Suffering in Someone Else's Place!

"Old man, what should we do? Our son is so outstanding, it's all our fault for being incompetent and making him suffer!" The old woman wiped away her tears. "Our son may not seem to care, but he must care a lot in his heart."

The elderly couple sat under the dim light of an oil lamp, their faces filled with worry.

Old Man Cao didn't answer; the silence was eerily profound.

Only the occasional chirping of insects outside the window broke the dull silence.

Old Man Cao's brows were furrowed, as if they could catch a falling leaf. His pipe had long since gone out, but he was still mechanically putting it into his mouth, as if this could relieve his anxiety.

The old woman's eyes were filled with tears, and the handkerchief in her hand was twisted so tightly that it almost broke in two. Every sigh was like a heavy hammer, pounding on this little family that was already on the verge of collapse.

"Old man, say something! Tell me, aren't we a burden to Feng'er?" The old woman finally couldn't hold back her tears again. "He was such a good boy, he deserved a good home, but now..."

Old Man Cao sighed, put down his pipe, and gently held his wife's hand. Her calloused hand conveyed warmth and determination. "Our Feng'er is gold; he'll shine sooner or later. It's just that this world is... sigh, too realistic. All we can do is give him more encouragement and not let him feel disheartened."

"But how can we encourage him? Seeing him rejected time and time again is like a knife cutting into my heart." The old woman choked up, tears blurring her vision once more.

Old Man Cao was silent for a moment, then a resolute glint flashed in his eyes. "We can't just sit here and wait to die. We have to think of a way to help Feng'er. Those wealthy families in the city always have some shady dealings going on, we..."

Upon hearing this, the old woman looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "You... you mean, we're going to sell ourselves into servitude to be punished for others? Old man, are you crazy? We're both this old, how could we do such a thing!"

"I know it's a bad idea, but Feng'er can't wait!" Old Man Cao's voice was low and firm. "I heard there's a rich man in the city whose son got into trouble and he's looking for someone to take the blame. We may be old, but we're still pretty healthy. It's better for us to suffer a little for someone else than to watch Feng'er remain a bachelor for the rest of his life."

Upon hearing this, the old woman's tears fell like beads from a broken string. She gripped Old Man Cao's hand tightly, as if afraid that she would lose him if she let go. "Old man, are you going to risk your life for Feng'er's happiness?"

"Silly woman, we're doing this for Feng'er's own good." Old Man Cao gently wiped away his wife's tears. "We've worked hard all our lives, hoping that Feng'er can have a bright future. Now that we have this opportunity, no matter how difficult it is, we have to try."

The elderly couple discussed this all night and finally decided to secretly go to the city without telling Cao Feng.

They knew this road was full of unknowns and dangers, but for their son's happiness, they were willing to give everything.

As night deepened, moonlight bathed the elderly couple's faltering figures, lengthening their weary yet determined strides. The city lights, dim and glittering, contrasted sharply with the tranquility of the countryside, and an indescribable, complex atmosphere permeated the air.

Upon arriving at a secluded residence in the city, the elderly couple, following the information they had gathered, found the wealthy man's steward.

The butler sized them up, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly concealed, for their purpose was exactly what the wealthy man needed.

"Gentlemen, if someone dies in jail, we won't take responsibility," the butler said bluntly, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.

Old Man Cao nodded, his voice hoarse but firm. "Yes, we are willing to take the blame for others, and we understand the consequences!"

The old woman stood by, tears welling in her eyes, but she held them back, tightly gripping Old Man Cao's hand, offering him silent support.

The butler sneered and led them into a dimly lit room, filled with dampness and a musty smell. "Do you know that this is no small matter? It could cost you your head."

Old Man Cao took a deep breath, his eyes revealing determination. "We are prepared. We are willing to do anything to make Feng'er happy."

The days that followed were like hell on earth for the elderly couple.

They were taken away by the officials.

Imprisoned in dark and damp dungeons, they endured inhuman torture every day: whipping, hunger, cold... all the suffering seemed to be trying to completely destroy their will.

But when the night is quiet, the elderly couple would lean on each other and whisper their longing and hopes for their son. This love became their only motivation to keep going.

"Old man, how is Feng'er now? Is she worried about us?" The old woman's voice was full of concern.

Old Man Cao gently patted the back of her hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, Feng'er is a sensible child. He will take good care of himself. Our current hardships are all for his future."

However, fate did not seem to intend to let them off so easily.

After a particularly brutal ordeal, the elderly couple fell into a coma, their lives seemingly on the verge of being extinguished.

Just then, an unexpected figure burst into the dungeon—it was Cao Feng!

It turned out that Cao Feng had been worried about his parents, and after making inquiries from various sources, he finally learned of their whereabouts.

Seeing my parents covered in wounds, my heart ached.

"Father! Mother!" Cao Feng knelt before his parents, tears streaming down his face. "It is your unfilial son who has caused you to suffer!"

The elderly couple slowly opened their eyes and saw their son standing safely in front of them. A warm feeling welled up in their hearts, and all the pain and torment seemed to be comforted at this moment.

"Feng'er, you... how did you get here?" the old woman asked weakly.

"It's my fault, I didn't take good care of you," Cao Feng said remorsefully. "But please rest assured, Father and Mother, I will definitely rescue you and never let you suffer any more grievances."

"No, child, there are still three days left. If we can hold on for these three days, we'll have money," Old Man Cao cried out in a weak voice.

"No, Father, Mother, you can't bear such punishment. Let me take it, I'll take it for you!"

How could Cao Feng allow his parents to continue receiving such treatment?

They absolutely refused to let their parents continue to go to jail.

The government doesn't care either, as long as someone takes the blame and accepts the punishment they deserve!

In the end Cao Feng took the place of his parents and began to accept his punishment!

The next three days felt like an eternity to the three of them.

Every day in the dungeon was filled with torment and suffering, but Cao Feng never gave up.

If his parents can do it, then he can too!

At the same time, he did his best to take care of his parents, using his own body to shield them from the cold and dampness.