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Exile Chapter 6

Holding Dge’s outstretched hand, Su Qingbai got into the carriage. Ten days ago, Er-sao’s discontent with him broke out again. In order to harmonize his family, his father had to divide people into two carriages; one for father and Er-ge’s family, one for him and Dge’s family.

That’s what happens every day. Su Qingbai was also really tired of Er-sao. But as it’s happened he was indeed a burden on everyone, and there was nothing he could do to answer back.

So there was no objection to Father Su’s decision.

Considering they would arrive in a few days, Su Qingbai did not open his mouth to his family even though he was very uncomfortable. After a month’s ride in a carriage, Su Family was all became green, and the whole family was wilting. Su Qingbai’s body was uncomfortable and nobody found out about it. This led to Su Qingbai falling ill as soon as he arrived in Ning County.

Madam Su stayed at Su Qingbai’s side as she wiped her tears. “What should we do, ne?”

Squatting on the ground, Father Su sighed, took a pouch out of his bosom and handed it to Su Qingyang: “Go to town and get a doctor.”

Su Qingbai fell ill again when the family was in great trouble. This man, who had been the pillar in the family from beginning to end, felt too overwhelmed to breathe. At this time, one could not see his once proud and elegance manner in the court.

When Su Er-sao heard what was said, she uttered, “There’s only a little silver left at home. Spending the money to invite the doctor, what will we eat then?”

Su Er-sao was a bit mean to Su Qingbai, but she was telling the truth about the family had little savings. This savings that were put aside previously might not be enough to invite a doctor. And here with inviting a doctor, it’s estimated that there wouldn’t be much savings left.

What would they eat then?

Su Qingyang took the pouch of silver and looked at Su Er-sao. “Doctor must be invited. If money is gone, you can earn more. If people are gone…”

“But…”

Without waiting for Su Er-sao to say anything, Su Qingtong slightly glanced at her, and Su Er-sao dared not say any more. Although she shut up, she looked at the pouch of silver, and the pain in her eyes was beyond words.

Su Qingyang turned a blind eye to her reluctance and went to invite the doctor with the silver. Su Er-sao turned her eyes to the comatose Su Qingbai again, but the pain in her eyes turned to secret grudge.

Everyone was silent, waiting for Su Qingyang to call in the doctor.

Suddenly, the door creaked.

Everyone looked over. Su Qingyang had just left, so it could not be Su Qingyang. There was only one possibility; the village’s people came.

Su Huai was the youngest person here, so he ran to open the door consciously.

The visitor was a grey-haired old man. Su Huai did not know him and asked, “Who are you?”

“I’m looking for Su Lingchuan.”

Hearing what was said, Su Lingchuan came out to welcome. He was a little surprised to see the visitor, and greeted with a respectful tone, “Great Uncle?”

It turned out that Father Su’s Great Uncle, Su Changsheng had come to visit. Father Su immediately invited him in and asked the younger generations to greet Su Changsheng one by one.

Su Changsheng sat down and drank a cup of tea. Then he asked, “I had received your letter, I wondered if you were coming back soon, so I just walked around. I didn’t expect you really came back, but…” Su Changsheng looked unhappy. “Why don’t you come to me when you’re back?”

Su Father grinned bitterly. “It’s not like that. The kid at home is too delicate; he bumped all the way and fell ill when we arrived. The family is anxious and hasn’t had time to go to visit Great Uncle yet.”

Su Changsheng listened to his words and let go of his displeasure. “Before, you wrote that you wanted to come back, I asked the younger generations in my family to tidy up here a little. You take a look at what else is missing, I’ll ask them to do it again.”

Father Su thanked him. “Nephew thanked Great Uncle. It’s already good. Great Uncle took a lot of trouble.”

Su Changsheng stroked his white beard and nodded, “That’s good!” After that, he looked around and said, “By the way, where’s your sick kid?”

Father Su immediately led Su Changsheng to see Su Qingbai.

Su Qingbai was only sixteen and originally small. But now, after he’s tossed from side to side along journey, he lost weight. He’s nested there in a small ball; looking pitiful.

Su Changsheng stroked his beard, squinted, and turned to Father Su. “Is this your grandson?” Looking at him, he’s not as big as Su Huai outside.

Hearing what was said, Su Father wiped his sweat and looked embarrassed. “This is nephew’s youngest son.”

Su Changsheng heard that and said nothing, but the love on his face was more obvious. The nephew’s son was somewhat closer to nephew’s grandson.

“Look at this skinny little face. Have you invited a doctor?”

“Da’er has gone to invite.”

After watching Su Qingbai, Su Changsheng sat down for a while and explained something to Su Lingchuan before leaving: telling Father Su to go to him when there was something he needs.

After Su Changsheng left, there were still several people coming to the door, but they all left after a few words of greeting. Su Changsheng also handled it and sent the people away.

It was dark before Su Qingyang invited the doctor back home.

The doctor looked very old, grey-haired and white-bearded. As soon as he entered the door, he was pulled to see Su Qingbai. He took the pulse’s reading and his face looked very strange.

Madam Su saw it, and there was a thump in her heart. She sobbingly asked, “Doctor, what’s wrong with my son?”

The doctor wore a face of bewilderment. After half a day, he did not speak out. This time not only Madam Su, Su Family’s people were all feeling unsettled, thinking about the doctor’s bewilderment: could it be an incurable disease?

Under the eager eyes of the family, the doctor couldn’t carry on any longer and wiped a sweat. The doctor said, “The patient fainted because he didn’t eat well, not sleeping well and had a long time of road bumping. But…”

Su Family’s people hanged their heart again. “But what?”

The old doctor’s face looked tangled, and only after a long time said, “This boy’s body is a little strange, I feel like a joy pulse.” Seeing Su Family’s strange faces, the old doctor said, “Maybe my medical skills are still shallow!”

For the first time, the old doctor was not confident in his own medical skills. He had seen many joy pulses. Normally, he did not miss the number. However, the patient in front of him was really a boy.

Ignoring Su Family people’s state of mind, the old doctor prescribed a medicine to Su Qingbai and let Su Qingyang sent him back overnight.

Exile Chapter 7

After seeing the doctor off, Madam Su went to watch her son, who was rarely lying quietly, with a lovely face. It was such a curious coincidence. Madam Su pulled up her son’s clothes and touched her son’s belly, which was white and shrunken, because he hadn’t had a good meal for a long time.

When a group of people entered the room, they saw this scene. Su Dsao drew up the corner of her mouth and hurried pulled up Madam Su, who was half-squatting. “Niang, do you really believe what the doctor said?”

Madam Su awkwardly touched her nose and said nothing.

Father Su glanced at Madam Su displeasingly, then turned to the crowd and said, “Let’s leave everything alone.” Then Father Su stayed with Madam Su to keep watch on Su Qingbai.

As a matter of fact, Father Su had a good family before he became an official. There were lots of fields in his family and the house was also well built. But after Father Su was dismissed from office, the fields were all confiscated. Because all of the officials didn’t want to be cold-blooded, so they didn’t completely cut short his escape route and left the old house to him in any case.

Su Qingyang came back with several pairs of medicines for Su Qingbai. After Su Qingbai was fed with medicine, the family took a rest.

The next morning everyone got up late, but Su Qingbai was the earliest. He opened his eyes and saw himself sleeping in his mother’s arms like a child. Su Qing blushed with his white face. He was uncomfortable trying to get out of Madam Su’s arms.

Su Qingbai’s action woke Madam Su up. Madam Su was sleeping in her clothes. She stayed with Su Qingbai until she fell asleep very late. She sat up and looked surprised. “Qingbai, are you awake?”

Su Qingbai felt extremely awkward. If someone knew he’s sixteen years old and slept with his parents, people would laugh at him to death.

At this time, Father Su also woke up and looked at his little son’s awkwardness. He remembered what Madam Su had told him last time when Su Qingbai smeared his face with the things that women used, and suddenly he had no breath at all. “A man has the determination to make a difference, what’s with the awkwardness?”

Su Qingbai was afraid of his father from an early age. When he heard this, he quickly got out of bed but found himself powerless.

“What’s wrong with me?” Su Qingbai was worried.

“The doctor said you didn’t have a good rest and a good meal, which damaged your health.” Madam Su most hardly to bear was to see her son suffered a hardship. Now when she saw her son wake up, she couldn’t help saying, “Is it because of Sun Yun that you didn’t have a good rest and didn’t dare to eat?”

Sun Yun was Su Er-sao.

“What are you talking about in front of the child?” Father Su was not happy with Sun Yun, but in the end, he was the head of the family, and so he wanted to see harmony and unity in his family. Therefore he stopped Madam Su from going on and broke the brotherhood between Su Qingtong and Su Qingbai. Father Su was very worried about his little son. His sons should not fight. Now he’s alive and he’s watching over him. What if he’s gone someday? By then, his little son would have to rely on his two elder brothers.

Su Qingbai was relieved when he heard the words, “It’s none of other people’s business. It’s me, I can’t eat.”

Father Su nodded. “After all, your Er-ge still loves you dearly.”

Su Qingbai had to lie in bed these days. Every day, besides eating and drinking medicine, he just slept, which was extremely hard to bear.

The day Su Qingbai finished his medicines, Su Qingyang invited the doctor again.

After taking Su Qingbai’s pulse, the doctor said, “There’s nothing seriously wrong with your body, but…” The old doctor looked at Su Qingbai, entangled. “I still read joy pulse after more than a month.”

Su Family’s people thought it’s ridiculous. Su Qingbai was a boy, how could he get pregnant?

Su Qingbai himself was the only one who thought about the days he spent with a man.

Then he quickly denied the absurd idea. He’s a man and could not be pregnant.

He breathed in disorder, then lay down and forced himself to sleep. He didn’t want to scare himself any more.

In this way, Su Qingbai was getting better and better. As time went by, no one had put the doctor’s words into their heart. Even Su Qingbai, who was somewhat feeling guilty, had gradually forgotten about it.

Su Family came to Ning County in between March and April, when the seeds were planted.

Without mentioning Su Qingbai’s concerns, the Su Family’s people who came to Ning County were faced with a serious problem: the problem of food.

Father Su brought the family together.

“There are only seven taels of silver left in our family. I want you to come here today to figure out and see how we can live in the future.”

Su Er-sao complained: “Originally the family doesn’t have land and now have to pay for little uncle to see a doctor. How long will this money last for us?”

“Shut up!” Su Qingtong said to her.

Su Family’s people had never suffered a hardship, and after half a day of discussion, they did not come to a conclusion. Father Su listened to the whole family clamoring and was upset, and then let the whole crowd dispersed.

Back in his room, Su Qingbai, who only knew how to ask for money, began to care about his livelihood. Unexpectedly, he saw the jade button on his wrist, which was left by that man.

Su Qingbai took it off. The jade button was a common piece. The only thing that could make people see more was the pattern on it. It looked delicate and beautiful. Now the family could be said to have no way to go, he thought, this jade button should be able to exchange for a few, which if added with the seven taels in his dad’s hands, they would have ten taels.

He grabbed the jade button. The bastard took advantage of him, then he lay in bed for so many days, and he also did not know what his name was or where he came from.

“Dge, I have a jade button here. You can take it and maybe exchange it for a couple of silvers.”

Su Qingyang did not answer. He looked at Father Su.

Su Father sighed. “Take it.”

The jade button looked small and ordinary, and Su Family’s people reckoned that two taels of silver would be firm and indomitable.

After a while, Dge came back with a big bag in his arms.

Su Father opened his mouth and asked him, “How much money did it pays?”

Su Qingyang’s face was rather complicated. He pulled something out of his waist and opened his hand. It was the jade button that everyone saw clearly.

Madam Su looked mournful. “Why does it not pawn out?”

Su Er-sao also sighed, “What can we do about this? How can we live in the future?”

Before Su Er-sao finished complaining, Su Qingyang poured out a small pile of silver ingots from the bag in his arms.

“This, what’s with this?” In spite of the fact that Father Su had always been very calm, but now he was also a little confused. Wasn’t the jade Button not pawn out properly? What’s with the silvers?

Su Qingbai vacantly opened his shiny black eyes and his cheeks bulging. That’s too much.

Father Su took a breath. “Da’er, what the actually is going on?”

Su Qingyang looked away from Su Qingbai. “Today I went to the county and started to go to a small pawnshop, but the pawnshop only offered me two coins, so I didn’t exchange it. Then I went to the biggest pawnshop in the county, thinking that other people won’t be coveting us for such a little silver. Unexpectedly, when I handed the jade button to the shopkeeper, the shopkeeper gave me one hundred taels, and also the jade button.”

 =====

Exile Chapter 8

Originally thought that the little jade button was only two or three taels at most, but didn’t expect that…

Su Qingbai’s heart became complicated. He knew he shouldn’t take the money. But at present, dealing with the housework’s renovations, there would be little money left. For families without any income, they would not last long.

This money, he really needed it.

If worst came to worst… pay that man back later.

Taking off his long shirt, Su Lingchuan pulled out his rough shirt from nowhere and put it on. He gathered everyone again.

“Now that we have one hundred taels of silver at home, we can ensure that we have enough food and clothing for the next period of time, but we can’t just sit back and do nothing.” Su Lingchuan gave a pause and began to get down to business. “I want to open up a few pieces of land for cultivation for the family.”

Border land was the least valuable. Not to mention the harvest was little, at any time, might possible being invaded and harassed by the neighboring army whose land was poorer. The other bad luck was, not a single grain was reaped.

Opened up land for cultivation.

When Su Qingbai heard it in the beginning, he felt nothing in particular. From childhood to adulthood, he hadn’t done much work yet. The only thing he’s tired of was staying up late in the casino and somebody’s bed. In the beginning, he still didn’t know much about work.

Until his Lao Zi stuffed a shovel and a hoe to him.

Su Lingchuan used to do this kind of work before. Su Family’s two elder brothers used to practice martial arts which sufficient to keep their bodies fit and strong, and so they could tolerate it somewhat.

Su Qingbai and Su Huai couldn’t do it at all, especially Su Qingbai. He lifted the hoe and swung it twice. The white tender palms of his hands were blistered. His hands ached badly. In half a time, he stopped and didn’t do much work.

Su Lingchuan finished a small piece of land and looked back. He saw Su Qingbai was still dawdled in that small area and thought he was lazy.

Su Lingchuan wanted to change his son’s bad habits very early, but he was busy with state affairs. Right now, Su Lingchuan took off his shoes and wanted to whip Su Qingbai.

Fortunately, although Su Qingbai’s hands were blistered, his legs were still good. He was chased by his old man in the wasteland for half a day.

Finally, Su Qingbai pitifully showed his Lao Zi the bubbles on his hands. Su Lingchuan did not give him a good beating, only kicked him with a few kicks, and taught him with a few words.

Following his Lao Zi back home, Su Qingbai patted the dust off his ass. He was lucky his Dad just kicked him for a few and did not hit him hard. It didn’t hurt.

Unexpectedly, when Su Lingchuan walked back with a couple of men carrying hoes, he saw a small tree with thick branches on the way. Father Su stopped suddenly. He lifted the hoe and cut it down. That night, he cut a ruler with it. It was much thicker than the one used in when they still living in in the capital.

Su Qingbai took a look. His Dad cut it casually. The thorns on it had not been polished.

That night, Su Qingbai was very well-behaved.

When Su Qingbai returned home in the evening, he realized that he was not the only one who had blisters. His Dge, Su Qingyang and his nephew, Su Huai also had blisters. He could not help but feel ashamed.

The next day, he did not cry for pain.

Every day, Su Qingbai’s hands were blistered and a thick layer of callus came onto his palms.

Su Lingchuan stroked his beard and satisfactorily watched his little son being busy in the field.

These days, Su Qingbai followed a couple of men in his family to get up early and return late. Even Su Er-sao, who did not like him much, did not give him any more look.

This morning, Su Lingchuan said to the crowd, “We should not start planting too much. We should work hard today to open up enough ten muof land, and sow tomorrow.”

The family happily went to the fields, although they were getting used to it slowly, they were still too tired. As soon as Father Su said that today was the last day, they worked harder and harder, hoping to open ten Mu of land early and rest early.

Su Qingbai also worked extraordinarily hard.

At noon, Su Family’s women came to deliver their meals. Su Qingbai grabbed two steamed buns and stuffed them in his mouth.

Madam Su watched Su Qingbai eat and wiped his sweat. She was distressed. “Qingbai has never done these jobs before. Are you tired out these days?”

Su Qingbai only chewed the steamed buns vigorously.

Su Dsao also laughed and said, “Yeah, little uncle has been eating a lot lately.”

“Right, right!” Su Huai smiled at Su Qingbai. “Hehehe, only he doesn’t grow up a lot.”

Su Qingbai immediately put down the steamed bun, picked up a piece of soil and threw it at Su Huai.

Su Qingbai was the shortest in Su Family. Especially in recent months, he hadn’t grown any longer. Looking at his nephew who was getting taller and taller day by day, Su Qingbai’s heart did not feel good.

Su Huai dodged Su Qingbai as soon as he saw his move.

Su Qingbai was angry. He turned to Su Qingyang and said, “Dge, Su Huai is so disrespectful to his elders. You should teach him a lesson.”

Su Qingyang watched and laughed without intervening, while eating and watching his son and little brother make trouble.

Sure enough, as everyone expected, Su Qingbai, a dwarf, did not catch up with Su Huai for half a day.

Su Qingbai bent over and gasped, pointing to Su Huai. “You stop. See if I don’t teach you a lesson, so that you know how to respect your elders.”

Su Huai didn’t take it seriously at all, and laughed at him.

The next moment, the angry Su Qingbai rushed at him, and then… was planted on the ground.

Su Huai thought Su Qingbai was fooling him and circled around him. He didn’t dare to approach him. “Little uncle, you just faint but I won’t be fooled.”

After a while, Su Qingbai was still not saying anything. Su Huai was so anxious and got closer to him. Never expected that as soon as he got closer, he was shocked and turned pale. He pointed to Su Qingbai and said, “It’s not good. Little uncle is bleeding.”

When Su Qingbai woke up again, he was on the heated brick bed at home. Little by little, he sobered up and found that he was alone, and his body was not feeling good.

After struggling to get on the ground, Su Qingbai lifted the coarse cloth of the door’s curtain and walked out of the bedroom. And soo he saw a group of people were standing in the way of his Lao Zi, who seemed to be angry. He didn’t know why.

Su Qingbai stood on the doorframe and asked, “What are you all doing?”

Su Lingchuan saw Su Qingbai, and his anger quickly became irrepressible. He picked up the ruler and rushed to Su Qingbai. Papapa. He beat Su Qingbai’s butt for a few swings.

Su Qingbai was beaten and jumped away. He found a hiding place to hide. Then his face showed grieved. “Dad, why did you hit me?”

He’s so good these days that even he was surprised. But his Lao Zi actually still wanted to beat him?

Su Lingchuan was pulled away by Madam Su. He pointed at Su Qingbai angrily. “Why I hit you? You don’t know what shame you’ve done yourself?”

After a while, Su Qingbai was expelled to the heated brick bed by his mother with in bewilderment. He looked down at his stomach. Pregnant. He was pregnant and almost had a miscarriage.

Su Qingbai was stunned.

“No, no, it’s impossible.” Su Qingbai jumped down from the heated brick bed. “I’m a man. How can I get pregnant?”

This action frightened everyone, and Madam Su rushed to help him.

Su Qingbai grabbed Madam Su’s sleeve and cried, “Niang, I don’t want it, don’t want it.” How could he have children? Impossible.

“Niang, drive it out, drive it out.” Su Qingbai pulled Madam Su’s sleeve and pleaded.

And so Madam Su then cried, “Qingbai, you, be obedient. Do you want to be obedient or not?”

Abortion, even to women, was very harmful. It was even more alarmed that Su Qingbai was a man, because there was no example of a man abortion.

Madam Su, including Su Family as a whole, dared not to try it. This place was not comparable to the capital, whether it’s a doctor or medicines.

 ==

Exile Chapter 9

Early in the morning, the whole Su Family woke up, but only Su Qingbai, who had been tossing about until midnight last night, was still asleep. The family was very considerate and did not call him up.

At this time, it’s approximately being like February. The field was still not blooming. The family had nothing else to do. When the women finish their housework, they took their clothes and sat in the courtyard to sew and mend under the sun, which was not very sunny.

Su Er-ge and Su Huai had nothing to do and played chess in the courtyard. The chess and chessboard were made by Su Huai himself in his spare time, which were all made of wood. The polished pieces were round and smooth, and they were small and lovely in hands.

Su Dge was sitting behind Su Er-ge. This son of his was a little sharp but petty-minded. It’s his excessively simple and honest second brother who couldn’t be compared in anyway.

Su Qingyang watched Su Qingtong being played around by his son. Every time he wanted to give advice, he was blocked by his son’s saying, “A true gentleman should keep silent while watching a chess game”.

Su Lingchuan sat at the stone table in the yard, weaving a chicken cage.

Not far away, Madam Su could not help but say, “There are no chickens at home. What are you making these cages for?”

On this border, few people raised livestock, and if they did, they would not raise too much. If they kept too much, they were likely to be robbed by enemy troops who often invade the border.

One or two would be fine. When it came to that time, they could be easily hidden. If there were too many, when the bandits would suddenly come, they have more work than they can deal with for a while, then the livestock would be given to the bandits in vain.

The price of meat here was therefore higher than elsewhere. So after careful calculation, it was shown that Su Family hadn’t eaten meat for a long time.

Su Huai and Su Qingbai stared at the dairy sheep at home, expecting only when it would stop producing milk, they would be ready to slaughter and eat it.

Su Lingchuan actually was idle and had nothing to do. He put down the workmanship in his hands. Even he didn’t know what good it would do.

Suddenly, a tender voice came from the room, “Ah~~”

Su Lingchuan knew immediately that the little thing in the room must have woken up.

Yes, Su Qingbai gave birth to that child more than three months ago.

Su Lingchuan’s heart was very complicated when talking about the child. When he knew Su Qingbai was pregnant, he so wanted to whip that brat to death.

He thought of his Su Family with the upright family’s principles, which was well-known in the capital. After having Su Qingbai, this little bastard, who did not learn but spent all day in the casino, had distorted their Su Family’s principles, which still could be let go. But now he dared to fool with men.

He was really angry. He hadn’t given Su Qingbai a good look for a long time. After watching Su Qingbai’s belly grew big slowly, his heart responded: Did he raises a son or a daughter?

The youngest son fooled around with a man, and even conceived a child in a man’s body.

Originally, he was glad that although his son went out, he did not play with women like the children and grandchildren of his colleagues. But now he preferred Su Qingbai to be like those people.

Especially when he asked the little bastard who was the father of the child, Su Qingbai answered that he did not know. When he thought of the chaotic lives of the wealthy children he had heard of, instantly his mind projecting Su Qingbai and several men were fooling around, and suspecting that even Su Qingbai didn’t knew the father of the child… If his wife hadn’t stopped him, he would have beaten that disgraceful thing to death.

Towards this grandson, Su Lingchuan was determined not to recognize him. And Su Qingbai didn’t seem to like the child very much either.

Su Lingchuan couldn’t help frowning at the thought of Su Qingbai. His wife had already got up to cook, and the boy was still asleep.

After thinking about it, Su Lingchuan couldn’t help but lifted the curtain and walked in.

Walking into the bedroom, Su Lingchuan looked on the bed. Su Qingbai turned over and pressed a small hill of quilt under him.

At this time, beneath the originally motionless quilt, there was a small tug of fierce movement. From Su Lingchuan’s point of view, it could be seen that it was a foot kicking, very small. Then a very small hand came out of the quilt and waved wildly outside, apparently anxious.

In response, Su Lingchuan swatted Su Qingbai and rescued the little life.

Su Qingbai was slapped by his Dad and woke up at once. He opened his sad eyes, touched his face, looked at his Lao Zi and grieved. “Why hit me?”

Su Lingchuan was too lazy to talk to him. The child who had long woken up in his hand looked at him with big beautiful eyes. Su Lingchuan creased his eyebrows and looked at him face to face.

Although he had always disliked the child, he also could not watch him crushed to death by Su Qingbai.

This was the first time that Su Lingchuan had touched this soft thing in more than three months. It’s so soft that he couldn’t stand it. Su Lingchuan was angry at Su Qingbai. He ignored him, took the baby outside, and then threw the baby towards Madame Su, who was tending the kitchen fire.

Madam Su was shocked. “Scared! Why don’t you bring him out without wearing some more clothes on such a cold day?”

Let’s just say, he also couldn’t handle tending the kitchen fire. Holding the baby in his hands, he ran into the house.

By the side, Su Qingbai watched his father went out with the baby in his arms, and he couldn’t help staring with wide eyes. Who else in the family was less expecting the arrival of that baby than he was? That person must be his Dad.

But… Su Qingbai rubbed his eyes. His Dad actually went out with that baby in his arms. Su Qingbai’s eyes were full of unbelievable.

After the surprise, he rubbed his painful cheek which was slapped by his Dad. Su Qingbai pulled over the cover and rose up.

It’s incredible to think about the messy life now. A year ago, he was drunk in a casino. Who could have imagined that he would live in such a place and have a child?

The child was a premature baby and was born to him after seven months. In this side of the town, the environment couldn’t be compared to the capital city, and the family conditions couldn’t be compared to that when they were living in the capital city, but the child still survived strongly, and even very contentious almost never got sick.

Dressed up, Su Qingbai folded his bed. Today was the hundred days of the baby. Compared with all Su Family’s members, this baby seemed a little pitiful. The baby had been neglected because he was not expected. No one had prepared anything for the hundred days. Even now, he had no name.

Originally, Su Qingbai, who felt that he was bound to be hard-hearted about the child, was a little tired of it.

He thought to give him a name today.

After Su Qingbai washed up, the baby was transferred to Madam Su. Madam Su was the kindest person in the whole family to baby, and followed by Su Dsao.

Because the baby had no name, Su Qingbai even heard his mother secretly call the baby “darling”. In front of everyone, Madam Su usually only called him “child”.

Sitting at the table, the family was drinking porridge silently with their bowls in hand. Su Qingbai looked at his Lao Zi and said, “I want to give him a name.”

The family immediately turned their attention to him.

Su Qingbai said the name he had been thinking about for a long time. “Just call it Su Dazhuang.” First, the child was weak, he hoped the child would grow stronger in the future. Second, his old man did not like the baby, so this name sounded like no sense of existence. Third, and most importantly, cough, he was not knowledgeable. This name was simple, but quite connotative.

Su Lingchuan listened to the lousy name, could not help but resist it. He frowned and knocked his chopsticks on the table. “What’s with the lousy name?”

One had to know, Su Lingchuan was candidate who came third in the national civil examinations in those years. This was the name of his nominal grandson, wasn’t that a smack on his face?

Su Qingbai was stared at by his Lao Zi. Frightened, he shrank his shoulders and asked carefully, “Then, what should he be named?”

The whole family knew that Su Lingchuan did not intend to ignore the baby in the beginning. But now he even wanted to name that baby. Eventually, he couldn’t pull his face down. With a nasal sound and a very low voice, he said, “just call Su Can.”

Su Lingchuan said it with a nasal sound. When it came to Su Qingbai’s ear, the name was changed, “Su Cai?” Su Qingbai laughed and said, “Why is it sounded like vegetable1?”

[1] 蔬菜 [shū cài] = vegetable

Su Huai also followed to nod, unable to see the fitness of things.

In the first place, Su Lingchuan was willing to name the baby, but his heart was already struggling. This “dislike” of Su Qingbai, made him angry at the moment. “Herein, chose it yourself.” After that, he left the table.

When Su Qingbai saw that his Lao Zi was angry, he hurriedly said, “Not disliking it, I don’t dislike, I’ll just listen to you, just call Su Caicai. That’s a good nickname.”

Su Lingchuan became even more vexed when Su Qingbai annoyed him deliberately.

Finally, the baby’s name was set: Su Chengjun.

Su Qingbai, in order to please his Lao Zi, and showing that he did not dislike the name, Su Caicai’s nickname had been preserved. When he met his Lao Zi while holding the baby in his arms, he shouted “Caicai Caicai” very spiritedly.

Little did he know that he couldn’t urge on a horse by patting its bottom, but instead he could pat the horse’s leg.

 ====

Exile Chapter 10

As soon as it was dark, Su Qingbai was so sleepy that he took off his clothes and went to the heated brick bed. He found that Su Chengjun had just woken up after a whole day’s of sleep.

Su Qingbai moved closer and gently pinched the little face; it was smooth, good-looking and nice to touch. But Su Qingbai could not appreciate it at all. The older the little thing was, the more he looked like that pervert.

Su Caicai grinned at Su Qingbai as he approached, and his mouth opened. The pink gums were exposed. Su Qingbai, who had never seen it before felt it was strange. He scratched the baby’s fleshy chin, and the baby’s mouth opened wider. Then the shining saliva flowed out onto Su Qingbai’s hands.

Su Qingbai rubbed his hands in disgust and stopped teasing him.

After blowing out the lamp, Su Qingbai went to bed.

“Ahh ahh ahh~” Su Caicai was still energetic. He slept all day and was talking to himself with his shiny little eyes opened in the darkness.

Su Qingbai ignored him. Perhaps because he was premature and weak, the child spent most of the day sleeping, and neither crying nor talking. When he was put there, in a short time he would surely fall asleep by himself.

Sure enough, Su Qingbai woke up in the middle of the night to find that Su Caicai had fallen asleep. Su Qingbai checked Su Caicai’s pants with pinched nose. After a look, he had peed.

Su Qingbai got up early the next day because he went to bed early the night before, and then saw his Lao Niang1 was tending the fire to cook.

[1] 老娘 [lǎo niang] = old mother

When his Lao Niang came here, she would cook for every three or five times. They all thought that her cooking skill would come out with practice, but they didn’t expect that it would not work out when it came to his Lao Niang.

At this moment, only Madam Su, Su Qingbai and Su Caicai had woken up. The others were still asleep. Su Qingbai had nothing to do, so he robbed his Lao Niang of her work. “Niang, you go to rest, I’ll cook today’s meal.”

Madam Su didn’t like cooking very much of course, but Madam Su still asked Su Qingbai, “Don’t you have to feed Caicai?”

Su Qingbai was not going to let his Lao Niang cook anyway. He thought about it and said, “Or else you’ll go and feed Caicai, I’ll cook.”

In these days since Su Caicai’s birth, Su Qingbai was idle and bored. He held Su Caicai in his arms to watch his sisters-in-law and mother cook. If yo had seen a lot, you would be able to cook. His craft was much better than his mother’s. In addition, Su Qingbai was a good eater and his requirement was high. In a short time, he could be compared to the skills of his two sisters-in-law in the family.

However, Lao Zi felt that it was not proper for a big man to stay in the kitchen all day, so the meals were always cooked by the several women in turn.

Madam Su agreed without thinking. The grandson was so beautiful and lovely. Her thought was not as complicated as Su Lingchuan’s thought. She thought it was her son’s baby, her grandson, who was beautiful and obedient, and she loved him like the normal grandmother.

After breakfast, Su Qingbai took the warm milk to the bedroom. Madam Su was sitting on the heated brick bed, entertaining Su Caicai. Su Qingbai passed over the milk to Madam Su for feeding.

Su Lingchuan woke up and found no one in the kitchen. He went to Su Qingbai’s bedroom. He saw Madam Su feeing milk to Su Caicai in her arms, while Su Qingbai sat beside her with a silly laugh, and he suddenly got out of breath. “Your mother is busy feeding the baby. What are you sitting there looking at foolishly? Not hurrying to help yet?”

It’s true that Su Qingbai used to be so bad and it’s no wonder that Su Lingchuan was too strict with him. He always felt that his son was not a bit responsible. He was lazy in everything he did and never did anything from childhood to adulthood.

When Madam Su was feeding the baby, he thought Su Qingbai had thrown the baby to Madam Su and was being lazy.

After that, Madam Su was called away.

Su Qingbai held the baby that Madam Su passed over to him and wanted to cry without tears. His Dad always thought he was lazy and irresponsible and had a heart to grind with him. Since Su Caicai was born, he had been asked to take care of his baby personally and not let others to help him. He had to face such a baby every moment. If it hadn’t been for the baby’s sleepiness, he might have been tired out to death.

After cooking and feeding Su Caicai with milk, he ate by himself. By the end of his busy schedule, there were only them, Su Qingbai father and son left at home.

Su Qingbai wrapped Su Caicai in a quilt and took him outside.

Seeing what his Lao Zi meant, every day he was forced to stand on his own feet. Su Qingbai had to make plans for their future.

Su Caicai was the most expensive person at his age. Not to mention anything else, he was only three months old and had grown a bit that his previous clothes could not be worn anymore.

Su Qingbai had no craftsmanship, and the only thing he could do was things that did not need much strength.

Some time ago, he took his child out for a walk, and met a girl next door. The girl and her old mother depended on each other. Besides farming, she grew vegetables and sold them on weekdays. She didn’t earn much, but the savings were enough for her mother and daughter to live.

The little girl, Su Ni, came here with her mother only after the drought in her hometown, and happened to be surnamed Su. When the people in the village saw her mother and daughter were pitiful, they let them to settle down in the village.

Su Qingbai watched as the little girl teach him how to grow vegetables. The little girl told him all the things he would pay attention to and bought him some seeds.

Su Qingbai, with a hoe and Su Caicai in his arms, opened a small vegetable field in front of his door.

After putting Su Caicai in the bamboo basket that his Lao Zi weaved when he had nothing to do, Su Qingbai covered him with the quilt and put it in the ground not far from him.

The little girl helped Su Qingbai. Su Qingbai couldn’t compete with the little girl in any way. So he and the little girl grew different kinds of vegetables.

The little girl’s grew white bok choi, and he grew green bok choi. There was also a circle of garlic seedlings on the edge.

Because Su Qingbai hadn’t tried, he didn’t dare to do too much. A small plot of land was soon ready.

It was still early, so Su Qingbai planted vegetables and put garlic cloves in place.

When Su Dsao and Su Er-sao came back, Su Qingbai was watering with a bucket. When they saw Su Qingbai doing his work, they asked, “What is Qingbai doing?”

Su Qingbai wiped his sweat and laughed, “Nothing, just plant something to play with.”

He dared not say that he was planting vegetables, for fear of being laughed at in case of failure.

Su Dsao did not ask any more questions and went back to the house to cook while carrying Su Caicai’s basket.

Su Qingbai watered diligently; the green bok choi sprouted quickly, and grew fast, while the garlic seedlings grew slowly.

Since planting vegetables, Su Qingbai had been carrying Su Caicai to see it every morning.

Su Family watched Su Qingbai so diligent and totally could not adapt it. Su Lingchuan frowned and sat outside watching Su Qingbai being busy. These days, Su Qingbai got up earlier than chicken, and so he had no reason to scold Su Qingbai.

At noon, in the absence of Su Qingbai, Su Lingchuan ran to the small plot of land to see, only to see that on the some wet soil, there was a dense emergence of a little green with white seedlings.

The growth cycle of green bok choi was not long. It could be eaten in a month. If it grew any longer, it would be a little old, and it was not good to eat.

Usually, Su Family’s people didn’t have time to manage their vegetable fields. They ate all kinds of wild vegetables, which were everywhere. They didn’t need to plant it, and they didn’t have much trouble finding it either. Many people in the village also ate it.

Su Family’s people hadn’t eaten green and tender bok choi like those in front of the door for a long time. 

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