Chapter 82 - Different

Chapter 82: Chapter 76 DifferentHowever, the news is still too little and mostly obtained from the mouths of refugees, somewhat one-sided. It would be better if we could gather information from the Prefectural Governor’s side.

Unfortunately, the Lang Master has passed away, and the Zhao Family’s intelligence system was handed over to the Second Grandfather. They are starting anew, not only is manpower insufficient, but more importantly, they lack the Lang Master to steer them. Even if they want to inquire, they have no means.

Mr. Ji was deeply troubled, hearing the coquettish voice from outside, "Lang Jun hasn’t come to see me these days, I’m terribly sad."

A bland male voice replied, "Official duties are busy."

Mr. Ji raised his eyebrows and lifted his eyes to study the room, finally his gaze landing on the Fourth Centurion, Qiu Wu. Qiu Wu met his gaze and shivered, hesitatingly saying, "Sir?"

Mr. Ji stroked his beard and said, "If the lady had a Chu House, it would be much easier to gather information."

Qiu Wu looked at him bewildered.

Mr. Ji sighed, "Never mind, Third Lady is a lady, it wouldn’t sound good if word got out. Even the Lang Master rejected my suggestions before, not to mention it’s Third Lady managing now."

He waved his hand, "First, find the lady and them, send someone overnight to Shangcai."

Qiu Wu agreed and backed out first.

Mr. Ji brought a large group of people, especially so many dowries, which was too conspicuous. To avoid trouble, he disguised the team as a big caravan along the way, with most women turned into accompanying maids, and the rest of the young and old disguised as goods people of the caravan.

He carefully chose to stop at Yu Yang because he felt Zhao Hanzhang would pass through Yu Yang whether returning to Xiping hometown or going to Shangcai.

He dared not go to Xiping alone with so much wealth.

Wealth arouses the heart; who knows if the Zhao Family clan would be moved seeing so much money?

Wouldn’t this create unnecessary disputes?

So he disguised as a big merchant in Yu Yang, scattering the people hidden in various parts of Yu Yang.

Due to the chaos in Luoyang, many refugees have poured into Yu Yang these days, so the few hundred people in his group didn’t stand out greatly, otherwise he would have had to put more effort into it.

The meals in the other courtyard were still simple, but fortunately, the main food was sufficient. The clan relatives all expressed understanding, after all, they lost their wealth and were still in mourning, it was indeed appropriate to be simpler.

Even under such circumstances they could arrange everything neatly, arranging every person, showing the care and ability of Third Sister Zhao.

Anyway, the ladies accompanying were quite satisfied and were much more lenient towards Mrs. Wang.

The lady who felt she had a good relationship with Mrs. Wang even came to her and said, "You’ve raised Third Sister Zhao well. I see Second Son may seem a bit simple, but he is healthy and filial. Wait until he grows a couple of years older, you should arrange a marriage for him, and after having a grandson, everything will be well."

"I see the elders in the clan are quite pleased with Mr. Fu. After the funeral, you should take Third Sister Zhao and the others back to live in the clan, let her win the favor of the elders; as they love what she loves, your good days will come."

Mrs. Wang smiled politely at them and gently stated, "Before Grandpa passed, he said I should listen to Third Sister Zhao for big house matters in the future. The child is already capable of handling things alone, and son-in-law is here, so naturally, I listen to them."

She isn’t foolish, why willingly go back to Xiping for trouble?

She refuses to go back to stay, as long as Third Sister Zhao doesn’t speak to send her back, she absolutely won’t go back!

The one trying to persuade didn’t notice her small thoughts, sighed, and started chit-chatting, "You’re fortunate, the elder uncle gave Third Sister Zhao such a good marriage proposal before he left, someone like Mr. Fu with such character and appearance is truly hard to find."

"Indeed, the second house inherited the title but did not return, sigh, it would have been better to directly adopt a child from the clan back then."

"Exactly, letting the second house unjustly benefit."

Mrs. Wang secretly pursed her lips, displeased that Zhao Ji inherited the title, but why should they adopt a child from the clan?

Doesn’t she have sons and won’t she have grandsons in the future?

Zhao Ji is at least her husband’s cousin, blood is close; him eyeing the title is fine, but why are these people from the clan staring too?

They are several layers apart, for goodness’ sake.

Mrs. Wang internally grumbled, keeping a smile and quietly listening.

Qing Gu entered with small steps from outside, seeing her, Mrs. Wang secretly exhaled a breath of relief and quickly asked, "Is there something at the front?"

Qing Gu paused for a moment, seeing Mrs. Wang signaling with her eyes, bowed and said, "Yes, tomorrow is the burial. Third Lady sent me to ask the lady to come over to discuss matters."

Mrs. Wang immediately stood up and apologized before leaving.

Everyone expressed understanding and watched her leave.

"Is Zhi Zhi’s wife unwilling to return to the clan?"

"During such transition time, with not a penny on hand, what’s the point of going back?" One person said, "At that time living in a Wu Castle, surrounded by relatives, even giving gifts would be difficult. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to go back either."

"Sigh, the big house used to be so affluent, not just in our clan, but one of the top in the Great Jin, hearing even the Imperial Family didn’t have as much money as them, didn’t imagine it’s all gone in a war."

"Do you really believe it’s all gone? Gold and silver can be abandoned, can the estates and shops be abandoned? I think those things are in the second house’s hands."

"Isn’t this bullying the widow and orphans?"

"No choice, who made it where the clan is led by the second house now?"

"Don’t speak nonsense, the elder uncle already arranged the dowry for Third Lady Zhao, it’s said to be considerable, and Fifth Uncle holds a copy of the dowry list, and later these will have to be split with Second Son. The elder uncle is such a shrewd person, how could he not plan these things?"

"But those estates and shops can’t be liquidated immediately, they need money for daily living, don’t they?"

Upon hearing this, someone was stirred and secretly went to find Mrs. Wang, offering to help her and buy some fields or shops at high prices.

Especially the shops, Zhao Changyu had shops in Xiping and Shangcai, and the locations were quite good.

Mrs. Wang wasn’t selling, though she couldn’t even take out a silver hairpin now. But as long as she doesn’t starve, no one can expect to buy those fields and shops from her.

Those are the future dowry and betrothal gifts for Third Lady Zhao and Second Son!

And Third Lady Zhao already said, there is no need for her to worry about money matters.

Mrs. Wang flatly refused, the other felt regretful inside but smiled, "It’s good you understand, I was just worried if you returned you’d be tight on hand, if in the future you want to sell you can come to me. By the way, don’t tell others about this, if they know I want to buy land at such a high price, it’ll be troublesome if others wanting to sell land come to me."

Mrs. Wang agreed, turning around and sold her out, telling Zhao Hanzhang, "Your aunt loves scheming the most, hmph, thinking I don’t know. Truly caring for me would seal a red envelope or loan some money, opening the mouth wanting to buy fields and shops, is it really for my good?"

She told Zhao Hanzhang, "Be cautious when seeing her in the future, I dislike her."

Zhao Hanzhang agreed, watching Mrs. Wang who was endlessly muttering.

Mrs. Wang stopped, touched her face, and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "I just suddenly understood why you really don’t want to return to the clan, Mother."

Mrs. Wang lapsed into silence, after a long time said, "You, don’t learn from me and fixate only on these small benefits. If something big happens, you’ll still need the clan’s support. I’m disliked by them because I bore your younger brother, but you’re a daughter of the Zhao Family and clever; they like you, so if you have trouble, they will help you."