Chapter 112.1
Struggle in Ancient Times
After enduring the âtortureâ, Liao Tingyu was excited to go out as if he had seen an oasis in the desert.
Full of exhaustion both physically and mentally, he walked out of the examination room in a daze.
The only people who came to pick him up were his eldest brother and his father.
âBig brother, father, you are here.â Liao Tingyu staggered over.
There were officers and soldiers guarding outside. They didnât allow family to cross the line, so the scholar could only rely on themselves to cross over the gate.
Liao Shi, who came over to occupy a spot since last night, was so sleepy but he suppressed it. This was the first time he saw his little brother so unkempt.
He almost couldnât recognize him, was it really his familyâs youngest son?
The one with disheveled hair almost looked like a ghost if it was night time. Also, his body was full of the smell of sweat. Liao Shiâs eyes were wet and he sighed sadly, âGood boy, you have suffered a lot.â
In fact, Liao Tingyu actually looked better than the rest of scholars here. Most of them walked out like they were refugees trying to find foods.
The father and son helped their familyâs scholar into their bullock cart. Liao Tingyu felt asleep while leaning without realizing it. Liao Ming didnât wake him up and let his eldest son to carry him inside the house.
He put his little brother into the bed like a baby and Liao Tingyu didnât wake up at all.
Liao Ming looked at his sonâs unkempt appearance, he felt mixed emotions in his heart, âSon, take care of you little brother and help wipe his body. Then you can rest too, you have worked hard.â
Liao Shi nodded his head, he was the only one in the family who could hold his little brother and thoroughly cleaned him.
Liao Tingyu laid on the bed feeling refreshed, his brows were relaxing in comfort, he turned over and went back to sleep. He nearly slept for a whole day.
âYou are like a pig, even my son wasnât as bad as you.â
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When Liao Tingyu woke up, he saw no one was beside him, âWhy is Zilan isnât here? Wait, he didnât even see him when he came back, he didnât pick him up?â
Huang Zilan was forced to bedrest by Mother Deng, he wasnât allowed to step out of the room.
âLittle brother, you are awake. Youâve been sleeping all day long. I have some good news for you.â Liao Shi saw Liao Tingyu woke up and brought a meal for him.
âI have been sleeping for so long. What good news do you have?â Liao Tingyu asked curiously while drinking the thin and sticky porridge.
âThis taste really good.â
âYour wife is pregnant with child.â Liao Shi whispered the earth-shattering news.
Liao Tingyu was caught off guard, nearly choking on his porridge. He coughed and stared at Liao Shi with wide eyes.
âAre you okay? I didnât mean to make choke.â Liao Shi was scared for him and patted his back to calm his coughing.
After Liao Tingyu recovered, he happily ran to find his wife.
There was rows of rooms in their yard and he didnât know which room Huang Zilan was confined in.
Liao Shi chased after him and pointed out the way.
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In the room, Mother Deng was giving medicine to Huang Zilan.
Liao Tingyu opened the door, and the people who he hadnât seen for several days, they all looked at each other.
Mother Deng wisely took out the bowl filled with medicine and closed the door for them, leaving the young couple some space to be alone.
âThank you, mother, for taking care of Zilan,â Liao Tingyu said, expressing gratitude to Mother Deng.@@novelbin@@
âWhat is it? Itâs my own grandson? No need for that. Come and see your family!â Mother Deng said with a smile.
Liao Tingyu felt a bit embarrassed and could only laugh.
âI heard from my big brother that you are pregnant,â Liao Tingyu rushed to the bedside, staring at Huang Zilanâs belly after seeing off Mother Deng out.
âYes. Are you really happy?â Huang Zilan nodded happily and touched his flat belly. He had been worried that his status would be threatened.
Especially after the incident in the temple, let alone becoming a Jinshi, even being scholar was considered a high achievement.
Now, with a golden baby in his belly, it would be his support in the future.
Liao Tingyu hugged Huang Zilan, understanding his sensitivity. If they never had a child, Huang Zilan would grieve alone in the dead of night.
The two of them stuck together tightly for a long time. Liao Tingyu touched Huang Zilanâs flat belly, holding a child connected by blood, his continuation in this world.
âThank you for giving me a home,â Liao Tingyu said, choked with tears, tears flowing unconsciously.
He looked at the tenderness on Huang Zilanâs face, remembering the gentle but strong person his wife was.
Huang Zilan went to touch his hair but found oil stains on his hands. He immediately disliked it and said, âGo and take a shower!â
Liao Tingyu touched it himself, saying, âDa-ge! You didnât wash my hair.â
Mi Gao was playing outside. Hearing the scream, he asked doubtfully, âWho is screaming?â
Xiao Qiu was boiling water and heard the sound. âOh! I knew the young master would go crazy.â
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Originally, Huang Zilan had received extremely high treatment since he was pregnant, but when Liao Tingyu came back, the treatment becoming the highest in their household.
In response, Liao Tingyu went to the study specifically to read some medical books and learn about pregnancy precautions. While busy, many people who took the exam together came and invited him to attend a gathering, but Liao Tingyu refused.
Now, the gatherings were all about competing with each other, and there was no need for this without any results.
A month later, the list was released. Originally, the whole family wanted to go together, but the child was too young and naughty. Concerns about kidnappers and Huang Zilanâs pregnancy prevented them from squeezing in. Additionally, Liao Tingyu, not in good spirits after the exam, led most of them to stay home and look after the house.
Xiao Qiu volunteered to go, not wanting to miss the chance this time. So, Liao Shi and Xiao Qiu went together. Although Liao Ming and Mother Deng advised them to be calm, they couldnât help but to be anxious.
Even Liao Tingyu was very nervous. He and Huang Zilan never spoke, each absorbed in their own activities. However, Huang Zilanâs painting was destroyed, and the pages of Liao Tingyuâs book remained untouched.
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The two men hurried over but didnât expect a crowded street before the list was posted. Only Liao Shi, a strong man, managed to squeeze in with great effort, while Xiao Qiu paddled hard behind him, determined to eat well and grow taller in the future.
Liao Shi and others waited for a while before seeing someone coming out to post the list. The officers and soldiers caused a frenzy among the crowd. Liao Shi was squeezed into a doormat and crawled; although Xiao Qiu tried to catch him, Liao Shi was still knocked on his head in time.
He didnât care and searched carefully on the list until the familiar three words appeared in his eyes, thinking in his mind, âOkay, okay! We can eat good food again tonight. I want to eat chicken, a big rooster.â
Xiao Qiu also saw it and was very excited. His future would be a smooth road with this young master.
Sure enough, you couldnât go wrong by listening to your mother.
They hunched over and tried to walk out. But it was difficult to get in and even harder to get out. He didnât know how much of their hair was torn off.
Mother Deng looked at Liao Shi and Xiao Qiu, she asked quickly, âHow is it? Ah! Eldest son, howâs? Your little brotherâ¦â
Liao Shi looked at the familyâs expectation of him and felt a little confused. How could he be taken seriously for the first time?
âMother, we eat delicious food today!â
Mother Deng didnât understand. She was already anxious and angrily hit Liao Shiâs head, saying, âEat, what to eat? I asked you something.â
Liao Shi winced in pain, but even though he was in such pain, he was still laughing.
âMother, da-ge means that I passed the exam,â Liao Tingyu said.
He looked at Liao Shi and relaxed. He closed the book and read nothing.
âOh! You canât speak clearly. Just say it louder if he passes the exam. You can also eat delicious food.â Mother Deng murmured happily.
âIf he speaks loudly, your son will be arrested. Come on, letâs go back to the main room. Daughter-in-law, go get some oil and tend your husband. Donât get a big bump,â Liao Ming smiled. He held his wifeâs hand and walked inside.
Liao Shi also followed, while Wen Xiuer went to the kitchen and poured the clear oil. She didnât pay attention when pouring it and didnât care if she poured too much.
Anyway, if there was too much, just rubbed it more.