Chapter 636
Chapter 636
Xu Shu went outside, stretched lazily under the eaves, and took a deep breath: "It smells better outside. If I stay any longer, I'll start to smell like an old person... It's much happier to be with young boys and girls."
Xu Chuanyin angrily rebuked, "Nonsense! Where has your filial piety gone? How dare you make such a fuss about your own father!"
Xu Shu glanced at him: "You've learned filial piety well, but you'd rather throw your own father away and rush to Grand Secretary Xu's feet to claim him as your father. Why don't you just give your son to me instead of adopting him yourself?"
Xu Chuanyin's expression shifted.
After stretching, Xu Shu looked around at everyone and said, "But it's no use for me to be adopted now. The Grand Secretary has already expelled me from the Xu family. As for who will inherit the Xu family business, it's up to him to decide."
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances.
Xu Chuanxi asked with skepticism, "Are you really willing to give up the Xu family business?"
Xu Shu smiled, walked to a corner of the Dumeizhai courtyard, and placed his hand on a persimmon tree.
In an instant, the withered persimmon tree, which had lost all its green leaves, sprouted new buds, and the tender green buds quickly grew into oval green leaves.
Xu Shu took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.
After a breath, small yellow four-petaled flowers bloomed on the persimmon tree.
After another breath, the flowers withered and fell, turning into bright red persimmons, the branches bending under the weight of the abundant fruit.
The branches bent down, as if offering the persimmons to Xu Shu.
Xu Shu picked one and tossed it to Zhang Xia, then tossed the second to Chen Ji, smiling as he said, "A mere trifle. May you two, newlyweds, have everything you desire."
Chen Ji broke open a persimmon and took a bite. It was soft, sweet, and fragrant. The persimmon tree in winter had actually blossomed and borne fruit.
Xu Shu picked one for himself, and just as the Xu family members were curious and went to pick some too, all the persimmons on the tree withered and fell, returning to their original state, with not a single one left.
While eating persimmons, Xu Shu mumbled, "If you had witnessed the cycle of life and death a thousand times, you would understand that fame, fortune, and glory are nothing but fleeting clouds. For you, this glory and wealth is a blessing from heaven, but for me, it is a burden of karma. If you want it, take it... However, I need to find a place to eat and sleep."
His gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Zhang Zhuo, and he smiled exceptionally brightly: "Brother-in-law!"
Madam Zhang said expressionlessly, "Now we are the karmic burden of the Zhang family."
Xu Shu said with a shameless smile, "Sister, I don't eat for free, I can work."
Madam Zhang glanced at him and said, "You don't need to do any work, but if you dare to drag Zhang Zheng and Chen Ji to brothels, don't even think about stepping into the Zhang family's door."
Xu Shu immediately held up three fingers: "I'll go by myself, I absolutely won't take them with me. My brother-in-law asked me to go last year, but I politely declined."
Zhang Zhuo flew into a rage: "Nonsense!"
Just then, Xu Biaofu lifted the curtain again: "Zhang Zheng, the Grand Secretary wants to see you."
Xu Chuanxi frowned and said, "Does the old man really intend to adopt Zhang Zheng? There are so many people in my Xu family, how can we accept someone from another family? We cannot let Zhang Zheng in!"
Xu Biao gave him a cold look: "I will only relay your master's words. Once you become the head of the Xu family, then you can give me your orders."
Xu Chuanxi's expression darkened.
Grand Secretary Xu woke up today to discuss the adoption. Instead of calling his son Xu Xiuzhe or Xu Chuanyin's son Xu Xiubing, he called him Zhang Zheng... The other party's meaning was all too clear.
However, at that moment, Zhang Zheng's voice suddenly came from behind the crowd: "I do not wish to be adopted into the Xu family."
Everyone turned around and saw Zhang Zheng standing at the back of the crowd with his head down.
He wore a worn-out dark blue cotton robe, the leather belt around his waist loosely tied. He had come in a hurry today and hadn't even had time to change his clothes. He just stood there, not like a coveted prize, but more like an idle person who had been dragged along to make up the numbers.
Xu Biao stood in front of the door, surprised, and asked, "What did you say?"
“I said,” Zhang Zheng raised his head, “I don’t want to be adopted into the Xu family. Everyone’s arguing about it, but why doesn’t anyone ask me if I want to be adopted into the Xu family? Whoever wants to be adopted can be adopted, but I don’t want to.”
There was a moment of silence in front of Dumeizhai, then the murmurs erupted like beans popping in a pot.
"Is he crazy?"
"This is something many people would kill for, and he actually served it up?"
Xu Biao stepped forward and said earnestly, "Zhang Zheng, have you thought this through? Once you are adopted into the Xu family, you will be the master's grandson. In the future, the Xu family's business, connections, and foundation will all be yours."
Zhang Zheng looked at him and said calmly, "I have a father, a mother, a younger sister, and a brother-in-law. Being able to eat at the same table every day is enough for me."
Once adopted into the Xu family, they could no longer spend holidays together, nor could they call their mother "mother," their sister would no longer be their sister, and their father would no longer be their father. Home would cease to be home.
Xu Biao turned to Zhang Zhuo: "Lord Zhang, please persuade him."
Zhang Zhuo gripped his leather belt with both hands, head bowed, and remained silent.
Xu Biao sighed, "I know Lord Zhang has lofty ambitions, but without the Xu family's support, what you are about to do will be extremely difficult. Leaving aside the eight major merchants, just the gentry in the south alone will take you ten years to complete the land survey, not to mention the taxes..."
Xu Biao glanced at Xu Chuanyin and Xu Chuanxi, then looked at Zhang Zhuo: "If the Xu family falls into ruin, they will certainly not help you."
Xu Chuanxi frowned and said, "What do you mean? The Xu family business belongs to the Xu family. How can we go to such lengths to hand it over to outsiders? Is this the old man's idea or yours? I want to go in and see the old man!"
Xu Biao ignored him and continued to stare intently at Zhang Zhuo.
Xu Chuanxi then looked at Zhang Zhuo and said angrily, "Zhang Zhuo, how dare you steal from my Xu family?"
But Zhang Zhuo raised his head and smiled: "Although I like to take shortcuts, my son has said he doesn't want to, and I can't bring myself to sell him. I appreciate your kindness, but to avoid being gossiped about, I will not come to the Xu residence again."
Xu Biao was surprised: "Your foundation in the court is already weak, without my Xu family..."
Zhang Zhuo walked to Zhang Zheng's side, patted Zhang Zheng's shoulder with a smile, and turned to look at Xu Biao: "When the second branch of the Chen family sent assassins to hunt down Chen Ji, Chen Wende came to my Ministry of Personnel as an intermediary. At that time, I told him that the only way to achieve success in this world is to have lofty ambitions and unite with people of ambition. All the others are underhanded schemes and petty tricks."
He then looked at Madam Zhang: "Madam, the 'Ascending the Dragon Gate' plaque can be sealed now. Return it to the Xu family."
Madam Zhang softly agreed, "Okay."
Chen Ji had been observing the Xu family's internal strife all day, originally thinking that the Xu family was about to stage another struggle for the throne, but he never expected that Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Zheng would hand over everything they had gained.
Madam Zhang stepped forward and took Zhang Zhuo's arm: "Let's go, it's time to go back for lunch. We made pork ribs today."
Xu Shu stepped forward, hooked his arm around Zhang Zheng's neck, and said with a smile, "Good lad, your uncle was right about you. I've known you'd amount to something since you were a kid!"
Zhang Zheng said irritably, "You're not much older than me."
Xu Shu lowered his voice and said, "I'll take you to Baishun Hutong tonight. There's a very beautiful courtesan there. Let's sneak off... By the way, do you have any money on you?"
Zhang Zheng whispered, "There are still some."
The two walked arm in arm out of the Xu residence. Xu Shu turned back to Chen Ji and Zhang Xia and said, "Let's go home."
Zhang Xia rolled her eyes: "You really don't consider yourself an outsider."
Xu Shu laughed heartily: "Look at what you're saying, my dear niece. I'd even change my name to Zhang Shu if you wanted. It's just a name. A family isn't just a bunch of people with the same surname gathered together. It's family members who make a family. Your uncle has wanted to live in your Zhang family for a long time, but your mother has always disagreed."
The group of people walked out of the Xu residence amidst laughter and chatter. As they left, Xu Shu glanced back at the illustrious Xu family mansion before turning away and descending the stone steps without looking back.
We arrived at the gate of the Zhang residence.
But there was a couplet written in front of the door: the first line read, "To be an official without learning is to learn how to be an official," and the second line read, "To have no skill in self-preservation is to have skill in governing the country."
After entering the main gate and passing the screen wall, there were not many flagpoles with official titles in front of Zhang Jiayi's gate, but only a couplet. The first line read, "Plant peach and plum trees in the courtyard," and the second line read, "Two things to do: read books and farm."
Xu Shu clicked his tongue in admiration and said, "This place looks much better."
However, Madam Zhang suddenly stopped in front of the ceremonial gate, let go of Zhang Zhuo's arm, and turned to look at Chen Ji and Zhang Xia.
Chen Ji was somewhat taken aback: "Mother, what's wrong?"
After a long silence, Mrs. Zhang said, "You and Xia should move out."
Chen Ji asked in surprise, "Why?"
Madam Zhang turned to look at the direction of the Dragon Gate in the distance, her expression indifferent, and said, "My Zhang family has suffered through that gate for over twenty years, and your father-in-law has also endured the infamy for over twenty years. Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. I should not make things difficult for you with this matter. Tomorrow, I will have your father-in-law go to the court to buy a house in Shaojiu Hutong, and you can move there and live your own lives."
Before Chen Ji could speak, Madam Zhang continued indifferently, "No need to thank me. I still look down on you, but I don't want Xia to be caught in the middle."
Zhang Zhuo smiled and said to Chen Ji, "I will go and work on this matter tomorrow. If we can't buy that house back, I will arrange for you to get a bigger one..."
Chen Ji suddenly interrupted, "I want to live at the Zhang family's house."
Zhang Zhuo's words abruptly ended. (End of Chapter)