Struggle in Ancient Times

The next morning, Liao Tingyu looked at the sky. It was still dark but the moon and stars were still casting dim light into the road.
At five a.m. Liao Tingyu woke Wen Xiuer and his big brother, who were sleeping. They said goodbye to Liao Chang who also awake.

“You want to go back, let’s go. Be careful.” Liao Chang insisted to send them back despite Liao Tingyu’s persuasion to let them went back on their own.
“We know it, uncle. Please go back first. Our house isn’t far away, it’s only a few walks from here. It is cold, don’t let it enter your body.” Liao Tingyu said while they were out of the gate.
Liao Chang also knew his body; he was old and frail. He couldn’t bear such a cold wind, so he walked to till the fork road.

On the way back, Liao Chang was a little envious, “That boy Liao Ming was able to raise such a well-behaved child. I didn’t think that Tingyu had sweet tongue before. It’s a pity that I wasn’t so lucky.”
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Liao Tingyu took the two patients to return home slowly.

Mother Deng didn’t sleep all night. She looked at the sky outside and listened carefully for any sounds.
She seemed to hear the sound of door opening, she quickly got up to check. She saw her youngest son was helping her eldest son to walk inside and her daughter-in-law was holding the door open for them.
She wanted to go and ask about the situation but she didn’t dare.

She could only look at them. As soon as Wen Xiuer opened the door, she saw her mother-in-law looking at them with a cold face. She was frightened and trembled a little, she almost leaning on Liao Tingyu while trying to stand straight.
Mother Deng disliked this weak appearance the most and those who didn’t know might think she was an evil mother-in-law.
Mother Deng cursed in a low voice, “This mouse is so cowardly.”

Liao Tingyu ignored her comment and said calmly, “Mother, come and help me. Big brother is so heavy.”
These words were like a bell running inside mother Deng’s head. She immediately went to help her youngest son to put her eldest son in his room.
She asked her youngest son, “Did you eat last night? Are you hungry now? Have you rested yet? It’s your big brother who couldn’t do anything good and always trouble you.”

Liao Tingyu looked at her eyes which glanced at Liao Shi a few times. Liao Tingyu understood her well, she must be worried about him.
After all, he was also the same flesh she pushed from her body. How could she not be distressed?
She seemed to ask about Liao Tingyu but she actually wanted to know what happened last night.

Liao Tingyu obediently told her, “I had dinner with uncle last night. I’m a little hungry now. But I also have a class today, can you wake father up? I need to go to the town.” Mother Deng thought it was a big deal. Her son job was important, how could she let it go wrong?
Although she was concerned about her eldest son but her youngest son was the most important.
Mother Deng hurriedly woke up Liao Ming, who was still sleeping. Liao Ming was a little angry but when he heard it was about his second son, he put on his clothes in hurry and nagged along the way.
“He still has to teach today. Why did he come back yesterday? His eldest son is so bad and his second son too gullible. If he loses the job, he wouldn’t be able to find another even with a lantern.”

Mother Deng was unhappy, “What are you talking about? Can’t you say anything good. It wasn’t easy to wake up early, you still keep talking!”
“Okay, I won’t talk anymore. Go and get me some food. We can’t go to the town hungry.”
“Keep talking. I already done it all.”

The family had breakfast in a hurry.
During the meal, Liao Tingyu took good care of Liao Shi, mother Deng was worried he didn’t have time, “Why are taking care of him? I have daughter-in-law. Isn’t she here to take care of him? Eat quickly and went early.”
“Okay. Okay, I will eat quickly.” Liao Tingyu felt that he was a little too much.

The sky had turned a little bright and the birds were singing around. Liao Ming was sitting at the front side of the ox cart.
Liao Tingyu arranged Liao Shi and Wen Xiuer inside the cart and cushioned them with some clothes to keep them comfortable.
Liao Ming looked at the eldest family and was very confused, “Hey, why are you bringing your big brother and sister-in-law? He is injured, it was better for him to stay at home and recuperate.”

“I plan to let them see a doctor, uncle said that big brother and sister-in-law were short of energy and blood. I think we should let them stay in the hospital for treatment.” Liao Tingyu said, “Mother, come up quickly. Our whole family will go to town to see a doctor.”
When mother Deng heard this, she was anxious. Her youngest son was a scholar and she didn’t know how much money he owned.
Isn’t this just a small hole in the head? Why do you still need to see a doctor in the town and what about the pregnant woman? Which was as precious as Wen Xiuer?

Who doesn’t know that a small medicine could cost a lot in the town? This wasn’t the spending the family should do casually.
She quickly stopped Lao Tingyu, “Son, what nonsense are you talking about? Let your brother and his wife come down. Don’t waste your time. This is just minor illness; don’t you see everyone here survive many things on their own. It’s so expensive for medicine. You are in hurry, go quickly.”
“Mother. Come up quickly. I have to send my big brother and sister-in-law today. Inside my sister-in-law is my big brother’s eldest child, it is the first grandchild of our Liao family. You and Father had been waiting for it for so long. You should pay more attention to her. Besides, big brother’s wound is so big. I’m worried.” Liao Tingyu forced mother Deng to climb the ox cart.

“Father’s back also hurts from time to time on the cold days, we should look at it. Your hands too, don’t feel bad about the money. If you are really ill, you still have to spend the money. It’s better to kill it now then later.”
Her heart ached when she heard this. Just a small money but this medicine might be hundreds of wens.
Sure enough, as a person who wasn’t born suffering, her youngest never cared about accumulating wealth. But her youngest son was caring about people.

The most important in his mind was knowing his family were hurt and wanted to help. He knew her hands were pricked by needle each time she sewing. He even knew about his father’s condition.
She thought about her son’s filial piety and thought about her money yesterday. She could cope with her son’s spending once or twice.
Anyway, if the medicine was expensive, she won’t buy it or drink it.

But it was true that her hands and her man’s waist were hurt. It would be good if they could be cured.
Mother Deng stopped struggling and got into the ox cart. The family set off to the town in a mighty way.