At this moment, although the bride, Zhao Zhilan, was not tied up, she was closely watched by a few old maids. Her anger had yet to subside, and she kept scolding the jade pillar. The old maids around her tried to persuade her to eat, but she refused to eat no matter what. She planned to force the Liu family to give in with a hunger strike.
Zhao Zhilan was the daughter of Zhao Wenhan from Zhao Family Village, which was ten miles north of Longxiang Village. Zhao Wenhan was a well-known gentleman in Tong Kang County, and he was also from a Chinese medicine family. Zhao Wenhan's grandfather, Zhao Yuande, was a scholar in the late Qing Dynasty. He was once the county magistrate of Tongkang County and had passed down his traditional Chinese medicine skills. Zhao Wenhan's father, Zhao Xuesheng, had run a private school in the village in addition to practicing medicine, and his family gradually became well-off. In Zhao Wenhan's generation, apart from managing the medicine shop in Kaifeng, he also owned a few hundred acres of land in Zhao Family Village. Zhao Wenhan had two wives. The eldest wife was the daughter of a wealthy family and had brought many dowries with her. She had two boys and a girl. The Second Mistress was a close female friend he met while he was practicing medicine. She had a daughter, Zhao Zhilan. When Zhao Zhilan was just born, everyone praised her because she was very beautiful. Only her grandfather, Zhao Xuesheng, shook his head and sighed. Beautiful things are inauspicious things!
Zhao Wenhan had superb medical skills and was very talented. He had a good reputation in the local area. When he was young, he often regarded himself as a native of the apricot forest. He once made a great wish to help the world by practicing medicine. He painstakingly studied the ancient medical books of the Chinese Dynasty, such as Shen Nong's Herbal Classic, the Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic, and Zhang Zhongjing's Theory of Typhoid and Various Illnesses. By the time he was in his prime, he was already familiar with the theory of yin and yang and the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine. His diagnosis methods were very exquisite. He was famous for hundreds of miles, and there was an endless stream of people looking for him to see a doctor.
Zhao Zhilan was born smart and was sent to the county primary school by her father. When her father treated patients, Zhao Zhilan would often study hard by the side. If she did not understand, she would ask. She was influenced by her father and knew some medical knowledge.
Zhao Wenhan was forthright, generous and generous, and made good friends with others. When he was treating the villagers, if he met a poor person who could not afford it, he would write the word "free" in the upper right corner of the prescription, and the medicine fee would be completely exempted. However, such a virtuous and skilled Holy Doctor committed suicide because of the deliberate framing of the wicked.
One summer, Zhao Wenhan was arrested by the county government for a poisoning case. Only when he went to court did he know that the county head said that someone had reported him and died after eating the soup he prescribed. Zhao Wenhan shouted that he was wronged, and the people of the entire county jointly petitioned for him, but the county head was unmoved. He found a dose of "poison" in his prescription--Mandrake. Zhao Wenhan complained that although Mandrake was toxic, it was very effective in treating respiratory failure, lung edema, hemoptysis, and asthma. That female patient had been suffering from asthma for many years. I added a small amount of Mandrake to the prescription I gave her. It won't be fatal at all. There must be another reason for her death. However, that bastard county head didn't listen at all. In order to close the case as soon as possible, he sentenced Zhao Wenhan to death, but he would be executed after autumn. Zhao Wenhan was angry and annoyed. He couldn't take it anymore and actually hanged himself in the prison room. Just like that, the Holy Doctor passed away! After the case was reviewed by the provincial government, the coffin of the woman who took the medicine was opened and an autopsy was performed. From her body, it was found that there was another crime. After the investigation by the provincial police, the poisoner was a villain from Zhao Family Village. He and Zhao Zhilan were schoolmates from Tong Kang County High School. Seeing that Zhao Zhilan was as beautiful as a fairy, he hated her after being rejected. He then bought the poison and secretly put it into the female patient's medicine. The truth was revealed, and the provincial police killed the evil young master to clear Zhao Wenhan's name. This was a story for the future.
At that time, the family received the bad news like a bolt from the blue. Because Zhao Wenhan died so suddenly and did not make a will, the funeral had not been completed yet. The two families of the First and Second Mistress were fighting over the property. Lady Zhao's family was large and powerful. Zhao Wenhan had been in charge of money and goods during his lifetime, so he had obtained most of the property. Zhao Zhilan's mother couldn't take it anymore and fell ill with hemoptysis. Zhao Zhilan was also forced to drop out of school and stay at home to serve her mother. In order to treat her mother's illness, Zhao Zhilan sold her real estate and owed a lot of debt. In the end, she could not save her mother's life. After her mother passed away, in order to pay off her debts, Zhao Zhilan found an embroidery job in the Zhou family's shop. She only slept three to four hours a day, and her eyes were as hard as wax bowls. The black-hearted boss also deducted her pitiful salary. She calculated that with her current income, she would have to work for ten years even if she had to eat and drink! She didn't know when her bitter days would end.
Suddenly, one day, her aunt came to her door and said that she could not bear to see her suffer alone outside. She wanted her to go back. After all, they were a family. Even if the bones were broken, the tendons would still be connected! Seeing Zhilan hesitate, her aunt promised that she would pay the debt. Only then did Zhilan return to Zhao Family Village. Zhi Lan looked at the courtyard she used to play in when she was young. Now that things were the same and people had changed, she could not help but feel sad and tears fell like rain. In the beginning, her aunt's family treated her well, but it didn't last long. Her aunt actually treated her like a servant girl, and if she was slow in doing housework, she would be scolded and beaten by her aunt. Zhi Lan regretted falling into the tiger's mouth. She couldn't bear the humiliation and tried to escape several times, but she was captured by the aunt's family. Zhilan struggled on the brink of death.
The auntie did not find Zhilan out of conscience, but because she had her own plans. Zhilan was already a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl. She was beautiful and knowledgeable. Finding a husband for her could leave a generous betrothal gift. Under the influence of this thought, she left a sentence to the matchmaker. Whoever offered the most betrothal gifts would marry Zhilan.
Matchmakers came to propose marriage one after another, but Aunt Zhilan was not in a hurry and raised the price. Matchmaker Zhang was entrusted by Master Liu of Longxiang Stronghold and was willing to pay 10,000 yuan. Aunt Zhilan was overjoyed when she heard this. Immediately call Zhilan out to meet Matchmaker Zhang. Matchmaker Zhang explained her intentions and launched a fierce attack on Zhilan. Aunt Zhilan also hypocritically advised, but Zhilan refused. Zhilan was a new woman. Although she did not finish her studies, she was still influenced by new ideas. In school, the teachers repeatedly talked about gender equality and freedom of marriage, which had a deep impact on her. Arranged marriages had led to so many tragedies! She hadn't even seen the man once and she was already committing her life to him. She was being irresponsible for her entire life! Therefore, she refused to agree no matter what.
Aunt Zhilan asked Matchmaker Zhang what to do. Matchmaker Zhang laughed and said,"I say, what kind of aunt are you? Since ancient times, marriage had always been the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker. Her parents died early and grew up with you. You are her biological mother. Your words are the imperial edict. As long as you agree, there will be no problem. This matter is settled. Give me my daughter's birth characters. I'll hurry to the Liu family and set a good date to come and marry her.”
Aunt Zhilan knew that Zhilan had a strong personality. If she was forced into a corner and ended up committing suicide, she would lose both her life and money. In order to stabilize Zhilan, she treated Zhilan exceptionally well. He secretly set a wedding date with the matchmaker and decided to force himself on her when he got into the sedan chair. Zhi Lan was kept in the dark about all of this. She naively thought that a marriage she did not agree to would not have any results. Who would have thought that the jade pillar's bridal sedan chair would still be carried through the door.
On the day of the jade pillar welcoming the bride, she was angry and annoyed. Seeing Yuzhu's short figure and tanned face, she was even more determined to resist the marriage. She refused to get into the car and resisted fiercely. She even scratched Yuzhu's ear with her nails. However, the other party had more people and was more powerful. She was forcefully tied to the car and pulled into the Liu family's gate.
In the bridal chamber, Zhao Zhilan was sulking. Liu Yuwan pushed the door open and entered. Seeing that Zhao Zhilan had not eaten yet, she ordered the servants to bring more food and advised Zhilan,"Eat first. Don't starve yourself. I still have something to ask you later."
Zhilan looked at the person in front of her who was as beautiful as her and about the same age as her. When she found out that she was her sister-in-law, her heart softened. The hungry worm kept growling in her stomach. She felt that it was useless to go on a hunger strike. If she wanted to die, she would be a hungry ghost, so she picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
Liu Yuwan waited for her to finish eating before sending the servant away. She said sincerely,"Miss Zhao, don't worry. Although I'm Yuzhu's sister, I won't protect him. I strongly oppose this marriage. We are of the same age, and I sympathize with your experience. If I have caused you any harm, I apologize on behalf of the entire family.”
When Zhao Zhilan heard this, a warm current seemed to flow through her heart, and her gaze became gentle. She originally thought that the Liu family was " a crow that falls into a pile of coal is still black ". She did not expect the young girl standing in front of her to be so righteous and speak so warmly! She was so excited that tears streamed down her face as she sobbed,"Thank you, Miss Liu. I really don't know your brother at all, let alone feelings and common language. I really don't want to marry him. You know that a forced melon isn't sweet.”
"I'll help you," said Miss Liu sympathetically. Let me think about this matter. I have to think about it carefully.”
Miss Zhao seemed to have grabbed onto a life-saving straw. She knelt on the ground and begged,"I hope that Miss will make up her mind. I will repay you like a cow or a horse!”
As they were talking, the jade pillar was carried into the bridal chamber by the servants. Yu Zhu reeked of alcohol and pretended to be unconscious. His mouth kept drooling, making him feel nauseous. Seeing that her brother was drunk, Liu Yuwan ordered the servants to leave the bridal chamber. She threw a look at Miss Zhao and said,"Sister-in-law, nothing will happen tonight. It's getting late. You should rest early too!”Finished talking, Yu Wan was about to open the door, but the door was crowded with people who were ready to make a scene in the bridal chamber. She was so angry that she shouted from the other side of the door,"Can't you see that the groom is drunk? Why are you still making a fuss?!”
The "Lottery Head"(referring to the leader of the organization who caused the bridal chamber disturbance) said,"This kid is lucky. Otherwise, passing three stages would be enough for this kid to drink a pot of water.”Immediately, a wave of evil laughter broke out.
The "three passes" mentioned by the transport chief was an open secret in the Dragon Xiang Stronghold. It referred to the " water snake playing with sparrows "," ants moving house ", and " monkeys plucking peaches ". These were all traditional events that the bride and groom had to attend. This group of people saw that the project was difficult to get on, so they were still in high spirits. They actually began to write and act out their own script at the door. A perverted man shouted,"I can't sleep day and night because of your dirty hole…" Then, a man disguised as a woman replied, Gold stick stick, silver stick stick, not as good as you, meat stick stick…these were the essence of their long-term obedience.
Yu Wan picked up the broom in the corner of the wall and opened the door with a bang. She hit everyone she met and scolded,"You bunch of turtles, go die where you deserve to die!”Everyone dispersed. Taking advantage of this chaos, a black shadow jumped out of the bridal chamber. Liu Yuwan, who was standing at the door, was quick to react. She reached out and grabbed the person's arm. When she looked closely, she saw that it was her neighbor, Hu Gouwa. This child was Hu Liren's nephew. He was about thirteen or fourteen years old. He had no parents since he was young and had been growing up with Hu Liren.
"Puppy, what are you doing in the bridal chamber?" Yu Wan asked.”
"I want to eavesdrop." The dog was holding a red dot steamed bun from the new urine jar under the bed in one hand, and the other hand seemed to be holding something.
"What's that in your hand?" Yu Wan asked curiously.”
Puppy spread out his hands and said,"Two pegs from the bed."”
"Why did you pull out the pegs?"
"It's my Second Uncle who let me go.”
Yu Wan reached out to take it back, but the dog slipped from her hand and disappeared outside the door.
Although Yu Wan felt that it was strange, she didn't think too much about it at that time. She just shook her head and said,"A devilish brat doesn't beat up a roof and tear off the tiles!"
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。