only one person in the household with that surname. He looked Zhao Dong up and down and asked rudely, “Who are you?”

“He is our third uncle. We have come to see him. Would you be able to inform him?” Zhao Dong broke into a cold sweat but dared not wipe it away.

“No need for that. He’s coming this way right now.” Another gatekeeper pointed toward the street. Zhao Dong was too flustered to notice that the man spoke of their “master” without a trace of respect, even with a hint of disdain.

Hearing this, Zhao Dong was overjoyed. Grabbing his younger brother’s hand, he turned to look, only to see a man staggering toward them. Before he even got close, the strong scent of alcohol filled the air. Zhao Dong and Zhao Mei stared in disbelief—was this their third uncle?

The drunken man swayed as he approached. The gatekeeper, speaking with little reverence, said, “Master, these two claim to be your nephews. Would you like to see them?” He gestured toward Zhao Dong and Zhao Mei, who looked visibly unsettled.

The man’s bleary eyes flickered, but he seemed too drunk to register his surroundings. His body stiffened slightly before he impatiently waved off the people around him and stumbled toward the mansion.

Zhao Dong stood there in shock. His memories of his third uncle were of a confident, ambitious scholar when he had passed the county-level exams. Zhao San had always cared about his appearance, so how could he now be a filthy, unkempt drunkard, his face covered in stubble and his eyes swollen?

Zhao Dong was still frozen in disbelief when Zhao Mei, who had been hiding behind him, suddenly sprang forward and grabbed the drunkard’s sleeve, crying out, “Uncle San, save me! Uncle San, save me!” This was his only hope, so he clung to him desperately.

Zhao Dong was jolted awake by his brother’s cries. Wiping his face, he quickly stepped forward, grabbing the drunkard’s arm. “Uncle San, it’s me, Ah Dong! Uncle San, you—” He stopped himself from saying, “How did you become like this?” His instincts told him that such words would only hurt his uncle further. He had been full of resentment toward his uncle before they met, but now, seeing this broken man, he felt only confusion. What kind of life had his uncle been living to end up like this?

“…Who… are you?” the drunkard slurred. “Wine… bring me more wine… I need to drink…!” He waved his arms wildly. Though he looked thinner than before, he was still strong. With a single swing, he knocked Zhao Dong, Zhao Mei, and even the gatekeeper trying to support him to the ground.

“Hurry, get the master inside! What are you all standing around for?” The head gatekeeper scolded the onlookers. Causing a scene at the entrance wasn’t good for the household’s reputation. Immediately, four or five servants rushed forward to restrain the drunkard and drag him into the mansion. As they moved, the head gatekeeper glanced at the two bewildered visitors before saying impatiently, “You two, come inside as well. But until the master confirms who you are, don’t wander around, touch anything, or cause trouble.”

“Yes, we won’t cause any trouble,” Zhao Dong quickly assured him. Zhao Mei, however, had already lost his courage and hid behind his older brother again.

The two brothers followed the group inside, keeping their heads down. Even without looking around, they could tell this was a wealthy household. After walking a long way, they finally arrived at a courtyard where a servant came out to receive them.

“Drunk again,” the servant muttered under his breath.

The brothers stood nervously to the side. No one paid them any attention, until the gatekeeper who had brought them in led them to a room. “Wait here,” he instructed.

The brothers waited anxiously as the sky darkened, but no one came to see them. It wasn’t until their stomachs started rumbling from hunger that someone finally entered with food. The servant placed the dishes down and said, “The master has already fallen asleep. If you have something to say, wait until morning. Someone will arrange a place for you to sleep later.”

“Thank you…” Zhao Dong quickly stood up to express his gratitude, but the servant left before he could finish speaking.

Once they were alone, Zhao Mei finally dared to step forward. Clutching his brother’s sleeve, he asked in a small voice, “Brother, are we really going to stay here?”

“If we don’t stay, what else can we do? We were already told that Third Uncle drank himself to sleep. You’re hungry, right? Come eat quickly; we’ll be able to see him in the morning.” Zhao Dong pulled his younger brother to sit at the table. He couldn’t quite describe how he felt. After spending most of the day here, even with his limited experience, he had realized two things: first, Third Uncle’s life wasn’t going well—he had never seen him in such a despondent state before. Second, Third Uncle’s status in this household didn’t seem very high. Was it because he married into this family? But that didn’t seem quite right either. And throughout all this time, they hadn’t seen their aunt. Was it because he didn’t welcome their visit?

“Mm, Brother, you should eat too.” Zhao Mei habitually let his older brother eat first, as he was used to doing at home.

Not to mention how restless the two brothers were throughout the night, unable to sleep peacefully—in the early morning, someone indeed came to take them to see Third Uncle.

The servant leading the way brought them into a room, guiding them past a folding screen to the inner area. He’s still in bed? Zhao Dong looked at the servant, who coughed lightly and explained, “Master was feeling unwell after getting up early, but since he knew the two young masters were here, he insisted on seeing you. Master, the two young masters have arrived.”

“Hm, you may leave.” A hoarse voice came from behind the bed curtain.

“Yes, Master.” The servant withdrew.

“Third Uncle, how is your health? Should we call a physician?” Zhao Dong asked anxiously, stepping forward to lift the curtain and take a closer look.

“Don’t come closer!” The person inside suddenly shrieked, making Zhao Dong freeze with his hand mid-air. The voice then continued, “Find a place to sit yourselves. Say what you need to say quickly, then leave when you’re done.”

The two brothers exchanged glances but obediently sat down on the chairs as instructed. For a while, the room remained silent. Zhao Dong didn’t know how to start—Third Uncle… didn’t seem to want to see them at all.

After hesitating for a long time, Zhao Dong finally spoke, but his voice carried a trace of resentment: “…Great-Grandfather passed away five years ago. Grandmother… hasn’t recognized anyone for the past three years. He calls out your name all day long… Mother… tried to sell Ah Mei as a concubine…”

Soft sobs came from beside him. Zhao Dong immediately regretted speaking out of frustration. He shouldn’t have burdened Third Uncle with these troubles, but once the words were out, he couldn’t take them back. He could only grasp his younger brother’s hand and stare at the shadow behind the bed curtain.

After a long silence, a deep chuckle came from inside, gradually growing louder until it became a full-blown, chilling laugh.

“…Haha… It’s retribution. This is all retribution… Hahaha… One by one, they’ll all get what they deserve…”

Zhao Dong and Zhao Mei shivered in fear. Zhao Dong recalled the things his grandmother and mother had done in the past and the way Third Uncle had always distanced himself from them. Looking at how things had turned out for Grandmother’s family, wasn’t this retribution? It seemed that no one had escaped it—first Great-Grandfather, then Grandmother, and now Third Uncle? Was his own family also suffering retribution? His father had a crippled leg, he himself was a failure, and his little brother was about to be sold.

The laughter finally died down, and the voice behind the curtain asked coldly, “What do you want from me? Money? Your mother wants to sell someone for silver, right? Take the money and get out! I am no longer a part of the Zhao family!” The voice was sharp and filled with malice.

Zhao Dong immediately pulled his younger brother to kneel before the bed, anxiously pleading,
“Third Uncle, I don’t want money. No matter how much money we have, it will eventually run out. I only ask that you help find a good place for Ah Mei. As for me, I will return home to care for Grandmother. Third Uncle, I beg you, please…”

“A good place? What kind of ‘good place’ are you asking for?” The voice carried a mocking tone.

Zhao Dong turned to look at his younger brother. Ah Mei was timid and honest—honestly, Zhao Dong would prefer to find a simple man in the village for Ah Mei to marry, so he could stay nearby. But with their mother around, he didn’t dare. Would Third Uncle even believe them?

This time, Zhao Mei mustered up his courage. Trembling, he said, “Third Uncle, I can work. I know how to do all kinds of household chores. Please let me stay here and work for my own keep.”

“Work?” It seemed the voice hadn’t expected this answer. After a moment, a sneer followed. “Fine, you can stay. Zhao Dong, go back. If you come here again, I won’t take care of your brother anymore.”

“…Third Uncle, could you write to me about Ah Mei’s situation?” Zhao Dong was truly uneasy about leaving his younger brother here without knowing how he would be treated.

“If you don’t trust me, just take him back with you,” the man on the bed snapped impatiently.

“N-No, that’s not it,” Zhao Dong hurriedly shook his head. “I… I just want to know if Ah Mei is doing well.”

“Fine, I’ll send a letter once a year. Now leave. And remember—keep your promise. Otherwise…”

“I understand. I will take good care of Grandmother.” Zhao Dong quickly agreed. As long as Third Uncle still cared about Grandmother, that was enough. He would care for Grandmother, and in exchange, Third Uncle would take care of Ah Mei. At least now he felt like he could be of some use.

With the agreement settled, the two brothers were led away. Zhao Mei was taken to a separate living arrangement, while Zhao Dong was immediately ordered to leave—he couldn’t stay any longer. Zhao Mei was reluctant to part with his older brother, but he couldn’t follow him back home either. With tears in his eyes, he sent Zhao Dong off at the gates of the Yu residence.

After the brothers left, the man on the bed finally pulled back the curtain, revealing a pale, haggard face—it was Zhao Pingchuan. Covering his face, he let out another sorrowful laugh.

Back then, when he had fallen into hardship and had nowhere to go, he had come to Dingzhou Prefecture in hopes of finding a new path. During the imperial examination, he had met a few fellow candidates and believed that, with his talent, he would quickly establish himself in the city and rise through the ranks in the upcoming autumn examination.

But fate had played a cruel joke on him. He had been blind—he had unknowingly run into a former classmate from Ping’an Town, a man with the surname Meng. For some unknown reason, this Meng fellow bore a deep grudge against him. He had gathered a group of thugs to beat Zhao Pingchuan mercilessly, then dumped him in a rundown alley, forcing him to endure days of suffering, living among beggars and enduring humiliation. From time to time, Meng would return to mock him, and through those fragmented encounters, Zhao Pingchuan finally understood—Meng blamed him for the downfall of the Meng family.

Meng believed that because of Zhao Pingchuan, his family had offended a powerful figure and had been forced to leave Ping’an Town. Now, upon crossing paths with him again, Meng saw it as the perfect opportunity to take revenge.

Even the greatest arrogance had been worn away during those days. To snatch a single bite of food, he could fight with beggars. No one believed he had once been a scholar. Even mentioning it only invited ridicule and a beating—until the Yu family appeared.

As long as they could rescue him from that nightmare, what did it matter if he became a live-in son-in-law? Besides, the Yu family was wealthy. So, regardless of their true intentions, he agreed to everything.

Even if he were given the choice again, he would still take this path. Even if it meant being controlled by a ge’er, never being able to take the imperial exams again, and spending his days idle and drunk—at least he wouldn’t have to fight with beggars for food. At least he could take revenge on that Meng bastard for all the suffering he had endured.

No dignity… but at least he was still alive.

He was still alive, wasn’t he?

His great-uncle had passed away, and he had no face to return home. He was no longer part of the Zhao family. And his great-uncle, who had always wished for him to pass the exams and enter officialdom, would never see that dream fulfilled. He couldn’t bear to face him.

His mother had gone mad, lost in his delusions. He had no face to return to him either. He had chosen this path himself, and in doing so, he had failed his expectations. He had failed to give him the life of dignity and admiration he had longed for.

He had heard of Pingshan Village’s prosperity, which only made his own wretchedness more glaring. If he returned, he would be nothing but a laughingstock. The very people he once looked down on now lived in comfort, while those with the power he had once coveted discarded it as if it were worthless.

But at least that foolish, lazy nephew of his hadn’t turned out as selfish as he had. There was still someone to serve their grandmother at his bedside. All he had to do was ask for one more favor. After all, he had already lost all dignity.

Bing Shisan sat by the teahouse window, watching the bustling streets below, his face showing the quiet joy of a harvest—pure and simple.

Bing Shisan, however, only watched indifferently, his eyes devoid of emotion. The waiter who served him tea barely dared to breathe, afraid of disturbing this guest. Their town had many travelers from all over, and he had enough experience to know which people were not to be provoked.

The moment the guest gave a slight nod, the waiter quickly withdrew. By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, his back was drenched in sweat—it felt as if he had just passed through the gates of hell.

Bing Shisan was not a real name, just a code. But this code would follow him for the rest of his life. His real name had long been discarded, buried in some forgotten corner of the past. As long as he remained in this organization, he could only use his assigned code. The only difference was that as his rank rose, so would the number in his name.

Once, he had a name—Qin Goudan. But, like those people and those memories, it was part of a past he could never return to.

His arrival in Luyang Town was, of course, for a mission. This town contained one of the organization’s outposts. However, the higher-ups had begun to suspect something was off, believing the information coming from this outpost was inaccurate. His task was to investigate whether anyone had betrayed the organization. If they had, it would be his job to eliminate them.

Downstairs, a guest entered the teahouse, greeted warmly by the shopkeeper.

“Oh, Benefactor Peng! You’re here! Please, come in, come in. Your usual seat upstairs has been reserved for you.”

Hearing this name, the other tea drinkers immediately began whispering among themselves. Benefactor Peng was famous in these parts.

“This year, we were lucky to have Benefactor Peng lend seeds to the farmers. Without him, there wouldn’t be this bountiful harvest. Unlike those who take advantage of disasters, he gave people a way to survive. Otherwise, many would have had to sell their land, their sons, or even their ge’er to survive.”

“That’s right! During last year’s snow disaster, even the county magistrate was overwhelmed and couldn’t take care of the people. It was Benefactor Peng who sent food and medicine to the disaster victims. And in spring, when food was scarce, he lent seeds on credit. Now, the villagers practically worship him.”

“Unlike the Zhu family next door! They took advantage of the disaster to buy up land at dirt-cheap prices. But now? Only desperate people rent from them, and their rates are sky-high. Someone like that is bound to be punished by heaven sooner or later.”

“Yeah, if you push the common folk too far…” The man hesitated to continue, but everyone understood his meaning. The Zhu family might be rich, but compared to Benefactor Peng, their reputation was in shambles.

“But who exactly is this Benefactor Peng? Could there really be such a good-hearted man?”

“Haha, everyone in Luyang Town knows his story. His full name is Peng Yuan, but he wasn’t originally from here. Years ago, he was badly injured by a wild beast in the mountains and rolled down into a valley. He was found by the Peng family, who happened to be passing by. They took him in, called a doctor, and nursed him back to health. But because of his head injury, he lost all memories of his past.

The Peng family, being kind-hearted, didn’t abandon him. Seeing that he had no memory and was in poor health, they took him in and helped him recover.”

“And then? How did he become part of the Peng family? Did they adopt him?” A traveler asked curiously.

“No, no. It’s all fate, you see. The Peng family originally had two children—one son and one ge’er. But before their son even reached marriageable age, he died from a severe illness. That left only the old couple and their ge’er.

The old couple considered bringing in a son-in-law to marry into their family, but they worried about finding a man of poor character who might ruin their household. They even considered giving their family property as a dowry to ensure their ge’er married well.

But before they could find a suitable match, their ge’er had already fallen in love—with the very man they had saved. That man was honest and hardworking, and he had nowhere to go. So, out of gratitude, he willingly became a live-in son-in-law. It was quite the love story in Luyang Town back then!”

“I see! So Benefactor Peng became a son-in-law to repay their kindness and ensure his benefactors had a descendant. That’s truly rare!”

“Yes, over the years, everyone has come to respect Benefactor Peng. Even those who were once jealous of his fortune and marriage have nothing bad to say now. And since his ge’er wife gave birth to a son, the Peng elders have been overjoyed! They’ve handed over all family affairs to Benefactor Peng and now spend their days doting on their grandson, haha…”

Martial artists naturally have exceptional hearing, and Bing Shisan took in all the discussions happening downstairs. He grew interested in this “kind and benevolent” Peng Dashan and wanted to figure out whether the man was truly good or merely putting on an act. His personality was stubborn, and he hated hypocrisy with a passion. If he found out Peng was a fraud, he would make sure to teach him a lesson. However, if Peng was indeed a genuinely good man, Bing Shisan might even help him solve a few problems when the mood struck him.

After the so-called Peng Dashan left the teahouse, Bing Shisan quietly followed from a distance. Peng Dashan was indeed a tall and sturdy man, but something about him felt off. A true philanthropist? Bing Shisan had met one before, back in his childhood. That man had a reputation as a ruthless killer, feared by many, yet he never cared about public opinion or other people’s judgment—he simply lived life his own way. Bing Shisan often wondered: If that fierce man hadn’t sent him to the organization, where would he be now? Would he have turned into a despised and vile scoundrel? Or would he already be buried beneath a mound of dirt, with no one remembering the name “Qin Goudan”?

Though the years of brutal training in the organization were grueling, and he had repeatedly brushed past death, he had survived through sheer willpower. He believed that even if he had died during the training, he would not have regretted living such a life.

But now, why did he feel that this Peng Dashan seemed familiar? This feeling only strengthened his determination to investigate further while staying in Lu Yang Town.

Bing Shisan had never considered himself a good person. As a child, he had dared to raise a knife against his stepfather. In the years spent in the organization, his hidden identity had stained his hands with plenty of blood.

Even though he wasn’t a good man, he still hoped to meet a true one—just like that “ruthless killer” who later became the prestigious General Weiwu.

Back at home, Peng Dashan was warmly welcomed by his husband and child. His husband was gentle and delicate, while his son was obedient and lovable. Peng Dashan lifted his child and laughed with his husband before heading to visit the elderly couple. Only after greeting them did he return to his own room.

From his perch on the rooftop, Bing Shisan watched the happy family. It was the kind of life many people would envy, but he remained unmoved and continued to observe.

Late at night, when everything was quiet, he remained perfectly still. Suddenly, he sharpened his focus—he had detected a slight movement below. He heard someone stirring in the couple’s bedroom, and then a figure stepped out.

As expected, it was none other than Peng Dashan. Like a silent night cat, Bing Shisan trailed behind without making a sound.

Peng Dashan went straight to his study. It wasn’t a real study but rather a room where he handled daily affairs. The Peng family owned hundreds of acres of farmland along with several businesses, all of which had been entrusted to him for management—proof of the elderly couple’s complete trust in him.

Inside the study, someone was already waiting.

When Peng Dashan entered, the person immediately stood and bowed.

“No need for formalities,” Peng Dashan waved him off. “Have you found out what I asked you to investigate?” His tone carried urgency, and even Bing Shisan, hidden in the shadows, could sense the impatience in his expression.

“Yes, Master, I have found everything.”

“Good, good. Sit and speak slowly.” Peng Dashan’s kindness even extended to his servants, further proving his reputation as a good man. In the Peng household, even the servants deeply respected him.

“Yes, Master.” The man sat down and began his report. “Master, Anping County’s Pingshan Village is exactly as the rumors describe—no, it is even wealthier than the rumors suggest! If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed that a tiny mountain village could make city dwellers envious…”

Bing Shisan, whose heart had been unshaken all this time, finally felt a crack form when he heard the name “Pingshan Village.” A cold glint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes. If this so-called “kind and benevolent” Peng Dashan harbored any malicious intentions toward Pingshan Village, he would not let him off easily!

The servant continued detailing everything he had seen and heard about Pingshan Village. The land and water were exceptionally fertile, yielding high-quality fruits and grains that merchants fought over. The villagers brewed the famous Tang Family Tribute Wine, a drink so renowned that even the Emperor himself had personally written an inscription for it. On top of that, the village had produced none other than the mighty General Weiwu, who had retired to farm alongside his husband. When people mentioned Pingshan Village, they couldn’t help but show admiration and envy.

“Wait—Tang Fulang? You said Tang Fulang remarried? What about his original husband’s family? Did he abandon them without a second thought?” Peng Dashan seemed more interested in this topic than anything else. His voice became even more urgent.

“Master, let me explain,” the servant replied. “I was curious too, so I asked around. Tang Fulang didn’t betray his original husband’s family in the slightest. He has four children, and two of them are from his first marriage. The General treats those two just as well as his own biological children…” The servant continued to recount the complex history between Tang Fulang and the Zhao family, showing not a hint of sympathy for the Zhao family. Their downfall had been deserved, and most people clapped in agreement—evil deeds had their consequences.

“Master, that original husband was no good either. He abandoned his own wife and children, raising nothing but a pack of ungrateful ingrates. In the end, when he was gone, Tang Fulang and the children were nearly sold off! If he hadn’t fought to sever ties with them, who knows what would have happened?” The servant shook his head, completely unaware of how dark his master’s expression had become. Peng Dashan’s fists were clenched tightly.

“Leave.”

“Uh…” The servant hesitated, still caught up in his storytelling.

“Get out!”

“Yes, Master! I’ll take my leave now.” The servant, though puzzled, did not seem fearful—he knew his master never punished people without reason. With that, he respectfully exited the study.

At first, Bing Shisan had only felt a slight disturbance in his heart, but now, even his expression cracked. When Peng Dashan’s face changed upon hearing about Tang Fulang and the Zhao family, Bing Shisan finally saw through the problem.

Why had Peng Dashan looked familiar from the start?

Because he resembled someone.

Or rather, someone else bore a resemblance to him.

That person was Li Sen—the second son of Tang Fulang.

No one in Pingshan Village had ever mentioned that Tang Fulang’s second son bore a resemblance to his biological father. The similarities were faint—only two or three points. But after training under his adoptive father in martial arts, Li Sen had grown to resemble the man who raised him even more, so those faint similarities had gone unnoticed by everyone.

However, Bing Shisan had grown up training within the organization, and his powers of observation were beyond those of ordinary people. Even the slightest resemblance—just one or two points—was enough for him to notice the similarity.

Bing Shisan clenched his fists. Could this so-called “Great Philanthropist Peng” actually be Zhao Dahu, the man who was supposed to have died in the mountains, devoured by wild beasts?

What a “Great Philanthropist” indeed!

At that moment, Peng Yuan was fuming with anger. Years ago, in order to escape a bear, he had accidentally fallen off a cliff. When he woke up, he had lost all memories of his past. It wasn’t until a year ago that his mind suddenly seemed to clear, and all his old memories returned. Only then did he realize that he was originally from the Zhao family in Pingshan Village, Anping County. He had a husband and a young child, as well as a mother and brothers.

But by then, he had already built a life he couldn’t abandon. The Peng family’s elderly couple had given him a second life, and his current husband and son were also people he cherished deeply. How could he bear to leave them?

So, he had secretly inquired about his past family’s situation. If they were living well, he thought, perhaps he could find a way to make amends, since all of this was not something he had done intentionally. He did not want anyone to suffer because of his choices.

But the news he had received had left him utterly disappointed.

His former husband had abandoned his in-laws, remarried another man, and turned a blind eye to the hardships of the Zhao family, letting them fall into despair. When he heard that his mother had gone mad, Peng Yuan felt as if his heart was being torn apart—his mother, who had worked tirelessly to take care of his sons after their father passed away.

To make matters worse, the man his ex-husband had married was none other than the mighty General Weiwu of the imperial court. In Peng Yuan’s eyes, that man instantly became nothing more than an opportunist who abandoned the poor for the rich. How blind he had been back then, treating that person like a treasure, protecting him from hardship, and only asking him to be filial to his mother.

Peng Yuan opened a hidden cabinet, revealing a memorial tablet inside. The surname carved onto the plaque was clearly “Zhao.” Bing Shisan’s sharp eyes caught every detail—there was no doubt now. Peng Yuan was, in fact, Zhao Dahu, the former master of the Zhao family, who was supposed to be dead.

At that moment, Peng Yuan’s voice rang out, confirming Bing Shisan’s suspicions:

“Father, tell me, what should I do? How could he remarry? And how could he take my children and give them another man’s surname?! I’m still alive! I wasn’t even dead yet, and he just went ahead and married someone else! He stood by and watched as my mother suffered, my elder brother struggled, and my younger brother—our family’s only hope—was also abandoned… That wretch! And the man he married is the imperial court’s General Weiwu! What am I supposed to do? That Tang family tribute wine should rightfully belong to the Zhao family! I—”

His words were cut off—not because he had nothing left to say, but because his throat was suddenly being strangled.

Peng Yuan’s eyes widened in terror as he looked at the intruder.

Who was this person? How had they sneaked into his home unnoticed? Had they overheard everything he just said?

“Who are you?! What do you want?!”

“Great Philanthropist Peng?” Bing Shisan’s voice was low, but the mocking tone was unmistakable. “Or should I call you Zhao Dahu of Pingshan Village?”

“You… you… Who are you?! Are you one of General Weiwu’s men?!” A bolt of panic shot through Peng Yuan’s mind. That was the only explanation—otherwise, why would someone be so intent on exposing his true identity?

Bing Shisan pressed the tip of a dagger against Peng Yuan’s chest.

“And you think you’re worthy of mentioning General Weiwu? He is a true man of virtue and honor. You, on the other hand, are lower than a beast. You have no right to speak of your former husband and children. Do you even realize that they almost died because of you?! Do you?! When you ‘died,’ your dear mother and brother tried to force your former husband to sell himself for fifteen taels of silver to a widowed old man! They wanted to sell your son off to a fool to be his child-bride! Ha! Now that you’re back, what difference does it make? You think you can take them back? What right do you have to take them? You’re just jealous because you can’t compete with General Weiwu! You can’t keep pretending to be a philanthropist anymore, can you?”

“You disgusting fraud,” Bing Shisan sneered. “Tell me, what do you think will happen if people find out who you really are? What if, by tomorrow morning, the whole town is outside your door, spitting on you and cursing your name?”

His eyes were filled with killing intent.

Peng Yuan—no, Zhao Dahu—trembled violently. He had grown soft over the years, accustomed to a life of comfort. Under Bing Shisan’s grasp, he could hardly breathe.

“No… my mother wouldn’t… he was just heartbroken… In the end, he didn’t sell them, did she…?”

Bing Shisan smacked Peng Yuan across the face.

“You should have stayed dead. I think it’s better if you remain that way—so you won’t trouble General Weiwu and his family. Do you think anyone in that household wants to see you? Not even your children want to see you. So, you should just die.”

The moment his words ended, Peng Yuan’s pupils shrank in horror. He looked down and saw the dagger had already pierced his heart.

“…Why…? I… I did nothing wrong…”

Bing Shisan shoved him away, and Peng Yuan collapsed to the ground. Blood gushed from his chest as his vision blurred.

In his final moments, the faces of his current husband and child flashed before him.

And yet, the faces of the people he hated—his former husband and children—had long since faded from his memory. He wanted to resent them, but he couldn’t even picture their faces anymore.

He died, unwilling.

Bing Shisan cast a look of disgust at the corpse before disappearing into the darkness.

Just as he had said—this man had no right to disturb General Weiwu and his family. Compared to the general, he was nothing more than a filthy fly. It was better to take care of the problem before it could cause trouble.

General Weiwu was Bing Shisan’s benefactor. And the young man from his memories—Tang Fulang—was the person he had envied the most in his entire life.

Because Tang Fulang had a mother who protected him with all his heart.

Bing Shisan’s own mother, on the other hand, was a ge’er who couldn’t survive without a man. Even when that man hurt his and his son, he still chose the man over his child.

After joining the organization, Bing Shisan had only visited him once in secret. He was living a miserable life—but that was the life he had chosen.

As for himself, he had always known that one day, he might die on a mission.

And so, he decided to consider himself already dead.

After returning to the organization, Bing Shisan confessed to his crime—killing a person unrelated to his mission. As punishment, his rank was lowered from “Bing” to “Ding,” making him Ding Shisi.

Years later, Ding Shisi became Jia Liu.

He went to war and became an unremarkable bodyguard.

During an enemy ambush, he sacrificed his life to protect a general.

The general he protected—his surname was Li.

Author’s Note:

I finally managed to finish all the extra chapters! Writing extras is even more painful than writing the main story—look at me, pulling an all-nighter to get this done.

As for the Zhao family and Goudan, after thinking it over, I decided to write it this way. The reason why Goudan attacked someone when he was a child wasn’t explicitly detailed, just briefly mentioned through his memories when he grew up. You can use that as a basis to fill in the gaps with your imagination, haha… Please don’t scold me! Those details would have been too tedious to write, and besides, some of you already guessed the general idea in the comments.

Alright, all the extras are done now. I don’t think I missed anything… right?