Chopping Firewood.
This is the same task that Zhou Qing and Tang San have to do!
To explain the reason—
Both Zhou Qing and Tang San have received kindness from Old Jack.
Out of both affection and reason, they should be grateful.
In the past, Tang San, who was dedicated to practicing his martial arts, and relying on his youth, would simply say "thank you" when receiving help from Old Jack, and that was enough for him to accept it with ease.
But over the two years of being with Zhou Qing, seeing him bring firewood to Old Jack every day and understanding the importance of gratitude, Tang San couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed.
So, he joined in.
Under Zhou Qing's "practical teaching," Tang San started to express his gratitude to Old Jack more and more.
Complete development in moral, intellectual, physical, artistic, and labor aspects...
That's impossible.
But he began to understand the concept of right and wrong more deeply.
And as he spent more time talking with Old Jack, Tang San began to open up more, no longer always keeping a stern face, and became much brighter.
Some of the elders in the village stopped insisting that their children avoid Tang San.
Of course, Tang San still didn't fit in with them.
"You're thoughtful, cough, cough,"
When Old Jack received the firewood, he smiled, but due to his old age, he coughed twice, his brows showing a more compassionate look.
Although there wasn't much firewood, just enough for two meals, Old Jack didn't eat much anyway. Over the years, with the firewood slowly accumulating, there was a decent amount now.
"You're all good kids," said Old Jack, his eyes filled with pity, especially for Tang San, who he sighed deeply for.
Although Zhou Qing was an orphan, he didn't require much concern after becoming sensible, and his parents had left him a house, land, and after renting the land out with Old Jack's help, he received a fair share of the grain each season, along with ten silver coins, ensuring a worry-free future.
But Tang San...
Old Jack could only sigh about him having such a father.
Before Tang Hao came to the Holy Soul Village, Old Jack didn't know exactly what he went through, but from his blacksmith profession, he could roughly guess that he offended a noble or a soul master.
The helplessness of common folk!
And it was for this reason that Old Jack allowed Tang Hao and Tang San to join the village—since Tang Hao managed to survive and escape, in Old Jack's mind, it meant that nobles and soul masters were likely willing to overlook him, so they wouldn't cause too much trouble for the village.
In the common folk's view, anyone who could survive after offending a soul master or noble must be someone they were willing to spare.
But Old Jack never expected that Tang Hao would just fall into such a state of despair!
After all, he had a son named Tang San, right?
In Old Jack's eyes, besides having a blacksmithing skill, Tang Hao was no better than the villagers.
There were three single-parent households in the village. Some children had either lost their fathers or mothers, and some even had no elders left, but the adults, no matter how sad or tired, had to continue living. After all, no matter how hard life was, they couldn't let the children suffer.
But Tang Hao?
He's been in the Holy Soul Village for four years now!
Still stuck in the pain of the past...
Too fragile!
Because of this, when other villagers spoke ill of Tang Hao behind his back, Old Jack didn't try to stop them. After all, Tang Hao was just too ridiculous!
Besides, Old Jack actually hoped that these words would reach Tang Hao's ears, to make him realize his shame and spur him to try harder.
With his build, he could easily find physical labor in the city.
As for the village's needs for repairing farming tools or kitchen utensils...
It wasn't like it needed to be done every day, and Holy Soul Village was much better off than other villages. There were more than enough utensils, so they could wait until the new year to send them all at once.
But Tang Hao acted as if he didn't hear any of the gossip, treating it like background noise, just drinking and sleeping. He even had Tang San go buy alcohol from the village's winemaker.
Simply a freak!
Old Jack watched Tang San, the sensible child, and knew how filial he was, though he was usually quiet...
Old Jack didn't need to think to know, it was definitely Tang Hao's fault!
Unfortunately, Tang San was still Tang Hao's son, so Old Jack couldn't say too much or get too involved.
But now...
Old Jack wasn't worried about Tang San. He originally thought that Tang San would grow up to be like his father, but until...
Zhou Qing found Tang San, got close to him, and embraced him, which completely changed Tang San's life! Tang San's smile grew, and he became livelier, certain to become a kind and upright person in the future!
[In the future, Tang San will definitely amount to much more than that mentally fragile idiot, Tang Hao!]
However...
Old Jack didn't say any of this, whether mocking Tang Hao or encouraging Tang San. After all, he knew that Tang San didn't like hearing such things.
"Grandpa Jack, we're leaving."
After leaving the firewood, Zhou Qing waved and said goodbye.
"Goodbye, Grandpa Jack!"
Tang San also waved.
"Be careful on the road!" Old Jack reminded.
"Mm!"
X2
Both nodded and then headed towards Zhou Qing's home.
"I really envy you."
Even though he had already visited Zhou Qing's house several times, Tang San couldn't help but feel envious when looking at the tidy yard and clean house.
"How about coming to live at my place?"
Zhou Qing flashed a mysterious smile: (*￣︶￣), "My house is pretty big."
Tang San opened his mouth, unable to say anything. He felt like Zhou Qing's gaze was a little strange, but then shook his head, "Maybe not."
Zhou Qing understood, didn't push, and took Tang San to his room—
Of course, not for anything inappropriate!
Walking to the window, Zhou Qing pulled the rope that connected to the ceiling.
Creak!
A square wooden board on the ceiling dropped down, and a retractable ladder hung from it.
Zhou Qing's house had two stories!
Originally, the second floor was empty, and the ladder wasn't retractable but was one that required an extra step to bring out.
It wasn't until Zhou Qing met Tang San that he spent twenty copper soul coins to ask Tang San to take the retractable ladder blueprint to Tang Hao to help him make this ladder.
And when Tang San saw the blueprint, he was quite surprised—after all, for a three-year-old to come up with such an idea was already impressive.
It was this kind of "cleverness" from Zhou Qing that attracted Tang San.
In Tang San's heart, he already decided that in the future, he would recruit Zhou Qing into the Tang Sect. After all, to expand the Tang Sect in this world, one person simply couldn't do it.
Zhou Qing, who had grown up with him, was trustworthy because he knew him inside and out.