Chapter 38
Struggle in Ancient Times
Mother Deng knew Liao Tingyu used too much salt today, although she wasnât happy but she didnât say anything. The result was the food didnât taste as good as before. Liao Shi came back from a busy day, took a bite and said strangely,
âMother, why is the food so tasteless today?â
Mother Deng was in bad mood but she couldnât scold Liao Tingyu, this Liao Shi ended up opening her bomb, âWhat do you know about cooking! Do you think it was cheap to cook a food? Some foods are good and bad, if you hate it then go make it yourself. Donât eat it if itâs not good. Get out!â
Liao Shi was aggrieved, âMother, I didnât mean it like that. You misunderstood.â
Liao Tingyu saw mother Dengâs anger, he felt it was his fault so he wanted to say something but Liao Ming stopped him.
Liao Ming looked at his wifeâs anger and tried to smooth things over, âOkay, you calm down. Eldest, donât be wronged. We will be like this for a while and it will be fine like usual.â
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After dinner, Liao Ming came to talk with Liao Tingyu, âSon, are you confident about this matter?â@@novelbin@@
âFather, I have already told the chief about this and he set off to the capital immediately. We will suffer for a bit then we could buy salt on the 15th, I heard there will be a big market.â Liao Tingyu looked at his fatherâs face.
âIt is true that our family are getting better. Your big brotherâs business has regular customer, he still earns two hundred wen a day. But our youngest sonâ¦â Liao Ming paused and took a puff of his cigarette, âYour motherâs temperament was big about money. You used so much salt, of course she is angry. But she loves you the most and wonât scold you. But your big brotherâ¦â
Liao Ming sighed helplessly and gave up the topic, âSon, you must help your big brother. He suffered a lot of hardship; your father couldnât do anything.â
âIâ Liao Tingyu took a breather and lowered his head, âI know. Father, what I do was for the sake of our family. If I succeed, our family will get better. Father and mother has suffered a lot for me.â
âItâs nothing. Your mother and father came from poverty; your big brother and his wife are the same. I have never met an official, people say an official has dark heart. Your father couldnât forget their words, Iâm worried. Since the old times, officialâs character always been bad with greedy mouth.â Liao Ming said with emotion.
âFather, some things are only good after we tried it. Even if Chen-zushi take the credit for himself. At worst, just count it as bad luck. After all, we shouldnât fight with officials.â Liao Tingyu also didnât know, he was a little helpless facing his father.
He was sure that Chen-zushi wouldnât swallow the credits alone. Once the salt prescriptions were presented, Chen-zushi would get promoted step by step. But he still needed someone to manage the production. Well, this was his wishful thinking, maybe Chen-zushi wouldnât forget him just like that. The prescriptions were precious thing, but a thought was just a thought. He didnât know the reality and how the six ministries work. He, a mere scholar, couldnât figure it out.
He wouldnât tell his father his own worries, it only added his fatherâs uneasiness. The only thing he could do right now was waiting for Chen-zushi to come back and worked hard to earn money.
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In another room, Liao Shi and Wen Xiuer were sitting together. Liao Shi was stroking his wifeâs belly and talked to the baby about his day.
âWill this be useful?â Wen Xiuer stroked her stomach tenderly.
âIt should be, little brother said it was written in a book. He wonât lie to us.â Liao Shi replied, âI hope our son will smart and obedient like his uncle. Then, when he grows up, he should be strong like me. Wife, let me tell you, little brother was born white and cute. Our children should be like that unlike me who was black.â
Wen Xiuer thought it was important thing, âI know that. Mother said the same thing, Iâve been hiding under the leaves when the sun is hot.â
Liao Shi looked at his wife suddenly, Wen Xiuer thought the mood was weird, âWhat is wrong? Did I say something bad?â
Liao Shi was sulking, âWife, you actually despite me.â
Wen Xiuer slapped his hand off her belly, âItâs good that you know. Iâm going to sleep; you do whatever you want.â