Sorry, I'm not feeling well today (taking a short break).

  The house was grand and majestic, with beautifully decorated rooms. On one side, several musicians were playing beautiful music to cover up an awkward sound, which sounded like a mixture of crying and laughing, accompanied by the clinking of porcelain dishes.

  Su Liangwei looked up and took a closer look, slightly surprised.

  In front of me was a middle-aged man, very thin, about thirty-five years old. His face was clean and handsome, although his face already had the marks of time, but those eyes were clear and bright like a child's. He kept raising the porcelain beside him high up, and then slammed it to the ground fiercely. When the porcelain shattered, he danced with joy, his face twisted, seemingly laughing yet not laughing, seemingly crying yet not crying.

  Lianyi's first reaction was - mental illness!?

  When the middle-aged man's porcelain was smashed, he sat on the ground with a thud, twisting and crying out, while the people below hurriedly brought new porcelain and placed it at his feet.

  The man was overjoyed when he saw the porcelain and continued to smash it with great enthusiasm.

  "Xiao'er." Old Mr. Ouyang spoke up, presumably calling out to the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man named Xiao'er heard his father's call and slowly stopped smashing the porcelain in his hand, chuckling. "Dad... dad... haha... dad... it's fun... I'll let you play with it..." He said, handing over the porcelain in his hand.

  Ouyang Shang was wryly smiling and shook his head, "Xiao'er, go ahead and play, as long as you're happy."

  "Haha...... alright." After answering, the middle-aged man continued smashing porcelain and then let out such a strange laugh.

  Ripples overturned the previous idea, mental illness is a patient's cognition, emotion, will, behavior and other psychological activities that appear persistent and obvious abnormalities, under the control of pathological psychology, there are suicidal or aggressive behaviors that harm others, in other words, during the onset period, they cannot control themselves at all.

  Just now when Ou Yang was calling him, he could control his conscious behavior to respond, so excluding the possibility of mental illness, even if there were symptoms of mental illness at this time, it was not a period of onset.

  But the middle-aged man's behavior and expression, as well as his tone of speech, were like those of a child. Could it be... mental retardation?

  Ouyang Shang sighed helplessly, lowered his head and dropped his eyes.

  Lianyi didn't say a word either, standing aside, and what was before her eyes could also be considered a tragic scene of human life.

  Before the Chrysanthemum Convention, she had done her "homework" and inquired about the Ouyang family. The answer was that the head of the Ouyang family, Ouyang Shangmo, had suddenly suffered a mysterious blow more than 30 years ago, dismissed his concubines, and withdrawn from the business world. If it weren't for this Chrysanthemum Convention, he would never appear in the business world again.

  No one knew what kind of blow Ouyang Shangmo had suffered, but at this moment, Su Lianwei suddenly felt a sense of finding the reason. Was it because of this person?

  After a long time, Ouyang Shangmo finally mustered up the spirit and said, "Lianyuan, this is my only son, Ouyang Xiao."

  Lianyi didn't know how to respond and could only nod silently.

  Ouyang Shangmo suddenly raised his head, looking at Su Lianwei, his eyes urgent, "Lianwei, can you bring Li Fu'an back to life? Is there a way to cure my son?"

  Lianyi had already guessed Mr. Ouyang's intention, but some illnesses can be cured, while others cannot.

  She furrowed her brow, hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Mr. Ouyang, I suppose you had searched all over the world for famous doctors for your son, so you must have an idea of his condition in mind, therefore..." She couldn't continue.

  Ouyang Shangmo refused to believe, "Lianyi, on that day Li Fu'an was already critically ill, and even the famous doctors in the world were helpless, but you could bring him back from the dead. Why can't the same miracle happen to my son?" He was extremely agitated.

  With a sigh, he said, "Because Mr. Li's symptoms are different from your son's, Mr. Li's heart disease is caused by wind evil, although now it seems to be in good spirits, but I'm afraid that for the rest of his life, he will not be able to leave medicine behind, and his lifespan will also not be the same as a normal person. Mr. Li's illness is in the heart, while your son's illness is in the brain, so... Brain disease, neurological disease, mental illness, require advanced medical technology and cutting-edge equipment, can't be treated with just some medication."

  Even many diseases can't be clinically diagnosed, they can only rely on instrument detection, and there are blood tests, urine tests and a series of meticulous checks. Now in such a situation, she doesn't even have the simplest stethoscope, she really has no way.

  Ouyang Shang's eyes grew increasingly dim, and he slowly lowered his head. "Is it... is it that you won't even give an old man his last hope? Even if it's a deception, as long as there's hope, I don't want to despair."

  Lianyi could understand what Dr. Ouyang meant, although a doctor shouldn't speak carelessly, but facing this elderly man at the end of his life, saying such absolute words was indeed cruel. Moreover, she is no longer a doctor now.

  Thinking of this, Lianyi lowered her eyes and said, "May I ask you some questions?"

  Ouyang Shang nodded slightly in his room, "Ask."

  "Excuse me, was your son born with this condition or is it due to a later illness?" The tone changed, without the usual politeness, now serious and authoritative.

  Ouyang Shangmu was stunned for a moment, and suddenly there was light in his turbid old eyes. He hurriedly raised his head to look at Su Lianwei, "It's been like this since birth."

  Lianyi nodded, "Is it congenital intellectual disability? May I ask, in the three generations above of the Ouyang family or Lord Lang's mother's family, has there been such a condition?"

  "No, my son is the first." Ouyang Shangmo replied, actually, he could somewhat guess the reason.

  "After birth, there were no abnormalities, but there were reactions that were different from other babies, such as convulsions, high fever, and hyperactivity." Ling continued to ask.

  "No abnormalities, same as normal children, it's just that whether learning to walk or speak, they are all delayed by one year."

  The method of judging is simple, if there is no reaction at all, it must be due to congenital brain development abnormalities and other reasons that caused intellectual disability. If there are other reactions, it is caused by some other diseases such as epilepsy.

  But the fact is so cruel that it doesn't even leave people a chance to resist.

  Ripples of hesitation, should I tell a benevolent lie? Should I claim that it can be cured, but only after thirty years? Old Mr. Ouyang will probably not live past thirty, so let him spend the rest of his life with hope?

  Ouyang Shangmo also experienced the storms, seeing Su Lianwei's appearance, he was relieved. He let out a long sigh, "Lianwei, it's my fault for troubling you." His voice had returned to its usual calmness.

  Ripples of shame, lowered his head and went, "Old sir, actually... actually... actually..." Actually for half a day, didn't have the courage to really deceive.

  Ouyang Shangmo smiled and turned his head to say to the old servant, "Let's go out."

  The old servant nodded and pushed the cumbersome wooden wheelchair out of the room, with Lianyi following behind.

  After the two came out, the heavy wooden door of the exquisite house closed again. The sounds inside the house, whether it was the sound of fighting, crying and laughing, or even the sound of the piano covering up these sounds, were all locked in by the thick door. There was not a single sound outside the house.

  Ripples went out of the house, suddenly aware, as if isolated from the world.

  Ouyang Shang's mood had stabilized a lot, and he slightly turned his head to the old servant, saying, "You can go down, I'll have a few words with Lianyi."

  The old servant answered and then respectfully backed away.

  Lianyi couldn't squeeze out that signature smile anymore, looking at the aged Mr. Ouyang in front of her, looking at the magnificent mansion and the stunning reputation that shook the business world, then looking at the foolish man inside the house, she couldn't guess what had happened over the past few decades, but she could be certain it was a tragic play.

  "Lingyu, have you ever wondered why I suddenly announced my withdrawal from the business world thirty-odd years ago?" asked Ouyang Shangmo.

  Since the old man asked, it means he wants to tell her, no matter whether Su Lianwei wants to know or not. At this time, she nodded obediently and said, "Lianwei is willing to hear more."

  Ouyang Shangmu smiled wryly, "Can you see those spirited and proud pillars of the business world today? In my youth, I was also like that. I had a wife from a neighboring village, a beautiful and delicate concubine, fame brought by my family, and a large amount of wealth. At that time, I was considered a prodigy in the business world. I thought heaven was treating me kindly, but..."

  That single word "but" is the turning point.

  Ripples calm the mind and listen.

  "But the problem lies with those concubines. As you can see, I'm already 70 or 80 years old, and my only son is 37 years old, which means he's a late-born child. Over 40 years old and still no children, I was extremely anxious. I knew about the conflicts among the women in the backyard, but what I didn't know was that their struggles were even more intense than those of men. It wasn't that I couldn't do it, nor was it that my wives and concubines couldn't do it, but rather they plotted against each other, harming one another. What a pity! My Ruyi..." At this point, his voice became even more sorrowful.

  Her eyes sparkled as she smiled, and he called her "like a child". This intimate form of address must be reserved for the woman dearest to Old Master Ouyang's heart. Could it be...?

  "Ru Er, is indeed my legitimate wife, grew up with me since childhood, from a scholarly family, without worldly desires. I thought marrying her would bring her happiness, but instead, I brought her into this abyss of fire. Because Ru Er's nature is kind and gentle, she has been secretly harmed by these people many times. Later, after I passed the age of 40, Ru Er finally gave birth to our child, Xiao Er, but..."

  Mr. Ouyang suddenly laughed, a bitter laugh, and also a self-mocking one. "It wasn't until later that I learned, previously you had been pregnant three times, all of which were aborted by someone's malicious actions. This time, it was only through great efforts that the pregnancy was preserved, but unexpectedly, when you became pregnant again, someone poisoned you, and our child ended up like this."

  Ripples suddenly realized, it's mercury and lead! Those concubines must have found a way to mix these substances into Mrs. Ouyang's food or personal items, in order to make her miscarry, but the child was saved, however, it hindered the development of intelligence.

  So that's how it is!

  He was startled and broke out in a cold sweat.

  Mr. Ouyang's laughter grew louder, "Am I not the most laughable person in the world? Thinking myself to be extremely intelligent and unmatched, walking alone in the world, yet never hearing about what happened at home. Never thinking that I would drag the one I love into a pit of fire, finally..."

  Her eyebrows and eyes drooped, one could imagine a woman named "Ru Er", poor thing.

  "In fact, Ruo Er had also changed. Under the pressure of the struggle between the women in the backyard, she too had to change for the sake of survival. When Ruo Er was four years old and discovered something unusual, she finally couldn't bear the blows of these decades and hanged herself. It wasn't until then that I truly realized my mistake, but it was already too late."

  A sigh in the heart, men are a contradictory body, sometimes strongest, sometimes weakest, sometimes extremely intelligent, and sometimes extremely naive, while combining strength and weakness, intelligence and naivety into one, is a man.

  Madam Ouyang was really pitiful, married to a man like Ruyi Langjun, but forced to share him with others. Her husband was busy with business, so she had no choice but to force herself to deal with these wolf-like women, and finally suffered a crushing blow, losing all attachment to this world, and took her own life.

  "What happened later is what everyone saw, I dissolved the harem, gave them enough money, and then washed my hands with a golden basin, never to enter the business world again. I only wanted to guard Xiaoyu and... the good memories of my youth, and end my miserable life. Holding the Chrysanthemum Festival is a tradition of the Ouyang family, which has continued for hundreds of years. Even if I retired from the business world, I couldn't break the ancestral teachings."

  Lianyi nodded, and Mr. Ouyang was almost half-destroyed, even if he wasn't completely ruined.

  The beloved woman has taken her own life, and now in old age I have lost my only son...

  Lianyi didn't know what to say and wasn't good at comforting others, so she just stood there, being a good listener.

  "After thinking it over, all of this is the result of my own doing. If I had married Ruyi and brought her into the household without being swayed by vanity and temptation, and spent more time at home taking care of her, perhaps things wouldn't be like this today. So, I don't blame anyone; everything is my own fault." Ouyang Shang's voice grew softer, filled with self-reproach that had accumulated over decades.

  Ripples in the heart are also affirmative, Mrs. Ouyang is pitiful, but Mr. Ouyang is not worthy of pity at all. If he had his own stance and did not take a concubine, protecting his loved one well, this tragedy would not have occurred.

  "Alright, I'm tired," Ou Yang Shangmu slightly turned his head, "Someone, send Lian Hui to the front yard."

  The maid walked quickly over, curtsied to Lianyi and led the way.

  "Lingyue, you're a clever girl. After listening to my story, I wonder if you've gained any insight? Remember, cherish life, go now."

  Tears of joy and sorrow, what's the use of her understanding or not? She was just a woman. "Thank you, sir, for your guidance. Please take care of your health, I bid farewell."

  Having finished speaking, she followed the maid servant to the front yard.

  Mr. Ouyang's words can be said to be a warning, unfortunately, the native-born ancient people couldn't understand it, but this modern person even if she didn't listen, knew the reasoning behind it.

  Before she knew it, it was already afternoon. The guests were saying their goodbyes and leaving one after another. The luxurious cars and beautiful women were still there, but in Su Lian's eyes, this life didn't seem that wonderful. She could imagine the countless family tragedies like the Ouyang's quietly unfolding.

  She can't change anything, what she can do is grasp her own destiny well.

  Just as she was led out of the Ou Yang Fu by the people, Ye Ci rushed up from behind, "Lian Yi, wait, where are you going?" Ye Huan also followed along.

  Lianyi glanced at him with a faint smile on her face, "Of course we're going back to Yuewang County, does Master Ye have any business?"

  Ye Ciyu was unhappy, "Lianyi, don't call me that way, why can't you call me Ciyu like before?"

  "It's not proper, I've already said what needed to be said. If outsiders hear such intimate terms of endearment, they'll misunderstand. If Master Ye is fine with it, then Lianyi will take her leave." She said, turning to leave once again.

  Ye Ciyu was unwilling to give up, he stretched out his hand and pulled her aside, lowering his voice. "Wait, Lianyi, you just said that you're afraid of being misunderstood, which means you're also a worldly person who doesn't want to shock the world. I'm the same, if I really only marry one wife, it would also be shocking to the world. Can't you understand me?"

  Lian Hui roughly shook off his hand, the smile on her face cooling down, replaced by seriousness. "Ye Gongzi, this is the last time I, Su Lian Hui, will say this. Don't try to persuade me, and I don't want to change you either. We're not people of the same world, so let's just not force it."

  Ye's words were urgent, and he felt a strange pain in his heart. "Wait... wait, don't go, Lianyi. If... if I really decide to only marry one wife, can you give me a chance?" He didn't dare to grab Su Lianyi again, afraid that she would get angry, so he followed her and said in a low voice.

  Tears of joy and sorrow, amidst the crowd's curious gaze, with surprised, ambiguous, and inquiring eyes fixed on the two. Helpless, he could only put up a facade, "Well, if you've made up your mind, come find me again, I'll give you another chance." He said this mostly to extricate himself from his current predicament.

  "Alright, it's settled!" Ye Ci got the opportunity, but was half joyful and half worried. In the end, she was ruthlessly shaken off by Ling Yu, and found an old horse-drawn carriage driven by Old Horse Head, and got on the carriage.

  "Miss Lianyi, shall we go back?" Old Horsehead asked, turning his head around.

  "Alright, let's go back." Liang Wei felt exhausted and closed her eyes. She was still feeling annoyed by Ye Ci's sudden pull earlier. Due to the chaotic scene just now, she only wanted to hurry into the carriage to escape and didn't even have time to bid farewell to others.

  Forget it, she didn't want to associate with these businessmen either, and it was fine if they didn't say goodbye.

  The carriage changed horses and started off again, turning a big bend, leaving the city, and getting onto the official road. The fine horses galloped away, and the carriage sped along.

  The sky was already dark and murky, and Lianyi was also very tired. She leaned against the carriage and fell asleep unknowingly.

  It was unclear how long it had been, but Lingyu was sleeping soundly when the carriage suddenly came to a stop.

  Lianyi woke up and heard Old Horse getting off the carriage. "Uncle Ma, what's wrong?" she asked aloud.

  After a while, Old Horse's voice came from outside the carriage, "Miss Lianyi, this wheel... is probably broken."

  Ripples of surprise, lifted the curtain and also got off the car, went to the outside of the wheel to check, indeed, it was broken, needing a very long time to repair. Fortunately, today is the sixteenth, the moon is full, won't be too dark to see clearly.

  "What can be done?" Old Horse Head said, "I can fix this, but it will take time, and if it's not good, I'll have to repair it until tomorrow..."

  Just then, a horse carriage that had been chasing from behind stopped, and someone jumped down. "Miss Su, what happened?" It was Ye Huan, and it turned out that the horse carriage belonged to Ye Ci.

  Ripples of frustration, "The car broke down." Sighing, today is really a day where nothing goes right.

  Just as Ye Cixuan was getting out of the carriage, another one stopped beside it. It was a carriage from the Li manor, and inside sat none other than Second Young Master Li Yutang.

  Digression

  Sorry, today the poor author's body is not feeling well, it seems like an old illness has relapsed. Starting from last night, I've had a splitting headache, so I'll just write 5,000 words today and resume writing 10,000 words tomorrow.

  Thanks to all the sisters for their monthly votes and gifts, I'll fill in the list later, I'm really too tired to write now.

  To express his sincerity, Da Hu and Lian Yi confessed their willingness to be together for a lifetime. Would Lian Yi agree?

  Wish all sisters a happy reading, and the little girl has gone to bed. Mua mua.