Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 11: The Crown Princess
Even though Zhang Yu was an innocent girl with dreams, she would not be easily misled by her younger brother when it came to marriage issues.

She was still angry with her brother, and then she ignored Zhang Yanling again.

Zhang Yanling could only walk away in shame, but he was not discouraged. He first planted a seed in the girl's heart and slowly waited for it to take root and sprout.

Afterwards, the family entered into a rhythm of life without a backbone, waiting for Zhang Luan to pass on news from the Wang family every two days. Unexpectedly, they did not receive the note from Zhang Luan that day, but instead waited for Zhang Yin, the helmsman of the Zhang family mansion.

"Second Master, what are you doing..."

Zhang Luan was not at home, so Jin, as the mistress of the family, went out to greet him. When she saw Zhang Yin having someone carry some things in, she couldn't help but ask curiously.

Zhang Yin smiled warmly, "Sister-in-law, I haven't heard from you in a few days. Why don't you come to see me and finalize the things we mentioned before?"

"Please come in, Master."

When Jin saw the other party coming with gifts, she greeted him politely.

Zhang Yin was a man of tact. Since the male owner was not at home, he would not barge into someone else's house. He immediately said, "You are too polite, sister-in-law. I will make things clear today and then leave... Find me a stool."

"Yanling, bring a chair over for your Second Master."

"Oh."

Zhang Yanling took the opportunity to move the chair and put it down, but did not go into the house to avoid him. He wanted to hear what Zhang Yin had to say.

Zhang Yin sat down and waved his hand to let the servants wait outside, as if what he wanted to say should not be known by outsiders. Then he said, "A few days ago, Lai Zhan came to my place and mentioned that your family is not doing well this year. I told him that I had a marriage to settle with him, but he said that he had to go to the Sun Mansion to cancel the engagement first. This matter..."

Jin said, "I've withdrawn. The Sun family has also agreed. We'll wait for the master to come back and then go to their house to finalize the matter."

"what?"

Zhang Yin asked in surprise, "The Sun family didn't make things difficult for Lai Zhan, did they? They... even accepted someone who came to cancel the engagement? That's really... hehe."

Zhang Yin found it incredible.

Zhang Luan's family was in such a bad state that he went to the Sun family to cancel the engagement. Not only did they agree, they also took the initiative to come to his house and take responsibility for their mistakes. As a result, Zhang Luan made a lot of money.

Because the party who takes the initiative to cancel the engagement is not entitled to take back the gifts that were previously given.

Jin didn't want to talk to Zhang Yin any more, so she turned her face away and said, "Second Master, didn't someone in your house get smallpox? Now that it's over, why can they come and go freely?"

"It was a false alarm. My farmhand just had a common rash. After the doctor diagnosed him, he was immediately released from quarantine. He is now fine at home."

After Zhang Yin finished explaining, he continued, "Laizhan is not at home, so has he agreed to the marriage I proposed to him?"

Jin said, "My master is not here, so I can't make the decision on this matter."

Zhang Yin said anxiously, "I know he has entered the Wang family. Now the news has spread in the city that he is brave enough to take responsibility and save people... I am wondering, where did he get the prescription for curing the plague? If he goes like this, he may not be able to come out. Didn't your family persuade him?"

Jin was already in a bad mood, and when she heard this, she couldn't help but wipe away her tears.

Her husband refused to listen to advice and insisted on going to treat illnesses. She was worried that she couldn't show it because she had to take care of the whole family, including women and children. Now she finally couldn't bear it anymore.

When Zhang Yanling saw Zhang Yin's attitude, he knew clearly that he had come with ill intentions, so he quickly winked at his eldest brother who was hiding behind the door and eavesdropping, indicating that he should come out of the room and take charge of the situation.

After all, when the old father is not at home, the eldest son can only support half of the roof.

But he obviously overestimated his elder brother. Zhang Heling glared back at him and refused to move.

"Second uncle, we respect my father's decision on whatever he wants to do. I wonder why you come to our house this time? If there is something that is inconvenient to talk about, we can wait until my father comes back to talk about it." Zhang Yanling said.

There was no disrespect in the words, but they sounded very harsh to Zhang Yin, who immediately frowned: "How can you talk to your elders? Is it your turn to speak here? Your father is not here, how can I ignore the affairs of this mansion? I am here to make the decision today... The Wan family has sent someone to place an order, and they will leave in two days. Do we have to put everything off now? If we miss this opportunity, we will never have it again."

Zhang Yanling grinned, "Is it Uncle Wan Er? I heard he has been dead for several years. Could it be that Uncle Er arranged a ghost marriage for my sister?"

"you!"

When Zhang Yin heard this, he became even more displeased, his face flushed, and he almost jumped up from his chair.

Jin was protective of her son and quickly stood in front of him: "Second Master, Yanling can't speak, so don't be angry with him. But my master has inquired about this matter. Uncle Wan Er did die a few years ago. Why did he want to marry my daughter when it came to you? Could this man jump out of the grave?"

Zhang Yin had always relied on his seniority to show off his authority as the head of the family. He didn't expect that he could scare Zhang Luan but not the women and children in the family.

This made his face look even uglier, and it turned terribly blue.

"Where did you hear that from?" Zhang Yin asked.

Jin said, "It is true that I have inquired about it, but it may not be accurate. Second Master, please don't be angry. If the Second Master of the Wan family is still alive, let him come to our house in person. When we see him, we will know who wants to marry my girl."

Zhang Yin realized that Jin was not easy to mess with, so he changed his words to a softer one: "Sister-in-law, why are you so pedantic? Uncle Wan Er is of a high status, how could he come to visit in person? How about this, I'll ask someone from his mansion to come over later, what do you think?"

Jin insisted: "I can't make up my mind about this matter. I have to wait for my master to come back and make the decision." "It's just a woman's opinion, it's just a woman's opinion..."

Zhang Yin was so angry that he wanted to curse.

Zhang Yanling said, "Second uncle, have you been deceived? Uncle Wan Er died in March of the eighteenth year of Chenghua, and many people in the capital knew about his death. We are not far from the emperor, so we should know this matter if we ask around."

Zhang Yin then realized that although the Zhang family lived in a village outside the city, they were not completely isolated from the world.

Zhang Yin said: "It could be the eldest uncle of the Wan family, or the third uncle."

"Then... who is it?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Uncle, don't blame me for my childish words. If some things are not right, then it will be hard to get along. If we don't even know who proposed the marriage, how dare my father and mother marry my sister? How can we discuss this marriage?"

Jin had originally blamed her youngest son for causing the trouble, but now seeing that outsiders were bullying her and only her youngest son could hold up the family, she immediately grabbed Zhang Yanling's arm tightly, as if to support her youngest son.

But Zhang Yanling was no child after all. Let alone his second uncle, he could argue with anyone in front of him these days.

Who is afraid of who?

No matter how awesome you are, am I more awesome than me who has lived two lives?
Zhang Yin said, "No matter who it is, they gave a lot of silver. Ten taels of silver were given just for the engagement, and another fifty taels of silver were given for the gifts. In this way, Lai Zhan's admission to the Imperial College is settled, right? Not to mention that he is just an attached student, even if he is a student on government stipend, the rice he eats in a year is only worth three or five taels of silver. This money is enough for you to settle down for ten years!"

Zhang Yanling grinned and said with pride for his father: "Father said that if we can cure Mr. Wang's pox, they will give us fifty taels of silver. Even if we can't cure it, they will give us twenty taels. Second uncle, thank you for your kindness."

"Do you believe what the Wang family says? If Wang Mingzhi dies, the Wang family won't give him a penny! If anything happens to Lai Zhan in the Wang family, do you think they will keep their promise?" Zhang Yin said.

"Thank you for your concern, uncle."

Zhang Yanling said, "The Wang family said this in public. If they don't keep their promise, we will sue the government. Uncle, you should go back first. The village has also been plagued by plague recently. My father has been traveling to the county town frequently in recent days. He may have brought the disaster back. We are also afraid that it will be transmitted to you."

Zhang Yin scolded, "You little brat, you are so sharp-tongued, and you don't know how to respect your elders! Lai Zhan is the same, you can't even study well, and you can't even teach your children well, and you still want to stand out? When Lai Zhan comes back, I will let him cure your bad habits!"

Zhang Yanling pretended to be sad, narrowed his eyes slightly, and pretended to cry, like a filial son: "If Dad comes back safely, don't say you can punish me by not eating for a few days."

"Bastard, bastard!"

At this point, Zhang Yin realized that he could not cure this family of women and children at all, so he simply left in anger.

When he left, he did not forget to ask someone to move the gifts back onto the carriage and take them back to the city.

……

……

"Mom, did I say something wrong? I think Second Uncle seems...very angry?"

Zhang Yanling asked innocently.

Jin shook her head and said, "You are right. Your second master thinks that since your father is not around, he should make the decision for our family. But your father has not made up his mind about your sister's marriage. How can we listen to your second master's family?"

"Oh."

Zhang Yanling turned around again to look at Zhang Yu who was standing at the door.

The look in Zhang Yu's eyes when he looked at his brother was no longer as angry as before, but instead was full of appreciation and encouragement.

Because when his family was bullied by outsiders, it was the youngest brother who stood up for them.

Especially since it concerns her marriage, she could have married the young master of the Sun family as his principal wife, but now someone wants her to be a concubine of an old man, of course she doesn't want to do that.

Jin said, "Mother is undecided about this matter. Ask someone to go into the city and take the letter to your father while delivering the things to the Wang family. Let him make the decision."

"Mom, I don't think it's necessary."

Zhang Yanling shook his head and said, "Father will definitely not agree to let my sister be someone's concubine. I have told father that the prince is not young anymore and will definitely choose a crown princess in the spring of next year. My sister is just the right age. If father leaves the palace this time, the money the Wang family gives us will be enough for father to go to the capital to study. Then our whole family will go to the capital. Wouldn't it be good for my sister to be chosen as the crown princess?"

"You...what did you say?"

Jin asked in surprise, "Why didn't your father tell me?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Dad may still be considering it."

Jin said, "Why are you giving your father advice so casually? Do you think it's that easy to choose a crown princess? What if you can't be chosen?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Sister is so outstanding, she will definitely be selected. If not, let father arrange a marriage for you among your classmates in the Imperial College. Isn't it much better than staying in this small place like Xingji? With your family background, talent and beauty, anyone who can marry you would be marrying above their station!"

(End of this chapter)