pdf-ebookys Chapter 131 General's Mansion 2
Chapter 131 General's Mansion 2
As the days passed, Zhou Leping grew up day by day. He was indeed studying hard, and at the age of fifteen or sixteen, he could already see what he would look like when he grew up.
People he met often said that his father was a rough general, so how could his son be so handsome, like a handsome young man. Whenever this happened, Zhou Leping would go up to them and argue with them. Why, his father was strong, so did his son have to be like Li Kui? Couldn't he just look like his mother?
Also because of Mr. Zhou's appearance, at the age of only fifteen or sixteen, he became a well-known young man in the capital.
In the academy, Zhou Leping was punished by the teacher for fighting as usual.
The sun was scorching outside. The young man and a few of his accomplices stood in the sun, doing horse stance. Drops of sweat dripped to the ground, but there was no sign of surrender on his faces.
"The guy named Gu deserves to be beaten. I will beat him up next time I see him."
The people around him also agreed: "That's right, he doesn't know the rules and even reported the teacher. He is such a mean person."
As they were talking, the get out of class was over. The teacher walked towards the group and said, "Okay, stop standing here, let's go home."
Zhou Leping was a little surprised. Was this matter just going to be over like that? Was he simply punished to stand for a while?
Just as I was thinking about it, I heard the teacher say, "Zhou Leping, your father has returned from the front today and is waiting for you at home. Go back quickly."
The smile on Zhou Leping's face was not revealed yet, but he immediately retracted it. No wonder he was easily bypassed today, it turned out that his father had returned from the battlefield!
Over the years, the country has become increasingly turbulent. Disasters have occurred frequently, and bandits have continued to occur. The court has turned a blind eye to this, and everyone seems to have numbed themselves in a life of debauchery. While the outside world is in dire straits, the people deep in the capital seem to still be in their dream of wealth and glory.
The border was constantly invaded. After the new king of Qi State, which bordered it, was in a stable political and harmonious situation, and there was a lot of work to be done. Its strength was growing visibly. So there were more attempts to test Liang State.
As one of the few military generals in the court, General Zhou has been sent out for longer and longer periods of time in recent years. Looking back, the last time they met seemed to be three years ago.
Although he knew he would be punished when he returned, Zhou Leping couldn't help but smile. His father was back. His father was finally back.
When he got home, he saw his father who had become even older after being worn out by the battlefield. Zhou Leping rushed over to him and said, "Dad, you are finally back!"
General Zhou looked at his son who was as tall as himself and felt very relieved: "You little rascal, you've been reported home again." As he spoke, his father hit him on the head with his big hand like a palm-leaf fan.
Zhou Leping was beaten, but he was still smiling foolishly.
That’s great, his father is back, and Sister Shuyi’s matter has been resolved.
After dinner, Zhou Leping was called by his father to the study for questioning.
After the meal, General Zhou no longer looked as fierce as before, and now he looked a little amiable: "Tell me, why did you fight with Minister Gu's youngest son?"
Zhou Leping did not hide it and spoke directly: "That's because they insulted Sister Shuyi first. The Yu family's breaking off of the engagement with Sister Shuyi was clearly the Yu family's fault. But for some reason, in their mouths, it became Sister Shuyi's fault. Bah, Sister Shuyi is the most dignified and elegant woman in the whole capital, how could they allow these idiots to slander her."
After hearing the cause of the incident, General Zhou's expression finally softened a lot: "The Song family and the Yu family broke off the engagement, and both families had their own considerations. This matter was proposed by your uncle, and we are just in-laws, so we can't interfere too much."
Zhou Leping didn't quite understand: "But Dad, wasn't this engagement finalized two years ago? Why did you cancel it all of a sudden? And at this critical juncture."
In Daliang, where the Zhou family lived, there was a foolish and incompetent emperor who was already in his sixties or seventies, but he was still planning a beauty contest. All unmarried women of marriageable age had to enter the palace to participate in the selection. Sometimes Zhou Leping would wonder why their country didn't change the situation like Qi did by changing the emperor.
"Dad, Sister Shuyi's breaking off the engagement at this time just happened to coincide with this year's talent show. Could it be that Uncle is still planning to send Sister to the talent show?"
Speaking of this, Zhou's father fell silent.
Zhou Leping was shocked. He actually guessed it right: "Dad! Did my uncle really cancel the engagement just to send my sister to participate in the talent show? This is his own daughter. How could he do such a thing? Is he still a human being?"
General Zhou looked at Zhou Leping and explained, "It's not entirely because of this. The child from the Yu family also has some problems. He has a bad moral character, which is why your uncle broke off the engagement with them."
Zhou Leping didn't understand: "Why do we have to cancel the engagement at this critical moment? Can't we do it a few months later? It's not just one or two days since he has been immoral. Did my uncle only find out about it today?"
General Zhou looked at his young and righteous son and could only sigh that he was inexperienced. "Your uncle has been in the position of governor for more than ten years and has not been promoted. This time... may be an opportunity."
Zhou Leping was so angry that he laughed: "Great, that's great. He's really great to use his daughter's happiness for his career. He's really great."
General Zhou stood up and said, "What can he do? Your uncle remarried a few years ago. Now he has four or five children to support. He is not young anymore. If he has no hope of promotion, he will be stuck in this position for the rest of his life. It will be difficult for him to return to Beijing. Leping, this is the way of being an official. This is the helplessness of adults."
Zhou Leping suddenly felt a little sad. He felt sad for his cousin. She was sent to her aunt's house to be raised since she was a child, and when she grew up, she was used by her biological father as a tool for promotion.
"Does my uncle have to sacrifice my cousin for those children? She is also my uncle's child! Should she be abandoned and used just because he never raised her? Dad, my cousin was raised in our family. She is our family. Please help her."
General Zhou looked at his son and slapped him. "Marriage has always been decided by parents and matchmakers. Even if she was raised in our family, your cousin is still a child of the Song family. With her biological father around, there is no place for us to interfere. Besides, is it certain that she will be selected if she participates in the talent show? There are hundreds of candidates! Zhou Leping, stay out of this matter, or I'll break your legs!"
After that, Zhou Leping was driven out.
Feeling depressed, Zhou Leping was walking aimlessly in the mansion under the moonlight. He happened to run into Jing Zhuo who was fiddling with something over there. Zhou Leping was curious about what Jing Zhuo was doing so late at night.
I walked over and took a look, and in the moonlight I saw that it was a kite.
"Ah Jing, what are you doing?"
Jing Zhuo looked up and saw that it was his young master. He held up the kite in his hand to show off: "Young master, look, I made a kite. Spring is here, let's go fly a kite."
Zhou Leping sat down next to Jing Zhuo, looked at the kite in his hand and sighed: "I'm afraid I don't have the mood to play recently."
Jing Zhuo was somewhat puzzled: "But was he punished by the Master again?"
Zhou Leping slapped Jing Zhuo on the head, just like he was slapped by his father: "It feels like I'm being punished all day long."