Chapter 1, Leaving Home (3)

Isn't this still in the early stages?" Zheng Yue'er grabbed a awl and forcefully poked it into the sole of her shoe, responding loudly. "Besides, when has it ever been my turn to make decisions in this household? If I were to agree to someone without your approval, not only would you hold it against me later, but even your family's eldest son would throw me out of the house without hesitation!"

"What nonsense! The boss is not that kind of person!" Zhang Youcai said with a stern face, quietly rebutting. "Although the three of them are not your biological children, who would dare not call you 'mother'? Especially the boss, whenever he goes on a trip, he always thinks about buying things for you and his two younger sisters!"

Then why don't you hurry and ask someone? Upon hearing that she could send her daughter to the provincial capital, Zheng Yue'er immediately beamed with joy. "Quickly write a letter to Lao Er and have him inquire thoroughly!"

"Those two girls from the Lao Bai family! No way, no way, absolutely not!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Laocai's eyebrows immediately knitted together, and he shook his head like a rattle.

In this day and age, Zhang Youcai is well aware of how imposing military officers appear before merchants. However, that imposing presence is earned at the cost of one's life. His youngest son has never even killed a chicken since childhood; how could he possibly have the ability to go to the battlefield

I cannot catch up, and you will not pursue him any longer!" Zhang Shouling glanced at his old father and replied weakly. "I did manage to corner him at the Liucheng train station, but he refused to come back with me. Not only did he refuse to return, but he also turned around to advise me not to be solely focused on business, lest I become a slave to a fallen nation without even knowing what hatred or shame is... Not only did he refuse to return, but he also turned around to advise me not to be solely focused on business, lest I become a slave to a fallen nation without even knowing what hatred or shame is..."

No!" Zhang Shouling shook his head, his face full of fatigue

Note 3: The blue border signifies the rank insignia of the Army within the National Revolutionary Army, typically represented by square shoulder insignia. The blue border indicates junior officers. The insignia for general officers has a red border, while that for field officers has a yellow border

The two of them... ? Zhang Youcai pondered for a moment, his face clearly revealing a look of hesitation. It was not that he was unwilling to spend money to send his two daughters to school, but looking around the entire Lucheng, there were only a handful of families willing to send their daughters to the school. If the young girls were willing to focus on their studies and learn a few characters, it wouldn't be a bad thing. What if they studied, developed their own ideas, and grew up to run off with someone like his third brother? Where would the parents go to cry? If the young girls were willing to focus on their studies and learn a few characters, it wouldn't be a bad thing. What if they studied, developed their own ideas, and grew up to run off with someone like his third brother? Where would the parents go to cry!

Wait for the third one to come back, just ask him! He has read a lot and his knowledge is certainly better than that of the second one, that mechanic!" Zhang Youcai shook his head and said in a half-hearted manner.

Zheng Yue'er has a strong temper, but her heart is not very hard. Seeing her husband always looking gloomy, she approached him with a basket of needlework and gently comforted him: "Don't worry too much; worrying won't help! With our eldest's abilities, how could we possibly fail to catch that Sanwa? Not to mention that Liu City is so close, even if San'er runs all the way to Qingdao, we can still pull him off the steamboat. I'll have Wuyā heat up some wine for you; drink a few sips while it's warm and get a good night's sleep. When Sanzi comes home tomorrow, you'll have the energy to deal with him!"

Note 1: To pick up. Dialect, to tidy up, to teach a lesson

Last time I went to the provincial capital, I heard from Lao Er that they have opened a specialized girls' school there. Zhang Youcai, lost in thought, casually responded, "Everyone inside, from the teachers to the janitors, are women. I just wonder how high the admission requirements are and whether they offer accommodation."

Then, then... Zhang Youcai was persuaded by his eldest son and slowly withdrew his foot that had already reached the entrance. Chairman Han, who came from a scholarly background, placed great importance on scholars and readers. It is said that during battles, he never allowed scholars to be at the forefront. When marching, he would also place the pack donkeys and students in the middle of the formation.

What does the foreign woman in the church look like? Zheng Yue'er has heard her sisters talk about it many times. She was immediately startled, and her tone softened instantly, "It's not that I haven't read books; it's just that my experience is limited! If you say they can't attend the church primary school, then we won't go! Just find any school, as long as they can recognize a couple of characters and not end up like me, being a blind person with open eyes!"

Then won't you bring him back? Before the eldest son could finish recounting the details, Zhang Youcai roared in question

Rest assured, being an officer is certainly safer than being a soldier! Moreover, in this day and age, educated individuals are quite valuable; who would be willing to use them as cannon fodder? I am not sure about other places, but here in Shandong, during the most critical times a few years ago, I did not see Chairman Han send his student soldiers to the front lines!

"That may not be the case!" Zheng Yue'er threaded a thick needle with a line while sewing the shoe soles, and as she worked, she steered the conversation towards a more cheerful topic. "You may not be able to hold him down, but that doesn't mean others can't. If he marries a wife and has a child, he will surely settle down. A few days ago, the housekeeper from the old Bai family on Han Zheng Street came to visit and asked me about our San'er’s birthday. I suspect it’s because her master sees potential in our San'er and is considering sending his daughter over!" A few days ago, the housekeeper from the old Bai family on Han Zheng Street came to visit and asked me about our San'er’s birthday. I suspect it’s because her master sees potential in our San'er and is considering sending his daughter over!

"I didn't provoke his younger brother!" Zheng Yue'er pouted, threading the needle through the hole just made with the awl.

The label of "traitor" is too heavy for Zhang Youcai, who is unwilling to wear it no matter what. However, how is it related to his son going to Beiping to mess around with a group of unreliable people in the literary world? This is an answer he cannot know. Just as he was preparing to pack up and personally ride to catch the train, his eldest son, Zhang Shouling, blocked him with his arm and advised with a bitter smile: "You don't need to go; even if you do, you won't be able to bring him back. I can see through it; this world is likely to fall into chaos again soon. Our family consists of honest and straightforward businessmen, and we will definitely suffer losses in chaotic times! The third son is going to Beiping to join the army. With his wealth of knowledge, he certainly won't start as a lowly soldier. As long as he wears a badge on his chest, even if it's just a blue border, he can walk proudly when he returns to our county in Lu!"

Where is your third brother? Did you receive him? Zhang Youcai has not even had a proper meal for over a day; he immediately rushed out of the house, facing his eldest son and pressing for answers

Note 2: Foreign daughter-in-law, nun

That is not the case! Although Zhang Laosan embodies the unique frugality of the people of Lucheng, he would never skimp on his own children. I am just thinking about where to send them to school. The church school right at our doorstep is filled with boys, and they teach the children to read foreign scriptures every day. Once they become enamored with those foreign scriptures, they might grow up to become foreign women, even forgetting their own parents.

The Bai family belongs to the Zhenghuang Banner, and during the Xinhai era, they changed their surname to a Han one to avoid disaster. Although the surname has changed, the traditions within the clan have not. They still follow the example of their ancestor, Empress Dowager Cixi, with women dominating over men. If their youngest son had not graduated from high school, Zhang Youcai might have reluctantly considered this marriage proposal due to the other party's family wealth and connections. However, now that their youngest son has graduated from a prestigious provincial high school and is on track to enter university, how could the parents bear to let him endure such a humiliation?

This rumor, whether it is true or not, Zhang Youcai does not know. However, the benefits that the eldest son mentioned regarding the third son becoming an officer can be seen in many vivid examples in Shandong. Thinking about how his son will be surrounded by followers wherever he goes, and recalling the grievances he has endured in business over the years, his heart gradually begins to heat up again. After much hesitation, he finally sighed and said softly, "Once a son grows up, he is no longer under his father's control! Forget it, I have fulfilled my responsibility by sending him to finish middle school. Whether he will have fortune or misfortune in the future depends on his own fate!" Thinking about how his son will be surrounded by followers wherever he goes, and recalling the grievances he has endured in business over the years, his heart gradually begins to heat up again. After much hesitation, he finally sighed and said softly, "Once a son grows up, he is no longer under his father's control! Forget it, I have fulfilled my responsibility by sending him to finish middle school. Whether he will have fortune or misfortune in the future depends on his own fate!"

I knew you were biased! Zheng Yue'er nudged her husband with her elbow and began to sulk. Two years ago, I wanted to send the fourth girl to school. At that time, I thought the expenses for the third child in the provincial capital were high, and I couldn't bear to tell you. Now that the third child has graduated and will soon be able to earn a lot of money at the foreign firm, are you still reluctant to part with this little bit? Although they are just maids, they are still the maids of the Zhang family. In the future, if they marry a laborer and suffer a lifetime of hardship, will you feel at ease?

I can speak harshly upfront; do not agree to things behind my back. Otherwise, even if the Bai family comes knocking with the birth date, I will not acknowledge this debt!" Fearing that Zheng Yue'er would not treat the child born of his deceased wife as a human, Zhang Youcai quickly added.

Old Zhang was unwilling to continue entangling in this topic, lowering his head to continue drinking his tea in silence. However, Zheng Yue'er leaned in again and whispered, "You say that since the third son has finished high school, there are people who are eager to offer their daughters. Our fourth and fifth daughters are not small anymore; can we send them to school to learn a few characters? They don't need to go to the provincial capital, just the church primary school right at our doorstep will do"

After letting out a sigh, I turned my head and staggered into the room. In an instant, with the books, I felt as if I had aged ten years!

When will the third brother return? Zheng Yue'er felt anxious in her heart and blurted out the question. After asking, she secretly glanced at her husband's expression and quickly lowered her head again

The couple stood by the window, eagerly awaiting news of their third son, Songling. They waited from dawn until dusk, and then from dusk until dawn again. It was not until the following afternoon that they saw their eldest son, Shouling, leading a weary horse, its head drooping, as he entered the courtyard.

In order to reassure his elderly father, he deliberately spoke of the events in a vague manner. In fact, the train had stopped in Liucheng for several hours, and both the third son and the group of students who had taken him away had disembarked from the platform. They sang songs for those arriving and departing, shared stories of the Northeast's fall, recounted the battles at the Great Wall, and described how the 29th Army's sabre squad fought against the Japanese. He became so passionate that he joined in shouting many slogans. Afterward, he rushed forward to pull the third son back home, but of course, he lacked justification and confidence. Almost half of the people at the station stood by the third son, criticizing him and using him as a negative example of someone who willingly became a slave to a fallen nation.

Zhang Shouling shrugged his shoulders and replied weakly, "I do want to catch him, but there are too many people on the bus. Almost half of the passengers stood up to criticize me, saying that I had lost my money and was hindering others from contributing to the country. They called me ignorant and a traitor!"

"You didn't catch up, what are you doing coming back alone?! Why aren't you hurrying to chase after them?!" Zhang Youcai, in a state of panic, questioned sternly, disregarding his eldest son's dusty appearance.

Alas, San'er has grown up! How can I still treat him like a child? What if he truly intends to fly on his own? Can I find a rope to tie him to the door frame?" Zhang Youcai sighed and responded with a hint of melancholy