Chapter 7: Searching for Father in Meishan

"Father, why hasn't Father returned yet..." Upon hearing him mention Father, Xiao Liulang raised his face, tears like pear blossoms.

The cultivation of lotus flowers has become a significant industry in the area, with lotus vendors from neighboring towns coming here to purchase them. Consequently, large and small lotus ponds can be seen everywhere along the streets. In two months, a breathtaking scene of blooming lotus flowers will unfold throughout the city

However, Chen Chen had no intention of appreciating the beauty of the "lotus leaves stretching to the sky, endlessly green". After inquiring about the location of the Su family, he hurried to Shahu Alley in the southwestern corner of the county town.

Neglecting to worry about his own fate, Chen Sanlang carefully examined the bodies of Wulang and Liulang. The two children seemed to have no major issues, but they appeared somewhat listless. In such a situation, most people would assume it was merely due to excessive fright; however, upon careful observation and inquiry, Chen Sanlang discovered that both children had sustained varying degrees of internal injuries

At this moment, a girl of about ten years old was leading her two younger brothers and one younger sister, playing a game of catching grasshoppers by the pond. Upon hearing someone knock at the door, she cheerfully asked, "Who is it?"

Meishan is not a large city; nestled among the beautiful mountains and clear waters, and shaded by lush trees, it features a network of small blue-tiled sloped roofs and various styles of firewalls. Government buildings, temples, and towering city gates, along with bell and drum towers, are interspersed throughout, creating a simple yet elegant and well-ordered landscape that captivates the eye.

What if one were to flee? That would be even worse! Even a ten-year-old child knows that in this day and age, without a travel permit issued by the authorities, one cannot move an inch. ... Thieves may still have hope for freedom, but if one becomes a fugitive, one would have to hide in the deep mountains and forests for a lifetime ...

After completing everything, Sanlang felt somewhat fatigued. However, upon detecting that Wulang's pulse had stabilized significantly, he felt a deep sense of relief. With just a few more massage sessions, there would be no lingering ailments.

From the shack to the woodshed, the environment has actually improved; at least it is more spacious here, not as oppressive and stifling.

"Third Brother, you are so cautious!" Goro, regaining his spirits, couldn't help but scold, "How dare you disobey!"

However, Chen Sanlang does not regret his impulsiveness; if given another chance, he would react the same way. He has always firmly believed that "the beauty of the world comes from its diverse forms, rather than from absolute indifference and precision." Following one's heart at all times is the prerequisite for maintaining one's self and living authentically; for this reason, he is willing to accept the consequences of his impulsiveness.

San Lang gently wiped away his tears and said softly: "It will be soon, come quickly to take Liu Lang out."

"Internal injuries" are not only found in martial arts novels; they also exist in the real world, referred to as "bruises turning into illness". Various types of soft tissue injuries and their sequelae can potentially obstruct vital points in the body, transforming external injuries into internal ones, lingering for years without healing, and even leading to sudden death or disability

However, Chen Xishi and the Hou family had already made up their minds, so how could they be swayed by two juniors? Moreover, the Hou family resented that the eldest son was turning his elbow outward, and they wished to confine the second son as well, giving him a thorough scolding before driving both of them out. They even specifically instructed the maid to expel the second son from the house

Xiaoliu's injury is minor; he only has a slight misalignment of the cervical vertebrae. Sanlang performed a realignment for him, which alleviated the potential risks for the little fellow. Wulang's situation is more serious, as he hit the back of his head on the ground. Although the surface was dirt, the impact still caused a concussion, resulting in a mild traumatic brain injury.

"Do you not blame me for hurting your mother?" After Sanlang finished speaking, he perked up his ears, eager to listen for whether Silang's breathing was steady... Generally speaking, when it comes to books, a liar's breath tends to be slightly disordered

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this is due to damage to the brain meridians, resulting in stasis and obstruction. Acupuncture is the most appropriate treatment; however, due to the lack of conditions, only massage can be used as a substitute. He instructed Wulang to take a sitting position, first standing behind him, using both thumbs to alternately stroke the sides of his neck along the sternocleidomastoid muscle from top to bottom. Then, one hand supported his forehead while the other hand used a technique to move from the hairline at the front to the back of the head, followed by addressing the Fengchi and Naokong acupoints.

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"Rest assured, they are also my brothers," Chen Yu assured with a nod

After a moment of silence outside, he finally nodded heavily and said, "Mm."

"Be good, not only should you listen to Third Brother, but you must also listen to Fifth Brother, listen to Second Brother, and listen to... Father." Sanlang began to advise with concern. Although he harbored a belly full of grievances against that irresponsible old man, it was likely that in the future, the only one who could protect Wulang and Liulang would be that irresponsible fellow.

... ... '' Shilang fell silent for a moment before quietly saying: `` It's strange, but you are my brothers ... ... ''

Fearing to anger the matriarch, Chen Dalang had no choice but to send Erlang out the door

Locked in the woodshed until midnight, the three brothers were both hungry and thirsty. Suddenly, they heard a rustling sound at the door. Sanlang followed the sound and unexpectedly touched a flatbread. A thought flashed through his mind, and he whispered, "Silang?" He dared not casually eat someone else's food; what if it were poisoned? That would be a grave injustice. It is better to cling to life than to die in vain, so he had to clarify its origin.

"Wuwu, Liu Lang will listen to San Ge very well." Xiao Liu Lang nodded vigorously, wiping away his tears and said, "I will not be naughty anymore"

"May I ask, is this Su Laoquan's place, Uncle Su's home?" Chen Chen inquired.

Wuwu, I haven't eaten meat in a long time... Liu Lang cried out of guilt: "One cannot finish all the food in one sitting."

Chen Dalang, whose name is Chen Yu, and Chen Erlang, whose name is Chen Chen, stood silently facing each other at the door

"Alright, San Ge will go out with you..." San Lang rubbed his little head, and although his heart was filled with worries, he did not want to make Xiao Liu Lang sad

Originally, Liu Lang did not need to be locked up, but he clung tightly to San Lang, crying heart-wrenchingly. Chen San Lang was also worried that they would mistreat his younger brother, so he held Liu Lang tightly as well, unable to separate them. In the end, they had no choice but to lock him in as well

Chen Sanlang could not help but let out a soft sigh. As he slowly opened his eyes, he saw Xiao Liulang crouching timidly beside him, his large eyes filled with tears.

Then turn back to face forward, using both thumbs to press on the Yintang point, followed by the Qiming point, and then the Yingxiang and Chengjiang points; next, use the thumbs to alternately push the Jiao Sun point; then press the back of the head with the palms of both hands, using the palms to strike the fontanel; finally, rub both hands together until they are hot, and apply the warmth to the top of the head, completing the treatment in one session

The thought of becoming a bandit in the play, with a gold seal tattooed on his face, made Sanlang's scalp tingle. He read "The Complete Guide to Bandits" from "Water Margin" and felt that such a life would be utterly gray; if one wished to live joyfully, there was no other way but to turn to banditry.

In Shahu Alley, there stands a medium-sized residential house. Upon entering through the main gate, one is greeted by a green-painted screen wall, which prevents passersby from seeing the interior of the residence. Behind the screen wall is a medium-sized house with a courtyard. Near the house, there is a tall pear tree, a pond, and a patch of vegetable beds. Within this small family garden, there is a diverse variety of flowers and fruit trees, while outside the walls lies a bamboo grove formed by countless green bamboo stalks.

"What’s wrong, Xiao Liu?" San Lang reached out, pulling him into his embrace and gently patting the child's back

"Chicken legs and books." As soon as Liu Lang opened his mouth, he began to sob and said, "I want to eat slowly..."

The manner of their return was exceedingly tragic; they were escorted all the way into the courtyard and then confined in the woodshed

"Er Lang," Chen Yu said, considering his age and experience, "You don’t need to worry about San Lang and the others with me here. Right now, you should hurry to Meishan to find my second uncle. Uncle Lu has searched the entire county but hasn’t found him. I heard that the registration for the examination is about to begin, and my second uncle is determined to succeed this time; he will surely be waiting in the capital. " After a moment's thought, he added, "By the way, I remember that Uncle Su's family is in Meishan; you should check there as well."

On the afternoon of the second day, Dalang and Erlang, who were studying in the county town, hurried back. Dalang was fifteen years old, and Erlang was also thirteen. In this era, they were no longer considered children. The two earnestly pleaded with their elders to spare Sanlang. Erlang apologized to Mrs. Hou and bowed his head, bruising his forehead.

Thanks to the blessings of the Dujiangyan, the stretch of the Min River within the boundaries of Meizhou flows smoothly, with the water being transparent and deep blue, hence it is also known as the Glass River. By traveling upstream along the Glass River for fifty li, one can reach the city of Meishan.

The future appears bleak, and there is no escape. Sanlang immediately realized the strictness of the legal net in the Song Dynasty, which is no less than that of later generations. He is neither a superhero who wears his underwear on the outside, nor does he possess the wall-passing skills of a Taoist from Laoshan, nor is he a fictional character who can traverse time and walk sideways. In the vast society of royal power, the individual is indeed too insignificant

San Lang closed his eyes to rest for a moment before considering his situation. The old woman would certainly not let the matter rest, but with so many people present, it was unlikely that she would resort to private punishment against him. It was more likely that she would send him to the authorities. He had heard several hired workers on the road say that "the young striking the elder" is a serious crime, punishable by exile and forced labor.

"Liulang, don’t worry, San Ge doesn’t blame you." Sanlang felt a pang in his heart and tightly embraced Liulang, saying, "It’s all because I didn’t take good care of you, in the future..." As the words reached his lips, a sense of gloom enveloped him; what future could there be? After being exiled, it was likely that they would never meet again. His eyes also became slightly moist as he softly said, "You must be obedient in the future..."

Moreover, he is not the kind of person who loses his reason in a moment of impulse. The severe beating of Mrs. Hou did not result in fatal injuries; it was not merely luck, but rather Sanlang's avoidance of vital points... With Sanlang's medical knowledge, he is aware of the numerous critical areas in the human body. Even if struck with the strength of a child, while it may not lead to immediate death, prolonged injury could indeed be fatal. Although Mrs. Hou is wicked, her crimes do not warrant death, which reflects his true intentions, as he was not blinded by rage... With Sanlang's medical knowledge, he is aware of the numerous critical areas in the human body. Even if struck with the strength of a child, while it may not lead to immediate death, prolonged injury could indeed be fatal. Although Mrs. Hou is wicked, her crimes do not warrant death, which reflects his true intentions, as he was not blinded by rage

No... Sanlang couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth; he did not want to ruin his life like this.

After much contemplation, I find myself without any viable plans and can only leave it to fate

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There is no need to be polite with the elder brother, Chen Chen put away the copper coins and deeply bowed, saying: "Elder brother, the third younger brother and the others have entrusted you with this task"

I want to be with San Ge," Xiao Liulang said resolutely

"Silang, thank you." Sanlang relaxed and scratched his head, saying, "By the way, could you bring some water?"

After speaking, he took out a string of copper coins from his bosom and said, "You go to the dock and take a boat, hurry there and back." Shiwancun is fifty li away from the city, and the entire route is mountainous, requiring a full day's journey. Naturally, Chen Yu could not allow him to go on foot.

Forty days after being kicked out of their home, the three brothers, Sanlang, finally returned to the courtyard where they had lived since childhood

Chen Chen nodded emphatically, turned around, and left. Upon arriving at the dock, he coincidentally encountered a ship transporting bamboo charcoal to Meizhou City. He jumped aboard, paid the ship owner eight wen, and took this vessel to Meizhou.

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