Chapter 21: Father and Son Growing Apart

Chapter 21: Father and Son Growing Apart

After Meng Qing carried the child out of the house, only the three Du brothers remained in the main hall. The three brothers looked at each other and then turned their faces away.

"I'll go boil some eggs," Du Li said, heading out first.

Du Ming wanted to follow, but Du Min called out to him, "Brother, let's talk."

Du Ming didn't want to talk, but he was wary of Du Min and secretly fawned over him. He couldn't bring himself to refuse, so he could only reluctantly sit back down on the bench.

“Eldest brother, I’m very disappointed in you. You always act like the eldest brother in front of me and second brother, demanding that we respect and obey you, but your actions don’t reflect that.” Du Min spoke his mind. “I hate bringing up the past. I won’t mention what happened before, but just this year, all the silkworms died, and my mother was sick for half a month. The biggest responsibility for these two things lies with you and my sister-in-law…”

"You're spouting nonsense." Du Ming got impatient and shouted, his face pale with anger, "If you're taking sides, I'm leaving right now. I'm not listening to you."

"Go away, I won't try to persuade your parents anymore. Let's see who's the most anxious." Du Min also got angry. He complained, "I have so much to do at the academy, I don't even have enough time to read and memorize, and I have to judge your cases and clean up the messes you make every now and then. Do you think I like it? I hate it. My heart skips a beat whenever I hear that my family is coming to see me."

"Who asked you to come back? I certainly didn't ask you to come back," Du Ming said angrily.

"If you don't want me to come back, then solve it yourselves! What are you doing, locking the door and hiding in the house? Is this all the gist of it? Acting like a scoundrel in front of our parents, is this how you solve problems? With a father like you, how can Jinshu ever improve herself?" Du Min said sarcastically. "If I wasn't worried about our parents getting sick from all this, would I waste my energy gossiping with you?"

Du Ming was so angry that his face turned red. He rolled up his sleeves and pretended to hit someone, but since the person in front of him was not Lao Er, he only dared to make a feint.

Du Min coldly watched him, seeing him as a paper tiger putting on a show. With his parents around, no one in the family dared to lay a finger on him.

"You ungrateful wretch! I've spoiled you all these years for nothing. You grew up on my back. It's no exaggeration for me to treat you like a slave. I've spent more time and money on you than on Jinshu..."

Here they go again. As soon as Du Min heard them recounting these old tales of gratitude, he couldn't help but feel irritable. A surge of shame also welled up inside him, and the two emotions intertwined, making him wish he could take a knife and scrape off a few pounds of flesh to repay their kindness.

"Shut up." Du Min's eyes were filled with hatred. He said angrily and resolutely, "Don't say another word. Five years. Within five years, I will definitely pay back everything I owe you. I will pay back the principal with interest. I will make sure you don't suffer any losses."

Du Ming was startled by his gaze. His anger-fueled mind instantly cleared, followed by a wave of regret. He quickly changed his expression like a clown, feigning weakness with a distorted face: "Don't talk nonsense, I didn't mean that. You're good at studying, which makes me proud. I'm happy to support your education, and I don't expect you to pay me back. I'm angry because I'm your older brother. As the old saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father. I have to save face in front of you, and you scolded me so bluntly that I lost face. You know, I can be a bit reckless, Third Brother, you can't hold it against me."

Du Min remained unmoved. He secretly vowed that within five years he would repay his family with interest all the money he had spent on his studies over the years.

“Third brother…” Du Ming moved closer to Du Min.

Du Min glanced at his face and felt both sorrow and pleasure. He secretly vowed that he must make something of himself. He was tired of living a life of groveling for petty favors and of arguing heatedly over a single coin or half an acre of land.

"You and my sister-in-law have been arguing with my second sister-in-law, but before she married into the family, did you not eat, drink, or do anything? She didn't work or eat at home. She called herself a daughter-in-law, but in reality, she was no different from a married daughter." Du Min recounted the past with a choked voice. "You won't admit that the silkworms dying was your fault, but if you and my sister-in-law hadn't caused trouble and acted like irresponsible parents, would this have happened? It was your irresponsibility that caused this loss, and it should be blamed on you. It's your fault that Jinshu can't go to elementary school. You don't need to complain anymore. My second brother and sister-in-law used the family's money, and you used it in another way as well."

Du Ming was so angry he felt like vomiting blood, but he still had to hold his nose and admit, "You're right."

"I will try to persuade Father to agree to Second Sister-in-law's idea. From now on, you must stop being lazy and find ways to earn money yourself. Don't upset Father and Mother anymore. They are getting old, and I'm worried that they might get sick from anger, leaving me unable to care for them in their old age," Du Min advised.

"Okay, okay," Du Ming replied verbally, inwardly cursing him as a pretentious intellectual.

"Third brother, I made some salted egg drop soup. Would you like a bowl?" Du Li asked from the courtyard.

"Why is it salty? Not sweet?" Du Min took the opportunity to walk out, no longer wanting to argue with his older brother.

Du Li left with the words "There's no sugar at home," and then took the bowl to Meng Qing.

Just then, Du's mother returned. When she saw Du Min, she was so happy that she exclaimed, "Oh my, it really is my youngest son! When did you come back? Your father, that old man, didn't even send anyone to call me. It was your fifth sister-in-law who told me you were back that I found out."

“I’ve been back for a while. Mother, I heard from Father that you hurt your hand. Is it serious? You have to be careful. In this hot weather, wounds are prone to festering. Don’t get it wet.” Du Min asked her with concern.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. I'm tough, it'll be fine in a few days." Du's mother didn't care about the injury on her hand. But when she glanced at Li Hongguo, her expression immediately changed. She said sarcastically, "I'm not destined to lie in bed and sleep all day. If my hands don't get wet, my whole family will starve to death."

Li Hongguo lowered her head and dared not utter a sound.

"Who are you trying to fool with this pitiful act?" Du's mother couldn't stand her like this. She had really misjudged her. A dog that bites doesn't bark.

Du Min had a headache; there wasn't a single person in this family who was easy to deal with.

"Mom, I'm going to find Dad. Do you want to come? I haven't been back for over a month. I want to talk to you both." Du Min planned to send her away, otherwise he would have endless arguments to mediate.

Of course, Du's mother wouldn't refuse, and she went with Du Min.

Du Min didn't bother to drink the egg drop soup, and the remaining bowl of egg drop soup in the earthenware pot was eaten up by Li Hongguo and Du Ming.

"...That's it. The third brother should be able to persuade my parents, and we can start saving money on our own from now on." Du Ming sat on the earthen steps in front of the stove, happily recounting the previous conversation.

“Those two, the second son and his wife, are really not peaceful. They must have planned this all along. They came back for a reason. No wonder the second son keeps running off to the city and staying for three or four days at a time. He just doesn't want to work, which makes us argue with those two old folks.” Thinking of this, Li Hongguo’s head was buzzing with anger. She glanced helplessly at Du Ming and said irritably, “You still say the second son is stupid? I think you’re the stupidest one in the family. He’s been married for less than two years and he’s already had feelings for someone else. You can tell he’s cunning. What’s most disgusting is that he pretends to be innocent. He’s really hiding his true intentions.”

Du Ming didn't believe this. He knew his second son well. If the family gave him a second glance, he would work like crazy. He wasn't the kind of person who was honest on the outside but cunning on the inside.

"I suspect it was the second son's wife and the Meng family who were pulling strings behind his back. Merchants are the most cunning; they won't suffer even the slightest loss." He immediately thought of the culprit and said bitterly, "And yet, the third brother was also fooled by her. He kept calling her 'Second Sister-in-law' so affectionately, but his heart was completely with the second wife's family."

Li Hongguo also felt resentment, but there was nothing she could do. If her family were in the city, she and Meng Qing could take turns taking care of Du Min's food and drink, but unfortunately they weren't.

"I think we should still rely on Jinshu. After the Dragon Boat Festival, we'll send him to a private school. As long as he's willing to improve, I'll sell everything I own to support his studies," Du Ming thought.

Li Hongguo was still unwilling to give up.

*

At the other end, Du Min found his father at the ferry crossing. "Father, come with me to the fields. How is the early rice growing this year?"

Using this excuse, Du Min called Du's father away, and the father, son, and Du's mother walked downstream along the riverbank.

“There was little rain during the plum rain season this year, just one rain shower. This year will be a scorching year,” Du Min said. “Father, Mother, you are getting older and your health is deteriorating year by year. Please take good care of yourselves and don’t work in the fields under the blazing sun.”

"If people don't suffer, the crops won't be harvested," said Mr. Du.

“Then I’ll charge less. Now that I can earn money, your burden will be lighter.” Du Min drawled out the last syllable, his words tinged with smugness.

Mr. Du laughed, "Then I'll have to enjoy your good fortune."

"Just wait, one day I'll make you and my mother wear silk clothes and sit at home ordering around servants."

Mr. Du laughed heartily, then asked in a low voice, "How much money have you made now?"

Du Min was caught off guard and held out a hand. “Almost five strings of cash. The first time I divided it into two thousand two hundred coins, and the second time I divided it into one thousand nine hundred coins.”

"Then your second sister-in-law must earn even more?" Du's mother asked with envy. She then asked, "Is the money in her hands? Did she give it all to her family?"

“That’s a matter for the Meng family.” Du Min understood her plan immediately.

“She is my Du family’s daughter-in-law, what does she mean by Meng family? She belongs entirely to the Du family, and the money she earns should be given to her parents-in-law. Have you ever seen a daughter-in-law with private property? The imperial court does not allocate land to women. Women are born to depend on men. For the first ten years or so, they belong to their own family, and for the next few decades, they belong to their husband’s family. If she dares to have thoughts of having a man, she can only become a widow.” Du’s mother said with righteous indignation.

Du Min frowned. He was knowledgeable and knew that wealthy families would give their daughters private property when they married, and the profits from estates and shops after marriage would also belong to the daughters. Women could have private property after marriage and childbirth.

"Mother, you can't say things like that. Don't underestimate women. Empress Wu has even gone to the court to discuss state affairs with the Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Du immediately scolded, "What do you know? You're just spouting nonsense! I think you've never learned your lesson and you only deserve to be taught a lesson by your second son's wife."

Du's mother was so angry she almost fell over. "Second daughter-in-law, second daughter-in-law, are you terrified of her?"

Neither Du's father nor Du Min said a word; to be honest, they were really afraid of her.

“Dad, I think my second sister-in-law’s idea is pretty good. Why don’t you agree? After the rice harvest, let my eldest and second brothers farm the land. Their attention will be focused on the fields, and they’ll be thinking about how to make money. They won’t be watching you and me anymore, and the family will be more peaceful.” Du Min brought up the matter.

“This is no different from dividing the family property; it’s shameful to talk about it,” Mr. Du shouted gruffly.

"What is it?" Mrs. Du asked, completely bewildered.

Du Min briefly recounted, "I asked my eldest brother, and as long as you all agree, he won't need the family to pay for Jinshu's education. Jinshu's education won't use public funds. With him leading the way, you won't have to worry about the education of the rest of the grandchildren. It'll be so peaceful."

“That’s a good idea. After the rice harvest, the paddy fields are just sitting idle anyway, so let the eldest and second sons do it.” As soon as Du’s mother heard that she wouldn’t have to spend any money, she had no objections.

"Don't they deplete the soil's fertility by planting things in the fields? Next year's crop yield will be reduced," Du's father made another excuse.

"If this won't work and that won't work, then you'd better pay up." Du Min lost his patience. "If you don't pay up, just wait and see my eldest and second brothers fight like dogs, and in the end, they'll turn against each other, just like you and my uncle, who live in the same village but don't visit each other except during festivals."

Mr. and Mrs. Du did not react to the "dogs fighting" argument; they both lowered their heads and pondered.

“Actually, it’s not impossible. Once you can earn money, Amin, we don’t need to save all the family’s money for you. We can give Jinshu two or three strings of cash a year as tuition.” Father Du said, revealing his plan.

Du Min was first puzzled, then shocked. He asked with a chill in his heart, "Father, have you ever thought about why I didn't study hard and instead tried to make money? I risked my life to profit from commerce just to save money for Jinshu to go to elementary school? What am I supposed to do with the money? I don't have enough money. I see that's all the money my family can afford. I can't bear to drain you all, so I have to rack my brains to make money outside!"

Mr. Du realized, "I'm getting senile."

Du Min's mind was in turmoil. No wonder they wanted him to come back; they were after the money in his pocket. At that moment, a ridiculous thought even crossed his mind: he suspected that today was a setup, and his family was putting on a show to lure him in.

"I can only rely on myself now," he thought.

"Father, Mother, have you ever thought that I might fail the exam the first time? Where will I get the money for my second attempt?" Du Min asked softly. Before his parents could answer, he turned and left, saying, "I'm going back to the academy. Don't bother me unless it's something important."

Mr. Du panicked and chased after her, asking, "Amin, are you angry? Don't be angry. All the money in the house is yours. If I don't touch it, no one else can touch it either."

"Thank you, Dad. Please wait a little longer. I will definitely pay back all the money I owe you within five years, with interest. After that, we will be even."

"No, who asked you to pay it back?" Mr. Du was sweating profusely with anxiety.

"Quickly agree to him," Du's mother reminded them from behind.

“Yes, yes, yes, Dad promises you, we’ll do as your second sister-in-law said. After the harvest, your eldest and second eldest brothers can do whatever they want with the fields,” Father Du hurriedly said.

"Whatever, I'm not going to worry about things at home anymore." Du Min hurried home, and stood in the yard with a dark face, calling out, "Second sister-in-law? Second sister-in-law, come out, we're going back to the city."

Realizing his words were inappropriate, he changed his tune, saying, "Second Sister-in-law, I need to go back to the academy now. Are you coming with me, or will you return to the city tomorrow?"

"Your second sister-in-law isn't home. Your second brother took her to pick lotus flowers and lotus pods." Li Hongguo said angrily. She was at home, her hair greasy and disheveled, tending the fire and stewing chicken, while others were admiring flowers and picking fruit.

Mr. and Mrs. Du hurriedly caught up with him. When Du Min saw the old couple looking anxious and their backs soaked with sweat, he felt a pang of sadness and stopped making a fuss.

"Brother, Father has agreed. Congratulations." He said, acquiescing.

Du Ming smiled; he could finally be in charge.

“Third brother, could you write a letter of recommendation for Jinshu? I plan to send him to the private school where you studied in your childhood.” Li Hongguo brought this up, intending to get closer to him. She smiled and said, “In that case, you and Jinshu can be considered fellow disciples. If he follows you, and you both pass the imperial examination in the future, it will be a wonderful story.”

Du Min almost laughed out loud, but knowing she was eager for her son to succeed, he didn't mock her. Instead, he corrected her, saying, "Blood ties are more important than the bond between teachers and students. You can't use the term 'fellow disciples' like that. As for a letter of recommendation, you don't need that for elementary school. If you're willing to pay tuition, the private school will accept him."

Li Hongguo gave an awkward smile, "I see."

"By the way, where are Jinshu and Qiaomei? I've been back for half a day and haven't seen the two children. I'll check if they still remember the 'Xue Er' chapter of the Analects," Du Min asked.

"I've gone back to my parents' home. My children's uncle took them to stay for a few days." Li Hongguo was quite proud; her family also doted on her children.

Du Min said no more and went back into the house.

He waited until Meng Qing and Du Li returned before going out after hearing the noise.

Du's mother stood in the courtyard, her face dark as she stared outside.

Du Li went into the water and picked a pot of lotus pods. To make it easier for Meng Qing to take them away, he sat on the bluestone slab where he was chopping chicken grass and peeled the lotus pods. Meng Qing, on the other hand, took Wang Zhou and watched the cows graze outside the cowshed.

"Second sister-in-law, did you burn that thing?" Du Min walked over with his hands behind his back.

"It's burned." Meng Qing knew what he meant. She smiled and said, "The ashes are still there. Do you want to go take a look?"

"I won't watch it. I trust Second Sister-in-law's character." Du Min nodded and walked away. After taking a few steps, he turned back and asked, "Second Sister-in-law, things burned to ashes won't reappear, right?"

"I believe my third brother won't let it happen."