Daughter of aristocratic family

Chapter 96 Relatives
  After Yun Hao left, Zhao Cheng asked Zhao Li to send him a pot to the study. Zhao Li knew that he had something to say to her.

Zhao Li made a pot, sent it to the study, poured him a glass, and put it in front of him, "What's wrong? You don't like this kid Yun Hao?"

"That child is mature and well-spoken. He is a lovable child, but..." Zhao Cheng sighed heavily, "We are not from the same family. Yue'er will be wronged if she marries him."

Zhao Li thought for a while and said: "As long as Yun Hao is sincere to Yue'er, he will not wrong Yue'er."

"People's hearts are fickle. Maybe you are sincere now, but in case
  "Master, can't you hope for something better?" Zhao Li interrupted him.

"Okay, okay, let's not say this anymore. Let's see the effects. Anyway, Yue'er is still young." Zhao Cheng said.

"If you don't disturb the master's reading, I'll go out first." Zhao Li left the study with a smile.

It snowed again in the middle of the night, and the weather became increasingly cold. Dr. Shen went to a nearby town to treat people. Zhao Wangshu did not need to go to the Shen family courtyard for the time being, and stayed at home all day without going out.

In a blink of an eye, it's the second day of the twelfth lunar month, and it's Zhao Cui's fifty-seventh birthday.

Last year, Zhao Wangshu was trapped in the mansion and could not go back. This year, she had already been in Yage, customizing a set of emerald headbands for Zhao Cui.

"I wish my mother (grandma) may be as blessed as the East Sea and live longer than the Southern Mountains." The family knelt down and kowtowed to Mrs. Zhao Cui.

Zhao Cheng's birthday gift was a picture of pines and cranes prolonging life that he drew by himself. Zhao Li gave him handmade clothes, shoes and socks, and Zhao Yin gave a picture of longevity.

Looking at her filial son, daughter-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter, Ms. Zhao Cui smiled from ear to ear and said, "Get up, get up."

At this time, the young lady brought the longevity noodles in and said, "Old lady, the girl made this for you early in the morning."

"My dear, you are considerate." Mrs. Zhao Cui said cheerfully.

The family was eating noodles with He Lele when there was a knock on the door. Zhao Wangshu asked curiously: "In this cold winter, who would come to the door so early?"

"Who else could it be, but that toad?" Zhao Yin rolled his eyes.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Mrs. Zhao Li hit him, "Jingyao will be your brother-in-law from now on, so don't speak so harshly."

Zhao Yin hummed twice.

Madam Wei came in with the post and said, "Madam, you are the steward of the Zhou family."

Zhao Li took the post and smiled, "My cousin has returned to Beijing and invited my family to be guests."

Li's natal family are not in Beijing. Now her cousin, with whom she is close, has returned to Beijing. She has more relatives to go to. She is very happy.

"It seems that my cousin-in-law has been promoted." Zhao Cheng said with a smile.

Zhao Li's cousin Xu married Zhou Du, a concubine of the Zhou family, and followed her husband as an official for ten years.

"If it weren't for the pressure from the Zhou family, my cousin-in-law would have been promoted long ago." Zhao Li said.

The Zhou family is a prominent family in the capital. It was once prominent, but with the death of Mr. Zhou, the family gradually declined.

The current head of the family, Zhou Zhuang, is Zhou Du's eldest brother. He is a fifth-rank official with a narrow mind and has not accomplished much.

Zhou Zhou's promotion this time was not due to the power of the Zhou family, but to some of his local political achievements.

His talents and political achievements were recognized by his superiors, so he was promoted. He was already a fourth-rank prefect in the local area. This time he returned to Beijing and was promoted to at least half a rank, becoming the highest-ranking person in the Zhou family.

Zhou Du brought his family back to Beijing, and did not live back in the Zhou family's old house. Instead, he lived in the Sanjin Courtyard where they were assigned when the family was separated.

On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhao Cheng accompanied Zhao Li and took Zhao Yin and Zhao Wangshu to visit Zhou Du's house.

When they arrived at Zhou's house, as soon as Zhao Li got off the carriage, she saw Zhou Du and Zhou Xu, their two sons Zhou Chi and Zhou Ji, and a girl of fourteen or fifteen years old.

Zhao Li looked at the girl with a flash of doubt in her eyes. Even if Zhou Du and Zhou Xu gave birth to a daughter later, wouldn't it be that big?
  Zhou Xu came up to me with a smile and said, "Cousin, I haven't seen you for many years, but you haven't changed much."

"My cousin is making fun of you, but you are the one who still has the same style." Mrs. Zhao Li took Mrs. Zhou Xu's hand and smiled.

Zhou Du greeted Zhao Cheng with his hands raised, "Cousin-in-law." "Cousin-in-law." Zhao Cheng returned the greeting with his hands raised.

After Zhou Xu greeted Zhao Cheng, her eyes fell on the Zhao brothers and sisters, "Brother Yin and Wangshu have grown so big."

"I've met my uncle and aunt." The Zhao brothers and sisters hurriedly saluted.

The Zhou brothers also saluted Zhao Cheng and Zhao Li. The girl's title was, "I have seen my cousin uncle and my cousin aunt."

"Is this cousin Xu Shi's daughter?"

"Yes, this is Danyang." Mrs. Zhou Xu patted Mrs. Zhao Li's hand, "Let's go in and talk if we have anything to say."

The yard of the Zhou family was kept clean and tidy. Mrs. Zhou Xu and Mrs. Zhao Li went to the inner hall to talk about themselves. Zhou Du invited Zhao Cheng, "I haven't played chess with my cousin husband. How many games will we talk about today?"

"My cousin is very skilled at chess, so please show mercy." Zhao Cheng said with a smile.

The two brothers-in-law went to the study, while the Zhao brothers and sisters were greeted by the Zhou brothers and Xu Danyang.

Zhou Chi learned that Zhao Yin was Jieyuan this year in Qiuwei, "Brother Yin is really a young talent. Please give me more advice in the future."

Zhao Yin said hurriedly: "Brother Chi, you are so complimentary. Why should we be so indifferent between you and me?"

The two had a very lively chat, covering everything from Qiu Wei's policies to poetry and poetry.

Zhou Ji listened beside him, interjecting a few words from time to time to express his own opinions.

Xu Danyang asked Zhao Wangshu, "Sister Shu, what do you usually do at home?"

"I didn't do much, just read books, practice calligraphy, and occasionally draw a few strokes." Zhao Wangshu did not mention that she also studied pharmacology.

Xu Danyang smiled and said: "It turns out that my sister can also paint. I must take a look at your works."

"It's just random graffiti, just a game." Zhao Wangshu said with a smile.

"Sister Shu is so humble."

The two of them chatted politely and had a good time.

During lunch, Zhao Wangshu noticed that her mother looked at Xu Danyang with pity in her eyes, and knew what Zhou Xu had said to her.

Her mother would also pick up vegetables for Xu Danyang from time to time, "As a young girl, she is too thin to look good. She is beautiful if she is round and round."

"Thank you, cousin." Xu Danyang thanked me obediently.

At the beginning of Shen Shi, the Zhao family said goodbye and left. Mrs. Zhou Xu took Mrs. Zhao and said, "Come to our house often when you have time."

Zhao Li also agreed: "Okay, we will come often."

On the carriage, Zhao Wangshu couldn't restrain her curiosity anymore, "Mom, why does Danyang live at her cousin's house? Where are her parents?"

"Her mother passed away when she was three years old, and her father remarried three months after her mother died. With a stepmother, there is a stepfather, and Danyang's life will be difficult. Look, your cousin She was so abused that she almost lost her life, so he spent money to buy her from her father." Mrs. Zhao Li sighed.

Zhao Wangshu felt sympathy for Danyang's experience, "Mom, Danyang's father just sold her to her cousin?"

"Your cousin made an agreement with Danyang's father. Danyang will live in her house from now on and be her daughter."

"As promised verbally, Danyang's father will definitely regret it, so it would be better to let her cousin take over Danyang's life."

Zhao Li thought for a while, "I have to remind my cousin another day."

A person who can sell his biological daughter to his sister has no conscience. Don't expect him to abide by the agreement.

(End of this chapter)