Struggle in Ancient Times

Mother Deng knew Liao Tingyu used too much salt today, although she wasn’t happy but she didn’t say anything. The result was the food didn’t taste as good as before. Liao da-ge came back from a busy day, took a bite and said strangely,

“Mother, why is the food so tasteless today?”

Mother Deng was in bad mood but she couldn’t scold Liao Tingyu, this Liao da-ge ended up opening her bomb, “What do you know about cooking! Do you think it was cheap to cook a food? Some foods are good and bad, if you hate it then go make it yourself. Don’t eat it if it’s not good. Get out!”

Liao da-ge was aggrieved, “Mother, I didn’t mean it like that. You misunderstood.”

Liao Tingyu saw mother Deng’s anger, he felt it was his fault so he wanted to say something but Liao Ming stopped him.

Liao Ming looked at his wife’s anger and tried to smooth things over, “Okay, you calm down. Da-erzi, don’t be wronged. We will be like this for a while and it will be fine like usual.”

.

After dinner, Liao Ming came to talk with Liao Tingyu, “Xiao-erzi, are you confident about this matter?”

“Father, I have already told the chief about this and he set off to the capital immediately. We will suffer for a bit then we could buy salt on the 15th, I heard there will be a big market.” Liao Tingyu looked at his father’s face.

“It is true that our family are getting better. Your da-ge’s business has regular customer, he still earns two hundred wen a day. But xiao-erzi…” Liao Ming paused and took a puff of his cigarette, “Your mother’s temperament was big about money. You used so much salt, of course she is angry. But she loves you the most and won’t scold you. But your da-ge…”

Liao Ming sighed helplessly and gave up the topic, “Xiao-erzi, you must help your da-ge. He suffered a lot of hardship; your father couldn’t do anything.”

“I” Liao Tingyu took a breather and lowered his head, “I know. Father, what I do was for the sake of our family. If I succeed, our family will get better. Father and mother has suffered a lot for me.”

“It’s nothing. Your mother and father came from poverty; your da-ge and sao-zi (sister-in-law) are the same. I have never met an official, people say an official has dark heart. Your father couldn’t forget their words, I’m worried. Since the old times, official’s character always been bad with greedy mouth.” Liao Ming said with emotion.

“Father, some things are only good after we tried it. Even if Chen-zushi take the credit for himself. At worst, just count it as bad luck. After all, we shouldn’t fight with officials.” Liao Tingyu also didn’t know, he was a little helpless facing his father.

He was sure that Chen-zushi wouldn’t swallow the credits alone. Once the salt prescriptions were presented, Chen-zushi would get promoted step by step. But he still needed someone to manage the production. Well, this was his wishful thinking, maybe Chen-zushi wouldn’t forget him just like that. The prescriptions were precious thing, but a thought was just a thought. He didn’t know the reality and how the six ministries work. He, a mere scholar, couldn’t figure it out.

He wouldn’t tell his father his own worries, it only added his father’s uneasiness. The only thing he could do right now was waiting for Chen-zushi to come back and worked hard to earn money.

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In another room, Liao da-ge and Wen Xiuer were sitting together. Liao da-ge was stroking his wife’s belly and talked to the baby about his day.

“Will this be useful?” Wen Xiuer stroked her stomach tenderly.

“It should be, er-di said it was written in a book. He won’t lie to us.” Liao da-ge replied, “I hope our son will smart and obedient like his uncle. Then, when he grows up, he should be strong like me. Wife, let me tell you, er-di was born white and cute. Our children should be like that unlike me who was black.”

Wen Xiuer thought it was important thing, “I know that. Mother said the same thing, I’ve been hiding under the leaves when the sun is hot.”

Liao da-ge looked at his wife suddenly, Wen Xiuer thought the mood was weird, “What is wrong? Did I say something bad?”

Liao da-ge was sulking, “Wife, you actually despite me.”

Wen Xiuer slapped his hand off her belly, “It’s good that you know. I’m going to sleep; you do whatever you want.”