"What happened next?" asked a curious Yang Chuxia. Damn, she never imagined that the Yang Family had so many secrets. She failed to see that her father was educated.
"Why are you in such a hurry, you girl?" scolded Ms. Wang, before continuing, "You know your step-grandmother’s temperament. Do you think she would willingly let your father continue his studies? So, she made a plan that involved making your dad go fishing in the cold lake during winter. By the time your grandfather was informed, your father was almost frozen. Initially, it was not a big problem. He could just warm up. However, when he came back, he ran into Xiao’an, your second uncle, who was carrying hot water. He saw your father and a group of people and slipped, the hot water spilled all over your father’s arm."
"Are the remnants of that incident why my father’s left hand doesn’t function well?"
"So that’s the reason." Humph, the damn Old Lady Hua was indeed ruthless. She suspected that Yang Xiao’an did not slip but did it intentionally. Yang Dachuan’s arm was first frozen, then suddenly drenched in hot water. The alternate exposure to heat and cold must have damaged the tendons. Considering the primitive medical level at that time, it’s not surprising that his arm got dismembered. When Yang Dachuan’s arm got disabled, he naturally had to stop going to school, and Old Lady Hua achieved her goal. Not only that, she let her son replace Dachuan in school. Humph, she wishes to continue getting official positions, we will see if she will make it!
Ms. Wang continued, "That was it. Your father stopped schooling when his arm became dysfunctional. It was because of this event that your grandfather wanted to chase away your step-grandmother, but your father disagreed. The brothers had a big fight over it. We don’t know what your father and grandfather said, but afterward, your grandfather stopped concerning himself with our family affairs. However, over these years, he often quietly helped your father."
After listening, Yang Qingtong instantly responded, "Mother, grandfather is such a good person!"
Yang Xiayun then ran to Yang Dachuan, took his arm and said, "Daddy, it must have hurt so much, so much hot water!" The little girl, feeling heartbroken, clung to Yang Dachuan then suddenly her little face became grave. "Humph, step-grandmother and second uncle are very bad. Yunyun will ignore them from now on."
Yang Chuxia sighed, thinking that all this was the result of Old Yang’s actions. She guessed that some harsh words must have been spoken that made Grandpa Land Officer stop helping her father. If Land Officer stopped helping, how much would Old Lady Hua have oppressed and bullied Yang Dachuan?
"Mother, how old was father back then?"
"I heard your father was only a year older than your eldest brother, just ten years old."
Yang Chuxia gasped sharply. Tea that young had suffered such a disaster. She felt sorry for her adoptive father. Sigh, thinking of Yang Dachuan’s character, his honest nature, filial piety, weakness, among other problems, they didn’t matter anymore. It was already not easy to survive in such a situation. However, luckily her adoptive father was already changing now, everything was changing, and the life at home would gradually change too.
"Dad, since you’re literate, you can teach us to read when you have time?"
Speaking of this, Yang Dachuan felt somewhat embarrassed, scratching his head, "I haven’t written for many years, I have almost forgotten everything."
"That’s okay, once I earn some silver and buy books, you will surely remember after reading them."
"Okay, we will see when the time comes," Yang Dachuan laughed.