HLnovel Chapter 240 Visiting Relatives
Chapter 240 Visiting Relatives
Chapter 240 Visiting Relatives
Nanjing, the British Duke's Residence.
With reddened eyes, Duke Zhang Zhiji of England held Zhang Xiaohua in his arms, his heart filled with emotion. He never expected that his daughter, Zhang Shifang, would leave like this. Fortunately, the child in her womb was born.
Wang Wenzhou wiped away his tears and said painfully, "Father-in-law, it's all my fault! I shouldn't have gone to deliver the grain in the first place, otherwise Zhang Shifang wouldn't have died!"
Zhang Zhiji comforted her, "Boxin, you can't be blamed for this. On the battlefield, things can change in an instant. You can only blame Fang'er for having bad luck!"
"Mmm!" Wang Wenzhou wiped away his tears, thinking to himself, no wonder they say that losing a wife in middle age is a great blessing in life. Ugly woman is like a middle-aged woman, lacking both looks and figure, and exceptionally fierce. With such a wife gone, one can remarry a beautiful girl without any moral burden.
The more Zhang Zhiji looked at the child in his arms, the more he loved him. While teasing the child, he asked, "Boxin, have you named the child yet?"
Wang Wenzhou nodded and replied, "I named him Zhang Xiaohua."
"Bang!" Zhang Shize couldn't hold back any longer and slammed his hand on the table, angrily asking, "Silly Xiao Wu, what do you mean?"
"Hey... what's wrong?" Wang Wenzhou looked completely bewildered. Brother-in-law, have you lost your mind? What did I do to offend you?
Zhang Zhiji's face also darkened. The child doesn't have the surname Wang, but you're making him take the surname Zhang. Doesn't that mean that the child won't be able to inherit the title of Earl of Xinjian when he grows up? Wang Wenzhou, what do you mean? This is your eldest son. You don't want him to inherit the title, but you want the sons born to your concubines to inherit it?
"What's wrong?" Zhang Shize said angrily, "Silly Xiao Wu, isn't my younger sister your lawfully wedded wife?"
“Yes!” Wang Wenzhou nodded, not understanding why the father and son were suddenly so angry.
"Is this nephew of mine your eldest son?" Zhang Shize asked.
"Yeah! What's wrong? Why are you angry?" Wang Wenzhou asked, puzzled.
Zhang Shize said irritably, "Silly Xiao Wu, you've gone too far! Are you making a fool of our Duke of Ying's mansion?"
"What do you mean? I don't understand!" Wang Wenzhou was genuinely confused. He named his child Zhang Xiaohua, and the reason he gave him the surname Zhang was to commemorate Zhang Shifang. After all, Zhang Shifang had risked her life to save him, allowing him to survive.
"Fine! I'll teach you to play dumb!" Zhang Shize said irritably, "You stupid little Wu, your own son, you named him Zhang Xiaohua, not even with your surname Wang? Not to mention your sister risking her life to save you, how has our Duke of Ying's mansion treated you? We've fulfilled all your requests. Now that your sister has passed away, you don't even want her son to inherit the title?"
"Wait!" Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and said, "Brother, what do you mean? Not to mention that my father is still alive and I haven't inherited the title yet. Even if I did inherit the title, why wouldn't I want Zhang Xiaohua to inherit it?"
"You still want to argue?" Zhang Shize said angrily, "Why is my nephew surnamed Zhang and not Wang?"
Damn it! Wang Wenzhou finally understood. He said with a wry smile, "Brother, father-in-law, you've got the wrong idea. The reason I named him Zhang Xiaohua was to commemorate Zhang Shifang! She died saving me, and I feel very guilty about it."
Wang Wenzhou said with a wry smile, "You men are men too, you should understand me. Who would willingly marry a wife as ugly as Zhang Shifang?"
"Ahem..." Zhang Zhiji coughed awkwardly a few times. That idiot Xiao Wu is shameless! You said your daughter was ugly in front of your father, that's too much!
Wang Wenzhou said with deep emotion, "Back then, you forced me to marry Zhang Shifang, and I was very unwilling! But as we spent more time together, I realized that apart from being a little ugly, she had no other flaws. She risked her life to save me that day, and I had no words to repay her! That's why I let my son take her surname. Don't worry, Zhang Xiaohua will definitely inherit the title of Earl of Xinjian."
Zhang Zhiji nodded with relief and said, "Boxin, don't be angry with your elder brother. He's just too heartbroken because of Fang'er's death."
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Father-in-law, you are overthinking it. We are all family, there is nothing that cannot be said."
Zhang Zhiji glanced at the sky and said, "Boxin, it's getting late. Why don't you and Rong'er stay here for lunch? Fang'er's mother is still crying in the inner room, and Rong'er can only stay by her side to comfort her."
Wang Wenzhou shook his head and said, "Father-in-law, I won't eat here. I'd like to go out with my brother and find a place to have some alone time."
Zhang Zhiji said, "Alright, you can go ahead. Zhang Xiaohua can stay in the manor for now, and Rong'er can take her back with her when she returns."
Wang Wenzhou nodded, "They say grandparents love their grandchildren more, and it's true." Wang Xianda and Yang Shi were also incredibly affectionate towards Zhang Xiaohua, wanting to hold her in their arms all the time.
……
The Qinhuai River, stretching for ten miles, is the heart of Nanjing's prosperity. Separated by the river, the two banks are the Jiangnan Examination Hall, the main examination site for the imperial examinations in the south, and the courtesan district, a gathering place for famous courtesans in the south.
Because of his injury, Wang Wenzhou hadn't been able to have sex for days, so he asked Zhang Shize to treat him to a meal.
Jiangyun Tower was the best brothel on the banks of the Qinhuai River. Zhang Shize was not short of money, so he took Wang Wenzhou into Jiangyun Tower.
"Brother, since you're treating, shouldn't we have the most popular courtesan?" Wang Wenzhou asked with a smile.
"Hehe!" Zhang Shize said with a smile, "Boxin, you know the most popular courtesan here."
"Hmm?" Wang Wenzhou frowned and said, "No way, I don't remember. Back in Nanjing, I didn't have the money to come here to play."
"Haha!" Zhang Shize laughed loudly, "Liu Rushi is the top courtesan here!"
"What the hell!" Wang Wenzhou didn't dare to curse out loud. Zhang Shize, you've gone too far!
Soon the food and drinks were served, and Wang Wenzhou and Zhang Shize each had a beautiful girl sitting on their laps.
Zhang Shize asked, "Boxin, what exactly do you want to say to me when you asked me to come out?"
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Brother, we're family. How could I forget you if there's something in it for me? I'm planning to open a supermarket in Nanjing."
"Supermarket?" Zhang Shize didn't understand what a supermarket was either.
Wang Wenzhou explained, "A supermarket is just a general store."
Zhang Shize asked doubtfully, "Boxin, can a general store make a lot of money?"
Wang Wenzhou said disdainfully, "Brother, don't look down on supermarkets, okay? Just understand one thing: whatever I do, I can make a lot of money!"
Zhang Shize shook his head with a wry smile and asked, "Alright, tell me, how much silver do you want?"
Wang Wenzhou smiled and said, "It's not much. Here's how it works. The shares will be divided into three parts: I'll take one part, you'll take one part, and the manager will take one part. We're not outsiders, so I'll give you a discount. One million taels will be considered your investment!"
"Silly Xiao Wu! Do you think I'm stupid?" Zhang Shize was instantly enraged. A general store, a third of the shares, and a million taels of silver! Silly Xiao Wu, I'm not your father! Don't try to cheat me!