Chapter 875: Chapter 875: The Duped Little Talent Brother
Being watched by the neighbors, whenever they discovered these people, they would always try to persuade a bit, and if they saw someone suspicious or climbing the walls, they’d directly pull them down and chase them away.
Lian Changhe naturally was hospitable, always greeted neighbors warmly when going out, and helped out when they needed it, maintaining good relations with them.
Therefore, the neighbors loved interacting with them, especially upon learning that the admired Top Scholar of the Capital lived here. It was such an honor that some wanted to rename the area to Scholar Alley, hoping to gain some scholarly fortune.
With the neighbors’ help, those fervent visitors gradually realized it was inappropriate, and slowly fewer people came.
Yet Su Ran still planned to move to a new place. The current residence was just a temporary solution to their plight, not a long-term plan. Their whole family would need to settle in the Capital in the future and needed long-term planning.
At this moment, neighbors noticed a person asking for directions who seemed suspicious and prepared to persuade that person to leave.
"No, no, no, I’m looking for someone, looking for someone..."
After saying that, the person asking for directions swiftly headed towards the house where firecrackers were being set off, moving so fast that the neighbors didn’t have time to stop him.
Upon arriving near the courtyard, that person dodged left and right, moving agilely, and although firecrackers crackled and sprayed everywhere, not a bit landed on him.
Seeing the skinny old man with a joyful smile at the front gate, the man immediately burst into tears.
Excited, he dashed up and hugged the skinny old man, crying out, "Big brother, I finally found you, big brother! These past months have been so hard for me..." His family, after all these hardships, he has finally returned!
Lian Bingcheng, holding a stick of incense – meant for lighting firecrackers – since Wan Zhen and Wang San had previously bought many, he and Lian Changhe were in high spirits, each holding a lit stick of incense to set off firecrackers, as if reliving their youth.
Suddenly being hugged, Lian Bingcheng was startled out of his wits.
The person then cried and wiped tears and snot all over him. Lian Bingcheng quickly pushed him away with force, taking a closer look. The man was burly and vigorous, looking full of energy, wearing few clothes but not shivering from cold, covered in dirt, hair disheveled, looking quite haggard.
The firecracker noise was too loud, so Lian Bingcheng shouted to ask, "Who are you?" The person looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he had seen him.
The man froze, then began crying miserably, "Ah, my dear brother, it’s me, Bingcai! I’m Bingcai, your younger brother!"
Could he have been tormented to the point his own brother couldn’t recognize him? All because of dice gambling, too tragic, utterly cruel! He never wants to play dice again, sobbing.
He’s speaking in a dialect he learned while doing business; who else would it be but Lian Bingcai?
Lian Bingcheng was dumbfounded, his younger brother Lian Bingcai?! The same brother addicted to gambling, cockfighting, hanging out with lackeys, incapable of holding a chicken down, with questionable lifestyle, ambitious, cowardly, without a filter, and erratic behavior, Lian Bingcai?
He had almost forgotten about this brother during these days, and now seeing him suddenly, Lian Bingcheng could hardly believe his eyes.
The person in front of him was a completely different person compared to before; he looked energetic, physically strong, arms with strength, upright posture, no longer the crooked person just standing as before.
Lian Bingcai continued to wail, "...Big brother, I won’t gamble again, that place is terrifying! Oh my, Fat Master, oh darn it, that fat guy conned me in, and once I got in, they wouldn’t let me leave! Waking up at the crack of dawn, daily horse stance training, practicing eighteen techniques, whole day practice, more exhausting than a mule..."
Gambling ruins lives! If only he hadn’t gambled, he wouldn’t have wanted to learn dice tricks, and if not for wanting to learn dice tricks, he wouldn’t have ended up in that hellhole; all it’s gambling’s fault!
That fat guy tricked him into teaching dice skills, but when he went there, no dice, none of any of those things were there, only endless torture!
The overseers were like ruthless animals, claiming to train his physique, making him practice daily, worked harder than a big mule, suffering and straining.
If he didn’t work, there was no food, and he was punished, his mind and body tormented.
He just wanted to learn some dice tricks; why was fate so cruel, so full of hardship? He never wants to learn again!
He wanted to leave but wasn’t allowed, the people inside were not normal, even when he tried to chat, no one paid him attention, his mouth festering from silence, staying was like dying, leaving was impossible, worse than imprisonment.
Oh my, poor mother, it was too awful, simply a living hell!
If he hadn’t been clever, constantly devising escape plans, he’d still be imprisoned in there!
Lian Changhe and Wang San noticed someone popping out looking like a martial arts practitioner, they all approached, curious as they learned he was Lian Bingcheng’s younger brother, Lian Bingcai.
Wang San and the others hadn’t heard that Lian Bingcheng had a brother, but Lian Changhe knew he did and knew Lian Bingcai was not very promising, puzzled why the person in front didn’t seem like him.
Didn’t Bingcheng say his younger brother was like a weakling chick, also dim-witted? But the person before them didn’t look like a weak chick, though dim-witted he seemed quite like.
All were full of doubts, gathered around, even forgetting to set off firecrackers.
Lian Bingcheng had no time to explain; he listened stunned while Lian Bingcai poured his heart out, finally catching the key phrase: "You escaped?"
"Yeah, brother, I thought I’d never see you guys again." Lian Bingcai wiped his snot and tears, feeling his brother was very dear.
Family is best, that fat guy always called him Little Cai brother, then immediately threw him in that godforsaken place; the people inside were like animals, too terrifying.
Lian Bingcheng, upon hearing, immediately opened his mouth to call people, wanting to send his younger brother back for reform.
This failed-to-grow-up character, His Majesty’s grace was aiding him to change, how often could such a chance come? To dare escape without orders, it was outrageous.
Lian Bingcai didn’t initially know who his brother was calling; when Shadow Guards stood before him, he realized his brother was too heartless, wanting to send his younger brother back; he cried even more sorrowfully.
Lian Changhe and others quickly intervened, persuading a lot, and even Shadow Guard said Steward Hu had received an order specifically bringing Lian Bingcai back for a reunion, only then did Lian Bingcheng relent.
However, Lian Bingcai was stupefied; he hadn’t learned other skills during his months there, but escaping skills had been refined. He thought he had returned by his own ability, not realizing he was secretly let back.
Why did he escape then? Could have just been brought back comfortably, such a beautiful thing, suddenly regretting not knowing earlier, he beat his chest and wept once more.
——————————
Let Lian Bingcai out, poor kid; he’s been tormented the whole book~
Ahem, I haven’t dared to read Young Masters’ comments and messages these past few months because of guilt. Once the book is completed, I will go back and respond to Young Masters’ messages, offering my dear Young Masters the most intimate replies; these mean so much to me, and are extremely precious.
These days, the college entrance exams are on, wishing the Young Masters taking the college entrance exams to score high in each subject and get into their desired universities;
Wishing Young Masters taking middle school and final exams high scores in all exams;
Also wishing Young Masters working to have everything go smoothly, life go well;
Goodnight, Young Masters~
————Autumn winds shivering·June 10 early morning