She didn't have a happy family, warm parents, or a carefree past. For her, the present was the best she could hope for.
"Big brother, don't be sad," Jiang Sheng said in her tender voice, trying to comfort him. "Things will get better and better for us in the future."
"In the past, Jiang Sheng often went hungry and got beaten. Now not only do I have food to eat, I also have my brothers. Eldest brother passed the county exam, second brother can earn money, third brother can fight bad guys, fourth brother can heal people, and fifth brother is so smart. You're all so amazing."
"The most useless one is Jiang Sheng, but I'm not sad because I have my brothers."
Despite the powerlessness of the moment, Jiang Sheng's eyes shone with hope.
Tilting her head, she said longingly, "As long as my brothers are here, things will get better and better."
It was true, what could be worse than how they started out?
Xu Mo with a broken leg, living in a drafty ruined temple, a few starving children, buying the cheapest rice and noodles, eating thin gruel, sleeping on piles of straw, being harassed by officials.
They made it through those days, so why fall apart after one setback?
Staring blankly at his sister, Xu Mo suddenly realized it wasn't the brothers who saved Jiang Sheng, but Jiang Sheng who had saved them.
She always carried optimism within her, longing for the future, infecting each of her brothers, giving them courage to persevere.
It was like this last time the county exam results were posted, and it was the same now.
"Eldest brother, you'll definitely become top of the list in the exams and become an official who locks up all the bad guys, okay?" Jiang Sheng grabbed his hand.
Xu Mo nodded absently.
"Eldest brother is the best," the little girl grinned, showing a full set of even teeth.
Xu Mo used his tongue to hold back the sourness in his throat, forcing out a faint smile. "Jiang Sheng, you always believe in me so much."
So how could her brother let her down?
Zheng Ruqian looked up and saw the cheapest pair of black cloth shoes on Jiang Sheng's feet. He pictured in his mind the embroidered shoes on Miss Jiang San's feet, covered in pearls. They would look even better on Jiang Sheng's feet.
Fang Heng stared blankly at Jiang Sheng, suddenly recalling what his mother used to always say: "A-Heng, you are the most outstanding son of the Fang family. Never underestimate yourself. One day you will be even more remarkable than your father."
With his parents and the Fang family's support, he was Young Master Fang. Alone, could he only be ordinary?
No, that wasn't right. His mother said true excellence lies within oneself, external things given by others were all unreliable.
In the past he was Young Master Fang, but from now on, he would be Master Fang, the third brother that made his little sister proud.
"Jiang Sheng, I will always be with you," he said.
Unexpectedly, the first to speak up was the weak Wen Zhiyun.
Chang Yan was slightly surprised.
Jiang Sheng was overjoyed and threw herself at skinny Wen Zhiyun, hugging him tightly. "Fourth brother is the best. Jiang Sheng and fourth brother will never be apart."
And gave him a big smacking kiss.
Wen Zhiyun's long held wish was finally fulfilled. Blushing, he smiled shyly.
Everyone experiences moments of frustration and dejection, but as long as they stand tall again, life can continue sailing forward.
Chang Yan's expression was moved as he glanced at the county office. He said calmly, "Things aren't actually that bad."
As if in response, a startling bang came from inside, followed by the clear voice of the Anshui Magistrate: "Release Zhu Zhi, but he must kowtow and apologize to former Magistrate Xu's family, and provide compensation to the family. Also, he cannot serve again as magistrate of Xieyang County."
The commoners gathered outside the doors all cheered, just short of clapping in congratulations.
The illegitimate son of the Fang family gradually turned red, then black in the face.
He looked at the Anshui Magistrate and said threateningly, "Magistrate Zhu is the younger brother of the Fang family matriarch."
"So what of it?" The Anshui Magistrate was cold and merciless. "Even a county magistrate dares to wrongly convict and hand over a whole county's commoners to him, I cannot feel assured of him, nor is it lawful."
"The Fang family surely won't want to interfere in the laws of the Great Yu Dynasty, right?"
The illegitimate Fang son didn't dare provoke anymore. Cupping his hands, he acquiesced, "Then we'll follow Your Honor's ruling."
Under the big tree, Xu Mo was stunned.
He understood that the apology and compensation was already the best the Honorable Magistrate could fight for under pressure.
But to Zhu Zhi, it was merely losing some money and face. He could still live unrestrainedly in another location.
Those years of his surviving, what did it matter?
Fang Heng suddenly lifted his head, eyes murderous. "I'm going to kill him."
Since proper channels couldn't bring justice, make him die violently in the streets.
"You can't." Xu Mo shook his head.
Although he hated Zhu Zhi, he was still rational. "If Zhu Zhi dies, the Fang family will only seek vengeance against us. If they discover third brother from it, it wouldn't be worth it."
Who could have thought the third brother was actually an illegitimate Fang son, and had always been persecuted by the main family.
To conceal third brother's whereabouts, Zhu Zhi could not be killed.
"But..." Fang Heng wanted to say more.
Chang Yan cut him off with a glance at Wen Zhiyun. "What does it matter if he lives? For some people, living is worse torture than death, isn't that right, fourth brother?"
Everyone was puzzled.
Only Wen Zhiyun suddenly understood. He recalled that a few days ago at the clinic he had seen Doctor Wu fiddling with some herbs.
Little Wen Zhiyun had watched curiously for a long time then.
Doctor Wu had casually let him look but didn't allow him to get close. "Be careful, this is called pigweed I found deep in the mountains. Its pollen will make you unbearably itchy, your skin will ulcerate then heal over and over."
It was actually a severe allergy that was hard to cure.
Reminded by Chang Yan, Wen Zhiyun hurried back to the clinic.
Not long after, he came back carefully holding a small package wrapped in oiled paper.
"Doctor Wu is a good man. He gave me this much," Wen Zhiyun said worriedly. "But the pollen only works if inhaled through the nose and mouth."
Were they supposed to knock Zhu Zhi out and stuff it in his mouth?
"No need to be so complicated," Chang Yan said confidently.
After the Anshui Magistrate's ruling, Zhu Zhi was released that very day.
The illegitimate Fang son paid compensation of 100 taels of silver on his behalf, which the Anshui Magistrate passed to Xu Mo. Then the group went grandly to former Magistrate Xu's grave.
Zhu Zhi walked contemptuously in front, the Anshui and Pang Magistrates in the middle, with Xu Mo bringing Jiang Sheng and Zheng Ruqian behind.
When they arrived at former Magistrate Xu's grave, the Anshui and Pang Magistrates wanted to go over but were blocked by Zheng Ruqian and Xu Mo.
Only Zhu Zhi went forward alone, lazily kneeling down and perfunctorily kowtowing.
Just at the moment his forehead touched the ground, the pre-sprinkled pigweed pollen was carried by his breath, rushing into his five viscera and six bowels.
Watching from their hidden corner, Chang Yan and Wen Zhiyun's hearts settled back in their stomachs.
"Good child, I know you're still resentful, but as long as you're alive, there are endless possibilities," the Anshui Magistrate said meaningfully, patting Xu Mo's shoulder.
Xu Mo had already regained his calm. "Your Honor can rest assured, let Zhu Zhi live for now."
Sooner or later there would come a day he made Zhu Zhi shamed and ruined, suffering a painful and hopeless death.
What did it matter if he lived a few more years?
From the side, the Pang Magistrate looked at Zheng Ruqian and whispered, "This eldest brother of yours will surely soar high in future."
Zheng Ruqian thumped his chest. "Uncle, do you see me as someone who would collude with officials and merchants?"
The Pang Magistrate's expression changed. He rolled up his sleeve and whacked Zheng Ruqian's bottom, scolding, "Collusion between officials and merchants! Even as a merchant, you should keep the common people in your heart and embrace the world. You little rascal..."
