Chapter 262 If you want to destroy it, you must first make it crazy

"Drink, drink, drink!"

"Eat well and drink well! Today is a big happy occasion!"

"..."

During the meal, Sun's mother treated herself as the host and warmly entertained the guests. Shulan beside her couldn't stop her.

Also not far away, a scholar who was a little drunk and had unsteady steps was also talking loudly.

Chen He knew who the scholar was.

Sun Zhigao passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve and became a household name, gaining some fame in Jinling. However, he soon became like everyone else and could not pass the imperial examination, so he could only hang around in Youyang.

During this period of time, Chen He carefully learned about the specific situation of the Sheng family, hoping to find a way to establish a relationship with Mrs. Yang.

As a result, Sun Zhigao caught Chen He's attention.

In fact, Chen He also knew Sun Zhigao before. After all, as a county official, it was hard not to be impressed when he was asked by a scholar under him to write a calligraphy for a plaque.

However, at that time Chen He just thought that Sun Zhigao had drunk too much and had a bad drinking habit, and with Sheng Wei's plea for mercy and apology, he just let it go.

But after careful exploration this time, Chen He learned more.

This Sun Zhigao is actually a man who favors his concubine and neglects his wife!
Not only did he squander the dowry of the Sheng family's daughter, but now it seems that he is going to go even further.

Looking at the two flamboyant and uninhibited faces not far away, Chen He felt that his chance should fall here.

Chen He has learned that the two old ladies of the Sheng family seem to be victims of favoring concubines over wives...

As for Madam Sheng, as she was the granddaughter and cousin, and she was used to being in a high position, Chen He thought that she would not like to look ugly in front of the people below her, especially in front of her own family.

Thinking this in his heart, Chen He turned to Sheng Wei beside him and said:
"I see your son-in-law is very happy today. Can you ask him to come here and have a drink with me?"

Sheng Wei's face was immediately stunned.

Ever since the inscription that day, County Magistrate Chen He has disliked Sun Zhigao very much. Why did he take the initiative to invite him to drink today?
Could it be that he is magnanimous and wants to resolve the rift?

Although Sun Zhigao was not likable, he was his son-in-law after all. When Sheng Wei thought of this, he couldn't help but feel happy and immediately asked his entourage to call Sun Zhigao to drink with him.

Soon, Sun Zhigao, his face red from drunkenness, came over.

While looking anxious in front of Chen He, he was secretly thankful that he didn't drink too much today, so as to avoid saying nonsense or doing anything stupid in front of the county magistrate.

He was not as ignorant as his mother, and knew that his title of scholar was nothing to show off in front of Chen He.

A twelve-year-old scholar can be arrogant because of his talent, but a thirty-year-old scholar can only be content and submissive.

"Come on, come on, today is your Yue family's happy occasion, let's have a drink!"

Chen He showed great tolerance and seemed to have forgotten his previous displeasure with Sun Zhigao. He immediately stood up and had a drink with Sun Zhigao.

Sun Zhigao was flattered by Chen He's inexplicable closeness, and quickly picked up the wine glass and drank it all.

Afterwards, feeling the long-lost surprised looks from the people around him, Sun Zhigao felt proud again:
"See, I still have some face in front of the county magistrate, and the request for a calligraphy is not nonsense!"

After Chen He finished drinking, he put down his glass and sat down.

Sun Zhigao came to Chen He's side with great tact, poured himself another glass of wine, and whispered apologetically:

"Sir, I was really drunk and confused last time. Today, I will drink three cups as a punishment to make amends. I hope you will forgive me!"

After saying that, seeing that Chen He did not refuse, but instead tilted his head to look at him leisurely, Sun Zhigao was even more excited and hurriedly poured three full glasses of wine into his mouth.

Chen He seemed satisfied, nodded to Sun Zhigao, and then said to Sheng Wei:
"It's getting late, I'll leave first."

Seeing Chen He getting up and preparing to leave, Sheng Wei could understand. After all, he was the county magistrate, and it was a honor for him to come to his house for a drink today. Or, it could be said that it was for the sake of Sheng Hong's cousin. There was no way he would stay until the end of the banquet.

He immediately stood up to see him off.

But before he could stand up, Chen He raised his hand to stop him. Chen He turned to look at Sun Zhigao and said with a smile:
"You still have to entertain guests and can't spare the time, so just let your son-in-law take me there."

Sheng Wei was even more stunned.

I don’t understand why Chen He is so close to Sun Zhigao today.

"I'll deliver it, I'll deliver it!"

Sheng Wei didn't know the reason, and neither did Sun Zhigao, the person involved. But seeing that the county magistrate was willing to get closer to him, he naturally couldn't say anything to shirk his responsibility. He quickly put down his wine glass and took the initiative to lag behind Chen He by half a body length.

So the two of them left the hall, one in front and one behind, under the gaze of everyone.

Moreover, Chen He's expression was quite warm along the way. Before leaving, he patted Sun Zhigao's shoulder affectionately, as if he was treating his own nephew, showing that he valued him very much.

Doorway.

When Sun Zhigao entered the room again, the humility on his face had disappeared, and his expression became more arrogant and presumptuous.

"The county magistrate is so close to me, I think he thinks I have great talent and will have a smooth road to the imperial examination! Now that the county magistrate is gone, don't I think I am the most powerful among all the people present? ! "

Thinking of this, Sun Zhigao then began to receive flattery from his friends and the guests who witnessed everything, and he felt even more elated.

In his joy, Sun Zhigao drank more.

And he has never been a good drinker.

Now he was so proud of himself that he felt that God came first and he came second, and everyone had to look at his direction.

So, Sun Zhigao thought of today's protagonist, Changwu.

"Where's Changwu?"

Sun Zhigao pulled over a servant who was passing by him and shouted drunkenly:

"We've been drinking for such a long time, why hasn't Changwu come to toast me? Quick, call him over to drink with me!"

The servant who was conscripted recognized Sun Zhigao and knew that he was his master's son-in-law, so he immediately responded and then hurried to find Changwu.

However, there were many people at the time and no one knew where Changwu was. The servant couldn't find him for a long time and had to go find the housekeeper.

After receiving the report, the housekeeper immediately had a headache.

He knew that Sun Zhigao had a bad drinking habit. It was at Sheng's house that he once got drunk and acted crazy in front of the county magistrate.

The housekeeper was at a loss for a moment.

He could only send someone to question Mrs. Li, the eldest lady of the Sheng Mansion, while he himself would go to deal with Sun Zhigao.

"What? Didn't find it?"

When Sun Zhigao heard the manager say that it was not found, he immediately felt that he had lost face in front of everyone. In his excitement, he raised his foot and stood on the chair.

Standing on the mahogany chair, looking at the crowds of people below, with his eyes red from drunkenness, Sun Zhigao suddenly felt as if he was standing on top of a mountain, overlooking all the other mountains. He felt that his dignity was being insulted, and he immediately cursed at the steward in front of everyone.

When Old Lady Sheng and the others heard the servant's message and came to see, they saw Sun Xiucai slap the old steward with a white beard in the face and scold him:
"Damn you, old Shacai! How dare you tease me? You are clearly neglecting me, your husband who is a scholar, and you don't want to invite my wife's brother to come drink with you!

You are being disrespectful to me, which is a disgrace to society! Do you know who I was talking to and reminiscing about the past? It was the county magistrate! The county magistrate was speaking to me in a friendly manner. I just asked Sheng Changwu to come and have a drink, but you are making excuses. How can this be possible! "

Seeing that Sun Zhigao was making more and more trouble and was about to cause a joke at the wedding banquet, Old Lady Sheng suddenly said:

"Great! Today is a happy day. Since my nephew's son-in-law wants to drink, let him drink."

As she spoke, Old Lady Sheng turned to look at Shulan who was being scolded by Sun's mother and said:
"My niece, go, go and call Changwu over quickly, and have him accompany our distinguished guest, the scholar! A person like the great husband is so precious, he must be flattered by everyone!"

Old Madam Sheng waved to the guests next to her and said loudly:

"Come, come, come, everyone, whether you can reach it or not, come and toast this scholar. This is the principle of hospitality."

Since Sun Zhigao had no shame and wanted to cause a scene at the wedding banquet, Old Lady Sheng was not going to give him face and continued to praise him highly and put him on a pedestal.

"Haha~" A burst of laughter suddenly came from the crowd.

Sun Zhigao was still unaware of this, and actually followed the sound to the most lively place and bowed, happily thinking that these people were also supporting him.

Soon, Changwu, dressed as a groom, rushed over. Looking at the chaotic scene, he became very angry.

Anyone would be furious if someone caused trouble at their wedding banquet.

"Come on, Changwu, you're finally here!"

Sun Zhigao didn't notice Changwu's strange expression, and just warmly invited him to have a drink.

Seeing this, Changwu could only suppress his anger and try to smooth things over. He forced a smile on his face, took two large wine cups from the servant's tray, and strode towards Sun Zhigao aggressively.

'Drink, drink, drink. I won't kill you today!'

When the guests saw this, they also started to cheer and picked up their glasses to toast Sun Zhigao, saying with a smile:

"Master Xiucai, we are here to toast you too!"

"..."

Those who were cheering and watching the fun toasted together, and soon Sun Zhigao was drunk and fell under the table. Old Lady Sheng, with a look of disgust on her face, asked the servants to drag him to the side room.

In this way, the wedding banquet was finally held successfully.

the next day.

Changwu and the new bride Kang Yuner went to meet their parents-in-law together, while Old Lady Sheng, Hualan and others were watching from the side.

Kang Yuner is the eldest daughter of the Kang family, a noble family. Marrying into the eldest branch of the Sheng family was a real downgrade. Sheng Wei and Li were both generous people, so Kang Yuner did not suffer any difficulties and successfully passed the test of her parents-in-law.

Then he saw Old Lady Sheng.

Kang Yuner knew them all and immediately bowed in greeting.

With her head bowed and her brows lowered, Kang Yuner looked at Hua Lan for a few times, thinking about what her mother said when she sent her on board:
"Yun'er, after you marry Sheng Changwu, you must beg your parents-in-law to let you go to Beijing with Changwu after your wedding. That way you can be close to home and rely on your aunt's wealth."

Kang Yuner knew in her heart the reason why her mother married her to Changwu, the eldest son of the Sheng family.

One reason was to get the money from the eldest branch of the Sheng family so that they could help the Kang family.

The second is for my aunt's family.

To be more precise, it was my cousin Hualan.

'I just don't know why my mother hasn't been to my aunt's house these days.'

Although Wang Ruoyu is cruel, her eldest daughter Kang Yuner is gentle and worldly-wise.

In fact, Kang Yuner also heard about the farce caused by Sun Zhigao last night from the maid who came with her dowry, but she didn't complain much. Even when Changwu took the initiative to talk about it, she said it was not a big deal. She can be said to be a reasonable and virtuous wife.

Because of her blood relationship with her mother and because she had just arrived in a strange place, Kang Yuner would have gravitated towards Hualan even without her mother Wang Ruoyu's instructions.

Apart from serving Li every day, he would talk to Hualan.

After a few visits, the cousins ​​became familiar with each other.

One night.

After Kang Yuner finished speaking and returned to her room, Rulan muttered:
"Sister Yoon-ah and Aunt Kang are so different, it's like... good fruit comes from a crooked tree."

"Snapped!"

Hence, Rulan was delighted to learn Hualan's magical power of snapping fingers.

At this time, Fang's mother came into the room and said:
"Big sister, the old lady and the great old lady asked you to bring the fifth sister and the sixth sister over to talk."

Hua Lan saw that it was getting late, so she asked:

"It's so late, is there something going on with the two grandmothers?"

"The old lady said that she wanted the girl to go over there and experience the wind and waves and meet the wolves in the world."

The rear house of Sheng Mansion.

The side room of old lady Shengda's bedroom.

As soon as she entered the house, Hualan saw Shulan, whom she had not seen for several days. Her originally thin figure looked even more bony, her face was covered with traces of tears, and she leaned against old lady Shengda with a dejected look on her face.

Seeing Hualan coming, Mrs. Sheng immediately motioned for her to sit next to Mrs. Sheng.

"Grandma...what's this?" Hualan asked Grandma Sheng in a low voice while Shulan was sobbing and Grandma Sheng and Mrs. Li were comforting her.

Rulan and Minglan on the side also gave him inquiring looks.

Old Madam Sheng, like Old Madam Sheng Da just now, glanced at Hua Lan and said:

"You'll know after you listen."

Hua Lan didn't dare to ask any more questions, but there was a thoughtful look on her face.

At this time, Shulan's mood had calmed down, and Mrs. Shengda also spoke up:
"I know you have always been filial and never told your family about any grievances you suffered over there, but today I was able to force you to come home, so something terrible must have happened. The elders and sisters are all here, and they can all give you some advice."

Although Shulan stopped crying at this moment, she still didn't speak.

At this time, Li, who was sitting nearby, said:

"Mother, why don't you let me take Shulan to my room to talk, and then I will deal with it."

"You're going to deal with it?"

Old Madam Sheng looked at Li with a bad tone:

"Last time the Sun family made a fuss, we asked you and your wife to make a decision early, but what about you? You sent two shops to them again. What will you do if I ask you to deal with it again this time? Will you continue to send two shops to please him?"

"If I make trouble once, I can earn money from two shops. If I make trouble again, I can earn money from two shops again. With such a business, I would want to make trouble too, not to mention him."

(End of this chapter)