The Wang Family's Alms

026 Charity from the Wang Family?

On the bluestone path, Zhang He was hurrying home.

The Void Insight Pill is already refined; the next step is to prepare for a breakthrough in my cultivation. However, I've been so busy these past few days, and my mind is in such a state of agitation, that I must bathe and burn incense to calm my body and spirit before I can consume it. He hadn't been home for many days and, feeling concerned, decided to check on his family first.

I wonder how Mother's health is now? My little sister is also at the age to start school; I should get her enrolled. On the way, Zhang He pondered matters at home. As the only man in the household, he felt he should shoulder more of the burden.

Following the familiar path and turning a few corners, he arrived at his front door.

Parked in front of his house was a pitch-black carriage, with a large character "Wang" embroidered on its curtain. Zhang He couldn't help but freeze. Whose carriage was this? Could Wang Pengyu have tracked him down here?

Zhang He quickened his pace, but as he reached the gate, the voice of a middle-aged man suddenly drifted from the courtyard. Suspicious, Zhang He stopped in his tracks and leaned in to listen.

"Madam, are you truly unaware that the Young Master has already been expelled from the Martial Child Academy? Sigh, the Young Master is truly sensible; he must not have wanted to worry you, which is why he didn't tell you this bad news." The middle-aged man's voice drifted out. Zhang He frowned—who was this wretch, running his mouth here?

The reason he hadn't returned was precisely to hide the news and spare his mother from worry. Now, some scoundrel had appeared out of nowhere to spill the beans. Zhang He felt a surge of irritation.

Wait, he called me "Young Master"? Zhang He's expression shifted slightly. Could the person who came be from the Wang Family?

"Ah He, that child... sigh." Mother Zhang let out a sigh, seemingly filled with helplessness. Outside the wall, Zhang He felt a pang of distress in his heart.

"Madam, you needn't worry too much. You see, once the Master heard about this, he immediately sent me over." Seeing Mother Zhang's reaction, the middle-aged man struck while the iron was hot. "The Master sent me to bring the Young Master home. After all, the Young Master is the Master's son; father and son share a bond, and naturally, a father wouldn't stand idly by when his son is in trouble. As long as the Young Master returns home, the Master can use his connections to get him back into the Martial Child Academy. Furthermore, after the Martial Child Assessment, the family can secure a bright future for him. What do you think?"

Listening to the man ramble on, Mother Zhang remained silent for a moment before looking up at him with a faint, inscrutable smile. "Heh, Steward Wang, I have long been clear on Wang Renxiong's character. He didn't send you here just for this matter, did he? If he has a purpose, just say it plainly."

The middle-aged man laughed awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. "Madam is as wise as ever. Ahem, actually, there is indeed another purpose for this visit. You see, the young lady is growing up, and the Master wishes to arrange a marriage for her. Ah, please don't be angry—the other party is a prominent and wealthy family, a prestigious clan in Guluo City. Once the young lady marries into their home, she will surely live a life of luxury."

As he spoke, the middle-aged man glanced at little Zhang Yu standing nearby. Tsk tsk, with skin like snow and large eyes, she's so charming and cute; she'll surely be a beauty when she grows up.

"Whose family is it? And who is the groom?" Mother Zhang asked, laughing in her fury. "To make the Master so attentive, is this 'good opportunity' meant to be a favor to us mother and children?"

"Guluo City, the second son of the Liu Family's eldest branch, Liu Zhi." The middle-aged man hesitated before revealing the truth.

"The mute young master of the Liu Family?" Mother Zhang gritted her teeth.

Seeing the rage erupting in her eyes, the man panicked and hurried to say, "Madam, please don't be angry. In my view, isn't this an opportunity? You wouldn't want to watch the Young Master and the young lady suffer in poverty for the rest of their lives, would you? Although Liu Zhi is a mute, it wouldn't necessarily be a grievance for the young lady to be with him..."

"Shut your mouth! That bastard Wang Renxiong truly has no good intentions; he wants to use my daughter to form an alliance with a mute just to line his own pockets! In your dreams!" Mother Zhang's face flushed red. She slammed her hand on the table and glared at the man. "Let alone marrying a mute, even if it were the eldest legitimate son of the Liu Family, it is not for Wang Renxiong to decide! Go back and tell Wang Renxiong that the three of us would rather eat chaff and swallow vegetables for the rest of our lives than climb the ladder of someone else's wealth! Get out!"

"Madam, you had better think clearly; once this village is passed, there will be no such shop. The Young Master has been expelled from the Martial Child Academy and his future is bleak. Without the support of the Wang Family, his path in life will only be filled with more detours. You surely wouldn't want that, would you?" Steward Wang said with a sinister tone.

"I told you to get out—what are you still doing here?" A cold voice came from behind. Steward Wang turned around to see a youth standing at the doorway, looking at him with icy eyes. The chill in that gaze made the steward tremble.

"Are you not leaving yet? Do you want me to do it myself?" Zhang He saw that the man hadn't moved, so he raised an eyebrow and walked in with a menacing air.

Steward Wang's expression changed. Sensing that Zhang He meant business, he decided that a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him, and he scurried toward the exit. The message had been delivered, so his task was complete; if they didn't accept, it wasn't his fault.

"Take your things with you!" Zhang He said coldly. There were several gift boxes on the table that he knew were brought by the steward.

"These are just some pastries..." Seeing the murderous look in Zhang He's eyes, Steward Wang wisely shut his mouth, returned to grab the boxes, and hurried away.

"If you ever dare to step foot here again, I will break your legs." The cold voice followed him, and the courtyard gate slammed shut with a bang.

Steward Wang drove the carriage away, only finding the courage to look back once he reached the end of the alley. Glaring at the dilapidated courtyard, he spat on the ground and mocked, "What are you acting so tough for? You're just trash expelled from the Martial Child Academy—do you really think you're still the Young Master of the Wang Family? Hmph, dying for face and suffering for it; you deserve to be poor for the rest of your life! Don't come crying to me when you regret it!"

With that, Steward Wang cracked his whip and drove the carriage back to report. He had already prepared his excuses for his master.

"My little sister isn't even seven years old, and they want to marry her off to a mute. The Wang Family is truly damned." Zhang He's face was dark. Steward Wang's words were clearly a threat, using his future to coerce his mother. The Wang Family could offer him a so-called "bright future," but the price his mother would have to pay was to use his little sister as a tool for a marriage alliance with a mute!

Damn them!

"Ah He, what is this about you being expelled from the Martial Child Academy?" Mother Zhang suddenly stared at him, asking with concern. Zhang He looked up to see his mother's eyes already brimming with tears.

"Mother, don't be angry. My expulsion was actually a personal vendetta by the Academy Head, Zhao Wencai, to get back at me." Zhang He said in a deep voice. He decided to tell her everything, recounting the general events. Hearing how her son had been bullied by Zhao Feng and the others at the academy, Mother Zhang's expression turned grim. "That is too much! How could they abuse their power to bully others like that!"

Having learned the truth, Mother Zhang forgave Zhang He. She knew her son had been forced into a corner.

"Even though I am no longer in the academy, I can still participate in the Martial Child Assessment. Please set your heart at ease, Mother." Zhang He comforted her.

"That may be so, but without the academy's final intensive training, you won't be able to participate. When the assessment comes, you..." Mother Zhang was filled with worry; the Martial Child Assessment was a golden opportunity for her son to make a name for himself.

Zhang He understood her concerns and smiled slightly. "Mother, the fact that I was able to injure Zhao Feng proves my strength. Even without the academy, I can still cultivate. I will definitely achieve great results in the assessment; just wait and see." His eyes were filled with immense confidence. With the Void Insight Pill successfully refined, breaking through to the True Martial Realm would be a breeze.

He was determined to take first place in the Mengyin City Martial Child Assessment! Zhang He was set on securing that "Cold Gate" seat. Especially after what happened today, he was even more desperate to win it. He wanted to ensure that his mother and little sister would never suffer again and could live a good life!

In the Wang Family's main hall, Wang Renxiong listened to Steward Wang's embellished report with an expressionless face. Beside him, Wang Renjie looked at his elder brother and sighed inwardly. Although his brother appeared calm, he knew that his heart must be burning with rage! He detested anyone who defied his will.

The actions of Zhang He and his mother today were like a slap to his face!

"They really are mud that can't be plastered onto a wall. Not only do they fail to grasp such a perfect opportunity, but they even turn around and blame you, Master. In my opinion, that mother and son are both ungrateful wretches!" Beside Wang Renxiong, a woman with a seductive figure spoke in a shrill, mocking tone, her brows filled with charm.

In her eyes, arranging this marriage for Zhang Yu was clearly a great favor bestowed upon them.

Wang Renjie frowned. This little vixen didn't miss a chance to stir the pot!

"Hmph, that wretch still has such a foul temper! Since they don't know how to cherish this, don't bother looking for them again. Do they really think they're someone important?" Wang Renxiong let out a cold snort and waved for the steward to leave before rising to his feet.

"Brother, perhaps I should go and try again, after all..." Seeing Wang Renxiong about to leave, Wang Renjie stood up.

Wang Renxiong turned, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Try what? Must we keep offering our hot faces to their cold backsides, only to be humiliated repeatedly? Second brother, I think you're becoming less and less capable. Do you really believe that boy could cultivate a True Qi Seed? Hmph, spend your time training the family's elite disciples; they are the true hope for revitalizing our Wang Family!"

With that, Wang Renxiong strode away. The little vixen swept a mocking glance at Wang Renjie, her crimson lips curling in a sneer, before she followed him out.

"Sigh!" Wang Renjie sighed bitterly. His brother's stubbornness was becoming worse by the day! It seemed that getting Zhang He back into the Wang Family before the assessment was now impossible. Sigh, when Zhang He shines at the assessment, I wonder what Brother will think? He had a strong premonition that Zhang He would become a shocking dark horse during the event.

Wang Renjie shook his head with a bitter smile. He had done his best; he was powerless to change the outcome now.