The Red Mole Prophecy : A Concubine's Rise (BL)

chapter 2: The homecoming of scorn

"Su Ling returned to the camp, where his stepmother's shrill tongue was lashin' out like a whip. 'Where's that good for nothing' brother gone to?' she yelled. 'Can't even fill the water barrel proper! I'll break them lazy bones of his, so he can't wander off again! That bastard a born money loser, like a broom that sweeps away our fortune!'"

Su Ling's feet faltered as his stepmother's curse pierced the air. His gaze dropped, and his chest tightened like a fist. The venom in her words seeped into his soul, chilling his blood.

He quickened his pace, fingers wrapping tighter around the clay jug's worn handle. The familiar weight of it offered a fleeting sense of security, like grasping a lifeline in turbulent waters.

As he walked, the wind picked up, whipping his hair into a frenzy. The storm brewing ahead seemed to mirror the turmoil within him. Dark clouds gathered, their ominous shadows stretching like skeletal fingers across the parched earth.

As Su Ling approached the tattered tent, his stepmother's eyes flashed like hot coals, burning with a fury that seemed to scorch the air around her. Her face contorted, lips curling into a snarl, as if the very sight of him fueled her rage.

Su Ling's soul deflated, burdened by the bleakness of his reality. He mechanically tilted the jug, water gushing into the tank like lifeblood draining from his veins. His limbs moved with the stiff jerky motions of a marionette, controlled by the heartless hands of fate.

"Lady Wang's eyes flashed with irritation as Su Ling's awkward gestures triggered her wrath, and she unleashed a torrent of curses.

"Useless thing! Where were you all day? Water fetching takes all day? You lazy rat! Who'll do the other chores now? It's getting dark, and dinner's not even cooked. You expect others to work for you?

"Would you just disappear? You're worthless, good-for-nothing! Born to bring ruin, you're a disaster star. Our family's bad luck began with you.

"May your laziness bring you poverty! May your gluttony choke you! You're a burden, a plague, eating and doing nothing, shamelessly."

"Lady Wang pointed at the sky and exclaimed, 'Oh heavens, bring justice! This brother's laziness wants to starve his parents to death.

"Su Ling's face twisted in anguish as Lady Wang's words ripped through his heart. Tears gushed down his face as he pleaded, 'No, Mother, that's not true...!' Raising his eyes to the sky, he vowed, 'May divine lightning strike me if I ever fail to care for you and Father! I swear to honor my filial duties, no matter the sacrifice!'"

"Lady Wang's anger flared, fueled by Su Ling's words. 'So, you dare to talk back to your mother, you unfilial thing!' she spat. 'You deserve to be struck by lightning, a cautionary tale to remind people what happens when you defy your parents. Even Heaven cannot tolerate unfilial children and will punish them accordingly.'"

Su Ling's father, who had been resting in bed, suddenly got up, his eyes fixed on the scene before him. His expression was a mix of guilt towards Su Ling and anger towards Lady Wang. He shouted, "Enough, woman! He's still my flesh and blood. As a mother, you have a right to educate him, but not to curse him!"

"Lady Wang's face contorted in anguish as she burst into fake tears, fabricating a dramatic scene. 'Fine,' she said in a icy tone, her voice dripping with anger and resentment. 'I'm just a stepmother to your precious son. What right do I have to guide him? After years of dedicating myself to his upbringing, I've apparently failed you both.' She raised her eyes to the heavens, pleading, 'What kind of injustice is this?'"

Su Dalang's heart softened, seeing his beloved wife cry. He spoke in a gentle tone, "Wang, please don't cry. It's not your fault. You've always been an excellent mother to our three children.

Su Mei, the village's coveted flower, observed the scene with detached interest, her elegant hands moving lazily with the fan. Her gaze dripped with condescension.

"Father, Su Ling's incompetence is to blame. He can't even accomplish basic tasks. His laziness knows no bounds, and he behaves as if born into nobility. Worst still, he treats Mother with disrespect, as if she's his personal servant. You shouldn't indulge such behavior."

Mei's voice reeked of insincerity. "Brother, think of our family's honor. Your laziness reflects poorly on us. Imagine the shame when your future in-laws discover your true nature." Her eyes narrowed. "You owe Mother an apology. Kowtow to her, and perhaps she'll forgive your transgressions." She added with a self-righteous smirk, "Mother's guidance is for your own good. Why resist.?

Lady Wang dabbed away her tears with a handkerchief, her composure regained. She gazed lovingly at Mei. "You understand the importance of respecting and obeying your parents, and what's best for the Su family." Her voice turned icy, her eyes flashing with disdain. "Unlike this worthless son from your father's first marriage."

Su mei,She pretended to be a good person, but Su Ling knew better. She and her mother humiliated him every day, taking pleasure in his misery.

Su Ling's heart burned with resentment as his sister's words cut deep. He knew she was just echoing their stepmother's venom, but it still hurt. He felt like a stranger in his own family, an outcast with no place to belong.

Su Ling 's father said "Don't make me feel tired anymore, Su Ling! Go cook!"

Su Ling's stepmother and sister exchanged a triumphant glance, their faces gleaming with malice. They had successfully turned his father against him once again.

Su Ling felt a stinging sensation in his eyes as he turned away, his heart heavy with sorrow. He shuffled towards the cooking fire, his movements mechanical.

He gathered some wild vegetables and coarse grain, mixing them with a little water to create a thin, glue-like paste. The smell of burnt offerings and stale air filled his nostrils as he cooked the miserable meal.

The tasteless, unappetizing food seemed to mirror his own life - bitter, hard, and unloved. He felt like a servant, a slave to his own family's cruelty.

The sound of his stepmother's mocking laughter and his sister's giggles pierced the air, making Su Ling's hands tremble with rage. He wanted to lash out, to scream at the injustices he suffered, but he knew it would only make things worse.

As the family sat down to eat, Su Ling's stepmother sneered at him. "There's only one spoon left, Brother ling.I suppose you'll just have to go without."

Su Ling's heart ached as he looked at the meager meal, his stomach growling with hunger. He felt a lump form in his throat as he realized he would go to bed with an empty stomach once again.

He cried bitterly, the tears streaming down his face as he turned away from the cruel scene. He retreated to a corner of the cramped, dingy house, his body shaking with sobs.

The sounds of his family's laughter and conversation, their clinking spoons, only made his pain worse. He felt like an outcast, a stranger in his own home.

As he lay down on the hard, cold floor, Su Ling wrapped his arms around himself, trying to find some comfort in his own embrace. He closed his eyes, letting the tears soak into the dirt beneath him.

In that moment, Su Ling felt like he had hit rock bottom. He was a Brother, a cursed outcast, and no one cared if he lived or died.