"Brother, save me!"
Zhang Xueliang pulled his younger brother behind him and repeatedly bowed to Zhang Yuting.
"Father, please calm down, calm down! Xue Ming... he was just fooling around. He didn't mean to!"
"Didn't mean to? If he had meant to, he'd have set all of Fengtian City ablaze by now!"
Zhang Yuting was so furious his mustache bristled and his eyes bulged. He pointed at the damp patch of saliva on the sofa where Zhang Xueming had been sleeping.
"While I was out front wrestling with the Japanese, talking until my mouth went dry and nearly losing my trousers in the bargain, you little rascal were sleeping better than anyone! And you think you're in the right?"
He stepped around Zhang Xueliang and grabbed Zhang Xueming by the ear.
"Speak! Where did you get those cannons that scared the piss out of the Japanese? How many more are there? And the shells? Hand them all over!"
Zhang Xueming grimaced as his ear was twisted and hurriedly begged for mercy.
"Ow! Father, Father! Easy! My ear's going to come off!"
He explained with an innocent look, "They're gone, really! They were just a few samples, bought at a high price from the Germans. There were only a few shells, and your son fired every last one! I was going to find the right moment to surprise you. Who knew... who knew the Japanese would scare so easily?"
Zhang Yuting let go and eyed him suspiciously.
He could tell that was only half true.
But this wasn't the time to press him. Just thinking about the power of those cannons made his blood run hot.
Then he remembered that they were already gone. His anger, which he had only just managed to tamp down, swung around and landed on his eldest son, Zhang Xueliang, who had been standing beside them without daring to say a word.
"And you!"
Zhang Yuting jabbed a finger so close to Zhang Xueliang's nose it nearly touched.
"Look at your younger brother! He's a good-for-nothing, but at least he brought me an enormous victory! What about you? I told you to go propose to the Yu Family, and you hemmed and hawed! Now even the Japanese know that my son, Zhang Yuting, is getting married, but the groom hasn't even been settled! Where does that leave my pride?"
This had been weighing on Zhang Yuting lately.
To him, the marriage was a powerful alliance.
But his eldest son, Zhang Xueliang, was a stubborn block of wood. He insisted that parental arrangements and matchmakers were relics of the old society, and that he had to find some sort of free love for himself.
Red-faced from the scolding, Zhang Xueliang lowered his head and muttered, "Father, Miss Yu and I... aren't suited for each other."
"I think your brain's the part that isn't suited!"
With no other choice, Zhang Xueliang shot his younger brother a pleading look over his shoulder.
"Xue Ming, you... hurry and say something in my defense."
Zhang Xueming caught the signal, slipped out from behind his elder brother, cleared his throat, and stood solemnly before Zhang Yuting.
"Father, I think you're right!"
Zhang Xueliang's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
I asked you to save me, not send me to my doom!
Zhang Xueming continued, "Brother, your way of thinking is all wrong. Like the saying goes, when a woman is three years older, you get a gold brick to hold. Miss Yu is three years older than you, so she'll surely bring you good fortune! Besides, what's wrong with a mature older sister? She knows how to care for you and manage a household. Marrying her would save you a lot of trouble! What are you being picky about?"
Zhang Yuting was taken aback by his son's twisted logic. Then his eyes lit up as he found the perfect solution.
He looked Zhang Xueming up and down, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Well, look at you. You make a convincing case, and you understand this better than your foreign-educated brother. Since you know so much, you can carry this 'gold brick'—your elder brother's bride—in his place!"
"Huh?"
Zhang Xueming was instantly dumbfounded. Putting on a look of alarm, he said, "Father, this... this isn't appropriate, is it? She's going to be my sister-in-law!"
Before he could finish, Zhang Xueliang grew anxious.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to escape!
He pushed Zhang Xueming forward and plastered a smile across his face.
"Of course it's appropriate! Father, I think it's a brilliant idea! Second Brother is young, promising, and dashing. I think he and the Yu Family's daughter are a perfect match! It's settled!"
Zhang Yutian watched his two sons play their double act, fully aware of what was going on. He snorted and looked at Zhang Xueming.
"Stop pretending. Just tell me: are you marrying her or not?"
Seeing that the moment was right, Zhang Xueming immediately put on a coy expression and rubbed his hands together. "Father, it's not that I'm opposed... but your son has a few small conditions."
"Say them!"
"First!" Zhang Xueming held up one finger. "I want to go to Anshan! I want to build a factory there and make the same kind of cannons we used against the Japanese today! We can't keep letting other people hold us by the throat!"
Zhang Yuting raised an eyebrow.
This boy had big ambitions.
But this was a tremendous opportunity.
"Granted!"
"Second!" Zhang Xueming held up another finger. "I can't go to Anshan and be a commander with no troops! You have to give me a post and let me raise my own force, right? Nothing big—a company commander will do!"
"Company commander?" Zhang Yuting scoffed. "Aim higher! The Guard Brigade has a vacant major's battalion commander post. You can take it! Recruit your own soldiers and figure out their pay yourself!"
Zhang Xueming was thrilled. A major's battalion commander—now that was far more impressive than a company commander!
He gave a chuckle, held up a third finger, and lowered his voice.
"Third... Father, you know what I'm like. I'm willing to marry, but after that... you know how it is. A man has to have his own little interests. As for having colorful flags fluttering outside... you'll have to turn a blind eye..."