Fan Youxuan also disliked Wu Sheng. Now that Lian Musu was present, he pretended not to hear, respectfully lowering his head and waiting for Lian Musu to speak.
During these days, he almost ignored Wu Sheng, rarely speaking to him, not wanting to deal with Wu Sheng from the bottom of his heart. Moreover, he disliked his own voice, generally trying to reduce speaking opportunities.
Lian Musu was fully aware of the conflict between the two, only having seriously criticized Wu Sheng when he mocked Fan Youxuan’s voice, after which Wu Sheng did not dare to repeat the offense.
The rest Lian Musu ignored entirely, even arranging for them to live together. Wu Sheng protested, to no avail, and when Fan Youxuan politely suggested a change, Lian Musu skillfully dismissed his request.
At this mont, Lian Musu continued to disregard their conflict, smilingly asking Fan Youxuan, "Is there anything you wish to ask today, Youxuan?"
Fan Youxuan was about to respond when he inadvertently glanced at Wu Sheng, noticing Wu Sheng’s "as expected" look. This stirred a trace of anger in him; this ddleso, scornful character always interfered in his affairs, which really irritated him.
The question he intended to ask suddenly lost its appeal. He shook his head and found an excuse: "I just ca to see you, Sir. I haven’t yet comprehended yesterday’s guidance; I’ll co back for advice once I do."
Wu Sheng gave him a sidelong glance, picked up the teapot, and poured a cup of tea for Lian Musu, mocking, "Oh, rare indeed. Has Young Master Fan co specially to see the gentleman?"
"You..." Fan Youxuan’s face showed a hint of irritation, but he eventually held back and said nothing.
Seeing no reaction, Lian Musu felt sowhat regretful. This proud and stubborn young man, in his teens, was high-spirited yet skilled at hiding it. He was hard to teach, as Minister Fan had said, one who outwardly complies but inwardly defies. If he were more straightforward, it would be easier.
Lian Musu encouragingly glanced at Wu Sheng, then said a few words of encouragent to Fan Youxuan.
Fan Youxuan acknowledged each one, hesitated for a mont before leaving, then asked a question that had long been on his mind.
He looked at Lian Musu’s leg, hesitantly asking, "Sir, your leg, if what if..." Would it be worth it?
Deep down, he respected Lian Musu. He had read the piece in "Public Opinion" and considered that with his current knowledge, he couldn’t write such a piece, but he was confident that, given ti, he could write sothing even better.
On the day Lian Musu was treating his leg, Fan Youxuan waited outside and only saw a bucket of bloody water being carried out of the pharmacy. He didn’t go in to witness it firsthand, hearing only the voices of Divine Doctor Huang and others inside, hardly hearing Lian Musu’s voice.
Therefore, when he heard that Lian Musu’s leg was broken and reattached, with flesh carved and bones ground, he didn’t think much of it, assuming it was exaggerated, until yesterday, when he saw Divine Doctor Huang remove the splint, apply dicine, and inspect the wound on Lian Musu’s leg. He finally saw that ghastly wound penetrating to the bone.
Learning that Lian Musu was conscious throughout the leg treatnt, he was suddenly shocked. The suffering endured was unimaginable to him, but he had read the story of Lord Guan scraping bones to remove poison and knew that this was not sothing an average person could endure.
What shocked him more was that this leg treatnt wasn’t risk-free; if sothing went wrong during the process and a tendon was torn, Lian Musu’s left leg would indeed be permanently crippled, and he would have to rely on crutches, becoming a cripple.
This left him puzzled as to why Mr. Lian would take the risk of treating his leg, even if it ant losing his Juren title and the limitless future ahead.
Lian Musu was slightly surprised by his question. Ever since the young man followed him, whenever asked if there were any inconveniences in day-to-day life, he always said it was fine, even avoiding talking about Lian Musu’s slightly la left leg.
Understanding Fan Youxuan’s implicit aning, Lian Musu smiled slightly and looked at the young man straightforwardly: "You want to know what if it couldn’t be treated?"
Fan Youxuan hesitated for a mont, then nodded.
Children from large families mature early, understanding the pros and cons at a young age.
Wu Sheng was angry and put the teapot back on the table heavily: "What do you an, Fan? Are you cursing the gentleman’s leg won’t heal!"
Lian Musu raised his hand to stop Wu Sheng, looked the youth in the eye, and calmly said, "Then it would be crippled."
Fan Youxuan was startled: "But sir, you clearly have a promising future. Is it worth the gamble?"
Lian Musu seriously replied, "Divine Doctor Huang told at the beginning that it would be imnsely painful to heal my leg. I was also scared and feared I couldn’t bear it. My family hadn’t yet escaped hardship, and I had many things I wanted to do, even if la. I still had ten years to realize my dreams, how could I willingly gamble that chance?"
"But then..."
Lian Musu waved his hand, continuing, "But when I saw my family’s anxiety over my leg, saw the guilt and sadness in my third brother’s eyes, I knew they were already heartbroken over my leg long before. Healing ant healing our entire family."
"To live is not just for oneself, nor can one ensure everything is in control. My family believes in , and I believe in them and in myself. I gamble this ti for myself and for my family, and even if I lose, I have no regrets. Moreover..."
At this, Lian Musu paused, eyes firm, "Moreover, I ask myself if my leg were crippled, would I beco a useless person? I know I wouldn’t. I have never thought that soone impaired physically would be useless, nor inferior or unable to hold their head high. I thought this when I was limping before, and will continue to think this in the future. Being physically impaired is not my choice, I do not accept this fate. As long as the heavens do not take my life, I will not have a day when I beco an idle, self-abandoned cripple. A cripple is not defined by physical impairnt, but by a ruined heart."
Fan Youxuan listened, his emotions stirred, unable to speak for a long ti. So Lian Musu wasn’t unafraid but had already calmly accepted the outco...
A cripple is crippled in heart, not body. Yet there are things he still can’t understand, like his voice...
Only then did Wu Sheng realize that Lian Musu had long prepared for the possibility of his leg being crippled. He couldn’t help but have tears welling up, his throat choking, "Sir..."
Lian Musu smiled gently at him, saying, "The words just spoken are for the three of us only, not to be told to others." It must not be known by his family, especially not by Lian Bao.
Wu Sheng wiped his eyes, responded with a sound of agreent, and angrily glared at the silent Fan Youxuan, taking a few steps over, pushing him slightly: "The gentleman was talking to you, don’t speak of this matter to anyone."
Only then did Fan Youxuan co back to his senses, looking at Lian Musu solemnly and bowing: "Of course, I won’t. A gentleman’s word is worth a thousand gold, Sir, I won’t tell a soul."
Though he still couldn’t fully understand, he knew Mr. Lian was worthy of respect.
Lian Musu nodded.
Just then, laughter ca from outside the window. A woman’s playful voice said, "I thought the gentleman was afraid of nothing, yet feared this conversation being known. What now that I’ve heard?" Her voice was like the clinking of gold and jade, lodious and pleasant, with a teasing undertone.
Wu Sheng looked outside, surprised, and yelled, "Who’s there?"
Lian Musu turned to look and saw a beautiful woman with delicate and picturesque features gracefully enter at the door, followed by a playful maid.
...
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