Chapter 1150, Redemption 1
Qingshi County.
Zhang Mansion.
As the richest family in the county, the Zhang family's courtyard was built exceptionally large, occupying half of the street, and was located in the best area of the county.
Speaking of the Zhang family, they are the envy of everyone in Qingshi County. This is not only because the Zhang family is rich, but also because the Zhang family has a powerful backer, and even the county magistrate dare not provoke them.
More than ten years ago, the Zhang family was not as famous in Qingshi County as it is today. At most, it was a second- or third-rate merchant family.
However, ever since Master Zhang remarried, the Zhang family has grown at a speed that has astonished everyone. In just a dozen years, the family business has not only spread throughout Qingshi County, but has also established connections in the prefectural capital and the provincial capital, with store opening one after another.
There are rumors that Master Zhang's second wife is a daughter of a noble family in the capital, and she has very powerful connections behind her.
There are many different opinions on this...
Those who believed it thought it must be true, otherwise, how could the Zhang family rise so quickly.
The skeptics thought that it was impossible for a girl from a noble family to fall in love with Master Zhang, who came from a merchant family, and to make him his second wife.
What is puzzling is that the Zhang family has never responded directly to this controversy.
Champs Elysées.
Among the inner courtyards of Zhang Mansion, this one ranks among the top three in terms of exquisiteness.
As the sky brightened, noises were heard from the upper room.
"Girl, sleep a little longer. It's winter now and the temperature is very low in the morning. It doesn't matter if you wake up a little later."
The head maid Caiwei whispered to the slender figure in the embroidered tent.
Unfortunately, Qianying did not stop getting up.
Seeing this, Caiwei felt helpless and hurried forward to lift the embroidered curtain.
Soon, a beautiful girl of about fourteen years old sat up with her clothes draped over her.
Worried that her girl would be cold, Caiwei quickly helped the girl put on her dress.
After getting dressed, the girl sat down in front of the dressing table.
Caiwei first put a hand warmer in the girl's hand, and then picked up a comb to help her comb her hair.
Zhang Huahan looked through the mirror at Caiwei who was serving him wholeheartedly.
She knew that her family had been busy with her eldest sister's marriage recently, and because time was tight, many people in the courtyard were assigned to help.
Although Caiwei was her head maid and would not be transferred, with fewer maids in the courtyard, she had more things to deal with. With so many things to do, it was inevitable that she would be a little careless, so she said, "Today is Laba."
Upon hearing this, Caiwei's expression changed immediately, and she quickly knelt down to apologize: "It is my fault. I forgot that you were supposed to go and pay your respects to the Madam today. Please punish me."
Zhang Huahan didn't blame her: "Get up, I know you've been busy lately, comb your hair quickly, don't waste time."
Caiwei quickly stood up and continued to comb Zhang Huahan's hair. During this time, her eyes would occasionally glance at the girl's calm face which had never changed.
Thinking of the eldest lady, Caiwei felt a little sorry for her own daughter.
The eldest lady has a strange personality. She never walks in public and never sees anyone. She is very cold to everyone, including the eldest master and her own daughter.
When the girl was three years old, she came to serve.
Now the girl is going to be an adult in one year, but the eldest lady has never set foot in Xiangxiexuan, let alone educate the girl. Her indifference is chilling.
It was because her daughter was so sincere and filial that, after being rejected and driven away many times, she still insisted on paying her respects to the lady on the first and fifteenth day of every month, as well as on festivals.
Even though the eldest lady had never seen the girl once, the girl still came to see her every day for several years without fail.
She just couldn't understand how there could be such a cruel mother in this world?
After getting dressed and washing up, Zhang Huahan had some simple pastries, then put on his cloak and went out.
The first place we went to was Old Lady Zhang’s yard.
When Zhang Huahan arrived, Old Mrs. Zhang had just gotten up.
Seeing Zhang Huahan arrive so early, Old Lady Zhang smiled and asked the maid to pour her a cup of hot tea. "It's amazing that you are so filial. You come so early in such a cold day. But, you are a delicate girl after all. Your health is the most important thing. You can come later in the future."
Zhang Huahan's lips curled up slightly, and the smile on his face was neither more nor less: "Thank you, Grandma, for your consideration."
At this moment, laughter was heard outside the door. Then, the eldest daughter of the Zhang family walked in with a smile. Seeing Zhang Huahan in the room, she said with a smile, "I thought I came early enough, but I didn't expect that the fifth sister is even earlier than me."
Seeing her eldest granddaughter, Mrs. Zhang's smile deepened. She scolded, "Girl, you haven't felt tired these days. Why don't you get some more sleep?"
Miss Zhang smiled and snuggled up to Old Lady Zhang: "Granddaughter wants to come over and have dinner with grandma."
Old Mrs. Zhang scolded with a smile, "I think you want to come here to eat the delicious food here." Then, she looked at Zhang Huahan with a smile and said casually, "Fifth girl, why don't you stay here for breakfast later?"
Zhang Huahan was not very happy about this. She still had to pay her respects to her mother. When she was thinking about how to refuse, the door curtain was lifted again.
"Grandma is partial. She only leaves the eldest sister and the fifth sister to have breakfast. We want to have some too."
There were more girls coming in this time, including the legitimate daughters and illegitimate daughters of the second and third wives.
Mrs. Zhang likes to be lively. When she saw her granddaughters coming over, she smiled so much that her eyes narrowed. She talked and laughed with them.
Zhang Huahan looked at the happy scene in front of her and always felt like she was excluded. In fact, she was indeed the one who was excluded.
Whether it was her grandmother or her father, they were always too polite to her and not close enough.
As for the other members of the Zhang family, let alone them.
"Grandma, I heard that my uncle came back from the provincial capital last night?" The second girl from the second room hugged Old Lady Zhang's arm and asked coquettishly.
Hearing this, a hint of surprise crossed Zhang Huahan's face.
Did father come home last night?
This time my father went out mainly to buy dowry for my eldest sister, and he was away for more than two months.
Zhang Huahan felt a little bitter. As a daughter, she found out about her father's return home later than her cousins.
It's impossible to say it's not uncomfortable.
This incident also shows that her position in the Zhang family is awkward. Although she is the eldest daughter of the eldest wife, she is not loved by her biological parents. The servants will naturally not get close to a master like her.
Therefore, she is often the last to know about the big and small matters of the Zhang family.
"I was wondering why you all came so early today. So you're thinking about the gifts your uncle brought back?"
Old Mrs. Zhang smiled and nodded Miss Zhang's head: "Eat first, and I'll give it to you after dinner."
Seeing that Old Lady Zhang was about to lead everyone to the dining room, Zhang Huahan quickly stood up and said, "Grandma, please forgive me. I won't stay for dinner. Today is Laba Festival, and I have to go pay my respects to my mother."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone who had been talking and laughing just a moment ago suddenly fell silent.
The current eldest lady of the Zhang family is a bit like a taboo in the Zhang family. People try not to mention her, and almost no one will talk about her on their own initiative.
Mrs. Zhang was the first to react. She smiled and nodded, "I've been so busy lately. Look at me, I even forgot it was Laba Festival today. You should go quickly and don't keep your mother waiting."
Zhang Huahan didn't say anything. Did she really forget or was she deliberately not mentioning it? After so many years, she still had some idea in her mind. She bowed and turned to leave.
While standing outside the door tying his cloak, Zhang Huahan heard a disdainful voice coming from inside the house.
"The eldest lady has always been reluctant to see Fifth Sister. I really don't know why Fifth Sister keeps going to pay her respects."
"I wonder how long Fifth Sister will be gone this time. Are we supposed to wait for her to come back before we can choose the gifts Uncle brought us?"
Afterwards, several girls from the Zhang family asked Old Lady Zhang not to wait for Zhang Huahan to speak.
Unfortunately, they were all rejected by Mrs. Zhang.
Zhang Huahan walked out of the yard with a mocking look on his face.
Our family is really interesting. No matter what good things are available, she will be the first to choose them, and even her older brother and sister have to step back.
It seemed like they valued her, but in fact, it gave her the illusion of being a mascot, as if her existence, to the Zhang family, was not that of a relative, but just a proof.
What to prove?
Prove that the Zhang family and the Yan family are indeed related by marriage!
Yan family
She actually didn't know much about her mother's family and her maternal grandparents' family. Her mother almost never saw her, but her father saw her a few times a month, but he never mentioned the Yan family to her.
What she knew about the Yan family was pieced together from occasional gossip from others.
She had too few sources of information. She only knew that the Yan family was much richer than the Zhang family. Even though the Zhang family was the richest family in Qingshi County, they could not afford to marry into the Yan family.
The Yan family is so prominent, so why did my mother marry my father as his second wife?
Thinking about how his mother had ignored him since he was born, Zhang Huahan vaguely understood that his mother was definitely not willing to marry his father.
Otherwise, if they really liked each other, they wouldn't treat her like this.
Just as Zhang Huahan was thinking about this, they arrived at Wutongyuan.
Looking at the Wutong Courtyard, which was even more magnificent and exquisite than his grandmother's courtyard, Zhang Huahan took a deep breath and walked in quickly.
"Aunt Anran, I'm here to pay my respects to Mother!"
Looking at Zhang Huahan who came to pay his respects again, An Ran sighed in her heart, what a good child, it's a pity
Anran calmed down and smiled as she invited Zhang Huahan into the house.
Of course, she was only allowed to sit in the living room and have tea and snacks. As for the inner room where the master lived, unless the master gave the order, even if she wanted to help Zhang Huahan, she didn't have the ability to do so.
Zhang Huahan ate the snacks silently as usual. Even though she didn't really want to eat, she finished the whole plate of snacks just to sit for a while longer.
Finally, after finishing his tea, Zhang Huahan couldn't hide the sadness in his eyes as he looked at the inner room which was still silent.
No matter how calm she pretends to be on weekdays, deep down she still longs for her mother's attention.
Unfortunately, her mother seemed to really hate her, so much so that she refused to even see her.
"Aunt Anran, I'm leaving now. I'll come back to pay my respects to mother next time."
An Ran moved her lips, wanting to say something, but in the end, all her words turned into helplessness, and she could only smile and nod to Zhang Huahan.
Zhang Huahan took a look at the inner room before getting up and leaving.
After leaving the yard, Caiwei saw Zhang Huahan looking dejected. She hesitated for a moment, then mustered up the courage to say, "Miss, if you feel sad, why don't you just not come next time?"
Zhang Huahan smiled. "Why not come? Even though Mother didn't see me, she let me in, didn't she? And now she even asked Aunt Anran to prepare some refreshments for me. That's already very good."
You know, her mother didn't even let her enter the house before.
Does she resent her biological mother for her indifference?
Of course I feel resentful.
Before she was eight years old, she had a very hard life. Her sisters bullied her and the servants ignored her. At that time, she was everyone's punching bag in the Zhang family. Anyone who was unhappy could say something to her.
She felt wronged and ran to find her mother crying, but her mother's attitude towards her was much worse than it is now. Not only did she not see her, she also had her kicked out of the yard.
At that time, she hated her mother more than she hated those who bullied her.
However, in the summer when she was eight years old, her older sisters caused her to fall into the water and she almost drowned. That time, her mother got very angry.
Even now, the servants would occasionally mention that their mother was furious that time.
She was sick and didn't remember it very clearly. She only remembered that her grandmother took her to her yard and took care of her for more than a month.
During this period, she was sleeping in her grandmother's inner room and seemed to hear the quarrel between her grandmother and mother.
Grandmother was the ancestor of the Zhang family. No one was allowed to disobey her and everyone had to flatter her. But that time, she discovered that in front of her mother, her grandmother was the weaker one.
That time, her mother stood up for her for once. From that time on, no one in the Zhang family dared to bully her anymore, at least not obviously.
Perhaps compared to other mothers, her mother doesn't look like a mother at all, but in the Zhang family, she is the only one who stands up to protect her.
It was she who protected her, otherwise, she would not be able to live such a peaceful life.
At the same time, in the upper room of Wutongyuan.
An Ran carried the hot water into the inner room and saw Yan Yile standing by the window looking at the courtyard gate. After hesitating for a moment, she walked over and said, "Master, you should have seen how much the Fifth Miss has admired you for so many years."
"I know you hate Zhang Wan, but the Fifth Miss is innocent. She is your biological daughter, and mother and daughter are connected by heart. Are you really going to ignore her for the rest of your life?"
Yan Yile didn't respond. Just as An Ran lowered her head helplessly, she said, "She'll be coming of age next year?"
An Ran knew that Yan Yile was talking about Zhang Huahan, and nodded quickly: "Yes, next year the fifth girl will be a big girl, and we can say we are married."
Yan Yile's expression finally showed some movement. "Time flies." She was silent for a long time. "Next time she comes to pay her respects, ask An Jing to teach her the etiquette and rules."
"Zhang family."
Hatred and contempt flashed across Yan Yile's face. "After all, the Zhang family is not worthy of being mentioned in public. No matter how much money they have, they are still nouveau riche. Don't count on them for etiquette and rules."
Dear book friends, I wish you all a happy new year and good luck in the Year of the Tiger. May everything go well and things get better and better in the new year!
(End of this chapter)
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