"Kid,don't run,stop right there."
Several constables were chasing a tattered child who was running while nibbling on a hot bun in his hand.Eventually,he couldn't outrun them,and soon the constables cornered him in a dead-end alley.The child clutched the bun tightly,retreating fearfully against the back wall.
"Run,why don't you,kid?"one of the constables shouted.
"Stealing at such a young age,what will you be like when you grow up?"another constable accused.
"No,it's not like that,"the child cried,continuing to retreat towards the corner.
"Enough,no use talking to him,let's take him back,"one said,swinging a punch that landed on the child's head.The child fell to the ground with a thud,the bun rolling aside and getting crushed under the approaching constable's foot.The child reached out to grab it,but a foot came down on his hand.
"Ah!"the child shouted in pain.
He was then picked up by one of them and carried towards the yamen's prison,leaving only the crushed grey bun on the ground.
The constables threw him into the cell,locked the door,and left,leaving the child to crawl on the prison floor.
The child's name was Shu Yixing.His father,Shu Quan,was a well-known wealthy merchant in Jingzhou City,known for his harmonious and kind nature.But one night half a month ago,a group of masked bandits burst into the mansion,killed everyone without reason,looted all the money,and then set the entire Shu residence on fire.
Miraculously,Shu Yixing had been playing and fell into a dry well in the courtyard,escaping the disaster.Saved by passersby,he emerged to find his family gone and his home destroyed.He was devastated;his once happy home was ruined overnight.He wanted to join his family in death,but then he decided he must find out who the culprits were and avenge his family's deaths before he could die.
After much thought,he decided to go to Yunzhou to seek refuge with his uncle,Shu Ji.After a difficult journey and running out of money,he arrived in Yunzhou and had not eaten for three days.
In the dark cell,a middle-aged man with a beard and disheveled hair looked at Shu Yixing and asked,"Kid,what did you do to end up here at such a young age?"
Shu Yixing choked back tears and did not answer.
"Ah,no need to ask,none of us here are innocent,"another inmate replied.
At that moment,the jailer entered with a man who looked Shu Yixing over and had the jailer open the cell door.
"Kid,get up,someone's here to take you out,"the jailer shouted at Shu Yixing.
Hearing this,Shu Yixing slowly dragged himself up and walked outside,tears leaving clean trails on his dirty face.
In the bright light,he saw a well-dressed middle-aged man standing there,and upon closer inspection,it was his uncle,Shu Ji."Uncle Ji,"Shu Yixing couldn't help but cry again.
"It's okay,I know what happened.Let's talk about it at home,"Shu Ji quickly helped him up and,after greasing the jailer's palm,led Shu Yixing home.
At home,Shu Ji had someone clean and dress Shu Yixing and prepared a delicious meal for him.
"Nephew,I've heard about your family's misfortune.You can stay here and feel at ease,"Shu Ji comforted.
"Thank you,Uncle Ji."
"By the way,I have to go to Yongzhou for some business.You stay here and rest during this time."
"Okay,Uncle Ji."
Lady Yang Yue'e,seeing this,said with displeasure,"We don't support idlers here;you have to work for your meals."
Shu Ji retorted,"Woman,how can you say such a thing?Our brother's family suffered a tragedy;we should help them."
"Yixing,ignore your aunt.After eating,go back to your room and rest,"Shu Ji gently comforted Shu Yixing.
The next day,Shu Ji packed and left for Yongzhou,with Shu Yixing standing at the door to see him off.After Shu Ji left,Yang Yue'e's expression soured as she shouted at Yixing,"Stop looking and start working."She pointed to the pile of wood on the ground,"Your task today is to split all this firewood,or you won't eat."With that,she turned and left with her son.
Shu Yixing looked at the pile of wood and helplessly raised his axe to start splitting,sighing inwardly,"Alas,what can you do when you're dependent on others?"
In the afternoon,Yang Yue'e returned with her child,talking as they walked,"Son,did you enjoy the boat ride today?"
"I did,I did,"the young son,Shu Tao,happily replied.
"Good,mother will take you again next time,"Yang Yue'e said,patting her son's head.
Upon entering the inner courtyard and seeing Shu Yixing still splitting wood,she became furious."What,it's almost been a day,and you haven't finished splitting the wood.You really don't want to eat?"
"Aunt,I've been splitting without rest,but there's just too much,"Shu Yixing explained.
"Too much?If you can't finish,don't expect to eat,"Yang Yue'e shouted.
"Okay,I will finish,"Shu Yixing replied,choking back tears.
In the evening,Shu Yixing finally finished splitting the wood,feeling a burning sensation in his palms.He put down the axe and saw many calluses,some of which had already burst.
Ignoring the pain,he went to the main hall and saw Yang Yue'e happily serving her son food.
"Aunt,I've finished splitting the wood,"Shu Yixing reported from outside the door.
Yang Yue'e's expression changed,and she stood up,filled a bowl of rice,and added some vegetables,handing it to Shu Yixing."Eat outside,"Yang Yue'e said.
"Why doesn't mother let brother eat with us?"Shu Tao asked Yang Yue'e.
"How could he deserve to eat with us?It's good enough that he has food,"she replied.
Shu Yixing took the bowl and chopsticks with both hands,slowly squatted down,and began to eat ravenously.After he finished,Yang Yue'e said,"Put the bowl and chopsticks at the door.The water in the kitchen isn't full yet;go and fetch another load of water."
"Okay,Aunt,"Shu Yixing,who wanted to say he wasn't full,felt helpless upon hearing her words,put down the bowl and chopsticks,and headed towards the kitchen.
Finally,after finishing all the chores,Shu Yixing went to his room,exhausted from the day's work,took off his clothes,and fell asleep.
"Child,child,"a voice called out to Shu Yixing.He looked towards the sound and saw a middle-aged man calling to him."Father,"Shu Yixing exclaimed with emotion.
Shu Quan held his hand and walked through the bustling streets,but suddenly disappeared amidst the joy."Father!"Shu Yixing shouted in terror.
Suddenly,Shu Yixing woke up,feeling his hair drenched in sweat,feeling a sense of loss thinking about the dream,and tears slowly slid down his cheeks.
Dreams are the opposite of reality;perhaps Shu Yixing missed his parents too much,which led to this dream.After crying for a while,he felt tired and fell asleep again.
Time flew by,and before he knew it,half a month had passed.Every day,he carried water,split wood,mopped the floor,and gradually got used to these tasks.
One day,Shu Yixing was wiping the front door as usual when Shu Ji returned and encountered him,"Yixing,why are you here?This is not work for you,it's for the servants,"Shu Ji asked in surprise,taking the rag from Shu Yixing's hand.
"It's okay,Uncle Ji,it's not hard work.I might as well do it since I'm idle anyway,"Shu Yixing said with a smile.
"No matter how idle you are,you won't do this kind of work,"Shu Ji pulled him towards the mansion!"