Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

Fang Zhong'an snatched the tea and gulped down a large mouthful. "Zhang Yashi, we've identified the body at Yongning Nunnery. When the notice for identifying the body was posted this afternoon, I was inquiring around Yongning Nunnery at the time."

"While I was looking at the list, the nun from the nunnery also came out to look at the list. After she finished looking at it, she panicked and said that the clothes, shoes and socks worn by the corpse looked like those of the old lady Zhang from the nunnery."

"She went back and reported to the abbess, who then sent someone to check the backyard again. The old lady's room was empty, the bedding was neatly folded, and she hadn't been seen for two days. Only then did the abbess send the nun's wife to the county office to report the news."

"I stopped the nun and asked her a few more questions. She said that Madam Zhang entered the nunnery on May 19th, with an empty ordination certificate, saying that she wanted to shave her head and practice Buddhism."

"The abbess accepted her ordination certificate and arranged a clean room in the backyard for her. According to the rules, ordination can only be performed on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month each year, and the ordination certificate must be registered by the state government."

"Madam Zhang first studied the morning and evening prayers, and memorized the Lotus Sutra and the Diamond Sutra. In the spring and autumn, the prefectural Buddhist administration would send people to routinely inspect the temples and check the ordination certificates. If someone could not recite the scriptures, their ordination certificate would be confiscated and they would be forced to return to secular life."

"I'll formally receive the precepts next year on Buddha's Birthday when my mind is at peace. The other day, I noticed that Madam Zhang wasn't at the nunnery. The abbess assumed she had gone home and even muttered, 'The layperson's worldly ties are not yet severed'..."

Although Zhang Sanlang found him long-winded, his eyes flickered when he heard "carrying an empty ordination certificate".

Before the ceremony at Yao's Mausoleum, Manager Pan came to his old house to find him, saying that Zhang Dalang's family wanted to buy a Buddhist ordination certificate for his mother-in-law and were willing to pay two hundred strings of cash.

He had only one ordination certificate left, and he gave it to him without much thought.

Zhang Sanlang recalled what Manager Pan had said before he left: "That woman, my wife says she doesn't seem like a reliable person."

He didn't pay attention at the time.

These two things collided at that moment, like two tiles fitting together.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Fang Zhong'an rolled his eyes and said again, "The nun said that when the old lady entered the nunnery, she was wearing a gray-brown fine cloth shirt, plain and without patterns. The clothes on the examination report match the nun's description perfectly."

"I thought the old nun's account was fairly accurate, so I took her to identify the corpse. Fearing it might be inconvenient, the old nun also called on the incense-offering woman. Just now, when we got to the back hall of the City God Temple, both of these women recognized the corpse as Old Madam Zhang."

Zhang Sanlang was lost in thought for a moment, and after he finished speaking, he asked, "Han the Mute once mentioned a female benefactor in a blue silk robe. Have you asked the nun about her?"

Fang Zhong'an nodded. "The nun said it was Zhang Shouren's wife."

Zhang Sanlang's expression turned serious. "Fang Tiesi, tomorrow morning, take Xu Fang to Zhang's shop. Tell them you need to ask her to come over for questioning at the interrogation room. Don't mention the corpse, and don't mention that she went to Yongning Nunnery. Understand?"

Fang Zhong'an nodded repeatedly, "Understood, understood! Don't mention the corpse, don't mention Yongning Nunnery. Just say she needs to be questioned in the interrogation room and asked to come over..."

When Zhang Sanlang returned to Jinshi Lane, the sun had already set behind the wall, but the heat that had lingered in the lane all day had not yet dissipated, and steam was still seeping out from the cracks in the wall.

Lu Sanbao was squatting on the threshold. Hearing footsteps, he quickly stood up and called out in a low voice, "Master, you're finally back."

Zhang Sanlang stopped in his tracks when he sensed something was wrong in his tone and faintly heard what sounded like an argument in the courtyard.

Lu Sanbao took a half step forward and lowered his voice even more: "Mr. Zhao from Zhao Family School has brought a young lady with him. They are talking to Mr. Huangfu in the courtyard."

"They started arguing after talking for a while. I don't understand what they're arguing about, but something sounds wrong. You should go and take a look."

Zhang Sanlang frowned.

Zhao Siheng and Huangfu Ce, one a professor at the state school and the other a clerk in the county government, were both educated, but their temperaments were worlds apart.

Zhao Siheng was a mild-mannered person, unreliable and a bit pedantic.

Huangfu Ce was a man of few words and a dull personality, with a touch of shrewdness beneath his rigid demeanor.

It's truly rare for these two to start arguing.

As for the young lady that Lü Sanbao mentioned, she must be Zhao Yuqin.

Zhang Sanlang found it a bit noisy, but didn't take it to heart.

The shadow of the old locust tree in the courtyard covered most of the ground. Two people sat at the stone table, facing each other across the table's fragmented shadows, like two newly unearthed terracotta figures. Whoever moved first would lose.

The two men, their faces flushed with anxiety, saw Zhang Sanlang return and nodded to him in unison. They exchanged a glance, then turned their heads away and simultaneously let out a cold snort.

Zhou An stood beside the stone table, his hands hanging at his sides, his expression quite interesting, no less so than Zhang Silang's after being scolded by his second brother.

Wang Yue'e stood under the eaves of the west wing, her face looking rather pale.

Seeing Zhang Sanlang return, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Two small heads were huddled together at the backyard entrance, their bodies half-hidden behind the door frame, the hem of their skirts peeking out, only to be pulled back in by the night breeze.

Zhang Sanlang's gaze lingered for a moment, recognizing Zhao Yuqin and Huangfu Yun, who were hiding there watching the commotion.

Zhou An was the first to see him. His expression was like that of a drowning person who had found a boat; he suddenly came to life. "Uncle Zhang! You're finally back!"

As soon as he shouted, Zhao Siheng turned his head, and Huangfu Ce followed his gaze.

Zhang Sanlang walked to the stone table and glanced at the teacups on it.

Both bowls were empty, with a layer of light brown tea stains at the bottom and dried tea marks on the rim, as if they had been sitting there for quite some time.

He cupped his hands in greeting to Zhao Siheng, then glanced at Huangfu Ce and smiled, "What are you two gentlemen discussing?"

Zhao Siheng spoke first, "Zhang Yashi, you've come at the right time. I really can't agree with Mr. Huangfu's reasoning."

He leaned closer to the stone table. "He said that marriage between two families must be between equals; otherwise, a poor girl marrying into a wealthy family would be detrimental to her. That sounds reasonable, but can things in this world be generalized?"

Huangfu Ce interjected, "Mr. Zhao, I'm not talking about wealth or poverty, but about social status. What kind of family is the Zhou family? Young Master Zhou's maternal grandfather was a retired military officer, and his father was a school instructor at the prefectural school. All his relatives are officials or clerks."

"What about A-Yun? Her mother established a female household and barely raised her with her own two hands. The difference in social status is like heaven and earth. If they were forced together, what kind of life could she possibly have in the Zhou family?"

"She may not have to worry about food and clothing, but she has to be mindful of others' feelings in public and in private! Besides, a mistress of the house needs to know how to socialize with officials' wives and be knowledgeable in literature and etiquette. All A-Yun has learned over the years is how to survive. What is there for her to know?"

"At that time, people will be polite to her on the surface, but in their hearts they'll think she's vulgar, and she won't be able to say a word in her defense. If that happens, Young Master Zhou will probably look down on her..."

Zhou An, listening anxiously from the side, exclaimed, "Mr. Huangfu, I won't let A-Yun suffer any injustice!"

Huangfu Ce rolled his eyes. "Of course you'll say that now. Even if you don't, what about your brother, sister-in-law, parents, and maternal grandfather? Would you dare vouch for them?"

Zhou An was speechless with shock and quickly turned to Zhang Sanlang for help.

Zhao Siheng picked up the teacup, saw it was empty, and put it back on the table. "Mr. Huangfu, if I may say something unpleasant, it's not that I don't understand the principles you're talking about, but you're calculating too meticulously."