Lian Hua suddenly realized, "Oh, so you hit a rock. Steward Zhang, don't force it. When you encounter a rock, just go around it. Ay, your digging is really not up to par."
Zhang Qing's eyes were brimming with tears. Wasn't it she who had asked him to exert himself? He had put all his strength into it, and when he dug too forcefully, he broke the shovel and nearly tumbled over. Oh, he felt so wronged.
Oh, his ancestors, why was digging the ground so difficult? He'd rather kneel instead; he was willing to kneel and accept punishment rather than dig any longer, and whatever happened, Master Lian must not watch!
This digging made him start questioning his life, feeling as if he was good for nothing, as though he had lived half his life in vain.
If the Imperial Chief Steward couldn't dig properly, how embarrassed he would be if word got out. How was he to mix in the palace in the future?