Er Lang was not one to overstep boundaries. Though unwilling, he stayed home honestly.
Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi both breathed a sigh of relief. They then found someone to inquire about the strenuous labor at the docks and sent Er Lang there.
"Since you have so much idle energy, you can wear down that tough skin of yours here!"
In their eyes, Er Lang had never truly suffered the harshness of life and saw everything as simple. Therefore, they wanted Er Lang to experience setbacks and weariness, to recognize reality and understand true hardship, so he would stop having such unrealistic dreams.
Was achieving success on the battlefield really as easy as talking about it?
Among those who made a name for themselves on the battlefield, apart from those with backgrounds, who wasn't risking their lives?
They never intended for their son to risk his life for glory. They only wished for their children to be safe, and they, as parents, would find ways to pave the path for them.
While they might not become immensely wealthy, with gradual accumulation, they could ensure a life free from worry about food and clothing.
Thus, even though they felt pained to see Er Lang working as a laborer at the docks, they had to steel themselves.
Er Lang understood his parents' intentions and felt indignant but dared not resist. He had hoped for some support from Zhang Qiaoxiu, but when he brought it up, her eyes reddened, making him feel as if he had done something terrible.
So, Er Lang stayed at the docks without a word, working hard to carry sacks, unload and load cargo. While others carried one sack at a time, he carried two, so tired that his clothes became soaked with sweat layer after layer. By the end of the day, white salt stains formed rings on his clothes.
The seasoned dockworkers, seeing the young man working so desperately, couldn't help but advise him, "Young man, you can't be so reckless. Take it slow. If you wear your body down, it's a lifelong matter."
Er Lang remained silent with a cold expression, dragging his feet home.
Upon entering the house, Zhang Qiaoxiu saw that Er Lang had lost all his spirit and his clothes were filthy. Her heart ached, and she wanted to help him, but Er Lang wouldn't allow it. He fetched water himself and took it to the shed behind the house to bathe and clean himself. Afterward, he collapsed on the bed, remaining silent.
Seeing him like this, Zhang Qiaoxiu couldn't help but shed tears.
Jiang Wan heard the commotion and came to check. After confirming that Er Lang was physically fine, she said to Zhang Qiaoxiu, "Second Sister-in-law, don't worry. My second brother is in good health and will be fine."
As Zhang Qiaoxiu was about to speak, Jiang Wan leaned in and whispered, "Second Brother is deliberately tormenting himself to make you pity him. Second Sister-in-law, if you soften your heart, he will go to the battlefield!"
Zhang Qiaoxiu was startled.
Jiang Wan winked at her, "Second Sister-in-law, if you want to keep Second Brother, you must be a little heartless and pretend not to see him. When he truly learns his lesson, he won't have those thoughts anymore."
Zhang Qiaoxiu was now at a loss. Seeing Er Lang so exhausted made her heart feel like it was being pierced by needles. But the thought of Er Lang going to the battlefield to die if she showed mercy felt even more unbearable, as if it would take her life.
Her heart was torn in two, and Zhang Qiaoxiu was in a dilemma, unsure of what to do.
When Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi returned that evening and learned of Er Lang's condition, they said nothing, merely stating calmly that he should not be late for work the next day.
Er Lang's expression remained unchanged. After dinner, he went to bed and woke up before dawn the next day to head to the docks.
Working desperately day after day, Er Lang visibly lost weight.
Even Madam Su found it hard to watch and wanted to ask Da Lang to intercede, suggesting that her in-laws find a different way to educate Er Lang. After all, although Er Lang was married, he was still only a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, and the work at the docks was not something a boy his age should be doing.
However, Da Lang dared not test his parents' limits at that time. He could only have the shop's employees secretly send good meals to Er Lang during mealtimes.
Er Lang did not refuse, eating whatever was given to him, and then continued to carry sacks. After several days of this, he made the veteran workers at the docks anxious.
This young man was simply too driven. He could do the work of two of them in one trip. After a few days, the foreman began to have opinions of them, accusing them of deliberately slacking off.
Heaven knew they had been giving their all every day since this young man arrived. But why did this young man seem to have inexhaustible energy?
Clearly, he was exhausted like a dog the day before, dragging his feet when he walked, but the next day he was like a wild bull, carrying sacks with no regard for anyone, and they couldn't keep up even if they worked themselves to death.
The foreman was not a good person either. Using Er Lang as an excuse, he deducted some wages from the other dockworkers.
Those who worked as laborers at the docks were poor people. Having their wages deducted was like cutting off their flesh, and thus, the workers at the docks began to resent Er Lang.
The dockworkers were not bad people, but they were not good people either. Especially when facing Er Lang, who had harmed their interests, they united with common hatred to cause trouble for Er Lang.
Er Lang knew these people meant no good but pretended not to notice, continuing to carry his sacks.
During the lunch break, several dockworkers approached Er Lang with feigned enthusiasm, saying, "Little brother, isn't it boring to eat alone every day? Come, eat with us brothers."
Saying this, they unceremoniously pulled Er Lang along.
Er Lang did not resist, going with the flow of their strength. Soon, they arrived at a secluded corner.
The dockworkers' expressions immediately changed. They shoved Er Lang into the corner and said fiercely, "Kid, you're quite capable, aren't you? Are you here to stir up trouble?"
Er Lang remained silent, like a mute.
Seeing his reaction, the dockworkers became even more enraged. They exchanged glances, rolled up their sleeves, and lunged at Er Lang, "Today, I'll teach you how to behave!"
Er Lang instinctively raised his fists to fight back. Suddenly, his ears twitched. Then, he crouched in the corner, covering his head, enduring the punches and kicks from the dockworkers without moving.
Jiang Pan, along with his colleagues, happened to be passing by the docks, intending to check on Er Lang. However, after looking around, he couldn't find him.
He casually stopped a person dressed as a dockworker and asked, "Have you seen Jiang Er Lang?"
Upon seeing the yamen runners asking, the dockworker quickly pointed in a direction, "Just now, I saw a few people pulling him in that direction."
Jiang Pan looked in that direction and saw figures moving in that corner.
A yamen runner exclaimed, "Oh no, Brother Pan, it looks like Er Lang is being beaten!"
Before Jiang Pan's mind could process, his body had already rushed in that direction.
"What are you doing? Stop right there!"
The dockworkers were shocked that they had been caught beating someone here by yamen runners, and their faces turned pale. "Officers, we're just playing around with this young brother. You can ask him if you don't believe us..."