Chapter 47 Meng Chao Arrives

  Yang Yun stepped out with his legs and walked towards home, leaving the bamboo forest. Not far away, he saw a cloud of smoke rising from the dirt road at the head of the village, accompanied by the sound of horseshoes.

  "Who rides a horse into our small village like this?"

  Yang Yun thought for a moment, and the knight turned around a bend, revealing his figure.

  "Meng Chao?!" Yang Yun exclaimed in a loud voice.

  Meng Chao didn't expect to run into Yang Yun at the village entrance. He had been galloping his horse since morning, and now both he and his horse were drenched in sweat, with dust kicked up along the way sticking to their bodies, making them look somewhat disheveled.

  "Old Meng, come to my place first and take a rest, have a drink of water before we talk about things."

  "Good." Meng Chao nodded, dismounted and walked side by side with Yang Yun, leading the horse.

  Several passing villagers called out: "Yang Xiucan, you have guests!"

  Yang Yun smiled and said: "He is a classmate of mine from county school, he came over specifically to see me."

  "Oh."

  The villagers whispered among themselves, Yang Yun's classmate rode a tall horse, and it seemed that he was not an ordinary person either.

  As soon as he entered the house, Yang Yun shouted in a loud voice: "Mother - my classmate is here to see me. Xiaolin - come and pour some water!"

  Took over Meng Chao's reins and tied them under the loquat tree in the yard.

  Yang Lin handed over a ladle of water, Meng Chao was really thirsty, thanked and took it, tilted his head and drank it all, a thin stream of water leaked from the corner of his mouth and spilled onto his chest.

  Yang Yue and Chen Hu were old acquaintances. Seeing Meng Chao coming over, they jumped down from the millstone where they were practicing their skills. The two of them almost simultaneously exerted force, and the water jar lid only slightly shook before steadily settling onto the millstone.

  Meng Xiuzai arrived just in time, "Tiger - you go get some more wine," said Yang Yue.

  "Alright!" Chen Hu replied, and with a flick of his foot, he darted off like flying.

  Yang Lin took back the water scoop and brought out a wooden basin to give the horse a drink. She also arranged a heap of green grass under the horse's mouth.

  Meng Chao's panting subsided, and he politely paid his respects to Yang Yun's mother first.

  Seeing a young scholar bowing to himself according to seniority etiquette, Yang's mother was at a loss.

  "Master Yang, don't be polite, consider this place as your own home." Mrs. Yang said with a smile.

  At this time, Yang Yun pulled Meng Chao aside and asked, "What's going on?"

  Meng Chao's expression turned serious, and he said in a low voice: "It's about Miss Zhang, the White family has come to formally propose."

  "When was it?"

  "It was just yesterday that the matchmaker estimated that he would bring Miss Zhang's eight characters back to the capital today."

  Yang Yun knew that the marriage of a wealthy family followed the six rites in order: proposal, asking for the name, betrothal gift, sending gifts, requesting the date, and welcoming the bride. Proposing to the family was just the first step, which is called "proposal".

  Miss Zhang is a rare beauty, but unfortunately her father is somewhat unbearable. Chapter Eight Claws has finally got this opportunity to climb high, and he will definitely not let it go.

  The matchmaker took Miss Zhang's eight characters back for a match, which was usually just a formality. If there were no issues, the Bai family would formally propose the engagement letter.

  Although it is said that as long as Miss Zhang has not been carried away by the White family in a sedan chair, there is still room for maneuver, Yang Yun also knows that it is best to mess things up before Najie. Once the White family issues a betrothal gift, Miss Zhang's status will be fixed as the daughter-in-law of the White family, which makes Meng Chao unbearable.

  Meng Chao started talking about some details, and it turned out that the Bai family came to propose so quickly also had something to do with several of them.

  After last time in the prefectural city, dressed as a good fellow from Beiliang, severely taught Bai Mazi and his gang a lesson, the people of Fengming Prefecture were greatly delighted. In the idle talks on the streets and alleys, many of Bai Mazi's past shady affairs were dug up, and his already poor reputation became even more notorious.

  The White House can't find the murderer of "Bei Liang", and it has become a laughing stock for everyone, even affecting the family's reputation.

  Bai Fugui's father, Bai Mingyuan, in a fit of anger, decided to settle his second son's marriage once and for all. He urged the matchmaker to hurry up and propose, with the intention of bringing the virtuous Miss Zhang into their household as soon as possible, in order to discipline his unruly son.

  Meng Chao received a letter from his sister Meng He, was anxious and couldn't sleep all night, and early in the morning he rode on a fine horse he had just bought to come over, wanting to discuss with Yang Yun.

  The group of people from the prefecture happened to see the ugly faces of Bai Mazi and others, Meng Chao couldn't bear to sit back and watch Miss Zhang marry such a person, let alone the news from Meng He, the Zhang family actually wanted to send Meng He along with her as a dowry.

  Thinking of his sister crying with tears streaming down her face, Meng Chao got so angry that his temples throbbed, and he secretly regretted not slapping Bai Mazi to death with one palm last time.

  Meng Chao finished speaking, and Yang Yue, who had overheard the conversation, slapped his palm heavily. "That wicked young master from last time? Which family would be willing to marry their good daughter off to that kind of person! Meng Xiucan, why don't you just take Miss Zhang away directly and hide on Lianpingyuan's Xia Island? I reckon even if the Bai family has great power, they won't be able to find you."

  Yang Yun shook his head secretly, thinking that Zhang Xiuzhu was the kind of person who was too timid and obedient to agree to elope with Meng Chao. He estimated that even if the two had a crush on each other, they wouldn't have exchanged sweet nothings in private.

  Could it be that Meng Chao would jump out in this situation and say he wants to elope with Miss Zhang?

  As expected, Meng Chao sighed and said: "I and Miss Zhang are innocent, let alone eloping. Now the key is Miss Zhang herself. According to my sister, although she's a white-haired girl, Miss Zhang still intends to obey her parents' orders and marry whoever they choose."

  Meng Chao had one thing he didn't say, that was Miss Zhang entrusted Meng He to send a poem draft of hers to Meng Chao, but left a message asking him to burn the draft.

  It seems that Miss Zhang is not intentionally treating Meng Chao coldly, but handing over the poem manuscript she personally copied is already the most excessive thing she can do.

  Meng Chao pulled Yang Yun's hand and said anxiously: "Yun Xian-di, I know you have many ideas, is there any other way now?"

  Yang Yun's eyes rolled around and calculated in her mind.

  Dang Xia smiled and said: "It's a small matter, just let Miss Zhang suffer a bit."

  "Really?" "What's going on?" Meng Chao and Yang Yue asked together.

  "Heh heh, I still need to test this method out, let's eat first and talk about it later after I've finished testing in the afternoon." Yang Yun was being mysterious.

  Chen Hu came back with wine, and the whole family had dinner together in the courtyard with Meng Chao.

  This meal was eaten by Meng Chao with a bad taste, and several times he almost ate the dishes into his nose. Yang Yun didn't reveal any news at all, which made Meng Chao feel anxious and worried.

  ×××

  Two days later, Zhang Fu of Jinghai County.

  Zhang Yuan was already over forty years old, his body gradually becoming plump, but the sparkle in his eyes still showed the handsome young man he once was.

  A bastard son, Zhang Yuanwai, was arranged to learn the family business from a young age, and thus had no chance of pursuing an official career. However, he did have some natural talent, and with his ruthless and cunning nature, he managed to build up a business empire in Jinghai County.

  The eldest brother at home repeatedly failed to pass the imperial examination and remained a xiucai until old age, but unexpectedly, after he separated from the family and lived elsewhere, he was appointed as a 9th rank official, often being addressed as "old master" by others when going out. The family's situation became increasingly prosperous day by day, far surpassing that of his original family, which allowed Zhang to vent some of the resentment he had harbored since his early years.

  Unfortunately, there were no children below the knee, the young wife married a bunch, only the main room gave birth to one daughter.

  The huge family business has no one to inherit, and Zhang Yuanwai's heart is depressed, but there is also no way.

  When Fengming Fu's White family showed signs of wanting to form an alliance through marriage, Zhang Yuanwai was overjoyed.

  The Bai family is a prominent aristocratic family that has been around for hundreds of years, with roots tracing back to the previous dynasty. In comparison, the Zhang family is not even on the same level as them, so this marriage can be considered a good match.

  As for the notorious reputation of the Second Young Master of the Bai family, it was automatically ignored by him.

  It's also reasonable to assume that if there weren't some problems, why would the Bai family think of forming an alliance with our family?

  The daughter's marriage was good or bad, Zhang Yuanwai didn't care much about it. After all, she was just a daughter, and marrying anyone would be a bargain for outsiders.

  Zhang Yuanwai was pondering in his study how to use this opportunity to cooperate with the White House and expand his business throughout Southern Wu.

  Suddenly a maid rushed in flustered, "Master, Master - something's wrong."

  "What's all the fuss about?" Zhang Yuanwai said with displeasure.

  "It's Miss who suddenly fell ill."

  "Has he fallen ill suddenly? Can't even let the steward go and invite a doctor?"

  Zhang Yuan said as he stood up and was about to go take a look at his daughter's situation.

  The maid said hesitantly: "Miss has a lot of red rashes on her arm and face, someone says... someone says..."

  "What did you say?"

  The maid gritted her teeth and said, "Some people say it's leprosy."

  "Leper!" Zhang Yuan's eyes widened in shock and he quickly withdrew his foot.

  "Is it really leprosy?"

  "I don't know, it's what Liu Fu Jia said, I haven't seen it before."

  Zhang Yuan calmed down and repeatedly urged: "Quickly go find a doctor!" But his feet didn't move an inch.