allonlinenovel Chapter 479 Zhang Dashan
Chapter 479 Zhang Dashan
The moment the words "the people bully the officials" were uttered, both the madam and Zhang Dashan's expressions changed.
The madam hurriedly apologized to Madam Shen, "Please forgive me, Madam, I had no such intention!"
Madam Shen glanced down at the madam and said in a deep voice, "I will find out the truth about this matter first and give Hongxiufang an explanation."
Having heard this, the madam dared not say anything more, and pulled Lin Yueniang around to get into the carriage.
Although it was already night, there were still many people passing by outside.
Seeing the commotion in front of the Second Assistant Minister's gate, everyone couldn't help but turn around to look. Madam Shen frowned and said to Zhang Dashan, "Whatever it is, let's talk inside the mansion."
Zhang Dashan was filled with anxiety, worried that Madam Shen wouldn't even let him enter the mansion.
Upon hearing this, he was overjoyed and, ignoring Yu Wan, patted his clothes and strode into the mansion.
"Yu Niang," Madam Shen said deliberately with a stern face, "what exactly happened today? And where did you go dressed like that?"
Yu Wan felt a little guilty.
Visiting brothels is not a pleasant topic to talk about.
She stepped forward and took Shen's arm. "Mother-in-law, I just thought the weather was nice today, so I went out for a stroll with Xizhu."
That doesn't sound believable at all.
But Shen believed her and didn't ask any further questions. She frowned and said in a low voice, "What's the deal with Zhang Dashan?"
To talk about Zhang Dashan's matter, Yu Wan had to confess to Shen Shi about going to Hongxiufang.
Xizhu looked at her master with a worried expression.
What mother-in-law would tolerate her daughter-in-law going to brothels? Now, Madam Shen will definitely have a problem with her mistress.
Unexpectedly, after Yu Wan honestly confessed to Madam Shen about going to Hongxiufang, Madam Shen showed no anger at all, and seemed to only notice Zhang Dashan.
"That Zhang Dashan, it's lucky you ran into him, Yu Niang, otherwise who knows how many despicable things he would have done under the guise of Yun Shang!"
Madam Shen's eyes were filled with lingering fear as she tightly grasped Yu Wan's hand: "Yu Niang, it was a good thing you went to Hongxiufang. Otherwise, if this matter had blown up later, it would have definitely affected Yun Shang."
Yunxi and Xizhu, who were following behind, exchanged a glance.
They both saw helplessness in each other's eyes.
Just spoil her!
The three of them talked as they walked into the mansion.
Before even stepping into the main hall, Zhang Dashan's arrogant voice could be heard.
"I want to drink the most precious tea in your mansion, as well as some tea snacks and dried fruit, give me some of everything."
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen's face instantly darkened.
His once gentle face now held a hint of anger.
Yunxi was also angry and said in a low voice, "Mother, how come our family has such relatives?"
Shen explained with a cold face, "They can't be considered relatives, just neighbors. Back then, your maternal grandparents were close to Zhang Dashan's parents, so I called Zhang Dashan 'Brother Dashan'."
“He wasn’t like this when he was young… I never expected him to turn out like this after all these years.”
Seeing the sighs and lamentations on Shen's face, Yunxi said nothing more.
Yu Wan and Xi Zhu went to change their clothes first, while Yun Xi helped Madam Shen into the main hall.
As soon as the two entered the main hall, they saw Zhang Dashan sitting casually in the main seat with his feet propped up on the table, acting as if he were no outsider at all.
Yunxi didn't like this 'relative' who appeared out of nowhere in the first place, and upon seeing this, she immediately frowned and tightened her little face.
Seeing his lack of manners, Madam Shen became angry.
She restrained herself, managing to suppress her emotions and maintain her composure. "Brother Dashan, why are you in Shengjing?"
Yinxing Village is located in Huizhou. It is an extremely remote village. Unless a family has a member who is educated or there are other unforeseen circumstances, ordinary villagers will never leave that place in their entire lives.
Therefore, Shen was very puzzled as to why Zhang Dashan was in Shengjing all of a sudden.
Zhang Dashan's eyes flickered when she asked about it.
He was only one year younger than Shen. The Shen family moved away from Ginkgo Village when Shen was ten years old, while he abandoned his parents and relatives and ran away with a group of merchants when he was twelve years old because he could not bear the hard life at home.
Over the years, he traveled around with merchants, making and losing money, experiencing many things, and after all these years, he finally became a small leader in the caravan.
Not long ago, due to the new emperor's ascension to the throne and the general amnesty, commercial taxes were reduced significantly, making business easier. He and the people in his caravan then decided to come to Shengjing to make a fortune.
He was supposed to leave after buying the goods, but by sheer coincidence, he accidentally saw Shen Shi and Yun Shang.
He didn't recognize Yun Shang, but he recognized the Shen family.
Shen looks almost exactly like her mother now.
Zhang Dashan made further inquiries and became even more certain that the Shen woman was the same Shen woman he knew.
Upon learning that Shen's son had become the second-in-command, Zhang Dashan began to plot his ascension to the position.
Originally, he wanted to go directly to the gambling den to ask for some benefits, but he accidentally lost all his money at the gambling den. He couldn't help but go to the Red Sleeve Brothel for entertainment, but when it came time to pay, he had no money left.
Just as the madam was about to have him stripped naked and thrown out, Zhang Dashan blurted out in desperation that he was the maternal uncle of the Vice Minister.
He had only said it unintentionally, but the madam suddenly became extremely respectful to him after hearing it.
They politely asked him to write an IOU and even had someone see him out.
Having tasted the benefits, Zhang Dashan went to Hongxiufang several times afterward to buy on credit.
Perhaps because it happened so often, the madam became somewhat dissatisfied.
Zhang Dashan then hired someone to put on a show so that the madam could see him get into the 'Second Minister's' carriage.
For the past few months, under the guise of being the second-in-command, he hasn't spent a single penny on food, clothing, or other necessities.
The shopkeepers who had been given credit by him were also afraid of the authority of the Vice Minister's Office and dared not come to collect their debts, so the matter never reached the ears of the Yun family.
Seeing the flicker in Zhang Dashan's eyes, Shen had a bad feeling, but she still patiently waited for his answer.
Zhang Dashan coughed twice, stood up from the main seat, and put on a fawning smile. "Sister, you know that Ginkgo Village is a poor and remote place with no way out. That's why I've been doing business here all these years. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne and reduced commercial taxes, business is easier, so I came to Shengjing with my caravan to make more money."
Shen had not expected Zhang Dashan to have such insight.
She nodded slightly, "Doing some business is better than staying in Ginkgo Village for the rest of my life."
"How are Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang?"
Her parents died young due to an accident. As far as I remember, Zhang's parents were in very good health, so they should still be alive.
Zhang Dashan had no idea whether his parents were dead or not; he had never gone back since he ran away.
Thinking these things, he showed a sorrowful expression and sighed, "Those two elders are long gone."
Shen failed to see through his thoughts, thinking she had asked something she shouldn't have, and quickly changed the subject, "Brother Dashan, why do you owe Hongxiufang such a large sum of money?"
On the way to the mansion, Zhang Dashan pondered how to bring up the matter.
Now that Madam Shen lives in such a large mansion, three thousand taels of silver is definitely just a few copper coins to her. He has to make her willingly pay this amount of money for him.