Chapter 19: Zhong Guoliang Blocks the Way and Weeps (Part 2)

  Zhong Guoliang then knocked his head three times against the coffin of Shi Taigong, stood up, and with tears in his eyes said to Shi Jin: "Dàláng, I know this is unfair to you, but listen to my advice, okay?"

  Shi Jin wiped away a few tears and looked at Zhong Guoliang's sincere expression, nodding his head with a sob.

  "Son, I've watched you grow up, and I shouldn't be saying this. But... " Chong Guoliang's voice cracked as he sobbed: "'A single misstep leads to eternal regret.' Now that it's come to this... there's nothing else to be done."

  Zhong Guoliang has always been a straightforward and forthright person, but today he is being evasive, which must mean it's a difficult matter. At this moment, Shi San Gong had also managed to stop crying with great difficulty, his face covered in tears, but between his eyebrows and eyes were all concerns for Shi Jin, afraid that Zhong Guoliang would say something excessive.

  Shi Jin took two steps forward and knelt down in front of Zhong Guoliang, his eyes brimming with tears as he begged to hear what he had to say.

  Chong Guoliang saw him kneeling in front of him, was moved by his sincerity, and felt more sorrow for the child. He choked back a sob and said softly: "I know you're a good man, it's not too late to turn back now." As he spoke, he bent down and whispered in Shi Jin's ear: "The day after tomorrow, after we bury Old Man Tai, you go up the mountain and disperse the remnants. We'll tie up those three men and send them to the authorities with a few hundred taels of silver to apologize for their crimes. At that time, all the villagers will go to plead for leniency on your behalf, and the county won't punish you severely. Shi Family Village will be preserved."

  Shi Jin heard that he was being asked to bring his three brothers in exchange for a peaceful and happy life at the Zhuang's. His heart trembled with fear, how could he do such a thing...

  Zhong Guoliang also knew the difficulty of this matter and saw the torment in Shi Jin's heart, so he stood up and pointed to the surroundings, saying to Shi Jin: "Child, you can't hesitate! Look, look at these ordinary people who care about you and love you, can you bear to let them live in fear every day? How can you bear to lead the young men of the village to rebel and die? How can you bear to let their families be broken and their wives and children scattered?"

  "Taigong's lifelong efforts were for the happiness and well-being of Shijiazhuang, Dalang. You led the whole village to rebel, but why? What is it all for?! Zhong Guoliang's emotions became intense as he spoke, his breathing irregular, and he coughed repeatedly: "Taigong has passed away, our hearts are already empty by half. This bitter sorrow will only continue to simmer. I really... really don't want Shijiazhuang to have any more troubles. Dalang, you can't abandon Taigong's lifelong efforts for your own personal gain!"

  Shi Jin was faced with such a problem, his mind had long been in a state of turmoil, and the balance in his heart could not be evened out. On one hand were the brothers of Mount Liusha, where there was loyalty sworn to heaven and earth; on the other hand were the elders of Shi Family Village, where his father's lifelong efforts were at stake. No matter how hard he tried, Shi Jin couldn't think of a way to reconcile both sides. The more he thought about it, the more unbearable it became, and he wished he could die instantly to end the pain. His pent-up anger was released through his hands, and he dug his ten fingers deep into the earth.

  Zhong Ling saw Shi Jin with tears in his eyes, gritting his teeth, his face twisted in pain, red and swollen as if blood was about to drip out. Feeling distressed, he hastily stepped forward, embracing Shi Jin from behind the waist, trying to pull him up. But at this moment, Shi Jin's thoughts were almost consumed by the fire of his heart, how could he be pulled away?

  Shi San Gong looked at Shi Jin like that, and his heart was also aching. Seeing Zhong Ling unable to move him, he too stood up and came over to support him. With great effort, he helped Shi Jin up and said to him: "Guo Liang was right, the Shi family village was able to get better and better all because of your father. But now that things have reached this point, it's too late to say anything... What is the purpose of a person's life?"

  Shi San Gong turned his face, facing the crying villagers: "Why can we live... Isn't it because of Shi Jin Zhuang's strong iron bones that we have such a life? Now..." Shi San Gong said, tears streaming down again: "Tai Gong was killed by that scoundrel, what's the point of us living like this? Even if we're rich and stable, how can others look up to our Shi family village?"

  Shi San Gong walked slowly in front of the crowd: "Fellow villagers, Tai Gong's body is still cold, but that corrupt official is sitting in the government office drinking wine with ease. How can we bear to face this, how can we swallow this bitter breath?"

  The villagers, upon hearing this, resonated with it from the bottom of their hearts and involuntarily shouted out words of revenge and resentment.

  Shi San Gong turned his face and said to Shi Jin: "Brother, even if you are seeking revenge or rebelling, or even if you want to claim the throne, I, Shi Wengong, will follow you forever with this old body of mine. I won't say a word even in the face of knives and fire!"

  Although Shi San Gong had a big white beard, his words were very passionate. For a time, the men on the farm were also moved to their hearts, boiling with hot blood, repeatedly responding and vowing to follow Shi Jin to the left and right until death.

  Shi Jin was also shocked by this earth-shaking shout, and his heart felt infinite gratitude. At this moment, the dying fire in his heart reignited. Shi Jin fell to the ground with a thud and exclaimed loudly: "With brothers by my side, even death is not regrettable!"

  At this moment, Shi Jin shed tears, no longer tears of despair: "I, Shi Jin, will not betray all of you!"

  "You're talking nonsense!" Zhong Guoliang finally couldn't bear it and jumped up, pointing at Shi Jin and crying out: "Rebellion will lead to war, war will bring casualties, how can there be no families torn apart and people dying if there are casualties? How can you not betray them! Nonsense, all of this is because you don't care about yourself!"

  "Shut up!" Shi San Gong stormed forward, his voice trembling with rage: "You keep saying how great Ta Gong is, well I'm asking you, are you going to avenge Ta Gong's death or not?"

  Zhong Guoliang saw Shi San Gong speaking, and with the respect due to him, he said: "San Gong, this deep-seated grudge must be avenged, but 'a gentleman takes ten years to avenge himself'! Let me wait until I become a high-ranking official in my village, then I'll come back and not only take revenge on him, but also shield the Shi family's village from wind and rain like Taigong, and never again suffer any humiliation from officials. Only then will this grudge be thoroughly avenged, and beautifully avenged!"

  "Hahaha" Shi San Gong listened and looked up at the sky with a bitter smile; "According to your way of speaking, it's thoroughly reported, beautifully reported. But this road is too long, do you want that corrupt official to live a few more years? I'm afraid I won't live that long, I can't wait either."

  "It's payback time!" "We'll take the city by storm and avenge our blood debt with their blood!" The villagers of Shijiazhuang shouted in unison.

  Zhong Guoliang looked at these people, who were so ignorant and unreasonable. He was anxious but helpless, closed his eyes and knelt down in front of Taigong's coffin, wailing: "Taigong, Guoliang has returned to heaven!"

  Zhong Guoliang wiped away his tears and rushed towards Shi Jin, saying: "You can't listen to my advice, keep this foundation, but I can't just watch your father's legacy be destroyed. I'm leaving, leaving the Shi family village, you take care of yourself!" As he spoke, he pulled Zhong Ling out of the crowd.

  Zhong Ling burst into loud wailing as soon as she heard the news, and couldn't stop her tears. "Dad, where are you going?!"

  "Where are we going? The Shi family's village is about to be gone, what does it matter if we wander the world! Not only am I leaving, but our whole family is leaving!" With that, he grabbed Zhong Ling and dragged her away with all his might.