Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 760: Chapter 760: When King of Hell Wants Someone Dead at the Third Period of Late Night, He Won’t Keep Them Alive Until the Fifth Period of Night.

The eyes of everyone in the center of the scene flickered, and Di Yelei was also a bit surprised. Instead, a hint of understanding showed on Di Hongyuan’s face nearby. This elder Daoist had such a deep mind!

The elder Daoist laughed heartily, casually tossing away the chicken wing in his hand.

“This is my only request! His Majesty can rest assured, wealth for us cultivators is no different from manure.”

“Very well! I promise you, once I have quelled the civil strife, I will erect a Taoist temple for you in South City, and personally write an inscription for it. How about it?”

Only then did the elder Daoist get up satisfied: “Immeasurable Life Venerable! This poor Taoist here thanks His Majesty.”

Having appeased the elder Daoist, Zhao Yuanlang’s gaze fell on Zhang Liang: “General Zhang, you have wholly relied on your ability to kill the rebels on this land and for your merit in protecting the emperor. I appoint you as the second-grade Palace Front Commander, once we get to the capital city, I will have more rewards and generous gifts for you!”

The last sentence was clearly meant to appease Zhang Liang. Zhao Yuanlang could see that although he was currently safe, if he wanted to safely reach the capital city, he naturally couldn’t do without Zhang Liang’s diligent escort along the way.

Zhang Liang was overjoyed! Previously, he was just a Fourth Class General of Guards, and happened to be assigned by the Great General to guard the Flying Horse Hostel. He never thought that in an instant he would be promoted three ranks. How could he not be happy?

“I, Zhang Liang, thank the Emperor for his great favor! I, the minor official, will definitely protect His Majesty till death, and I will definitely escort His Majesty safely back to the capital!”

These were the exact words Zhao Yuanlang wanted to hear!

“Excellent! Truly a worthy loyal and righteous man! Come on, let’s fill our glasses and have another round!”

Everyone drank another cup of water wine to their heart’s content before settling down. Everyone was satisfied with the table full of wine and dishes.

“Courtier Di, you had me fooled quite nicely!”

Looking at Di Hongyuan dressed in cloth clothing, Zhao Yuanlang showed a bitter smile: “I have never heard before that Courtier Di is from Macheng County, what’s all this about?”

“Answering His Majesty, it is truly embarrassing to mention this!”

Di Hongyuan was extremely embarrassed: “When I was young and arrogant, I had a big fight with my father and left home, swearing to make a name for myself. Unfortunately, on my journey, I was robbed, and the robbers took all the copper coins I had with me and even stripped me of my clothes.”

Speaking of the past, Di Hongyuan’s old face reddened: “It was at the moment when I was about to freeze to death that I encountered my honorable teacher. He saved me and gave me the alias ‘Tai Business’. Since then, I have been using this name up to now.”

Di Yelei suddenly realized! So his big brother had changed his name; no wonder no matter how their father enquired over the years, he couldn’t find any news of his big brother.

“So there is such a story.”

Everyone understood, and Zhao Yuanlang also sighed deeply: “Haven’t you thought of going back home all these years?”

“I have thought of it, countless times! I have been haunted by dreams of going home countless times. But I…”

Di Hongyuan covered his old face: “When I was young and full of vigor, I said a lot of harsh words and left home. A few years ago, I had the determination to make some achievements. But when I became successful and famous, I became hesitant to go back… I am too ashamed to see my parents back home!”

One sentence pointed out the complex mental journey of Di Hongyuan over the years.

“Big brother, you are wrong!”

Di Yelei couldn’t help but speak: “Regarding the incident those years ago, dad already understands who was right and who was wrong. Over the years, he has been regretting it all the time. He often stands by the courtyard with his crutch looking at the road at the village entrance, often standing there for a day. I know that he is waiting for you, he has been waiting for you to show up!”@@novelbin@@

Di Hongyuan trembled all over: “Is dad really…”

“Really! Although he doesn’t say it, he has always been thinking of you, always looking for you! And he has always been waiting for you to come home!”

“Come home?”

Di Hongyuan’s face brightened for a moment, then he looked at both of his hands, and the smile on his face faded again.

“Home, how can I go home in this condition…”

The young man of the year has now become an old man with white temples, and his youthful ambition has all turned into dust. How can he… how can he go back now?

“No! I can’t go back! At least in this way, in his heart, Hongyuan is still the spirited young man! Youthful and masculine, not like I am now… with a sickly body and a dry face. I… I am unworthy of him!”

When he talked about this, Di Hongyuan was overcome with grief and couldn’t help but shed tears.

He still remembered his old man’s stern accusations back then; harsh at the time, they seemed so warm when he thought about them now.

“I remember when the late Emperor was alive, I also hated that I couldn’t devote more time to fulfill my filial duties. Oh, what a pity, what a pity!”

Zhao Yuanlang also couldn’t help but sigh: “Courtier Di, your current thinking is wrong. A prodigal son returning home, how happy the old father at home should be, how can there be any reason to feel ashamed?”

Zhang Liang, who was feeling refreshed at the moment because of the happy event, began to flatter His Majesty: “Yes, yes, yes! His Majesty is right. It only takes about a day and a night to get to Macheng County from here. How can you not enter when you pass by home?”

“But I…”

Di Hongyuan was still hesitating, “Why not, wait for some time, after we escort His Majesty to the capital, I can go home then.”

“You all still have time to argue here, the real fear is of ‘a son wishing to support his parents but they are not around anymore’!”

The elder Daoist was gnawing at a pork trotter again, and uttered such a sentence ambiguously.

The two brothers trembled, their eyes all focusing on the elder Daoist. Along the way, Di Yelei had become genuinely impressed by the abilities of the elder Daoist.

“Elder Daoist, what do you mean by what you just said?”

“What do I mean? Tsk tsk!”

The elder Daoist spit out a piece of bone chip, then spit out some saliva, then gazed at the two brothers with a look of pity on his face, and pointed at the parents’ spot of the two brothers.

“All creatures have a lifespan. Looking at the dark misfortune in your parents’ spot, it’s clear that your aged father at home is nearing the end of his days. It’s a pity that you have taken filial piety to heart! That’s why the poor Taoist said a son wishes to support his parents but they are not around!”

“Elder Daoist, are you joking?”

Di Yelei’s teeth clenched: “Although father has a few minor ailments, he has always been extremely healthy. The divine doctor also adjusted his body for him not long ago, how can there be any problems? Please do not make ill-omened remarks about the elders in our family!”

“Ignorant child! As the old saying goes, ‘When the King of Hell wants you to die at the third period of late night, he will not let you live till the fifth period of night!’ You believe it or not, if you don’t, forget it!”

The elder Daoist turned away and continued to nibble on the pork trotter, humming a folk song.

The two brothers both had a solemn look, each seeing a hint of doubt in the other’s eyes.

Could it be that something really happened at home?