Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 776 All He Talks About Money

A family banquet is underway in the Zhang family's banquet hall.

Zhang Heling picked up a large chicken leg from a plate on the table, put it in his bowl, and brought it to his mouth, ready to start eating.

Zhang Luan scolded, "You have no manners! Don't you know how to leave some for your sister? How old are you? Why are you acting like a starving ghost?"

"A chicken has two legs, give the other leg to the little sister."

Zhang Heling explained.

Zhang Yi glanced timidly at her father, seemingly waiting for his approval, since she had always had a relatively low profile at home.

She was born to a concubine, and her family consisted of a bunch of eccentric fathers and brothers, which made her very introverted.

Zhang Luan glared at his eldest son and demanded, "Shouldn't you leave one for your second brother?"

Jin said, "Master, you should eat it."

This matriarch of the family, in the end, still had her heart set on her husband.

Isn't her husband complaining about the meal? Then she should leave the chicken leg, which looks the most delicious, to her husband. That way, she'll appear virtuous and understanding.

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "It's just a chicken leg, as if no one has never eaten one before... Second brother, you eat it."

Zhang Yanling smiled and shook his head, saying, "Father, as you said before, you should give it to my sister... It doesn't matter whether I eat it or not."

Jin's face darkened: "I've figured it out. You young and old are never home. You're always eating out... And when you finally get to eat at home, you're being picky... Little girl, here, have some."

"Yes."

Only then did Zhang Yi finally qualify to take the chicken leg.

Zhang Luan said unhappily, "I put you in charge of the household, but I haven't noticed any improvement in the food. Poor people live poor lives, but now that we're wealthy, there's really no need to be so stingy with our food. You say you go to the palace quite often, and each time you bring back a lot of good things, so why would we lack a little food?"

Jin said with a dark face, "I've never seen you bring your salary home before!"

"Are you blaming your husband?" Zhang Luan immediately retorted, "Am I not bringing money home? The court is in a bad situation right now, salaries aren't being paid, and many people have to borrow money to get by this winter. What can I do? Wait, second son, didn't you send any money home?"

Zhang Yanling shrugged, indicating that he did not want to answer such a sensitive question.

Jin defended her youngest son, saying, "Yanling did bring back quite a lot, but the family only spends money and doesn't earn any. In the future, Yanling will eventually have to live in his own room, so we have to leave him some for future use."

So, it's all my fault?

Zhang Luan put down her chopsticks, seemingly sulking. "You don't think I'm out partying and neglecting my duties all day, do you? I'm doing something important, something a woman like you wouldn't understand."

Jin didn't answer, but her expression clearly said, "Isn't that right? Do you even need to ask me? Now that the whole family is here, who doesn't know what kind of person you are?"
Zhang Luan looked at Zhang Heling, who was eating, and asked sharply, "Boss, how have your official duties been lately? Have you handled any major cases?"

"I do errands every day, but I don't know what a big case is or what a small case is."

Zhang Heling finished sucking on the chicken leg, let out a satisfied burp, and then looked up at Zhang Luan, asking, "Father, why are you asking this? You said you're doing great things outside... Oh, aren't you a Grand Secretary? You must be worrying about the affairs of the country and the people. I can't compare to you."

Zhang Luan pursed his lips and said, "Look, even the eldest son knows that his father is busy running around doing important things. That's right, recently I've been helping His Majesty raise military funds for the court... I've been coordinating the allocation of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to the military garrisons of the nine border regions... Hmph, hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, do you know how much that is? I'm really incredibly busy!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yanling couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle.

Zhang Luan glared at him and demanded, "Second brother, isn't that right?"

"Yes, Father is very busy. He goes to various government offices every day and also checks the accounts in the treasury. He's extremely busy."

Zhang Yanling had no choice but to speak up for him.

Seeing that Jin was hanging her head and not saying a word, Zhang Luan immediately felt that he had gained the upper hand in his argument with his wife. He nodded with satisfaction and said smugly, "Now, our Zhang family can finally hold our heads high... A few days ago, someone even said they wanted to arrange for His Majesty to take a concubine. It was only through my efforts that I managed to dissuade His Majesty from that idea. Now it seems that the timing is just right, and we don't have to worry about it anymore."

Zhang Yanling asked curiously, "Father, so it was you who pulled strings behind the scenes when my brother-in-law's plan to take a concubine was thwarted?"

"Isn't that right?"

Zhang Luan, with a smug look on his face, said, "I went to Xie Qian, and when your brother-in-law asked for his opinion, he said that it's still the mourning period for the late emperor, and it's not appropriate to take a concubine, otherwise it might bring a reputation for being unfilial. Your brother-in-law adopted it without much consideration. Tell me, if we hadn't handled it back then, would we be like this today, with our whole family gathered here to celebrate? You have no idea how much I've contributed to this family, and you're still complaining!"

Zhang Heling looked at his father, then at his younger brother, and asked in confusion, "What exactly are we celebrating? Didn't you ask me to come back for a family reunion dinner today? Is there some other reason?"

"Stop asking."

Jin said with dissatisfaction, "In the end, you are all out there doing great things, while I, a woman, am supposed to stay at home and not interfere with your behavior. Now, even when we're eating, you're finding fault with everything!"

Zhang Luan was displeased upon hearing this and called out loudly, "Second brother!"

Zhang Yanling was engrossed in eating when he heard this and looked up at his cheap father, thinking, "Why are you still doing that roll call thing at the dinner table?"
Wake up! You're not my husband. How long are you going to keep acting crazy?

"Dad, is something wrong?"

Zhang Yanling frowned and asked.

Zhang Luan said, "I feel that you haven't taken good care of this family. Starting tomorrow, send more money back home. No matter what, at least make your mother feel more at ease. Also, the family's meals need to be improved. We can't keep eating such vegetarian food like we do today."

Zhang Yanling thought to himself, "Damn it."

You, the head of the family, are shameless!

You've been eating and drinking at Lizi Province's expense all the time, and now that the real deal has gone to the south, you're still indulging in all sorts of gluttony.

You don't care about family matters, you don't take your salary to support your wife, children, and elderly parents, but you expect me, your youngest son, to support the family?
How old am I anyway?
I'm supposed to just stay home and eat and drink for free, okay?
"no need."

Jin said with a dark face, "Some people never stay at home. They spend all their time out partying and drinking. They don't have to worry about food and drink at home. Who cares about their bad ideas? Now there are more than ten people in the mansion, including servants. It's good enough that so many mouths can be fed. Now there is meat and vegetables. This is a good thing that we never dared to dream of before. How can we be so picky?"

"I think only people who are used to eating delicacies outside would give others attitude!"

"Here……"

Zhang Luan's face turned red and his neck thickened; he was clearly quite angry at his wife's words.

At that moment, he was thinking, "Isn't this trying to earn some extra income for my family?"

That brat, he clearly earned a lot of money, but I don't know who he gave it all to in the end. His family didn't seem to benefit much either. Instead, he kept giving it to the imperial court and sending money to his brother-in-law for his own expenses.

Does that mean my family should eat and dress simply?
This is not fair!
Zhang Yanling comforted her, "Father, don't be angry with Mother... Don't worry, I bring money home with me. Just these past few months, I've given Mother at least several thousand taels of silver."

"How many?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Heling's eyes widened immediately, and he asked incredulously, "Several thousand taels of silver? Little brother, why didn't you give me any? I'm the eldest son in the family!" He then turned to Madam Jin, spread his hands, and pleaded, "Mother, I need to spend money when I'm out. Now that you're so rich, please share some... Thirty or fifty taels isn't a small amount, and a thousand or two isn't too much either. Just give it to me, and I'll take it..."

Jin glared at him and snapped, "Don't listen to the second son's nonsense! Where did he get several thousand taels of silver from? Eat!"

Zhang Luan looked at his youngest son, then at his wife, and asked curiously, "How many exactly?"

Jin rolled her eyes at her husband.

What do you mean, what are you asking right now?
Why do we have to join in the fun at this crucial moment?

"Second brother, you're not talking nonsense, are you?"

Zhang Luan stared intently at his youngest son and said in a sinister tone, "You little rascal, you're quite wealthy."

Jin looked flustered and stood up, saying, "I'll go check over by the stove."

"Sit down. How much did you give to the family? I'm asking about the second son's contribution..."

Zhang Luan grabbed his wife's clothes, preventing her from leaving, and pressed her for answers.

Jin stomped her foot in anger, glared at her husband, plopped down, and said loudly, "Fine, fine, I'll just say it straight. The second son gave us about ten thousand taels of silver, and your daughter even received some from the palace. We now have more than twenty thousand taels of silver. Are you satisfied now?"

"What? I really... I'm speechless... I entrusted the family to you, and this is how you treat my children? And you even have concubines?"

Zhang Luan said with a stern face, "There's so much silver in the storeroom, isn't that enough for you? Humph, and you blame me for not bringing silver home... Second son, you've already given your mother ten thousand taels of silver, so why not contribute some to your father's account so that your father can be more generous when he goes out? How about that?"

No one at the dinner table expected that the meal would turn into a dramatic scene of a father and son arguing over money after only a few bites.

Zhang Yanling shrugged and said, "Father, the problem is I don't have any money right now."

Zhang Luan questioned with dissatisfaction: "You mined in Xishan and sold hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in one go. Do you dare to say you didn't?"

"How many?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jin immediately widened her eyes and exclaimed, "Heavens! Hundreds of thousands of taels of silver? Is it real gold and silver? Why not give the family more? Second son, try giving the family another ten thousand taels! Your mother will make sure you eat delicacies every day."

Zhang Yanling said speechlessly, "Mother, don't listen to Father. That's all government money. Taking it privately will cause trouble. Father, Mother, and eldest brother, please understand. I... sigh, I'm really fed up with you all, you're all obsessed with money!"

……

……

A few more days passed.

News came from the court that Qin Ji, a strong contender for the position of Grand Chancellor, had officially announced his retirement.

Qin Ji's mental breakdown and incoherent ramblings occurred suddenly, most likely due to the significant psychological impact of Huai En's death. Specifically, Qin Ji believed that his betrayal of Huai En to the Emperor and Empress had led to Huai En's demotion and expulsion from the capital, ultimately resulting in Huai En's death on his journey south. Overwhelmed with guilt, he suddenly suffered a mental breakdown.

To show his care for the former Crown Prince's attendant, the emperor specially allowed Tan Ji to stay in the capital to live out his retirement. He also transferred servants from the palace to serve him. Tan Ji already had an old nanny at home to take care of him, so he would never be left to sleep on the streets. His daily life, including food and clothing, was well taken care of.

With Qin Ji leaving the palace, the structure of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs changed rapidly.

Qin Chang was reinstated as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Because, like Huai En, although Qin Chang was sent to the northwestern border town to transport cloth and grain, he was not dismissed from his position in the Directorate of Ceremonial, and upon his return, he was still ranked above Li Rong.

Li Rong was promoted to chief eunuch, the second-in-command of the inner court, which confirmed his formal control of the Eastern Depot, rather than being a temporary figurehead.

As for the task of supervising river works in the south from the Directorate of Ceremonial, it fell to Xiao Jing.

Xiao Jing was a prudent person who wanted to protect himself.

He knew that because of his previous relationship with Shang Ming and others, he was finding it difficult to move forward in the palace, and many officials in the court were watching him closely, and there would be more and more impeachments against him.

To put it bluntly, in the eyes of the outside officials, Xiao Jing was a remnant of the treacherous party. He urgently needed a relatively stable and long-term job so that he could continue to serve the emperor and the court while avoiding the eye of the storm in the vortex of power.

Finally, there's Zhang Luan's title.

After some back and forth, the title of Marquis of Shouning was granted as scheduled.

As a relative of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family, Zhang Luan not only became the second-in-command of the Ming cabinet but also obtained the title of marquis, and at the same time, he was qualified to inherit the title without fail.

After the matter was settled, surprisingly, the court officials did not react too strongly. In fact, Zhang Luan's political enemies were eager for him to go to the Governor's Office to take up his post, because having both civil and military official positions was tantamount to telling the world that he could not go far among the civil officials and had lost his authority.

Meanwhile, the Zhang family was overjoyed because, in addition to bestowing a title, the emperor had also granted them a new residence to serve as the Marquis of Shouning's mansion.

On that day, Xu Pu, representing the imperial court, came to the Zhang family to bestow titles. After everyone was seen off, Zhang Heling excitedly said to Zhang Luan, "Father, does this mean that after you die, your title will be mine?"

"You better get out of my sight right now!" Zhang Luan roared, his face dark with rage. "If it weren't for this joyous occasion, I would have spanked your ass!"

Zhang Heling said, "What I said is all true. Also, now that we have a new house, will the old house be handed over to me? I'll be getting married soon, and I'll need a place to live!"

Zhang Luan said, "You brat, you're not even married yet, and you already want to separate from me? You're not going anywhere. You're just going to stay home and take care of your mother! You want to inherit my title, don't you? You don't want to support your parents but you still want the title? Dream on!"

"What about the second son? Isn't he there? Let him take care of you!"

Zhang Heling protested.

Zhang Luan sneered, "Who told you to be the eldest son in the family! With you here, there's no room for your younger brother! He can live in another residence from now on, while you stay at home obediently!"

"I……"

Zhang Heling gritted his teeth and said, "Dad, you're biased! I can see that you just think the second son is better than me!"

"That's right, I've always thought so. Even a block of wood is better than you! My biggest failure in this life is having a stupid son like you! Get the hell away from me!"

"Hmph, I'm about to go to the palace to express my gratitude. If you get in my way again, I'll just take your head and bring you into the palace... It'll be a good opportunity to kill you, you wicked son, and offer you as a sacrifice to the heavens. That way, I can vent my anger."

Zhang Luan was furious, and his murderous demeanor didn't seem feigned.

This made Zhang Heling feel a sense of danger approaching him, and he wisely avoided his emotionally unstable father.

"It's a joyous day. My dear husband, don't be angry, hurry up and go to the palace."

Jin stood to the side holding a stick, as if to say, "You go ahead and do your thing. Leave the matter of disciplining your son to me, his mother."

(End of this chapter)