Chapter 353 - 351: Compassion

Chapter 353: Chapter 351: Compassion

Zhang Wei Qiang lazily cleaned out his ear, shaking his head with a smile. "What was that, Minzhen? I can’t hear you, you’re being too quiet." With that, he grabbed Song Yong and started to leave. "Let’s hurry inside. Why should we men get mixed up in women’s affairs?"

"Alright," Song Yong replied with a laugh. As he was being pulled away, he glanced back and gave Zhang Minzhen a helpless look that said, ’You’re on your own.’

Zhang Su quickly shot Zhang Minzhen a sympathetic glance before making his own swift exit.

Zhang Minzhen stomped her foot in anger, earning a merciless laugh from Lin Qin. "Hahaha, see? Tattling won’t do you any good. You might as well just accept your fate." Just as Lin Qin was gloating, Zhang Kai walked over with a sympathetic expression, took Zhang Minzhen’s hand, and hurried her along, whispering comfortingly, "Auntie, let’s go inside too. Don’t be sad. From now on, I’ll be on your side. You’re my favorite."

"It’s good to know I haven’t been spoiling you for nothing." Zhang Minzhen finally felt mollified. She let Zhang Kai lead her away, and without caring if Lin Qin could hear, she shot a triumphant look back over her shoulder.

Lin Qin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, muttering with a chuckle, "That little rascal’s getting bold, daring to undermine me right to my face."

Wen Xiu laughed as well. "Well, what did you expect when you and your husband ganged up on her? Serves you right." Lin Qin wasn’t angry at hearing this; she just smiled at Wen Xiu. "Mom, so everything you said before was just to humor me, wasn’t it? Deep down, you still love Minzhen more, right?"

"In my heart, I love you both the same," Wen Xiu said, her expression turning serious.

"And here you are, telling me you weren’t just humoring me. You just said you cared for me more," Lin Qin deliberately pouted and mumbled under her breath. Still, she affectionately linked her arm through Wen Xiu’s and followed her into the house. "Oh, never mind. I care for her as if she were my own sister—even more so. Look, even your grandson knows to stick up for his aunt in front of me. Ah, but what can I do? She’s younger than me. So even if you all favor her a bit more, as the eldest sister-in-law, I just have to grin and bear it, don’t I?"

"That’s why I care for you more," Wen Xiu said, patting her arm comfortingly. Then, her face contorted with anger. "Unlike those other two, especially that bitch Guo Xiuying—"

"What’s wrong?"

Lin Qin jumped in surprise. Even when her mother-in-law was at her most displeased with the other two daughters-in-law, she rarely cursed them so viciously. Her confusion deepened. "You and Dad weren’t very clear on the phone. What exactly is going on? What did Third Brother’s wife do this time to make you so furious?"

"Don’t call her that. She doesn’t deserve it. That slut..."

It would have been better not to bring it up. As soon as it was mentioned, Wen Xiu’s face twisted in an uncontrollable grimace, and she gritted her teeth. Lin Qin was thoroughly startled. Even Zhang Minzhen and Zhang Kai, who were walking a little ahead, stopped in their tracks and turned back. The playful look on Zhang Minzhen’s face vanished, her expression growing grave. "Mom, don’t tell me she’s been cheating?"

"It’s more serious than that. It’s too much to explain in just a few words. Let’s eat first; you all must be hungry after your journey. We’ll sit down and discuss it after dinner." Wen Xiu was filled with anger and resentment. "I can’t even stand to talk about something so disgusting more than once."

’Something more serious than cheating? It looks like this is a really big deal.’

Lin Qin and Zhang Minzhen exchanged glances, all traces of their earlier lightheartedness gone. Their expressions turned grim.

---

In the main hall, the table was laden with food.

Wen Xiu had cooked much of it as extra for Gu Nuan Nuan to take with her when she went up the mountain to gather medicinal herbs. Now, it was just enough for everyone, with some to spare.

After dinner, once the table was cleared, everyone gathered around again. Just as Zhang Dazhuang was about to speak, Wen Xiu glanced at Zhang Su, Zhang Kai, and Gu Nuan Nuan, then hesitated. "This is a pretty ugly business. Should we maybe talk about it later, away from the children?"

Zhang Dazhuang frowned. His wife was right; it was an ugly business.

"There’s no need. The kids are older now; they can’t be kept in the dark about everything forever. Besides, the more we try to hide it, the more curious they’ll become, and they’ll find a way to learn about it one way or another. It’s better they hear the truth from us than piece together a story from half-truths."

Zhang Wei Qiang knew their conversation wouldn’t escape Gu Nuan Nuan’s ears. Her sharp hearing was no longer a secret in the family. Seeing the three children already exchanging knowing glances, he knew they would eavesdrop even if they were told not to. Rather than let them form bad habits, it was better to let them listen openly. That way, the family could provide proper guidance if needed.

"That’s right. Nuannuan was the one who discovered it, actually. There’s no point in keeping them out of it."

On second thought, Zhang Dazhuang realized his eldest son was right. Besides, since Nuannuan already knew, his two grandsons were bound to find out eventually. He nodded decisively, no longer conflicted, and began to recount the entire affair from start to finish.

Zhang Dazhuang’s account was exhaustive. He started with how Guo Xiuying had planned to send Zhang Laodi to Xu Banxian as a concubine, then described how the family had plotted to punish Xu Banxian, how Gu Nuan Nuan had delivered a letter to reassure Zhang Laodi, and then the "accidental" discovery that Zhang Tianci might not be a child of the Zhang family. He finished with the information Zhang Damei had managed to extract from Xu Banxian.

He then produced the written "confession" that Zhang Damei had obtained from Xu Banxian and handed it to Zhang Wei Qiang. Zhang Wei Qiang’s brow had been furrowed as he listened, but after he finished reading the paper, his frown deepened, his brows knitting tightly together and staying that way. Without a word, he passed the paper to Song Yong. It went from person to person until everyone, including Gu Nuan Nuan, Zhang Su, and Zhang Kai, had read it.

Zhang Dazhuang took out his tobacco pipe but didn’t light it. Remembering how much Gu Nuan Nuan disliked the smell of smoke, he put it away again and addressed the group. "The dilemma now is whether to expose this business with Guo Xiuying and Xu Banxian. If we do, never mind other people, Third Brother himself will make sure the whole world knows. I’m not trying to save any face for Guo Xiuying. My concern is that if her affair with Xu Banxian becomes public knowledge, it won’t just be the dozen or so people and families on this list who are implicated... I’m worried about the ones Xu Banxian didn’t write down, or even the innocent ones. The reputation of any woman who’s ever visited Xu Banxian’s place could be destroyed. If this blows up, Xu Banxian dying would be well-deserved, but the fallout would be immense. Would their families-in-law still accept them? What would happen to their children?"

Zhang Dazhuang reached for his pipe again, clutching it in his hand as a look of pity filled his eyes. "No matter the times, life is so hard on women, especially those who made a single mistake in a moment of foolishness and went down the wrong path. Not all of those women are as despicable and undeserving of pity as Guo Xiuying. The repercussions of this coming to light are just too far-reaching. I’m afraid that in the end, we won’t be able to control the consequences at all."