Chapter 1156, Redemption 7
Going to the provincial capital to pay a birthday greeting to Yan Wenjie, the Zhang family attaches great importance to it. Master Zhang knows that he is not welcomed by the Yan family, and has no intention of showing up, but he is worried that the three children will go on the road alone. People were sent to the provincial capital.
"After arriving in the provincial capital, my father will not enter the city, so I will find an inn outside the city to live in, and go home together after you pray your birthday."
On the way , Master Zhang carefully instructed his eldest son.
The uncle of the Zhang family was a little hesitant to say anything. They and the Yan family were in-laws, but his father didn't even dare to go to the Yan family's door, which made him very uncomfortable.
Mr. Zhang was silent for a while and then said: "When you arrive at Yan's house, ask your fifth sister's opinion. She is Zhang's family after all."
"This time she was able to persuade your mother to allow you and the eldest girl to go to Yan's house together. It can be seen that there is still Zhang's family in her heart. Brothers and sisters should get along and support each other. If you are well, it will also help her."
Uncle Zhang nodded: "Father, don't worry, the son will discuss with the fifth sister in case of trouble."
After that, Mr. Zhang didn't say anything, and soon, the group arrived at the pier. . .
Huai'an has a well-developed water system, and there are many boats going to the provincial capital. Usually, even if you go to the provincial capital temporarily, you can get on the boat, but this time, Mr. Zhang clearly booked a passenger boat in advance. others too.
Mr. Zhang was very angry and went directly to the ship owner to have a theory, while Mr. Zhang went back to the carriage and looked at his two younger sisters.
"Big sister, fifth sister, we may have to wait a while before boarding the ship."
Miss Zhang lifted the curtain of the car and asked, "Brother, what happened?"
The uncle of the Zhang family was a little bored: "The ship we ordered was intercepted first, and my father went to the ship owner to negotiate."
Lady Zhang frowned immediately: "What's the matter with the ship owner, does he do business like this?"
Zhang Huahan frowned slightly, but she didn't say anything, sitting in the carriage and waiting quietly.
Waited for half an hour.
Seeing that it will be noon soon, Master Zhang has not returned yet. Master Zhang glanced at the tea shop beside the pier and said, "Eldest sister, fifth sister, there is a tea shop in front of you, why don't you get off the car and sit inside. , by the way, have something to eat?"
Mrs. Zhang had long wanted to get out of the car for activities, but she didn't say anything and looked at Zhang Huahan instead.
After riding in the carriage for a long time, Zhang Huahan naturally wanted to get out of the carriage to get some fresh air, especially since it was her first time to go out.
Hearing the various noises on the pier, Zhang Huahan also wanted to see, so he nodded and said to An Ran who was waiting outside the car, "Aunt Anran, my eldest sister and I want to go to the tea shop."
An Ran listened, looked at the tea shop, and then replied: "The girl will wait for a while, wait for the servant to lead someone to set up the tea shop, and then the girl will get off."
After he said that, he took a few wives to the tea shop first. After talking to the boss, he chose a corner and hung bamboo curtains around it. Soon, a small private room was set up.
This movement attracted the attention of the people around him.
"I don't know which big family's female family is going out?"
"People from big families are particular about it."
is the uncle of the Zhang family, and he has some sideways eyes. In the past, his father also took him and the eldest sister out to play, and the eldest sister should wear a hat at most.
After arranging everything, An Ran returned to the carriage: "Girl, the servants in the carriage have prepared a cap, and you can get off after putting on the cap."
Zhang Huahan put on his hat, got off the carriage with the help of the maid, and walked quickly into the small private room surrounded by bamboo curtains.
"This bamboo curtain is so special!"
Uncle Zhang and Miss Zhang were amazed. When you look inside this bamboo curtain, you can't see anything at all, but when you look inside, you can see what's going on outside.
The things in my mother's hands are really not ordinary.
Just when the uncle Zhang was about to ask the guys to order food, he was surprised to find that An Ran was orderly instructing the maids to remove the tea stove, food boxes, tea sets and dishes from the carriage.
is Zhang Huahan, which is also a bit unexpected.
An Ran saw it and explained: "Most of the things outside are not very clean, especially this pier, where fish and dragons are mixed. When you go out, you better be careful about what you eat, and it is best not to eat it if you can."
Uncle Zhang and Miss Zhang smiled shyly, and they didn't say anything about what to eat.
Waiting for An Ran to arrange the refreshments, Zhang Huahan is not good at eating alone, so he invites the two of them to eat together.
At this moment, a group of servants also came from the opposite position. The movement was bigger than what An Ran had made before, and they directly separated the surroundings with a screen.
Bamboo curtains just need to be hung high, occupying a small area, and there is only one table around An Ran, which does not disturb other people.
But the screen occupies a large area, and it is still a precious object. When people around see it, they can't help but avoid it, for fear that if they touch it, they will not be able to pay for it if they sell it.
For a while there was the sound of dragging stools in the tea shop, and after a while, there was a vacuum between the three tables next door.
Immediately afterwards, several women in brocade clothes with hanging curtains walked into the tea shop.
Miss Zhang saw it and muttered in a low voice: "What a big show! When they come, most of the tea shops will not be able to sit."
An Ran glanced at it lightly: "It should be the female family member of the official family." After saying that, she looked at Zhang Huahan, "It is best to avoid publicity when doing things outside. There is a saying that there are people outside the sky. If you don't make it right, you may bring disaster to the family. Don't learn to do pie this way."
Zhang Huahan nodded, and Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang also took it seriously in their hearts.
After the three brothers and sisters finished drinking a cup of tea, Master Zhang came to the tea shop with an ugly face.
Uncle Zhang quickly opened the bamboo curtain and got up to greet him: "Father, but the boat hasn't been negotiated yet?"
Master Zhang said in a cold voice, "The boat packaged for my father was directly moved by Boss Lu to the Dong Zhizhou family from Xuzhou next door."
The uncle Zhang frowned, was silent for a moment, and then said: "Boss Lu has a lot of boats, and the boat we ordered was misappropriated, so we should arrange a new one for us, there will never be no boats left. Bar?"
Mr. Zhang was about to say something when he saw a few people walking outside the tea shop.
Among them is Boss Lu.
Boss Lu, who was facing the middle-aged man with a smile, noticed that someone was looking at him, looked up and found that it was the Zhang family and his son, with a slightly embarrassed expression.
The Zhang family also has a store in the provincial capital, and they go to the provincial capital a lot every year. It is inevitable to rent Boss Lu’s boat. There are many opportunities to deal with each other.
This time, Zhang Jiading’s boat was misappropriated. Boss Lu knew that he was not doing it properly. When the middle-aged man entered the tea shop, he hurried to Zhang’s side.
As soon as comes, he immediately apologizes.
"Brother Zhang, this time it's my younger brother's fault. I'll apologize to you, but please understand me. Lord Zhizhou wants a boat, and I don't dare not give it."
said and glanced at the screen next door.
In an instant, Master Zhang understood that the people who occupied most of the inn were the Xuzhou Dong Zhizhou family.
Mr. Zhang took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in his heart. When a businessman encounters an official, he is naturally inferior. At this time, he can only admit that he is unlucky.
After being silent for a while, Master Zhang said, "Brother Lu, I'm really in a hurry to go to the provincial capital. You can help me think of a way to get me a boat out. I'll keep you in my heart."
Hearing what Master Zhang said, Boss Lu looked embarrassed, sighed, and said in a low voice, "Brother Zhang, let me tell you something about our relationship."
"In two days, it will be the birthday of the new governor. The prefects and magistrates of all the prefectures and prefectures in Huai'an will all attend his birthday banquet. Our wharf happens to be the only wharf to go to the provincial capital, so these days the ship Very tight."
"It's not that I'm not busy with you, it's my brother, and I can't do anything. All the boats under my hand have been rented out."
The three of Mr. Zhang were standing outside the bamboo curtain, so Zhang Huahan and others who were sitting inside also heard their conversation.
Zhang Huahan frowned. They came to the provincial government this time because of the time. If they couldn't rent a boat, they might miss the time to pay their uncle's birthday.
Mr. Zhang also knew that the time was running out, and immediately said: "It's fine to be on the same boat with the others, Brother Lu, I really have something important for my brother. I would like to ask you to Zhou Xuan one or two, and there will be a heavy thank you afterwards."
When Boss Lu saw Mr. Zhang like this, he also saw that he was really in a hurry, he hesitated, and looked at the person behind the screen next door: "Then I'll try, Dong Zhizhou is still good at talking, I'll ask and see if they want to. Don't want to take you with me?"
Master Zhang quickly clenched his fists and thanked him.
Boss Lu went to the screen, and after a while, a slightly arrogant male voice came from there.
"Boss Lu, you really dare to speak. Anyone dares to bring it to us. My uncle is a state magistrate. You actually let the businessman ride with him on the same boat. Are you looking down on my uncle?"
After that, Boss Lu continued to make amends.
The Zhang family behind the bamboo curtain could not help but show anger on their faces.
Lady Zhang hummed: "They robbed our boat and made insults, what happened to them?"
"Shut up!"
Mr. Zhang scolded in a low voice, and then quickly glanced at the screen. Seeing that there was no movement there, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhang Huahan on the side of looked at the forbearance on Mr. Zhang's face, his eyes flickered a little, and he had a deep understanding of the reason why the Zhang family desperately wanted to cling to the Yan family.
Zhang Huahan was silent for a while and looked at Master Zhang: "Father, if you can't get on the boat, why don't you take the land route. Let's hurry up, it should be in time."
Master Zhang frowned: "You can get to the provincial capital in one day by boat, and it takes three days to travel by land. The journey is too fast, and your sisters can't bear it. You went to see your uncle and aunt with a haggard face. Isn't this worrying them? ."
"Let my father think of a way, I don't believe it anymore. With such a big pier, I can't even find a boat."
Before he finished speaking, he heard a sound coming from the next door.
The Zhang family looked over and saw Dong Zhizhou eagerly trotting out of the tea shop, and greeted the blue-robed middle-aged man who passed by outside the tea shop with a smile on his face.
An Ran, who was standing behind Zhang Huahan, saw that person, her eyes flashed, and she quickly looked at Master Zhang: "Master, do you know that person?"
Master Zhang nodded: "He is the prefect of our Pingyun Mansion, what's the matter?"
An Ran asked without replying, "But the surname is Su?"
Mr. Zhang didn't care about An Ran's attitude, and nodded again: "The prefect is indeed surnamed Su, from the Su family in Zhongzhou. The two-story passenger ship docked at the dock belongs to the Su family."
An Ran smiled and blessed her body: "The servant has a way to find the boat, wait a moment, the servant will go back when she goes." After speaking, she walked out of the tea shop.
Under the gazes of the Zhang family and the people around him, An Ran came to the middle-aged man in blue robe: "Slave, please give Master Su, Master Su is well."
Su Zhifu looked at An Ran in surprise, and before he had time to say anything, Dong Zhizhou, who was beside him, spoke up first.
"Go, go, which family's servant are you, how dare you intercept Su Zhifu, and you will die?"
An Ran ignored him and blessed Su Zhifu again: "The slave's master is the fourth girl of the Yan family, and the fourth lady of the Yan family is the fourth sister-in-law of the slave master. When the fourth lady married into the Yan family, the slave was still in the Su family. I've seen Master Su in the sending off team."
Hearing the words, Su Zhifu's expression froze, and he looked at An Ran.
The fourth girl of the Yan family. Could it be the one who married the merchant's family after He Li?
He is not a direct descendant of the Su family. As for the Yan family, who is married to Shiyu's cousin, he only knows more about the situation of the Yan family's first and third rooms, and not so clear about the second room of the Yan family.
The prefect of Su glanced at the bamboo curtain in the tea shop and recognized it as a tribute at a glance. He understood that the man in front of him should not be tricking him, and said with a smile, "Is there something wrong with you?"
An Ran replied with a smile: "My girl was going to the provincial capital to celebrate her uncle's birthday, but unfortunately, the boat that Zhang's family had ordered was cut off. In a hurry, when he learned that Master Su was also going to the provincial capital, the servants came over cheeky. Please help."
Su Zhifu smiled: "So that's how it is, my boat is big, go and ask your girl to move, just in time for us to leave."
An Ran once again blessed her body: "Thank you, Lord Su, for your help, and the slave maid thanked the Lord first for my girl."
Su Zhifu nodded, waited for An Ran to turn back to the tea shop, then looked at the servant behind him: "Go and tell Madam, let her pack a good guest room and come out."
Young Master Su beside him was a little puzzled: "Father, is this necessary?"
The prefect of Su smiled and said, "Of course it's useful. That niece is the niece of Yan Buzheng's envoy. After getting on the boat, you go and tell your two sisters and let them get along well with the Zhang family girl."
In the tea shop, the Zhang family got the news that the Su family agreed to take them on the boat, their faces were filled with joy, and their hearts were also shocked by the power of the Yan family.
An Ran is just the maid next to Yan Yile, and Yan Yile can be said to be the worst offspring of the Yan family. In this way, the maid by her side can also talk to a prefect and get help from him.
At this moment, the three brothers and sisters of the Zhang family clearly realized how big the gap between the Zhang family and the Yan family was.
An Ran told Zhang Huahan about the Su family while instructing the maid to pack up.
"The fourth lady of the Yan family is from the direct line of the Su family, and the prefect of Su is a collateral line of the Su family. When the fourth lady married into the Yan family, he also came to marry him. Later, he studied in the capital for a period of time, and he often went in and out of the Yan family. Just remember him."
Zhang Huahan listened carefully, looking a little nervous.
Growing up so big, the biggest official she has ever seen is the county magistrate. Now that she is going to see the prefect, she is inevitably a little apprehensive.
An Ran saw Zhang Huahan's nervousness and said with a smile, "Girls are practical and don't be nervous. The Su family has a good family background, but compared with the Yan family, it is still a bit worse."
"You only need to remember, behind you is a royal family member. Even if you go to the government's envoy's office and meet other girls, your status is definitely second to none. You don't need to look down on anyone."
The principle is such a principle, but he has never experienced this in the end, especially since the Zhang family is still a businessman's family, Zhang Huahan's mood is still not calm.
But thanks to the training some time ago, Zhang Huahan can now be calm on his face, no matter how uneasy he is.
When An Ran said this, he did not avoid the three of the three masters, and of course it was inevitable.
Zhang Huahan can borrow from the Yan family with confidence, but they can't. Except for Mr. Zhang, who often runs outside, he is slightly better. Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang have a bit of a calm expression.
After waiting for the maids to pack up, under the guidance of An Ran, the Zhang family went to see Su Zhifu. After getting to know each other, the group boarded the Su family's passenger boat together.
Outside the tea shop, looking at the Zhang family who left with Su Zhifu, Dong Zhizhou and Boss Lu couldn't help swallowing, and cold sweat broke out on Dong Zhizhou's forehead.
"You hurt me!"
Dong Zhizhou looked at Boss Lu angrily.
Boss Lu's face changed greatly with fright: "Lord Zhizhou, where did you come from?"
Dong Zhizhou shouted angrily, "Why didn't you tell Benzhizhou that the Zhang family and the Yan family are related?" If he knew this, how could he rob the Zhang family's boat?
Boss Lu had a bitter expression on his face: "I don't know about this little one."
No, I can't say I don't know, the Zhang family and Xungui from the capital are in-laws. He has heard of this rumor, but he didn't take it to heart at all.
The Zhang family has a bit of money, but to say that the Zhang family can enter the eyes of the nobles in the capital, he would never believe it.
In addition, the Zhang family has never responded to this directly. Every time it is mentioned, it is vague. No matter who has seen it, it is impossible to think that this will be true.
If he knew that the Zhang family girl was the niece of the chief envoy's direct relative, he would have offended Zhizhou with all his might, and he would not have misappropriated the Zhang family's boat.
That Mr. Zhang is not a thing, he has such a powerful relationship, but you say, if you don't say, Dong Zhizhou is here, he must be close to Dong Zhizhou first, and you can't blame him.
(end of this chapter)