Chapter 1215: 1088: Why This Vibe?

The garden at night is exposed to wind from all directions, making people shiver with cold. Zhang Guoqing can’t really discuss things there.

After listening to Zhang the Second’s somewhat elder-brotherly lecture, he cheerfully pulled him to the study in Ping’an’s courtyard nearby.

The three brothers, trained by Zhou Xiaozheng, have one obvious trait: a strong sense of aristocracy in their bones, especially having grown up around Zhou Jiao, they are more or less inclined towards being well-versed in literature.

The study appeared simple, perhaps because it hadn’t been formally occupied yet, but the hobbies loved by scholars—Qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, songs—Ping’an didn’t miss any of them.

A cursive script hung on the wall, there was an antique zither on the shelf, the books were all ancient and rare editions, and there was an unfinished ink painting on the large desk.

Zhang the Second blinked in disbelief and pointed at the zither, "Are you sure this is Ping’an’s courtyard? Wasn’t he supposed to join the army? Why does it have this vibe?"

After speaking, he walked over to the table to take a look, then walked to the bookshelf to sniff, knocked on it, and nodded. Then he walked over to the zither, curled his lip disdainfully.

Zhang Guoqing chuckled and shook his head, "This was organized by him for his mom, he said it needs to be tuned first."

——No way, if he doesn’t cover it up a bit for his son, it would probably make even his parents think the kid was raised off-track.

"I thought so. But all this junk, laid out by him, does look quite presentable. Not only saves money but also scares people a bit."

Zhang Guoqing was amused and laughed heartily, giving him a side-eye, "Alright, second brother, stop pretending, can’t you tell these are all antiques?"

"Apart from the wood, I really can’t tell," Zhang the Second finished, sighing, "In those years everything was smashed, these antiques were still kept by Ping’an, if they got stolen it would be a pity."

The brothers sat down and Zhang the Second stretched his neck to look outside.

Zhang Guoqing seeing this, reminded him, "No one will come in here. Apart from the three brothers, if anyone comes, the dogs outside will bark. Do you have something important to discuss?"

Zhang the Second lazily leaned on the chair, "Xiao Wu, it’s hard to explain in just a few words."

Zhang Guoqing furrowed his brows lightly, picked up the teapot to pour himself and him a cup of tea, "Drink first, talk slowly, let’s discuss it well as brothers."

Zhang the Second took the small teacup, pouted disdainfully, "Can’t we use a bigger cup?"

"Manage with this for now." Change it? It would take going out to the outer courtyard, the chrysanthemum would be cold by then, better wash up and sleep, talk tomorrow.

"Xiao Wu, our eldest brother is living a tough life."

Zhang Guoqing was startled by his words, "What happened? Didn’t you say everything was fine? The child can keep trying if he doesn’t pass, is someone bullying our big brother?"

"Yes, bullied by the Huang Family!"

"Huang Cuilan?"

"Yes, that woman! Really pissed me off. You don’t know, I almost got into a fight..." Zhang the Second, having found someone to confide in, poured out years’ worth of events.

Of course, he hadn’t foolishly told his younger brother how Huang Cuilan treated the Ping An brothers, lest Xiao Wu held a grudge against the eldest brother.

But who was Zhang Guoqing? From more than half an hour of Zhang the Second’s narration, he worked out the gist of things, plus from his three sons’ reluctance to return home, he understood a bit.

What kind of person is the Eldest Zhang? Zhang Guoqing considered himself to know him somewhat, enough not to place the blame on him. Never expected his big brother to endure so much, he’s like a ninja turtle.

Back then, perhaps, they shouldn’t have stopped it.

Zhang Guoqing thought of that incident from years ago, sighed silently. Over the years, he couldn’t possibly not pay attention to his brothers back home, naturally, he hasn’t forgotten keeping an eye on the girl vying to become his sister-in-law.

"Xiao Wu, what do you think we should do?"

Zhang Guoqing pressed his lips, "You’ve heard what big brother thinks, what’s his opinion?"

"One night, I tried hard to get him drunk, guess what? I was the one who passed out, according to big brother, I kept asking if he wanted a divorce."

Zhang Guoqing looked at Zhang the Second’s troubled face, pinched his thigh secretly, suppressing a laugh, really laughing now would probably end their brotherly relationship.

"Didn’t you manage to get anything out of him? This doesn’t seem like you, second brother."

"Didn’t dare ask too much, I feared if I asked more, he would agree confusedly, what if he still has some feelings for that woman?"

"Don’t you doubt for a second! I’ve been pondering these days, one old man, if he didn’t want a wife, even if he didn’t divorce, outside with all the temptations, something should happen, right? Yet big brother remained unmoved."

"Do you remember the little widow in the west of town? The one who was left with a son after her husband passed?"

Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes at him, "Never even heard of it."

Zhang the Second mused for a moment, nodded, "That’s true, when you were in college, she wasn’t married yet. Let’s not talk about that, I’m telling you, that little widow is quite a looker."

"Yet big brother really wasn’t tempted, every time he ran into her it was like meeting a ghost, he ran away. Once I asked big brother, he said he wasn’t interested. See, isn’t being uninterested still hoping for Huang Cuilan?"

Zhang Guoqing poured him more tea, "Second brother, so the plan is for big brother to work in the provincial city, while she lives with the son in the county?"

"That’s what he said. But I don’t think the Huang family will leave it at that. Before coming here, I already warned them, if they upset my brother, they can prepare to leave.

But Xiao Wu, this isn’t a solution. If it goes on like this, what kind of life is big brother living? I told big brother to either take Huang Cuilan far from the in-laws or divorce directly, let her live with whichever son she chooses. But he only sighs about himself, really worrying me."

"You’d think we were born from the same parents, I just can’t understand his thinking, it seems like he really doesn’t have feelings for that woman, yet he lets her stay in our house, what’s the point?"

Zhang Guoqing hesitated, looked at him, "Do mom and dad know?"

Zhang the Second frowned, "Mom definitely doesn’t know, but I think dad seems to have found out. Before we left, dad told big brother, the provincial city is nice, at least it’s quiet."

"Then let big brother and his wife separate for a while, let him think it over. As brothers, we can’t make decisions for him on everything, don’t you think?"

Zhang the Second sighed, "Exactly."

Zhang Guoqing, after careful consideration, decided to disclose a bit, "Let me tell you something, you must not speak of it, especially pretend not to know anything in front of big brother."

Zhang the Second immediately perked up, sat up straight, and patted his chest, "Tell me, second brother won’t even mention it in front of our parents."

"No need, dad knows."

Zhang the Second quickly snatched the teacup from his hand, "Stop dawdling, spill it."