Chapter 60 The Prodigal Son Chapter
Chapter 60 The Prodigal Son Returns
The stinging garden and the thatched cottage.
A young man in his twenties strolled over with his arms swinging.
The young man was dressed in a blue shirt, had a handsome face, and looked suave and a little frivolous.
He walked to the entrance of the cottage, straightened his clothes, suddenly became serious, and stepped into the cottage.
"My child greets my father. It's so late, what do you want me to do?"
When Wu Wenxi saw his eldest son, he frowned, and after a long while, he put on a gentle smile.
"Ziyi, where have you been these past few months?"
"Reporting to my father, I went to Macau for a tour with some French friends."
"Humph, you're not doing anything serious. Are you gambling with the foreigners again?"
"The kid is smart and won a lot of money, several thousand taels."
Wu Ziyi stepped forward and gave his father a back massage, "Dad, if you need money to renovate the garden, I can pay for it.
You see, I don’t spend any money from my family. I can go out and have some fun to broaden my horizons. Traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books, right?
During this trip, I made several more friends from England and France, and I am currently reading the French great Victor Hugo’s “Notre Dame de Paris.”
"You are not good enough to study the Four Books and the Five Classics, and you are not good enough to learn from Li Bai and Du Fu. You study foreign things all day long, which really makes me worry."
"How could that be possible? My poem is pretty good. Didn't you praise me for it, father?
I have just made an appointment with Jiang Lutan to visit Zeng Shuai's aide Du Wenlan in order to expand opportunities for our Wu family.
If we get in touch with Zeng Shuai, won't we have another way out?"
Wu Wenxi's expression eased a little. "Du Xiaofang is a practical man, you can make friends with him. Jiang Chunlin is a playboy who indulges in pleasure and women. You should stay away from him."
"Jiang Lutan is known as one of the three great poets of our dynasty along with Nalan Xingde and Liang Hongzuo. If I don't make friends with this famous scholar, how can I get in touch with Du Wenlan?
Dad, I know what's going on."
"Alas, you are the eldest son of the Wu family, but you are not diligent in studying and seeking fame, which makes your father deeply disappointed."
"It is enough for our family to have our second brother pass the imperial examination. Our second brother Wu Xiaodu is now the prefect of Liuzhou, which is enough to revive our family business.
Dad, you see, my third brother is really talented. You named him Wu Shuang, with the courtesy name Guoshi, but what happened? He died early because of God’s jealousy.
My little sister is always making a fuss and refuses to get married. Are you feeling frustrated?
At least I will marry and have children, and give you grandchildren to inherit the family business. That’s enough of my contribution to the family, so you don’t have to worry about my affairs.”
"It's not you who's worried about your father, it's our Wu family.
A big family needs to bet on many aspects in order to prosper.
Now you should concentrate on helping the family. I have found a master for you. If you work hard, maybe the Wu family will depend on you in the future."
Wu Ziyi frowned, "Dad, who in the Qing Dynasty can use a prodigal like me? My ability is too unconventional. Even if I want to join Zeng Shuai, I guess he won't look down on me."
"Hey, the guy I found for you is more familiar with foreign stuff than you are.
That toad who wanted to eat swan flesh, Le Sen, had already surrendered to him a long time ago. You, a tribute student, are not much better than a scholar.
If you don’t invest now, when they become successful in the future, there will be no place for you around them.”
"Dad, you mean Shao Yuting.
I just heard that he killed more than 800 people in the fight against bandits. Such heavy killings will definitely cause troubles. I think his future is worrying. I won’t go.
Wu Wenxi glared, "This is not up to you. What's wrong with heavy killing? Isn't Zeng Shuai's killing heavy?
When Qiao Songnian was the prefect of Suzhou, he massacred thousands of Chaozhou warriors without any evidence, simply because they might have been bribed by the Taiping Army and Liu Lichuan to rebel.
What was the result? He defended Suzhou. The court praised him for his "bravery, loyalty and prudence, and prevention of disasters before they happen", and his career flourished from then on. Now is a chaotic time, and you can't get ahead without being ruthless.
As a father, I think Zeng Bohan is too cautious and prudent. He can only be a famous official, not a hero. There is not much use for us to make friends with him.
Qiao Songnian and Shao Yuting, the father and son, are both quick-decisive and ruthless people. Their future is limitless.
For the sake of our Wu family's wealth and prosperity, and to protect them from the impact of changing dynasties, you, the prodigal son, should turn back."
…………
Shao Quanzhong stayed on guard for most of the night, went back and took a quick nap, and when he woke up it was already bright outside.
Just as he stretched himself and was about to arrange for troops to be dispatched to Guazhou, his personal guard came to report, "Lord Wu has arrived."
Huh? You just left last night, why are you here again this morning? Is Wu Wenxi, the retired old man, too idle?
If you have this spirit, why don't you take good care of your daughter?
He could only complain in his heart, as Wu Wenxi was his superior after all. When Shao Quanzhong put on his military uniform and went out to greet them, Wu Wenxi had already walked in with a big laugh.
"Yuting, Mr. Wu has something to ask of you."
"Your Excellency is too kind. Please give me your orders."
"My sons Wu Ci and Wu Ziyi are ignorant and unskilled. They were only selected as tribute students of the Imperial Academy and were given the empty title of Confucian instructor in Taizhou. They have always been a cause of worry for me.
Yuting, your business is getting bigger and bigger, and you cannot be without scholars around you. My son can be a clerk for you.
I hope Yuting can accept him for my sake and help me discipline this prodigal son.
Ziyi, come here and meet Commander Shao."
Wu Ziyi came out from behind his father and bowed to Shao Quanzhong, "Student Wu Ci, I pay my respects to the commander."
Shao Quanzhong quickly shook his head and said, "As a warrior, I will shorten my life if I accept the gift from a scholar like Brother Ziyi.
I am deeply grateful to Lord Wu for sending my brother Ziyi to help me.
The Huai Army was just established and its organization was not yet perfect.
Le Sen is in charge of the grain depot, and Hai Qing is now in charge of the camp office.
But he is only responsible for military law enforcement, the camp office still needs a scholar like Brother Ziyi to take charge, Brother Ziyi's coming here can help me out of my urgent need."
As soon as his son joined the Huai Army, he became one of the two civil servants in charge. This was all because of Wu's favor of promoting Shao Quanzhong to be in charge of militia training.
The father’s reputation is limited, and from now on it all depends on the son’s own performance.
No one knows a son better than his father. Although the eldest son is not doing his job properly, he is capable, does not let down the big links, and joined the army at a timely manner. He should be able to secure his position in the Huai Army and fight for a place.
Wu Wenxi left his son in the military camp and left in a car with satisfaction.
Shao Quanzhong accompanied Wu Wenxi all the way to the outside of the village, and when Wu Wenxi's car drove away, he turned around and wanted to go back.
"Stop right there!
I've told you many times that we are not recruiting soldiers now, and even if we were to recruit you, you are not old enough.
There's no point in you staying here for another day, go back to where you came from!"
A nimble and clever figure dodged left and right, bypassed the guards who were blocking his way, ran a few steps to Shao Quanzhong, knelt down, and hugged Shao Quanzhong's thighs.
"Master, Master, please accept me. I will be your godson!"
(End of this chapter)