Chapter 129: Thoughts

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“Master, Uncle, have some tea.” Chen Liang lifted the teapot and filled the two old men’s cups again.

Once everyone had arrived, he finally voiced his idea. “Master, I have a rather bold proposal. Tell me what you think.”

“Go on, then. What scheme has this little rascal come up with now?” Master Tong took an unhurried sip from his teacup.

“It’s like this, Master. In the future, Xiaoyu and I want to give our first child—whether a boy or a girl—to you as your heir. That way, your family line won’t die out. What do you say?”

“Really? Don’t you dare deceive an old man like me!” Master Tong was so stirred by Chen Liang’s words that he could no longer maintain his former calm.

Feeling Xiaoyu’s hand tense in his, Chen Liang quickly added, “It’s truer than gold, but let me make one thing clear first. You’re getting on in years, and I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving you to raise a child. So although the child will be registered under your household, Xiaoyu and I must raise the child ourselves.”

Only then did Xiaoyu’s heart settle. After all, every child was a piece of flesh carried by its mother for ten months, and she truly could not bear to be separated from her own child.

Chen Liang’s idea was perfect. It would preserve his master’s family line while ensuring the child would not be taken from its mother—a solution that satisfied everyone.

The old man, struck senseless by this unexpected blessing, had no reason to fuss over such details. He threw back his head and laughed. “No problem! It’s a small matter. Ha ha! I never imagined that the Tong family would have a descendant after all. Even if I close my eyes someday, I’ll be able to face our ancestors with a clear conscience!”

His junior uncle and aunt stared at Chen Liang with burning intensity, making him feel a chill run down his spine.

Having no children had been the lifelong sorrow of the couple. Now that there was a chance to fulfill their dream of having a child, the old pair were even more excited than Master Tong.

Chen Liang glanced at Borba, who was crouching beside them like a wooden statue, and kicked him. If the fool did not speak soon, Chen Liang feared he might lose even his second child.

“You big fool, say something! Do you agree with my plan or not?”

After being kicked in the backside, Borba immediately nodded. “I agree, I agree. Master, the first child Lotus and I have will bear your surname too.”

At those words, Auntie could no longer hold back her tears. She grabbed Borba’s hand and Chen Liang’s and kept calling them good children.

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Borba’s parents, standing nearby, were also filled with relief and gratification.

As the ancients said, one should honor Heaven, Earth, the ruler, one’s parents, and one’s teacher. A master was practically the same as a father, so they saw nothing wrong with Chen Liang’s idea. After all, these two children would care for Master Tong in his old age and see him through to the end.

Giving one child to his master to carry on the family line was hardly a serious matter—especially since the child would still be raised by its parents.

As for whether adoption into another family meant a cruel separation between mother and child, that was another question entirely. In those days, such arrangements were perfectly ordinary.

On the way home, Xiaoyu looked troubled. “Brother, are we really going to give our first child to Master?”

Chen Liang turned to glance at her. “Silly girl, can’t bear to part with the child?”

“Yes. Whenever I think about our first child not bearing your surname, I feel strange inside.”

“What’s so strange about that? We’ll work hard and have another eight or ten children. By then, you won’t feel strange anymore. Ha ha!”

“Oh, Brother, you’re awful! Do you think we’re raising piglets? I don’t want to have eight or ten children!”

His words struck a nerve. Xiaoyu’s face darkened, and she reached out to pinch the soft flesh at his waist with all her strength.

Chen Liang immediately let out a loud howl. His exaggerated cry made Xiaoyu double over with laughter.

After laughing, Xiaoyu pressed her face against Chen Liang’s back. “Brother, I could never leave you now. If you were gone from my life, I truly can’t imagine how I would go on living.”

“Mm. I couldn’t live without you either, Xiaoyu. You’re the only sun in my life.”

The unexpected declaration of love filled Xiaoyu with delight. She bit her lip and whispered, “Brother, let’s go to the park. I want to…”

“All right!”

The moment Chen Liang heard that, he excitedly turned the bicycle around. He rode all the way to the park entrance, parked the bike, and pulled Xiaoyu into the little grove.

After completing their epic outdoor survival exercise, Chen Liang helped Xiaoyu, whose legs had gone weak, back home. By then, it was nearly time for the workers to get off shift. Taking out a wooden bucket, Chen Liang found himself thinking for the first time that living in a courtyard compound had its inconveniences.

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That evening, after everyone in the Chen family had gathered, Chen Liang went to find his elder brother.

“Brother, do you still have that housing allocation from your factory?”

“I do. Why are you asking, Little Brother?” Chen Jian was confused, but he answered honestly.

“I want to combine your housing allocation with mine and arrange for us to get a private little courtyard from the factory.”

“What? No, Little Brother, what are you thinking? Why would we separate the household when everything is fine as it is?”

“Our parents are still here. If you moved out, wouldn’t people accuse me of driving you away? No, absolutely not. Don’t make a foolish decision, Little Brother!”

In those days, there was a saying: so long as one’s parents were alive, the family should not be divided. The house was not too crowded to live in, either. If Chen Liang truly moved out, it would make his elder brother appear narrow-minded, as though he had driven his own younger brother away. The neighbors would curse him behind his back.

“Oh, stop worrying about it, Brother. I’ve thought it through.”

At mealtime, Chen Liang explained his idea to the family. His father immediately slammed down his chopsticks and turned on his eldest son.

“Oldest, what is this? I’m not dead yet, and you’re already eyeing your brother’s house? Once I’m gone, are you planning to drive all your younger brothers and sisters out to sleep beneath a bridge?”

When an honest man lost his temper, it was a frightening sight. Seeing Chen Dashan raging like a lion, the tongue-tied elder brother immediately wilted.

“Dad, what are you saying? How could I ever do such a thing?”

Even his wife joined the attack. “How could you do this, darling? Have you forgotten how much your younger brother has done for us? Do you have no conscience at all?”

Chen Hong, who had no idea what was going on, firmly took the side of justice. She did not know the details, but she knew that joining in was the right thing to do.

“Dad, what you’re doing is wrong! Hurry up and apologize to Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Uncle, and Aunt, or I won’t speak to you anymore!”

Good heavens. That little padded jacket of an eldest daughter must have been made from black cotton—it let in cold air from every direction.

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