Chapter 2 : Rebirth
The autumn wind blew!
The closer he got to the great hall, the more nervous he became. Generally, a person who has experienced losses will cherish what they currently have.
In his previous life, he had lived ignorantly and was not concerned about anything. It was hard to imagine that just having dinner together with his family would cause him to be so nervous.
“I guess this must be nostalgia,” Wang Chong thought. Lifting his head, he saw two large doors embedded with lion-headed door knockers that opened into the great hall where everyone dined.
The Wang family wasn’t a family of nobles. There were no strict laws to follow, but it was still a military family. Although Mother didn’t establish any specific rules, unspoken ones still exist within their esteemed family.
There were many sons and daughters in the family. No matter who it is including Father, as long as they were in the capital, they must dine together at least once a week. Everyone gathers around a large table and have their meals together happily.
Today is Wang Chong’s last day of confinement, and it is also the first time the family dined together in seven days. However, what Wang Chong is concerned about isn’t this.
If there was no unexpected occurrence, then Father would be returning home right now. Because of his official position, Father would leave early and would return late every day. Even if he’s his son, he wouldn’t be able to see him whenever he wanted.
After this incident occurred, Father would promptly leave the capital and return to his military camp. Wang Chong wouldn’t be able to see him for at least half a year.
If he wanted to prevent this incident from happening and change the fate of the family, this family gathering is the perfect opportunity and it is also the last chance.
Would father believe him?
Wang Chong evaluated himself and became silent.
You reap what you sow. In the previous life, he labeled himself as a time traveler, fooled around, behaved frivolously, and caused so many absurd problems.
During those days, all he occupied himself with was fool arounding and hanging out with a bunch of scoundrels.
The “Ma Zhou” that Little Sis spoke of was one of them.
The Wang Chong from the previous life was naive to the bone and assumed everyone was kind by nature. He didn’t realize that these rich kids usually concealed their true personalities deeply and were usually two-faced bastards.
These guys had committed crimes in his name and even framed him for abducting women in broad daylight.
While Wang Chong didn’t really mind some of the minor stuff, framing him for abducting women was going too far. Even Father, who was rarely home and seldom chastised him, could no longer overlook it. After learning about this incident, he was outraged and returned home immediately.
Because of this, Wang Chong was not allowed to leave the house for seven days.
This attributed to Father’s utter disappointment. Although Wang Chong usually behaved unbecomingly and had done some absurd things, he hasn’t fallen this low yet.
To think that he would kidnap women…
That was essentially equal to testing the limits of his father’s patience! Ever since then, his father had completely gave up on him.
Wang Chong only realized a long time after this scandal. Being framed by that bastard, Ma Zhou, Wang Chong was very displeased.
Well, he couldn’t complain to anyone since he’s the one who made the mistake to trust them in the first place. Based on Father’s and Mother’s feelings at the moment, they would ignore any attempt at explaining no matter how hard he tried.
What would an incompetent son be capable of? What decent explanation could come out of his mouth?
After analyzing the situation, Wang Chong agonized over this. He reaped what he sowed!
“No matter what, I can’t continue to be such an asshole. I must change Father’s current impression of myself.”
Wang Chong knew very well that if he want to change his parents’ opinions of him, this family dinner is his last chance. No matter what, he needed to let them know that he is no longer his worthless former self.
What he needed to do was to slowly earn their acknowledgement back.
Wang Chong took a deep breath and confirmed his next course of action.
“Young master!”
The lion headed door closed shut. Two well-built guards respectfully bowed to Wang Chong as the saw him arriving.
These two brawny men stood there like steel towers. With one look, you could tell that they were elite soldiers on the battlefield.
Wang Chong stood for a moment beside the two men and sincerely said, “You’ve worked hard.”
He recognized the two guards; they had been picked by his father, Wang Yan, from the military camp to guard the mansion.
Distance tests a horse’s stamina; time reveals a man’s heart. In his previous life, Wang Chong did not care to know the names of these guards. All other guards and servants scattered and went their own ways when the family fell into ruin. Only these two guards did not abandon and continued to stay by the family.
When the calamity occurred, these two guards died just like rest of the people. Even until the moment of their final breaths, they carried out their duties loyally.
It was at that time when Wang Chong finally bothered to know their names and engraved them deep within his mind; one was called Shen Hai and the other was called Meng Long. They were the family’s most loyal guards.
“Young Master?”
The two guards stared at Wang Chong with amazement. In the past, this young master had always been very arrogant and condescending, so he didn’t speak to the guards.
This time, he actually took the initiative to greet them! It was the first time ever!
The two could see the astonishment in each other’s eyes!
Wang Chong knew what they were thinking. He smiled and gave no explanation. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Given that their impression of him were so bad in the past, it would be difficult to instantly change their opinions of him.
However, after taking the first step, there will be a second step. Sooner or later, they will discover that he had indeed changed.
Wang Chong placed his two hands on the lion door knocker, gave it a strong push, and went inside. The large door creaked so loudly that it could be heard throughout the great hall.
“It smells so good!”
Once Wang Chong stepped in, he could instantly smell the mouthwatering aroma of the gourmet dishes. In the middle of the huge room was a table that could seat more than ten people which was filled with more than twenty delectable dishes.
“I haven’t had such an extravagant meal in a long time.”
Having been attracted by the aroma, Wang Chong’s appetite was stimulated. The food he ate during his seven-day confinement had been rather plain and was nowhere near the appetizing dishes in front of him.
However, although the dishes were excellent, the atmosphere in the great hall was rather unusual.
Wang Chong was slightly surprised and looked up and immediately only to see Father and Mother wearing an icy expression. Both did not even glance at him.
As the aroma from the dinner table spread, the two adults did not move. Only the gluttonous Little Sis continued to wolf away at the food with a pair of chopsticks in one hand and a bowl of rice in the other. Only her two highly tied braids beside the table could be seen trembling with her body obscured from view.
Little Sis has two favorite pastimes: eating and playing around.
When Wang Chong first had seen her eat for the first time, he was instantly flabbergasted. This was no little girl; she was clearly a hungry beast.
After thinking about her amazing strength, Wang Chong just accepted this as normal.
In the family, Little Sis was the only one who was allowed to eat at any time she pleased. However, whenever Little Sis eats, the rice bowl would emit clanging sounds. This time, her mouth was wide open, but no sound came out. She could clearly feel the odd atmosphere.
Throughout the great hall, a deathly silence remained.
“You! Are! Dead!”
Little Sis, holding her bowl, was proudly chowing down while throwing a sympathetic look at Wang Chong. She could already see the tragic fate of her brother.
Little girls were by nature pure and innocent, but their childish nature also caused them to hold grudges for a long time. She still held the lie her brother had told her against him!
Wang Chong couldn’t deal with the angry Little Sis at the moment. He knew perfectly well that although his parents had freed him from his confinement, this situation hasn’t passed yet.
“Father! Mother!”
Wang Chong was different from his usual self who sat at the dinner table without saying a single word and directly buried his face into his food but rather circled around the dinner table and stopped beside Father and Mother.
Watching from the sideline, Little Sis gaped after what Wang Chong’s did.
What is Bro doing? Don’t you know that Father and Mother are furious right now? Going near them right now, do you want to die?
But something that caused Little Sis to be even more shocked happened:
“…… What happened this time was my fault. From now on, I will break off from those people and won’t hang out with them again.”
Wang Chong said with his head lowered.
“Pang!”
Little Sis, holding her chopsticks and seeing her brother’s serious face, was shocked with her jaw dropping. What is going on? Her brother actually apologized for his mistake on his own accord.
Did she hear right?
Frantically rubbing her eyes, Little Sis found out that she really did not mishear.
In the great hall, the depressing, heavy atmosphere suddenly loosened a bit. At the head seat of the table sat a dignified, elegant, middle-aged woman who wore a jade green dress with a large peony design that complimented her traditional ancient Chinese female hairstyle. Her face suddenly twitched and showed a shocked expression.
This child actually apologized?
Zhao Shuhua could hardly believe her ears. She had scolded him plenty of times because of this incident, but not once did he even bother to care. Even confinement and physical punishment did not seem to make him repent one bit.
Sometimes, Zhao Shuhua felt that she had failed as a mother. Secretly, she was very vexed but she never expressed it in front of her children.
But this time, he actually admitted to his mistake and apologized. Has this child really changed?
In this moment, Zhao Shuhua slightly lost her composure.
She really hoped that her child had finally seen the error in his ways, but she was afraid that it was merely her wishful thinking. After all, he had behaved in the most terrible way for as long as she could remember.
“You disobedient son! You finally admit to your mistake?”
A cold voice sounded. It was Wang Chong’s father, Wang Yan, speaking. Wang Chong’s father sat there with a sharp and dignified look and gave off a strong sense of oppression.
The Book of Rites mentioned “benevolent father and filial son” but Wang Chong felt considerable pressure. Wang Chong knew that if his father was not currently suppressing his aura, the feeling of oppression would be far stronger.[1]
“What are you saying? Couldn’t Chong’er repent and change? Or did you not hear him admit to his mistake?”
Zhao Shuhua was worried that Wang Chong was lying to make her happy, but after hearing what Wang Yan said, she was displeased by his words. Women cannot get involved in politics; this is the rule of the Imperial Court. Zhao Shuhua never interfered in the Wang Yan’s political or military matters.
However, Wang Yan was often leading his troops, so Madam Wang was the one who generally set the rules for this house for her four children. Madam Wang always had the final say when it concerned the education and upbringing of their children.
Although Wang Yan is the commander of an army, even he wasn’t able to change Madam Wang’s mind on matters such as this.
Even though Wang Chong had his head facing downwards, he could clearly see that father, Wang Yan, relax his stiff and stern expression ever so slightly.
It was clear that his apology was indeed having some effect.
“Father was right to discipline me. Chong’er realizes that he was too unruly and ignorant before and have caused Father and Mother much worry. From now on, Chong’er will definitely turn over a new leaf.”
Wang Chong said while bowing.
With this, Father and Mother simultaneously looked up seeing the amazement in each other’s eyes. Putting aside their disobedient son’s apology from before, the fact that he didn’t talk back to the scolding was already unprecedented. Is the sun rising from the west today?[2]
If he only apologized once, it could have been dismissed as a random whim of his. But, to think that he would reaffirm his resolution to change for the better… Has this disobedient son really repented his ways?
“Chong’er, don’t listen to your father and quickly sit down. It’s family dinner time so don’t show us a frown like this,” ordered Mother.
Wang Chong obeyed and then returned to his seat in well-mannered fashion only to sit still, motionless. Since Father and Mother hadn’t begin eating, Wang Chong also did not.
Father and Mother saw this and became astonished again.
“This child has really changed.”
At this moment, his mother, Zhao Shuhua was pleasantly surprised by this occurrence.
Who wouldn’t want their sons to become dragons and their daughters to become phoenixes?[3]
However, this son of theirs had always let them down before. Has her prayers for her son to change for the better finally been answered?
At that moment, Zhao Shuhua almost cried in joy.
[1] Book of Rites
[2] When something that is unexpected happens. Or similar to the idiom “when pigs fly”
[3] To have their children become powerful and successful
Chapter 2 : Rebirth
The autumn wind blew!
The closer he got to the great hall, the more nervous he became. Generally, a person who has experienced losses will cherish what they currently have.
In his previous life, he had lived ignorantly and was not concerned about anything. It was hard to imagine that just having dinner together with his family would cause him to be so nervous.
“I guess this must be nostalgia,” Wang Chong thought. Lifting his head, he saw two large doors embedded with lion-headed door knockers that opened into the great hall where everyone dined.
The Wang family wasn’t a family of nobles. There were no strict laws to follow, but it was still a military family. Although Mother didn’t establish any specific rules, unspoken ones still exist within their esteemed family.
There were many sons and daughters in the family. No matter who it is including Father, as long as they were in the capital, they must dine together at least once a week. Everyone gathers around a large table and have their meals together happily.
Today is Wang Chong’s last day of confinement, and it is also the first time the family dined together in seven days. However, what Wang Chong is concerned about isn’t this.
If there was no unexpected occurrence, then Father would be returning home right now. Because of his official position, Father would leave early and would return late every day. Even if he’s his son, he wouldn’t be able to see him whenever he wanted.
After this incident occurred, Father would promptly leave the capital and return to his military camp. Wang Chong wouldn’t be able to see him for at least half a year.
If he wanted to prevent this incident from happening and change the fate of the family, this family gathering is the perfect opportunity and it is also the last chance.
Would father believe him?
Wang Chong evaluated himself and became silent.
You reap what you sow. In the previous life, he labeled himself as a time traveler, fooled around, behaved frivolously, and caused so many absurd problems.
During those days, all he occupied himself with was fool arounding and hanging out with a bunch of scoundrels.
The “Ma Zhou” that Little Sis spoke of was one of them.
The Wang Chong from the previous life was naive to the bone and assumed everyone was kind by nature. He didn’t realize that these rich kids usually concealed their true personalities deeply and were usually two-faced bastards.
These guys had committed crimes in his name and even framed him for abducting women in broad daylight.
While Wang Chong didn’t really mind some of the minor stuff, framing him for abducting women was going too far. Even Father, who was rarely home and seldom chastised him, could no longer overlook it. After learning about this incident, he was outraged and returned home immediately.
Because of this, Wang Chong was not allowed to leave the house for seven days.
This attributed to Father’s utter disappointment. Although Wang Chong usually behaved unbecomingly and had done some absurd things, he hasn’t fallen this low yet.
To think that he would kidnap women…
That was essentially equal to testing the limits of his father’s patience! Ever since then, his father had completely gave up on him.
Wang Chong only realized a long time after this scandal. Being framed by that bastard, Ma Zhou, Wang Chong was very displeased.
Well, he couldn’t complain to anyone since he’s the one who made the mistake to trust them in the first place. Based on Father’s and Mother’s feelings at the moment, they would ignore any attempt at explaining no matter how hard he tried.
What would an incompetent son be capable of? What decent explanation could come out of his mouth?
After analyzing the situation, Wang Chong agonized over this. He reaped what he sowed!
“No matter what, I can’t continue to be such an asshole. I must change Father’s current impression of myself.”
Wang Chong knew very well that if he want to change his parents’ opinions of him, this family dinner is his last chance. No matter what, he needed to let them know that he is no longer his worthless former self.
What he needed to do was to slowly earn their acknowledgement back.
Wang Chong took a deep breath and confirmed his next course of action.
“Young master!”
The lion headed door closed shut. Two well-built guards respectfully bowed to Wang Chong as the saw him arriving.
These two brawny men stood there like steel towers. With one look, you could tell that they were elite soldiers on the battlefield.
Wang Chong stood for a moment beside the two men and sincerely said, “You’ve worked hard.”
He recognized the two guards; they had been picked by his father, Wang Yan, from the military camp to guard the mansion.
Distance tests a horse’s stamina; time reveals a man’s heart. In his previous life, Wang Chong did not care to know the names of these guards. All other guards and servants scattered and went their own ways when the family fell into ruin. Only these two guards did not abandon and continued to stay by the family.
When the calamity occurred, these two guards died just like rest of the people. Even until the moment of their final breaths, they carried out their duties loyally.
It was at that time when Wang Chong finally bothered to know their names and engraved them deep within his mind; one was called Shen Hai and the other was called Meng Long. They were the family’s most loyal guards.
“Young Master?”
The two guards stared at Wang Chong with amazement. In the past, this young master had always been very arrogant and condescending, so he didn’t speak to the guards.
This time, he actually took the initiative to greet them! It was the first time ever!
The two could see the astonishment in each other’s eyes!
Wang Chong knew what they were thinking. He smiled and gave no explanation. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Given that their impression of him were so bad in the past, it would be difficult to instantly change their opinions of him.
However, after taking the first step, there will be a second step. Sooner or later, they will discover that he had indeed changed.
Wang Chong placed his two hands on the lion door knocker, gave it a strong push, and went inside. The large door creaked so loudly that it could be heard throughout the great hall.
“It smells so good!”
Once Wang Chong stepped in, he could instantly smell the mouthwatering aroma of the gourmet dishes. In the middle of the huge room was a table that could seat more than ten people which was filled with more than twenty delectable dishes.
“I haven’t had such an extravagant meal in a long time.”
Having been attracted by the aroma, Wang Chong’s appetite was stimulated. The food he ate during his seven-day confinement had been rather plain and was nowhere near the appetizing dishes in front of him.
However, although the dishes were excellent, the atmosphere in the great hall was rather unusual.
Wang Chong was slightly surprised and looked up and immediately only to see Father and Mother wearing an icy expression. Both did not even glance at him.
As the aroma from the dinner table spread, the two adults did not move. Only the gluttonous Little Sis continued to wolf away at the food with a pair of chopsticks in one hand and a bowl of rice in the other. Only her two highly tied braids beside the table could be seen trembling with her body obscured from view.
Little Sis has two favorite pastimes: eating and playing around.
When Wang Chong first had seen her eat for the first time, he was instantly flabbergasted. This was no little girl; she was clearly a hungry beast.
After thinking about her amazing strength, Wang Chong just accepted this as normal.
In the family, Little Sis was the only one who was allowed to eat at any time she pleased. However, whenever Little Sis eats, the rice bowl would emit clanging sounds. This time, her mouth was wide open, but no sound came out. She could clearly feel the odd atmosphere.
Throughout the great hall, a deathly silence remained.
“You! Are! Dead!”
Little Sis, holding her bowl, was proudly chowing down while throwing a sympathetic look at Wang Chong. She could already see the tragic fate of her brother.
Little girls were by nature pure and innocent, but their childish nature also caused them to hold grudges for a long time. She still held the lie her brother had told her against him!
Wang Chong couldn’t deal with the angry Little Sis at the moment. He knew perfectly well that although his parents had freed him from his confinement, this situation hasn’t passed yet.
“Father! Mother!”
Wang Chong was different from his usual self who sat at the dinner table without saying a single word and directly buried his face into his food but rather circled around the dinner table and stopped beside Father and Mother.
Watching from the sideline, Little Sis gaped after what Wang Chong’s did.
What is Bro doing? Don’t you know that Father and Mother are furious right now? Going near them right now, do you want to die?
But something that caused Little Sis to be even more shocked happened:
“…… What happened this time was my fault. From now on, I will break off from those people and won’t hang out with them again.”
Wang Chong said with his head lowered.
“Pang!”
Little Sis, holding her chopsticks and seeing her brother’s serious face, was shocked with her jaw dropping. What is going on? Her brother actually apologized for his mistake on his own accord.
Did she hear right?
Frantically rubbing her eyes, Little Sis found out that she really did not mishear.
In the great hall, the depressing, heavy atmosphere suddenly loosened a bit. At the head seat of the table sat a dignified, elegant, middle-aged woman who wore a jade green dress with a large peony design that complimented her traditional ancient Chinese female hairstyle. Her face suddenly twitched and showed a shocked expression.
This child actually apologized?
Zhao Shuhua could hardly believe her ears. She had scolded him plenty of times because of this incident, but not once did he even bother to care. Even confinement and physical punishment did not seem to make him repent one bit.
Sometimes, Zhao Shuhua felt that she had failed as a mother. Secretly, she was very vexed but she never expressed it in front of her children.
But this time, he actually admitted to his mistake and apologized. Has this child really changed?
In this moment, Zhao Shuhua slightly lost her composure.
She really hoped that her child had finally seen the error in his ways, but she was afraid that it was merely her wishful thinking. After all, he had behaved in the most terrible way for as long as she could remember.
“You disobedient son! You finally admit to your mistake?”
A cold voice sounded. It was Wang Chong’s father, Wang Yan, speaking. Wang Chong’s father sat there with a sharp and dignified look and gave off a strong sense of oppression.
The Book of Rites mentioned “benevolent father and filial son” but Wang Chong felt considerable pressure. Wang Chong knew that if his father was not currently suppressing his aura, the feeling of oppression would be far stronger.[1]
“What are you saying? Couldn’t Chong’er repent and change? Or did you not hear him admit to his mistake?”
Zhao Shuhua was worried that Wang Chong was lying to make her happy, but after hearing what Wang Yan said, she was displeased by his words. Women cannot get involved in politics; this is the rule of the Imperial Court. Zhao Shuhua never interfered in the Wang Yan’s political or military matters.
However, Wang Yan was often leading his troops, so Madam Wang was the one who generally set the rules for this house for her four children. Madam Wang always had the final say when it concerned the education and upbringing of their children.
Although Wang Yan is the commander of an army, even he wasn’t able to change Madam Wang’s mind on matters such as this.
Even though Wang Chong had his head facing downwards, he could clearly see that father, Wang Yan, relax his stiff and stern expression ever so slightly.
It was clear that his apology was indeed having some effect.
“Father was right to discipline me. Chong’er realizes that he was too unruly and ignorant before and have caused Father and Mother much worry. From now on, Chong’er will definitely turn over a new leaf.”
Wang Chong said while bowing.
With this, Father and Mother simultaneously looked up seeing the amazement in each other’s eyes. Putting aside their disobedient son’s apology from before, the fact that he didn’t talk back to the scolding was already unprecedented. Is the sun rising from the west today?[2]
If he only apologized once, it could have been dismissed as a random whim of his. But, to think that he would reaffirm his resolution to change for the better… Has this disobedient son really repented his ways?
“Chong’er, don’t listen to your father and quickly sit down. It’s family dinner time so don’t show us a frown like this,” ordered Mother.
Wang Chong obeyed and then returned to his seat in well-mannered fashion only to sit still, motionless. Since Father and Mother hadn’t begin eating, Wang Chong also did not.
Father and Mother saw this and became astonished again.
“This child has really changed.”
At this moment, his mother, Zhao Shuhua was pleasantly surprised by this occurrence.
Who wouldn’t want their sons to become dragons and their daughters to become phoenixes?[3]
However, this son of theirs had always let them down before. Has her prayers for her son to change for the better finally been answered?
At that moment, Zhao Shuhua almost cried in joy.
[1] Book of Rites
[2] When something that is unexpected happens. Or similar to the idiom “when pigs fly”
[3] To have their children become powerful and successful
