The spring is chilly and the young are killed.

The lively Lantern Festival has passed several days.

An annoying spring rain came as scheduled.

The drizzle kept falling, covering the entire Jinhua in a haze.

The old house of Zhang family has white walls and gray tiles, pavilions and towers in an orderly manner, with winding paths and corridors, showing the mysterious atmosphere of this wealthy family in the Jiangnan water towns everywhere.

Under the wind window, Zhang Muling carried his hands on his back and watched the water droplets falling from the eaves falling into the lotus pond, causing ripples.

In the room, the sound of raindrops falling into the copper basin came from time to time.

Zhang Mu looked back and saw that there were more than ten leaks in the room, and the four walls of the entire room were as mottled as a baby's diapers.

Cracked on the wall can be seen everywhere, and moss is still hanging under the windowsill.

It is hard to imagine that a rich young man like him would live in such a place.

Within two years, Zhang Mu has changed his place of residence several times.

At first, when Zhang Mu had just crawled out of the coffin, he still lived in the main room in the backyard, but later Aunt Zhou burned all the fire.

Afterwards, Zhang Mu moved to the wing room, but Aunt Zhou set fire to another fire.

Nowadays, Zhang Mu can only move to the corner gate of the backyard to the Tinghexuan where the guests live.

In fact, there are many rooms in the Zhang Mansion, and Zhang Mu took the initiative to come here.

First, it is a single courtyard, with few people coming, so you can avoid the eyes and ears of Aunt Zhou, and second, it is to show weakness and let Aunt Zhou relax her vigilance.

More than ten years of experience in his career in his previous life told him that if he wants to put the other party to death, he must first give in a few steps, make him crazy and proud, so that he can accumulate enough strength and kill him with one blow.

The county examination deadline is coming soon, and Zhang Mu is too lazy to cause trouble.

Because, in Zhang Mu's eyes, Aunt Zhou is already a dead person.

At this time, Zhang Mu saw a servant in green hat flashing in from a distance.

Zhang Mu immediately began to look dull, his mouth was crooked and his eyes were slanted, and he pretended to be stupid.

"Young Master, Young Master, the concubine asked you to go to the front hall to meet guests."

The servant in front of him was named Songwen, who was about the same age as Zhang Mu. He was the servant whom Aunt Zhou bought to "serve" Zhang Mu.

"Ah? But I don't want to go, I want to catch crabs."

Zhang Mu said slowly in a tender tone.

"Oh, Master, stop being slow."

Song Wen grabbed Zhang Mu's sleeve and dragged Zhang Mu to walk outside.

After leaving the house, Songwen only cared for himself, and half of Zhang Mu's body was exposed, and he turned a deaf ear to him.

Anyway, this young master is a fool, and everyone in the mansion knows it.

He pulled Zhang Mu away and arrived outside the hall.

When Zhang Mu entered the hall, he saw Aunt Zhou sitting on the mahogany carved seat on the left. A middle-aged man in his early forties sat opposite her.

This person is Zhang Mu's future father-in-law Wang Huitong.

Today, Wang Huitong was wearing a blue-gray satin gown, a fluttering scarf on his head, and a pair of big red cloud-headed clogs on his feet, elegant and calm.

His figure is slightly fat, his round face has a mustache, and his small eyes are narrowed into slits, but the eyes that are revealed are very smart.

Behind him, three or four followers wearing blue hats, all lowered their heads and looked straight, which showed that the Wang family was very strict.

"Oh, why did it get sour?"

Aunt Zhou jumped up when she saw Zhang Mu, walked over with concern, wiped the rain on Zhang Mu's head with a handkerchief, then glared at Song Wen and shouted angrily: "How did you serve your young master?"

"My concubine, I'm sorry, the young master insists on running out of the rain. The servant can't stop him."

Song Wen immediately fell to his knees and said.

"If you have nothing to do, go out and slap your mouth, and see if you dare not be careless next time." Aunt Zhou said angrily.

Immediately, Song Wen retreated outside the door, and immediately remembered the loud slap at the door.

"Mr. Wang laughed. The servant I just bought didn't understand the rules." Aunt Zhou pulled Zhang Mu back to the seat, hugging Zhang Mu lovingly and smiling apologetically.

"Haha, Mu Zhi is still young, and he is inevitably tempted to be playful. It is a normal human nature." Wang Huitong said while looking at Zhang Mu.

Seeing Zhang Mu's expression was dull and standing there silently, his brows frowned.

"Brother Mu, why don't you salute your future father-in-law?" Aunt Zhou smiled enthusiastically.

But Zhang Mu pretended that he couldn't hear it, and still stood there blankly, looking at the ground, suddenly showing a silly smile.

Wang Huitong's face gradually became serious.

"This child has been studying until late at night recently, so I'm afraid he hasn't had a good rest." Aunt Zhou hurriedly laughed.

"Madam, this child's eyes are dull and his expression is different from ordinary people. I think he should hurry up and find a doctor to treat him. I think no matter how he reads it, it will be useless." Wang Huitong said in a deep voice.

"Mr. Wang said it reasonably. Over the years, I have visited famous doctors and I don't know how much medicine I have taken. At such a young age, I have suffered a lot. Alas, it's just not effective. You said that I am a woman and cannot show up in public. If Mr. Wang has a famous doctor, why would you recommend a few to me?" Aunt Zhou smiled.

"I will take it to my heart." Wang Huitong picked up the teacup and took a sip. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Actually, today is here to see this child. Secondly, he wants to discuss a big event with his wife."

"Mr. Wang is out of here, we are all a family. You said, as long as I can help, I will definitely help." Aunt Zhou said hurriedly with a smile on her face.

"Great blessing, go and order people to carry them up." Wang Huitong said lightly.

The four servants behind him came out one after another, and in a moment, they carried eight gift boxes to the center of the hall.

"What is this for?" Aunt Zhou stood up in shock when she saw this.

"Madam, I'm not to hide it. Mr. Wang thought about it for a long time and had no choice but to take this step today. These are the betrothal gifts given by your Zhang family back then, and they are now refunded as much as possible. I think this marriage will be given up." Wang Huitong said with a puzzled look on his face.

"No, Brother Mu'er's marriage was decided when the master was there. I, a woman, cannot be the master. What does Mr. Wang dislike? Did my Zhang family neglect or offend Mr.?" Aunt Zhou asked in a panic.

"Madam is too concerned. It's not the fault of your Zhang family. It's because the little girl is not worthy of your brother Mu." Wang Huitong explained.

"Mr. Wang, you should consider it again. Don't bully our orphans and widows..." As he said that, Aunt Zhou's tears flowed down.

When Wang Huitong saw this, he sighed and said, "Madam, let's tell the truth. The reputation of my daughter's family is a big deal. I tossed and turned for several months when I made this decision. You also know that my family has four sons and one daughter, and I am the youngest daughter, and I treat her like a pearl in my hand. As a parent, you also know that they are looking forward to finding a home for their children. But, how can you feel at ease with Brother Mu like this?"

"What's wrong with me? Is my Zhang family's life experience not worthy of yours? Or is my brother Mu's talent not worthy of yours? Your king was just a down-and-out child back then. If it weren't for my master, would you have today?" Aunt Zhou cried with an angry look on her face.

"Madam, where are you talking about? I remember Mr. Zhang's kindness to me, Mr. Wang. But I can't watch my Yuer Wang push it inside the fire pit." Wang Huitong's face turned red and he immediately retorted.

"What do you mean? Why did my Zhang family become a fire pit? Mu Ge'er is a legitimate family, and this family business will belong to him in the future. After your daughter gets married, she will be the big grandmother in this mansion. Does she have little food or can she wear less? Why is it a fire pit? Let me know clearly." Aunt Zhou has already started to make trouble. After all, it is a major event in her daughter's marriage. If this is spread, the Zhang family will be disgraced.

"Hey, that's not what I said. I, Wang, is not a person who is greedy for fame and fortune. Although your Zhang family has a great family, Wang, cannot afford to support me. Take a step back and say that you and I are both experienced people, and husband and wife should pay attention to one thing in the same way, right? Look at Brother Mu'er now, I know he is a fool. Do you still want to marry your daughter to your Zhang family? Is there such a reason?" Wang Huitong stood up and said.

Zhang Mu had already squatted down and began to look at the dowry. He was opening the gift box with a silly smile, slugging it on the ground one by one, leaving his clear nose to his mouth, and then wiped it randomly with his sleeves.

"People's hearts are so cold and weak, and there is no consensus throughout history." Zhang Mu smiled disdainfully.

Zhang Mu was a little angry about breaking off the engagement, but Zhang Mu was already an adult who had experienced the ups and downs of human relationships and had long been very indifferent to the ups and downs of the world.

The reason why Zhang Mu was angry was not because he broke the engagement, but because all this was manipulated by Aunt Zhou, in order to make him isolated and helpless.

Although Wang Huitong had the fame of a scholar, he was short-sighted and frugal, and for the sake of some money, he ruined his daughter's reputation in vain.

If Zhang Mu was a normal person now, Wang Huitong would probably not break off the engagement. After all, all, all the wealth of Zhang Mu belongs to him, so he can take advantage of him. Is it easy to take a back to the big tree?

Even if he is a fool now, Wang Huitong will not regret his marriage. A fool must inherit his family property, right? Wang Huitong is desperate.

There is only one reasonable explanation for the reason why he broke off the engagement, that is, Aunt Zhou secretly gave Wang Huitong benefits, got enough benefits, and saw the form clearly, so she would naturally do stupid things like remorse.

As for what you think about your daughter, that's all bullshit.

If he really thinks about his children, he will not regret the marriage. In this era, remorse of marriage is a big deal, and it is related to a woman's reputation. The so-called losing her life is small, while losing her integrity is big.

This era emphasizes oneness and ending, otherwise there would not be so many chastity archways outside the gates of wealthy families in Jinhua Mansion.

Zhang Mu disdained this kind of matchmaker's words and the marriage of his parents' orders.

After all, I had never met the two of them before, so I went straight to the bridal chamber.

On the night of the wedding, I made it like a lottery, holding a scale rod. If I were a virtuous person, it would be fine. If it was a yaksha, you could only endure it.

At first, Zhang Mu thought he didn't like the main wife and could marry a young man. Even if the lottery failed, he still had a chance to continue to draw.

However, after living here for two years, I realized that it was also monogamy in ancient times.

The "Ming Dynasty Law" stipulates that only those who have no children in the age of forty shall be given a marriage before the violator will be beaten forty.

The reason why Zhang Mu's father took concubines was because Zhang Mu's mother was infertile for several years after marriage. The ancients said that there were three unfilial things and that there was no descendant, so he took the house to Aunt Zhou, the maid of Zhang Mu's mother.

Thinking of this, Zhang Mu smiled helplessly: "My father, you are really a sin."

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Chapter completed!