Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 134 Learn new skills! The calm waves rise again!

When the sky dawned, Zhao Shizhen got up and prepared to go to Honglu Temple to do the takshatra as usual.

But when he saw his "son-in-law" Zhang Chonghui, whom he had not seen for a long time, outside the gate with falling snow, he was stunned.

"You...you..." Zhao Shizhen's eyes gradually became frightened, especially when he saw Zhang Chonghui approaching him, he jumped up in fright and shouted:
"Ghost!!!"

Zhang Chonghui: "..."

……

After some explanation...

"What? The emperor has already sentenced you to death, but he can let you go again?"

Zhao Shizhen was completely shocked. In his entire life, this was the first time he heard that someone could be pardoned even after death.

He was so frightened that he thought the 'virtuous son-in-law' who suddenly appeared in the snow during the day was a dead ghost floating back to see him...

"Alas, he is pitiful enough. If I don't take him in, where else can he go? As for such unreasonable things as 'travelling with Japanese', I, Zhao, am walking the straight path and I am not afraid of these!"

"It's snowing and they can still fly out and bite people. These mosquitoes are really poisonous."

"Even if you are worried about your uncle, you have to feed yourself first! Be good, listen to daddy, let's eat first!"

"The saint is merciful." Zhang Chonghui only gave this answer, and then asked:
"Master-in-law, where is my fifth uncle?"

"Don't lie to me, eat as much as you can!"

Zhao Shizhen sighed after saying this, as if he was regretting something.

Zhang Chonghui opened his mouth slightly, and when he realized that the other party might have misunderstood, he 'explained': "But I'm really not hungry..."

"Silly boy..." Zhao Shizhen immediately guessed that the reason why Zhang Chonghui refused to eat was because he was 'filial' and worried about his uncle's safety, so he hurriedly advised:

Zhao Shizhen had begun to feel nervous. Last time his in-laws and uncles were missing, his 'filial' son-in-law was clamoring to break off the engagement.

Seeing that Zhang Chonghui did not stop because of anger, Zhao Shizhen breathed a sigh of relief. He even gave a detailed answer to his son-in-law's question:

"Okay!" Zhang Chonghui seemed to be 'amazed' by his father-in-law's words, and praised with great appreciation:
"My father-in-law is not only broad-minded, but also has a benevolent heart, which really makes my son-in-law admire him! My son-in-law has decided that from now on, he will follow your example and learn from it diligently!"

He was also unlucky, and happened to meet the Japanese pirates in Zhejiang at that time. At a young age, he was captured by Japanese pirates and taken to the Japanese country. He was trapped for eighteen years before escaping back.

"All right……"

"Uncle, he..." Zhao Shizhen's face was full of embarrassment. After hesitating for a long time, he replied:
"Uncle...he hasn't come back since he attempted suicide...where is he now...I don't know very well..."

The housekeeper was stunned for a moment and said, "Master, I'm afraid it's too late. How about I take you to Honglu Temple first?"

"This man's surname is Shen and his given name is Jiawang. He was originally the son of an old servant of my Zhao family. In the thirty-fourth year of Jiajing, he and his father returned to his hometown in Zhejiang.

There was actually nothing outstanding about this middle-aged man. The reason why he caught Zhang Chonghui's attention was because his behavior was different from others.

"Look at you kid, life is really hard. You have to be hungry when you are growing up. What if you are starved? What will you do in the future...eh? By the way, why is your mouth swollen? Is it a mosquito bite? ?”

"..."

Now, Zhao Shizhen panicked...

"Master-in-law, who is that person? His behavior seems a little different from ordinary people?"

Zhang Chonghui pointed to an ordinary-looking middle-aged man not far away who was leading a horse on a rope, and asked his father-in-law about it.

"Wait." Zhang Chonghui stopped the other party's enthusiastic pull.

"Ah? Um..."

"Oh! Why are you going to Honglu Temple?" Zhao Shizhen took off his official hat directly and waved his hand: "It's nothing, anyway. I just pretend to be sick today and won't go!"

"Xian son-in-law! Listen to my explanation!" Before Zhang Chonghui could speak, Zhao Shizhen hurriedly explained, saying:
"I will send someone to find your uncle right now! I think he should be at Commander Luo's house now! Don't worry, he will definitely not die!"

"Good son-in-law, you escaped from death this time. I will do whatever it takes to cleanse you of your troubles and get rid of your bad luck!"

As Zhao Shizhen spoke, he pulled Zhang Chonghui towards the house. While he was enthusiastic, he was also testing whether the other party was angry.

After hastily comforting him, Zhao Shizhen hurriedly called the housekeeper on the side and ordered: "Take people to Commander Luo's home quickly! Bring Zhang Wulang back!"

Zhang Chonghui's "moisturizing things silently" flattery directly hit Zhao Shizhen's heart. The corners of his raised mouth couldn't even be suppressed, so he just stroked his beard and laughed and said:

"Hahaha, this is not a big deal! Speaking of which, my dear son-in-law, you must be starving in prison, right? Come on, come on, I will have a large table of good wine and food prepared! We must drink well One cup!”

After hearing this question, Zhao Shizhen sighed helplessly and said:

Not only do you have to bend down in an exaggerated way every time you respond, but the words you respond to are not "Okay, okay," but: "Hi, hi, hi, hi."

The housekeeper nodded quickly when he heard this, turned around and prepared to take people to bring the future uncle's uncle back 'again'.

"So that's it." Zhang Chonghui nodded and asked in surprise:
"Master Yue Zhang, this person has been in the Japanese country for so many years, why do you still dare to take this person in? Aren't you afraid that some people with ulterior motives will label him as a 'tong Japanese'?"

"Thank you, my father-in-law, for your kindness, but I'm not hungry." Zhang Chonghui refused: "I'm a little sleepy, so I'd better wash up and get some sleep first. When my fifth uncle comes back, let's have a drink together?"

Just when Zhao Shizhen thought that his son-in-law was going to lose his temper again and break off the engagement, the other party asked him an insignificant question.

He had stayed in the Japanese country for a full eighteen years, and his habits and behavior were already more like those of a Japanese. Although he had changed a lot over the years, he could only change to this. "

Normally when people nod and bow, their posture is humble, but this person's humbleness is exaggerated to the point of exaggeration.

Looking at the somewhat panicked scene in front of him, Zhang Chonghui just said nothing. In fact, he knew that Zhang Yunxiu was not at Luo Sigong's home, but he did not stop his father-in-law from sending people to look for him.

This time my uncle-in-law is already 'dead or alive', why shouldn't he, this precious and virtuous son-in-law, just throw up his sleeves and run away?

……

Under the forced care of his father-in-law, Zhang Chonghui had no choice but to eat one more meal...

After eating, drinking, and washing, it's time to have a 'good' sleep!

After all, after getting up, he still has 'a lot' of 'business' to do and learn in person!
……

Zhao Shizhen didn't realize until his son-in-law was asleep that he had forgotten to tell his precious daughter the great news!
Thinking of the haggard appearance of his precious daughter who had not been able to eat or sleep well these days and had lost a lot of weight, Zhao Shizhen rushed to see his daughter impatiently, preparing to tell her in person that his son-in-law was back!
Just when Zhao Shizhen thought that his precious daughter Zhao Lanying would smile and be excited after hearing such great news, the result he got was somewhat beyond his expectation.

"Ying'er, he's really back, don't you...don't you believe it?"

Zhao Shizhen looked at his silly daughter with a crazy look on his face in surprise. For a moment, he even thought that his silly daughter had lost her mind and gone crazy because she couldn't bear the shock of losing her husband...

"I believe it." Zhao Lanying still looked that crazy.

The young girl Sichun's expression of nymphomaniac was not only confused but also frightened in the eyes of her inexperienced old father.

At this moment, Zhao Shizhen only felt that his daughter had suffered from "dementia" because she had been kept in the backyard for a long time and was overly sad.

For a moment, Zhao Shizhen felt that the sky was about to collapse, and he thought in his heart: "It's over, it's over, I was stupid before, but now I'm even more stupid! What should I do in the future? Will it be passed on to my children? !”

In order to cure his daughter's disease, Zhao Shizhen planned to ask his silly girl to meet Zhang Chonghui in person.

Anyway, the son-in-law is sleeping at the moment. As long as his silly daughter doesn't wake him up by making sudden noises, he won't reveal that he is a bit 'stupid'. "Ying'er, come with dad. Dad will take you to have a look and you will believe it. He is really back."

"Dad, I believe he is back."

"No, I think you should see it with your own eyes."

"Ah? Can I meet him openly? Didn't you say that you won't let me meet him alone before we get married?"

"Let's meet secretly."

"Forehead……"

"Come on Ying'er! He's sleeping now! He should wake up later!"

"Dad... I don't want to be sneaky, I want to be honest. Anyway, he will be my man from now on."

"Silly boy, listen to daddy. If you want him to be your man for the rest of his life, you must never meet before you get married!"

"why?"

"because……"

Zhao Shizhen was also embarrassed. He couldn't tell the truth to his daughter, "Because you are too stupid. If you scare him away, it will be over", right?
There was no other way, so Zhao Shizhen had to make up a random reason and said: "Ying'er, you don't know, not only is it inappropriate for a man and a woman to be alone in private before getting married, it's also... and... in short, it's just not allowed!"

Such a reason is too far-fetched. Zhao Lanying has heard too many rules and reasons. Recalling what happened last night, she can't help but feel guilty.

"Dad, then I want to get married as soon as possible." Zhao Lanying said directly.

Zhao Shizhen also said helplessly: "I think so too, but his annoying uncle doesn't agree to it, alas..."

"Alas..." Zhao Lanying could only sigh. God knows how much she wanted to be with her sweetheart all day long, but now she could only be separated by the shackles of the world and the two courtyard walls.

Seeing his daughter sighing and feeling trapped by love, Zhao Shizhen felt a little complicated.

In other families, all the daughters who marry are cabbage and pigs, but Zhao Shizhen always has the feeling that he is helping the 'pig' that he has carefully raised for more than ten years and trying his best to 'do' cabbage...

……

Zhao Shizhen was still troubled and troubled, but on the other side, the housekeeper who went to find his "in-law uncle" Zhang Yunxiu had already returned.

"Sir, Zhang Wulang is not at Commander Luo's residence, but I heard that Zhang Silang is here," the steward said.

"Where did Zhang Wulang go?" Zhao Shizhen asked hurriedly: "Did you look for it at Yu Shangshu's house? Is it at his house?"

The steward replied: "Back to my lord, I've been to Yu Shangshu's house for a while, and there was no Zhang Wulang, only Zhang Liulang."

"Ah?" At this time, Zhao Shizhen was really stunned: "Where else can Zhang Wulang go? Also, why are the three brothers living in one place in the east and one in the west? Why don't they live together?"

The housekeeper could only shake his head. After all, he really didn't know. Although, he still made a guess of his own: "Master, Zhang Wulang, could he... be dead?"

"Nonsense! Absolutely impossible!" Zhao Shizhen suddenly became excited. Although he didn't like Zhang Yunxiu, this gloomy uncle, he didn't hate him enough to let him die.

After thinking quickly for a while, Zhao Shizhen made a decision and said:
"The worst case scenario is to report to the government! No matter what! We must get Zhang Wulang back no matter what!"

You want to see people alive, and you want to see corpses even when dead!

……

Zhang Chonghui slept from morning to afternoon.

When I got up, it was already Shen hour, and the sun was about to set again.

But even now, there is still no trace of Zhang Yunxiu. Such a living person seems to have disappeared from the world.

"Xian son-in-law, don't leave!" Zhao Shizhen stopped Zhang Chonghui who was about to go out and said hurriedly: "Don't worry, we will definitely find your uncle!"

"Master-in-law, you misunderstood." Zhang Chonghui explained: "I just went out for a walk. I will be back before the curfew."

"It's almost dark! Are you still going out for a walk?" Zhao Shizhen hurriedly advised: "It's not peaceful outside now, so you'd better not go out to avoid getting into another lawsuit!"

Faced with such obstruction, Zhang Chonghui no longer persisted and just said indifferently: "That's okay."

Seeing that his son-in-law agreed so readily, Zhao Shizhen breathed a sigh of relief and felt even more relieved that his son-in-law was really obedient.

"My dear son-in-law, I checked the almanac today. The 20th next month is a rare and auspicious day in the zodiac in decades. It is especially suitable for getting married! I think... your marriage to Yingniang will be scheduled for that day. Is it done?”

Zhao Shizhen asked tentatively. He just wanted to let his daughter and son-in-law cook the rice as soon as possible, so that he could not only pick up his grandson earlier, but also not have to worry about his son-in-law 'running away' all day long!

"I don't have any objections." Zhang Chonghui expressed his opinion first, then turned around and said: "The main reason is that my fifth uncle disagrees. I can't disobey my elders. Father-in-law, don't you think so?"

Zhao Shizhen hurriedly suggested: "That's just your fifth uncle who doesn't agree. Don't you have two uncles in Beijing? They should agree, right?"

Zhang Chonghui shook his head: "To be honest, those two uncles have a bad relationship with me, which is why they haven't come here to see you yet."

"Ah..." Zhao Shizhen was also speechless, thinking that no wonder the three brothers lived in three places, he was also surprised.

There are only a few brothers in the Zhang family, so how can they not be in harmony with each other?
Zhao Shizhen was not a man who could keep his words to himself, so he directly asked: "Why are we not getting along?"

Zhang Chonghui, as if he had no choice, sighed and replied: "To be honest, they don't agree with me getting married. The real purpose of their trip to Beijing is to kidnap me back. Only my fifth uncle agreed to my getting married. ”

Zhang Chonghui just made up random things when he opened his mouth. If he wanted to have a "home-made son-in-law", he had to make it up!

Zhao Shizhen was a little dumbfounded when he got such an answer. He also didn't expect that his uncle Zhang Yunxiu, who he disliked, was the only one who agreed to his nephew's marriage?

At the same time, Zhao Shizhen decided to make his son-in-law go out less often. If he was kidnapped by his two uncles, he would lose more than he gained!

……

Time flies, and more than ten days have passed.

In the past ten days, Zhang Chonghui has looked very honest. He was so honest that he didn't even take a step out of the Zhao Mansion's door, as if he was afraid that after going out, he would get into trouble again.

For the past ten days or so, the Jin Yiwei, who has been lurking outside the Zhao Mansion, is about to be bored out of his mind.

In the past ten days or so, the Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun in the Qianqing Palace, besides having nightmares every night, was also wondering - why didn't he even go out? Is it possible to give up the struggle?
In the past ten days or so, the 'disappeared' Zhang Yunxiu was more like evaporating from the world, without any news at all.

Zhao Shizhen was almost dying of anxiety, and Zhang Chonghui looked very anxious too.

However, Zhang Chonghui still had some spare time and learned a somewhat 'weird' new skill.

This new skill is—Japanese!
Yes, although Zhang Chonghui did not go out, he learned Japanese every day from the Zhao family servant Shen Jiawang who had stayed in Japan for eighteen years.

Through Shen Jiawang, Zhang Chonghui also met another person named "Shen" who was also from Zhejiang.

In the past ten days, except for the "finding uncle" matter, which was not going well, everything else "seems" to be extremely peaceful.

However, beneath this calmness, there was a hint of weirdness.

Until the first day of October in the nineteenth year of Wanli.

(End of this chapter)