mesbooks Chapter 132 Ready to go
Chapter 132 Ready to go
Zhou felt relieved. As long as her man knew how to protect them, it was enough. All the grievances she had suffered in the past few days also disappeared.
Then, Zhao Youliang looked at his two stupid sons and said, "Why are you still standing here? Go and call for help!"
Zhao Qian came back to his senses in a panic, "Yes, Dad, we'll go right away." As he said that, Zhao Qian hurriedly pulled Zhao Gong, and the two brothers walked out together. With their father around, they felt like a backbone, and they would do whatever their father told them to do.
"You are not allowed to go! You are not allowed to go!" Old Mrs. Zhao felt a sudden emptiness in her heart, as if something important was about to be lost. "Youliang, you are my mother's child, how can you casually say that you want to break off the relationship with us? Ah? You are so unfilial!"
But no matter how Old Mrs. Zhao cried and made a fuss, Zhao Youliang ignored her. Zhou and Zhao Li looked at Zhao Youliang with heartache, because only they knew how sad he felt after making such a decision.
Ye Ze had not expected Zhao Youliang to be so decisive, but he could understand it. Why would such a biased mother care about her? Since she thought the younger son was good, let her go with him. He just hoped that she would not regret it in the future and come back to trouble Zhao Youliang.
Zhao Qian and Zhao Gong went to the homes of the clan leaders and elders to call for help. When they heard that Zhao Youliang had returned, the elders in the clan immediately became excited. Soon the news of Zhao Youliang's return to the village caused a sensation among the whole village. Who didn't have a family member serving in the army? Who wrote a letter home without mentioning that he or she had served in the army under Zhao Youliang?
Whether it was to inquire about the family's situation or to speak up for Zhao Youliang's family, when Zhao Qian brought the clan leaders and elders home, a large group of villagers followed behind them.
The tables and chairs were moved to the center of the courtyard. After the elders were seated, Zhao Youliang briefly described the matter and asked the clan leader to help draft the contract:
Today, Zhao Youliang severed his relationship with his brother Zhao Youfu, and his mother, Old Lady Zhao, was given to Zhao Youfu for retirement. The land and old house under Old Lady Zhao's name also belonged to Zhao Youfu. In addition, Zhao Youliang paid double filial piety to his mother in one lump sum for her retirement.
Dayu ruled the country with filial piety, and flattered the parents who were the best in the world, so only Old Lady Zhao could sever ties with Zhao Youliang, and Zhao Youliang absolutely could not sever ties with his mother, otherwise it would be regarded as unfilial, and even if he became an official he would be dismissed and might even go to jail.
As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately caused a lot of discussion among the surrounding villagers. Of course, most of them blamed the second wife, and some said that Old Lady Zhao was confused. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the people from the first wife were more reliable, but the old lady was so biased that she only sided with the second wife.
The monthly tribute was fifty copper coins, and Zhao Youliang simply calculated it as one hundred copper coins per month. Even if Old Lady Zhao could live to be a hundred years old, forty-two years would be only 50.4 taels of silver. With this money, as long as Old Lady Zhao managed it well, her life would not be bad.
In front of several elders of the clan and villagers, Zhao Youliang took out fifty-one taels of silver and handed it to Old Lady Zhao in person. "You'd better keep this silver yourself. Even if you can't keep it, don't come to me again."
"There is food..." Old Mrs. Zhao's hands were shaking as she took the silver, tears streaming down her face, "You two brothers can't break up!"
"I am the one who severed my relationship with you. Keep an eye on your good son and don't let them come to my house to cause trouble in the future. I will ask the clan members to help me take care of the family. If they dare to cause trouble again, I will let Brother Qian and the others report it to the police directly." Zhao Youliang sighed helplessly, "Okay, you can go back."
After Zhao Youliang finished speaking, he turned around and clasped his fists to thank the clan leader and elders: "Thank you all for making this trip."
After exchanging a few polite words with the elders, Zhao Youliang was surrounded by villagers, who came forward to ask him about things in the military camp. Zhao Youliang patiently answered their questions one by one.
Zhao Youfu couldn't squeeze in to say anything even if he wanted to. The couple felt only regret. They regretted coming here today. If they had known that Zhao Youliang was heartless, they would not have asked for money in front of him. Now, they couldn't get any benefit from it.
Old Mrs. Zhao felt a pang of pain in her heart. After all, Zhao Youliang was her son. How could she not feel sad that her own son had severed ties with her? But it was too late to say more now. Her son had already grown apart from her. Just think about how much her eldest son listened to her in the past. Who could have thought that things would turn out like this today?
Is it really my fault?
......
After having lunch at the Zhao family, the three of them said goodbye to Zhou and others and rode towards Liushu Village, where they met up with the Ye family and headed to the border town together.
Before that, they had to go to a place first. The two horses walked one after the other on a mountain path, and finally stopped in front of a hillside. On the hillside, a small grave stood alone in the weeds.
"This is it. I'll go clear the weeds first." Zhao Youliang dismounted from his horse and walked straight towards the grave.
"So this is my mother's grave?" Zhao Li murmured, tears unconsciously sliding down her eyes.
She still remembered that Zhao Youliang had brought her here during the Qingming Festival when she was a child. At that time, she didn't know whose grave it was. Even if Zhao Youliang asked her to kowtow, she did it without feeling too sad. But this time was different. Her heart ached so much that she didn't even dare to think about how painful her mother must have been when she died...
Ye Ze gently wiped her tears, then jumped off the horse and carried Zhao Li down.
Zhao Youliang quickly cleared the weeds around the lonely grave, mumbling something, and then said to the two men, "Come over and kowtow.
"Li'er, let's go over there."
"Um..."
Ye Ze and Zhao Li walked over, knelt side by side in front of the grave, and kowtowed three times in a proper manner.
"Mother, I am Zhao Li, your daughter. I was raised by the family you entrusted to me before you died. They are good people and have treated me very well. My daughter is married now, and my husband's family treats me very well. You can rest in peace down there..." Before she could finish her words, Zhao Li had already burst into tears.
Ye Ze gently embraced Zhao Li and let her lean on his shoulder. He assured the grave in front of him, "Mother, I will protect and take good care of Li'er on your behalf. I will not let her suffer any grievances again. You can rest assured and go to reincarnation."
Ye Ze didn't believe in ghosts and gods at first, but such an incredible thing as soul-traveling happened to him. What else is impossible in this world? So Ye Ze said this very sincerely.
After bidding farewell to Zhao Li's mother, the three of them mounted their horses and headed towards Liushu Village.
Old Lady Ye and others had already packed their luggage. When Ye Ze and the other two arrived, Shouhou Goudan and the others harnessed the carriage they had bought to the horses. After everything was packed up, Old Lady Ye locked the gate, and the group got on the carriage and prepared to set off.
......