After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 672 - 666: Weeping Bitterly

Zhao Hanzhang thought of the group of people outside who were still struggling to survive, and couldn’t help raising her voice, "They are because they have not! But though they lack wealth and cannot have enough to eat, they still have family affection, friendship, and loyalty to their monarch!"

Zhao Hanzhang said with tears in her eyes, "Zhao Zheng already has wealth and status; he stood at the endpoint that many people strive for their whole lives since birth. Should he then remain stationary, unmoving? Clearly, he can go further."

"Heaven granted him a good background and a mind no weaker than ordinary people; why can’t he passionately and freely pursue his life’s goals, accomplish what ordinary people cannot, and achieve unprecedented feats?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "In this world, there must be some who walk ahead; not everyone can just seek a lifetime of comfort without moving forward."

Zhao Hu sat where he was, his mouth opening several times but unable to say anything.

"The road ahead, though thorny, has its lone splendid scenery. I want to be one who walks that road, and so does Uncle Cheng; I think Zhao Zheng does too." Zhao Hanzhang seriously looked at him and said, "Seventh Ancestor, please do not hinder them, father and son, okay?"

Zhao Hu suddenly felt very uncomfortable, his heart aching sourly and with great grievance. His eyes quickly filled with tears, and he asked shakily, "How, how do you know he has such ambitions, and isn’t being forced by his father like me..."

"Grandfather, I am willing," Zhao Zheng ran out from behind a group of roses, came up swiftly, and knelt before Zhao Hu, saying, "I am also willing to be one who walks the path ahead. I don’t want to lead a muddled life, only knowing a life of fine clothes; though studying with father is very tiring, I am very happy, truly happy."

Seeing his grandson, Zhao Hu could no longer hold back his grievances, embracing him as tears poured down, "I know, I know you are a good child, you are not like me, you resemble your father. Both of you look down on me..."

Zhao Hanzhang’s tears were forced back by him, and she looked in shock at Zhao Hu, who was crying so hard he struggled to catch his breath.

She helplessly turned her head to look at Zhao Cheng standing by the rose bushes, signaling him to come up and comfort his father.

But Zhao Cheng did not move, nor did he look at Zhao Hanzhang, instead standing quietly, silently watching Zhao Hu, who was crying tears.

Little Zhao Zheng also saw his grandfather cry for the first time, especially crying so miserably. He couldn’t help but cry along, while comforting him, "Grandfather, my father and I have never thought like that. Father, Father may not allow me to study with you, but he teaches me to be filial to you and has never spoken ill of you to me, really."

All the bad remarks about Zhao Hu were made by other elders in the clan. Zhao Zheng actually remembered things from early on; he could recall events from when he was three or four. But adults often think such young children don’t remember or understand, so they discuss matters unscrupulously in front of him.

Zhao Zheng lived with his father since childhood, even when his father went to clan school for lessons, he would take him along.

Children of two or three often can’t sit still, so sometimes he would sneak out of the clan school to play nearby, occasionally even finding his way home to play with his grandfather.

Honestly speaking, Zhao Zheng quite liked his grandfather, because in his memory, his grandfather was really good to him. Every time he saw him, he would give him all kinds of things; back then the Zhao Family’s Wu Castle was already built, and there was a market inside. Zhao Hu would often sneak and take him out of clan school. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

After sneaking him out, he would let him sit on his shoulders and carry him to stroll around the market.

Whatever he liked, grandfather would buy for him, and sometimes even if he wasn’t very fond of something but just glanced at it, grandfather would still big-heartedly buy it for him.

But his father didn’t like him having much contact with his grandfather and blocked it several times.

To be honest, Zhao Zheng didn’t understand when he was young. Seeing those people discuss privately, saying that his father wasn’t filial to grandfather, he once secretly resented his father.

Later, after being forced to go on study trips with his father, he saw more, read more, and became somewhat sensible. Only then did he gradually understand that father may not be correct, but grandfather’s actions were even less so.

He knew vaguely that father loved him dearly, which is why he was so strict with him and didn’t want him influenced by grandfather.

His father took him alone, and it was very hard; but even so, he never relied on others and was never negligent with him.

Like Senior Brother Kuan and the others, they envied him for having such a father, and they privately said more than once that if only their father were like Uncle Cheng.

After three years of study trips, Zhao Zheng’s inner resentment vanished, but after returning home, he again felt fear; he disliked the relationship between father and grandfather. But as the younger, he had no right to speak, only waiting anxiously on the sidelines.

When grandfather’s and father’s education conflicted, he didn’t even know which side to choose; it seemed choosing either side was wrong.

He wanted to relax by playing joyfully with grandfather; yet he didn’t want father to be disappointed and sad. And sometimes, studying was enjoyable, he didn’t want to give up either.

Before today, he had been in a dilemma, but after listening to Third Sister’s words, Zhao Zheng knew better what kind of life he wanted.

He wiped the tears from his face, looked up, and said to grandfather, "Grandfather, although sometimes I want to play with you, I want more to achieve something, to gain fame in the world."

Zhao Hu was crying too intensely; he couldn’t control his tears, and with shaky breaths he asked him, "What achievements do you want?"

"I want to join Third Sister in bringing peace to the troubled times, so that the people under our governance can live and work happily."

Zhao Hu immediately regained clarity and busily held him, saying, "You follow your father in teaching and nurturing, help the county government with calculations and errands, but don’t go to the battlefield."

"Settling troubled times is adults’ work. With your small arms and legs, what can you do?"

Zhao Zheng unwillingly said, "Cousin Yong was able to mount a horse and fight enemies at twelve. Why can’t I?"

"Can you compare with him? He lacks brains and only has strength, yet you have brains..."

Zhao Hanzhang was displeased and coughed heavily, staring at Zhao Hu with a dangerous look, "Seventh Ancestor, who did you say lacks brains? Why doesn’t Second Son have brains? He just can’t read, but his mind is fine."

Seeing they would start arguing, Zhao Cheng finally stepped forward, nodded to Zhao Hanzhang before saying to Zhao Zheng, "Go bring your grandfather a basin of hot water."

Zhao Zheng glanced at Zhao Hanzhang, saw her blink, and then got up and withdrew.

Zhao Hanzhang also got up, bowed to the father and son, then withdrew, leaving space for them.

Zhao Zheng didn’t go far, standing nearby to dry the tears on his face.

Because of his age, Zhao Hanzhang took pity on him, pointed out spots he hadn’t wiped dry, then asked, "Weren’t you instructed to prepare for the trip to Ruyin County? Why did you come back?"

"Originally we had gathered the people to depart, but Uncle Ming suddenly sent someone to find us, telling us to return home once more as there was something to discuss with father. So we came back, but the others went ahead to Ruyin County."

Upon returning, the servants led them this way, believing Zhao Ming was here, yet it turned out to be Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Hu sitting in the pavilion.

It turned out to be Zhao Ming.

Zhao Hanzhang let out a breath, suddenly widening her eyes. She raised her hand to look at it, then stiffly turned to look at the documents left in the pavilion, wondering whether entering to retrieve the documents now would interrupt the father and son’s conversation?