Chapter 241: Separation and Reunion

ther is lively." Old Lady Li happily agreed and then instructed her third son, "Don't go around talking about this.""Understood, Mother, don't worry." Li Lao San quickly replied.After a night of silen...Mr. Wang embraced his younger brother and cried just as hard, "Miwa, it's all my fault, big brother is no good! I didn't show filial piety to mother at home, insisting on going out to study abroad. As a result, I fell victim to the wicked, causing you all to suffer for so many years. Big brother regrets it so much, oh... Big brother wishes he were dead!"

Li Lao'er hugged his elder brother tightly and pounded his back hard.

He wasn't without resentment. His older brother was the person he had always idolized and been closest to since childhood.

After their father's death, the eldest brother became the father figure to his younger siblings, their most trusted support and pillar of strength.

My elder brother became a talented scholar when he was young. Everyone said that the Li family had produced a literary star. At that time, they were all envious. After my elder brother disappeared, those people gloated over his misfortune.

He was also preparing for the imperial examination and aspired to study and take the exams.

But the elder brother is gone, Mother fell ill and cannot get up, and the younger brothers are still young.

He could only put down his books and become a clerk for others, being scolded and yelled at. In the end, he relied on his abilities to work his way up to the accounting room before things got better.

He thought countless times, if his elder brother was still at home, would he have already passed the imperial examination Would the family business be prosperous Would he also continue to study

It's a pity, everything is just if.

He had waited year after year, thinking his older brother was dead outside. Unexpectedly, heaven showed mercy, and finally, the family was reunited...

“Big brother, big brother! You have no idea how much we miss you, how much we hate you! Why did you have to go abroad to study, leaving us and mother behind! Mother got sick, she almost cried her eyes out. The third and fourth brothers fight with people every day.

“I’m only a teenager, and I’m scared too. But I have to make money to pay for Mother’s medicine and take care of my younger siblings. Big Brother, I also want to study and become a top scholar… But I can’t. All I can do is work as an ox or a horse. Big Brother, where are you You’re so unfilial!”

Mr. Wang wept so bitterly that he almost fainted, his heart filled with remorse to the point of wishing he could skin himself alive!

Life and death, that is the greatest tragedy of human existence.

In the distance, Wang Fu also pulled up his sleeve and wiped his tears.

But there were so many people coming and going here, it would be hard to draw attention from outsiders. He hurried forward and dissuaded them.

"Master, Second Master, the past is gone, it's good to be reunited now. Let's just think about the future. We can't keep crying like this."

Li Lao Er let go of Wang Yuanwai, wiping his tears haphazardly. Suddenly, he remembered Wang Yuanwai's words just now, "Big brother, what does it mean to be framed by a villain What exactly happened back then"

Wang Yuanwai took a few deep breaths, cried his heart out, and felt much better afterwards.

He pulled his younger brother deeper into the woods, whispering about the Wang family's plot.

Li Lao'er was furious. He turned his head and walked out, yelling, "I'm going to kill their entire family!"

"Second brother, come back!" Wang Yuanwai hurriedly pulled his younger brother back, anxiously dissuading him: "Killing them would just be doing them a favor. I have a plan, and I need your help!"

Li Lao Er panted heavily for a long while, then slapped himself hard twice before finally calming down and coming to his senses.

"Brother, this revenge must be avenged! You can't go soft!"

"Of course," Wang Yuanwai's eyes were filled with gloom, as he spoke word by word: "I want to take the child back to our family. They are Li family blood! I also want to get back my family business that I have worked so hard to expand for all these years, but everything else must be destroyed. The Wang family harmed me in order to protect their family business and continue their lineage, so I will make them fail utterly. I will make that old beast rage even in the underworld!"

Only then did Li Laoer feel relieved.

Although he had been married to the Wang family's daughter for many years, his heart softened. All their schemes ultimately came to nothing.

"Alright, Big Brother, tell me, how can I help" Li Lao Er asked.

Mr. Wang gave him a few simple instructions, and Li La'er nodded repeatedly.

After a while, the two brothers made a plan and went to the hot spring canal to wash their faces. They cleaned themselves up so well that no one could tell anything was wrong, then they parted ways.

Li Lao Er was busy calling Jia Yi and Liu Yang to go to Cui's manor to help deliver a letter.

And the newly arrived Wang, having just stepped into Xin Du, sought out another restaurant. After getting thoroughly drunk, he finally returned home.

Wang E was truly worried. She wanted to ask her husband what was wrong, but he kept repeating the same few phrases over and over again.

It's nothing more than outsiders looking down on merchants. They want to send their sons to academies, hoping they'll pass the imperial examinations and become top scholars.

She called Wang Fu over to inquire, and Wang Fu, honest and simple, explained things clearly.

"The old master has been going around asking favors today, hoping to send the young master to Lu'an Academy. They say that regardless of one's family background or social standing, the academy has a strong academic atmosphere. But who would have thought that after they ate and drank and received gifts, they still wouldn't give a definite answer. I fear they look down on the old master because he is in business..."

Wang E felt both distressed and angry. She chased Wang Fu away and, accompanied by her maidservant, went back to her natal home.

The Wang family's main residence was not far away, but it was a grand seven-courtyard mansion with a five-acre garden, showcasing the magnificence and heritage of a traditional Jiangnan family.

Wang E's family was a branch family. Her grandfather, Wang Lao Taiye, was a cousin with the head of the main family, having grown up together since childhood.

After growing up, Old Master Wang refused to study and instead did business. He also patronized his family's business, so even though he is now dead, he still has some face.

Today, Wang E suddenly came to the door. Madam Wang invited her in and they had a little tea chat.

Wang E personally presented a small basket of fruit, smiling and saying, "Auntie, these fruits are some that we occasionally got outside. There aren't many, but they taste really good. I brought them to Auntie today for you to try something fresh!"

"Well, it's good that you have such filial piety."

Elder Wang glanced at the fruit basket and was surprised by the bright red, pleasing fruits. She smiled and chatted with Wang E about everyday matters, "Little E, have you been busy lately How are things at home How is your child"

Wang E smiled and said, “Thank you, Auntie, for your concern. Our family has been quite busy lately. Little Mao Ge was down with a cold for almost a month, but he’s finally recovered. As a result, our master came down with a headache, and I'm now completely overwhelmed...”

"Is Xin Qiu's headache still bothering her" Wang Lao Fuzi, being kind-hearted, asked, "Because of the relocation, we've had quite a few good doctors come to our city. Would you like me to introduce two to Xin Qiu for a proper check-up"

Wang E's eyes flickered, and she quickly shook her head in refusal. "Auntie, you don't know, our master has had this illness for over ten years now. We've consulted countless doctors, and nowadays only occasional headaches are considered a good outcome. Recently, Master's headache is due to other matters…"

"What's the matter" asked Old Madam Wang curiously. "Your third brother didn't say there was anything wrong with the family business, did he"

On our side, Old Master Wang now holds the title of scholar, although he does not participate in politics. Because of his family's status here, he is often involved in social gatherings.

The eldest and second masters of the Wang family, one served as an official in the Ministry of Rites in the imperial court, and the other served as a fifth-rank official outside.

And while the Third Master was not well-educated, he took over all of Wang Family's business affairs.

Wang Xinqiu was also someone who often followed this Old Master San and helped him out, thus becoming more familiar with him.

Wang E blushed, acting cute with her stepmother, “Auntie, it’s not about business. It’s that our husband wants to send Brother Li to a school for study. But we've asked many people, but they all refuse because they think our family is just doing business. My husband has been drunk for the past two days because of this, and his headache is getting worse.”ood things bestowed by the emperor.In Li's courtyard, Old Mrs. Li was measuring her granddaughter's size, muttering to herself, "It won't work! We have to put Fu Niuer on a diet! Other children are gr...