"What does the Zhan Family do? Are the people in their household easy to get along with? Which young master from the Zhan Family is proposing to Sister Xiu? What is his character like? What does he currently do for a living? Can he support a family?" Luo Wu asked many questions in succession, feeling a pang of distress with each one.
The girl he had loved for so many years was about to beco soone else’s, and although he wished for her to marry into a wealthy and noble family and live a life of comfort, his heart still ached.
Lady Xia looked at Luo Wu’s reddened eyes with a hint of pity, but still replied, "Not only is the Zhan Family a noble family, but they are also related to the royal family, with an outside daughter being a princess of Great Chu. The Zhan Family is known for being educated and reasonable, and they are easy to get along with. The one who is proposing to Sister Xiu is from the main branch of the Zhan Family, the legitimate Second Young Master nad Zhan Yuan, style na Hengzhi. He is the youngest Madman in Great Chu, and just one poem of his can sell for hundreds of taels of silver. He definitely does not need to worry about money."
One poem can sell for hundreds of taels of silver?
Luo Wu was astonished, and then he murmured the na Zhan Yuan again... Zhan Yuan, Hengzhi, even his na sounded better than his.
Master Xia added from the side, "As a noble family, the Zhan Family has accumulated wealth over hundreds of years. Even if the Second Young Master Zhan never works a day in his life, he has enough gold and silver to last forever, so supporting a family is certainly not an issue."
Upon hearing this, Luo Wu felt a mix of joy and sorrow—happy that Sister Xiu was favored by a fine family, yet sad that he would never be able to marry her in this lifeti.
Master Xia and his wife, in a back-and-forth manner, kept saying how rich and noble the Zhan Family was, and how accomplished and young Zhan Er was, causing Luo Wu’s head to nearly drop to his chest, unable to lift it again.
In the end, Lady Xia even sighed, "That boy Hengzhi is truly lovesick. He is very fond of Sister Xiu and has vowed to only marry her in this lifeti; he won’t take in any concubines."
Luo Wu was shocked, "Is what the lady says true?"
The young masters of wealthy families usually liked taking in concubines. Although he hoped for Sister Xiu to marry a noble young master, he didn’t want her future husband to take in concubines; he feared Sister Xiu would be bullied by those won.
Lady Xia replied, "Of course it’s true. Hengzhi was even concerned that his family wouldn’t agree. He has already returned ho to persuade his grandmother and parents first and then have his grandmother co to propose in person, as a sign of his profound love for Sister Xiu."
Luo Wu listened, elated, and kept saying, "That’s good, that’s good..."
But although he should be happy, tears uncontrollably welled up in his eyes and, with a drip, fell to the ground.
He didn’t want Master and Lady Xia to see him crying, so he hurriedly lowered his head even more.
Amid the awkwardness, the Xias’ servants brought over the lit silver charcoal, placed it into the copper tripod, and set up two tables beside it.
One table was laid with sliced venison and Hai Xian Sauce, and the other with delicacies Luo Wu had never seen before, along with fine wines that were fragrant and clear.
The sizzle sound resonated as the servants placed the venison on racks, slowly roasting it and dividing the cooked at among three different-colored porcelain plates.
Three maids each carried a porcelain plate to Luo Wu and the others, knelt down, and offered, "Please enjoy the venison."
Luo Wu, unaccustod to being served this way, waved his hands and said, "Stand up, I’m not hungry."
Master Xia interjected, "Brother Wu has not tasted venison before, right? This venison is a hundred tis more precious than beef or mutton, and it’s a delicacy that nobles in the Capital must have for Dongzhi. Even if Brother Wu isn’t hungry, try a few slices to honor the occasion."
Looking at such precious offerings, Luo Wu felt even more ashad. Having finished inquiring about the Zhan Family, he stood up to take his leave, "I must be leaving now, Master Xia, Lady Xia, please enjoy your al."
Master Xia’s eyebrows knitted in concern as he saw Luo Wu’s determination to leave, and without holding him back further, he simply instructed a servant, "Wrap up the venison on Brother Wu’s plate, so he can take it with him."
"Yes," the servant responded, swiftly wrapping up the venison.
Master Xia took the wrapped venison from the servant and stuffed it into Luo Wu’s hands: "Brother Wu, take this as your wage for helping to transport the copper tripod."
Luo Wu did not refuse after hearing this, taking the venison and walking away.
After Luo Wu left, the servants were dismissed, leaving only Master Xia and Lady Xia in the flower hall.
Lady Xia said with so reluctance, "Husband, isn’t this too cruel? Although Brother Wu’s status is not worthy of Sister Xiu, it’s not right to have such thoughts about Sister Xiu, but using an infertility drug... If a man cannot have children..."
Master Xia interrupted Lady Xia’s words: "My dear, you are too kind. Luo Wu is no more than a lowly farr boy. He should rightly marry a farr girl to live his life with, yet he has the audacity to covet Sister Xiu, the legitimate daughter of the Lu Family. Using the infertility drug on him is already rciful. He should have been secretly killed and made to disappear, never to disgust Sister Xiu again."
He continued: "My dear is also aware of the Gu Family’s intentions; they actually have their eyes set on this Luo Wu, wanting to recruit him as a son-in-law! What we are doing is also to stop the Gu Family, to prevent them from doing sothing foolish."
Master Xia and his wife targeted Luo Wu and repeatedly attacked his self-esteem, all because they knew the Gu Family wanted to recruit Luo Wu as the pri son-in-law.
When they learned of this, they were truly furious, feeling that the Gu Family People had gone mad. How could they possibly betroth their fine daughter to Luo Wu?
But due to status, they dared not demand anything from the Gu Family, so they could only secretly take action against Luo Wu.
Initially, they did not want to resort to poisoning, for poisoning is a despicable tactic. But with the complications arising from the Zhan Family, it made the Gu Family even more resolute in their decision to marry Sister Xiu to Luo Wu.
Today being Dongzhi, if Luo Wu were to go ho, the Gu Family People would surely shalessly confront Luo Wu and demand a definitive answer from him.
In their desperation, the couple could only block Luo Wu once more, strike at him again, and, fearing it might not be secure enough, they also laced the venison with the infertility drug.
"Luo Wu doesn’t seem too fond of eating venison. What if he doesn’t eat that venison?" Lady Xia said.
Master Xia waved his sleeve and chuckled: "My dear, don’t worry. Given our words just now, Luo Wu will certainly feel inferior and won’t go ho for Dongzhi today. As long as he doesn’t return, his relationship with the Gu Family will worsen. Even if he’s lucky enough not to eat the venison this ti, we’ll find another opportunity to administer the infertility drug."
Master Xia picked up the wine pot and indulged in a satisfying sip of wine: "No matter what, we have won today."
Although Master Xia lost to Gu Jinli’s rogue tactics, he was very accurate at judging people, and he had long noticed Luo Wu’s inferiority complex when facing Gu Jinxiu.
He took advantage of Luo Wu’s inferiority, smothering Luo Wu’s passionate spirit completely.
Master Xia guessed right; indeed, the incident with the Zhan Family had struck Luo Wu deeply, he felt extre distress and, upon leaving the Xia Family’s manor, hesitated at a crossroads for a long ti before turning his horse’s head towards the county town.
He went to his own residence in the county town.
This residence was purchased by him three years ago; it was not large, but the arrangent was very warm, much like the Gu Family’s residence in Da Feng Village.
In the main courtyard of the rear residence, Luo Wu planted an elm seed tree.
This was what Sister Xiu wanted to plant.
Sister Xiu said that once the elm seeds grew, they could be picked and eaten, which would save a lot of grain.
User Comments
0 comments from readers