After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

Life is like a tireless, ever-moving carriage, its wheels rolling, day after day. On this seemingly ordinary day, golden sunlight poured down generously across the vast expanse of land. Zheng Yuan, as usual, wandered aimlessly near the familiar bridge.

He absentmindedly kicked the pebbles along the road as he walked, his thoughts drifting off to who knows where. Just then, a slender young man appeared in his field of vision. He walked towards Zheng Yuan with a light and steady pace, neither hurried nor slow. From a distance, the man looked calm and composed, as if he were just an ordinary passerby, nothing out of the ordinary.

Zheng Yuan initially paid little attention to the man, merely glancing at him briefly before continuing to ponder his own concerns. But who could have imagined that, as the man reached the exact center of the bridge, a terrifying event unfolded without warning.

In an instant, the man lifted himself up with a deft movement, then, like an agile bird, he leaped straight off the bridge without hesitation! This sudden and astonishing scene left Zheng Yuan momentarily stunned. His eyes widened, his mouth dropped open, his face filled with disbelief.

You know, before this, whether judging from the man's appearance or his behavior along the way, there was no sign of him wanting to commit suicide! But now...

At that moment, Zheng Yuan was still a considerable distance away from the man. Although he reacted instantly upon realizing the situation was dire, dashing towards the man with all his might, attempting to reach out and grab him, he was ultimately a step too late. Watching the man disappear in the turbulent water beneath the bridge, Zheng Yuan felt as if his heart had been struck by a sledgehammer, the pain so intense it was almost impossible to breathe.

Seeing the man fall into the river, Zheng Yuan didn't have time to think before jumping in to rescue him. Fortunately, perhaps because the man was already determined to die, he didn't struggle at all after being caught by Zheng Yuan. Perhaps worried that his struggle would endanger the rescuer or even his life, the man chose to obey, allowing Zheng Yuan to drag him slowly towards the shore.

Finally, after much effort, Zheng Yuan successfully pulled the man ashore. However, once on shore, the young man attempted to break free from Zheng Yuan's grasp and plunge back into the freezing cold water. Fortunately, Zheng Yuan was quick to grab him, temporarily preventing the man from carrying out his desperate act of suicide.

"Can we talk?" Zheng Yuan asked gently, his gaze fixed on the huddled, silently sobbing figure before him. "You're still so young, and you have a long way to go. What's so confusing?"

Time ticked by, and silence reigned, broken only by the occasional soft sob. After an unknown amount of time, a heart-wrenching cry finally broke out, as if long-suppressed emotions were finally released. The sobbing continued for a long time, until the voice gradually grew hoarse, and the weeping person seemed to calm down a little.

After calming down a little, the young man named Dou Heng slowly raised his head, looked at Zheng Yuan with tears on his face, and began to speak in a nasal voice: "My name is Dou Heng, and I just came of age this year. When I was 15 years old, I left home to learn carpentry. It was really difficult at the beginning, but slowly, as my skills got better and better, I opened my own shop and gained a foothold in Yingtian Prefecture. But from then on, my parents changed completely..." At this point, Dou Heng couldn't help but choked up again.

After finally stopping his tears, Dou Heng took a deep breath and continued, "They treated me as a tool to make money, forcing me to work day and night. All I do every day is sleep and work, without any time to rest. Moreover, they are particularly greedy, using all the money I earned with great difficulty to buy themselves houses, carriages, and servants, without ever considering my physical condition. I feel like a machine, being endlessly exploited by them. I really can't stand this kind of life anymore. I want to escape from this cage, get rid of their shackles, and no longer be restricted by them! So... that's why I thought of ending my life in this way today and giving this life back to them..." After saying these words, Dou Heng collapsed to the ground powerlessly, as if he had used up all his strength.

Zheng Yuan listened in silence, his face solemn, as Dou Heng recounted his experiences. After Dou Heng finished, Zheng Yuan couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion in his heart, a deep sympathy for the young man's unfortunate experience.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, then spoke earnestly, "Brother, you're still young, and the road ahead is long. Endless possibilities await you, waiting to be explored and realized. In fact, as long as you are resolute and choose to leave your current predicament, you will eventually find a solution. For example, you could head to the bustling imperial city and start a new chapter in life in a brand new environment. That way, wouldn't it be harder for those who want to harass you to find you?"

However, Dou Heng only shook his head bitterly after hearing this. A self-deprecating smile played on his lips, and he sighed in response, "Brother, it's not as easy as you say! They've long ago detained my household registration. Forget about traveling to the Imperial City. Even setting foot outside this land is a luxury. How can I even change my residence and start a new life?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuan couldn't help but frown, falling into a brief silence. His gaze gazed into the distance, his mind racing with thoughts, trying to find a viable way out to help Dou Heng escape his current predicament. At this moment, as if suddenly struck by inspiration, a light flashed in his eyes, and he spoke eagerly, "As the saying goes, 'A loving father brings peace to the mother; a peaceful mother brings peace to the son; a peaceful son brings harmony to the family; and a harmonious family brings prosperity.' However, if the father is lazy and unmotivated, the mother will inevitably suffer even more; if the mother is constantly worried, the child will also feel fear and insecurity; if the child remains in this state of fear for a long time, the entire family will inevitably decline; and once a family declines, the impact can even last for three generations! Therefore, we must bravely face the difficulties before us and actively seek ways to change the status quo!"

Upon hearing this, Dou Heng's eyes, once gloomy and lifeless, as if bereft of all hope, suddenly flashed with a light, as if struck by lightning. However, that light was fleeting, like a shooting star streaking across the sky, and quickly dimmed. His face, already filled with sorrow, now became even more gloomy. He sighed deeply, and said helplessly and bitterly, "Alas, even so, how can a child sue his own parents? It's unjustifiable!"

Zheng Yuan, standing nearby, frowned slightly upon hearing Dou Heng's words, lost in thought. Time ticked by, and just when everyone thought he'd run out of ideas, his eyes suddenly lit up, as if a sudden enlightenment had struck him. He excitedly said, "In that case, why not just run away from home? Go to the Imperial City and take the Ministry of Works exam. While the saying goes, 'While parents are still alive, one shouldn't travel far,' it's also true that 'Loyalty to the emperor and patriotism is the greatest filial piety.' If I could contribute to the Ministry of Works and serve my country, that would also be a way to show my filial piety!"

Dou Heng's heart was moved after hearing Zheng Yuan's suggestion, but he still looked at him with some doubt. He asked hesitantly, "Really? Will this really work? Will it make things worse..." Zheng Yuan saw Dou Heng's hesitation and quickly stepped forward. He patted his shoulder, nodded vigorously, and replied in a very firm tone, "Yes, it's absolutely true! As far as I know, Zhao's Ministry of Works has always been recruiting talented people with special skills. With your talent and ability, as long as you prepare well, you will definitely stand out!"

Zheng Yuan's reassurance rekindled a glimmer of hope in Dou Heng's heart, which had been nearly despairing. He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and, his eyes revealing an unprecedented determination, he declared, "Alright! Thank you for your guidance, sir. Now that things have come to this, I have no choice. I'll pack my bags and head to the Imperial City to make a living!" With that, Dou Heng turned and strode away, his figure gradually disappearing at the end of the distant road.