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

The courtyard gate closed, and Zhang Sanlang turned around, his gaze landing on Zhou An's face. "Zhou An, you just said that your family was discussing something, and unfortunately, Mr. Huangfu overheard it. What were they discussing? How long did they discuss it?"

"Your maternal grandfather gave his approval, and your parents found a matchmaker. Let me ask you, did they find a matchmaker? Did your family send a single word to Lady Huangfu?"

Zhou An was stunned by his barrage of questions. "Uncle Zhang, I'll urge him as soon as I get back..."

"Go back and urge them?"

Zhang Sanlang took two steps forward and stopped in front of him. "Counting from the day your maternal grandfather nodded, what day is it today?"

Zhou An took half a step back, his heel hitting the step, and he almost tripped.

Huangfu Ce stood up from the stone table, walked to Zhang Sanlang's side, cupped his hands in greeting to Zhou An, and said in a rather impolite tone, "Young Master Zhou, it's not that I, Huangfu Ce, am being nosy. But when it comes to marriage, if your family is truly interested, they should come up with a plan."

"You keep talking about Yun-jie, but if your family doesn't agree, it'll be Yun-jie's life that's being wasted. It's not about social standing; what I really resent is that I see absolutely no sincerity from the Jiang family!"

Zhang Sanlang turned his head and glanced at Huangfu Ce. "Mr. Huangfu, your words have reminded me. Are you afraid that I'll support A-Yun marrying into the Jiang family, and that she'll really suffer in a high-class household?"

Huangfu Ce was taken aback for a moment. "Third Master, I was quite worried because I thought you were so determined to make this marriage happen. But seeing your attitude now, I'm relieved."

Zhou An grew anxious, took a step forward, and raised his voice, "Uncle Zhang! My maternal grandfather really agreed, and my parents also agreed to find a matchmaker. But my mother..."

Zhang Sanlang's eyes widened. "What's wrong with Madam Jiang?"

Zhou An swallowed hard. "My mother went to a banquet at Prefect Chen's residence a few days ago, and her face turned pale when she came back. She said that Prefect Chen's wife had told her that the news of Uncle Zhang's execution of an official in Tanzhou had already spread throughout the capital."

"Several ministers in the court submitted a memorial impeaching Zhang Ershu, saying that he was arrogant and domineering because of his merits and that he was not behaving like a subject. When my mother heard this, she changed her tune and said that this matter was probably very far-reaching and that I should not associate with Zhang Sanshu anymore.

"Implicated?"

Zhang Sanlang chewed on those two words for a moment, "So, Madam Jiang thinks my second brother's future is ruined, and therefore she's preparing to abandon this matter?"

Zhou An lowered his head, his face slightly flushed. "My mother said that Uncle Zhang's blow not only killed an official, but also damaged the dignity of the imperial court. Even if it's not a capital offense, a demotion and reassignment are certain."

"She told my maternal grandfather all this, saying that if the Zhang family lost power, this marriage wouldn't be worthwhile. The people sent by the family said that my maternal grandfather seemed a bit hesitant. But I..."

Huangfu Ce scoffed at this, leaning against a pillar with his hands in his sleeves. "Young Master Zhou, your mother's got some nerve. When your son's future was bright, she was eager to climb up to him. Now that things are looking up, she's immediately shutting herself in?"

"That's bad enough, but she even wants you to leave San Guanren? Didn't she consider how much you've learned in Juancheng these past few months? Don't you have any idea?"

Zhou An's face flushed red, his chest heaving. "Uncle Zhang, I have no intention of leaving. I came here today to discuss with you how to persuade my mother."

Zhang Sanlang looked at him, his smile fading. "Zhou An, it's only natural for your mother to be so picky; it's not surprising. Marriage has always been a matter between two families, and who doesn't want a stable place to settle down?"

"Since your family has this intention, then so be it. Since Madam Jiang has acted this way, you should give up on this idea. Even if A-Yun agrees, I will not feel at ease letting her marry into the Jiang family."

Zhou An suddenly looked up. "Uncle Zhang! Just now you were arguing with Mr. Zhao, saying that life is something you live yourself, and if others choose for you, you'll be the one who suffers in the end. How come when it comes to me, it becomes a matter between two families?"

Zhang Sanlang sneered, turned halfway around, and looked at the old locust tree in the courtyard. The afterglow filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on his face. "I was saying that to Zhao Siheng."

"When he married his own maid, none of the elders in the clan approved, which led to a dispute over property division and his removal from the family register. When he moved from Juancheng to Puzhou, he took nothing but a few books with him."

"His wife suffered with him for ten years. When she was seriously ill, she didn't even have money for medicine and dragged on until she was on her deathbed. Zhao Siheng felt guilty, which is why he doted on his young daughter like the apple of his eye. What I said was just to give him a way out."

"The swallows that once graced the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people. You've probably read this poem before. In the century of chaos and the rise and fall of the Five Dynasties, how many great families perished? The Jiang family was nothing more than a lowly clerk in the previous dynasty. What kind of high rank did they have?"

"If A-Yun marries into the Jiang family, and anyone dares to bully her, I, Zhang Shouli, will definitely pursue the matter! That's why I didn't support Mr. Huangfu's statement."

He turned his head, his gaze landing on Zhou An's face. "Zhou An, tell me. Zhao Siheng is willing to abandon his clan for that maid. What about you? Can you abandon your clan for A-Yun? Hmm?"

The corridor fell silent.

A breeze blew in from outside the courtyard wall, rustling the locust tree leaves.

Wang Yue'e stood under the eaves, her gaze shifting between Zhou An and Huangfu Ce. Huangfu Ce leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, looking at Zhou An with a cold smile on his lips.

Zhou An looked up at Zhang Sanlang, his eyes bright. "Uncle Zhang, my father married into the family. He abandoned the clan a long time ago. Although my maternal grandfather treated me very well, I don't have the surname Jiang. Abandoning the clan... isn't a difficult thing for me."

Zhang Sanlang was speechless for a moment.

Do people say that?

He looked at Zhou An, opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Huangfu Ce's cold smile slowly faded, and his gaze lingered on Zhou An's face for a few moments.

Both he and Zhang Sanlang had forgotten about this.

When Zhou An said that, the two of them really couldn't think of a reply. They looked at each other and couldn't help but shake their heads with wry smiles.

Wang Yue'e's eyes suddenly reddened. She took a step forward, her voice trembling slightly, "Young Master Zhou, are you serious?"

Zhou An nodded. "It's true. My father married into the family, and my mother was the only daughter of the Jiang family. My two older brothers both have the surname Jiang. Back then, my maternal grandfather agreed to let me revert to the surname Zhou, hoping to ease the relationship between the Jiang and Zhou families."

"My eldest uncle had no sons, and my maternal grandfather originally intended for me to be adopted back into the Zhou family. However, because I passed the provincial examination, my maternal grandfather worried that my uncle's status would affect my chances of being selected for an official position, so the adoption was not carried out. I was already outside the clan, so what was there to fear about being abandoned?"

Wang Yue'e turned to look at Zhang Sanlang.

Huangfu Ce straightened up and cupped his hands in greeting to Zhou An. "Young Master Zhou, I was very rude just now. It seems that your intentions are sincere."

Zhang Sanlang's lips curled up as he was about to speak.

"I don't want to get married." A-Yun's face was flushed, and her eyes were brimming with tears. She suddenly spoke, "If you want to force me to marry, it'll only be Uncle Zhang!"

After saying this, she turned and ran. Her footsteps echoed rapidly in the corridor before she pushed open the door to the west wing and slammed it shut.

The courtyard was so quiet you could hear the faint fluttering of cicada wings in the old locust tree.