Chapter 325 - 324: Impersonation
Chu Lingxuan, flushed with anger, slammed his fist on the table, exclaiming, "It’s despicable, devoid of conscience! What audacity they have to claim such military achievements! The incident of assassinating the Prince of the Wan Kingdom was a well-known event that I am aware of, it laid the foundation for our final victory. It was said that fifty dead soldiers went and only three returned alive. Even His Majesty issued a decree of praise...This matter must be thoroughly investigated to give justice to uncle."
Wang Cheng quickly intervened, "That happened so many years ago, it is definitely going to be difficult to investigate now. Mr. Chu, you shouldn’t offend people for a nobody. General Zhao said the person has a strong backing that we shouldn’t provoke. I am like this now, so let it be."
Chu Lingxuan tried to reassure him, "No worries, my third uncle was at the border then. If we ask him to help investigate, we will surely find out."
Chen Afu didn’t interfere in their discussion about military merits. She was busy wiping her tears, feeling sympathy for Wang Cheng has lived an ill-fated and bumpy life. She looked at Wang Cheng’s left hand, half of his palm from the index finger down was missing, leaving only part of the palm, a thumb and a small piece of the index finger. His waist seemed to have some difficulty supporting him straight, making her heartache unbearable.
Wang Cheng comforted Chen Afu with a smile, "Afu, don’t be upset. Compared to those brothers who have fallen, your uncle has been fortunate. Although I’m disabled, I still work in the army, getting military salary and even managed to marry a wife and have children. Now, I’ve found you and your sister. Heaven hasn’t been too unkind to me." After saying this, he too began to wipe his tears.
Chen Afu then asked, "I heard aunt’s health isn’t good. What happened?"
Wang Cheng sighed, "It’s all because I’m useless. When I got married, I had to give her family a dowry and then buy land and build a house. It was a period of famine. My younger brother’s mother worked day and night doing embroidery. She didn’t take a proper confinement period after childbirth and ended up bedridden. Her eyes are bad, she can’t do embroidery for long. She also has backaches and can’t walk long distances, sometimes she needs to lean on the wall to walk..."
Wang Cheng’s military salary was one to two taels a month. It should be enough to marry a woman in the village. Before getting married, he had saved more than 20 taels of silver. He originally wanted to save some more to take back to the Lis in Xiaoli Village, so they could learn about his origin. But then he met Mrs. Wu. He was really into Mrs. Wu, who was pretty and diligent. So, he thought he would continue to save money after getting married and then return to Xiaoli village when he saved enough.