Chapter 3: Reporting for Duty (Please collect! Recommend!)

  Taiping Town is about five kilometers away from Xiao's home. Due to the influence of the Xiao family, Taiping Town is much larger and more prosperous than ordinary towns.

  And during this time, due to the Xiao family's triennial recruitment, Taiping Town was even more bustling than usual, with cars and horses galloping about, people coming and going, and large and small inns were all packed.

  Chen Haoyi and his family of five lived in a remote slum on the outskirts of Taiping Town, where a small earthen house with an area of less than 30 square meters was their temporary home. In this dimly lit, damp room that never saw sunlight all year round, a large kang made of bricks occupied almost half of the room's space, which served as the sleeping place for the family of five.

  At this time, a middle-aged man with a thin face and a weathered face was lying on the bed. This man was Chen Hai, the disabled father of Chen Huan.

  "Alas... He's finally taken this path after all... Well, can't be like me, a useless person... Maybe someday... Who knows..." Chen Hai shook his head and said with a tone full of melancholy: "I... think too much..."

  At this time, it was already past noon. He thought to himself that if his wife had managed to hold onto Tianci in time, they should have arrived home by now. However, they were still nowhere to be seen. His wife didn't know, but Chen Hai was well aware that since they hadn't returned yet, Chen Huan must have gone for the test. And since he had taken it, Chen Huan would definitely pass - having watched him grow up, how could he not know about Chen Huan's talent?

  "Thud, thud......" Just then, footsteps were heard outside the door. Chen Hai's expression changed instantly, and the desolation on his face disappeared in an instant, replaced by a joyful smile, as if he couldn't wait to shout loudly: "A Mei, is that you?"

  "It's me." The response to Chen Hai was not from his wife A Mei, but a woman with another voice.

  A moment later, a woman with a furious face walked in. The woman was wearing a bright red satin dress, slightly plump, with some makeup on her face, looking very wealthy. She swept the room with her eyes and fixed her gaze on Chen Hai, saying loudly: "Chen Hai, have you seen my second son?"

  Chen Hai hesitated for a moment and said: "Dong Shu, Er Gouzi and A Mei... went to Xiao's house..."

  "Going to Xiao's house? What are they doing?"

  "Dong Sao, it's like this. Tian Cai secretly went to participate in the Xiao family test without telling us. This morning, if not for Er Gouzi coming over, we wouldn't have known... He and A Mei both went after Tian Cai..." Chen Hai said.

  "Take part in the Xiao family test?" Er Gouzi's mother was shocked: "Just because of your family Tiancai? How arrogant, can he pass the test? Don't you know how dangerous that test is? Nonsense! I won't even let our Er Gouzi take part. You people... never mind, it's none of my business whether you live or die! Chen Hai, I'm telling you, from now on don't let your Tiancai hang out with Er Gouzi again. Er Gouzi will inherit his father's business in the future, and if he spends all day mixing with your Tiancai, what kind of prospects will he have? And another thing, when your wife gets back tell her that you've owed half a year's rent! Hmph!"

  "Yes, yes, I know... Aunt Dong..." Facing the unpleasant words of Er Gou's mother, Chen Hai showed no dissatisfaction on his face, but instead said nervously.

  He knew clearly that although Er Gou's mother was selfish, sharp-tongued and cruel, she wasn't a bad person at heart. Otherwise, she wouldn't have let them owe several months' rent, nor would their rent have remained unchanged for years while others' kept increasing. And what she said was also true. Er Gou would inherit his father's business in the future, so he had to get along with the children of those people they dealt with, in order to work together smoothly in the future. But Er Gou just liked to hang out with Tian Cai all day.

  Just then, Chen Hua's excited voice came from outside the door: "Dad, we're back!"

  "Uncle, Tianqi Ge..." Suddenly, Er Gouzi's voice, even more excited than Chen Hua's, came over, but before he could finish speaking, he suddenly stopped and froze, looking at the woman inside the house, calling out in a low voice: "Mother..."

  Chen Hao was also slightly stunned: "Aunt..."

  The woman looked at Chen Hua, seemed to let out a sigh of relief, then glared at Er Gouzi and pinched his ear, saying: "You little scamp, how many times have I told you not to hang out with Tian Cai? Is your brain made of tofu? Do you have any memory?"

  Two dogs, Ah-yah, Ah-yah, shouted, but in his mouth, he stubbornly said: "Mother, Ah-yah... A-qiang, A-zhong they all bully me... Ah don't hit... I don't like playing with them, I only like playing with Tiancai brother!"

  "Play, play, play, you'll know what it means to play. I wonder how you'll take over your father's business in the future! You'll end up just like them, poor and unable to even fill your belly with food! Starve to death!"

  "It's impossible!" Er Gouzi said loudly with unexpected courage: "Tian Cai Ge has already become a disciple of the Xiao family!"

  "What did you say?" Er Gouzi's mother had her palm suspended in mid-air, asking in shock.

  Chen Hai, lying on the bed, also raised his head in shock. He was certain that Chen Huan would definitely pass the test if he participated, but now that he had returned, although a bit late, the test must not have ended yet, so Chen Huan should not have taken part in the Xiao family's test, how could he have passed?

  "Tiancai Ge has already become a disciple of the Xiao family! Mother, three years later, I will also participate in the Xiao family test! I want to be with Tiancai Ge, I want to learn from Tiancai Ge. Mother, I don't like doing business!" Er Gouzi, who had never dared to speak loudly to his mother before, was thoroughly stirred up by the words hidden in his heart because of Chen Huan, this only friend, becoming a disciple of the Xiao family and about to be separated from him.

  The two dogs happily expressed their inner thoughts, but they knew that next they would face the old mother's stormy weather. Taking advantage of the old mother's daze, they hastily retreated to the door, and as soon as things didn't look good, they immediately took off, just running to the old father's side could rescue them from the depths of trouble.

  At this time, Chen Hao's mother and younger brother and sister had just returned home, but they didn't understand what happened, so they stood quietly beside Er Gouzi.

  What Er Gouzi didn't expect was that his mother didn't chase after him to scold him, but instead stared at Chen Huan with wide eyes and said: "Is what Er Gouzi said... true?"

  "Yes, Auntie." Chen Hao looked at Er Gouzi for a moment, then raised his head to look at Er Gouzi's mother and said in a deep voice.

  Upon hearing Chen Huan's affirmative answer, Er Gouzi's mother, who had been furious just a moment before, suddenly changed her expression, becoming even more radiant than the pages of a book flipping rapidly. With a face full of smiles, she looked at Chen Huan and said: "Good, really good! I knew this child would definitely have a bright future..."

  "Second Dog, from now on you don't have to sneak around to get food. Take as much as you want! And Ah Mei, this house is too old, it's damp, dark and small, it should be torn down and rebuilt. Today, all of you move to our place to live. Hmm, Second Dog, later take your family to our place, my wife will cook delicious food for you. Tian Cai becoming a disciple of the Xiao family is such a big happy event, we must celebrate... I'll go back and start cooking now!" Second Dog's mother said with a smile all over her face, then turned around and ran off, leaving behind a crowd of people looking at each other in dismay.

  I've seen people who are selfish, but I've never seen anyone as selfish as this.

  However, neither Chen Hao's parents nor Chen Hao himself had any dislike for her. Because they were clear that this seemingly self-interested woman not only added flowers to the brocade but also delivered charcoal in the snow over the past few years, it was just that her way of doing things was a bit different from others.

  She is not a Bodhisattva of mercy, nor a saint, nor a fool, but rather very astute. Therefore, she would not give Chen Hao's family large sums of money and goods just because they are poor and struggling, allowing them to live a rich life.

  However, she managed to not raise the rent for several years and could often delay paying it, despite the house being old, worn out and damp. She tolerated it when the two dogs at home stole rice, flour, meat, and even salt, vinegar, and soy sauce, turning a blind eye.

  If it weren't for these, how could Chen Hao's family have lasted until today?

  ……

  Er Gou Zi was originally named Dong Liang, and he had a sister named Dong Yu. Er Gou Zi got his nickname because when he was young, he was weak and often ill, so his parents were afraid that he would die prematurely. His father, Dong Guoqiao, ran a relatively large general merchandise store in the central area of Taiping Town, while his mother, He Ting, managed the properties of over 30 poor households. Although they weren't extremely wealthy, they had some reputation in Taiping Town and belonged to an upper-middle-class family.

  Two dogs and their family lived in a relatively large independent house on the edge of the slum, with a main house, two side houses, and a courtyard arranged like a small garden. Although it didn't have the poetic charm of a small bridge and flowing water, its style was quite elegant, and compared to Chen Huan's slum dwelling, it was simply heaven and earth, not even in the same league.

  Today, Er Gouzi was very happy, holding Chen Nan with one hand and Chen Yan with the other, excitedly talking and laughing. Chen Hao and his mother were supporting his disabled father, following behind them. As for He Ting's invitation, they did not refuse it. If Chen Hao had not become a disciple of the Xiao family, He Ting would have invited them, but they would not have accepted because they could not afford to repay that kindness and also couldn't put down their pride.

  A person can be poor, but he cannot be so poor as to lose his dignity.

  Now, because of Chen Huan's change in status, accepting He Ting's invitation means that he will become the pillar of support for Er Gouzi's family from now on!

  Three days later, the sky was overcast and dimly lit.

  Chen Hao refused the request of Er Gouzi's mother to buy him a brand new set of clothes, because even if he bought them, it would be a waste. Once he entered the Xiao family, he would have his own special attire. At the same time, he also refused the farewell sendoff from everyone and set off alone on the road to report to the Xiao family, wearing that coarse linen garment, with empty hands, and carrying a load on his shoulders.

  ……

  (New book urgently needs support from brothers and sisters, please collect and recommend it... Wushan thanks you!)