Qiu Residence.
Early in the morning, the Zhang family of three arrived with a cart full of gifts.
Qiu Zongxi, upon hearing the report from the servant, was not surprised. Ever since the Zhang family appeared in Xiangwu County, Qiu Zongxi knew they would come to see Yang Xu. After all, their previous attempt at General Yang Shoucheng's residence had been fruitless, and Yang Xu was their best avenue for progress.
"Grandpa Qiu, are they here because the General's mansion is about to be reinstated?" Yang Xu, who had been summoned, had no impression of the Zhang family he had never met, even if they were his maternal uncle and aunt.
He simply didn't know how to face these so-called relatives, especially with so many gifts. Before coming, Yang Xu had snuck a peek at the front courtyard and saw the cartload of gifts placed in the courtyard.
Qiu Zongxi did not conceal anything and handed over the investigation report on the Zhang family. "See for yourself."
Zhang Yiyi's life could be divided into two parts: waiting to be married in the Zhang family's inner quarters, and leaving the Yang family less than two years after marriage to seek refuge with the Zhenbian Marquis. In essence, she was just a woman of the inner quarters.
Yang Xu's understanding of Zhang Yiyi came from Yang Shoucheng and later from the maid Lian'er's accounts. This report, however, provided a detailed record of Zhang Yiyi's actions in the inner quarters.
As he read, Yang Xu's face showed shock. When she was still in the Zhang family, Zhang Yiyi had been responsible for three lives. Two were servants of the Zhang mansion, a wet nurse and a maid.
The third person was Zhang Yiyi's close friend from her maiden days, but she was later framed by Zhang Yiyi to fall into the water and be molested by a scoundrel. This girl was naturally spirited. After being rescued from the water, before the scoundrel could come to propose marriage, she hanged herself with a silk ribbon.
Qiu Zongxi looked at the incredulous Yang Xu and snorted with disdain. "Although many years have passed, your father sent people to investigate in Linzhou Prefecture after you were born. That scoundrel was arranged by the third young lady of the Zhang family for Madam Zhang, intending to ruin her reputation and marry her off to someone unsuitable. However, Madam Zhang, being intelligent and cautious, turned the tables and escaped the predicament herself."
Because the third young lady of the Zhang family had orchestrated this scheme, Governor Zhang severely punished her and quickly cleaned up all traces. Madam Zhang also remained unharmed, and no one expected that Madam Zhang herself had a hand in this.
As for Madam Zhang during her nine years in the Zhenbian Marquis's mansion, she had also been responsible for lives. She sold off two beautiful maids and beat a wet nurse to death on the charge of theft.
This wet nurse was merely gossipy and looked down on Zhang Yiyi, who had abandoned her husband and child. After being beaten, and with no one to find a doctor for her, she fell ill and died within three days.
After quickly finishing the report, Yang Xu was somewhat stunned. He only remembered Madam Zhang curled up in the prison cell, weak and helpless, her face pale and bloodless, as if she could die at any moment.
How could Yang Xu believe that she had seven or eight lives on her hands, let alone the maids who were sold off, who likely met the same fate? Such a ruthless woman could not be reconciled with the frail woman in the prison who coughed a few times with every word.
After a long silence.
"Does the Zhang family intend to take her back to Linzhou Prefecture?" Yang Xu suddenly didn't know how to face Madam Zhang, his own mother, let alone the lives of those eight scoundrels this time.
Having witnessed Zhan Feiyu's intelligence and quick-wittedness, Qiu Zongxi no longer intended to treat Yang Xu as a child. He spoke his mind, regardless of whether Yang Xu could accept it.
"Take her away?" Qiu Zongxi looked at the naive Yang Xu with contempt and unceremoniously tore open the bloody truth. "The Zhang family is here to silence her. Madam Zhang had harmed the Zhang family quite a bit back then! Killing Madam Zhang will be a good way to vent your father's anger."
The Zhang family's sole purpose in coming to Xiangwu County was to mend their relationship with the Yang family. If Yang Xu could be brought to acknowledge them, that would be even better. As for the handling of Zhang Yiyi, it would depend on the Yang family's attitude.
"The Zhang family is waiting in the main hall. You can have Xiao Yu accompany you to meet the guests." Qiu Zongxi had no intention of meeting the Zhang family. Madam Zhang was not a good person, and the Zhang family, who had kicked the Yang family while they were down, was no better. They were all birds of a feather.
...
When Zhan Feiyu and Yang Xu arrived at the main hall, the three members of the Zhang family had already had a cup of tea. Hearing the footsteps, even Zhang Minxian, the elder, stood up.
"Xu'er, I am your maternal uncle." Zhang Minxian, at first glance, saw that Yang Xu's appearance greatly resembled Yang Shoucheng, with sharp features, a stern face, and a pair of dark, deep-set eyes that held a hint of wildness, like a wolf cub on the prairie, ready to pounce and tear at its enemies at any moment.
In Zhang Minxian's limited memories, Madam Zhang was a frail woman, her face resembling her mother, who was a singer from Jiangnan. Her willow-leaf eyebrows framed a pair of eyes that held a spring-like glow, and her voice was soft and pleasant, the kind of appearance that any man would favor.
Zhang Minhua also stood up. Even though Yang Xu appeared stubborn and defiant, he was clearly not a calculating child, which put Zhang Minhua at ease.
If they were all as cunning as Zhan Feiyu, Zhang Minhua felt that the Zhang family would never be able to win over Yang Xu.
As for Zhou Shuyao, she sized up Yang Xu. Perhaps it was due to his youth, but a look of disdain flashed in her eyes. Compared to the elegant young masters of the noble families in Linzhou Prefecture, Yang Xu's appearance was not even as good as that of the stable boys.
His skin was dark and rough, and his clothes were cotton jackets, even patched. He was only slightly better than the beggars on the street.
Zhan Feiyu, as a companion, naturally did not want to steal the spotlight. She sat down in a chair opposite Zhang Minxian, holding a hand warmer and watching the show.
Seeing Zhan Feiyu sit down, Yang Xu also sat down. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke first, "What are you here for? Don't say it's for me, your nephew. You haven't shown yourselves for the past eight years."
Yang Xu's bluntness left the three members of the Zhang family no room to maneuver. These words were tantamount to tearing off the Zhang family's skin. How could they still play the emotional card and foster relationships, let alone win over Yang Xu?
In less than fifteen minutes, the three members of the Zhang family left Qiu Residence with dejected expressions. Yang Xu was simply unyielding, neither good words nor bad words could sway him.
As for the cartload of gifts, they were also taken away by the Zhang family. They had no choice but to take them, as Yang Xu refused to accept them, stating directly that he would throw them outside.
"Mother, Yang Xu is so rude and disrespectful!" Zhou Shuyao, in the carriage, was fuming.
She couldn't speak at Qiu Residence just now, but now she vented her anger. "The Yang family has been disgraced for years, and we don't blame them for the repercussions. Yet he still resents us for ignoring him!"
When Zhang Yiyi married Yang Shoucheng back then, the Zhang family gained no advantage. Later, when the General's mansion fell into trouble, the Zhang family kicked them while they were down and got involved. Even though they severed ties with the Yang family, they were still somewhat affected.
Fortunately, the Zhang family was also an official family, and their relatives and acquaintances were all in official circles. Moreover, the Yang family were military officials, while the Zhang family were civil officials, so the impact was not significant.
Zhang Minxian did not speak, his eyes half-closed as he pondered something.
Zhang Minhua glanced at the complaining Zhou Shuyao and patted her hand. "If Yang Xu were as intelligent as Miss Zhan, do you think it would be good?"
"I..." Zhou Shuyao was suddenly speechless.
"The simpler Yang Xu's personality, the more beneficial it is for our Zhang family," Zhang Minhua's voice became a little lighter. Everything had been going smoothly since arriving in Xiangwu County, and today's visit had finally yielded some results.
The Zhang family never expected to mend their relationship with Yang Xu in a single meeting. But if not today, then in ten days, a year, two years... Yang Xu was still young, and it would take at least ten years for him to truly command military power. By then, the Zhang family would surely be able to resolve Yang Xu's resentment, and thus, the Zhang family could borrow influence from the General's mansion.
Zhang Minhua's heart relaxed. She also did not forget to teach her daughter, "Shuyao, why do you think Madam Zhang gave birth to Yang Xu back then? And why did the Zhenbian Marquis allow her to give birth to a child?"
In the end, Zhang Yiyi was merely seeking an additional safeguard. With Yang Xu, as his mother, she would have an inseparable connection with the General's mansion.
Although the Yang family had been disgraced, their influence was not to be underestimated. In the future, all this influence would fall into Yang Xu's hands, which was Zhang Yiyi's reliance.
If not for this, why would the Zhenbian Marquis have taken in Zhang Yiyi? It was because she had usable value. The Zhenbian Marquis's mansion intended to regain military power from Yang Xu through Zhang Yiyi.
Of course, Yang Xu's birth was a weakness for Old General Yang and Yang Shoucheng. They had to consider Yang Xu before doing anything. Under various factors, Yang Xu was born.
After the Zhang family left, Yang Xu's tense emotions finally relaxed, and he became like an ordinary child. "Xiao Yu, why do people have so many struggles for benefit?"
Even his own biological mother did not give birth to him out of love. Yang Xu no longer expected to find kinship in the Zhang family. He simply didn't understand and didn't know how to face these blood relatives.
Zhan Feiyu couldn't help but think of the Zhan family in Jinlin Village. The eventual adoption and expulsion from the clan were ultimately due to favoritism, and also because her parents were honest and had no sons. Thus, the entire extended family clung to her parents and sucked their blood. Of course, this was also due to poverty.
"All under heaven bustle for gain, all under heaven throng for profit. The Zhang family is an official family, and the actions of the Zhang family are all for their official careers. As long as you maintain your original intention and do not bend the law for anyone, even your wife and children, then everything will be resolved." Zhan Feiyu believed that if there were no benefits, no one would bother with Yang Xu.
Yang Xu nodded in understanding. Years later, when the citizens of the Great Qing Dynasty spoke of General Yang, the "Black Yama," besides his leading the soldiers of the Great Qing to guard the borders and striking fear into the barbarians, they would more often speak of General Yang's integrity and impartiality.
Whether it was the generals and soldiers under his command, or the members of the Yang family, including his wife and children, anyone who violated the criminal law would be sent to the yamen for strict investigation.
"In the future, if the Zhang family sends you gifts, you should accept them. You can give them to the people of Xiangwu County in the name of the Zhang family, or send them to the army. No matter who gives you gifts, you should do the same," Zhan Feiyu said with a chuckle. Not accepting was too troublesome. If they didn't accept once, the other party would think their sincerity was insufficient, and there would be a second and third time.
But if Yang Xu did this, unless they were rich fools with nowhere to spend their money, no one would give Yang Xu gifts again, and he would also gain a good reputation. It was killing two birds with one stone.
In the next half month, the Zhang family indeed visited again. This time, it was Zhang Minhua and Zhou Shuyao who came, knowing that Yang Xu was young and it would be difficult to drive away two women.
The Zhang family did not expect to mend their relationship with Yang Xu in a short period. However, there were spies in Xiangwu County watching. The Zhang family was doing this for outsiders, letting them know that the Zhang family was still related to the soon-to-be-reinstated Yang family, which would make the Zhang family's path in officialdom smoother.
"Thank you, young master."
"Young master must be a young attendant under the Bodhisattva, to be so kind-hearted."
"My mother can finally eat a full meal."
At the entrance of the rice shop, after Yang Xu spread the word, the cartload of valuable gifts brought by Zhang Minhua, except for the five hundred taels of silver notes, the rest of the clothes, fabrics, and medicinal materials were all sold by Yang Xu at the highest price.
The money obtained was used to buy coarse grains at the rice shop. The poor people of Stone Village and the surrounding villages could come and collect fifty catties of coarse grains. In this severe cold, there was already a long line on the street. Every villager who received the grain was extremely grateful for Yang Xu's kindness.
As for these gifts being sent by the Zhang family, the common people didn't care. They only knew that they received the grain from this young master. Fifty catties of coarse grains, with a little more water, would be enough for a family to eat for a month.
In the private room upstairs, Qiu Zongxi, who was looking out the window, withdrew his gaze. "You have quite a few clever ideas."
If Yang Xu refused the gifts, the Zhang family would surely visit again.
But Yang Xu accepted them and even exchanged the gifts for coarse grains and distributed them. The Zhang family probably wouldn't bring gifts to curry favor with him if they came again. That cartload of gifts was worth a total of two thousand taels.
Biting into a walnut peeled by He Nuan, Zhan Feiyu poked her head out to look down. "The Yang family is about to be reinstated, and it's a good time to win people's hearts. Fortunately, Yang Xu is a military man. If he were a scholar, the Zhang family would have many ways to force Yang Xu to submit."
Scholars valued their reputation. The Zhang family were elders. Even if they had made mistakes in the past, they had now come with sincere apologies. If Yang Xu refused the Zhang family, it would be his rudeness. If the Zhang family then operated behind the scenes, the public condemnation of scholars could ruin Yang Xu's career.
Fortunately, he was a military man. As long as he knew how to lead troops in battle, his reputation was not important.
For the Emperor on the dragon throne, it was even better for a general to have no good reputation. If a military man began to cultivate his reputation, the Emperor would suspect him of having rebellious intentions, especially with the saying that he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world.
In this cold weather, the three members of the Zhang family naturally stayed in the separate courtyard and did not go out. Even if they wanted to foster a relationship with Yang Xu, they would have to wait a few days, especially since Zhang Minhua had just visited Qiu Residence yesterday.
"My lord, something is wrong." Suddenly, the voice of a servant rushed in from outside the door.
Zhang Minxian, who was about to eat, put down his chopsticks and asked with a stern face, "What's the panic? What happened?"
"My lord, Young Master Xu..." The servant lowered his head and quickly recounted Yang Xu's act of charity.
Who would have thought that the gifts Zhang Minhua had forcefully left at Qiu Residence yesterday would be sold by Yang Xu at the entrance of the rice shop the next morning? This was a slap in the face for the Zhang family.
"Say that again?" Zhang Minxian's face turned completely grim, his eyes suppressing anger. This was outrageous!
Zhang Minhua's expression was also extremely displeased. She had thought that Yang Xu, being young, would be too embarrassed to refuse, but who knew he would do something so disgusting.
The key was that once this news spread, everyone in Longyou Dao would know that the Yang family and the Zhang family were at odds, otherwise, why would Yang Xu sell all the gifts sent by the Zhang family?