Frightened, the eight-year-old Lian Wanzhen’s knees went weak, and he knelt down on the spot.
Immediately after, his father began to furiously scold him. He started from when Wanzhen was still in his mother’s womb, accusing him of learning to deceive his old man even then, pretending to be the baby girl Yuan Yuan in the womb to trick people, yet turning out to be a worrisome boy with a penis. He even scolded him for taking his younger sister’s name, saying it was bad enough that he was useless, but now he dared to lead his innocent little sister astray.
As his father ranted, his expression showed deep pain and anger. He lamented that Nannan was only two and a half years old—that she couldn’t stand the wind nor leave the house—and this unfilial son had dared to take her out to create trouble for an entire day. What if she had been frightened?
He knelt there, taking the saliva that sprayed down on him; he admitted to everything else, but the last thing his father said he could not accept.
His little sister wasn’t scared at all. He had protected her well, and she had played happily, even asking him to take her out again next time, and he had agreed.
Moreover, how could his little sister not be allowed outside? Before, his father had let Nannan ride on his shoulders, always boasting about taking her outside—why was it not allowed when it came to him?
Upon hearing this, his father flew into a rage. Not even waiting for his third younger brother’s rattan, fuming with anger, he began to beat Wanzhen himself, cursing that a son should not speak of his father’s faults, beating and scolding simultaneously.
Usually, when his father berated him , his mother would step in to say a few words on his behalf, but this time she showed no intention of helping. She simply sat and watched him get beaten and scolded, sipping the tea they had grown themselves and chatting with the eldest brother about situations at the academy, even commenting that this year’s tea was very good, as if it had nothing to do with her.
When his father paused from exhaustion, needing to catch his breath, his mother put down her tea cup and began to personally lecture him, her reasoning circling around him until his head spun, finally asking him if he understood his mistake.
Just then, his third younger brother, who had been taking forever to find the rattan, arrived. He entered, declaring how much trouble he had gone through to find a spiny rattan. Wanzhen saw it, and oh, his third brother, those spikes were so hard and sharp that they pierced the flesh with each hit.
His mother took the rattan and made him bend over to receive the blows. His parents took turns beating him ferociously.
That time was truly dreadful. It was the worst beating he had ever received, leaving him feeling as if he had been skinned alive, an incident etched deeply into his memory.
He could endure it, though. A few strikes were nothing to him. A real man could take a brutal beating and still rise again as a hero.
Just as he thought it was all over, his eldest brother, who had been coolly observing from the side, helped him back to his room to recover.
He was deeply moved. Limping along, he remarked that in this family, only his eldest brother was good to him; the third brother was bad to the bone. Five years old and already so wicked, he decided he would never play with the third brother again.
His eldest brother just laughed, agreeing and saying that he wouldn’t be able to play soon, anyway.
Wanzhen thought his brother meant it was because of his injuries, so he reassured his brother that they were minor and that he would be back on his feet in a couple of days at most.
His brother changed the topic, saying that since that was the case, it was perfect. He had originally prepared two books for Wanzhen, but since he was fine, it would be increased to four. Wanzhen was to read them diligently and be ready for a review soon. If he failed, he would not be allowed to go out. His brother even mentioned he had already informed the master who taught them martial arts.
It was like a bolt from the blue!
He was only eight years old, only eight!
Being made to read books was too cruel of his brother!
Though boys are supposed not to cry easily, it was a different story when overwhelmed with heartache. During that time, sorrow overcame him, and he burst into loud crying, a spectacle created by his brother, tears and snot flowing together.
It was the only time he could remember crying so miserably, weeping and protesting that he would never dare again, begging not to be made to read books. But no matter how pitiful his crying, it had not the slightest effect on his brother’s decision.
That time he was confined for a full four months without leaving the house, his brother coming back each month to test him. Each time he failed, another book was added, under the pretense that he didn’t understand because he hadn’t read enough.
Starting with the four books initially assigned, he had to read a total of seven books before he could pass.
Four entire months later, he bore a massive, deep-seated grudge; he couldn’t do anything but stay trapped indoors, reading those few books. That in itself wouldn’t be too bad, but there were so many characters he didn’t recognize; he had to learn to read them before he could continue, barely managing to scrape by in the end.
He feared reading, feared it more than anything; a single glance at a book would make him dizzy, his vision blur, and his body shake uncontrollably, and it remained so even to this day.
Now he could recite the Thousand Character Classic and the Three Character Classic effortlessly, all thanks to his eldest brother. Being literate to such an extent was also all thanks to his brother’s efforts.
So many years had passed, and the memories were still fresh. Later on, he had been punished a few times, but after the family ran into trouble, his eldest brother never punished him again.
Though reckless, he wasn’t stupid; he knew how much pressure his eldest brother and Xiao Bao were shouldering.
He had no special talents, armed only with brute strength and some martial skills. Leaving him at home to protect their parents allowed his eldest brother and Xiao Bao to travel with peace of mind, addressing family affairs.
But, could his eldest brother stop forcing him to read?
Daying, with tears welling up but afraid to plead, knew this time that his elder brother was truly furious. He could only beat his chest and stomp his feet, cursing his own foolish mouth that spoke without thinking, invoking a curse upon his mother, enraging his father and genuinely angering his eldest brother.
But he was aggrieved; his heart ached for his mother, seeing her punctured by so many needles, simply looking at her was distressing.
Lian Musu ignored Lian Wanzhen. As he gently pushed open the door, he saw Lih Qingshu supporting their mother, with a spirited old doctor administering acupuncture to her.
He, from the doorway, unnoticed since the old doctor was completely absorbed in his work, and Lih Qingshu gave him a glance, nodding slightly in greeting.
He took a couple of steps inside and silently closed the door, quietly observing.
Seeing his gentle and quiet mother’s eyes darkened with bruises, her eyes tightly closed, her face gaunt and haggard, he felt a deep pain in his heart.
It was his neglect; he had always been unaware of the heavy burdens on his mother’s heart, enduring the torment day after day, with no relief, finally falling ill after they had escaped their troubles, with longing turned to disease, depression weighing on her heart.
He remembered his mother’s hands from his childhood, so soft, so gentle, but now they were withered, rough, and covered in many small scars.
The old doctor said, "Turn her over."
Lih Qingshu did as told, and turned his mother over.
Lian Musu averted his gaze, turned around, and left, with one name rising in his mind: Guo Neng!
He clenched his fists, trying to calm the hatred boiling in his heart, knowing he still had to endure.
The root of everything was this man’s greed, which had caused his whole family to be exiled and suffer greatly, almost leading to their annihilation.
Now, with his younger sister Nannan still separated from them, her whereabouts unknown, their mother’s illness worsened by depression—this man deserved to be slashed a thousand times over.
Xiao Bao had said that he was too idealistic, thinking that avenging the great injustice through the bright and righteous path was impossible. Making the enemy feel even a tenth of their suffering was difficult.
But Xiao Bao didn’t understand that killing someone with just a knife wasn’t necessarily effective; a moment’s gratification couldn’t solve the problem. Their family couldn’t live forever in the shadows; they had to live their lives brightly and honestly, exposing those rats lurking in the gutters for all to see.
What he sought was to sever the roots of people like Guo Neng and the powerful backers behind him, condemning them to eternal infamy!
When he reappeared at the door, Lian Musu had already regained his usual composure.