Chapter 15: Conspiracy (Part 2)
After going down from the attic and turning around a few times to avoid everyone's sight , he reached the street and saw Han Niang standing opposite him. He didn't say much and walked forward.
As soon as he saw Zhang Xuanning, he stepped forward and said, "Hey, Master Zhang is here?"
Zhang Xuanning said: "Is it done?"
"It's done. The old Feng family has agreed to sell the concubine. Madam Zhen has not had a child for more than two years. There have been quarrels at home and gossip. So I went to talk to her and it was settled without much trouble. However, when the old Feng family married Madam Zhen, they gave her two carved beds, four seasons of clothing, three gold bracelets and two silver bracelets."
"That's easy. I will return it to him at the original price. How much silver is that?" Although Zhang Xuanning knew that there might be some intimidation or inducement involved, it would be difficult to accomplish it quickly even if there was no emotion between them, so he did not ask and just said this to her.
"Eighty taels of silver. I have brought the documents for selling my concubine. As long as Master Zhang is willing to pay this money, I will sell this lady to you today. Madam Zhen is only nineteen years old this year, and she is tall and slender. Master Zhang has a good eye for her!" Han Niang said with a smile, "I will help Master Zhang to make a plan: Even so, she was only seventeen years old back then, and only this price was available. Now Old Feng just hopes to get a few taels of silver and get some respectability."
"That's not necessary. I'll still give you eighty taels of silver. You can bring back all the things from her parents' home. Also, you did a great job, so I'll give you another twenty taels of silver." Zhang Xuanning said, "But I haven't prepared it yet. I'll give you the banknote tonight."
"That's good too. As long as Master Zhang signs his signature, who would not believe it? I'll bring Madam Zhen here right away." Han Niang said with a smile on her face.
"No need. Her mother's surname is He, right? You send her home first, and then I will go there in the afternoon. Although she is a purchased concubine, I don't want to treat her too badly. The eight heavy gifts and the red sedan chair are waived, but the four light gifts and the light red sedan chair are still required. After all, she saved me back then, and people should always be grateful." Zhang Xuanning said indifferently, and then said: "Have the documents been completed? Bring them here, and I will sign them myself, and I will not deduct any money from you."
"Of course. Madam Zhen is so lucky. Which young lady, after being sold, can have the chance to enter the house again?" Han Niang smiled and took out a document. There were crooked words written on it, which basically stated that He Zhen was sold like - this was very common in ancient times. For example, the wealthy and the government would exchange concubines like commodities at that time. Even Su Dongpo, hundreds of years later, liked to give away his beautiful concubines who he was tired of playing with or play with them together!
After a quick look, he walked into a shop at random, borrowed a pen and ink, signed his name on it, blew on it, and then gave it to Han Niang.
"Also, since you are familiar with this, I will give you another 100 taels of silver later, and you can also prepare this wedding. What kind of ceremonial clothes, what kind of fruits, what kind of gold and silver bracelets, all of them should be prepared for me." Zhang Xuanning said: "The rest is up to you. There is no need for a banquet to marry a concubine, just two tables of drinks. The rest is up to you."
After estimating the benefits of handling these matters, Han Niang smiled so hard that she couldn't even close her mouth: "Master Zhang, don't worry, I will do everything for you safely."
After a pause, she even said something that made Zhang Xuanning laugh and cry: "Also, if Master Zhang takes a fancy to a young lady in the future, tell me and I will help you get it done."
Tsk, he is not Ximen Qing, why would he fall in love with someone else's wife and daughter and then find this pimp? If it weren't for Zhang Zhen saving his life and being so crucial, no matter how beautiful she was, he wouldn't have to do this. He looked down on and said, "Let's talk about this later. Let's get this done first."
He asked about the situation and found out that for such a concubine, most families would not even hold a banquet. The brothers did not invite many people, but only invited Master Su's family to come and have a drink, and with the addition of a few core brothers, it was considered two tables.
"Since we're going to pick her up tomorrow, why not just talk about it today? This matter isn't a big deal. Master Zhang might as well go to the He family this afternoon. That shabby family can be settled with a single word. It still costs a little." Han Niang thought for a moment and then said, "You don't need to buy anything when you go. Just a piece of cloth and four plates of soup and fruit. I'll get the rest. It's just a one-time visit."
"How about this, you go and do the business first, and I'll go back to get the money, and then we'll do it together." Zhang Xuanning felt that she still hadn't gotten it, which was a bit troublesome, so she just said it.
There is strength in numbers. Once the news spread, within a few hours, the outside of the city became busy. Master Su came in person to preside over the event, and a group of younger brothers came. Although there were no brothers from other temples or gangs (it would be embarrassing for them to come and celebrate as he had a concubine), but there could be more than two tables. There had to be at least ten.
Faced with such a situation, Zhang Xuanning couldn't help but smile bitterly. However, he also saw Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong, and ignored their strange expressions, and said directly: "Come, come with me to the He family, I think it will be almost done."
He changed into new clothes, not many red ones. After all, he was marrying a concubine, and a concubine who could be traded as a commodity. Even if Zhang Xuanning wanted to show some courtesy, it was almost the limit of what this world accepted.
After going out, I went to He's house, crossed the street, and in no time, I arrived at a place not far from He's house.
"Master Zhang, the sedan is ready. I'll go in and talk to him first. You can wait a moment and then you can come in." It was Han Niang who was waiting there.
"Well, you've worked hard." As he said that, he took out a silver note and handed it over.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I'll take it then." As she said that, she quickly put the banknote into the small pocket in her sleeve.
Han Niang led a servant and carried the gift box in first. Soon, she invited Zhang Xuanning in to meet her.
As soon as he entered, he found a couple inside, the man was over 40 years old, and the woman was over 30 years old. There was no need to be polite, but Zhang Xuanning remembered He Zhen's kindness, so he bowed deeply and said, "Please accept my greetings, both of you!"
"Don't dare!" The two knew what was good for them, and quickly gave way. After a while, they accepted a half-courtesy, and then sat down as host and guest. Han Niang said, "He Cang, you are also a street person, and everyone knows you. Master Zhang wants to marry your daughter as a concubine because he remembers the kindness he received in the past. This is a good thing, and it is a hundred times better than the old Feng family. You two, just talk about it."
In fact, this was none of He Zhen's parents' business, because they had already bought He Zhen, so there was no question of etiquette. However, ordinary people just loved money, so her father said shamelessly: "It is a blessing for her and my family that Master Zhang married her. I will make this decision for you today, but my family is poor and I can't afford to give her a gift when she goes out."
Zhang Xuanning glanced at Han Niang's contemptuous expression, offered his hand as a greeting, and smiled: "Don't worry, old man, you are He Zhen's father, I will always remember this."
Having said that, he winked at Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong. Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong stepped forward silently and took out a box. When they opened the box, eight ingots of ten taels of silver ingots were placed in front of them.
Zhang Xuanning said, "Well, I'll buy some fruit for you two old people first, and you can come to visit her during festivals in the future."
You have to know that such a concubine is not even qualified to come to the house without the permission of her husband's family.
When He's father saw the silver, his face was full of smiles. Only the mother still forced a smile, as she was even more worried about her daughter.
Han Niang said, "Since this is the case, it's getting late. I believe you have washed and changed your clothes. Come with me to the sedan chair!"
As she said that, her mother got up to call her. A few minutes later, He Zhen came out. She was dressed up. She couldn't wear a deep red wedding dress, so she wore a light red wedding dress. She had a thin layer of rouge on her face. Her eyes were bright and her teeth were white. She tied a red belt, which showed her curves. Her high and soft breasts showed that she was in the golden age of a woman. But her eyes were slightly red, and it seemed that she had just cried.
"Sister Zhen is so beautiful today."
"Ah, I just hope the incense master can treat her well."
When he led her to the sedan chair, he heard Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong whispering in the distance. Zhang Xuanning smiled: With her, I guess these two fools have already fallen into my calculations. Let alone plotting against them, even if I want to kill them, these two guys probably won't retaliate. They are just that kind of people.
