Zhang Zhijun was absent, but Zhang Hua was present.
Several times Zhang Nan nearly fainted from crying, and Zhang Hua held his cousin tightly to support her.
The entire Zhang family’s fury was directed at Zhang Zhijun, so no one took their anger out on Zhang Hua. Old Master Zhang’s death had plunged the whole family into grief, and Zhang Hua was in even greater pain than they were—this was the second time in a short period that Zhang Hua had lost a loved one.
“My condolences.”
Xie Qian comforted Zhang Hua. When their eyes met, Xie Qian saw only deep sorrow on Zhang Hua’s face. Zhang Hua bowed deeply and said, “Thank you.”
To Zhang Hua, Xie Qian said “my condolences”; to Zhang Nan, he said “take care of yourself”.
The boy she had secretly loved for so many years was standing right in front of her, gently consoling her. In any other situation, Zhang Nan would have been unable to contain her joy.
But today, all of Zhang Nan’s thoughts were on her deceased grandfather. She felt not a trace of happiness.
She no longer had a grandfather.
Seeing how devastated Zhang Nan was, Xie Qian recalled what Wen Ying had said about why Zhang Nan chose to apply to the Forestry University. He advised her, “The dead cannot be brought back. If you can turn your grief into motivation and achieve something in the field of forestry, I believe Grandfather Zhang would be very pleased if he knew from the afterlife.”
Tai Wu nodded repeatedly. “Xie Qian is right. You have to take care of yourself first before anything else! Grandfather Zhang’s study is full of specialised books. You’re the only one in the Zhang family studying forestry. You cannot let Grandfather Zhang down!”
Peng Guoqing raised an eyebrow: Tai Xiao Wu really knows his stuff—he even knows exactly what books are in Old Master Zhang’s study!
A faint light appeared in Zhang Nan’s grief-stricken eyes. She asked Xie Qian very seriously, “Do you think I can achieve something in the field of forestry?”
Xie Qian countered with a question, “Why do you think you cannot? You are a member of the Zhang family, Grandfather Zhang’s most beloved granddaughter. Zhang Nan, no one is holding you back—do not hold yourself back.”
After saying this, Xie Qian paused, glanced at Peng Guoqing, and continued, “Even Peng Guoqing managed to get into a 211 university on his own. Why would you be unable to do well in forestry research?”
Peng Guoqing stared wide-eyed.
What kind of terrible comparison was this?
Tai Wu delivered the finishing blow without mercy. “Exactly. Even someone as slow as Peng Guoqing got into a 211 university. Little Nan, you just never took your studies seriously before. From now on, put all your energy into your studies, and you will definitely become a leading figure in forestry!”
Whether she could become a leading figure in forestry was not what mattered most to Zhang Nan.
But as Xie Qian had said, in the future, the only things she could do for her grandfather were things like this.
In the midst of her grief, Zhang Nan found a small sense of direction. “I will not let Grandfather down.”
Zhang Nan’s father looked deeply grateful. When he shook hands with Xie Yuping, he gripped his hand especially tightly.
“Little Nan has been in very low spirits these past two days. It is still Xie Qian who has a way with her—just a few words and he can lift her spirits.”
Xie Qian had a way, so why thank Xie Yuping?
Xie Jinghu wanted to say that he was Xie Qian’s real father.
But remembering his mother’s warning, Xie Jinghu swallowed his discomfort.
Everyone had expected Xie Jinghu to cause trouble, yet from beginning to end, Xie Jinghu behaved impeccably.
Just when everyone thought the memorial service would conclude smoothly, another flower wreath and elegiac couplet was delivered.
“Offered in tears by granddaughter Zhuo Yue.”
These six words struck the entire hall into dead silence.
Even Zhang Nan’s father, who was usually mild-tempered, was so provoked that his eyes turned bloodshot. “This is going too far! Truly going too far…”
Zhang Nan could bear it no longer. With anguished cries of “Grandfather”, her chest full of rage and grief with nowhere to vent, she wanted to rush out and fight Zhuo Yue to the death—Zhuo Yue might not even be at the scene, but Zhang Nan had lost all reason. The forestry research Xie Qian had spoken of felt far too distant. Right now, Zhang Nan had to do something for her grandfather!
Tai Wu held Zhang Nan tightly. “What are you going to do? Even if you beat her again, what good would it do? She is not worth it!”
Zhang Nan was a swan, while Zhuo Yue was nothing but a wild duck.
Tai Wu still felt a chill when he remembered the look in Zhuo Yue’s eyes that day. He did not want Zhang Nan to confront Zhuo Yue directly again.
Zhang Hua remained very calm. He ordered someone to throw the wreath out, then kowtowed three times in front of Old Master Zhang’s portrait before striding purposefully outside.
Xie Yuping gave Xie Jinghu a push. “Go and stop Zhang Hua. Do not let him do anything foolish.”
“Oh, alright.”
Xie Jinghu did not refuse. Xie Yuping reminded him again, “Third Brother, do not betray my trust.”
Xie Yuping was warning Xie Jinghu not to stir up trouble—do not pretend to mediate while secretly fanning the flames!
“Big Brother, am I that kind of person?”
Xie Jinghu felt his elder brother had misunderstood him. At any other time, Xie Jinghu might have been unable to resist, but today was different.
If anything went wrong today, Old Madam Xie would never forgive him.
Xie Jinghu was truly shaken today.
Zhuo Yue used to be so delicate and fragile—how could she be so ruthless!
Not only had she angered Old Master Zhang to death, but she was now stabbing the Zhang family once again on this very day.
Having such a daughter was fortunate for Zhang Zhijun—Xie Jinghu could never afford one like her.
Even someone as selfish as Xie Jinghu was not beyond redemption. If something like this happened in the Xie family… just thinking about it made Xie Jinghu break out in a cold sweat.
“You go too.”
Xie Qian gave Peng Guoqing a meaningful look.
Peng Guoqing nodded vigorously. “I will go help Third Uncle Xie.”
—In truth, he was going to keep an eye on Scum Xie.
As he ran out of the mourning hall, Peng Guoqing felt deep pity for both Zhang Hua and Zhang Nan.
The memorial service for Old Master Zhang had to continue. Everyone who came to pay respects gave the Zhang family face and did not discuss the matter on-site. But once they left the hall, the gossip flowed freely.
Some cursed Zhang Zhijun.
Some cursed Sara Zhuo.
There were also those who cursed Zhuo Yue, but everyone believed that since Zhuo Yue was still young, such behaviour must have been instigated by Sara Zhuo behind the scenes.
The person cursed the most was Zhang Zhijun.
Sara Zhuo was clearly a rotten woman—anyone who got involved with her was doomed. Zhang Zhijun could not control himself more than a decade ago, and now he could not even clean up the mess he had made. His wife and his father had both been angered to death. Truly useless and utterly despicable!
By comparison with Zhang Zhijun, even Xie Jinghu seemed less revolting.
Xie Jinghu had also been tormented by Sara Zhuo to the point of divorce. His mother had fallen gravely ill, and his son Xie Qian had been in a car accident and was still in a wheelchair. He was truly pitiful. At least no one in the Xie family had died.
The Zhang family had already lost two.
After the funeral, the Zhang family made a public statement: from now on, everything concerning Zhang Zhijun had nothing to do with the Zhang family. The Zhang family had expelled this man from the household. While alive, there would be no contact; after death, no offerings or mourning. No member of the Zhang family would ever accept Zhang Zhijun again!
By the time the Zhang family completed the funeral arrangements, it was already after the Spring Festival.
When Wen Ying thought of how the Zhang family had lost two people, her mood became especially heavy. At the same time, she could not understand Zhuo Yue’s way of thinking. “When Zhang Hua rushed out during the memorial service, did he find Zhuo Yue?”
“He did not. Zhuo Yue was not outside. Although the elegiac couplet bore Zhuo Yue’s name, I have always suspected that this matter was not her doing.”
What meaning was there for Zhuo Yue to provoke the Zhang family like this?
She would gain nothing at all!
Wen Ying pondered for a moment. “If it was not Zhuo Yue who sent it, could it have been… Zhang Zhijun?”
Xie Qian asked her why she thought so.
Wen Ying analysed seriously, “Because Zhang Zhijun stands to gain the most.”
