Chapter 7

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After being expelled from home for forty days, the three brothers, Saburou, finally returned to the courtyard where they had grown up.

However, their return was far too tragic. They were escorted into the courtyard and then locked in the woodshed.

Originally, Rokurou did not need to be locked up, but he clung tightly to Saburou, crying his heart out. Saburou also worried that they might abuse his younger brother, so he firmly held onto Rokurou, and they couldn't be separated. In the end, they had to lock him in as well.

From the shack to the woodshed, the environment was actually better. At least it was spacious and not so oppressive.

Without worrying about his own fate, Saburou carefully examined Gorou and Rokurou's bodies. The two children seemed to be fine, but they were somewhat listless. In such a situation, most people would assume it was due to excessive shock, but after a thorough examination, Saburou discovered that both children had internal injuries of varying degrees.

'Internal injuries' are not just found in martial arts novels; they also exist in the real world, known as 'bruises turning into diseases'—various soft tissue injuries and their aftereffects can block vital points in the body, turning external injuries into internal ones that can persist for years without healing, and even cause sudden death or disability.

Rokurou's injuries were lighter, just a slight dislocation of the cervical vertebrae. Saburou realigned it, eliminating the隐患 for the little guy. Gorou's problem was more serious because he had hit the back of his head on the ground, even though it was soft soil, it still caused a concussion.

In traditional Chinese medicine, this is considered damage to the brain network, causing blood stasis and obstruction. Acupuncture would be the most appropriate treatment, but without the conditions, massage had to be used as a substitute. He asked Gorou to sit, stood behind him, and used his thumbs to alternately stroke the sternocleidomastoid muscles on both sides of his neck from top to bottom. Then, he held Gorou's forehead with one hand and used the other to massage from the front hairline to the back of the head, followed by massaging the Fengchi and Naokong acupoints.

Next, he moved to the front, using his thumbs to stroke the Yintang, press the Jingming, stroke the Yingxiang and Chengjiang points; then he used the side of his thumbs to massage the Jiaosun acupoints alternately; then he used the heels of his palms to press the back of the head and used the palm method to tap the anterior fontanelle. Finally, he rubbed his hands together until they were hot and applied them to Gorou's head, completing the treatment.

After finishing everything, Saburou felt a bit tired, but when he felt Gorou's pulse, which was much more stable, he felt deeply relieved. As long as they received a few more massages, they wouldn't have any lingering health issues.

Saburou closed his eyes to rest for a while before considering his situation... The old woman would definitely not let it go, but with so many people around, it was unlikely that they would mete out private punishment. Most likely, they would send him to the authorities. He had heard the hired workers say that 'a junior assaulting a senior' was a serious crime, punishable by exile and branding.

The thought of becoming a branded convict, with a golden mark on his face, made Saburou's scalp tingle. He had read "Water Margin" and felt that such a life would be completely gray, and the only way to live happily would be to become an outlaw.

'No...,' Saburou couldn't help but feel bitter. He didn't want his life to be ruined like this.

If he ran away, it would be even worse! Even a ten-year-old knew that without an official travel permit, you couldn't go anywhere. Convicts still had a chance for freedom, but if you became a fugitive, you'd have to hide in the mountains for the rest of your life...

Staying meant a bleak future, and running was impossible. Saburou suddenly realized how strict the legal system of the Song Dynasty was, not inferior to that of later times. He was not a superhero with his underwear on the outside, nor did he have the wall-penetrating skills of a Taoist from Mount Lao, nor was he a novel protagonist who could do anything after time-traveling. In the vast imperial society, individuals were truly insignificant...

However, Saburou did not regret his impulsiveness. If he had to do it again, he would react the same way. He always believed that 'the beauty of the world comes from its diversity, not from absolute coldness and precision.' Following his heart at all times was the premise for maintaining his self and living authentically, and for this, he was willing to accept the consequences of his impulsiveness.

Moreover, he was not someone who lost his reason when he acted impulsively. The beating he gave to Hou Shi did not cause fatal injuries, not because of her luck, but because Saburou avoided vital points... With his medical knowledge, he knew the dozen or so vital points on the human body. Even with a child's strength, hitting these points could be fatal over time. Although Hou Shi was evil, her crimes did not warrant death, and this was also his true intention, not clouded by anger.

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After much thought, with no plan in sight, he could only leave it to fate.

Saburou couldn't help but sigh lightly, slowly opening his eyes to see Rokurou crouching timidly beside him, his big eyes full of tears.

"What's wrong, Rokurou?" Saburou reached out, pulling him into his arms, and gently patted the child's back.

"Chicken leg," Rokurou sobbed, "I wanted to eat it slowly..."

"Brother Saburou was so careful to tell you!" Gorou, who had recovered his spirits, couldn't help but scold, "And you dared to disobey!"

"Sniff, I haven't had meat in a long time..." Rokurou cried, feeling guilty, "I couldn't bear to finish it in one go."

"Rokurou, it's okay, Brother Saburou doesn't blame you," Saburou's heart ached, and he tightly hugged Rokurou, "It's all my fault for not taking good care of you. In the future..." The words stuck in his throat, and his heart sank. What future was there? After he was exiled, he might never see them again. His eyes also welled up, and he whispered, "In the future, you must be good..."

"Sniff, Rokurou will be very good," Rokurou nodded vigorously, wiping away his tears, "I won't be naughty anymore."

"Good boy, not only listen to Brother Saburou, but also listen to Brother Gorou, Brother Niburou, and... Father." Saburou, though worried, instructed, even though he had a grudge against their stepfather, he knew that the only one who could protect Gorou and Rokurou in the future was that irresponsible man...

"Father, why hasn't Father come back yet..." Hearing him mention their father, Rokurou looked up, his face tear-streaked.

Saburou gently wiped away his tears and said softly, "He will be here soon, to take Rokurou out."

"I want to stay with Brother Saburou." Rokurou said firmly.

"Okay, Brother Saburou will go out with you..." Saburou rubbed his little head, though his heart was heavy, he didn't want Rokurou to be sad.

Locked in the woodshed until midnight, the three brothers were hungry and thirsty. Suddenly, they heard a rustling at the door. Saburou followed the sound and found a pancake. A name flashed in his mind, and he whispered, "Shirou?" He didn't dare to eat anything given by others, for fear of being poisoned. Better to live than to die, so he had to ask where it came from.

"..." There was silence outside for a moment, then a heavy nod, "Yes."

"You don't blame me for hurting your mother?" Saburou listened carefully, he needed to hear if Shirou's breathing was steady... Usually, a liar's breath would be slightly scattered.

"..." Shirou was silent for a while before whispering, "I do, but you are my brothers..."

"Shirou, thank you," Saburou felt relieved, scratching his head, "Also, can you get some water?"

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The next noon, Ichirou and Niburou, who were studying in the county, returned. Ichirou was fifteen, and Niburou was thirteen. In this era, they were no longer considered children. The two brothers begged their elders to spare Saburou, and Niburou even apologized and kowtowed to Hou Shi, bruising his forehead.

But Chen Xishi and Hou Shi had made up their minds and were not swayed by the two younger ones. Moreover, Hou Shi resented Ichirou for siding with the others and wished to lock up Niburou as well, scolding him harshly and chasing them out. She even specifically instructed the maids to drive Niburou out of the house.

Not daring to anger his mother, Ichirou had to send Niburou out.

Ichirou's name was Chen Yu, and Niburou's name was Chen Chen. The two brothers stood at the door, speechless.

"Niburou," Chen Yu, being older, had a plan, "I'll take care of things at home, you don't need to worry about Saburou. You should go to Meishan and find Uncle Er. Lao Da couldn't find him in the county, and I heard that the preliminary exams are about to start. Uncle Er is determined to succeed this time and will surely be waiting in the capital city." He added, "By the way, I remember Uncle Su's family is in Meishan, you can look for him there."

He took out a string of copper coins from his pocket, "Go to the dock and take a boat, go quickly and come back soon." Shiban Village was fifty miles from the capital city, and it was all mountain roads, so Chen Yu couldn't let him walk.

There was no need to be polite with his older brother, Chen Chen took the coins and bowed deeply, "Big brother, please take care of Saburou and the others."

"I promise, they are my brothers too," Chen Yu nodded.

Chen Chen nodded heavily and turned to leave. When he reached the dock, he met a boat transporting bamboo charcoal to Meizhou City. He jumped on, gave the boat owner eight coins, and boarded the boat to Meizhou.

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Thanks to the Dujiangyan irrigation system, the Min River in Meizhou flowed smoothly, its water clear and deep blue, hence its name, Glass River. Traveling fifty miles upstream along the Glass River would lead you to the capital city of Meishan County.

Meishan was not a large city. Nestled among beautiful mountains and green trees, it was a town with small green-tiled sloping roofs and various windbreak walls crisscrossing the streets. Government offices, temples, and tall city gates and bell towers dotted the landscape, creating a simple and elegant, well-arranged town that was a pleasure to behold.

Lotus cultivation had become a major industry in the area, and lotus vendors from nearby towns would come to purchase lotuses here. Therefore, lotus ponds of various sizes could be seen along the streets and roads. In two months, the city would be filled with the beauty of blooming lotuses.

But Chen Chen had no heart to appreciate the 'endless green lotus leaves' scenery. After finding out the location of the Su family, he hurried to Shagou Alley in the southwest corner of the county.

In Shagou Alley, there was a medium-sized residence. Upon entering the gate, one would see a green-painted screen wall, preventing passersby from seeing the interior of the house. Behind the screen wall was a medium-sized house with a courtyard. Near the house, there was a tall pear tree, a pond, and a vegetable patch. In this small family garden, there were many types of flowers and fruit trees, and outside the wall was a bamboo forest.

At that moment, a girl of about ten years old was leading two younger brothers and a younger sister, playing a game of grass fighting by the pond. Hearing someone knock on the door, she asked brightly, "Who is it?"

"Is this the home of Old Spring Su, Uncle Su?" Chen Chen asked.

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Loudly calling for recommendations! I can't fall behind on Monday, I need to strive! The next update will be in the afternoon!

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