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墨書 Inktalez
"No, he cannot continue to be so despondent. He has a son, an excellent son, the son who has gained recognition." Yang Bingshan struggled to get up.
Stumbling, he walked outside. The dilapidated Yang Residence was no longer what it used to be; the flowers and plants, left untrimmed for days, were in disarray, scattered all over the ground, with grass sprouting through the Azure Brick path.
The scene of decay and desolation was heart-wrenching. The servants who used to come and go were no longer present, and the few people left had little interest in tidying up the increasingly crumbling Yang Residence courtyard.
Everyone seemed to live their days in a daze like Yang Bingshan.
Upon hearing the news of the Young Master's reward, they felt a surge of excitement, only to return to calmness. What did it matter? The Young Master would never return, and suddenly there was a hint of resentment towards Yang Bingshan, the male head of the family.
The women in the back courtyard watched the decline of Yang Residence, witnessing Yang Bingshan's aimless existence. They no longer fought desperately for his affection as they once did, instead sitting before mirrors in self-pity.
Some even secretly rolled up their belongings and fled over the walls, knowing that there would be no bright future here.
Yang Bingshan turned a blind eye to this. In times of hardship, true feelings are revealed; those who usually fawned over him could only share in pleasure but not in suffering. Now, he longed for the days of his youth when he worked hard step by step.
After all these years, had his mind been clouded? How could he have believed that shameless little wretch Liang Mei'er? It had led to estrangement between husband and wife and enmity between father and son.
Perhaps there is still hope...
Whether it was a moment of clarity after awakening or the temptation of Yang Yichen's bright future, Yang Bingshan stumbled out of Yang Residence, lifted his gaze to the sunlight above, and his heart gradually cleared.
At this moment, he was not alone in regret. Those who held grudges against Liu Qingxi all sighed deeply, regretting their past choices.
In contrast to the decline of Yang Residence stood the once powerful Wan Mansion. Wandehai was no less formidable than Yang Bingshan; fortunately, Madam Wan's family had some financial strength, which provided him with immense support and served as his last lifeline.
In a remote corner, a house had partially collapsed, with a beam tilted at a forty-five-degree angle, creating a slanted conical space.
In one dilapidated corner of the house, a layer of straw was spread out, and a thin figure sat against the wall, her gaze unfocused.
At that moment, the creaking wooden door swung open, and a maid dressed in green strutted in, casting a sideways glance as she said, "The lady is kind to give you a place to stay."
"But a woman like you is not worthy of sympathy. You may not know yet, but there is a girl named Liu Qingxi from Ten Li Pu who received a reward of one hundred taels of gold and a hundred acres of good land from the emperor. If I remember correctly, she is your cousin!"
As Liu Qingxi's name was mentioned, a glimmer of light sparked in the woman's eyes. Liu Qingxi—yes, Liu Qingxi!
For some reason, this name strongly supported her consciousness, allowing her to cling to life until now. She had become nothing but skin and bones, while those so-called relatives—especially her mother, who had always claimed to love and cherish her—had never come back.
The thin woman had dry yellow hair that was messy like that of a beggar. She was none other than Liu Qingzhi.
Suddenly, with all her strength, the woman stood up. Her withered hands tightly grasped the maid's arm, and her dirty nails dug in fiercely: "You mean Liu Qingxi? The emperor's reward?"
This news struck her mind violently. How could this cousin, whom she regarded as an enemy, live such a happy life? How could she develop so quickly?
In contrast, her past prosperity felt like smoke that had vanished without a trace, leaving only the desolation and loneliness of day after day, accompanied only by hamsters.
The disparity between their lives and the pain following such hardships left her mind in chaos.
The maid spat and quickly shook off the woman's disgusting hands. She kicked Liu Qingzhi's leg, causing her to fall to the ground with a thud. Weak and powerless, she struggled to prop herself up.
The maid rolled her eyes: "How could it be fake? What? Regretting it now? It’s too late for regrets; that's theirs! Hahaha~~~"
The arrogant laughter pierced Liu Qingzhi's heart and ears, as if a sharp sword had left her utterly wounded, with nowhere to hide.
Tears streamed down her face, leaving streaks on her yellowed skin.
The maid stepped out of the room, cursing under her breath and quickly leaving, as if being chased by Plague.
After all, the task assigned by the lady had been completed satisfactorily; who cared about that woman behind? If she wanted to die, she should hurry up and do so.
The relentless torment of regret gnawed at her heart day and night.
The male head of the household had ignored her completely since the miscarriage, indifferent to whether she lived or died, without a trace of emotion.
There were plenty of women; one more or less didn't matter.
It seemed that everything she had pursued before was in vain. No matter how much she suppressed it, that thin girl continued to shine brightly. Liu Qingzhi had to admit that she had lost.
Liu Qingxi naturally knew nothing of what these people thought or felt, nor would she be interested in it.
Her mind and body were focused on how to learn quickly and how to transform Elder Ying's knowledge into her own strength.
Upon returning, Ten Li Pu was bustling with activity.
Since departing from Lingjiang Province, the journey had revealed endless fields of golden orange on both sides of the road. As the gentle breeze blew, golden waves surged forth.
It was like graceful people dancing freely, and like happy birds singing joyfully, celebrating the joy of harvest and the satisfaction of abundant fruits.
As they walked along, everywhere they looked, people wearing straw hats and carrying baskets entered the golden fields that were taller than themselves, disappearing in the blink of an eye. The sound of corn cobs being snapped off echoed in their ears.
From time to time, cheerful laughter could be heard: "It's fortunate that this year is a bountiful harvest."
Otherwise, having just experienced an earthquake, facing meager yields would be a devastating blow.
Living in Lingjiang Province for four or five years and spending every day with Elder Ying had brought many rewards, but thoughts of the autumn harvest at Ten Li Pu lingered in their mind, along with the need to manage the hundred acres of fertile land awarded by the emperor.
To be honest, Liu Qingxi had been busy for over a year, but without any land, even with money, they hadn’t bought any because managing it would indeed be troublesome.
Moreover, having only farmed occasionally in the past, they didn’t have a deep understanding of farming now. Thus, they lacked the mindset that farmers must have land to feel secure.
Now, with a hundred acres of land, there were some complications.
However, when all was considered, if taxes were exempted, the annual income wouldn’t be insignificant.
The cart creaked as it moved forward, the rumbling sounds blending with the joy of farmers harvesting, weaving a wonderful melody. The sight of the abundant harvest stretched endlessly before them, refreshing their spirits.
Finally, they arrived at Ten Li Pu.
People carried baskets on their backs and held burlap sacks while driving ox carts, emerging one after another from the fields, calling out and joyfully heading home.
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