Chapter 30
Chapter 30
After leaving Tian Heng and the Black Clothes Gang, Shen Lang rode his horse without rest, returning to his parents’ home. His parents and younger brother had been craning their necks in anticipation.
“My son, is the young lady of the Count’s Estate treating you well?”
His mother asked before he could even catch his breath.
“Of course, Mother.”
“Then I can rest easy.”
Warriors from the Count’s Estate carried box after box of gifts into the house. There were bolts of cloth, rice noodles, various meats, and many medicinal herbs. Jin Mulan, ever thoughtful, had heard that Shen Lang’s father and brother were injured and prepared numerous healing remedies and tonics. Shen Lang took out three hundred gold coins, placed them before his father, and said,
“Use this money to build a new house. And use the best roof tiles, if you would.”
His father’s expression changed slightly.
“My boy, you are a member of the Count’s Estate now. Thanks to you, we won’t have to worry about food or drink. But that doesn’t mean we can just take the Count’s money. If the estate thinks you’re funneling their funds out, it will tarnish your reputation.”
Shen Lang’s father was worried his son would earn a reputation for embezzling money from the Count’s Estate.
“Don’t worry, Father. This gold isn’t from the estate. I earned it myself.”
“You did? How did you earn money?”
“I invented a new dyeing formula and sold it to a silk merchant in the city. I couldn’t use the money before, but now that I’m the Count’s live-in son-in-law, I can use it without worry.”
Shen Lang, of course, couldn’t tell his parents he had extorted the money from Tian Heng. But even after hearing his explanation, his father seemed hesitant. It seemed he was reluctant to have his eldest son, who had already become another family’s live-in son-in-law due to his own incompetence, pour all the money he had earned into their hands.
“A big house will be more comfortable for me when I come back to visit, and it will be better for when I bring Miss Mulan to see you in the future. We can’t have her stay in a thatched hut, can we?”
Only after hearing this did his father nod, reluctantly agreeing to build a new house. Of course, he didn’t think the noble Lady Jin Mulan would ever visit his home, but on the off chance she did, how could they not have a proper place for their daughter-in-law to stay?
“A dozen gold coins should be more than enough to build a large house. There’s no need to spend three hundred.”
Truthfully, he had never even touched a gold coin before. He mainly used copper coins; even silver coins were a big deal. If he were to use a gold coin to buy something at the market, the vendor wouldn’t even be able to make change.
Besides, in the countryside, even building a tile-roofed house with five or six rooms, using the best blue tiles, the finest stone floors, a large courtyard, and a surrounding wall, wouldn’t cost a hundred gold coins.
“It must be the largest mansion in the area, Father! With thick ramparts, high walls, and a magnificent tiled roof!”
“Alright. I’ll see what I can do.”
As Shen Lang spoke with his father, his younger brother, Shen Jian, who was sitting at the edge of the room, stared at him intently. Noticing his brother’s gaze, Shen Lang looked at him and gave him the answer he was waiting for.
“You just focus on healing your wounds. Once you’re better, I’ll take you with me. I’ll make sure you have a promising future.”
“You promised! I’m going to become a great man and marry Widow Liu!”
Hearing his younger brother’s grand dream, Shen Lang couldn’t help but smile. Soon, a lavish lunch prepared by his mother was served, and the family gathered to enjoy a cheerful meal. His mother invited the warriors from the Count’s Estate to eat with them, but they politely declined, stating they were merely fulfilling their duties.
It was a show of respect, but in a way, it was more about maintaining distance. They didn’t want to get too close to Shen Lang’s family. While they wouldn’t shirk their duties and responsibilities, they had no desire to become personally friendly with Shen Lang, the man they were assigned to protect. Of course, Shen Lang had no authority to command them either, so given their attitude, he had no intention of trying to be warm to them only to be met with a cold shoulder.
Their behavior solidified a decision in Shen Lang’s mind. He needed to cultivate loyal confidants who would leap into action at his command without hesitation. He didn’t need many; just one or two capable subordinates would make it much easier to accomplish what he wanted.
* * *
After the meal, Shen Lang brewed some medicine and had his father drink it. For the first time in a long while, the Shen family enjoyed a moment of warmth and happiness. As the sun began to set in the west, Shen Lang bid his parents farewell, preparing to return to the Count’s Estate.
“My son, I heard something has happened to Big Dummy in the village. They say the situation isn’t good. If you can, perhaps you should go and see him.”
His mother couldn’t help but say as he was about to leave. Big Dummy was Shen Lang’s only friend from the past, a person who had protected him since they were children. If his brother Shen Jian fought people to protect Shen Lang, Big Dummy was the one who took the beatings for him.
* * *
As Shen Lang passed through Maple Village on his way to Big Dummy’s house, the villagers gathered in clusters, whispering and staring at him. Their gazes were impossibly complex. A good-for-nothing like Shen Lang had, overnight, become the live-in son-in-law of the Count’s Estate… It was something no one could have imagined. The little dummy they used to look down on was now someone so far above them they couldn’t even hope to reach him…
When Shen Lang looked at them, sycophantic smiles appeared on all their faces. But soon after, their hearts filled with envious, malicious speculation. They wondered if, just as he was kicked out of the Xu family, he would soon be thrown out of the Count’s Estate and return, dejected, to his thatched hut on the mountain.
Most of the villagers were simple folk, but they could be cunning at times. They had sympathy and a desire to help one another, but they didn’t want to see anyone get exceptionally ahead. Their most important sentiment was the bond formed by helping each other as equals.
But Shen Lang couldn’t care less about the villagers’ feelings. There was no reason for him to be humble before them.
Shen Lang’s family were outsiders, and the villagers not only looked down on Shen Lang for being handsome but slow-witted, but they also bullied and isolated him. From childhood to adulthood, countless children in the village had tormented him, but Big Dummy was the only one who stood by his side and shielded him from the abuse.
Like the old Shen Lang, Big Dummy was slow-witted, simple, and inflexible.
He was no ordinary person from birth. When he first came into the world, he weighed a hefty twelve pounds. As he grew, even before reaching adulthood, Big Dummy already had the build of a giant, a full head taller than most grown men.
Thanks to this, Big Dummy worked harder than anyone, doing the work of three or four men, and he was incredibly strong. Despite being born with outstanding strength and stamina, his disposition was incredibly gentle, and he would never harm any person or animal. He was earnest, his eyes were kind, and he never fought with people.
If someone hit him, he would just turn his body and take the blows on his back, never retaliating. Even when Shen Lang was being beaten, he would pull Shen Lang into his arms to protect him, offering his own back instead.
Contrary to his earnest and simple nature, his life had been full of hardships. He grew up without a mother and gained a stepmother at a young age, along with a half-brother. But his parents didn’t like their foolish, oafish elder son and treated him like a servant. No matter how much work he did, his stepmother would only give him a fixed amount of cornmeal porridge. He was never able to eat his fill and spent most of his time starving.
* * *
Hearing from his mother that something had happened to Big Dummy, Shen Lang rushed to his house. The family’s financial situation wasn’t bad. His father was a renowned hunter and also served as the leader of Maple Village’s militia, so they lived in a decent tile-roofed house.
“Where is Big Dummy?”
When Shen Lang arrived at the house, he couldn’t find him. Only his stepmother and younger brother were inside. Upon seeing Shen Lang, Big Dummy’s stepmother was startled and exclaimed,
“Little Dummy Shen Lang!”
Seeing the clothes Shen Lang wore and the warriors by his side, she quickly covered her mouth.
Big Dummy’s stepmother said,
“Big Dummy went to work. Shen Lang, what brings you here?”
‘Went to work? My mother said something happened to him.’
Shen Lang said,
“If you tell me where he’s working, I’ll go find him. Oh, and here’s a pouch of money. Please make sure he gets to eat his fill every day. Do you understand?”
After saying this, Shen Lang took out a money pouch containing at least fifty silver coins. He planned to bring his brother and Big Dummy with him after he was fully established at the Count’s Estate. Until then, Big Dummy would have to stay at home, and he wanted to use some of his money to ensure he was well-fed. The stepmother’s eyes lit up, and she quickly took the money pouch, nodding her head vigorously.
“Don’t worry, Shen Lang. I’ll feed him meat and rice every day until he’s full. You’re a conscientious boy, not forgetting your friend after you’ve made it big.”
Standing beside her, Big Dummy’s half-brother saw Shen Lang’s luxurious appearance and, in a flash of jealousy, sneered.
“Big Dummy? Hmph! He was probably dead and thrown in a ravine long ago.”
Hearing this, Shen Lang’s face changed, and he bolted from the house.
* * *
A short while later, in a mountain ravine, Shen Lang found the abandoned Big Dummy. He was emaciated to the bone, his breath was faint, and his entire body was covered in blood. The once-massive, giant-like frame was now nothing but skin and bones, and his chest was shockingly swollen. It was clearly the sign of broken bones. Yet, his eyes were still as guileless as ever. Upon seeing Shen Lang, he said in a weak voice,
“Little Dummy, you came? I missed you!”
Shen Lang’s eyes burned.
“Yes, Little Dummy is here. What in the world happened?”
“My brother was messing around and provoked a tiger on the mountain. I got hit a few times by the tiger while saving him, broke a few bones, and coughed up some blood. Father said he’d go get someone to treat me, but he must have gotten lost.”
Hearing this, Shen Lang couldn’t hold back his tears.
‘You worthless bastard, worse than a beast! They say when a stepmother arrives, a father becomes a stepfather.’
Big Dummy’s brother was no good. He bullied him and Shen Lang every day.
But even though his brother tormented him daily, Big Dummy always protected him. And this time, he had even risked his life to save him. Yet his family had abandoned him. Truly, they were worse than beasts. I will not let this stand