[R18] The stars are brilliant, so lucky even (The stars are brilliant, the moon rises over the sea) – Chapter 16 of “The Stars Are Brilliant, Even Lucky (The Stars Are Brilliant·The Moon Rising Over the Sea)” [English]

Chapter 16

After dinner that day, Mrs. Xiao caught Shao Shang, who was planning to go to his brother to continue chatting about imperial studies, and said that she wanted to present a gift to everyone in the Ge family.Shaoshang knew that he could extend his head and shrink his head, so he simply agreed.Unexpectedly, when they arrived at the guest house, neither Taigong Ge nor Uncle Ge were there. Only Cheng Shuo lay on Aunt Ge’s lap, crying softly.

“…Aunt, please take me back. I want to go home, I want to go home!”

“Oh, silly Sisi, this is your home, with your parents and family…”

Unexpectedly, Cheng Shu cried even harder: “Ever since my aunt taught me to be filial, my father is lonely and I can still serve him a little. But mother, mother she…she drove away Niao Niao on the second day I came to Cheng’s house. I later heard that Niao Niao almost died! These days, sheHe didn’t even say a few words to me. He just doted on Yu’er every day, scolded his father, said bad things about my aunt in front of my eldest mother, and planned some despicable things. I, I’m so ashamed…I can’t stay here any longer, aunt, please take me home…”

Aunt Ge’s heart ached when she heard that. Cheng Shu was still in her infancy and she hugged her. She had no grandchildren at that time, and her other children were all grown up. This little girl was raised flesh to flesh by her, and she grew up little by little. She has been well-behaved, sensible, honest, and honest since she was a child. She really loves her more than her life.

She said with tears in her eyes: “Sisi, listen to your aunt, you can only have a future in the Cheng family…” Before she could finish her words, Cheng Si cried: “I don’t want a future, I want my aunt and uncle!”

Mrs. Xiao sighed and quickly called the maid to report.

Shaoshang on the side thought to himself: Well, it seems that Cheng Shu is not familiar with the former Cheng Shaoshang, which is good.

When entering the room, Shaoshang saw Aunt Ge and Cheng Shu desperately wiping away tears and adjusting their clothes. Mrs. Xiao sat down as if they hadn’t seen him before, and said hello with a smile.The two sides knelt opposite each other and exchanged a few greetings. Only then did the young Shang realize that Taigong Ge was old and frail and had taken a rest early, but Uncle Ge was taken to drink and reminisce by Father Cheng.

——Going for a drink with the ex-in-laws who just agreed to divorce. Only a husband can do this kind of thing.Mrs. Xiao cursed secretly, with a smile on her face, while urging her daughter to salute and say hello.Shaoshang quickly took out the results of these days of training, bent his arms sideways and raised them up, prostrated himself in one fell swoop, and bowed his head respectfully. Thinking of the New Year’s gift that the Ge family specially brought to her, this ceremony was not bad.

After receiving the gift, Aunt Ge was full of praise, but the focus of her praise was on Shao Shang’s appearance and salute gestures. She was very considerate and did not mention any other traditional ladylike talents such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, housekeeping, and maidservants.

“My uncle…”

Originally, Aunt Ge wanted to apologize for Mr. Ge, but she was interrupted by Mrs. Xiao simply as soon as she started, saying: “Sister, don’t say it. Our two families live next to each other and we don’t know anything. Hasn’t Aunt Ge suffered from her? My eldest sister-in-law is a mother, but she can’t hit her when she deserves it or punish her when she deserves it like a real mother. Sister, you have no right to say anything about the loss!”

Aunt Ge sighed and said, “I have suffered all my sins. Later, when she married into your family, it was your turn to suffer.” Mrs. Xiao shook her head and smiled: “Now she is taken home by the grandpa, and you have to suffer again. Speaking of which, I still can’t help you.”

Aunt Ge waved her hands and said with a smile: “At my age, how can I still let her bully me? Before leaving, Uncle Jun had ordered people to tidy up the neighboring village, and let her live there after returning to cultivate her moral character!” Mrs. Ge thought that she was still the noble and noble daughter of the Ge family back then.

Mrs. Xiao thought of Uncle Ge’s angry slap during the day and nodded: “That’s good.”

While the two were talking about Ge Shi, they looked at the two girls next to them.When Cheng Shu heard that her biological mother was being discussed, she looked embarrassed. She put her hands on her knees and her head almost dropped to the floor. However, Cheng Shaoshang looked calm, neither angry nor gloating. He only looked at the guest furnishings sideways. He also rolled up his sleeves and helped the maid who came in with the food tray place the buttermilk one by one in front of everyone.

Aunt Ge secretly marveled, thinking that she was the daughter of Mrs. Xiao and General Cheng. Although she had been delayed by Ge for ten years, she still had extraordinary bearing, neither arrogant nor cowardly, and showed no sign of shrinking back.

Mrs. Xiao frowned as usual, feeling that Shao Shang and Ge Shi had been together for ten years, so they were so indifferent, showing no resentment or intolerance, which was really heartless.

Aunt Ge turned her head, pulled Cheng Shu out, and said seriously: “Don’t feel embarrassed when you hear this. The more you shrink, the more people will stab you. Don’t lower your head. It’s not uncommon for your biological mother to divorce or even remarry. It’s not your fault. You are the daughter of the Cheng family, just remember thisWhat I taught you before is that you are influenced by your parents not only by your appearance, but also by your character.If your parents have good character, you should learn to follow them. If your parents are deficient, you should learn from them.Remember, your words and deeds are the best accessories for you.Now, hold your head up!

Cheng Shu tried hard to raise his head, with tears in his eyes, but he still tried his best to hold his shoulders straight.

Mrs. Xiao showed admiration for Aunt Ge, and Shao Shang also put away her contempt. Originally, she thought that a family that could raise someone like Ge would be no better, but now she realized that she was short-sighted.

Aunt Ge added: “It is said that men are ambitious in all directions, how can a daughter live forever dependent on her parents? When a child grows up, he has to stand on his own, and your elders cannot be your lifelong support. When I was young, my aunt never imagined that the world would be in chaos, and all the poems and songs she had learned before were useless. She had to work hard with your uncle to plan food for the public, and was worried every day. Not to mention your aunt, who could have imagined that such a catastrophic disaster would come, butShe gritted her teeth and came through!”

Mrs. Xiao’s eyes filled with tears and she sobbed: “When my family was in ruins, my sister and the Xiao family helped a lot.”

Aunt Ge pats herHolding his hand, he turned back and continued: “Sisi, if your life goes well, it is the blessing of the gods. But life is very long, and there are many unexpected things. Only if you have a strong mind and strong limbs can you not be afraid of mountains and seas, no matter where you go.It can be like a big tree, not only can it stand up on its own, but it can also protect the young flowers and vines under the tree.Don’t you think the world is about to be peaceful now?As long as you learn three or four things from your aunt, you will be fine in the future.”

Shao Shang was in awe of Aunt Ge in his heart. Then he looked at Cheng Shu, who was crying aside and nodded repeatedly with trembling shoulders, and was so angry that he couldn’t help but feel sour.Mrs. Xiao smiled and wiped away her tears and said, “What did you say? Sisi is so honest and dignified now. I have imitated my sister. Who wouldn’t praise her?” Then the two of them gave in and exchanged business blows. Shao Shang secretly rolled his eyes.

After talking a lot, Aunt Ge finally brought out the key points, and entrusted Cheng Shu to Mrs. Xiao with tears in her eyes, saying repeatedly: “In a small country place, she has never seen the world, and she doesn’t understand the rules in the capital. Just teach her well. Although Si Si is stupid, she is better at being honest and obedient. Don’t dislike it.” After saying that, she put Cheng Shu’s hand in Mrs. Xiao’s, and Mrs. Xiao solemnly agreed.

Seeing the pretentiousness of these two people, Shao Shang rolled his eyes in his heart: Baidi City Tuogu is nothing more than this.

Fearing that they would not be able to see each other in the future, Cheng Shuo stayed to talk to Aunt Ge that night.Mrs. Xiao led Shao Shang back, and kept telling her to remember Aunt Ge’s words of wisdom. In fact, Shao Shang was very much in agreement with Aunt Ge’s words just now, but now she got tired of being scolded by Luo Liba, so she quickly interrupted and said: “…Why don’t we go find my father, and we can also salute Uncle Ge. But what should I do, Grandpa? I haven’t saluted him yet, why have I rested so early?”

Mrs. Xiao curled her lips and said, “Forget it” – the old man feels that he has had little sleep, so why should he rest? He must be lecturing his daughter at the moment.

Shaoshang successfully stopped Mrs. Xiao’s lecture. When he stepped out of the guest house, he looked back and saw a room three or four partitions east of Aunt Ge’s residence with a faint light on.

——Tai Gong Ge is indeed training his girls at this time.

Ge Shi cried so hard that his face was filled with snot and tears, and he almost washed away the ointment he had just applied on his cheeks. He kept kowtowing and begging his father: “…Father, is there really no other way? I, I don’t want to break off the marriage to Zirong! I really didn’t know that you didn’t ask your nephews to enter the imperial college, and you wanted to become wives separately. I thought it was that bitch… Oh no, it was my concubine who was causing trouble…”

Taigong Ge’s face was cold: “Do you know you regret it now? It’s too late. Don’t blame Madam Xiao for buying off your mother-in-law. It’s a good thing if you think about it carefully. If you really do something irreversible, how can Madam Xiao let you go and let go of the Ge family? I’m here to tell you tonight that we will set off early tomorrow morning. Don’t cry and make a good journey.”

Ge Shi was horrified and said in a sharp voice: “My father is so cruel. What should I do if I return home? If I am divorced by the Cheng family, wouldn’t it make people laugh at me! In the past ten years, I have neither merit nor hard work. I…”

“Everyone in the village already knows this,” Taigong Ge said coldly, “After marrying into the Cheng family for so many years, you don’t know how General Cheng behaves? Or do you think he will save your face? The one who came to deliver the news was General Cheng’s personal entourage, detailing everything.”

Geshi was speechless and murmured, “Everyone knows.” She has been strong since she was a child and has always been arrogant in front of her relatives and friends. But now that she has to lose such a big face, she is even more reluctant to return to her hometown.

“I won’t go back, I won’t go back!” Ge Shi suddenly yelled wildly, and Taigong Ge slapped Ge Shi in the face with his backhand. The force was not strong, but it woke up Ge Shi.He said: “Do you think General Cheng is as easy to bully as Zirong? If you don’t leave, huh… where are the families who took advantage of the chaos to occupy the fields and houses of the Xiao family? How did they leave? If you don’t leave, he will send troops to escort you away! Drive them away with whips and beat them with sticks! Do you want to lose face like that!”

Geshi covered his face, fearful in his heart: “It’s not enough… The Cheng family treats me like this, and they are not afraid of criticism from the countryside…”

“Even if you are not the Cheng family, I still want you to go back.” Ge Taigong lamented, “When cattle and sheep are whipped, they know how to protect their cubs under their bellies; when female animals are hunted, they also know how to block the back and tell the cubs to run away. But at the beginning you were dissatisfied with the Xiao family for giving birth to twins, so you used the sorcerer’s words to say that Sisi had interfered with your heirs, so you forced her toSend me back home.You are willing to travel such a long way for a child who has just turned one year old. I was so heartbroken as a father!You didn’t understand filial piety before, and I thought you were young and ignorant.But now I can’t lie to myself anymore!”

Geshi knelt down in front of his father, grabbed the hem of his father’s clothes, and said repeatedly: “No, no…”

“You are not only cold and unlucky, but also evil-hearted!” Taigong Ge continued, “The Tian family is poor and has always relied on the Cheng family for financial support. The Tian family’s children have been with General Cheng since childhood, and they have become even more loyal after the uprising. How did he die? He died with thousands of arrows piercing his heart in order to serve as General Cheng’s rearguard! There were no bones left among the rebel army!”

The old man said with tears streaming down his face, “General Cheng took pity on his mother and widow. They are all weak-natured people. They only rewarded him with gold and silver and were afraid of being plotted by others, so they took him under his protection. As soon as Tian Ding’s son got the crown, he would be appointed to the post. Everyone in our village knows these things, and they all praised General Cheng for his kindness! But what about you, you…”

Taigong Ge also got angry: “That year, General Cheng sent people back to the capital to pick up his daughter, but you blocked it. The Tian family women were angry and told you that you were wrong. You were going to sell the orphans and widows. What a beast! Do you think no one knew about this? Tian Ding’s widow remarried a few years ago, and her husband’s house was nearby. What news can’t be spread? The villagers are scolding you for not being a human being! The Cheng family divorced you, and the villagers can only applaud!”

Geshi grabbed the hem of his father’s clothes and refused to let go, crying: “Are you going to let those two bitches ruin my reputation outside?”

Taigong Ge kicked her away and cursed: “First, you want to place your own people in the manor. The Tian family women are in the way, and you have already wanted to get rid of them! Second, are they wrong? It is of no use to you to keep the general’s daughter. You just want to make Mrs. Xiao feel bad! Such viciousness and despicableness are rare in the world!”

Geshi had no choice but to fall to the ground and cry.

Mr. Ge Taigong sighed: “For many years, you have disobeyed me in everything, which is unfilial; you have shouted at your brother and sister-in-law, and you have taken advantage of General Cheng and his wife, which is disloyal; you have stirred up trouble in your husband’s house and bullied him, which is unworthy; you are greedy for wealth and amass money in the name of the general, which is stealing! I am ashamed of you for such evil behavior! If you don’t leave, I will tie you up tomorrow!”

Seeing his father’s resolute attitude, Ge was at a loss and didn’t know what to do next.