< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
The Brothers’ Childhood (1)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Shen second master threw down the words ‘divide the family’, then angrily stormed out.
As Shen Xin Gu watched his younger brother’s back gradually disappear into the distance, Shen Xin Shu’s pure and innocent smile from their childhood subconsciously surfaced before his eyes. The regretful feeling of how things have remained the same but people have changed sorrowfully bubbled up in his heart.
Back then, Shen Liang came to the An Duke Manor by hiding in the Shen family second young master Shen Xin Shu’s horse carriage.
From the remote countryside to the flourishing Chu capital, in this five to six day journey, they slept under the same blanket and shared the same garment over their shoulders. Shen Liang’s figure was thin and small, so for the entire way, he hid under the secret compartment of the horse carriage and under the bed of the relay station inn, actually not getting detected by anyone. Once they arrived at the An Duke Manor, seeing an unfamiliar little boy jump down from the horse carriage, Wu-shi and Shen Rui, who came out to meet them, both were greatly surprised.
Since the person has come, what else can be done? Naturally, it was taking him in.
Wu-shi came from a prestigious family, thus unable to swallow this breath, unwilling to let Shen Liang be admitted into the family. Shen Rui knew that this was the debt he’d accumulated during his romantic escapades in the past. He had the intention of making it up to Wu-shi, so agreed to Wu-shi’s demand, just letting Shen Liang become a study companion by the second young master Shen Xin Shu’s side.
In this way, although Shen Liang’s treatment in food, clothing, and lodging were no different from Shen Xin Shu’s, he ultimately didn’t have the ‘shu-born son’ title. As such, Wu-shi can pretend that this had never happened and continue to be the awe-inspiring duchess that everyone envied.
For many women of the Chu capital, what they sought for their whole life was just ‘their husband to be loyal and chaste, and their children to be prosperous and in harmony’. What Wu-shi wanted has always been this too.
Shen Liang just stayed behind in the An Duke Manor like this.
Shen Xin Shu has always wanted a seal[1]. Because of this, he was extremely good to Shen Liang. Whenever there was something new and interesting, he would always tell Shen Liang in detail first. Shen Liang has lived in destitute since childhood, experiencing all kinds of hardships, so he knew that living in this An Duke Manor wasn’t easy. As such, he has always hidden his skills, so as to avoid getting hated. Shen Xin Shu often urged Shen Liang to study, but Shen Liang would always make the excuse that he was too stupid, unable to learn the characters, avoiding to study. Although as the study companion, Shen Liang only ever played with Shen Xin Shu and never studied.
Whenever something similar happens, Shen Xin Shu would always reveal a regretful look, both pitying him and feeling troubled, saying, “I’m not good at studying, so often hope to have an older brother that’s good at studying. In this way, father won’t always force me to study. Didn’t expect that you’re also one that can’t study.”
Shen Rui made friends extensively, also making many enemies in jianghu. When Shen Liang was twelve, the bandits of Jiangbei came to exact revenge, abducting Shen Xin Shu, while also taking Shen Liang with them as well.
The northern bandits were ruthless and barbaric, demanding Shen Rui to chop off three of his fingers on his own to apologize for the offense and also hand over the treasure map that he’d stolen from the northern bandits back then. If Shen Rui doesn’t obediently comply, then the Shen family second young master will be chopped into mince meat.
Even for the noble and precious Shen Xin Shu, it was like this, how can Shen Liang, a mere ink-grinding study companion, be any better off?
However, Shen Xin Shu although was young, he was nevertheless unusually daring, saying to the bandits, “Although you have kidnapped me, but to not see me in person, my father may not necessarily believe your one-sided words. If you have my study companion released back home, my father certainly will believe this matter. I am the Shen family’s young master. Meanwhile, Ah Liang is just a mere commoner, forever unable to even be worth a single finger of mine in this lifetime. Letting him go and leaving me here will only have benefits and no harm.”
When the bandits heard, they were actually convinced, detaining Shen Xin Shu and letting Shen Liang go back to report.
When Shen Liang staggeringly ran out from the bandits’ den, his two legs were both trembling. His mind repeatedly echoed the words that bandit said a moment ago, “If you don’t obediently do as told, then your family’s young master will be hacked into pieces!”
He doesn’t need to be hacked into pieces, but Shen Xin Shu’s life rested in his hands.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Afterwards, Shen Rui managed to rescue Shen Xin Shu. When Shen Liang saw his younger brother again, the first thing he did was to check whether or not he’d lost a piece of flesh somewhere. As he checked, he also thought to himself——Someday, if he, Shen Liang, can become rich and powerful, he certainly will repay Shen Xin Shu’s kindness.
For the sake of this favor, Shen Liang finally had the desire to excel. He knew that he had no name and no status, so unable to obtain special privileges through his surname and can only climb up through the exams as commoner. As such, he became determined and earnestly started studying.
Shen Liang was smart. The teachers in the manor all praised him as a rare talent, pitying that he was only a mere study companion. If he’d been born from an influential family, then he would certainly be able to make more of himself. Hearing the teachers praise Shen Liang this much, Shen Xin Shu’s attitude silently changed.
Unknown as to when, Shen Xin Shu, who was once the most enthusiastic towards Shen Liang in the past, always calling him ‘big brother’ in private, started silently distancing himself from Shen Liang, also no longer calling Shen Liang to play together. Occasionally, when meeting under the corridors, Shen Xin Shu would just call out from afar and not say anything else.
“Shen Liang, it’s time to study.”
——Afterwards, what Shen Liang heard the most was precisely this line.
At the time, Shen Liang didn’t understand why his younger brother changed in temperament. Thinking back on it now, he finally had some realization. Once Shen Liang studies and put in hard work, he will no longer be the Shen Liang that’s ‘forever unable to even be worth a single finger on Shen Xin Shu’.
For Shen Xin Shu to change, it was only natural.
Shen Xin Gu who was immersed in his memories was blankly lost in thought for a long time. A while later, he was finally pulled back to reality by the coughing sounds from behind the bed curtains. He lowered his body and handed Shen Rui a cup of throat-soothing tea, saying, “Father, why don’t you rest first? The matters at home, this son will naturally take care of them.”
Shen Rui took a sip of tea and said, “Judging by your younger brother’s look, he’s naturally unwilling to accept this. Afraid, in the future, he will still cause trouble. If such a day really were to come, then it’s better for me to have this useless noble title handed back.”
When Shen Xin Gu heard, he immediately said, “Father, why be like this?! This An Duke Manor is the heart’s blood of the Shen family’s ancestors. If the noble title were to be handed back, how will Gu’er have the face to meet the ancestors?”
Seeing his anxious look, Shen Rui shook his head and said, “Back then, I felt that you could be of great use, thus let you inherited the family. This was also a compensation, so as to make up for the hardships you suffered in your childhood. I never expected that you would put the cart before the horse, having this family’s position viewed this importantly. Now, this old man somewhat regrets it.”
“What is father saying?” Shen Xin Gu said, “The family’s position naturally is the most important. How can it be considered ‘putting the cart before the horse’?”
According to his father’s meaning, this enormous family business was merely just a means to make up for the hardships in his childhood. Exactly what the future prospects were for the An Duke Manor, his father was still the same as before, not caring at all.
“Nonsense! In a person’s lifetime, it’s naturally living happily that’s the most important!” Shen Rui suddenly became worked up, shouting, “I let you be the head of the family in hopes that you can be happy for once, also letting old two have a taste of suffering. He has made a mistake once, and in my book, that’s just being wrong for life. I absolutely won’t let him inherit the noble title.”
When saying these words, a complicated look of contempt appeared on Shen Rui’s face.
Shen Xin Gu naturally was unable to win against his eccentric-tempered father, also aware that the ‘mistake’ Shen Xin Shu committed afterwards was truly wrong beyond all reasons. As such, he could only lower his head and go along with Shen Rui, repeatedly saying a few ‘yes’.
Shen Xin Gu continued to stay for a while before his father’s sickbed before finally leaving.
As soon as Shen first madam learned that the second branch has agreed to dividing the family, she instantly became elated inside. When Shen Lan Chi returned home, she just happened to see her mother’s delighted appearance and couldn’t help but feel a bit confused inside.
“Mother, what’s the matter?” Shen Lan Chi asked.
“Finally kicking out that annoying family, so mother is naturally happy.” Shen first madam said. She carefully studied Shen Lan Chi’s hair, asking, “How was it?”
“What….what do you mean?” Shen Lan Chi was confused.
“Was the wangfei good to you? How’s the heir?” Shen first madam continued to ask.
“Good…..quite good.” Shen Lan Chi answered as she averted her eyes.
Shen first madam lowered her head, seeing Shen Lan Chi still holding a purple silk flower in her hand, thus asking, “Oh my, what’s this? Did the wangfei give it you?”
“No…..no, it’s just……..” Facing her strangely enthusiastic mother, Shen Lan Chi was instead somewhat hesitant, “….just when going in the streets, saw that it was pretty, so randomly bought….”
“Who bought it? The heir?” Shen first madam tirelessly pursued.
“…….Mother!” Shen Lan Chi hurriedly had that flower inserted into Shen first madam’s hair, shouting, “Stop asking please! This flower suits you, so why don’t you wear it!”
After saying this, she lifted her skirt and fled like the wind.
Gazing at Shen Lan Chi’s figure, Shen first madam felt comforted inside.
After the new year, once Ting Yuan’s marriage is arranged, it’ll also be time to think about where Lan Chi will go in the future.
Ting Yuan’s marriage arrangement……..
Sigh…..
Worrisome.
[1] To be honest, this sentence is so awkwardly placed here, but it is what the author wrote. I’m assuming it’s alluding to the duke’s position.
< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
