Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 523: The same lineage

Zhang Luan came out of Kunning Palace, limping and still cursing.

"What kind of daughter did you raise? She talks back to her father and is as good as two of his. She is exactly like her brother. It's outrageous!"

Zhang Luan was very dissatisfied.

Qin Ji, who was leading the way, turned around and asked curiously, "Mr. Zhang, what are you talking about?"

Zhang Luan hurriedly said, "It's okay, it's okay, I just complained about my bad legs and feet, which delayed a lot of things."

Qin Ji smiled and said, "Your luck is truly amazing... With your background, not only have you been able to gain a firm foothold in the court, but you have also been favored by His Majesty. It's simply..."

Zhang Luan heard a strange tone and immediately interrupted Tan Ji, frowning and saying, "Eunuch Tan, His Majesty is my son-in-law, are you envious?"

"This……"

Tan Ji was very embarrassed for a moment.

I am just a nice guy. I am polite in front of you and express my compliments.

Why do you seem so angry and start to talk back to me?

You are talking about son-in-law with a eunuch, are you making fun of me?
"oops……"

Seeing Qin Ji's face turning pale and red, Zhang Luan quickly said, "I am a straightforward person and never beat around the bush, but sometimes I say the wrong thing and regret it later. I hope you, Eunuch Qin, will forgive me."

"Where, where..."

Qin Ji thought, forget it, I'm a good guy and I won't bother with someone as straightforward as you. I'd better think about how to deal with the official duties at hand.

Everyone knows that you, Zhang Laizhan, are now the most important person in the court and you have a strange temper. It is better for us not to provoke you.

……

……

Zhang Luan was thinking about his upcoming date with Li Zisheng, but was wondering when to meet him. He couldn't just go out for a drink with Li Zisheng in broad daylight, right?

So I decided to go home first.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw my eldest son directing a group of people to move things.

"Where's your second brother?"

Zhang Luan walked over and asked.

Zhang Heling turned around, grinned at his old father, and said, "Dad, you came at the right time. These are some good things I just got. They are all old decorations and are said to be very valuable... How about you take a look at them?"

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "Where did you get it? Was it given to you by someone else?"

"No, I robbed it from a wealthy family."

Zhang Heling focuses on honesty.

Zhang Luan almost vomited blood when he heard this, and immediately shouted angrily: "You bastard, say it again!"

"Ah... this... doesn't seem to be considered robbery. The family just didn't want it anymore, so I moved it back... They all said that with my status, these classical and elegant furniture are very suitable for me."

Zhang Heling smiled and said, "I think they are praising your good taste, Dad...why don't you take a look?"

Zhang Luan's eyes widened with anger, and he shouted, "You guys are coming to someone else's house when they don't want it? What on earth do you mean? Not only are you openly robbing in the capital, but you're also coming in groups? Do you have any shame... Where's Lao Er? What did he say?"

Zhang Heling thought about it carefully and shook his head, "I forgot what my brother said. I think he told me to find a place to put these things... My second brother should also think it's okay."

"what?"

Zhang Luan found it even more incredible.

I thought, what kind of sons did I give birth to?

I thought the second brother was normal, but now he sees his eldest brother doing bad things outside, not only does he not step in to stop him, but he also says that it’s a good thing for him to steal?

The little good reputation that I, Zhang, have left in the court will surely be ruined by these two sons... Wait, is that kid going to use some sleight of hand trick again to make me bear unnecessary bad reputation?

"Dad, where are you going?" Zhang Heling asked curiously when he saw Zhang Luan walking towards the inner courtyard with a cane, and even showing signs of jogging.

Zhang Luan turned around and said angrily, "Do you really expect your father to approve these things for you? Your father doesn't have the time to care! Call your second brother out! Ahem! Is he home?"

"Yes, he has been writing and drawing in his study today. It is said that he is doing a big business to make money. I don't know where he gets so many money-making ideas.

"But it's great to have him at home. I don't need money to go out now. I'm generous and everyone likes to be my friend."

Zhang Heling was laughing there foolishly.

Zhang Luan sneered: "People who only know how to spend money will not win the respect of others. You'd better be more restrained... After all, our family's money is not blown by the wind. It is very likely to come from the tribute of Huizhou merchants...

"If you take someone else's money, you have to help them get rid of the bad luck. Maybe that kid promised someone something good and is waiting for me to fulfill it."

Zhang Heling smiled and said, "What can merchants ask for? Isn't it just for money? Dad, go and fulfill it for them."

Zhang Luan shouted, "Get lost, I don't need your advice on what I want to do! Also, if they really want money, would they be willing to take out the silver? How could they covet ordinary things? Look at the position I hold... I have really become your brother's puppet! No, no, I have to find him and have a good talk with him."

"Dad, please walk slower."

Zhang Heling reminded.

"Then come over and give me a hand."

Zhang Luan probably felt that it would be difficult for him to jog into the inner courtyard, so he greeted him directly.

Zhang Heling quickly declined: "No, Dad, I can't leave without permission... Just watch your step, I have to watch them move things with my own eyes, don't let me break them...

"Dad, goodbye, I won't see you off! Hey you, please step over here..."

……

... "Look at what you've done to your elder brother. If you don't know him, you might think he's just a pirate and a road bully, robbing people everywhere. I'm afraid that my father's reputation as an official will be ruined by him sooner or later! How can you still have the energy to write here? Don't you know how to take care of things outside?"

When Zhang Luan saw his youngest son, he started to blame him.

Zhang Yanling raised his head and looked at his old father who was blushing and talking nonstop, with an indifferent look on his face: "Dad, you found the wrong person, didn't you?

"As the saying goes, a son's failure to teach is the fault of his father. You didn't discipline your son well, but you actually put the blame on his brother? How can a younger brother discipline his older brother in this world?"

Zhang Luan's face turned red, and he tried to save face: "Can the situation in our family be the same as that of other families?"

"Hey."

Zhang Yanling put down his brush, and his voice instantly rose eight octaves as he asked, "Why is it different? The eldest brother is the eldest brother, and the younger brother is the younger brother. This is the code of conduct. How can the order of generations be messed up? Even if you trust me, the eldest brother will ignore me. If I talk too much, he will find me annoying... He will only remember his brother's kindness when he needs help or money."

"You little bastard..."

Zhang Luan wanted to scold his youngest son, but suddenly he couldn't open his mouth.

Zhang Yanling said helplessly: "Isn't it because our family was not well off before and you were unable to give your brother a good life, that he is now very greedy for money and always likes to move valuable things into the house?"

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "What kind of bullshit is this? Any normal person would want to take other people's things for themselves. Don't use the fact that you were poor before as an excuse!
"Humph, what do you mean by wealth and honor cannot corrupt you, and poverty and humbleness cannot change you? You have read so many books that you have lost your mind? Even so, you still dare to claim to be proficient in the writings of sages?"

Zhang Yanling shrugged and said, "Dad, you are the scholar, I am not... To be honest, I have not yet been enlightened, thank you."

"Hey!"

Zhang Luan now couldn't find the words to curse at anyone.

Zhang Yanling sat there, seemingly arguing with his old father.

Zhang Luan sat down and waited for a long time. His youngest son did not make any movement. He suddenly became a little timid. He calmed down and spoke in a gentle tone. He tried his best to force a smile and said, "My son, tell me, what happened to your eldest brother? Where did the things come from? Those things look very old. The valuable ones should be the wood, right?"

"I'm afraid so. It's probably red sandalwood, huanghuali or chicken-wing wood. Anyway, it was confiscated from the homes of high-ranking officials. I didn't ask who it belonged to...

"It is common for Jinyiwei to take valuable items for themselves while on duty. This time, it can be regarded as a greeting gift from my subordinates to my big brother."

Zhang Yanling said indifferently.

"Oh, no wonder he said that others didn't want it. So this is how he wanted it... He just became a captain of the Imperial Guards and he already started moving things into his own home? This kind of abuse of power for personal gain must be stopped immediately! Does our family need a wardrobe or a table from him?"

Zhang Luan was so angry that he gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do.

It was mainly his son's doing, and he had done it before.

He is doing it even now.

But what he robbed were not tables, chairs or benches, but people, women, beautiful women.

"Dad, you still have the nerve to say that about your eldest son? Those lousy things you did weren't very glorious either. If it gets out, I think your reputation will be damaged even more. And those things that my eldest brother stole... Compared to you, they're not even worth mentioning."

Zhang Yanling acted as if he was enjoying the fun.

Zhang Luan glared at his youngest son and shouted, "A father is a father, and a son is a son. How can they be the same?"

Zhang Yanling shrugged and asked, "How is it different?"

"I am the head of the family. Your elder brother got the position of Jinyiwei Qianhu entirely because of my father's protection. He has to be responsible to me!" Zhang Luan said righteously, "Whether you or your elder brother, you can't go out and commit crimes and attract criticism... This is the most basic principle of life!"

Zhang Yanling shook his head, "Dad, you are wrong, so wrong! My elder brother got his current position entirely because of my sister's status as the queen. It has nothing to do with you, Dad.

"As for what you said about attracting criticism... our status as in-laws is prone to criticism. Even if you do nothing, won't you still be criticized?"

"you……"

Zhang Luan suddenly felt that he was defeated by his son's fallacies and heresies.

Zhang Yanling continued, "Also, Dad, I have to remind you, don't think that people in our family do nothing and keep a low profile so that they can be remembered well. Also, don't think that your reputation as an official will get better and better in the future. You are not a Jinshi after all. Even if your son passes the Jinshi exam, or even becomes the top scholar, others will still look down on him!"

"Bah! After hearing what you said, I guess all the decades of studying for my father have been in vain?"

Zhang Luan asked angrily.

"It's not in vain that I studied so hard. Isn't it because of your status as a student of the Imperial Academy that my sister was able to pass the preliminary selection of the imperial court and successfully enter the Eastern Palace?"

At this point, Zhang Yanling intentionally changed the subject and pointed to the table next to him and said, "Over there is an invitation letter sent by Butler Pang Da, saying that he wants to invite you to come to his house to listen to an opera. It is said that it is performed by a famous opera troupe in Jiangnan. I heard that the actresses there are very knowledgeable and interesting. Why don't you go and take a look?"

"Not interested in."

Zhang Luan waved his hand.

Zhang Yanling smiled faintly and said, "Dad, I think what Butler Pang said is very right."

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "What did he say to you?"

Zhang Yanling sighed, "He said that a good woman is meant to be used for living... This statement is a true understanding of the way of husband and wife!"

"what?"

Zhang Luan looked surprised. "He told you this? What's his intention?"

Zhang Yanling said, "I think what he meant is that no matter how good the dew is, it will evaporate without a trace once the sun rises. Dad, you'd better not bring those bad things outside home!
"You are an official, not some wealthy idler... Everything you have now is not because others respect you, but because you are the Queen's father, and your words and deeds can influence the Emperor."

"This……"

Zhang Luan seemed very embarrassed for a moment.

Being taught the principles of life by my son felt like being hit hard by a club.

Zhang Yanling continued, "I didn't let mother know about this, but please don't cause me trouble next time, otherwise I will have to cover up your lies when mother asks about it.

"I can't object to your relationship with Li Zisheng, but please don't get too involved... He can get away with it, but you can't! You still have to continue to work hard for the Ming Dynasty, for our sister and brother-in-law!"

(End of this chapter)