Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

"What do you mean by speaking for your mother and doing work for her?" Chan Yi took a few steps forward, pulled him up and took him aside, and said with a stern face, "Who taught you these words?"

Zhao Daniu was frightened by her sudden cold face. His face turned pale and he didn't dare to cry or speak.

Chan Yi stared into his eyes, not allowing him to escape and asked again: "Let me ask you, what did your father say on behalf of your mother, and what did he do for your mother?"

Zhao Daniu instinctively looked at Zhao Shan. Zhao Shan was kneeling on the ground, not daring to look up.

Chan Yi held his face and looked at him: "Just answer your question, no need to look at others."

Zhao Daniu was so scared that he sobbed as he answered, "When grandma said that mom was lazy and didn't work, dad would tell grandma that mom was not lazy, she only rested after finishing her work. When mom went to work in the fields, dad would help her fill the water she was going to bring. When mom cooked, dad would sometimes help light the fire. When mom served the rice, dad would sometimes help her put it on the table."

Chan Yi was so angry that her face turned red. "Tell me, who made the clothes you are wearing?"

Zhao Daniu replied in a low voice: "It's my mother."

"Yes, your mother did it for you! Why did your mother do it for you? Because she gave birth to you, she has the responsibility to take care of you!" Chan Yi said, "But was your father born to your mother?"

Zhao Daniu looked at Zhao Shan again and shook his head.

Chan Yi asked loudly, "Does your father want to eat?"

Zhao Daniu nodded.

Chan Yi asked, "Then where does your father get his food from?"

Zhao Daniu was yelled at by her and burst into tears again, "My mother, my mother grew these crops by farming."

"Your father wasn't born by your mother, so your mother has no responsibility to take care of him! If your mother wasn't there, your father would have to farm, cook, and serve meals himself if he wanted to eat!" Chan Yi said angrily, "Tell me, has your father ever farmed or cooked?"

Zhao Daniu shook his head.

Chan Yi said angrily, "He has never farmed or cooked before, so where does he get his food? It was your mother who grew it! Remember, it has always been your mother who has been helping your father with the work, not your father who has been helping your mother with the work!"

Zhao Daniu said fearfully, "I know."

"Not only do you need to know," Chan Yi glared at Zhao Shan, "you also need to remember clearly: what does helping mean? It's originally your business, but someone else helps you do it, that's called helping! It's not about pushing your own business onto others, and then pretending to lend a hand, then it becomes like you're helping others!"

Zhou was awakened by their conversation and instinctively retorted: "Washing and cooking are what women should do. Men are responsible for supporting the family. How can they have time to think about these things?"

Chen Shao asked back: "Did he support his family?"

Zhou defended: "He is weak, otherwise..."

Chen Shao asked again: "Isn't his father weak?"

Zhou stopped talking.

"I'm lazy, there's no need to make so many excuses. There are so many ways to make money in the world, not just hard work." Chen Shao said as he looked at Zhao Shan. Zhao Shan knelt on the ground, not agreeing, nor resisting. This seemingly submissive but actually fearless look made Chen Shao laugh.

Although his face was pale and bloodless, his skin was delicate. Although his family was poor, he didn't even have a thin callus on his hands. None of the rich and powerful disciples from the capital were as "precious" as him.

Zhou was evil, and her evil was shown openly. She was so resentful that she dared not vent it on the villagers, nor was she willing to vent it on her son. So after Tao A'mei married her, he took advantage of Tao A'mei's illiteracy and immorality to vent all his grievances on her.

But he is hypocritical, taking advantage of Tao A-mei's sympathy and constantly exploiting her!

Such people are selfish by nature, and there is no point in saying more.

but……

Just because talking too much is useless doesn’t mean that there is no point in teaching.

Chen Shao glanced at Zhao Daniu and said meaningfully, "It costs a lot to raise a child to be successful. It's unlikely to be possible with just the few acres of land at home."

Zhao Shan curled his fingers slightly.

Seeing this, Chen Shao stopped talking.

Before, he had Tao A-mei to enslave, so he could use the excuse of poor health to remain "valuable". Now that Tao A-mei is gone, Zhou has to train Zhao Daniu, who needs food and money. How can he continue to be "valuable"?

But lessons are lessons, and rewards should be given. Chen Shao ordered Fu Jiu: "Go and invite the Second Master and Zhao Qiang over."

Zhao Tianhai and Zhao Qiang arrived soon.

After a few words of idle chat, Chen Shao got to the point: "There is something I need your help with."

Zhao Qiang bowed and said, "Please give your orders, sir."

Zhao Tianhai followed suit and said, "As long as we can do it, we will never shirk it."

"It's not a big deal." Chen Shao looked at Zhao Daniu, motioned him to come over, and said, "This kid went to the prefectural government in the rain to report a case for his mother. Although he was reckless, he was filial and responsible. I would like to ask you to buy twenty chickens, ten ducks, and five geese for him. After his family raises them, I would like to ask you to talk to the caravan in the village and collect and sell them for them. After the money is sold, I would like to ask you to find a good teacher for him. Of course, I have to ask you to supervise that these chickens, ducks, and geese can only be raised by their family and are not allowed to be given to others. If they insist on giving them away, no matter what the reason, you will collect all the chickens, ducks, and geese for me. You can kill them or sell them, it's up to you."

"No need to buy it, I'll go to the backyard and catch some for him!" Zhao Tianhai said as he headed to the backyard, "Qiangzi, come here and help me."

Chen Shao glanced at Chan Yi.

Chan Yi immediately went back to the house to get the silver and followed him.

A moment.

The chickens, ducks, and geese were all caught and brought back. They were all half-grown babies, and were placed in five bamboo cages. Zhou was determined to train Zhao Daniu, so she was not as reserved as before. She smiled and hurried forward to take them. After picking up a bamboo cage in one hand, she saw Zhao Shan still kneeling and not moving, and hurriedly shouted, "Stop kneeling, come and help me."

"He's not in good health, let's do it." Zhao Changping pulled his wife, and the two of them quickly came forward to take the remaining three bamboo baskets. Zhao Shan stood up with his sick hands, and after seeing that the bamboo baskets were all taken, he stood aside silently, without any intention of helping his mother or his uncle and aunt to take over.

On the contrary, Zhao Daniu saw that he didn't move, so he hurried forward and took a bamboo cage from his grandmother and said, "Grandma, I'll help you."

As he said this, he suddenly remembered what Chan Yi had taught him, and quickly changed his words, "These were given to me by adults, so I should take them back myself. Grandma, uncle, and aunt are all helping me get them."

Zhao Qiang was surprised for a moment when he heard this, then he patted his head twice and said, "Good boy, pack up and go to school with your brother Huzi. I will pay for your tuition first, and when you raise these things and sell them, you can pay me back."

When Zhao Daniu heard this, he immediately put down the bamboo cage, knelt down and kowtowed to him, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Qiang."

"You're welcome." Zhao Qiang pulled him up, "Study hard and try to get into the Imperial College like Uncle Rong. Then you will bring honor to our family."

Zhao Tianhai said with a smile: "Don't teach him bad things. Rongzi is just lucky. Compared with other people in the Imperial College, he is still far behind."

Zhao Qiang smiled and said, "Second Master is being modest again."

Turning back, seeing Chen Shao looking at him, he explained, "Rongzi is the second master's youngest grandson. He was admitted to the Imperial College two years ago. It's the Imperial College in the county, not the one in the capital."

Chen Shao said: "That's also excellent."

Zhao Tianhai couldn't help but feel a little proud when he heard her praise. "If you can get into the Imperial College in the capital, then you will be truly talented."

Zhao Qiang said: "Rongzi is still young, he will definitely be able to pass the exam in a few years."

"Second Master, Qiangzi," Zhao Changping interrupted them with a red face, holding a bamboo cage, "We want to raise some chickens and ducks, too. Do you think it's possible?"