Chapter 1116 – In Every Corner of the Land, I Want 100% (Fifteen)
Cheng Cheng has two sons and one daughter.
His eldest son serves as an official elsewhere, while his younger son Cheng Yuan and daughter remain at home since they’re not yet settled in life.
Years ago, when the family fled from Suian County, Cheng Cheng took his wife, younger son, and daughter with him, leaving the eldest son to fend for himself.
His eldest son, Cheng Xun, whose courtesy name is Gong Luo.
After stabilizing himself under Jiang Pengji’s banner, Cheng Cheng even tried to write a family letter to his eldest son, hoping he would come work alongside Jiang Pengji.
Now, with the world in chaos, it was too dangerous for him to be alone out there.
Feeling his age catching up to him, Cheng Cheng feared he might never have the chance to see his son again.
Unfortunately, Cheng Xun was a staunch supporter of the gentry faction and looked down on interactions with the common folk.
Jiang Pengji’s stance was clear; she was born into a noble family yet supported the commoners—truly shameful in Cheng Xun’s eyes—so he flat out rejected Cheng Cheng’s suggestion. At that moment, Cheng Cheng sensed trouble brewing. After all those years, his younger son was about to clash with his eldest.
Every time Cheng Cheng thought about this situation, unease flooded his heart, making him unable to concentrate, often lost in thought or dazed.
This slight change didn’t go unnoticed by Feng Ren and Yuan Jing, among others.
Over the years, the group had frequently gathered to discuss scholarly matters, striving to improve the system and curriculum of the Golden Scales Academy.
With such a relationship, they felt it was their duty to check on their old friend.
Mr. Yuan Jing glanced at Cheng Cheng’s expression, his brows knitting slightly as he raised a hand to stroke his neatly trimmed beard.
This expression—
He pondered deeply.
Not good.
Meanwhile, Feng Ren had managed to coax some words out of Cheng Cheng.
Realizing he was worried about his two sons, Feng Ren paused for a moment.
This was something he could relate to deeply.
Thankful that his eldest son Feng Gui had taken on the responsibilities of the family, caring for the clan without officially serving. If Feng Gui were to step into the murky waters of politics, it would create a painful situation among the three brothers. If one of them suffered or died, how heart-wrenching would that be for their father?
Feng Ren could only comfort him, “Children have their own destinies. Wenfu, don’t be too hard on yourself.”
It was a pity that in such chaotic times, these kinds of dramas seemed to be on repeat.
The children had grown up, each with their own choices and aspirations.
The path of life was theirs to choose; whether it led to the underworld or a fortunate road, parents had no say over it.
Cheng Cheng, with a haggard expression, said, “I want to take it easy, but I had a dream last night that still haunts me.”
Feng Ren asked, “What kind of dream?”
Cheng Cheng sighed, recalling the details heavily, “I dreamt I returned to the old house in Suian County. The place was in disrepair, with only remnants of walls left standing. Inside, cobwebs were everywhere, and snakes and bugs crawled about. Somehow, I walked straight to my eldest son’s old quarters, and through the courtyard gate, I saw two long snakes lying in the courtyard, both in poor condition. I wasn’t even afraid then. Suddenly, a massive black bird with three red beaks swooped down, about twelve feet tall with wings that could block out the sun, and it aimed for one of the snakes. I panicked and grabbed a stick, desperate to fight that weird bird. But then, one of the snakes crashed right into the wall!”
He suppressed the shuddering fear.
“Right after that, I woke up in fright.”
Feng Ren listened, confusion etched on his face, turning to Mr. Yuan Jing.
“I’ve heard Master is skilled in dream interpretation. What does this dream mean?”
Cheng Cheng looked at him too, and Mr. Yuan Jing pondered a moment, then asked Cheng Cheng, “Were the two snakes different?”
Cheng Cheng replied, “They looked very similar. If I had to say, one was a bit longer and thicker, while the other was shorter and slimmer.”
“Which one crashed into the wall?”
Cheng Cheng recalled carefully, “The thicker one.”
“After it hit the wall, did you see what happened to that snake?”
Cheng Cheng said, “I don’t know. It crashed and got half-buried in the wall. I vaguely remember—the black bird seemed to try to peck at it?”
After listening for a while, Mr. Yuan Jing reached a conclusion.
“Find a doctor and get you some calming herbal concoctions.”
Cheng Cheng: “…”
Whether it was Mr. Yuan Jing’s words or not, Cheng Cheng felt a little less burdened.
The group noticed his mental fatigue and urged him to put aside his work and rest at home.
Tang Yao, a student of Mr. Yuan Jing, had been holding his tongue all afternoon, obviously distracted.
After dropping Mr. Yuan Jing off at his residence, he finally stammered out, “Teacher—”
Mr. Yuan Jing maintained a serious demeanor and asked calmly, “What do you want to ask?”
“That dream of Cheng Cheng’s, it’s highly likely to mean—”
“I already know,” Mr. Yuan Jing interjected. “But can you really explain it to Wenfu?”
Tang Yao fell silent.
He had only scratched the surface of dream interpretation, having picked it up out of curiosity. Even he could tell the dream was unusual—how could the master not see it?
“In a year’s time, he will surely lose a son, and it will be the eldest.” Mr. Yuan Jing said quietly, “From observing Wenfu’s features, the patterns in his child’s palace are chaotic, with a small fracture, the tear dome is sunken, and the color appears somewhat gray—all are signs of misfortune for his children. And his dream—the bird feeding on the dragon and snake indicates the loss of a son, a grave omen. In the dream, he saw two injured long snakes in the courtyard, and instead of fear, when the black bird attacked the snakes, he attempted to protect them, showing he is aware of his feelings. Such a vivid dream, it’s no wonder he feels restless and anxious. Afterwards, the thick snake crashed and perished; it’s evident the eldest was not killed by another, but likely took his own life.”
Tang Yao stood frozen in place.
“Is there no avoiding this?”
Over the years, he had interacted with Cheng Cheng frequently, holding him in great esteem, second only to Mr. Yuan Jing, right alongside Feng Ren.
Mr. Yuan Jing replied, “Wenfu’s dream, rather than predicting anything, reflects his own deepest concerns.”
Tang Yao was speechless, “You mean—”
“Do you think Wenfu truly knows nothing?” Mr. Yuan Jing sighed, “It’s precisely because he is aware of the situation that he had this dream. He knows the current state of affairs and yet doesn’t want to face reality. Telling him will change nothing; do you think it can be altered?”
Tang Yao said, “For things that haven’t happened yet, surely there’s a way to change it… right?”
Mr. Yuan Jing laughed, though this smile was far from his usual warmth, tinged with sarcasm.
“The crux of the issue isn’t about altering anything; it’s whether the parties involved can alter themselves.” Mr. Yuan Jing continued, “Cheng Xun’s nature determines he and the leader are on different paths. Years ago, Wenfu wrote a family letter hoping his eldest could set aside his official duties and reunite the family, but did Cheng Xun agree? Do you think the leader would indulge Cheng Xun, favoring the gentry while distancing and suppressing the commoners? Or do you think Cheng Xun would suddenly change his long-held beliefs and become friendly with the common folks?”
Tang Yao felt as if he had fallen into an icy pit.
Mr. Yuan Jing then said, “It’s precisely because Wenfu understands the positions and intentions of his two sons that in his dream, two long snakes were vying against each other, eventually leading to their mutual destruction. Liu Xi is strong and well-armed; Xu Pei has the strength to contend, but Cheng Cheng’s heart leans more towards Liu Xi, hence in his dream, the thicker snake that crashes and ends up dying is the one that represents the eldest. This dream, put plainly, is a reflection of Wenfu’s inner conclusions about the situation.”
Tang Yao fell into deep thought, muttering, “No wonder—”
Mr. Yuan Jing added, “While dreams might carry some prophetic quality, more often than not, they reveal the other side of a person’s heart.”
“So, it’s not that the dream forewarns Cheng Cheng will lose a son, but rather that he is internally convinced he will?”
“Precisely.” Mr. Yuan Jing sighed, “It’s a pity; the children’s choices can only be blamed on this chaotic world.”
