BHBF Chapter 17.1

Boss, He’s Becoming a Father [Arc 1] Chapter 17.1: The Prodigal Son (31)

 

The middle-aged man only felt that things seemed to be different from the expected script, but the officials beside him were already shouting: “Protect the lord!”

 

Most of the group surrounded the middle-aged man, while others ran after Shao Yu.

 

But Shao Yu was obviously an old man, and he didn’t seem to be walking very fast, but he disappeared in a few seconds.

 

The middle-aged man looked down at the thing in his arms. It was a booklet. He didn’t take it seriously at first. He even suspected that it was a book of poetry for some scholar. After casually opening it and flipping through it, he was stunned.

 

He flipped through It roughly again, and finally confirmed what it was. He quickly stopped the officials who were chasing after him.

 

“There’s no need to chase him. Please ask Mr. Wei to come over quickly.”

 

The officials couldn’t catch up with Shao Yu, but when they saw the prefect shouting to stop, they immediately stopped.

 

Before doing things, Shao Yu carefully inquired about the prefect, and knew that the other party had only arrived here three months ago. He had only been here for a short time, so he probably wouldn’t have anything to do with Zhang Meng.

 

If he really colludes with Zhang Meng, Shao Yu also has a backup plan, so he has no fear at all, but the possibility of this is very small.

 

Although the prefect had not yet made a name for himself, Shao Yu looked at many of his actions and immediately judged that he was a good official who really wanted to do practical things.

 

Zhang Meng was running rampant in the countryside and was considered a bully. If he could uproot the evil forces behind him at this time, it would be a very honorable political achievement for this gentleman. That’s why Shao Yu did what he did today.

 

Shao Yu is so arrogant that he is not afraid that the other party will find out about him, and he can also be sure that the other party will definitely find out about him.

 

After returning home, Shao Xiaocao was still making lanterns, and Mrs. Wang seemed to be preparing a bag for Shao Yu in the house.

 

“Daddy is going on a long journey? Are you looking for my brother?” Shao Xiaocao asked. She hated Shao Dabao because of Zhang Meng’s incident, but in the end blood relations prevailed. At this time, she was also very worried about Shao Dabao’s life and death.

 

“If you want to see him alive, you want to see his body if he’s dead, no matter what, you have to bring him back.” Shao Yu said.

 

Shao Xiaocao was actually a little envious of her brother at this time. Although Shao Yu treated her very well now, she still remembered what Mrs. Wang said. A married daughter was like water thrown out. She would not trouble her mother’s family anymore when she gets married. She secretly thought that if one day she died in a foreign land, she didn’t know if her father would take her back.

 

Shao Yu saw her sad look. Although he didn’t understand what she was thinking, he still said: “Don’t worry, daddy will always be your support.”

 

Shao Xiaocao nodded heavily when she heard this. If someone else said this, she would probably be suspicious, but when the words came out of Shao Yu’s mouth, she believed them without thinking.

 

Shao Yu touched the top of her hair, looked at the lantern in her hand, and asked softly: “Do you like making lanterns?”

 

Shao Xiaocao hesitated. For her, the word “like” is undoubtedly a luxury. Ever since she can remember, she has seen the situation in this family become more and more serious. Out of filial piety, she took on the responsibility of the whole family.

 

When she was young, she saw the red headbands worn by other little girls. She was envious of them, but she never made such a request to her parents. She gradually hid all her preferences and became an unimportant but competent member of the family.

 

Seeing that she looked a little confused, Shao Yu asked gently: “If you don’t have to do anything, and your mother and I don’t need you to worry about, then what do you want to do?”

 

Shao Xiaocao looked around, but her eyes finally stopped on the lantern in his hand.

 

The habit of many years has long been transformed into a hobby through daily practice, and it has become a part of her that cannot be let go.

 

“I might still want to make a lantern.” Shao Xiaocao felt that her voice seemed far away.

 

“In order to make money?” Shao Yu asked curiously. Facing his daughter, he seemed to have endless patience.

 

Daughters and sons are different. Sons are greedy and lazy, while daughters are well-behaved and filial, so they need to use different education methods. Shao Yu said this in his heart, and would never admit that he favored girls over boys.

 

Shao Xiaocao was stunned for a moment, but finally shook her head and said, “I want to make the most beautiful lantern, one that people can like at a glance.”

 

It seemed that she was ashamed to admit her inner thoughts. After speaking, Shao Xiaocao couldn’t help lowering her head, and dared not look at Shao Yu.

 

Shao Yu laughed and praised: “It’s a very good idea.”

 

Shao Xiaocao raised her head, seeing her father’s eyes full of support, she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, the seed in her heart seemed to burst out quietly.

 

“I thought dad would find it embarrassing for me to think like this.” Shao Xiaocao became bolder and said these words directly.

 

“You are ambitious, don’t steal or rob, and don’t do bad things. If you say it, it will only make me feel proud. How can I be embarrassed?” Shao Yu said with a smile.

 

Shao Xiaocao lowered her head, the corners of her mouth twitched.

 

“It’s fine for a girl to get married. What’s the use of ambition if she thinks about things here and there.” They didn’t know when Mrs. Wang came out and complained.

 

Shao Xiaocao’s expression froze, and Shao Yu said, “Do you still remember what I told you? It doesn’t matter what others say, the most important thing is what you think.”

 

Shao Xiaocao listened to her heart and looked at Mrs. Wang, who was talking sarcastically, and reiterated very solemnly: “I want to make the most beautiful lantern.”

 

The girl’s eyes seemed to have fallen into diamonds, sparkling and burning. After one glance, Mrs. Wang felt a little afraid to look directly.

 

Even so, she still said: “If you continue to be so stubborn when you get married, it depends on whether your husband’s family will accept you.”

 

Shao Xiaocao was stunned for a moment, and her face seemed to be covered with a shadow.

 

Shao Yu said: “Your mother, your mother-in-law, they are all other people, and their thoughts are not as important as your inner thoughts.”

 

Shao Xiaocao was inspired, clenched her fists, and couldn’t help but said to Mrs. Wang again: “I want to make the most beautiful lantern!”

 

Seemingly shocked by the determination in her daughter’s eyes, Mrs. Wang opened her mouth, but did not continue to make sarcastic remarks.

 

“Just do whatever you want to do, start doing it from now on, and don’t leave any regrets.” Shao Yu said.

 

“Now? But at home…” Shao Xiaocao wanted to say that her family needed money, so even if she had thoughts in her heart, she planned to help her family tide over the difficulties first.

 

“It is an adult’s job to support a family. You are still a child. You don’t have to worry about things at home. Just do what you like to do.” Shao Yu said.

 

Shao Xiaocao sacrificed too much for her family, and the burden on her shoulders was really too heavy.

 

Mrs. Wang on the side wanted to say something, but Shao Yu glanced at her and said, “I will be responsible for supporting the family. Don’t bully your daughter.”

 

Mrs. Wang looked at the father and daughter, wondering what they were thinking. After a long time, she said, “Okay.”

 

Shao Yu gave careful advice, and gave Mrs. Wang and Shao Xiaocao a sum of money respectively to ensure that the mother and daughter live a worry-free life, and he set off the next day.

 

As he left Qingzhou City, a group of officials came to the door.

 

When Wang saw that they were looking for Shao Yu, and all the officials looked ugly, she was immediately dumbfounded. The officials did not explain clearly what was going on, but only asked with ferocious faces. Mrs. Wang was immediately frightened and did not know what was going on. She hesitated for a long time and couldn’t say a complete sentence.

 

“Ignorant stupid woman! The prefect is looking for something to do with him. Where has he gone? Can you afford to delay his important business?” the official said impatiently.

 

But the more fiercely they asked, the more frightened Mrs. Wang became. Such a chain reaction made Mrs. Wang even more speechless.

 

Seeing Mrs. Wang’s behavior, Shao Xiaocao stood up and plucked up the courage to say, “Daddy travelled far away. If the ministers have important matters, they might as well wait until dad comes back.”

 

“Travelled far away? By chance, he knew the officers were looking for him? Is he afraid to come out because he has committed a crime?” The official’s eyes were full of distrust.

 

Although Shao Xiaocao was very scared when facing these people, she still managed to protect her mother and said, “You can find out about my brother by just asking a little bit. My father went out just to bring my brother back.”

 

The official wanted to continue talking, but a colleague behind him pulled him and whispered into his ear about Shao Dabao’s death by drowning while serving as a corvee.

 

Seeing this, the official couldn’t help but say: “Your brother’s body was washed away by the flood, where can you find it, it’s a complete waste of effort.”

 

Mrs. Wang, who had been unable to speak for a long time, suddenly retorted: “Don’t talk nonsense, my son must still be alive, he will not die!”

 

When the officer heard this, he immediately frowned. They always only scolded others when they went out. How had they ever been scolded like this?

 

Shao Xiaocao immediately said: “Master, my mother has been in a trance after losing my brother. If she says anything unpleasant, please bear with her.”

 

The officer’s expression softened slightly and he said: “When your father comes back, tell him to come to the government office on his own initiative. If he annoys the Lord, your whole family will not be able to enjoy anything good!”

 

After everyone left, Mrs. Wang languished on the ground and said, “The government has come to visit. What has your father committed? It’s really fatal.”

 

Her face was full of panic, as if a disaster was imminent, and she added: “I asked where your father got the money. It turns out he committed a crime outside.”

 

When it comes to her father, Shao Xiaocao is always extremely confident and said, “My father neither steals nor robs. Even if he makes money, he earns it with his own true ability. He will never do anything random and cause trouble to us.”