Chapter 845: The Autumn Wind Is Not So Easy to Conquer

Ever since the Gu family listened to Zhang Fuzhi’s advice and moved their entire household from Kaifeng to the capital, many members of the Zhang clan in Kaifeng also gradually moved there. Firstly, since two prominent families within the clan were based there, it provided mutual support and made it easier for their children to secure favorable positions. Secondly, they feared that if new officials took office in Kaifeng and saw the most prominent branch of the Zhang clan leave, they might neglect the rest. Thus, those who remained in Kaifeng were mostly lesser branches or side lines, either relying on a few acres of poor farmland or engaging in small-scale businesses.

If the Zhang family was in such a state, the Gu family was even worse. After the death of the Gu family’s patriarch, the brothers fought fiercely over land and property, eventually leading to the family’s fragmentation. All their wealth, land, and shops were divided up by their descendants like wolves. Naturally, Gu Bin’s father only received twenty acres of barren sloping land, and even this small amount of property was taken away by other clan members after they moved to the capital. Over the years, the main branch of the Gu family, having exhausted their resources, turned to Gu Bin in the capital and his wealthy relatives for help.

So, Gu Lin, the eldest grandson of the Gu family’s main branch, brought two servants and loaded a boat with worthless local products, claiming to bring New Year gifts as an excuse to enter the capital. As a member of the Gu family, he first inquired about Gu Bin’s residence and went there early in the morning. Upon seeing the simple hard-topped gatehouse with blue tiles and walls, it seemed not to be a newly built house but rather one that had been around for some time. After being introduced, he was invited in, but seeing only a handful of servants, his enthusiasm cooled considerably.

Sitting in the main room, Gu Lin observed the simple furniture made of fir wood and ordinary decorations, as well as the clothing of the servants. He thought that even a poor scholar couldn’t yield much profit, so he sat there indifferently for a while, drank some tea, mentioned a few things about his family’s situation, and then left with a hundred strings of gold coins given by Gu Bin’s father as a gift. As soon as he stepped outside, he boarded the carriage hired earlier along with his servants, carrying most of the remaining products to Wu’an Hou Hutong.

Yet, he never expected to be treated even more coldly here.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Xin were not there; Zhang Jiu was at the Hanlin Academy. Zheng Fangfei had never even heard of this relative. When her family told her that the visitor claimed to be from Kaifeng and to be Zhang Jiu’s cousin, and refused to leave, she became annoyed. Encouraged by her mother, she simply ordered the guards to send him away, using the two servants she had brought from the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence to expel him.

As for the Yangwu Bo’s residence, there was no need to say more. Dong Fangshi had already been a formidable figure as the housekeeper in their home in Kaifeng. Though she now practiced Buddhism, her nature hadn’t changed. Upon hearing that the eldest daughter-in-law had come, she knew she was there to take advantage of them. She sent a maid outside with two slightly worn silver hairpins and shut the gate after saying just a few words.

“Young master of the Gu family, when the old lady was alive, she forbade any further contact between our family and the Gu family. Even now that she’s gone, the family traditions still hold. My wife dares not go against them. We appreciate the gifts you’ve sent and convey our regards to all your relatives.”

Shutting the gate and sending her back to convey greetings? Gu Lin was furious. He tossed the two silver hairpins to the servant, thinking that other families might have given gifts out of courtesy, but he had come to the capital specifically for the most prominent and powerful branch of the Zhang family. With this in mind, he adjusted his clothes and hurried back to the Zhang family’s residence.

All the commotion had already alerted them. The wife of the eldest son was the daughter of a marquis, so it was hard for others to challenge her. Dong Fangshi, who controlled the second branch, was also known as a fierce woman in the clan. Sun Shi, who happened to be at home, though reluctant to get involved, thought it would be bad for her son’s career if others slandered him. So she sent word to her daughter-in-law to let the visitor wait in the reception hall. But when it came time for her to go and meet them in person, she suddenly changed her mind.

With her permission, Gu Lin was overjoyed. Before leaving, he had been instructed by his father that although the Zhang family now had another earl, it was the third branch that was the most prominent. Upon entering, he recognized the housekeeper as Gao Quan, the most trusted servant during the old lady’s time. He beamed with a smile, already planning what to say.

Since Zhang Yue had held the rank of second grade when he served as the governor, and Zhang Zhuo retired with the same rank, all regulations in their household were set at the second-grade standard. Passing by the hall with five rooms and nine pillars, looking at the black-background gold-plated plaque in the center, as well as the large desks and incense burners, Gu Lin couldn’t help but have his eyes shine. Once seated in the small garden hall, he couldn’t resist scanning the surroundings and touching the armrests, thinking this must be the rosewood brought back from the West. Before long, someone brought tea—none from the Ru or Jun kilns, but in a pattern he had never seen. Judging from its smooth glaze, he knew it must be newly made official porcelain.

“Second young master, the sixth young master has arrived.”

Gu Lin only knew about the third young master; hearing about the sixth now made him frown. He had heard before that Zhang Zhuo had an illegitimate son. When he looked up at the sound, he saw a boy of about eight or nine years old, tall and sturdy, appearing quite composed. He stood up as well. Although there was a distinction between men and women, as the younger one, if the Sun family were kind, they should meet him personally. If not, at least Zhang Ye, the eldest grandson, should do so. There was no reason to send an illegitimate son to receive guests. Though displeased, when the boy greeted him as “cousin,” he forced a smile.

Zhang Fu was simple-minded and young; usually, he only handled routine guest interactions. Moreover, since he didn’t know Gu Lin, he had no idea what to say. After a few dry exchanges, he ran out of words and sat there awkwardly, growing increasingly uneasy. Gu Lin felt even worse. If he left now, after incurring significant expenses on the journey to the capital, it would be a laughingstock, and he wouldn’t be able to face his father. But not to go… Could he just sit here waiting for the strong tea to turn into bland water, enduring this child’s company?

Fortunately, this frustrating wait lasted only half an hour. Gu Lin heard voices coming from the courtyard gate outside the garden hall. Almost instinctively, he stood up quickly and stepped outside. He saw a woman leading the way with her head tilted to the side, followed by a young man about his age. Though he only saw a profile, he lifted the hem of his clothes and rushed forward.

“Is this Cousin Yue?”

Today, Zhang Yue and Zhu Yong determined the location of the martial arts school. It was rare that he returned early, and upon hearing at the door that relatives from the Gu family in Kaifeng had come, his mother, Lady Sun, asked Zhang Fu to accompany him, but he didn’t take it to heart. Over the years as he had risen steadily in status, many of the Zhang family’s relatives had come to take advantage of them. Although this was the Gu family’s first time, it wouldn’t be the last, and he hadn’t even thought to take a look inside when passing by. Yet, to his surprise, someone suddenly ran out.

Back in Kaifeng, the Gu family didn’t keep in much contact with the Zhangs—at most, they sent gifts during festivals, and rarely did the younger members of the Gu family visit the Zhangs. As a result, after over a decade, Zhang Yue had long forgotten what the Gu family members looked like. Now, seeing the person in front of him wearing a dark purple brocade jacket with intricate patterns and a horsehair headscarf, he indeed appeared distinguished, but his gaze was no different from that of those who came to ask for favors. Naturally, Zhang Yue stepped back quietly.

Although Gu Lin wasn’t very accomplished, he had spent many years in the outside world. Seeing Zhang Yue step back, he didn’t dare move forward either. With a forced smile, he bowed and said, “It’s been over a decade since we last saw each other. Last time, when cousin Yue went back to bury our late aunt, I happened to be away, so I missed it. I still remember vividly how you shone at her 60th birthday banquet. Cousin Yue, you might not know, but now all the scholars in Kaifeng take you as an example…”

He kept talking nonstop, but since Zhang Yue had returned early today to discuss matters with Du Wan, he grew impatient. Without waiting for him to finish, he coughed lightly, nodded, and said, “Cousin, as a guest from afar, I’m too busy at the moment to accompany you around the capital. I’ll ask someone from the Gu family to show you around tomorrow. I have matters to attend to now, so I must leave.”

Seeing Zhang Yue nod and about to leave, Gu Lin became anxious. Without thinking, he reached out to stop him. When he saw Zhang Yue’s cold gaze, he swallowed hard. Though a bit scared, he carefully took out a silk pouch from his bosom and said with a smile, “Cousin, my reason for coming to the capital is not only to visit relatives on my father’s behalf but also for another matter. This is a letter written by our late aunt to my father back when she was still alive. She said that since the Zhang and Gu families have been allies for many years, she hopes their descendants can also form a close relationship and support each other.”

He spoke clearly without daring to add more, then handed over the brocade pouch with both hands. Zhang Yue took it with a solemn expression, untied the obviously faded red string at the top, and pulled out a finely folded piece of paper from the pouch adorned with peony patterns. It must have been there for many years—the paper was yellowed, its corners brittle, and the folds somewhat torn, yet the ink remained vivid. The writing was neat and in small script; though it differed slightly from Grandmother Gu’s later handwriting, her habit of ending strokes in a certain way remained the same—it was indeed her handiwork.

The entire letter was filled with admonitions and teachings for his brothers, covering everything from studying to managing a household. Through those neat characters, he seemed to see Grandmother’s strict expression once again. As for the so-called alliance between the two families, it was only briefly mentioned at the end, stating that if the brothers could manage their households strictly, the Zhang and Gu families would maintain a lasting alliance, supporting each other generation after generation. Seeing that the date at the end had long disappeared, Zhang Yue could easily guess that it was at least twenty or thirty years old.

“Your father was thoughtful. If Grandmother knew of this from beyond the grave, she would surely be at peace.”

As he spoke, Zhang Yue carefully folded the letter and put it back into the brocade pouch, but kept it in his hand instead of returning it. A faint smile appeared on his lips. “It’s only natural to support each other. If I remember correctly, before the whole family moved out of Kaifeng, aside from the clan head and some relatives, many members of the Gu family were also tasked with overseeing the lands left behind. And if those members studied hard, the family would offer support—my seventh cousin from the Gu family is a good example; he has now become a Hanlin scholar, which is indeed gratifying. As for an alliance between the families, that depends on future circumstances—our children are still young.”

Zhang Yue shut down every possible path with his words. Gu Lin grew anxious and mustered the courage to interject, “My sixth brother is exactly fifteen years old now. I heard that my third cousin…”
“My third sister has already been married off. It was arranged by the Duchess of Yingguo for one of her distant nephews,” Zhang Yue replied coldly, glancing at Gu Lin, who was visibly shocked. He smirked and said, “It happened just a month ago. Although this arrangement annoyed many nobles in the capital for a while, once it’s settled, no one can say anything. It’s good to support each other through marriage, but the Zhang family doesn’t need to use its daughters to gain advantages from others. Besides, no matter which family she marries into, do I really not have the ability to protect her?”

At that moment, a cold wind blew by, making Gu Lin’s hands feel icy and his steps stiffen. Though they were relatives, they hadn’t kept in touch for years. How could he have forgotten what Zhang Yue was known for? He was a ruthless man who would rather marry a distant relative of the British duke than sacrifice the dignity of nobles—so what did this relative of his count for? With this thought, he immediately resolved to extract some benefit and quickly nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, yes, my cousin is now famous throughout the land, so there’s no need to worry about trivial matters. It’s just that our Gu family has been behaving improperly these years—uncles and uncles are fighting over family affairs, and the Yellow River flooded again this summer, drowning many paddy fields…”
“Someone, go invite the Gao family over,” Zhang Yue ordered his wife behind him before Gu Lin could finish speaking. Then he waved his hand at Gu Lin. “You don’t need to say more. Since we’re relatives, I’ll help if I can.”
Hearing Zhang Yue call Gao Quan, Gu Lin’s heart sank with relief, knowing he had at least accomplished one thing this time. Seeing Zhang Yue head toward the small hall, he hurried after him. This time, he couldn’t be careless like before, so he deliberately chose to talk only about the major and minor events that had happened in Kaifeng. Once inside and seated, Zhang Yue gave Zhang Fu a glance, signaling him to leave first. He had initially been listening to Gu Lin casually, but gradually became absorbed.
Gu Lin might not have other skills, but his oratory was quite good. “Princess Zhou was a second wife and came from a humble background as a palace servant, so the other princesses of the princely families looked down on her. Although the Princes of Xin’an and Runan had their titles revoked and were imprisoned, many other princes still coveted the position of prince. It’s said some even conspired with other relatives for this purpose. Oh, and it’s said that the Princess Zhou’s family killed two maids last time, claiming they cast spells to harm her…”
“Spells? How did that happen?”
Since Zhang Yue was interested, Gu Lin didn’t hide anything and quickly explained the whole story, adding many rumors from the streets. When Gao Quan entered with others, seeing that Zhang Yue hadn’t stopped him, he continued to recount this incident that had caused a stir in Kaifeng. Only then did Zhang Yue wave at Gao Quan.
“Of the fields my grandmother left me, how many are near Kaifeng?”
No one knew more about the Gao family’s lands than Gao Quan. He glanced at Gu Lin, immediately understood, and after a brief thought replied, “There are four hundred mu of dry land and two hundred mu of sloping land east of Xiangfu County.”
“Good. Find the land deeds and give them to Gu family’s eldest cousin.”

Seeing Gu Lin’s delighted expression, Zhang Yue revealed the silk pouch in his hand. “There’s just one more thing I need my cousin’s help with. Now that our grandmother has passed away, perhaps you could leave this pouch to me?”
Six hundred acres of land in exchange for a worthless pouch—how could Gu Lin refuse? He quickly stood up and bowed deeply. “Since it belongs to our young lady, I’ll keep it. On behalf of my entire family, I thank you for your assistance!”
It wasn’t until Gao Quan sent them away that Zhang Yue finally glanced down at the pouch in his hand. Since the Gu family had dug out such old items from decades ago, it was clear they didn’t have any of his grandmother’s relics. Thinking of her while holding this object, it was better to keep it safe rather than let those wastrels possess it. At least the words urging kindness, frugality, and family harmony could be passed on to future generations.
Six hundred acres of land for these family teachings was definitely worth it. Moreover, Gu Lin’s information was still somewhat useful. Of course, he would make sure they knew that Autumn Wind wasn’t easy to deal with, and his fields weren’t so easy to take either!