Chapter 154: “setting The Stage”
Meng Jiusi hadn’t spoken yet when Xiao Jingmo got anxious, grabbing his father’s roughened hand and saying loudly, “I want to stay with Father. I’m not afraid of hardship.”
His voice was loud, but it wouldn’t disturb others.
Hearing his older brother say that, Xiao Bai hurriedly added, “Me too, I’ll stay with Father.”
Meng Jiusi looked down at his two sons, remaining silent.
He was caught in a dilemma.
He wanted Momo and Xiao Bai to follow him, but thinking of his uncertain future ahead, he hesitated.
“Father!” Meng Jingmo saw that Meng Jiusi didn’t want him to stay, showing a tearful expression, aggrieved and pitiful as he said, “Father, I don’t want to be separated from you. I can help you with work, keep me here, Father!”
Xiao Bai didn’t speak, clutching his father’s clothes tightly with both hands, afraid of being left behind, his little face tense.
Meng Jiusi’s voice was slightly hoarse, “Following me will mean hardship…”
“I’m not afraid of hardship!” Meng Jingmo quickly said, his eyes pleading, “I can dig wild vegetables, pick firewood, and do work. I can do anything, Father. I really don’t want to be separated from you.”
“It’s really tough.” Meng Jiusi’s heart twisted as he recalled the scene of being attacked by a mob, his brows furrowed tightly, lips pressed pale.
He feared those people would come back and even more feared his sons seeing that scene.
“I’m not afraid.” Xiao Jingmo’s expression was firm.
Lin Zhao didn’t want Fourth Brother to stay here forever; he had such excellent medical skills—it would be too wasteful.
She had already thought of a way out for Meng Jiusi.
—Rely on his abilities to find a powerful backer.
That would be the safest military region.
If Fourth Brother produced some medicine that the troops needed, which no one else could make, she didn’t believe the military region wouldn’t protect him!
“Fourth Brother, Momo and Xiao Bai were badly frightened. They can’t leave you for a while. Why don’t you let them stay for now? You were just sent here, so there shouldn’t be any changes in the short term.”
She blinked, “By the time those people remember you, you might have already been de-categorized.”
Meng Jiusi didn’t take it seriously.
It wasn’t that simple.
But.
Looking at his younger sister’s smiling face, he felt his heart grow hot, making his eyes sting.
Only after his sons were brought to his side did he truly understand how different family connected by blood was.
He was no longer alone!
Xiao Jingmo was clever and saw that Father was about to be persuaded by Aunt. He grabbed his hand and shook it, pleading, “Father, I absolutely have to stay with you. If you don’t agree…”
He thought for a moment, making a crying face, “If you don’t agree, I’ll cry.”
The sensible little friend, who had learned to be strong, finished speaking with his ears quietly turning red.
Feeling it wasn’t enough, he looked up at the gentle and kind aunt.
“Aunt says it’s fine for us to stay. Don’t chase me and Younger Brother away.”
Xiao Bai even raised both little hands, rubbing his eyes, making crying sounds without shedding tears.
“I want to stay with Father too. I want to stay with Father too.”
Meng Jiusi couldn’t bear to part with the children either. Hearing the two little brothers say that, he finally agreed.
“…Alright, you stay for now.”
He was no longer alone; he had support.
Xiao Jingmo and Xiao Bai both smiled happily.
Meng Jiusi knew Lin Shichang had just found work in the city and had to go to work tomorrow, so he didn’t want to delay them further. He said, “Elder Brother, Zhaozhao, you have to go to work tomorrow. Go back and rest.”
He wanted to say thanks but knew Elder Brother and Younger Sister didn’t like hearing it, so the thanks reached his lips and was swallowed back.
Lin Zhao still had something to tell Fourth Brother.
She turned to Lin Shichang, “Elder Brother, you go back first. I have something to discuss with Fourth Brother.”
Lin Shichang glanced at Lin Zhao, curious about what she wanted to say, but didn’t ask. He nodded, instructing Meng Jiusi to take good care of himself and his two nephews, and not to forget to send word if there was any need.
Meng Jiusi agreed one by one.
Xiao Jingmo waved to Uncle, “Uncle, goodbye.”
Xiao Bai imitated his brother, his voice soft and sweet, “Uncle, goodbye~”
Lin Shichang smiled.
He sighed inwardly.
As expected of children from the capital—truly refined and polite.
Father would surely like them if he saw them.
Watching Lin Shichang leave, Meng Jiusi turned his gaze to Lin Zhao with puzzlement, “Zhaozhao, what do you have to say?”
Lin Zhao reached into her pocket and pulled out something emerald green.
It looked like… some kind of seed?
Lin Shichang was even more puzzled.
—One month later, when he learned the effects of this thing and recalled this scene, complex emotions welled up in his heart—fear and relief.
How could Zhaozhao carry something so precious casually in her pocket? What if it got lost!!!
Lin Zhao opened her hand, smiling casually.
“Fourth Brother, this is a miraculous herb seed I got from an old Taoist… That old man was mysterious, saying this herb can heal broken bones and shattered bones—as long as there’s a bone problem, it can cure it. Help me plant it, okay?”
Meng Jiusi took it and examined it, unable to identify what herb seed it was.
He felt somewhat ashamed, “I’ve studied medicine for so many years, yet I can’t recognize this herb seed.”
Lin Zhao: It would be strange if Fourth Brother could recognize it; this thing’s rarity… is exceptionally rare.（Otherworld）
“That old Taoist also said that after planting, the herb hides in light, appears at night, grows thin and long, emits firefly-like glow, and has no scent.” Lin Zhao recalled the information when she drew the Iron Bone Reishi and explained it to Fourth Brother.
Hides?
And glows?!
Every word felt unfamiliar to Meng Jiusi.
Even.
Absurd.
Was this describing a herb?
He had never heard of such a thing.
Meng Jiusi thought Zhaozhao might have been tricked.
The brother who doted on his sister couldn’t bear to disappoint her. Keeping his expression unchanged, he agreed, “…I’ll try.”
Lin Zhao could naturally see Fourth Brother’s emotional shifts—from doubt to hesitation to conflict, then to resignation.
She held back a laugh.
“Fourth Brother is the best!” Lin Zhao praised, reminding him again, “You must plant it for me. I spent one yuan on it. If nothing grows, I’ll be furious.”
Hearing this, Meng Jiusi was almost certain Zhaozhao had been scammed.
He sighed quietly.
“…I’ll do my best.”
“Fourth Brother is so good.” Lin Zhao poured another bowl of enchanting soup, her expression turning serious as she thought of Third Brother’s injury news, “The troops sent a telegram saying Third Brother’s leg is injured. I don’t know how serious it is, but I think… we should prepare early. Third Brother loves being a soldier; I don’t want him to be sad. Fourth Brother, if there’s even a sliver of opportunity, we should go all out, right?”
“And what if that herb seed is real? Wouldn’t soldiers injured in arms or legs have more hope?”
She knew the herb seed was real; if it grew, it would be a huge surprise.
Fourth Brother didn’t know.
It was necessary to boost Fourth Brother’s confidence in planting it.
Meng Jiusi had originally thought Zhaozhao was just a little girl playing around, but he never imagined she thought so much and so deeply.
He immediately felt ashamed.
He had underestimated his younger sister.
The young man grew serious, “I’ll go all out.”
Lin Zhao curved her eyes, “I believe in Fourth Brother.”
Meng Jiusi put away the miraculous grass seed and glanced at Gu Chenghuai’s figure, saying, “Brother-in-law is here. Let’s go back and sleep early.”
“You sleep early too.” Lin Zhao waved to him, smiled at the two nephews, and ran toward Gu Chenghuai.
Once his younger sister and brother-in-law’s figures were out of sight, Meng Jiusi took his two sons back to their living place.
Borrowing the moonlight, Xiao Jingmo and Xiao Bai looked around the rundown yard they would live in next, showing no disgust, only expectation.
“Father, is this our place?” Xiao Bai’s soft voice rang out.
“Yes, the conditions are harsh. Are you afraid?” Meng Jiusi looked down at his two sons.
Xiao Jingmo shook his head, “Not afraid. I can endure hardship and will learn to work.”
Xiao Bai: “I can endure hardship too and do work!”
Meng Jiusi’s heart softened.
Inside the room, Old Master Meng had lain down early. Hearing familiar voices faintly, he paused, lifted the thin blanket with several holes, slipped on straw sandals, and hurried to the door.
“Why do I hear my great-grandson’s voice, old man…”
He called out loudly.
As soon as the words fell, he opened the rickety wooden door.
Then he really saw his two great-grandsons.
“Jingmo? Guangbai? It’s really you!” Old Master Meng’s voice was surprised and delighted, “How did you get here?”
Old Master Meng was good to Xiao Jingmo and Xiao Guangbai; both children were fond of him and ran over quickly.
“Great-grandfather.” Jingmo called happily, answering his great-grandfather, “Uncle’s comrade brought us here.”
Old Master Meng had sharp eyes and saw the marks on his great-grandson’s face from being hit. His brows furrowed, his expression unusually stern, “What happened to your face?”
Jingmo told Great-grandfather about the outrageous things the Yuan Family did.
Old Master Meng was furious; his aged face from the movement turned ashen.
Yuan Family.
Looking at his suffering great-grandsons, Old Master was full of heartache, “You’ve suffered.”
In his heart, he was deeply disappointed in his grandson’s wife who couldn’t protect her own son.
He had previously thought Yuan Qin was a good girl with a kind temperament and diligent, but who knew she couldn’t handle the slightest trouble!
Jingmo didn’t want to dwell on the past. Anyway, in his small heart, from the moment he left the capital with his younger brother, he had no relation to the Yuan Family.
If he could go back, he would hit back!
“Great-grandfather, I brought our family’s acupuncture needles!” Jingmo changed the subject.
Old Master Meng was very surprised.
He abruptly turned his head, his old eyes looking at Meng Jiusi.
Meng Jiusi took out the needle pouch, “Here.”
Old Master Meng inspected it; not a single one was missing. He smiled with wrinkles all over his face, his eyes toward his great-grandson full of undisguisable praise.
“Jingmo, you’ve given Great-grandfather a huge surprise. Good child, such a good child. Thank you, Great-grandfather thanks you.”
He patted Jingmo’s head, his face full of gratification.
“The Meng Family’s ancestral needles are back in my hands. I was afraid the Meng Family would lose this heritage. Now… even if I die right now, I can face the ancestors!”
Meng Jiusi didn’t want to hear these inauspicious words, “Grandfather!”
“Alright, alright, Grandfather won’t say it.”
Entering the room, Xiao Bai was still energetic, his black eyes scanning the room.
Mud walls, wooden beams, rundown bed, peeling wooden chest, a clothes rack at the door—everything was crude. Against the wall was a wooden shelf with small winnowing baskets, filled with herbs.
It looked poor, but not messy.
Meng Jiusi had his two sons sit, “Sit first. I’ll boil water. You two take a bath later. Make do tonight; when your aunt comes another day, I’ll ask her to get you an old bed.”
Jingmo sensibly said, “Father, it’s warm now. We can take cold baths, no need to boil water—too much trouble.”
He had heard from his twin younger brothers that in the village, boiling water for cooking used firewood that needed to be gathered.
“No trouble, it’ll be quick.” Meng Jiusi smiled, “I’ll make malt extract for you two after boiling.”
Xiao Bai’s eyes lit up, “Malt extract?”
He used to have malt extract every day; since Father was arrested, he hadn’t had a sip. Mother gave all his malt extract to Jin Bao Brother, boo-hoo.
“Yes, malt extract, from your aunt.” Meng Jiusi said.
With that, he headed out.
“Great-grandfather, I’ll go help Father with the fire.”
Jingmo said this and followed closely behind Meng Jiusi.
Xiao Bai ran a few steps, but his peripheral vision caught Old Master Meng, so he braked urgently and came back.
He accompanied Great-grandfather.
Old Master Meng touched his little great-grandson’s head. Jiusi and these two children were enough to heal his… scarred heart, wounded by his own children’s declaration of severed ties.
His life wasn’t a failure, right?
Jingmo didn’t know how to make fire; Meng Jiusi taught him hand-in-hand, then had him add firewood occasionally while he found a chipped clay pot and filled it with soil.
“Father, what are you doing?” Jingmo asked curiously.
With Father nearby, the sharpness on the child vanished, leaving only the childlike innocence and cuteness unique to little friends.
This didn’t mean Jingmo forgot the harm from the Yuan Family; he just buried it in his heart and would repay it in kind when the opportunity came!
Meng Jiusi still didn’t know Jingmo’s little schemes.
He answered, “Planting herbs.”
“Hm?” Jingmo’s sound was full of doubt.
“Just one herb?” He looked at the clay pot Father was filling with soil, his little expression odd.
“Yes.”
Another question from Jingmo, “What kind?”
Meng Jiusi never fooled his son.
He patiently said, “A seed I’ve never seen. Not sure if it will sprout.”
“Father, I’ll help you water it.” Jingmo proactively sought work.
Meng Jiusi smiled, “Once a day for now is fine.”
He had never seen the seed and knew nothing about its growth conditions; he could only observe and experiment.
“Okay.”
Meng Jiusi dug the soil, poured some water to moisten it slightly, and buried the miraculous grass seed in the soil.
That same night.
Gu Fu and Gu Mu learned Meng Jiusi’s identity. Surprisingly, the old couple was calm.
No wonder…
Gu Fu waved casually, “Got it. I’ll keep an eye out.”
Because of Mr. Qiao, he was acquainted with those at the foot of the mountain; none were bad people. Looking after them discreetly was no issue. Now knowing Third Son’s Wife’s older brother was among them, he had even more reason to care.
“No wonder the in-laws came to the brigade; it was because of this.” Gu Mu realized belatedly, “Not easy at all.”
They were parents too and knew how it felt to have a child taken—it drove one mad.
“Thanks for the trouble, Father and Mother. Be careful not to let anyone find out.” Gu Chenghuai steadily reminded.
Gu Fu was confident, saying the boldest words in the calmest tone.
“Don’t worry. Your mother and I were digging tunnels to trap the devils before you were born! Not to mention anything else, avoiding others… absolutely no problem.”
People his age had all lived through days of hiding; who hadn’t tricked and killed devils?
They were pros.
