Chapter 287
Yang Xu's tactic of buying gifts was a complete, underhanded blow that severed any possibility of winning him over. No amount of gifts would matter, and even if the Zhang family spread rumors that their relationship with the Yang family had been repaired, no one would believe it. If they had truly reconciled, Yang Xu, the nephew, wouldn't have sold off the gifts from his own uncle and aunt.
Most importantly, the money Yang Xu obtained from selling these gifts was used to buy coarse grains and cloth to distribute to the poor and suffering populace. Of course, Yang Xu wasn't greedy for the fame; he made it clear that these provisions were bought with the Zhang family's money.
Inside the carriage, separated by a long queue, Zhang Minxian's face was ashen. "I underestimated Yang Xu. An ordinary child wouldn't come up with such a devious trick."
"Are those people out of their minds? An old man like that bought that bolt of brocade!" The carriage curtain was slightly parted, revealing a middle-aged man with half-gray hair and a potbelly hugging the bolt of brocade he desired most. Zhou Shuyao gritted her teeth in hatred.
The carriage full of gifts sent to Yang Xu, besides five hundred taels of silver, mostly contained fabrics suitable for Yang Xu's age. There were also two bolts of fabric for Old General Yang and Yang Shicheng. The finished clothes and shoes were made to fit a nine-year-old child, as Yang Xu had been practicing martial arts since childhood and was naturally taller than his peers.
Medicinal herbs were also included in abundance. Not only was the Zhang family's storeroom opened, but Zhang Minhua also selected many good items from the Zhou family's storeroom. Of course, there were also some pearls and gems, filling a whole box.
This bolt of brocade was from the Zhou family, a New Year's gift from a wealthy merchant in Jiangnan. Zhou Shuyao had liked it the moment she saw it, intending to make two new dresses with it after the spring. But who knew it would be brought to Xiangwu County by Zhang Minhua.
At the time, Zhou Shuyao was displeased. In her words, "Mother, Yang Xu isn't a young lady. Giving him this brocade is a waste of good material; it'll end up gathering dust in a box."
If Yang Xu were of the age of twenty, he could use this brocade to give to his future wife. But he was an eight-year-old boy. If this brocade were stored away, let alone ten or eight years, the pattern would be outdated by next year. In another two or three years, the fabric's luster would fade, and it might even develop a musty smell, ruining this high-quality brocade.
Although Zhang Minhua was a woman of the inner chambers, she always acted decisively. She directly told the displeased Zhou Shuyao, "This brocade is not being given to Yang Xu for any other reason than your shallow vision."
Her voice suddenly became stern, and Zhang Minhua continued with sharp words, "As the legitimate eldest daughter of the esteemed Zhou family, a bolt of fabric makes you envious. Shuyao, if you encounter other noble ladies in the future and see their clothes, their jewelry, will you also become envious and jealous, thus harboring resentment?"
Scolded, Zhou Shuyao's eyes immediately welled up. The love of beauty is inherent in everyone; she wasn't as shallow as her mother claimed.
But since Zhang Minhua had spoken, Zhou Shuyao dared not disobey her mother and could only accept it. Seeing the brocade she desired but couldn't obtain now held by a decrepit old man, she felt a surge of indignation and unwillingness.
Zhang Minhua glanced out the carriage window, her elegantly made-up face showing solemnity and composure. "That should be the owner of the rice shop. The Yang family is about to rise again. Never mind that Yang Xu presented a carriage full of valuable gifts; even if he brought a carriage full of straw and stones, there would be people willing to buy them at a high price."
At this time, who wouldn't want to curry favor with the Yang family? Wasn't the Zhang family itself bringing heavy gifts to Xiangwu County? Fleeing misfortune and seeking good fortune is human nature. Zhang Minhua was not angered by Yang Xu's actions; she was merely contemplating how to win Yang Xu over.
"Brother, I don't think this method was devised by Yang Xu. It's very likely that young lady Zhan Feiyu." Zhang Minhua looked at the solemn Zhang Minxian. Dealing with Yang Xu alone was easy, but with Zhan Feiyu, the little San Yuan of Nanxuan Prefecture, by his side, it became different.
The Zhang family was a family of officials and scholars. The younger generation in the family began their studies at the age of four, both boys and girls. Only after reaching seven years old would they be separated. This was because boys would later take imperial examinations, while girls needed to learn needlework, household management, and even cooking. Furthermore, boys and girls aged seven were not to sit together, so they naturally had to be taught separately.
However, even so, Zhang Minhua and her illegitimate daughter Zhang Yiyi only had tutors to teach them their studies. Therefore, upon learning that Zhan Feiyu was the little San Yuan of Nanxuan Prefecture, Zhang Minhua had no doubt about her intelligence.
In recent years, the youngest Xiucai in the Zhang family was Zhang Minhua's deceased grandfather. But he achieved the Xiucai title at the age of fourteen, a full five years older than Zhan Feiyu. Not to mention that Zhan Feiyu started her education late and had only been studying for less than three years, while the Zhang family disciples started at four and studied for ten years without being able to pass the Xiucai exam. This was the difference.
"Yang Xu is completely unyielding. Trying to win over Zhan Feiyu to get closer to Yang Xu is even more impossible." Zhang Minxian frowned. Being accepted as a disciple by Scholar Gu, Zhan Feiyu, despite her young age, was not to be underestimated. Buying her off would definitely be more difficult.
Seeing Zhang Minxian's frustration and annoyance, Zhang Minhua poured him a cup of hot tea and said again, "Scholar Gu sent Zhan Feiyu to Xiangwu County merely to form an alliance with the Yang family. One civil and one military, they will be invincible in the imperial court in the future."
The warm tea went down, bringing a touch of warmth. Zhang Minxian gestured for Zhang Minhua to continue.
"Brother, everyone in the world is striving for profit. Compared to the Imperial Academy in the capital and the Gu clan of Nanling, our Zhang family is indeed nothing. However, we have some influence in Longyou Circuit. Even if the Yang family holds military power, they cannot interfere with local governance. This is the advantage of our Zhang and Zhou families. As long as that young lady is smart, she will be willing to cooperate with us."
Zhang Minhua had thought it through before leaving home. Since kinship and affection wouldn't work, the only way was to achieve a mutually beneficial cooperation.
Of course, the Yang family of the General's Mansion would certainly not agree. Old General Yang was known for his incorruptibility and integrity. But Zhan Feiyu was different. Scholar Gu, who held great power, likely thought so too.
Zhou Shuyao looked at her mother and maternal uncle in disbelief. Were they crazy? They wanted to ally with a mere girl?
"Mother, what nonsense are you spouting? How could that young lady represent Scholar Gu?" Zhou Shuyao couldn't hold back. Her disagreement was tinged with a hint of jealousy and unwillingness.
Her own status was extremely noble, yet in the eyes of her grandfather, maternal grandfather, father, and uncle, she was just a pampered young girl. In the future, she would find a suitable husband, and through marriage, the Zhou family's influence would expand further.
Whether it was the Zhou family or the Zhang family, Zhou Shuyao clearly understood that her elders valued the well-read cousins and younger brothers the most. In fact, it was the same for other families in Linzhou Prefecture. Women were meant to be married off. If they encountered families with little discipline, they would even treat their daughters as commodities to be married off for the family's benefit. Some would even marry them to men in their thirties or forties as second wives.
But seeing Zhang Minhua and Zhang Minxian value Zhan Feiyu so highly at this moment, Zhou Shuyao's inner jealousy couldn't be suppressed, burning fiercely along with her anger.
"Shuyao!" Zhang Minhua's expression darkened. She looked displeasedly at her daughter, whose face appeared ugly due to jealousy, and said sternly, "Since you know Zhan Feiyu is Scholar Gu's disciple, you should know that her status is comparable to that of princes and royal descendants. If you dare to speak carelessly again, when we return to Linzhou Prefecture this time, I will definitely find two more governesses to properly teach you your manners!"
Shuyao should know the principle that words can cause disaster. Because of her jealousy, she dared to speak recklessly. Zhang Minhua had now made up her mind. Shuyao's marriage prospects would likely be delayed by another two years. Not only would she need governesses to discipline her, but she herself would also keep her by her side to correct her words and actions promptly.