Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

In less than a quarter of an hour, light footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard.

Li Yi strode in first, turned around, raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, and announced loudly, "Sir, the eldest son has returned with his men."

Before he finished speaking, Fusu, dressed in a blue robe, slowly stepped into the hall. The first thing he saw was his master's smiling eyes, looking at him gently.

Fusu was overjoyed and quickened his pace, stepping forward quickly. He bowed slightly and said in a meek and obedient voice, "Sir, I'm back."

Zhou Wenqing nodded slightly, a faint warmth on his lips. His hand, which was reaching for the top of his head, paused in mid-air, then changed direction and finally landed on his shoulder, patting it gently twice.

Fusu is becoming more and more capable. The little boy from back then has grown up without us even realizing it, and he can now find ways to share his worries and relieve his troubles.

But... what about the children?

His gaze swept over Fusu's shoulder and around him, but he didn't see the child who had been found. He was puzzled.

Fusu, of course, understood what his master was looking for, and smiled slightly.

"Sir, please don't be in a hurry. I was walking too fast. They are behind us."

After speaking, Fusu slightly stepped aside to make room and looked up at the doorway.

they?

Zhou Wenqing also turned his gaze to the doorway, and the next moment, two figures, one tall and one short, slowly walked in.

After stopping, Cao Can released the child's hand and bowed slightly with some difficulty: "Greetings, Mr. Zhou."

Seeing that he was struggling, Zhou Wenqing quickly got up and stepped forward, steadily supporting his arm and leading him to his seat, her tone gentle yet tinged with reproach:

"Cao, the prison clerk, there's no need for such formality. Please sit down. How are your injuries?"

"Thank you for your concern, sir. It was just a superficial injury, and I'm fine now."

Cao Can nodded his thanks and slowly sat down with him. Then, his gaze shifted slightly to the young man beside him, a hint of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, including a sense of serendipity or感慨) in his eyes, and he spoke:

"It's quite a coincidence that this child was rescued by Brother Liu when he was suppressing bandits. He was entrusted to Cao's care. At that time, he himself was covered in wounds and extremely weak, but he still desperately wanted to find his younger sister."

He paused, his tone softening slightly: "I was deeply moved by his profound affection despite his young age, so I personally promised him that I would do everything in my power to find news of his sister."

"So, with the situation in Chen County somewhat stabilized, I began searching for people while simultaneously arranging for this child to be brought here. He just arrived this morning." Cao Can looked at the boy and sighed softly. "I never expected such a coincidence; this child's younger sister was actually saved by Mr. Zhou."

Zhou Wenqing turned his gaze to the boy.

The boy was tall but somewhat thin. Upon closer inspection, his features were well-proportioned and delicate, and one could vaguely tell that he had been carefully raised at home. Unfortunately, he had suffered a misfortune and had not yet recovered, as his lips were pale and weak.

This must be the youngest child's older brother. The two siblings are practically identical. He is three or four years older than the youngest child and looks about the same age as Fusu, or perhaps a few years older. He is wearing Fusu's everyday clothes, which are slightly loose and have several folds in the cuffs, making him look even thinner and more frail.

Zhou Wenqing was subtly observing the child when, unexpectedly, the child suddenly knelt down.

His knees slammed into the ground with a dull thud. The boy bent down, his forehead hitting the ground heavily, and then kowtowed three more times, each thud solid.

When he raised his head again, his forehead was flushed. He straightened up, kneeling upright, but his voice was clear and distinct, enunciating each word precisely:

"Thank you, sir! Thank you for saving my sister. I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace. I can never repay you in this life. I only ask that in the next life, I be your servant and repay you."

"Oh, this child!"

Zhou Wenqing had just sat down when he was startled and jumped up to grab the child's arm.

"Get up, get up and talk."

The boy refused to get up, stubbornly kneeling in place with his back ramrod straight. He then turned to Cao Can, bowed his head, and solemnly said:

"Sir, you kept your promise and found my sister for me. I am willing to sell myself to serve you, to be at your beck and call. I can endure any hardship and do any kind of work!"

Cao Shen was also taken aback, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

I vaguely remember the child saying that he would do anything to find his sister, but I never expected that he would be willing to sell himself to repay the debt of gratitude.

Cao Can was injured and had difficulty moving around. It was quite difficult for him to get up and help the boy, so he could only repeatedly persuade the boy to get up, saying that there was no need to do so. At the same time, he subconsciously cast a pleading look at Zhou Wenqing beside him.

"Sigh, she's a grateful person."

Zhou Wenqing shook his head helplessly, not forcibly pulling the boy in front of him for the time being. Instead, he bent down halfway, looked directly into the earnest eyes, and spoke in a very soft tone:

"Your name is Su. Do you have a surname? Judging from your speech, you have been to school?"

The boy nodded quickly, his voice a little strained:

"My surname is Lin, and my given name is Su. When I was at home, my father taught me to read for two years, so I know a few characters, but now..."

His voice abruptly stopped, and the light in Lin Su's eyes dimmed instantly.

The peaceful family life and the joy of family reunion were all torn apart and burned by a fire. His lips trembled slightly, but he couldn't continue speaking.

After a moment, he gritted his teeth, crawled two steps, and pleaded urgently in a low voice:

"This humble subject has nowhere to go. I beg you, sir, to take me in. I am willing to be your slave or servant, I only ask for food to eat, so that I can support my little sister. I will never forget your great kindness!"

After he finished speaking, he bent down again, his forehead pressed against the cold ground, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Looking at his thin back and slender shoulders, Zhou Wenqing felt a pang of sadness. She squatted down and gently patted the back of his head to comfort him.

Why are all the children he meets so well-behaved and sensible?

Oh, except for Hu Hai!

It seems that in chaotic times, children without family protection are forced to grow up early. Those who are not mature and resilient enough will probably be crushed into dust in this cannibalistic world.

Zhou Wenqing didn't ask Lin Su's parents. Since they were rescued from a bandit's den, unless they were considered "valuable" children, their fate was predictable.

"Good boy, lift your head first," Zhou Wenqing said gently, patiently persuading him.

"Have you ever considered how your sister will cope if you sell yourself into servitude? How can she live peacefully if her brother reduces himself to a servant to repay a debt of gratitude?"

"I……"

One sentence struck at the most vulnerable spot in Lin Su's heart. It felt as if a hand was suddenly clenching his chest. He looked up sharply, his eyes instantly reddening.

"But I... I have no other choice... My home has been burned down, there's nothing left. My parents and uncles are all dead. I saw it with my own eyes. There's no one left in the clan I can turn to..."

He bit his lip hard, his voice hoarse and strained, filled with a desperate sense of having nowhere else to turn:

"I'm all alone, and I have to protect my youngest sister. Besides selling myself, I... I really have no other choice... I have no other way..."

Lin Su, bewildered and helpless, repeated that he had no other choice. Seeing Cao Can remain silent, he crawled a few more steps, faced Zhou Wenqing, and cautiously tugged at a small corner of his sleeve, pleading desperately:

"Sir, sir, please, please take me in! Please, please put in a good word for me! You are all good people, kind people, and your blessings will surely last. I can, I can do many things: fetch water, chop wood, cut grass, feed the horses, anything is possible. I'm not afraid of hardship, I'm willing to do anything..."

Upon seeing this, Fusu's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly cursed.

Oh no! I was so eager to bring him here, hoping this good news would ease the Master's recent melancholy, but I forgot to remind him not to distract him and instead make him even more upset.

He was anxious and quickly stepped forward to dissuade him:

"Get up first, stand up and speak. Don't worry, with the teacher, and also Xiao Yuan and Cao Yu Yuan here, they will definitely help you recover the land that was seized from you. You won't be left helpless. You have other ways out. Don't rush, get up and speak slowly."

As he spoke, he reached out to pull Lin Su.

Lin Su seemed to realize something, and stopped kneeling. He stood up with Fusu's help, but his eyes were still on Cao Can, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Even if he recovers the family property, how can he and his sister possibly protect it when all that's left is him?

He lowered his head, pursed his lips, and unconsciously clenched the hem of his clothes. The glimmer of hope that had just been ignited slowly faded away.

Zhou Wenqing and Cao Can saw it clearly and could guess his concerns, and sighed inwardly.

After this battle, Zhou Wenqing wondered how many more children like him there were. He pondered what he could do to help them.

Perhaps, I should open a charity...

As he was thinking, on the other side, Cao Can, looking at the boy's dejected and almost desperate appearance, couldn't bear it. After a moment of thought, he slowly spoke:

"Lin Su, since you have studied for two years, have you ever had a teacher?"

Lin Su was startled. He looked up, his eyes still red, but a sudden light flashed in his eyes, like a drowning person finally grasping at the last straw.

He responded extremely quickly, his voice trembling slightly yet clear and resolute:

"Sir, I have only learned to read and write from my father and have never had the opportunity to formally study under a teacher."

As soon as he finished speaking, his heart pounded wildly, and his fingertips gripped the hem of his clothes tightly.

Lin Su vaguely guessed the deeper meaning behind the other party's words. That sliver of hope grew wildly in his heart, yet he dared not touch it easily, fearing that it would just be wishful thinking and a false hope.

Cao Can nodded slightly, his gaze settling on the man's face, and he quietly and attentively examined him for a moment.

This child, he was destined to meet him. He had handsome features and a refined appearance. Most importantly, he was of good character, grateful and courteous. He was truly a rough gem.

Lin Su was being scrutinized, his whole body tensed up, his head stiffly raised, his fingers that had been gripping the hem of his clothes suddenly loosened, hanging awkwardly at his sides, his back subconsciously straightened, his breathing became extremely shallow, he tried his best to hide his disheveled and timid appearance, wanting to present his most upright and respectful appearance, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

After a long silence, Cao Shen finally spoke slowly and solemnly:

"Since I promised to help you find your relatives, and now that I have finally found them, I can't just sit by and watch you and your brother be left without any support. So... would you be willing to become my disciple?"

"I can teach you etiquette, laws, and the art of governance, and guide you in establishing yourself, your character, and your career, and temporarily protect you and your brother from worry."

Even though he had a vague idea in his heart, at this moment, Lin Su still could hardly believe his ears. His mouth was slightly open, his eyes were wide open, and he even stopped breathing.

Fusu, standing to the side, saw his dazed expression and felt anxious for him. He quickly stepped forward and gently nudged him, lowering his voice to say:

"What are you waiting for? Say yes!"

The push brought Lin Su back to his senses, his knees buckled, and he knelt down with a thud.

This time, no one stopped him. Lin Su knelt upright, his back straight, his hands clasped, and he bowed down.

"If you do not mind, sir, I, Lin Su, would like to become your disciple!"

"This disciple will certainly follow the teacher's instructions diligently and study assiduously, and will never fail the teacher's teachings!"

Cao Can looked at the kneeling boy, his eyes filled with undisguised satisfaction:

"Alright, alright, get up."

Zhou Wenqing, standing to the side, also smiled slightly and bowed to Cao Can:

"Then I, Wenqing, would like to congratulate Clerk Cao in advance on the birth of his new apprentice. This is a long-awaited joyous occasion. I will definitely pay a visit to offer my congratulations at the formal apprenticeship ceremony in the future."

He looked at the boy being helped to his feet by Fusu, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he became. He immediately made his decision:

"I will have someone prepare the six gifts later, and I will pay for the apprenticeship fee."

Upon hearing this, Lin Su immediately turned around and said urgently, "Sir, how can this be? I..."

"Why!"

Zhou Wenqing raised his hand, gently interrupting him, and said with a smile, "I know that you will not lack these things after you take over the family business in the future. Consider this a token of my good wishes and a way to share in the joy."

He looked at Lin Su, sighed softly, and earnestly instructed him:

"Cao Yuyuan is a very capable man. You must learn from him diligently, not only from his books and writings, but also from his character, his sense of responsibility, and his integrity. Do not waste this rare teacher-student relationship, understand?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Su bowed deeply and lowered his head, his posture respectful and sincere, and said:

"Your disciple will always remember your teachings, work diligently day and night, cultivate your character and establish your mind, and never fail to live up to your good intentions or disgrace your family."

Upon hearing this, Cao Can couldn't help but smile, gently shook his head, and patted Lin Su on the shoulder:

"My family background is hardly impressive. Mr. Zhou is too kind. It was a last resort. I hope you won't laugh at me. Please take good care of this child in the future." As he spoke, he turned to look at Zhou Wenqing, his expression becoming more serious.

"Good, you're already protecting me before we've even formally become disciples. You're very lucky to have such a good master." Zhou Wenqing teased with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll do it for my youngest son's sake too."

Mentioning his youngest son, Zhou Wenqing felt a pang of sadness.

The youngest, the youngest—such an affectionate nickname shows how much the family cherished and doted on her, it's just a pity...

He was silent for a moment, then looked up at Lin Su and said earnestly:

"As the eldest brother, you are like a father to me, Lin Su. You'd better stand up for yourself as soon as possible."

Lin Su nodded vigorously. "Lin Su understands."

Zhou Wenqing patted him on the shoulder and didn't say anything more.

That youngest child, despite all the hardships she has endured, remains pure and kind. Her resilience is no less than that of her brother. I only hope that she can emerge from the shadows soon. Given time, this brother and sister will grow up together and may one day achieve great things, complementing each other and making a name for themselves.

He didn't say these words aloud; they turned into a soft sigh and dissipated in the morning light.

------

Congratulations to all students who have finished the college entrance examination! We wish you a bright future and all the best!

Extra chapter tomorrow (〃＾∇＾)o