The Scum Is A

Seeing xiao San's earnest expression, Meng Gui felt helpless. "Rise." He spoke. 

Xiao San obediently rose. 

"Is there anybody else who knows about this?" Meng Gui asked. 

Xiao San shook his head. "No one aside from me." He answered. "Not even Ah Si-ge." He added. This is the nickname he calls Shang He before they all separated ways in the end. 

Meng Gui breathed a sigh. 

"Da ge… did I cause you a trouble?" xiao San asked. "I just… don't want to keep things from you." He said. 

Hearing this, Meng Gui's heavy expression eased. He even smiled. "I know." He spoke. 

He and xiao San has been through thick and thin. Because of this, xiao San doesn't keep things from him, afraid he might dislike him for being dishonest. It's because of that one time, xiao San was beaten by a shopkeeper and it was only later that he knew about it. If not for xiao San having a fever that night and he bathe him, he wouldn't find out the black and blue bruises on xiao San's young skin. 

Meng Gui scolded xiao San in the morning, making the child almost frightened to death. Xiao San was traumatized and wailed for two hours, afraid that Meng Gui would abandon him. So, it became xiao San's habit to tell him everything that he has seen or heard that day, including his experiences and interactions with people. 

He also told him that he liked him, too. To the point that he can't extricate himself. But, fortunately, Meng Gui taught xiao San everything that he knows, so xiao San grew up smart and sensible. So, xiao San knows that Meng Gui only treats him as a younger brother, and that Meng Gui also has someone in his heart. 

Yes. Ah Si – the fourth son of a prominent family in the county they are in. He is called 'Ah Si' since he is the fourth son. And, because he is the fourth, he is unfavored. So, the first time Meng Gui met him was when he was drowning in the river. Meng Gui happened to be fishing at that time. So, not only did he fish some crabs and fishes, but he also fished a person. 

So, when Meng Gui returned, he returned with both foods and a person. When xiao San saw the drenched Ah Si, he asked if Ah Si is also a food. With his gloomy tone – which he always used after his mother died and they fled to this country, coupled with his almost half-burnt face, Ah Si was scared shitless and he hid behind Meng Gui. 

Meng Gui just laughed. He gave Ah Si some change of clothes before he cooked their dinner. After they ate dinner, Ah Si and xiao San became close. They chatted, and both found out they are almost in a similar situation – being an unfavored child. Just that, xiao San's mother is the legal wife and he is supposed to be the legitimate heir of their household. Meanwhile, Ah Si is a son of a concubine. Unlike xiao San's gentle mother, Ah Si's mother is abusive. Every time she becomes irritated, she would slap Ah Si. Worse, she would burn his back where no one could see the burn after. 

But, Ah Si's drowning got nothing to do with his concubine mother. It was the work of his three 'good' elder brothers. Seeing that no one cares for him, even his own birth mother, who dislikes him for being frigid and timid, they taunted him and slowly pushed him towards the river. While in water, Ah Si watched his elder brothers watched him slowly drown with their mocking gazes. He slowly closed his eyes, giving up, as he was washed away by the water. 

But, just as he is about to faint, he saw a child slightly older than him fishing leisurely in the river bank like an old man. It was that child who became his savior. Thinking that, he finally let himself fall into unconsciousness.

After Meng Gui and xiao San heard Ah Si's story, they looked at each other, their gazes speaking. That night, Meng Gui and xiao San was talking about their plan when Ah Si woke up and heard their conversation. Hearing their plot against his elder brothers, Ah Si felt an anger bubbling in his heart. But, not towards Meng Gui, but towards his elder brother, and also to his weak self. 

A stranger helped me and even wanted to avenge me… where can I find such a good person in this world? Ah Si thought and told Meng Gui that he wanted to join in their plan, while thinking that after tonight, he will become someone strong, who could protect Meng Gui from everybody. 

The news of the death of Ah Si reached his family. But, it's as if it was something insignificant to them since they didn't even blink. It was because that day, the three elder brothers of Ah Si will be taking an exam to become proper scholars, hoping they could enter a respective school to further their scholarly life. 

But, how can Meng Gui, xiao San and Ah Si let them succeed and deceive the masses with their hypocritical smiles? So, they sold some answer sheets to Ah Si's three elder brothers. Ah Si, even though weak, but could perceive the level of his three elder brothers' 'talent'. They only have a glib-tongue, but when it comes to paper and ink, they couldn't even come up with a word. 

In short, they are trash. So, without much surprise, these three elder brothers bought the answer sheets. With such a grand exam, who doesn't want to pass? And who doesn't want to become rich? Thus, some people related to the exam wanted to do a side-business and sold the answer sheets. If they won't be caught, then they won't be charged of a crime. They wanted to make money, and these young examinees wanted to gain some 'pointers'. It is a win-win situation for both sides. 

But, who knows who leaked it out? The matter of cheating is a heavy crime! And someone exposed it! It is okay if the news was suppressed, but the matter suddenly became bigger since the news of the scholars cheating spread fast! The officials can't overlook this matter anymore, so, when they made a move, almost all of the examinees were caught! 

Of course, these included Ah Si's three elder brothers. Their household was ashamed and the people began to mock them, saying they are acting arrogant when they are just actually cheaters! How can the head of the household take this? The three eldest sons were imprisoned and can't inherit the family anymore! And, the fourth and last son, whom should become the heir, his death has already reached them. Yet, they didn't even feel anything about it! 

Retribution! This is their retribution! Who would expect for this to happen to the three eldest sons?! It's as if the Heaven is mocking them! The fourth son that is the remaining heir is already dead! Yet, they just unfeelingly received the news. To add salt to the injury, suddenly, one by one, all the women in the household suddenly fell ill! When the doctor arrived, they were shocked to find out that they have all been poisoned without them knowing! But, this poison actually only works on women, making them unable to bear child anymore! 

The head of the household almost fainted on the spot. What is this?! Why is this happening to them?! One after another… yes. That's right! It must be Ah Si! Today, they received the news of his death, making their whole day filled with bad omen! See? His three elder brothers were imprisoned! Now, all the women – including the servants, weren't spared! 

This must be his vengeance! Because they aren't treating him well! Everyone immediately became frightened, most especially those who have maltreated Ah Si. Of course, this includes his biological mother. That night, his mother fell even more ill. The next day, the head of the household found out he became impotent when he visited a brothel to spread his seeds. But, it was too late for him. Not only he can get it up, but the prostitute even mocked him. 

To make the matters worse, this news spread fast and everyone in the county found out about their household. Not only did they maltreat a child, they were even unfeeling of his death! His own father even went to a brothel the next day after he found out that all women in his household became barren! 

All the people who heard their family just shook their head in dismay. This is retribution! The deceased child must have exacted his revenge on them! This isn't false, though. With the officials investigating what happened to the family, they dug up about the three eldest sons murdering their fourth brother. 

Only one thought came to everyone's mind when they heard the news about these three cheating elder brothers that were imprisoned: they deserved it!