Jinghong Tower

Chapter 398 Han Family
At the Han family, He Ran met Old Madam Han, Han's daughter-in-law Zhu Yanmin, and daughter Han Yuzhu.

Madam Han is actually only in her early fifties, but the loss of her husband and son has devastated her. Her hair is now completely white and she looks much older than her actual age, but she has gentle eyes and eyebrows, and she was a beauty when she was young.

Zhu Yanmin is a little plump, probably because of giving birth, with fair and delicate skin, beautiful facial features, round and smooth cheeks, and she smiles before she speaks. She does not look miserable like a widow, which makes people like her very much.

Han Yuzhu is about sixteen or seventeen years old. She doesn’t look like Old Lady Han, perhaps because she takes after the head of the Han family. But she is also a beauty.

He Ran chatted with them for a while, and Zhu Yanmin asked the wet nurse to bring her daughter over to He Ran to see. He Ran presented her with a gold and jade longevity lock.

Zhu Yanmin smiled and said to her daughter, "Congcong, hurry up and thank your aunt."

Cong Cong's babbling is very interesting.

He Ran asked, "Cong Cong? What a cute name. Is it the same as Chung Cong, which means spring is coming soon?"

Zhu Yanmin explained: "It means the source of the river is extremely clear, and the stones are gurgling."

As if she was afraid that He Ran didn't understand, Zhu Yanmin continued, "Although my father-in-law and husband are all gone, the Han family is still the Han family of the Cao Gang. Giving my sister this name is to remind her not to forget her roots."

He Ran smiled and nodded, but her heart was slightly moved. She looked at Zhu Yanmin again. Zhu Yanmin had a smile on her face, but her eyes were slightly red.

He Ran was about to look away, but she felt an unfriendly gaze looking at her. He Ran turned her head and her gaze collided with Han Yuzhu's in the air.

The little girl doesn't seem to like her very much.

He Ran chuckled in her heart, chatted with Old Madam Han about family matters for a while, then stood up and said goodbye.

Back at Laomofang Hutong, Xiaoli couldn't wait to say, "Boss, that Miss Han doesn't seem very friendly."

He Ran smiled and said, "Did you figure it out?"

Xiaoli smiled and said nothing.

A little girl who can't even manage her facial expression, let alone being the boss, can't even last a round in front of Xiaoli.

What she had to do was to remind the boss.

Han family.

After seeing He Ran off, Madam Han breathed a sigh of relief. She said to her daughter-in-law and daughter, "This headmistress is different from what is said in the legend. She is approachable and should be a person who is easy to get along with. Now she is our relative. When you get along with her, you should be cordial but also polite. We can gain a foothold in the capital thanks to her."

As soon as she finished speaking, Han Yuzhu snorted coldly: "Mother, don't say that. How can she be considered a relative to us? Besides, we were able to come to the capital because of Brother Qi. What does it have to do with her?"

Old Madam Han frowned. No one knows a daughter better than her mother. It was fine in the past few years, but in the past two years, how could she, as a mother, not know how her daughter felt about Zong Qi?

But the couple had already adopted Zongqi as their adopted son, and with this relationship, it was impossible for their daughter and Zongqi to be together.

Besides, how could she not see that although Zong Qi was very kind to Yuzhu, he was only kind to her like a brother to his sister.

"Yuzhu, stop talking nonsense. Although Ah Qi is capable, he is only in Jiangnan. This is the capital. Moreover, the house we live in now was also arranged by the eldest master. Just for this, we should thank him."

Han Yuzhu rolled her eyes and said, "What's so good about this house? It's so small, not even half the size of our house in Yangzhou."

Madam Han was unhappy: "Yangzhou is far away, no one cares whether your house is big or small, but this is the capital, we have no official position, we can live in a house like this one, we should be content!"

Han Yuzhu was not convinced and wanted to say something, but Zhu Yanmin quickly tried to smooth things over: "Okay, okay, mother, I just miss Yangzhou, right, little sister?"

As she spoke, Zhu Yanmin winked at Han Yuzhu. Han Yuzhu always listened to her sister-in-law. Although she was reluctant, she nodded in agreement with Zhu Yanmin: "Well, I just miss Yangzhou."

Madam Han's expression lightened up a bit, and she said to the two of them, "Okay, Congcong must be sleepy, you can take Congcong to bed."

The two men retreated, but Old Madam Han's brows became more and more furrowed.

She called her trusted maid, Wang Mama, and said, "Go to Lao's residence and deliver the visiting card. We are relatives, and I want to visit Madam Shangguan."

The Lao family is officials, and the Han family is civilians. Even if they are related now, they can't just visit whenever they want.

In the evening, Zong Qi came over. Madam Han invited him to stay for dinner and asked, "Qi, I'll have someone clean up a room for you in the front yard. You can move in from the inn."

Zong Qi put down his chopsticks and was about to speak when Han Yuzhu said, "Yes, Brother Qi, please move in with us. The food in the capital is so bad, it's no match for the chef we brought from Yangzhou."

Zong Qi ignored her and said to Madam Han, "Mom, I bought a house in the capital and it's being cleaned. I can move in in two days, so I can just stay in the inn for a while. There's no need to move around. It's too troublesome."

Madam Han became interested: "You bought a house, is it far from here?"

Zong Qi said, "It's not far away, just two streets away. Once the place is cleaned up, I will take you there to stay for a few days."

Madam Han smiled and said, "That's not necessary. I'll just go over and look for the door. It's close. Remember to come back often for dinner in the future."

Zong Qi smiled: "Okay, I will come back often."

After dinner, Zong Qi said goodbye and left. Just as he reached the second door, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Brother Qi, wait a minute!"

Zong Qi turned around and saw Han Yuzhu jogging after him.

"Yuzhu, is there something wrong?"

Han Yuzhu blushed: "Brother Qi, I have been here for several days, but I haven't been to the streets yet. Are you free? Can you take me around? I heard that there is an overpass in Beijing, and there are many fun things there, right?"

Zong Qi smiled and said, "I am negligent. I should have taken you out for a walk and bought some things a long time ago. How about this, ask your stepmother and sister-in-law if they want to go together. I will pick you up tomorrow morning."

Han Yuzhu was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, I'll wait for you at home tomorrow morning, Brother Qi, you must not forget."

Zong Qi: "Don't worry, I won't forget."

Until Zong Qi's figure disappeared into the night, Han Yuzhu was still standing in front of the screen wall.

Early the next morning, Han Yuzhu dressed up. Zong Qi asked her to ask Old Madam Han and Zhu Yanmin if they wanted to go together. She didn't ask. Her mother didn't like crowds since her father and brother passed away, and her sister-in-law had to take care of Congcong, so there was no need to ask. They would definitely not go.

Han Yuzhu changed several sets of clothes before choosing the one she liked the most, a jacket with a rose branch pattern, and a set of red coral headwear. Although the Han family was no longer in charge of the Cao Gang, with Zong Qi's support, the women of the Han family were able to preserve all of their assets while being surrounded by wolves, and now brought all of them to the capital.

This wealth is enough for the Han family to live comfortably for three generations.

Han Yuzhu really liked this red coral headdress. She thought of He Ran whom she met yesterday. She only had a peach wood hairpin in her hair, looking androgynous. The clothes she wore were also androgynous. She lacked the delicateness that a woman should have.

Han Yuzhu snorted coldly. Brother Aqi grew up in Jiangnan and was used to seeing beauties from Jiangnan. Although He Ran was not ugly, no matter how you looked at her, she was not the type that Brother Aqi liked.

Besides, He Ran is too old. There are very few unmarried women in Jiangnan in their twenties.

Han Yuzhu has liked Zong Qi for a long time.

If you think about it carefully, it should have started when Zong Qi became the head of the Zong family. Almost overnight, the taciturn boy turned into a powerful man who controlled life and death.

Han Yuzhu is the daughter of the leader of the Cao Gang. She knew from a young age that the man she wanted to marry must be a hero who is no less capable than her father.

So when she heard in Yangzhou about what Zong Qi had done to the Zong family, she knew that this was the man she wanted to marry.

At that time, she thought very simply. Although Zong Qi was his father's adopted son, he was not his biological son. She and Zong Qi were not siblings. Marrying Zong Qi was a closer relationship.

Later, something happened at home and my father and brother all died. Those people killed everyone, even the fetus in my eldest sister-in-law's belly. They were in constant fear at that time. Zong Qi suddenly appeared and sent them to Huizhou to protect them, and also avenged my father and brother.

Her heart can no longer accommodate anyone else.

Han Yuzhu thought about it and became infatuated.

At this moment, the maid ran in excitedly: "Miss, Miss, Master Zong is here. He is in the front yard now. Please go over quickly."

At this time every day, Old Madam Han would chant scriptures in her room without fail. Even if Zong Qi came, she could only ask the maid to tell him.

Han Yuzhu didn't dare to waste time and quickly went to the front yard.

Zong Qi was drinking tea. When he saw her come in, his expression froze and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

"Brother Qi, I'm ready, let's go."

Before she finished her words, Han Yuzhu saw the woman sitting opposite Zong Qi.

The woman looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, with delicate features and a bright smile.

Han Yuzhu frowned, looked at the woman, and asked, "Brother Qi, are you bringing guests here?"

Zong Qi suppressed his anger and did not look at Han Yuzhu again. Instead, he said to the woman, "Boss Lu, I am sorry to have embarrassed you. My sister has just arrived in the capital and has not yet adapted to it. She is not ready yet. I will not go out today and make you make a wasted trip."

The person who came with Zong Qi was Lu Chang.

This house of the Han family, as well as Zong Qi's own house, were all found by Lu Chang.

The Zong family expanded their business to the capital, and Lu Chang was the local boss of the capital. Therefore, since Zong Qi came to the capital, he had dealt with Lu Chang several times.

Yesterday Han Yuzhu said she wanted to go shopping, so after Zong Qi returned, he asked someone to send a letter to Lu Chang, asking for his help.

Lu Chang readily agreed, and early this morning, he followed Zong Qi to the Han family.

But Zong Qi didn't expect that Han Yuzhu was dressed up in all her splendor and seemed to have forgotten that she was still in mourning!
After all, she is not his biological sister. If it were other matters, Zong Qi would be more tolerant of Han Yuzhu.

But since this involves his adoptive father and brother, how could Zong Qi pretend not to see it?
Zong Qi couldn't lose his temper in front of Lu Chang, but Han Yuzhu didn't know where she was wrong. Seeing that Zong Qi not only went back on his words but also didn't give her any face in front of this boss Lu, she was so angry that she almost cried.

As soon as Lu Chang left, Han Yuzhu burst into tears: "Brother Qi, what do you mean by this?"

Zong Qi forced himself to ignore her. After finally waiting for Old Madam Han to finish chanting, Zong Qi went to see Old Madam Han.

Han Yuzhu refused to give up and followed him. In front of Han Yuzhu, Zong Qi complained to her.

In fact, there was no need for Zong Qi to complain. When she saw Han Yuzhu's bright clothes, Madam Han already knew what was going on.

It's my fault for not educating my daughter well, I can't blame others.

After Zong Qi finished his complaint, he left. There was still the same screen wall. Someone called him from behind. He turned around and saw a maid.

The maid came over, bowed to Zong Qi, and said, "I am Hong Xiao from Grand Madam's room. Grand Madam asked me to ask Master Zong for a favor on her behalf."

Zong Qi said, "What's the matter, sister-in-law?"

Hong Xiao said, "It's like this. We just arrived in the capital and we are completely clueless. My sister is a little weak, and the eldest lady wants to ask Master Zong to help find a doctor who specializes in pediatric diseases. If Master Zong is too busy, then forget it. This matter is not urgent."

Zong Qi understood and said, "I see. Tell my sister-in-law that I will take care of this matter. I will send a doctor over in two days."

Hongxiao thanked him again and again before leaving.

Zong Qi did not go to his new house, but went to Laomofang Hutong. He Ran should have returned from the palace by now.

When they arrived at Laomofang Hutong, He Ran had not returned yet, and it was Xiao Ba who greeted Zong Qi.

"Uncle is here, uncle is here."

After saying that, Xiao Ba looked at Zong Qi eagerly.

Zong Qi was startled, then he understood and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I came too hastily this time. Next time, I will bring you something delicious."

Xiao Ba: "Keep your word, or don't blame me for getting a haircut."

Zong Qi: "Shave your head? Why do you want to get a haircut?"

Xiao Ba: "If you mess with me, I'll go get a haircut!"

Shoumei quickly explained: "Shaving your head in the first month of the year will kill your uncle, but it's not the first month of the year now, don't worry, Master Zong."

Zong Qi: I have lived two lifetimes, and this is the first time I became an uncle. I was also warned of death.

After waiting for a full hour, He Ran came back excitedly.

"What are you so happy about?" Zong Qi asked with a smile.

"Brother, great victory in Xi'an! He Dali broke through the city of Xi'an!"

He Ran had a smile in her eyes and eyebrows. She had been to Xi'an when she was still in modern times.

It was a very windy day and she was standing on the ancient city wall of Xi'an, being blown all over.

"Brother, I also brought you a souvenir, do you remember?"

Zong Qi nodded: "Of course I remember, you bought a set of terracotta warriors and asked me to put it by the bed, but then you heard someone say it was unlucky, so you ran into my room, took the set away and threw it away."

He Ran: Hehehehe.

She did not tell Zong Qi that she built a second Jinghong Tower in Xi'an. Also in Xi'an, she decided to build a Jinghong Tower wherever she went in the future.

Xi'an means a lot to her.

He Ran called Xiaoli and said, "Send a message to Xi'an and Yulin to reopen Jinghong Tower!"

At this time in Xi'an, the flag of the Ran army was fluttering in the wind on the city wall, and in Qianzhou, Luo Yun was persuading Wu Ji to temporarily withdraw from Qianzhou in order to preserve his strength.