Chapter 936: The Hand That Turns Clouds and Summons Rain

Engaged?

"What did you say? Sister Xiu is engaged?" Zhan Er was stunned by the news, reached into the cell, grabbed Young Master Zhan San and angrily asked, "Xiao San, you’re lying to me, right? Sister Xiu isn’t engaged, she’s still waiting for me to marry her!"

Young Master Zhan San laughed, "Second Brother, how could I, as a younger brother, lie to you? Gu Jinxiu is truly engaged, and her fiancé is Luo Wu, that dirty and crude farmer boy, now working at the government office as a lowlife squad leader."

"Impossible, impossible, you’re definitely lying to me! The matter with Luo Wu is just wishful thinking of Sister Xiu’s parents, merely talk, right? Sister Xiu hasn’t really gotten engaged, right? She saw the letter I gave her, knowing I’ve changed, she’ll surely be moved to forgive me." Zhan Er cried, extremely heartbroken, he truly liked Gu Jinxiu: "All this time I’ve been home, I haven’t let the concubine maids attend to me, why would she still get engaged to someone else?"

Young Master Zhan San almost vomited, mentally scolded: Is it that you don’t want to sleep with the maids? It’s just that your body isn’t well, you’re recovering, unable to be close to them.

However, seeing Zhan Er crying miserably made him feel quite pleased... Even this pampered fool by the Quan Family People has his day!

Zhan San felt delighted, his voice softened as he consoled Zhan Er, "Second Brother, stop crying. What’s so good about Gu Jinxiu? She would rather choose a crude farmer boy than you, it’s best you forget about her."

This seemed like comfort, but was actually toxic, each word stabbed at Zhan Er’s heart, and he cried even more intensely, almost fainting.

Wailing, Sister Xiu doesn’t like him, she’d rather marry a farmer than him.

But why?

He likes her so much, his family has money and power, how could she not like him?

Old Master Zhan San practically raised Zhan Er, genuinely pained for his nephew, seeing him cry so terribly, he quickly comforted him, "Xiao’er, don’t cry, there are plenty of beauties in the world. Without Gu Jinxiu, you’ll meet other beautiful women like fairies in the future."

Zhan Er shook his head, "Nephew doesn’t want that, nephew just wants Sister Xiu... I will treat her well, if she disagrees, I won’t accept a concubine."

If he really can’t resist, he’d keep the person outside, definitely not bringing them into the house to bother her.

Young Master Zhan San, seeing Old Master Zhan San pity Zhan Er so much, felt quite jealous, sneered at Zhan Er, "Second Brother, don’t cry. If you truly like her, I can help you."

Zhan Er was delighted upon hearing this, he grabbed Zhan San’s hand and asked excitedly, "Xiao San, what brilliant plan do you have? Quickly, tell me, if you can help Brother achieve his wish, Brother would give you his life!"

Zhan San scoffed, how did such a fool receive the love of Uncle Zhan San and Grandmother? The whole family is blind, treating this idiot as a treasure, fools like him should be thrown into the Huai River to feed the fish.

After mentally cursing Zhan Er, Zhan San smiled, "Second Brother, you’re just spoiling her too much. She’s just a farmer girl, and you’re a noble son, why be so submissive to her? If you want, just abduct her, and cook the rice into porridge."

Ah?

Zhan Er was startled, though he had many women, he had never forced anyone. Hearing this, he immediately shook his head, "No, no, I’m a noble son, learned the teachings of sages, uphold the ancient rites of the Saint, how could I commit such beastly acts?"

Zhan San was disdainful: "Since Second Brother is unwilling, then you can only watch Gu Jinxiu marry a farmer, to be spoiled by a crude man."

Zhan Er heard this, cried again, just thinking about Sister Xiu sleeping with a farmer made him unbearable, "Waa, Uncle, what should nephew do?"

Old Master Zhan San comforted him, "Xiao’er, don’t cry, there’s still a way, that noble will surely help you."

But Zhan Er was pampered and grew up, whatever he wanted he could immediately get, now repeatedly failing with Gu Jinxiu, he was terribly sad. After returning to the yard that night, he vomited blood and fainted, alarming the entire Zhan Family.

Learning that Zhan Er fainted from vomiting blood over a woman, Zhan San couldn’t be happier, ha, he deserved it!

Zhan Er was not doing well, and he was worse off than Zhan Er.

Old Master Zhan Er worked hard for the Zhan Family, beating them every day without leniency, Zhan San and his nephew nearly beaten to death.

Zhan Family Elders, upon learning of their return, caused a commotion in the mansion for several days, even if Old Master Zhan Er almost beat Zhan San and his nephew to death, he couldn’t make them leave.

Until Elder Zhan returned home, summoned three elders into the study, spoke with them for an hour, and after they left the study, they took the other clan elders away, and surprisingly, never caused trouble again.

Old Master Zhan Er was curious, asked, "Brother, what did you say to them?"

Elder Zhan shook his head, "I can’t tell you yet."

He added, "Rest assured, Xiao San won’t die."

Not only won’t he die, but that noble thinks he’s of promise.

Old Master Zhan Er, hearing this, grew even more curious, "Brother, what do you mean? Is this matter really over? Could it be that someone from the Top Ten Families stepped in to save us?"

Elder Zhan repeated, "Old Second, don’t ask, this matter can’t be known by too many yet. Rest assured, our family is fine, and Brother won’t neglect you."

Old Master Zhan Er was somewhat dissatisfied, but dared not show it. Brother is the legitimate eldest son, in the future, everything from the Zhan Family would belong to the first branch, while his branch would merely be a side branch, relying on the legitimate branch, not daring to turn against Brother, so he suppressed his curiosity and ceased asking.

And indeed, the matter, as Brother said, initially very troublesome, suddenly resolved.

Various noble families did not send anyone to question them, nor conspire against the Zhan Family, all passed as if the incident never happened.

Old Master Zhan San was released, ecstatic, composed several cheesy poems to celebrate his rebirth.

Old Master Zhan Er, however, was disquieted... For such a large commotion to suddenly vanish, instinct told him a manipulative hand worked behind the scenes.

Whose hand was this?

Old Master Zhan Er couldn’t understand, asked Elder Zhan, but he wouldn’t tell, helplessly, he inquired of Zhan San.

Young Master Zhan San was triumphant, postured as he faced his father asking softly, laughed, "Father, don’t ask further, that noble said it best if fewer knew of his matters. But rest assured, with me, our branch won’t lose to the first branch."

"What does my son mean?" Old Master Zhan Er was taken aback, "You mean to contend with the first branch?"

Zhan San smiled, "Father, just wait and see."

With that, he ignored the astonished Old Master Zhan Er and gracefully departed.

And from then on, Old Master Zhan Er began favoring Zhan San, any good things from the second branch were given to him, even petitioned Elder Zhan, wanting to grant Zhan San a small title, to elevate his status when traveling outside.

Elder Zhan did not refuse, surprisingly agreed, making Old Master Zhan Er extremely pleased.

Only Zhan Er was utterly heartbroken, merely because Elder Zhan found him and said, "As for the matter with the Gu Family’s daughter, let it go for now."