Chapter Twelve: Ignorance and Disdain

If it were just giving lessons, it might be tolerable, but it was the phrase “ignorant and unlearned”! After forcing himself to study classical Chinese for a whole month and memorize it as well, he encountered three such setbacks in a row today. Even though Zhang Yue tried hard to control himself, a hint of displeasure still appeared on his face. Yet he wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or sad. After saying those words, his uncle Zhang Xin didn’t look at him again and walked away with his hands behind his back.

“Third brother, you’re unlucky today. Uncle happened to be out visiting guests. I don’t know what annoyed him, but he’s in a bad mood.”
“Yes, yes. When we first returned, Uncle even criticized us for wasting time on trivial things… Earlier he clearly said that practicing martial arts was a good thing… Hmph, no wonder Mother once said Uncle was… unpredictable and sneaky!”

Despite his poor mood, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but laugh after his brothers teased him. He thought it was fortunate that Zhang Xin had left. If he had heard such words, that scheming uncle would surely have had a serious conflict with the second branch of the family. How could someone as shrewd as the Dong family raise two sons who were so carefree?

“Never mind. I’m really unlucky today!”

Zhang Chao, who was two years older, saw Zhang Yue looking listless and said, “What? Did someone bully you at school? Tell me who it is, and your second brother and I will go beat them up so you can get revenge!”

Seeing Zhang Qi nod in agreement while rolling up his sleeves, Zhang Yue felt a bit warmed. Over the past month, he had come to know the temper of these two young guys well and knew they could do anything out of impulse. So, though he was extremely frustrated, he shook his head and said, “I’m just in a bad mood. It’s nothing serious. If anyone really bullies me tomorrow, I’ll definitely ask my eldest and second brothers for help.”

Zhang Chao, pleased to uphold his role as the eldest brother, grinned and said, “That’s great. Just come to me or your second brother whenever you need help. Second brother, hurry up and take the prey to see Mother!”

The two brothers laughed and disappeared in no time, but Zhang Chao didn’t want to go back so early. He wandered around several courtyards near the back door, finally coming up with an excuse to see his parents before slowly returning to the western courtyard. Yet his well-prepared punch hit nothing but cotton—his father Zhang Zhuo and mother Sun were nowhere to be seen. Apart from an old woman with slightly deaf ears, there wasn’t a single other person in the large courtyard, and even Qiu Hen was nowhere to be found.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour with no one showing up, bored out of his wits, he simply threw himself on the bed and fell into a drowsy sleep.

“Young master, young master! How can you be sleeping at this time… Oh, get up quickly!”

Zhang Yue, who was deep in sleep, was suddenly awakened by shoving and shouting. Reluctantly opening his eyes, he saw it was Qiu Hen. He yawned lazily first before asking, “With not even a ghost in sight except for that deaf old woman, what else could I do but sleep? Where are Dad and Mom? Why is it just you?”

“The eldest madam and the fourth young master and young miss have returned. They brought several carts full of things and are now in the main house talking with the old lady. Of course, everyone else has gone there!”

As she spoke, Qiu Hen pulled Zhang Yue up, then crouched down to tidy his collar before saying with envy, “The fourth young master is so well-behaved, and the young miss is so graceful—truly one in a hundred. The fourth young master is also a prodigy; he could read at the age of three. Now, at just nine, he can write couplets and poems. The second madam didn’t believe it at first and insisted he write one, and only then did she believe. The old lady was overjoyed and immediately gave him the family heirloom jade, along with a gold necklace and a pair of agate bracelets for the young miss.”

So the eldest grandson of the main branch had returned!

Listening to Qiu Hen’s chatter, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but recall what his parents had once said. Indeed, as soon as the eldest grandson returned, the old lady seemed to see no one else. When he heard about the family heirloom jade and his skill in poetry, he almost popped out his eyes, instinctively thinking of Jia Baoyu from *Dream of the Red Chamber*, who had received countless favors throughout his life. Aside from not being born with jade in his mouth, how similar were they?

Qiu Hen tilted her head and looked at Zhang Yue, gently adjusting his collar before smiling and saying, “By now, the first and second young masters should also have arrived at the main house. Since you’re ready, let’s go there quickly.”

The usually solemn main hall was especially lively today. As soon as Zhang Yue stepped through the courtyard gate, he heard bursts of laughter and chatter coming from inside. Dozens of maids stood by the door, some of whom were unfamiliar—dressed in blue satin armor and light pink pleated skirts. Though their clothes were brightly colored, their faces were expressionless and solemn. The household maids, on the other hand, seemed distracted, as if listening intently to what was happening inside. Only when they saw him approaching did they snap out of it and bow slightly.

Qiu Hen stepped forward to lift the curtain, and Zhang Yue bowed his head as he crossed the threshold. Even though it was still bright outside, the glittering treasures inside dazzled his eyes, so he paused for a moment before moving forward.

Beside Lady Gu was a boy, his head covered with a dragon-scale scarf, wearing a bright red hibiscus-patterned robe, a glittering collar around his neck, a string of colorful beads at his waist, and black cloud-like shoes on his feet. His handsome face was fixed on the sky, seemingly unconcerned with anyone but Lady Gu.

The girl beside him, about thirteen or fourteen years old, seemed more approachable. When she saw someone enter, she blinked and flashed a warm smile. Zhang Yue returned the smile before noticing a simple-looking woman beside Second Aunt Dong Fang, along with a timid, thin girl—likely Lady Luo and his second sister.

Lady Gu was too preoccupied with the boy in her arms to notice anyone approaching to pay respects. It wasn’t until Ling Xi reminded her that she raised her eyes and gave a brief nod, signaling Third Wife Sun to take Zhang Yue away. Caressing the boy’s forehead, she grew increasingly fond of him and said to First Wife Feng, smiling, “Brother Jiu is smart and quick-witted. Who knows? He might even surpass his father in the future—maybe even win all three imperial examinations!”

“The old lady overestimates him. He can only write a few mediocre poems.”

Though Feng said this, she looked quite proud. Hearing this, Dong Fang, standing across from her, curled her lips slightly, gently pulled at Sun’s sleeve, and muttered, “Third sister-in-law, look at how proud First Sister is after just one compliment from the old lady. She came all this way to see her mother-in-law, dressed head to toe in gold and jade—showing off to whom?”

Hearing Dong Fang’s complaints and seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Zhang Yue simply stepped back, trying to hide behind his mother. But as soon as he stopped, he suddenly noticed someone else beside him. Looking up, he saw it was his father, Zhang Zhuo. The father and son exchanged a glance, smiled slightly at the same time, before both reverted to a composed expression.
Zhang Zhuo was used to being looked down upon by others, while Zhang Yue didn’t care about such disdain. Isn’t there a saying in this world: “We’ll see.”