Struggle in Ancient Times

Whie, he sat in the back with his brother, Liao Tingyu winked at him.
Liao Shi knew he was trying to show off. But it was the first time he had seen his brother being childish. It felt pretty good.

When they arrived at the hospital, Liao Tingyu arranged them and gave the doctor a tael. At first, the doctor didn’t want to accept the money. Although Liao Tingyu never visit him but he had seen him before and his son was Liao Tingyu’s student.
When mother Deng heard that the doctor didn’t want any money, she quickly winked at her youngest son to keep the money.
But what is the result? Liao Tingyu said seriously, “I teach the children because I am their teacher. That’s my job, you also paid tuition to the school. I came over today, of course I have to pay you. This is the fee for your service, I hope the doctor won’t refuse it.”

Mother Deng’s eyes turned red with anxiety as she watched the round silver fell into the doctor’s hand.
She really wanted to reach out and took the money back but she was afraid of her husband and son.
It was alright to be thick-skinned but his husband and son were people with good reputation. She was a woman; she couldn’t do anything wrong outside.

However, those eyes followed the money passionately.
She felt there was no use of her here, so she turned around and went inside the inner hall. She looked at her eldest son on the bed. She felt angry again, it was because of this son.
That tael was enough to buy good rice, clothes and meat. She finally saw her youngest son had money but it was gone without a sound.

Mother Deng felt so wronged and tears were welling up inside her eyes.
She hadn’t lived a good life since she married Liao Ming. After a long time, her husband worked in the town and was proud of himself. However, because of his eldest son hit someone, he humbly lost all the family savings and lost his job too.
The long-tongued women in the village, laughed at her and talked bad about their family. Her father and mothers-in-law didn’t like her either, they didn’t even help take care of her second son when he was born.

When the child was admitted in the Qingshan Academy, she could finally straighten up her back. As a result, someone still fanned the flame and said her youngest wouldn’t be able to pass the exam.
How could they be so cruel? Didn’t they say he couldn’t be a scholar? Then he must be one even if she had to eat dirt.
Fact had proven that she was right and everyone now called her son ‘xiucai’.

Mother Deng sat aside and recalled her past, while Liao Shi and Wen Xiuer held each other’s hands in silence.
Liao Shi saw his mother crying and laughing at the same time. He signalled his wife to check on her. Wen Xiuer was a little worried after all, her mother-in-law didn’t like her much.
If something disturbed her brain, she didn’t what bad things waiting for her.

But regardless of this, she wouldn’t be able to escape her anger once everything settled down. She shook her head at her husband.
Liao Shi thought about it and understood his wife, she pulled her hand and decided to ask his mother himself.
“Mother, what is wrong with you? Are you unhappy? Are you worried about money? When I get better, I will sell more bean curd and get the money back for you. Don’t be sad.” Liao Shi said to her.
Mother Deng looked at her eldest son who was laying on the bed. She was still worried about him but said forcefully, “It’s good that you know it. You didn’t see your er-di gave the doctor a whole tael. The money already went out, how hard it is to come back. It’s all because of you, you came to the town with little injury. That’s because your brother loves you very much.”

As she spoke, she wiped the tears from her eyes and turned her body away so Liao Shi couldn’t see her.
Liao Shi was embarrassed and couldn’t say anything more.
Mother Deng was waiting for him to comfort her but the eldest son didn’t say anything at all and moved around his bed. What’s the use of this thing to be born? He only here to make her suffer.

Liao Shi obviously felt that mother Deng became unhappy and didn’t know where he went wrong.
He sat stupidly on the bed and moved to buried himself under the quilt. Pretending he didn’t see anything.
.

Liao Tingyu was done negotiated with the doctor and walked back to the room, “Mother, big brother, sister-in-law, father. I told the doctor; he will prescribe some medicine for you all later. You can stay here for half a day. After class done, I will come again.”
No matter how uncomfortable mother Deng felt, she was relieved when she saw her youngest son.
She was thinking about the money, the medicines hadn’t been brought out yet but the doctor already got the money. How shameless it was.

She quietly pulled Liao Tingyu and talked to him, “You gave the doctor so much money, was it enough? How much will they charge for us to stay here? How many medicines he will give to us? Did he say anything?”
Liao Tingyu knew mother Deng’s purpose after asking so much.
“Don’t worry, mother. The money is enough. You also know that I’m a teacher so the doctor gave me a discount. He will look at big brother’s head later and bring several medicines. The wound needs to be bandaged again. It was a hole in the head, there must be dizziness and headache.”

Mother Deng felt relieved when she heard that the doctor let them pay cheaper price.
Liao Tingyu turned to look at his father, “Father, we all go up early today and ate too fast. I think it would be easy for us to go hungry. How about…”
Mother Deng could predict what his youngest son tried to say and her eyebrows were furrowed tightly.

Liao Tingyu was a person who could observe emotion well. He stopped after he glanced at his mother then said another thing, “I will go to school for a while. I will see if there are any leftover buns.”
After hearing this, mother Deng was relieved, “Isn’t this bad? How could you take it casually? It’s still a school with many teachers and rich families.”
Liao Tingyu looked at his mother who was rarely sensible about free stuffs.

“Then, I will go to buy some buns outside. I remember it seemed to be two wens one bun. I will let the doctor boil a water for you to drink.”
Mother Deng thought about it and felt reluctant to part with money, “I think it will be fine to take some buns. We could wait for you until the class is over.”
Liao Shi nodded too. Although he ate too little this morning but he used to eat late at noon because of his works. He didn’t mind a little hunger.

Liao Ming felt his youngest son had spent so much money today, there was no need to spend more for buns.
He looked at his youngest son and said, “You must be hungry too. Remember to eat first on the school. You don’t have to worry about us. We are fine, go quickly so you won’t be late.”