Chapter 30: Returning Home in Splendor

After leaving the Heiyi Gang in Tianheng, Shen Lang rushed back to his parents' home without stopping.

His parents and younger brother had been eagerly anticipating his return. When he was still at the foot of the mountain, his mother couldn't wait to greet him.

"My son, how did the young lady from the earl's manor treat you?" his mother asked eagerly.

Shen Lang replied, "She's been very kind to me."

His mother said, "Then I can rest assured."

Two warriors from the earl's manor carried box after box of gifts into the house, including cloth, grains, meat, and various medicinal herbs.

Mulang was very thoughtful, knowing that Shen Lang's father and brother were injured, so she specifically prepared many healing and tonifying medicines.

Then Shen Lang took out three hundred gold coins and presented them to his father, saying, "This money is to build a new house for the family, using the best bricks and tiles."

His father's face changed slightly as he said, "Son, you are now a member of the earl's manor after all. It's fine for us as parents to enjoy a bit of it, but we absolutely cannot take money from the earl's manor. We cannot let them think you are taking advantage and ruin your reputation."

His father's words were very tactful, but in other words, he was worried that Shen Lang would gain a bad reputation for using his parents' influence for personal gain.

Shen Lang smiled and said, "This money is not from the earl's manor. I earned it myself."

His father asked, "How did my son earn it?"

Shen Lang responded, "I invented a new dye formula and sold it to a major silk merchant in the city. I did not dare to use the money before, but now that I have become the earl's son-in-law, I can use this money confidently."

Of course, Shen Lang could not tell his parents that this money was extorted from Tian Heng, as they would be even more reluctant to use it.

Even so, his father still hesitated. He had always spoiled Shen Lang since he was a child and could not bear to use his money.

Shen Lang said, "We need to build a big house so that I have a comfortable place to stay when I come back. If Mulan comes back with me, she can't possibly live in this thatched house, right?"

This statement immediately determined his father to build a new, large house.

Even though he thought it was absolutely unlikely for the young lady from the earl's manor to come to their home, he couldn't let his future daughter-in-law have no place to stay and let his son lose face.

"It only takes about fifteen gold coins to build a large house. Why do we need three hundred gold coins?" his father asked.

To be honest, he had never touched gold coins before. They had always used copper coins, and silver coins were already considered exceptional. If you went to the market and used gold coins, they wouldn't even be able to give you change.

In the countryside, even building a house with five or six rooms, using the best blue bricks and the best slate, along with a large courtyard and a surrounding wall, would not cost more than one hundred gold coins.

Shen Lang said, "The house must be grand, with thick walls and high fences."

"Alright," his father agreed.

Meanwhile, his younger brother, Shen Jian, was eagerly watching Shen Lang. He had always been a lowly troublemaker, and now that his big brother had become the earl's son-in-law, he had long wanted to leave this small village and see the world.

Shen Lang said, "You focus on recovering from your injuries. After you recover, I will take you out and make sure you have a promising future."

"Hey!" His younger brother exclaimed excitedly. "When I become impressive, I will marry Widow Liu."

His dreams were still so grand.

Later, his mother made a sumptuous lunch, even though it was already late afternoon.

Shen Lang sat and enjoyed a meal with his family.

His mother invited the two warriors from the earl's manor to join them for the meal, but they refused. After moving the items, they went outside and ate two large pancakes.

This was a sign of respect, but to some extent, it was also a way of keeping their distance, indicating that they didn't want to get too close to Shen Lang's family.

Although they were willing to sacrifice their lives to protect Shen Lang, they still looked down on him, and Shen Lang could not command them.

Of course, Shen Lang had no intention of approaching them with a cold face. He let them eat their pancakes outside as they pleased.

Even when his mother wanted to make tea for them, Shen Lang declined and gave each of them a bowl of cold water.

Shen Lang made a decision.

He must have his own confidants, even if it was just one or two capable individuals. In critical moments, they would obey Shen Lang's orders without hesitation. Shen Lang could then send them to handle matters instead of doing them himself.

It would be awkward to deal with everything by himself.

The key was not to have many subordinates, but to have loyal and capable ones.

Next, Shen Lang brewed medicine for his father to take, then applied a new medicine to his brother's broken bone and re-bandaged it with a clean cloth strip.

The parents almost greedily enjoyed all the warmth and happiness.

Their beloved eldest son had unexpectedly become so filial and sensible, everything was just too wonderful.

As the sun gradually set in the west, Shen Lang bid farewell to his parents and prepared to return to the Earl's manor.

His mother's eyes were filled with tears but were also full of smiles as she watched Shen Lang leave.

"Eldest son, Big Fool got into trouble, the situation is not good, go and check on him," his mother couldn't help but say before he left.

Big Fool was Shen Lang's only friend before. He had protected him since they were young. Shen Jian, his brother, had gotten into fights to protect Shen Lang, and Big Fool had taken beatings for Shen Lang.

...

As Shen Lang went to Big Fool's house, passing by Maple Leaf Village, the villagers pointed and whispered as they watched from behind closed doors.

Their gazes towards Shen Lang were extremely complicated.

They never expected that this waste like Shen Lang would soar to success and become the son-in-law of the Earl's manor.

The previously looked-down-upon Second Fool had now surprisingly risen to a high position, becoming a figure that the villagers could not admire.

Envy, jealousy, and hatred!

However, when Shen Lang looked at them, every person's face revealed a fawning smile.

Yet in their hearts, they speculated with ill intentions that since Shen Lang had been driven out by the Xu family before, he might soon be kicked out by the Earl's manor and would have to slink back humbly to his thatched hut on the mountainside.

The villagers might be simple, but they were also cunning.

They had sympathy, but they didn't want others to have it too good.

It was best if you had it worse than me, and then occasionally, I might be able to help you a little, satisfying my kindness and gaining a sense of accomplishment.

Shen Lang had completely flaunted his success, with no intention of stopping to exchange pleasantries with these people.

It's not like he became an emperor and needed to act like Emperor Gaozu.

The Shen family were outsiders, and on top of that, he was handsome and had previously had mental issues, making him less intelligent.

So the villagers not only looked down on him, but even bullied and isolated him.

From childhood, many children in the village had bullied Shen Lang.

At times like this, Big Fool would use his strong body to shield Shen Lang, even once from a shower of mud.

Like Shen Lang, Big Fool also had below-average intelligence, or rather he was more like the protagonist in "Forrest Gump," even more simple and straightforward.

He hadn't been normal since birth; he weighed a whopping twelve catties when he was born.

After his birth, Big Fool's mother died in childbirth.

But after being born, Big Fool grew rapidly in size.

Even though he didn't eat much every day, by the time he was eighteen, he had grown to be more than two meters tall, like a giant.

It was unclear why he turned out that way; his parents were both normal, but it was just him who was different from regular people.

Big Fool ate a lot every day, but he also worked hard, like the labor of three or four men, and had incredible strength.

In short, he was unusually gifted, not like ordinary people.

Despite being very strong, Big Fool was harmless; he had an honest face and a pure gaze, and he never fought anyone.

When others hit him, he would just turn around and let them hit his back, never striking back.

Big Fool did not live well; after his mother died, his father married a stepmother and had another son.

Since then, Big Fool was like a foundling, and if he couldn't work, he probably wouldn't have any food to eat.

Even though he could work, he still couldn't eat his fill every day. His stepmother only gave him cornmeal, and the quantity was limited. Most of the time, he went hungry.

...

His mother said that Big Fool had gotten into trouble, so Shen Lang hurried to Big Fool's house.

Upon entering his house, Shen Lang did not see Big Fool, only his stepmother and his younger brother.

Seeing Shen Lang, Big Fool's stepmother was momentarily stunned and said, "Second Fool, what are you doing here?"

Then she quickly covered her mouth because Shen Lang was dressed in finery and was accompanied by two warriors.

"Big Fool went to work," she said. "Shen Lang, do you have any business here?"

Went to work? But didn't his mother say he got into trouble?

"Where does he work? I'm going to find him," Shen Lang said, "Also, I'll give your family some money. Make sure to feed him well every day, understand?"

Then, he took out a bag of money containing fifty silver coins.

Once Shen Lang was completely established in the Earl's mansion, he would take his younger brother Shen Jian and Big Fool away. But for now, Big Fool still needed to stay at home for a while. Even if ten percent of this money were used on Big Fool, it would be enough to ensure he ate well.

Big Fool's stepmother's eyes lit up, and she eagerly took the bag of money, nodding vigorously, "Shen Lang, rest assured. I will make sure that the eldest one eats well every day, even giving him meat. You are a person of integrity and conscience, and despite becoming prosperous, you have not forgotten your friends."

Seeing Shen Lang, who was dressed magnificently, Big Fool's half-brother from the same father but different mother became instantly jealous and sneered, "Big Fool? I'm afraid he's long dead, probably thrown into a mountain ditch."

When this was said, Shen Lang's face changed, and he quickly rushed out of Big Fool's house.

…

Fifteen minutes later, in a mountain ditch, Shen Lang saw the abandoned Big Fool.

He was emaciated, on the brink of death, and covered in blood.

A two-meter-tall master, now reduced to a mere skeleton, his chest swollen to a terrifying degree, clearly showing signs of broken bones.

But those eyes remained innocent. Upon seeing Shen Lang, even in his weakened state, his eyes lit up with joy and he weakly cried out, "Second Fool, you came? I missed you so much!"

"Yes, I'm here," Shen Lang's eyes teared up, "What happened to you? How did you end up in such a state?"

Big Fool said, "My little brother was mischievous and provoked a big insect in the mountains. I tried to save him and got hit by the insect several times, breaking several bones and coughing up blood. Father had no money for treatment, so he left me here."

Upon hearing this, tears rolled down Shen Lang's cheeks.

Bastard, beastly!

It's true what they say, where there's a stepmother, there's a stepfather.

This younger brother, Big Fool, was not a good person. He bullied him every day, and also bullied Shen Lang. He'd throw dirt in Big Fool's food, drop insects in his bed, steal money and frame Big Fool, or create trouble and blame it on Big Fool.

Even so, Big Fool still protected this younger brother.

Now, to save this scoundrel of a younger brother, he had been injured by a tiger, and his father had actually left him here to die.

He's worse than a beast.

I won't let him get away with this!