Above the Great Dao
Chapter 575 - 266: Family Affairs

Chapter 575: Chapter 266: Family Affairs

Chen Shi’s heart was suddenly filled with sadness and tenderness.

Since his resurrection, he hadn’t seen his parents and had been living with his grandfather. After his grandfather passed away, he became dependent on Black Pot for companionship.

Black Pot was sensible and always took care of him, making him feel less lonely. Only at night, when the hustle and bustle of the day had subsided and all the sounds had settled, would he miss his grandfather and fantasize about being doted on by his parents, imagining a harmonious family scene.

However, it was just a fantasy.

Now, he finally saw his mother, not in the painting in the old home but in person, in the real world.

But his mother sat in the wheelchair, just as vacant and foolish as she appeared in the painting, unresponsive to Chen Tang’s calls.

Though she still breathed and her heart still beat, a great sadness enveloped her, making it impossible for her to wake up.

Chen Shi came to her side, crouched down, and asked, "What happened to her?"

Chen Tang’s face was filled with sorrow, "Little Ten... After you died, she must have been too heartbroken. First, she became senseless with grief, always searching for you. Later, she became unresponsive, and no matter how we called, she wouldn’t wake up."

The two seemed to have forgotten their recent quarrel, their demeanor turning tender.

Chen Tang said, "I asked Granny Sha to examine her, and she said that the sorrow and pain in her mind are too overwhelming. Her soul couldn’t bear it and fled from her body to escape the grief, thus it can’t return to her flesh."

Could a soul really not bear the weight of sorrow and pain?

Chen Shi held his mother’s hand, her palm soft and thin, just skin over bone, not warm, without any strength.

He was silent for a moment, then asked, "Where will I stay?"

Chen Tang, slightly taken aback, replied, "I had a maid prepare a room for you a while ago. I’ll have her show you later."

Chen Shi said, "I also have a cart and a dog; they need a room as well."

Chen Tang replied, "I’ll have a maid tidy up and make room for another."

Thus, Chen Shi settled into the Chen Mansion.

He and a few maids moved the items from the wooden cart and cleaned up the room. Black Pot came over to help tidy up.

The room Chen Tang had given them was originally used for firewood, then for storing miscellaneous items, but now the Western Capital had switched to coal. A coal mine had been found near the city, and every day before dawn, coal carts would enter the city, so the servants from large households went to buy coal.

If one was more particular, they would burn charcoal, but that required wealth as charcoal was much more expensive than coal.

Black Pot carried a bucket and cleaned the floor, chatting and laughing with the maids. Suddenly, it seemed to sense something and looked back to see Chen Tang watching.

Black Pot smiled at him, nodded, and continued cleaning.

Then it turned its head again, looking at Chen Tang with confusion.

Chen Tang looked away, pushing his wife out to sunbathe.

More perplexed, Black Pot watched him. Chen Tang did not look back, seemingly unaware of its gaze.

The wooden cart moved in and out of the room, growing basin-sized eyes on its sides and bottom, curiously inspecting its new home.

But as the maids were cleaning, it was getting in the way and often blocked them.

Whenever this happened, the cart would grow arms, lift the girls from one side of the cart to the other.

The maids weren’t scared, giggling. They must have been influenced by Black Pot’s demeanor.

Black Pot looked again towards Chen Tang, but he had just averted his gaze, never meeting Black Pot’s eyes.

Come dinner time, Chen Shi, Chen Tang, and Chen Shi’s mother dined in the main hall. A maid fed Chen Shi’s mother; she could not chew and needed the maid to control her jaw, chewing bit by bit until the food was fine enough to swallow, a task requiring patience and care.

"Don’t help."

Chen Tang said to Chen Shi, "Ping’er is patient and meticulous. Your help could cause her to choke if the food isn’t chewed properly. Sit and eat."

Chen Shi sat down and pulled over a stool for Black Pot.

Dressed in human clothes, Black Pot also prepared to sit.

Chen Tang raised an eyebrow, displeased, "Dogs can’t be at the table."

Chen Shi raised an eyebrow, put down his chopsticks, "Black Pot can be at the table. That’s how we used to eat in the old Chen family of Huangpo Village!"

Chen Tang glanced at him, his expression darkening, "I am the head of the family, and I make the rules. Here, dogs can’t be at the table!"

Just as Chen Shi was about to slam the table, Black Pot placed its paw on his shoulder, shook its head, and calmed his mood.

Chen Shi withdrew his hand.

Black Pot picked up its bowl and chopsticks and went to sit in the corner to eat.

Chen Shi stood up, moved half the food on the table to another plate, leaving half for Chen Tang, carried the plate and bowl over to the corner, and crouched next to Black Pot, sharing half of the dish with it.

Man and dog crouched in the corner to eat.

Black Pot’s eyes gestured toward Chen Tang, suggesting Chen Shi go back to avoid further disagreement, but Chen Shi shook his head, indicating he wanted to share in the hardship.

Chen Tang clenched his chopsticks, then relaxed, focusing on his own meal.

— There weren’t many tables left at home, his monthly salary wasn’t high, so if he smashed another table, he’d have to squat to eat just like Chen Shi and the dog.

Chen Shi’s mother sat at the table, looking anxious as she watched the father and son quarrel, her right fingers trembling.

Chen Tang was both surprised and delighted, yet regretfully, she stopped trembling shortly after.

"Come eat."

After thinking, Chen Tang made an offer, "Black Pot, sit opposite you, just don’t face me directly."

Chen Shi got up, pulling Black Pot back to the table to sit.

Chen Tang served food into Chen Shi’s bowl, saying flatly, "There are many experts in the Western Capital, don’t impulsively affect others. It’s easy to be seen as extraordinary. And don’t impact your own family members either."

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