"Did you really see her enter the Yang Royal residence?" Zhang Dashan asked his son, his voice laced with disbelief. Because the woman bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Cao, they had lingered, sending their eldest son to track her and ascertain her identity by finding out whose door she entered.
To learn that she had entered a royal residence was beyond his wildest imagination. In his eyes, royalty occupied a celestial realm, like clouds in the sky, while they were mere mud on the ground, incapable of any intersection. If he had initially suspected she might be his long-lost love, the news he received now made him believe it was impossible. A profound disappointment washed over him, yet they had come all this way to the capital, and seeing its prosperity, they resolved to find work and settle here, in the very heart of the empire.
Wu Caiwei, stepping into the Yang Royal residence, couldn't help but glance back. She had a persistent feeling of being followed, but upon turning, she saw everyone engaged in their usual activities. Shaking her head, she attributed it to her recent heightened state of caution. Who in the capital would recognize her? Why would anyone pay her attention?
In truth, she was being overly modest. Those with ulterior motives always sought to know their enemy as well as themselves to emerge victorious. They had all learned about her, knowing she was Yang Hanye's most trusted advisor, and that anyone so deeply trusted by him must possess considerable skill. If only they could recruit her to their own cause. Several individuals had already been contemplating such a move, but the sudden appearance of Chen Renjie made them hesitate.
Her lover resided within the Yang Royal residence. Word had it that they were in the midst of a burgeoning romance, making it highly unlikely she would leave. Moreover, the people she had painstakingly cultivated were meant for critical moments, not to be sacrificed in vain. Therefore, they proceeded with extreme caution and abandoned any attempts at contact.
Meanwhile, Zhang Dashan's family, having arrived in the capital, was confronted with the exorbitant cost of living. A sense of urgency compelled them to find work quickly to alleviate their financial strain.
They had initially assumed that finding employment far from their homeland would be difficult. To their surprise, upon venturing out, they discovered that almost every shop was hiring. However, for men like them, unlettered foreigners, the only option was manual labor. The women were relegated to menial tasks like washing dishes and sweeping floors, with no easy jobs awaiting them.
Their son was still their son, and Zhang Dashan's heart ached for him. Along the journey, he had witnessed the selfishness and laziness of his daughters-in-law. As long as there was work, food, and the possibility of earning some money, they seemed content.
Although they often engaged in petty squabbles, faced with the bustling capital, they all desired a stable life. Thus, under the encouragement of their husbands and Zhang Dashan, they accepted the jobs. The elder daughter-in-law found work in a small tavern, looking after children and doing chores in the back. The second daughter-in-law primarily cleaned rooms in an inn and was expected to attend to any requests from guests.
Before their hardships, they would never have considered such work. But the experiences of their journey had subjected them to hardships they had never known, making these jobs, though difficult, something they had to endure for the sake of three meals a day and a roof over their heads.
At this moment, they deeply regretted abandoning their stepmother and Hesheng's family. If they were still with them, earning money to support them would mean they wouldn't have to toil so arduously. But it was too late for regrets.
It wasn't just them; Zhang Dashan himself harbored regrets. Although he had urged his son and daughters-in-law to seek work, the care of his grandchildren and household chores fell to him. Only now did he realize how difficult seemingly simple tasks could be when they fell upon his own shoulders. He found himself becoming increasingly agitated whenever his grandchildren quarreled and cried incessantly.
He felt he had done his best, yet the children wore dirty clothes and ate poorly. He had caught his daughters-in-law casting dissatisfied glances his way more than once. However, given their current circumstances, they could only endure, promising themselves that once they had money, they would never help with childcare again.
Life stumbled on, a mixture of poverty and helplessness, but at least they were surviving. If not for Hai Sheng spotting an unexpected individual, whose fine attire suggested a life of prosperity, he even harbored doubts that the person he had seen was his stepmother. His heart stirred. Looking at his own ragged clothes, the angry foreman glaring at him, and remembering their destitute home, he resolved to seize this opportunity.
Just then, a whip cracked across his back. The foreman glared at him, scolding, "The master hired you to work, not to stand around. Everyone else has made several trips. If you don't want to work, you can leave immediately."
Facing the humiliation, he almost reflexively looked towards Hesheng's direction. But he was nowhere to be seen. Whether he felt disappointment or relief, he sighed and quickly shouldered the grain, walking away, ignoring the curses behind him.
Despite his fear of the foreman, during lunch, he couldn't resist approaching him, speaking ingratiatingly, "Boss, I know you mean well and are disappointed in my lack of progress. The truth is, my outburst today had a reason. The man who entered this morning resembles a brother of mine. I wonder if he is the person I'm looking for. I wanted to ask you about him."
The foreman scrutinized him from head to toe. He hadn't noticed before, but now, he saw a resemblance to young Master Hesheng. Perhaps they were indeed related. However, he hadn't heard Madam Wu mention any such thing. Nevertheless, what if? With this thought, his demeanor softened instantly, and he shared all he knew, concluding with a reminder, "I've told you everything I know, my brother. Don't forget me when you become successful."
"Absolutely, absolutely. The first job I got in the capital was from you. I'll never forget it. If I ever have the fortune to rise, I'll pull you up with me." Hai Sheng had matured considerably in recent times. Although he found the foreman's behavior somewhat distasteful and felt he shouldn't associate too closely with him, he smiled and agreed to his request, to avoid further trouble.
The foreman, pleased with his compliant attitude, patted his shoulder and returned to his duties. Hesheng noticed a change in the foreman's demeanor from then on. He would greet him with a smile each time and never again raised his whip.
Sometimes, the foreman would even subtly inquire about his search for his relative, curious to know if the man was indeed his brother. At these times, Hesheng would explain that he was from the countryside, busy with work, and hadn't had the chance to verify. He promised to share the outcome once he had the time and opportunity to interact with him.