Chapter Bonanza (6/10)

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Tieniu still remembered where the Huangfu family lived.

Early that morning, the two changed into fresh clothes—nothing particularly fancy, just what ordinary people wore. Tang Xianling had originally thought of buying new clothes to look a bit better; given Tieniu’s current circumstances, he feared the Huangfu family might look down on him.

Tieniu shook his head and said it wasn’t necessary.

“I know you’re thinking that fine clothes would make us look impressive and save face, but I don’t care about that. The Huangfu family doesn’t hold any high official positions, yet they still act as if they’re living off their ancestors’ glory—they’re just living off what my grandfather left behind.”

“I rely on my own two hands. Whether I’m a hunter or a small-time boss running ‘Brother Tang’s’ shop in the neighborhood, I’m content and happy.”

Hearing this, Tang Xianling couldn’t help but let the corners of his eyes crinkle. “You just slipped in a little love note there.”

“You picked up on that?” Huangfu Tieniu laughed along with him.

Tang Xianling tossed his head back and tilted his chin slightly upward. “Hmph, ‘Little Boss’ of Brother’s Tang Restaurant—off we go~.”

The two rode in a carriage to the entrance of the Huangfu family estate.

This old family residence—an estate acquired by Huangfu’s grandfather—was owned by a Fifth-Rank official, whose main gate was not allowed to face the main street directly. Situated in a wide alley, it was a large two-courtyard compound, though the architecture in Lujing differed from that in Fengyuan City.

In Fengyuan City, two- or three-courtyard compounds were meticulously laid out, adhering to a central axis that divided the space exactly in half, with perfect symmetry on both sides. Houses in Lujing didn’t follow this layout; they were more like the Suzhou gardens Tang Xianling had visited in modern times—featuring gardens and waterways that didn’t emphasize symmetry, each possessing its own unique beauty.

As soon as the door was knocked open, an elderly man with slightly graying hair appeared at the gate. Before Tieniu could even speak, the man’s eyes—though somewhat clouded—suddenly lit up, and he exclaimed, “The—the Young Master?”

“Young Master—it really is you! You’re back!”

Tieniu supported the old man’s arm and furrowed his brow slightly. “Uncle Quan, why are you working as a gatekeeper…?” As he spoke, it dawned on him—Uncle Quan had been a servant to his grandfather and had now fallen to the position of gatekeeper.

“I’m just an old man now—I’m just glad to still be here. This old servant has been waiting for you all this time. I never imagined this day would actually come—that you’d return, Young Master. May the old patriarch’s spirit in heaven watch over you. You’re truly blessed and fortunate.” Uncle Quan’s words stumbled, and his eyes filled with tears.

Tieniu clasped Uncle Quan’s hand, stepped slightly to the side to make room, and introduced him to his husband: “Xianling, this is Uncle Quan. After my grandfather passed away, he took the best care of me in this household.”

“It’s my duty as an old servant,” Uncle Quan said, glancing at the young husband with his delicate, handsome features, then breaking into a smile. “The eldest young master has started a family? Good, good. Greetings, young husband.”

Tang Xianling raised his eyebrows slightly and greeted Uncle Quan.

Uncle Quan was overjoyed. He had been leading the two inside when, suddenly remembering something, he stopped short, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and then guided them to the nearby hall where the palanquin was set down. “Over the years,” he began, “the master has been demoted twice…”

Tieniu’s grandfather was a fifth-rank military official. Tieniu’s father was good-for-nothing—he couldn’t endure hardship, lacked martial prowess, and was too cowardly to serve at the border. So Tieniu’s grandfather, putting his old face on the line, used his influence to secure his son a minor sixth-rank position.

It was the captain in charge of guarding one of the Nine Gates of Lujing.

Uncle Quan phrased it rather diplomatically, choosing his words with great care. Listening from the side, Tang Xianling translated it into plain language and distilled the main point—Tieniu’s own father, that good-for-nothing, couldn’t even guard the gate properly. Once, when military intelligence was reported, his father asked a few questions and got kicked by the messenger. He spent half a year recuperating from his injuries, and after he recovered, he was transferred to a dead-end position.

The kick itself was a minor injury, but Uncle Quan saw right through it and put it bluntly: “The master’s dignity was compromised”—meaning he’d lost face. He hid at home, refusing to go out to work, and dragged things out for half a year. His subordinates came to visit him twice, but eventually no one came anymore.

Then his father was “reassigned”—this was the first demotion.

Don’t let the title of “Captain of the Lu Capital City Gates” fool you—this position involved guarding the Imperial City, and he wasn’t just a lowly soldier but a captain with an official rank. With distinguished guests and merchants coming and going, he had the chance to make appearances in public. How should I put it? As long as he knew how to conduct himself and was a bit resourceful, he could receive “passage cash” from merchants below and meet influential figures above to build connections.

All in all, this job really wasn’t half bad.

The Huangfu family isn’t exactly a well-established, long-standing clan—for his grandfather to secure this position for his son, he must have pulled some serious strings and really put his reputation on the line. Yet Tieniu’s father still finds fault with everything. Doesn’t he even take a good look at himself to see what he’s really made of and what real skills he actually has?

This time, he’d been transferred to a warehouse that hardly anyone ever visited—a truly godforsaken government office. He was just scraping by on his monthly salary, with no one to pay him bribes or curry favor with him.

And yet, even guarding a warehouse can go wrong.

The warehouse caught fire.

“The grain, provisions, and weapons were all burned to ashes—everything was gone—and only then did the boss find out,” Uncle Quan said.

Tang Xianling: … He simply couldn’t help himself and asked what the master had been up to.

Uncle Quan had harbored some resentment over the years, but he’d still worked diligently to uphold the Huangfu family’s reputation. However, seeing that it was the eldest young master’s husband asking, he told the truth.

The master found the granary too remote; he owned a mansion in the city where he usually returned to sleep, drink, and relax.

Tang Xianling: …Tsk.

He sure knows how to enjoy himself.

After the incident, when his superiors held him accountable, Tieniu’s father was the first to take the fall. He was stripped of his official position and flogged—that was last summer—and now he’s idle at home.

After finishing this account, Tang Xianling interjected curiously once more: “So it was because he had nothing better to do that he remembered he had a child out there on his own?” He couldn’t possibly be that kind-hearted, could he?

Upon hearing this, Uncle Quan looked up at the young master.

“Uncle Quan, just say it straight: back then, I didn’t accidentally slip and fall into the water—I was pushed in. They stood there on the boat and watched as I was swept away by the current, and no one came to save me,” Tieniu said in a flat tone.

Every time Tang Xianling heard this, he would fly into a rage.

Uncle Quan froze for a moment, his eyes immediately reddening. Realizing something, he cursed, “That venomous woman, that venomous woman.”

He was cursing his stepmother.

Tieniu said, “My father was on the boat.”

The eldest young master had come to harbor hatred toward his own father. Uncle Quan had intended to say that this was absolutely out of the question, but seeing how the eldest young master bore a striking resemblance to the old patriarch, he realized that if the old patriarch were still alive—and if the eldest young master had been in charge—the Huangfu family would never have ended up in its current state.

It was no wonder the eldest young master felt this way—he had been so young back then.

Uncle Quan couldn’t help but feel a bit of resentment toward the master of the house. The master had been a failure, favoring the stepmother above all else. Even a tiger doesn’t eat its own cubs, yet the master had been blinded and his heart clouded by greed—and now the Huangfu family had fallen into this state…

He feels he has failed the old patriarch.

Uncle Quan didn’t know what to say; his hands trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes. “Since the Master lost his official position, our business dealings have long since lost the title of ‘Imperial Merchant.’ People used to send cash, but now they don’t. The Master is used to living lavishly. At the end of last year, he wanted to make the rounds, but just then, a letter arrived from the border outpost: Grandfather Ji had passed away.”

His maternal family’s surname was Ji.

Upon hearing this, Tieniu’s expression softened slightly, shedding the cold, ruthless demeanor he’d shown while listening to the news about the Huangfu family. His voice grew hoarse as he asked, “Has my maternal grandfather been buried? Was it at the border?”

Uncle Quan nodded repeatedly. “He has already been laid to rest. The messenger brought some of the Old Master’s old belongings and clothes; I’ve kept them all—” At this point, his eyes grew misty with tears. “Both Old Masters doted on their children and did everything they could to pave the way for them. Old Master Ji risked his life to save General Zhao.”

“General Zhao holds the rank of General of Martial Valor, a third-rank official. We don’t know exactly how the old master at the frontier saved General of Martial Valor, but we do know that the Zhao family’s personal guards came to our door in person to deliver the old master’s old clothes and announce his passing. When the master saw they were from the Zhao family, he didn’t dare treat them with any disrespect, so he let me keep the old clothes.”

“Later, in the spring, the Zhao household hosted a spring celebration banquet and invited her to attend.”

Given the Huangfu family’s current standing, the second wife hadn’t attended a proper banquet among the aristocratic ladies’ circle for many years. This time, thanks to the influence of the first wife’s father, she attended a banquet.

“After she returned, she looked absolutely dreadful, and shortly after that, the Master said he wanted to find the eldest young master.”

“I’d thought I’d never see the eldest young master again in this lifetime, but I never imagined that with just this one search—” Uncle Quan’s voice trembled as he spoke. It had only been a few months—less than half a year since spring—and with such a simple search, they’d found him. But what had the master and his second wife been doing all those years past?

They were so heartless—they never even thought to look for the eldest young master.

Uncle Quan was heartbroken, tears streaming down his face.

Tieniu gripped Uncle Quan’s arm a little tighter to comfort him. “I’m fine. My adoptive father saved me back then—I narrowly escaped death. Later, I settled in Fengyuan City, and now that I have a husband, my life is going very, very well.”

“Uncle Quan, I didn’t come back this time to stay with the Huangfu family, nor do I want anything from them. I just want to take my mother’s keepsakes and my maternal grandfather’s old belongings.”

Upon hearing this, Uncle Quan hesitated, as if he had something to say but couldn’t bring himself to speak. Through eyes brimming with tears, he looked at the eldest young master, who reminded him so much of the old patriarch from years past. He wanted the eldest young master to restore the Huangfu family’s reputation and lead them to prosperity, but after hearing what the eldest young master had said—and considering that heartless couple in this mansion…

The eldest young master shouldn’t stay.

Having come to this realization, Uncle Quan nodded. “Very well, very well. This estate has fallen into ruin; the Old Master is watching over it from above, and he won’t hold the Young Master responsible.”

“A man of the old patriarch’s caliber—how could he have sired such a good-for-nothing beast?”

Tang Xianling understood: the Huangfu family’s attempt to bring Tieniu back had indeed backfired. This was a rare opportunity for a family in decline—but it was an opportunity that Tieniu’s maternal grandfather had traded his life for his grandson. The Zhao family had already made their stance clear: they would bestow their favor on no one but Tieniu.

As for the matter of finding a suitor, the second wife was clenching her teeth in determination—she wanted to live the life of a government official’s wife, yet didn’t want Tieniu to return to take charge of the household and regain his influence.

Tieniu’s good-for-nothing father is probably just “giving it a shot,” hoping to leech off his son later.

Hahaha, they’re all dreaming.

As for working for the Huangfu family in Lujing, don’t even think about it. That couple isn’t interested in that kind of work—who cares about official rank?

Tang Xianling was seething with rage; that couple was just feeding him a load of nonsense.

“Who’s left at the manor now?”

Uncle Quan: “The concubine gave birth to a son; she’s holding him over there and raising him.”

“Hmm.” Tieniu nodded and motioned for Uncle Quan to wipe away his tears. “Let’s go inside and talk.”

Uncle Quan wiped his tears with his rough hands, his expression somber, and nodded. He knew the eldest young master wouldn’t stay long at the Huangfu household. Oh well, oh well.

At the second gate leading to the inner quarters, a rough-looking old maid stood guard. When she saw Uncle Quan, she spoke to him very rudely, implying that Uncle Quan—an old gatekeeper—had no manners for sneaking into the inner quarters and had dirtied the place.

“You’re just a rough-around-the-edges old woman guarding the second gate, yet you have such a loud voice—you’re so noisy and have no manners. Who do you think you’re talking to?” Tang Xianling retorted sharply.

The old servant woman was initially furious. She sized up the visitor from head to toe; seeing that he was dressed plainly and unremarkably, she put her hands on her hips, ready to retort.

“The Young Master and his husband have returned,” Uncle Quan said.

The housekeeper, who had already had a curse on the tip of her tongue, paused in surprise, forced herself to swallow it, and snapped, “Wait here,” before heading into the back courtyard to announce their arrival.

“He doesn’t hold any official rank, yet he sure acts like he’s something special,” Tang Xianling muttered.

Uncle Quan chuckled. The young master was outspoken and straightforward, with a frank and unpretentious nature—much like his mother. She was dutiful and virtuous, urging the master to better himself, though her well-meaning words often stung—and it was precisely for this reason that she did not receive the master’s affection or respect.

But the eldest young master isn’t the master of the house.

On the way here, Tang Xianling had been chatting with Tieniu—based on all the novels he’d read, given their current status as commoners and small merchants, they held little standing. Even though the Huangfu family had fallen on hard times, they were still bogged down by a bunch of stinking rules. He figured they’d likely be looked down upon and given a hard time when they paid their call.

Tieniu hugged him and said, “Let’s ignore those stupid rules and just yell right back at them.”

Fortunately, Uncle Quan was on duty at the gate and explained the ins and outs—details they couldn’t have found out anywhere else. Now the tables had turned completely, and the couple was actually “begging” Tieniu.

Tieniu wants neither the Huangfu family’s wealth nor fame, fortune, or official rank—which means they have no leverage over him.

Oh, and there’s filial piety—

Tieniu gazed at the courtyard behind him, letting out a cold snort as indifference flashed in his eyes.

Tang Xianling: Very good.

He and Tieniu really were a match made in heaven. Let all this so-called “filial piety” go to hell.

A young maidservant served tea and led the two of them to their seats to wait a moment.

The “Lady” hadn’t arrived yet, so Tang Xianling and Tieniu sat together drinking tea while they waited. After about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Tieniu stood up and said, “Since no one’s here, let’s go.”

This flustered those who’d been hoping to intimidate them. The head maid standing beside them hurriedly tried to stop them.

Tang Xianling’s expression turned stern. “Get out of the way. Let me tell you, I won’t hesitate to use force. We common folk in this neighborhood don’t play by such rigid rules.” He raised his hand to intimidate her.

Frightened, the maid instinctively stepped aside, watching helplessly as the young master and his husband walked away.

Oh no, I must tell the mistress.

Upon hearing they had left, the second wife was taken aback at first, refusing to believe they’d actually gone. That man up front had been away for so many years—who would’ve thought that bastard would be so lucky to survive? Now that he’d returned with nothing but a letter, how could he possibly be willing to give up the wealth and prestige of the Huangfu family?

“Don’t worry. He’s been out in the world too long and has no sense of propriety.”

The maid had no choice but to wait outside the door.

By the time the second wife had finished getting ready—taking her sweet time changing her clothes—she arrived at the hall to find it completely empty, with nothing but two cups of tea that had long since gone cold…

“Where is everyone?”

“Madam, the eldest young master and his wife have both left.”

The second wife furrowed her brow in disbelief. “Didn’t anyone stop them?”

“We couldn’t stop them.” The maid couldn’t stop them; she had just gone to fetch the lady of the house. If the lady had appeared and tried to keep them, she surely could have—after all, in public, the eldest young master was supposed to address the lady as “Mother.” But as a mere maid, she was no match for him. The eldest young master had been away for many years, and now, with his rustic, intimidating demeanor, he was actually capable of resorting to violence.

And the young master’s husband was the same—he spoke without restraint, blunt and direct.

“Where’s the Master?” the second wife asked, her eyebrows furrowed in fury.

As luck would have it, the master wasn’t home today.

In other words, Huangfu Tieniu and Tang Xianling had popped into the Huangfu residence, had a quick look around, drank half a cup of tea, and left. When the servants called the master back, they found the house empty—where was the eldest son who’d been living away from home? He wasn’t there.

The couple spent the entire evening in the main courtyard “berating” their eldest son.

As always, the second wife wanted to stir up trouble, and since Master Huangfu’s “political career” wasn’t going well—he faced scorn at every turn and felt people were mocking him wherever he went—he felt that even a brief outing would bring him humiliation. In any case, his temper was growing worse by the day, so that night, without the second wife even needing to provoke him, he launched into a fierce tirade against their eldest son.

At the inn.

Tieniu didn’t want to go to the Huangfu family to negotiate anymore.

Tang Xianling suggested, “Why don’t we just go straight to the Zhao family? If the Huangfu family has misunderstood and thinks the Zhaos hold you in high regard, and we show up unannounced, we’ll just come across as ‘grovelling for favor.’ So what? We’re not living in Lujing anyway.”

Since Uncle Quan had explained the circumstances, the message had been passed down through multiple layers—from his maternal grandfather to General Zhao—and it was quite possible that the original intent had been misinterpreted. It was also possible that the Huangfu couple had deliberately exaggerated the situation to save face.

So perhaps for the Zhao family, helping Tieniu was simply a matter of returning a favor—a small gesture.

Even if it wasn’t a big deal, the worst that could happen if they went would be for people to laugh at them a little.

Tang Xianling didn’t think much of it. Since he’d come all the way to Lujing, he had to get things done: first, to handle Tieniu’s mother’s belongings, and second, out of a sense of duty and propriety, to pay his respects to the Zhao family.

“I’ll go.” Tieniu nodded, agreeing that his husband was right, but he didn’t want his husband to go and be met with scorn, disdain, and ridicule—he alone was enough.

Tang Xianling lifted his chin, looking quite cocky: “Little classmate Tieniu, I’m your boss—I’m here to look out for you!”

Tieniu burst out laughing.

“That’s exactly right. A husband and wife are like birds of a feather; we can’t really go our separate ways—”

“Don’t go our separate ways,” Tieniu said urgently.

Tang Xianling grinned, running a hand over Tieniu’s cheek—he really was handsome. “You look even more handsome today with that stern expression.”

Tieniu…felt even happier for no apparent reason.

There was no time to waste. Tang Xianling was a decisive sort, and having read plenty of novels, he knew that no matter how furious the Huangfu family might be or how much they pressed the issue of filial piety, they just needed to go to the Zhao family first to get to the bottom of things and explain the situation. After that, once they’d retrieved Tieniu’s mother’s mementos, they could leave.

Each to their own path.

The two got up early, got dressed, and asked around for the Zhao family’s main gate. The Zhao family was easy enough to find—as expected, only those of Third Rank or higher in Lujing held any real standing.

No sooner had the two of them set off in a horse-drawn carriage than, less than an hour later, a servant from the Huangfu household came looking for them. Finding them gone, he slunk back to deliver the message and was berated for his failure.

Master Huangfu and his second wife were furious back at home.

“That good-for-nothing.”

“He should have drowned back then.”

“He’s back, yet he hasn’t even stopped by to pay his respects to me.”

With the second wife standing by, she didn’t even need to stir up trouble—she felt quite at ease, thinking: If she could leverage the Zhao family’s influence to secure some official post for her husband, and as long as the master favored her and her child, the Huangfu family’s estate would eventually belong to her and Ming’er.

Huangfu Ming was the son of a concubine, registered under the second wife’s name as an illegitimate child.

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The two arrived at the Zhao residence. The grand Third-Rank gate was quite imposing, facing directly onto the main street.

“Wait for me here—”

“Going our separate ways again?” Tang Xianling began to tease, but when he saw his Tieniu staring at him with a long face—an expression that was both helpless and understanding—he couldn’t help but grin. “Come on, come on, let’s go together. I’m not that petty—it’s not like I take every little comment to heart.”

It was just a few words from the gatekeeper of a prominent household mocking and shooing people away—no big deal.

Tang Xianling really didn’t care.

If Tieniu had gone up there alone to face all those cold stares and taunts, that’s when he’d have been upset.

Tieniu clasped his husband’s hand, and the two approached the Zhao family’s gate together. Tieniu raised his hand to knock; after just a few taps, the door opened.

“Who is it?”

Tieniu spoke first, explaining the matter in a few brief words. Upon hearing the surname Huangfu, the gatekeeper frowned at first, but after listening to the whole story, his brow relaxed, and he said, “Please wait a moment while I go report this.”

“All right.”

The two stood outside the main gate for over half an hour before the tightly closed door finally swung open. It was the same gatekeeper as before, who kept apologizing profusely to them, and a steward came to show them in.

“Since Young Master Huangfu has taken the trouble to visit, please forgive any discourtesy on the part of our staff.”

Tieniu nodded, not wishing to say more.

The estate was even larger than they’d imagined. Tang Xianling simply followed the steward at the front, and it took them about ten minutes just to reach the main courtyard—no wonder they’d waited for over half an hour. If the messenger had to run back and forth, “fighting his way through” each gate to relay the message, the round trip would indeed take time.

See? A house this big is a hassle. Tang Xianling missed his own courtyard, though it was still a bit too small. If only he had a larger one—with more rooms—then his second older sister and her children could have their own space.

He let his mind wander, thinking of home.

The steward invited Tieniu into the main hall to take a seat and wait, then invited Mr. Tang to the back courtyard for a cup of tea.

Tang Xianling:……

All right.

He gave Tieniu an “it’s fine” look and followed the maid who had come to lead the way.

This was truly a wealthy household—it certainly had many rules.

The man from the Zhao family who had greeted Tieniu earlier was a male member of the household, while the one who greeted Tang Xianling now was Lady Zhao, a kind-eyed, benevolent-looking elderly lady. The moment Tang Xianling saw her, he paused slightly, realizing that the Zhao family wasn’t quite what he’d imagined—he raised his hand slightly in a perfunctory gesture of reciprocity.

They had truly taken note of this favor.

But this was a favor that Tieniu’s maternal grandfather had paid for with his life.

Given the Zhao family’s warm reception, Tang Xianling naturally reciprocated, speaking as he should. When the old lady asked about his situation, he gave a brief explanation—he certainly didn’t subscribe to the notion that “family dirty laundry shouldn’t be aired in public.” Since the Huangfu family had caused such a scandal, he couldn’t wait to expose every detail.

“…I still prefer to call him Tieniu,” Tang Xianling said with a smile.

Hearing this, the old lady smiled as well and said, “Tieniu is a good name—it brings good fortune. My grandson’s name is Xiao Hu.”

Tang Xianling: …That’s not bad either.

The conversation suddenly felt like they were back in their rural village. The old lady enjoyed listening to Tang Xianling speak and thought this young husband was a clever man.

“We run a restaurant—I cook while he tends the front of the house. We’re doing quite well; my cooking is delicious, and diners from all over come to support us.”

The old lady said, “Just hearing about it makes me want to try your cooking, but since you’re our honored guest, I wouldn’t want to trouble you to prepare it yourself. Why don’t you try our home-cooked meals today and see if they’re to your liking?”

Upon hearing this, Tang Xianling’s appetite was whetted, and he replied, “Sure, sure.”

He didn’t act shy or reserved, which made the old lady particularly pleased.

They had lunch at the Zhao family’s home, accompanied by the Zhao family’s sons and daughters-in-law. Two tables were set up in the hall, and the old lady invited Mr. Tang to sit beside her. Tang Xianling took his seat and began to eat.

The Zhao family came from a military background, so their dining etiquette wasn’t overly formal, and Tang Xianling immersed himself in the meal, savoring every bite.

He truly ate his fill.

“I don’t even need to ask if you’ve finished eating—just watching you eat has whetted my appetite,” Mrs. Zhao said with a smile.

Shortly after the meal, the old lady felt drowsy and went to take an afternoon nap, calling her ger to keep the guest company.

The young ger, about fourteen or fifteen years old, had a handsome, refined appearance. He addressed Tang Xianling as “Brother Tang,” and the two sat together chatting. The boy was particularly talkative and curious about daily life in Fengyuan City, so Tang Xianling answered his questions honestly.

When he first entered the Zhao family’s back courtyard, the thought of “Grandma Liu’s Visit to the Grand View Garden” had flashed through Tang Xianling’s mind, but after interacting with them and exchanging a few words, that notion vanished.

Neither the Zhao family nor their children had any intention of making fun of him.

Naturally, Tang Xianling had no intention of playing the “fool” and forcing a smile.

As a result, despite the vast disparity in their social status, Tang Xianling had a rather pleasant experience that day. At dusk, the Zhao brothers personally escorted Tang Xianling out of the inner courtyard, saying, “Brother, if I ever get the chance, I’ll definitely visit Fengyuan City. When I do, I’ll come find you to hang out.”

“Sure,” Tang Xianling agreed immediately. “When the time comes, I’ll do my best to be a good host and treat you right.”

The Zhao family’s ger said, “Great. My name is Zhao Juexing.”

“Tang Xianling.”

Back in the Zhao family’s inner quarters, the matriarch asked Juexing if he had seen the guest off.

Zhao Juexing nodded and said, “Brother Tang is a man of noble character. Compared to the woman who came with the Huangfu family earlier, he’s in a league of his own.”

“Mr. Tang and Tieniu—those two have no desires or demands. They’ve come to our home simply as guests. The Huangfu family you mentioned is quite different.” The matriarch saw right through them; since this young couple sought nothing from the Zhao family and harbored no ulterior motives, they naturally had no need to curry favor or flatter them—regardless of the family’s official rank or social standing.

“Such character is befitting the descendants of a military family—truly upright and honorable.”

Zhao Juexing understood: regardless of one’s status, dignity is something one earns for oneself.