Su Su paced back and forth outside for half a day before gathering the courage to return to a blacksmith shop located in a corner of the town. It was a two-sectioned courtyard with a frame. However, at a glance, the furnishings were simple and crude, giving people a feeling of emptiness. She knew that this family's life was not easy and could not be considered wealthy. In the front room, in front of the furnace and bellows, there was a middle-aged man who was bare-chested. His body was burly and his muscles were solid. It would not be an exaggeration to say that his fists were strong enough to run horses and his arms could stand on people. His arms were thicker than a woman's thighs. It would be a pity if he did not have the strength to walk on the streets. The man was dressed in bronze and was holding a hammer to hammer a piece of hot iron on the anvil. The man glanced at Su Su and did not make a sound, continuing to hammer the iron. Su Su, who had been a helper since she was young, was very familiar with the temperature of the iron. She ran to the basket and poured some charcoal into the furnace. Then, she was about to go to the back of the room to rest. In This Old Man's words, it was to cultivate righteousness. Her sharp ears heard the footsteps that she had been hearing for more than twenty years and quickly slipped away. Just as she ran to the doorstep, she heard a light shout. She could only obediently stop and turn around. She pretended to be stupid and laughed. An old man who looked like a poor scholar was holding a carp with branches pierced through its gills. He angrily said, "Fighting with Liu Hong and those scoundrels again? How can this be the conduct of a modest gentleman?! If you can't even cultivate your body, how can you accomplish great things? "
Su Su softly curled her lips and muttered, "I'm a gentleman who stays away from the kitchen."
The old man was about to glare when the young man ran in front of him with a mischievous smile. He took the plump carp that was still jumping around and said happily, "Old man, there are some onions and garlic at home. I'll go make you a braised carp that even Yue Binglou's head chef would be ashamed of."
Hearing this, This Old Man's anger surged. "Where did the onions and garlic come from at home?"
The young man who spilled the beans took the carp and ran to the backyard. The pedantic and inflexible old master didn't even look at the blacksmith, and continued to nag. It was probably similar to the sage's teachings, "When dealing with matters, I will deal with them. If I don't, I will deal with them." Su Su had long been sick of hearing it. With his back facing the old master, he mouthed the exact same words as the old man. When the old master painstakingly said, "The temperament of a young man should be restrained. You can cultivate virtue." Su Su couldn't take it anymore and said indignantly, "I still have the temperament of an old man. Old man Zhao, if you continue to be like an old woman, I will not cook! " This Old Man's son was stunned for a moment. He sighed and shook his head. He did not say anything else, but his expression softened a lot. He put his five fingers together and slid them through his beard. He clearly agreed with the young man's words.
Su Su went to the narrow and dark kitchen. She threw the carp on the chopping board and opened the window. First, she washed the rice and cooked. Then, she skillfully used the knife to deal with the red carp that was destined to die soon. This Old Man's son stood outside the door with kind eyes. Su Su peeled the fish scales and raised her hand to block the hair on her forehead. Her expression was focused. The scholarly old pedant behind him, since he could remember, had relied on each other for survival. That old pedant's mouth had endless principles. He had lectured for more than twenty years and still had not finished. It was a waste of talent for him to not be a saint and only be a private tutor in the city. However, in these years, this house did not feel like a home. They relied on This Old Man's son to teach more than ten children to earn money and Uncle Qi to forge iron in the front yard. But strangely, he saw Uncle Qi knocking all year round, but he did not see him sell iron to anyone. He did not like to read. When he read a book, he would doze off. He also did not have the willpower to secretly learn skills like his peers in the neighborhood. He knew his own weight. Unless a sack of gold and silver fell on his head from the sky, his life would be worthless. Whether he could marry a wife in the future was uncertain. What else could he do? Join the army and fight? Wouldn't he be so scared that he would wet his pants? Do business full of the stench of money? Firstly, he did not have the capital. He did not have the temperament of bowing and bending his knees to others. Secondly, This Old Man's son was anxious and wanted to break his arms and legs.
Su Su sighed. If she was the storyteller's so-called leopard cat swapping the crown prince, how beautiful would that be?
After a while, the rice was cooked and the dishes could be placed on the plate. Su Su unhappily said, "Old Man, go call Uncle Qi to eat."
At the dining table, even though This Old Man's son often said that he did not speak when sleeping or eating, Su Su was gradually getting older. This Old Man's son was really an "old" teacher. After the young man could withstand the beating, he did not take it seriously. While eating, he vaguely said, "Uncle Qi, why don't you go to the Crow Swallow Bridge Bazaar to solicit business? The fragrance of the wine is afraid that the alley is deep, and it will waste your good skills."
This Old Man's son could not help but break his precepts and said, "Selling skills to peddlers and pawns, what a scandal!"
Su Su looked askance at the wooden man and This Old Man's son, who had a scowl, and said helplessly, "What's wrong with peddlers and pawns? Aren't they human? Was it just one less eye or two less legs than the emperors and generals? Didn't they all come out from their mother's womb? "
This Old Man's son slammed the table and said, "Absurd!"
The old man was originally eating carefully. With this righteous reprimand, a few grains of rice were spat out onto the table. Su Su pointed with his chopsticks. This Old Man's son's face was slightly red. He picked up his chopsticks and put them back into his bowl.
Su Su pouted with some grievance and said, "Old Man, you said yourself that a wise man does not force others to do things against their will. You just have to change a bit of nature's kindness. There is no harm in saying a few kind words to others. But all these years, when have you ever said anything good about me? If I am not successful in this life, it will all be because of your scolding. "
For the first time, the old man did not make a sound. He did not even refute. He only slowly chewed and swallowed the rice that the people of Orange Province did not often eat.
After eating and washing the dishes, This Old Man's son sat on a small stool near a few pots of orchids in the courtyard. He tilted his head, squinted his eyes, and took advantage of the twilight to read a few more scriptures. The oil lamp consumed oil, so it was best to use it less. Su Su went to the blacksmith shop in the front yard to help Uncle Qi take care of the furnace. Ironware was strictly supervised in Beimang. If the furnace was delayed, they would have to squander a large piece of iron. This family could not afford to be tormented. Although Su Su was heartless and did not have any ambitions, she was never careless when it came to the thickness of the rice jar. In the end, This Old Man's son's principles that he copied from an unknown book did not have much of an impact on a person who grew up in a border town. It was far more profound than looking at beautiful clothes and horses from afar. The tall and sturdy man was silent as always. Occasionally, he would look at the young man's eyes, revealing a silent warmth.
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