Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 471: Worrying about the future and preparing for a rainy day
An hour later.

Zhang Luan sat alone in the main hall of his house near the left gate of Chang'an, lost in thought.

Zhang Yanling came out of the study upon hearing the news. Seeing Zhang Luan in a daze, as if his soul had been taken away from him, he couldn't help but feel curious.

"Why are you back?"

Zhang Yanling's face was full of concern. He looked around and asked, "What's wrong? Didn't things go well? Didn't you find the place, or did the plan change?"

"Nothing has changed. I came back on my own."

Zhang Luan sighed and said, "I had high hopes for tonight, but when I got to the place, I talked to Mrs. Peng for a few words and felt sentimental. I no longer felt like staying, so I returned."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Okay, Dad, you finally know how to stop before it's too late? This is a good thing! It's okay for people to have shortcomings, as long as they know when to stop.

"If you let yourself go and magnify your own shortcomings, it will not only damage your reputation, but also make it easy for political opponents to find flaws and attack them. It is really unwise!"

Zhang Luan, however, seemed to have not heard his son's praise at all. He raised his head, looked at him with sincere eyes, and asked, "Son, let me ask you, do you think I should come forward and help Peng Hua's family?"

"What? You want to help the Peng family?"

Zhang Yanling shook his head like a rattle, repeatedly saying, "Dad, how could you have such a naive idea? Although Peng Hua was not overthrown by you, he has a direct connection with you. You and he are political enemies. How can you go up to help the enemy?"
"By the way, what did Mrs. Peng say to you? Why did she change you so much? And... which Mrs. Peng was it?"

Zhang Luan said, "Who else could it be? Peng Hua's wife, Liu!"

"No way!"

Zhang Yanling said unhappily, "Even if that woman is not 55 years old, she must be close to 50, right? How dare you say that?"

At this point, Zhang Yanling suddenly remembered something and hurriedly shook his head, "Well, that's not right. It's been too short a time. You shouldn't have had that kind of relationship yet... Oh, Dad, you wouldn't have felt sympathy just because someone begged you with soft words, would you?"

Now, as a son, he has realized another major flaw in his father's character, which is that he is too emotional.

To put it bluntly, Zhang Luan is not an ideal politician at all. He is more like an old man who chats on the street, calls friends and likes to help others. He just gave birth to a good son and took him with him to fly.

Whether in terms of academic study, family education, or personal cultivation, Zhang Luan was far from the average level of officials of that era.

Zhang Luan said: "She did ask me for help, and I think what she said makes sense."

"Then tell me, why is she right? If you feel embarrassed, you don't have to say anything. But don't ask for my opinion."

Zhang Yanling immediately turned his face away.

It's so muddy that it can't hold up the wall!

Just when I said you corrected one major shortcoming, another shortcoming immediately began to emerge, which is this inexplicable kindness. It’s not the kind of false kindness, but real womanly kindness.

Zhang Luan said, "I went to the house that Li Zisheng gave me and learned that there were more than 30 women inside... They said that they would be sent away one after another in about a month."

"Tsk, tsk."

Zhang Yanling made strange noises from his mouth.

That teasing look seemed to be saying, isn't this exactly what Li Zisheng was doing to suit your situation?

Zhang Luan continued, "There are fourteen women in the Peng family, from the oldest to the youngest, and all those who are above the age of marriage are there. I was just going to have a drink, but Mrs. Peng came to see me... She said that her husband had worked hard for the court for many years, but just because of a few rumors, he was accused of having an affair with an evil woman and even making friends with foreign tribes, and was sentenced to death... It's really unfair that the whole family ended up in such a miserable way."

"Dad, there are so many unfair things in the world, how can we control them? Besides, when will it be her turn as a woman to figure out the injustice of the court to the Peng family? Although she is the mistress of the Peng family, does she really know what evil things the Peng family has done?"

Zhang Yanling asked repeatedly.

"That's what I said at the time... I also told her that even if it was really unfair, it wouldn't be my turn as a relative to the emperor to stand up for it, right?"

Zhang Luan shook his head and sighed, "But she took the initiative to ask me to talk alone... I wanted to refuse, but I couldn't refuse, so I asked her to drink with me. Only if she did so, I would listen to her. In the end, she..."

Zhang Yanling nodded: "So she really sat next to you and drank with you? In fact, this is easy to understand. When people are in desperate situations and finally grab a life-saving straw, they will definitely not let it go easily... Not to mention just drinking with you, even if it is something else, I think she will not refuse."

"Ugh!"

Zhang Luan sighed, "It's my fault for being too soft-hearted... After she did what I said, I couldn't resist and agreed to a private chat with her. She said that although Peng Hua and Li Zisheng were from the same hometown, they were not in harmony. Peng Hua had never followed Li Zisheng's instructions before, and even pretended to be sick to avoid the errands sent by Li Zisheng, which led to the growing conflict between the two."

"Ah."

Zhang Yanling nodded.

Zhang Luan asked in surprise: "Son, you don't know all this, do you?"

Zhang Yanling said: "Is there anything strange about this? Isn't it said that people from the same hometown will definitely form cliques and sabotage each other...

"But Li Zisheng once told the late emperor that Jiangxi people are simple and honest, introverted and reserved, not ostentatious, not good at expressing themselves, good at keeping weak and simple, and able to get along with everyone, making them very suitable for serving as officials in the court...

"The Jiangxi people's behavior of sticking together is also very helpful for Peng Hua to consolidate his power in the court. Besides, it was Li Zisheng who pushed him to join the cabinet...

"Peng Hua is a party to the case. He said that he is not an accomplice of Li Zisheng. Is that true?"

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly and said, "I said at the time that even if it was Li Zisheng who did it, it had nothing to do with me. I didn't help Li Zisheng to harm the Peng family. It was my good intention to go to her son's appointment, but her son Peng Mianfu used the tribute Liang Fang gave me to frame me. I haven't settled the score with the Peng family yet."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "That's right, what did she say?"

"She said that the Peng family did do something immoral to me, Zhang, and she is willing to apologize to me on behalf of her son. She also said that her son has received the retribution he deserves, and should not involve the feud between the two families in court affairs." Zhang Luan continued to talk.

Zhang Yanling couldn't help but burst into laughter when he heard this: "Is this a trick? Her son colluded with Liang Fang, Wei Xing and others to secretly frame the prince... This is an irrefutable fact!
"If the crown prince falls, it's hard to say what will happen to our Zhang family... She's in trouble now, and she's saying that we won't pursue each other, so we really won't pursue it? Is her apology so flattering? It's unreasonable!"

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "But she also said... If Peng Hua falls, there will be no more targets for attack. Then the group of upright Confucian officials in the court will shift all their attention to Li Zisheng or even me... In the current situation, protecting Peng Hua is to protect myself and my family."

Zhang Yanling shook his head repeatedly: "This is really alarmist!"

"But...why do I feel that what she said makes sense?"

Zhang Luan was surprised and said, "If I take advantage of Peng Hua's misfortune now, then the civil officials will keep a close eye on me in the future. They will pursue me relentlessly even if I make the slightest mistake. Wouldn't it be an ugly scene?" At this point, Zhang Luan looked into Zhang Yanling's eyes with a sad expression and shook his head, "As the saying goes, you can guard against a moment, but not a lifetime. Once I get into trouble, those people will definitely kill me... Your father and mother are old, we don't care even if we get into trouble, the worst that can happen is death, but what about you and your elder brother?
"You two are still young, and you have a long way to go in the future, especially you... You are so smart, that is a gift from God to our Zhang family. If because of your greed today, others will completely settle accounts with our Zhang family in the future, your father... I really can't bear it!"

Zhang Yanling originally thought that Zhang Luan was just whining for no reason.

I even felt that I could not understand the actions of this stubborn and incompetent father at all.

But hearing this...

Do not know why.

Zhang Yanling's eyes were even a little moist. He wanted to hug this father who was related to him by blood, but because of his soul traveling across time and space, they did not have a very deep family bond.

After all, he has lived two lives and does not have a deep emotional bond with Zhang Luan. In the past, he treated Zhang Luan more as a tool. However, he never thought that the original intention of Zhang Luan to do many things was for the Zhang family, not for himself.

Zhang Luan was already very good to his son.

Zhang Luan laughed at himself and said, "Son, do you think your father is too worried? Your sister will become the queen soon, and your brother-in-law is also very good to us... Am I being too worried?"

"No."

Zhang Yanling said seriously, "Father is right. Everything our Zhang family has is actually given by my sister and brother-in-law. Our Zhang family prospered because of the royal family, and we may decline because of the royal family in the future... Once we decline, our family may suffer a more miserable fate than the Peng family."

Zhang Luan said quickly, "Son, I was just moved by compassion and was expressing my feelings here. I don't want to drag you into this negative emotion, do I?"

"hehe."

Zhang Yanling smiled calmly, "Dad, do you think I was joking with you? Didn't you say I could tell fortunes? Actually, I did tell fortunes with my fingers...

"If fate had continued as it was, my brother-in-law would have only had my sister as his wife for the rest of his life, and he would have only had one son in the future. This son would have had no children, and the throne would have been inherited by descendants of a branch of the royal family. By that time... you would have been gone, and my brother and I would have ended up in a miserable situation, and we might even end up counting the days in a prison cell in middle age, waiting to be beheaded."

"what!?"

Zhang Luan stood up with a look of shock on his face, and said anxiously, "Then tell me quickly, how should we solve this situation? I will obey you in everything... Son, don't worry, we have plenty of time, plan well, and try to change our fate!"

Facing such an emotional old father, Zhang Yanling could only say earnestly: "Dad, let me tell you the truth. If we want to avoid the end of our Zhang family, there is only one way to go... that is to take power!"

"what!?"

Zhang Luan was stunned for a moment, then asked in surprise: "Shouldn't you let your sister have more children to give birth to more children for your brother-in-law?"

"Dad, can you and I decide on this matter?"

Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and said, "If my sister never gives birth, will we just leave it to fate?"

"Ah, this..."

Zhang Luan suddenly felt that the problem was a bit tricky.

Zhang Yanling said: "Father's position in the court is stable, so he can pass on the political resources in the future, and our Zhang family will not have too many security risks. Otherwise..."

Zhang Luan looked embarrassed. "According to what you said, when you two brothers were in trouble, I would have been buried, and my bones would have almost turned to ashes... Even if I tried my best to climb up, it wouldn't be of much help to you two brothers."

"If I can do it myself, why would I need you?"

Zhang Yanling said in a tone like teaching his grandson, "Didn't you have to hold up the situation for the past few years? Otherwise, when your brother-in-law's position is very stable in the future, and he no longer needs our assistance, how easy will it be to get promoted? People are most grateful to those who have helped them in difficult times. It is always more difficult for people in this world to help others in times of trouble."

Zhang Luan took a deep breath and said, "I can understand what you said, but it has nothing to do with what I want to say today."

Zhang Yanling said, "Why not? Dad, from now on, stop complaining and worrying about this and that. The future of the Zhang family cannot be delayed by you and me... Just focus on being an official now. I don't want to argue with you about other things."

"Go, go, go."

Zhang Luan said, "I think I understand. We should leave some room for man..."

Zhang Yanling said disdainfully, "I'm asking you to be more ruthless... I think Li Zisheng's position is unstable mainly because he's not ruthless enough. You said that from the very beginning he contacted the military commander in the name of the late emperor and had the government firmly in his hands. Even the nobles had to rely on him to survive. Do you think he still needs to worry about what happened today?"

"What...mean?"

Zhang Luan looked confused.

"To put it bluntly, whether you want to help Peng Hua or harm him, I don't care..."

Zhang Yanling said, "But you must be ruthless. Even if you want to help, you can't accept others' requests, but do it out of your own calculations.

"Dad, if you shamelessly help others, they won't remember your kindness. On the contrary, if you do a small favor in the face of a great evil, others may even be grateful."

"Can this still happen?"

Zhang Luan frowned.

Obviously, what his son said was far beyond his understanding.

Zhang Yanling shook his head and said, "There will be someone to sort out and study this matter in the future, and there will be detailed theories to support it... But now you have to remind yourself all the time that you are a ruthless person and you are ruthless when encountering things. Only in this way can you be qualified to take a position in the court."

"Okay, from now on, I will try to be... a little more ruthless."

Zhang Luan seemed to be inspired and deliberately put on a ferocious expression. He glared at his son for a moment, and finally couldn't help laughing, which made Zhang Yanling very helpless.

"Now that you're back, what are your plans, father?"

Zhang Yanling asked.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll go back to the old house to accompany your mother later."

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "I have to attend court early tomorrow. I must be more diligent recently. The early bird catches the worm. My son, you should also urge me more. I feel that every time I say a few words to you, it often has the effect of enlightening me... You are really a good medicine for me!"

(End of this chapter)