Chapter 03: The Only Path

Ye Xiaotian quickly said, "I will go take a look"

Ye Dou's face was dark and he said nothing. Ye Xiaotian felt a bit surprised and was about to ask when suddenly a burst of shouting and cursing came from the west room. The loud voice was naturally that of Old Man Ye: "You little brat, you really can do it! You can't even kick out a fart, yet you have such old ideas."

Ye Xiaotian shook his head and said: "Your Excellency, you flatter me. This time, the matter has indeed gone a bit too far. I am just a small loach in the pond at my doorstep, having never encountered much turbulence. I truly cannot handle this matter for you, so I must take my leave!"

Your sister-in-law returned to her parents' home in a fit of anger. You say, how could your brother be so foolish? He can't even keep a perfectly good business running. What is even more infuriating is that he never said a word to me throughout the whole process; he made decisions on his own. Does he even regard me, his father, in his eyes?

Yang Lin smiled sadly and said: "I have been imprisoned for three years. Ever since I realized that I would never be able to leave, no one from my family has come to visit. My relationship with my wife has always been indifferent. If I were to wait for her to arrange for someone to transport my coffin from a thousand miles away, I do not know how many years or months I would have to wait."

Ye Xiaotian said to Ye Laohan with a relaxed expression: "Father, you underestimate your son too much. It's just delivering a letter, such a trivial matter that I can't handle? I want to go! To be honest, I have never liked the gloomy atmosphere of the sky prison; this is an opportunity for me."

Five hundred taels ... ... Ye Xiaotian's heart raced, but this struggle lasted only a moment before he resolutely shook his head. To go to Huguang to deliver a message, Huguang! ... In this era of inconvenient transportation and communication, it felt as if it were worlds apart ...

It is like this

Yang Lin expressed his gratitude, saying: "Good! I reside in Jingzhou Prefecture, Huguang Road. As long as you deliver this letter for me, I will ensure that the reward of fifty taels of silver is paid in full!"

Old Ye exclaimed in surprise, "Going on a long trip? Where are you headed?"

Ye Xiaotian hurriedly consoled, "Father, now that things have come to this point, what good does it do for you to be angry? If you become ill from anger, it will only make elder brother more upset. In business, there are always gains and losses; otherwise, wouldn't everyone be engaged in trade? Please do not be angry, Father"

Ye Dou's family wished to speak but hesitated, ultimately letting out a heavy sigh

Old Ye paused for a moment, sighed heavily, and slowly said: "It doesn't matter whether your father is angry or not. What is important is that your sister-in-law is angry with your brother. Originally, her family is better off than ours, and this marriage was initiated by our family. Your brother is also not making any effort..."

He slowly fixed his gaze on Ye Xiaotian and said: "I wish to write a letter, please deliver it to my family, instructing them to divide the family assets according to my wishes, leaving a portion of the dowry for my daughter, ensuring that she will be free from worries about food and clothing for the rest of her life. Would you be willing to do this?"

Yang Lin was in a daze for a long time, then released Ye Xiaotian's ankle and slowly said: "When I was in power, I held great authority, as if I were the Avalokiteshvara who grants all wishes. Whenever someone came to seek my help, I could always ensure they left satisfied, yet I could not ask the heavens for a son for myself"

Ye Xiaotian said with great emotion: "Indeed! Even if it is not for the fifty taels of silver, such a benevolent act is something I should do. Of course, having money is better, haha! However... since it involves the division of family property, I, a mere young man, speaking out of turn, am afraid no one would believe me. I still need you, my lord, to write a letter as evidence. Let me go fetch some ink, paper, and an inkstone."

Ye Xiaotian did not look back, he simply walked away briskly. In the distance, a segment of Kunqu opera could be heard, sung in his clear and precise voice: "I was originally a little sparrow in the Four Nine City, why must I soar to the heavens like a Kunpeng? The Kunpeng does not know the joys of the sparrow..."

Perhaps it is because I have committed too many misdeeds. In recent years, I have been repairing bridges and roads, donating to education and assisting the disabled, and I have also made substantial offerings at the temple, tirelessly accumulating good deeds. Yet, I still cannot obtain a son, and reluctantly, I had to adopt one from among my clan.

Ye Xiaotian exclaimed in surprise, "Mother, who is my father scolding? Has my elder brother returned?"

Not in Beijing, then where exactly is it? Having grown up, the farthest I have been is Tongzhou. A scene from the wild world in the "Shan Hai Jing" immediately flashed through Ye Xiaotian's mind, and he shook his head vigorously like a rattle drum: "No, no, no, that won't do. Once I leave the borders of Beijing, I won't know which way is north."

Ye Xiaotian felt a sense of relief as he saw his father being calmed down, but as he recalled the address of that Master Yang from the divine stick family, his heart tightened again: "Jingzhou Prefecture, it really sounds as distant as the ends of the earth..."

One must possess genuine skills to succeed. As long as one has the ability, even if they are left empty-handed and impoverished, they can rise again after a fall. Allow me to venture forth and gain some experience; perhaps I will achieve great success.

In today's era, transportation is inconvenient, the movement of people is limited, and the public security varies from place to place. Traveling far has become a challenging endeavor, and often, a journey to a distant place may result in a parting of life and death, with no opportunity for reunion in a lifetime

Yang Lin said: "Who else can I ask for help? In this vast prison, are there any good people?"

Ye Xiaotian felt a deep sense of sorrow in his heart, not only due to the anxiety of embarking on a long journey but also because of his reluctance to part with the public service job he cherished. However, seeing the numerous wrinkles on his father's face, could he allow his father, who had toiled all his life, to continue to suffer? Moreover, his elder brother had reached the point of separation from his spouse; could he, as a brother sharing the same mother, sit idly by?

Ye Xiaotian's expression instantly stiffened

Yang Lin solemnly nodded and said: "Indeed! I have held power for a lifetime, amassed wealth for a lifetime, and it is only now, at the brink of death, that I finally understand what is truly most important to me. This is the most important matter in my heart!"

Old Ye was greatly moved upon hearing this; after all, that was five hundred taels of silver, an unimaginable fortune even in dreams. But with such high mountains and distant waters, could Xiao Tian succeed?

Old Ye sadly covered his face, tears continued to flow from the edges of his palms. Ye Xiaoan did not run far; he squatted outside the door curtain, listening. Hearing his father say this, Ye Xiaoan felt a pang in his heart and could not help but burst into tears: "Father, please don't say that. This is not your fault; it is my own incompetence..."

Ye Xiao'an, being timid, was frightened by a roar from his father and hurriedly fled the room. After scolding his eldest son, Ye Laodie shook his head at Ye Xiaotian, his emotions having calmed somewhat: "If this cannot be resolved, you should focus on your own duties. There is always a way out in difficult times. As for your brother, I will think of another solution."

Apart from the destitute refugees who truly cannot survive, it is primarily the itinerant merchants who require mutual exchange, and only officials and traveling scholars would leave their hometowns. Therefore, despite the temptation of five hundred taels of silver, if it were not for such a significant issue at home that urgently requires a sum of money to alleviate the famine, Old Ye would not have considered it at all. However, at this moment...

For Ye Xiaotian, who had never left Beijing, this was a daunting path that made him feel lost from the depths of his heart. He hesitated for a moment, then refused, saying: "It is indeed too far; it would be better to wait until your family arrives in Beijing for me to pass it on..."

Ye Xiao'an hesitantly said from outside the curtain: "Second brother, this matter cannot be done. Even if I starve to death, I cannot take away my brother's livelihood. If your sister-in-law truly does not want to be with me anymore, then let her be! I may be incapable, but I cannot be without conscience!"

Ye Xiaotian suddenly widened his eyes in surprise and said, "Huguang Road, Jingzhou Prefecture? From the way you speak, this place should not be in Beijing, right?"

Looking at his father's silver hair, Ye Xiaotian gently held his father's rough hand and softly said: "Father, I always feel that no matter how much money one has, there will always be a time when it runs out; no matter how great the power, there will always be a day when it becomes obsolete; even the largest family fortune can be overturned by a natural disaster or man-made calamity.

Old Ye was taken aback and shook his head, saying: "How can that be! The trouble that Xiao An got himself into cannot be used to excuse your duties"

Old Ye choked with emotion, tears finally streaming down his face: "Your brother cannot lift a thing or carry a load, being honest is of no use at all. With a family to support, now there is not even a means to make a living. What will we do in the future? It is my failure as a father..."

Ye Xiaotian's home is located in Xuanwu Street, Xiquzi Alley. The neighbor on the left is a hereditary executioner, who also runs a grocery store. The neighbor on the right comes from a family of forensic experts, and their household also operates a meat shop. The Ye family is situated in between, with the smallest doorframe.

Ye Xiaotian asked in confusion, "What does Lord Yang mean?"

... ...

Ye Xiaotian saw his old father in tears, and his own nose felt a bit sour. He hurriedly held back his tears and pretended to be relaxed as he said: "Father, what are you doing? If the neighbors hear this, won't they laugh at our Ye family? This matter regarding elder brother is easy to handle; we can just have him take on the duty of the jailer, can't we?"

Ye Xiaotian laughed heartily and said: "Father, what are you still thinking about? Just do as your son says. In fact, I came back today specifically to discuss this matter with you. Even though my elder brother's workshop is running well, I would still like to ask you to take over for a while, as I need to go on a long journey."

Ye Xiaotian recounted the entire sequence of events to him, saying: "Father, just think about it, it is merely delivering a letter, yet there is a benefit of five hundred taels of silver. With this five hundred taels, do I still need to rely on this public office for a living? What business cannot be done?"

Upon hearing this, Old Ye was filled with anger and indignantly said: "This scoundrel is truly infuriating, what do you think he is capable of doing, huh? What do you think he can accomplish?"

As Old Ye spoke, he was touched by sorrow, and tears began to glisten in his eyes: "It is your father who lacks ability. With this bowl of public office passed down from our ancestors, who should I give it to among my two sons? Your father thought it over, and since you are more clever, I will entrust you with the duties of this prison.

For this reason, Father felt indebted to your brother again, so he took out all the savings he had accumulated through a lifetime of frugality to set him up with a workshop and also helped him marry a wife... Father... Father has exerted all his efforts for this

Yang Lin choked with emotion and said: "My daughter, so clever and bright, so beautiful and lovely. How I regret that at that time I was only concerned with clinging to power and did not cherish the joy of having her by my side. Now it is too late for regrets. I have certainly committed crimes against the laws and principles of the state, and I deserve to die. Yet the only thing I am concerned about now is this daughter of mine."

Old Ye slapped his thigh and said: "Not good? If it were just not good, I would consider myself lucky! This scoundrel can't even run a rice and flour workshop properly, has accumulated a mountain of debts, and can no longer keep the shop open. When pressured by others, he simply sold the shop off.

Yang Lin interrupted, saying: "Five hundred taels! I will give you a reward of five hundred taels, how about that? This is money you could never earn in your lifetime"

Ye Xiaotian cupped his hands and turned to leave. Yang Lin called out loudly behind him: "Five hundred taels, five hundred taels! That is enough to ensure your wealth and nobility for a lifetime. Are you truly willing to live your life as a mere jailer?"

Ye Xiaotian said in surprise, "Is this what the adults refer to as a major event?"

Yang Lin sighed with melancholy and said: "But he is not my own flesh and blood after all. I have only one daughter in my lifetime, and her mother is my concubine, who has never been favored by my wife. I am worried that after my death, my wife will act without restraint and make things difficult for them both."

Old Ye pounded on the kang and shouted loudly towards the outside: "Shut your mouth! Look at how capable you are now, huh? Do you have the ability to bring my daughter-in-law back first? You worthless scoundrel!"

After hesitating for a moment, Old Ye finally said with concern: "My child, you have never traveled far before. Can you manage such a long journey?"

Upon entering the small courtyard, as soon as the door is pushed open, one can see his mother, Ye Doushi, holding a winnowing basket, feeding the chickens in the yard. A few hens cluck happily, joyfully chasing after the scattered bran. The rooster, basking in the sun by the wall, rushes over at the sound, strutting with its chest out, arrogantly pushing its harem aside.

Ye Xiaotian greeted his mother, saying, "Mother, I am back"

Ye Xiaotian, while speaking, cast a glance at his elder brother. Ye Xiaoan and Ye Xiaotian are twins, looking exactly alike, but their expressions and demeanor are far from the lively and spirited nature of Xiaotian. At first glance, he appears to be a simple and honest person. Upon seeing his younger brother signaling to him, Ye Xiaoan hurriedly covered his head and fled.

Yang Lin looked at him strangely and said, "Jingzhou Prefecture is Jingzhou Prefecture, of course it is not in Beijing, why?"

Ye Xiaotian pulled his panting father and pressed him down to sit at the edge of the kang. He sat beside him, wrapped his arm around his father's shoulder, and affectionately said: "Father, with such an honest person as elder brother, what could he possibly do to make you so angry? Why are you so furious?"

Old Ye felt a great sense of comfort as he looked at his son's still youthful face and the faint fuzz on his lips, suddenly realizing that his son had truly grown up. Unfortunately, the child Xiao An was too honest; otherwise, this letter should have been delivered by the eldest. For now, they could only rely on the second son.

Ye Xiaotian's voice gradually faded away, and Yang Lin stood foolishly in place, leaning on the railing and listening to his voice. After a long time, he slowly raised his head, gazing at the gloomy prison ceiling, and murmured with a long sigh: "The Kunpeng may indeed be inferior to the sparrow..."

Ye Xiaotian hurriedly stepped forward to stop his father, advising, "What is the matter? Father, please calm down. What can't be discussed properly among family? Eldest brother has already started his own family; a few words of admonition from you would suffice, but why resort to violence?"

Ye Xiaotian hurriedly arrived at the west room, lifted the door curtain, and saw his father, Ye Laohan, wielding a broomstick, aimlessly striking his brother, Ye Xiaoan. Ye Xiaoan was curled up on the kang, protecting his head and face, with his buttocks raised, neither dodging nor shouting, allowing their father to beat him.

Yang Lin said: "The prisoners in this jail often use some silver to have you jailers buy food and supplies. I observe this with a cold eye, and the other jailers all engage in embezzlement, either substituting inferior goods or greedily taking more silver. Only you, however, are most faithful to your promises; although you are greedy for profit, you do not betray your trust. Therefore, you are the only one I can trust."

Ye Xiaotian listened attentively and vaguely understood a few points, cautiously asking: "What, is the rice flour workshop run by elder brother not doing well?"

Upon hearing the phrase "thousands of miles away," Ye Xiaotian became even more unwilling to agree, shaking his head repeatedly and saying, "Xiaotian cannot do it; Lord Yang, please seek someone more capable."