After Qin left, Zhao Xingchen was taken to bed by Aunt Qian. He was very reluctant and kept whining about wanting to share a bed with Xu Lanyin and Min Jia. Mama Liu was the first to disagree.
She said, "Sister will be seven this May. It's okay for her to play with him, but how can she sleep with a boy?"
On the eighth day of the second lunar month, two unexpected guests arrived: Zhang Manniang and Zhang Tiedan. They looked worried, thinner, and darker than before. They also brought a lot of mountain products, including a ginseng root.
Xu Lanyin and Xu Lanting were both surprised that they had come here and given such a big gift.
Zhang Manniang said unhappily, "Look how scared you are. We are not ghosts. It's just that my eldest brother got into trouble, and my father came to the provincial capital to explain the situation. Don't worry, I won't implicate you."
Xu Lanyin finally reacted, went over to pull her and said with a smile, "You are so thoughtful, when have we ever been afraid of getting you into trouble?"
Zhang Manniang laughed when she heard Xu Lanyin say that she was scheming. She said, "We came here yesterday afternoon. Before we came, we went to Nanping County to ask Aunt Xu for your address. Sister Xu, Wang Sanni can work in your teahouse, so can you also find a job for me? Although I can't read and I'm a bit stout, I'm strong and can fight. If anyone dares to cause trouble in the teahouse..."
Zhang Tiedan frowned and interrupted her, "Sister, what are we doing here? How come you forgot the most important thing?"
Zhang Manniang patted her head and said hurriedly, "Sister Xu, we need your help with something."
After they entered the house and sat down, the maid served tea. Then Zhang Manniang said, "Sister Xu, I heard that you know Lord Min. Can you do us a favor?"
It turned out that Zhang Manniang and Zhang Tiedan came to inquire about Zhang Heizi's situation in the Supreme Court, and to ask whether this matter would implicate the entire family.
"My father didn't commit treason. Brother Zhao can attest to that. He even came to my house. My father didn't kill any relatives. He has already dealt with my brother."
Zhang Tiedan said hurriedly, "It's a case of sacrificing one's own family for the greater good. Last year, Brother Zhao went to my hometown and found my father. My father told him what my brother did before his death. Does that count as a meritorious report? Also, can we meet my father?"
Zhang Manniang asked again, "The imperial court won't kill my father, or wipe out our entire family, right?"
Xu Lanyin had previously paid special attention to the affairs of the Hong and Zhang families. Minhu's point was that the Hongs were the ringleaders of the evil, but Hong Zhen's merits offset his mistakes and should be able to save himself and some of his clansmen. Zhang Gangdan, on the other hand, was initially just a lackey, and Zhang Heibao had dealt with him harshly, providing some information. Now that he was a "tainted witness," his family wouldn't be implicated.
But it was hard to say these things directly, so he could only say, "Your father is a smart man. He dealt with your eldest brother first. I don't think anything serious will happen to him, and your family should be fine too. As for meeting him, this major case hasn't been settled yet, and they're afraid of collusion, so they definitely won't let you meet. Don't worry, I'll ask someone to help find out more about him."
Although the words were ambiguous, Zhang Tiedan still looked worried.
Zhang Manniang laughed and said, "Why worry? If Sister Xu says it's okay, then it's okay." She then asked, "Everyone says Big Brother Zhao is dead, but I don't think so. Big Brother Zhao is so powerful. After my father heard about the incident at Longxing Inn, he said that his leg must have been broken by Big Brother Zhao. My father is even grateful to Big Brother Zhao for breaking him. Otherwise, if my big brother hadn't told the truth, my father wouldn't have known he dared to do those evil things. If he had been arrested, our old Zhang family would have been wiped out. Look at County Magistrate Wang's family, they were all imprisoned, how terrible."
Xu Lanyin was amused. They had become close friends after a fight. Zhang Heizi was quite the man to say that.
She said, "There is no news about Zhao Wu yet, I hope he is okay."
Xu Lanyin did not let the siblings stay in the inn anymore, and let them stay at Xu's house.
As for Min Jia, he just said that he was a friend's child.
Hearing that Zhao Xingchen was Zhao Wuren's godson made Zhang Manniang happy for a long time. She said, "Brother Zhao is free and easy. He does whatever he wants. He's very much like me. We really have similar interests. It's a pity that he doesn't like me."
Zhang Tiedan blushed with shame and glared at her fiercely.
Around midnight, when the children had all gone to bed and Zhang Manniang was still chatting and laughing with Xu Lanyin in the living room, the hanging door suddenly rang. Zhang Qi went to open it and came back to say that Qinglang, the servant of Lord Min, had arrived with an important report.
It was already very late and there were no adult men in the inner courtyard, so it was not appropriate to let Qinglang in. Xu Lanyin went out.
Qinglang stood outside the hanging flower gate, his face full of smiles. He clasped his fists to Xu Lanyin and whispered, "Master asked me to tell Miss Xu that Master Zhao is already in the capital. He has completed his mission and everything is fine. Please rest assured, Miss Xu."
Xu Lan screamed in shock and quickly covered her mouth with her hands.
Zhao Wu got the news and went to the capital. They had agreed to go together. He went to visit his brother, while Xu Lanyin went to sell blackroot grass and ask for immortal bone pills. But now he went alone...
Xu Lanyin calmed down and asked with a smile, "When will he come back?"
Qinglang said, "The letter didn't mention it, and my uncle isn't sure either." He added, "Tomorrow my uncle will be taking some seriously imprisoned criminals to the capital for trial. He's too busy, so he won't be here to say goodbye to you, sister."
Xu Lanyin nodded and asked, "Do you know about Zhang Black Panther's situation?"
Qinglang said, "He's not among the serious criminals, so it shouldn't be a big deal. But he will continue to stay in prison. We'll see how he's sentenced after the case is concluded."
He is not a serious criminal, so his family is definitely safe.
After seeing Qinglang off, Xu Lanyin told Zhang Manniang about Zhang Heizi's situation.
When Zhang Manniang heard that her father was not a serious criminal and was not taken to the capital, she was overjoyed.
Seeing Xu Lanyin's eyes shining and her face flushed with joy, she couldn't hide it at all. She asked, "What other good news do you have? My father is fine, you shouldn't be so happy."
Xu Lanyin blushed slightly. Even such a carefree girl could see her emotions. She smiled and said, "Well, there is a good news. It's from a friend's family."
Zhang Manniang curled her lips and said, "You wouldn't be so serious about your friend's family. Is it about your in-laws?"
Xu Lanyin said, "What nonsense are you talking about? I don't have an in-law family. So far, I don't want to find one."
Zhang Manniang said, "It's such a shame for a beautiful young lady like you not to find a husband. If only I were half as pretty as you, I would definitely find a young man I like and live a good life..."
Xu Lanyin asked, "You haven't proposed yet?"
Zhang Manniang shook her head and said, "In the countryside, several families came to my house to propose marriage, but I didn't like any of them. They were either too dark or too strong."
Xu Lanyin advised her again with the same old words.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
