Zhang Zhaodi was just about to open the door when she heard noises at the entrance. She thought these customers were coming too early. Their shop wouldn’t run away, so were they afraid their goods would be sold out?
She opened the main door, put on a wide smile, but when she saw no one at the entrance, her smile was wasted and she retracted it.
She saw many people gathered in the middle of the street. Squeezing into the crowd, she asked, "What’s happening here? What are you all watching? Come on, let me see the excitement too."
"Shopkeeper, your Wang Shu is so obedient and sensible, never causing you any trouble. You really chose the right one when you bought a son-in-law back then."
Zhang Zhaodi loved it when others praised Zhou Wangshu, it meant her daughter had good taste. Back when she bought Zhou Wangshu, she was mocked by the gossiping women, but now she’s regained her face.
"Indeed... but what’s going on?" Zhang Zhaodi stretched her neck to look inside.
The people around parted to make way for her.
In the middle of the crowd, there was a naked man lying on the street.
The man’s clothes were scattered all over the ground, and there was a smell of alcohol in the air. Seeing this scene, everyone guessed this guy got drunk and was making a fool of himself, using the sky as his blanket and the ground as his bed.
"Isn’t this Xiao Yanci of Fenghua Pavilion? I heard the academy holds him in high regard, saying he’s sure to pass the imperial exam. The entire academy is betting on him."
"What good is being studious? Look at his conduct, such a depraved character."
Xiao Yanci, hearing the noise, thought he was still at the academy, and shouted irritably, "Sister-in-law Wen, shut the window, it’s so noisy."
"Hahaha... Sister-in-law? Look at this scholar, even when studying, he has a sister-in-law serving him!"
Xiao Yanci realized something was wrong.
Why is it so noisy?
Why is this bed so hard, and why is he so cold?
He opened his eyes, only to meet countless mocking eyes.
He suddenly sat up, and upon seeing his body bare, screamed out loud.
"Ah!!!"
The surrounding people screamed too, but not from fear, rather from being amused.
Xiao Yanci grabbed the clothes nearby, wrapped them around himself, and yelled, "Get lost!"
He clumsily tried to put on his clothes.
Not far away, Su Yaoguang nudged Zhou Wangshu’s arm, feebly saying, "Isn’t this a bit harsh? At least leave him some underwear."
"He didn’t consider sparing me when he put pins on my horse," Zhou Wangshu retorted sourly, "Feeling sorry for him?"
"Talking nonsense in broad daylight?" Su Yaoguang patted his shoulder, "Alright, revenge is taken, fun is had, you should head back to the academy, and I must continue with my work."
"I’ll be busy for a while and might need to stay at the academy."
"Okay." Su Yaoguang waved her hand.
Zhou Wangshu grabbed her wrist, pulling her back: "Don’t you have anything to say?"
Su Yaoguang gave him a strange look: "Take care of your health, eat when you should, drink when you should, play when you should. Whether you learn anything isn’t important; what’s important is your well-being."
Zhou Wangshu: "..."
Seems she really has given up on him.
But then again, everyone knows his studies are in a disastrous state. If she were to tell him now to study hard and strive for success, it would sound more like cursing him.
Xiao Yanci wrapped in clothes, ran into the Fenghua Pavilion opposite.
Throughout the day, Zhang Zhaodi’s laughter never ceased. With each customer that entered, she’d recount Xiao Yanci’s embarrassing tale. The customers’ curiosity would be piqued, and they’d join her in discussing why Xiao Yanci behaved that way, how despite his scholarly look, whether he physically met expectations, and who saw it happen.
While discussing these things, they pushed aside a few unmarried young girls, acting secretive, and seemingly worried they might corrupt the young girls. Yet, they wouldn’t think that perhaps the entire city was already talking about this.
Opposite, Zhong Lanhua’s scolding never ceased.
She had been scolding since morning and whenever someone inquired about the incident, she didn’t care if they were customers; she’d just curse them away.
The fiercer Zhong Lanhua scolded, the louder Zhang Zhaodi laughed.
"Big sister... big sister..." Zhang Pandi tugged at Zhang Zhaodi, "Father and mother are here."
Zhang Zhaodi’s smile disappeared when she saw Wei Family and Zhang Laosan enter the shop.
She let the customers browse for themselves, then walked briskly toward Wei Family and Zhang Laosan.
"Father, mother, what brings you here?"
"We tried to visit you earlier, but due to the epidemic, we didn’t stay long. Now that the epidemic is over and the city is safe, we thought it was the right time to visit you. Look, your mother and I are living such hard lives; as a daughter, shouldn’t you help out? Your shop does good business and needs manpower, so your mother and I can come to help you. This way, it wouldn’t be like we’re just freeloading." Zhang Laosan spoke as if giving an order.
"I’m afraid that’s not possible," Zhang Zhaodi said. "You have sons, you have grandsons, what’s the point of living with your daughter? Didn’t you say before that a married daughter is like spilled water? It’s common knowledge that spilled water can’t be collected. Since we’ve been ’spilled out,’ there’s no need to come looking for us."
"We are your parents; are you going to ignore our well-being?"
"I’ll do as much as I’ve received. The upbringing you provided is already paid back with the dowry money my husband gave," Zhang Zhaodi said. "All these years, even when we were struggling, we never asked for your help. Now you’re seeking us out, isn’t it inappropriate? I’m now Mrs. Su Zhang."
"If you don’t help us, we’ll report it to the authorities and say you’re unfilial," Wei Family cursed.
"Sure, then report it!" Zhang Zhaodi replied calmly, "I’ll wait here, not leaving, ready at any time for the authorities to arrest me. If the government sends people, I’ll admit to the crime of unfilial piety. After that, you shouldn’t come back because expecting a daughter to be filial can still be justified, but there’s no reason to expect a granddaughter who hasn’t eaten a meal from you to be filial."
"Are you really not going to care for us?" Wei Family asked.
"No." Zhang Zhaodi replied, "Even if I enter the government office, get beaten, or imprisoned, I won’t relent."
"And you two? Are you also ignoring our welfare?" Wei Family glared at Zhang Pandi and Zhang Yingdi.
"Second sister is now also a widow, not to mention the third sister and her husband. To demand a high dowry price, when it comes down to it, you weren’t marrying us off, you were selling us. The money from selling us three is enough for you to live comfortably without worries, yet you still come here to reap more; isn’t that too greedy?" Zhang Zhaodi said.
"You all... fine, now that you’ve succeeded, you start despising your old parents. I’ll kill myself here today so you’ll be condemned by the world," Wei Family said, charging at the pillar opposite.
"Can you give it a rest? Always the same trick, can’t you come up with something new?" Zhang Zhaodi waved to the people beside her, "Move aside, let her hit. If she dies here, I’ll pay with my life. Why are you standing there? Hurry up, hit!"
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