Selling His Daughter Door to Door

The Venerable Poison King 038 Selling His Daughter Door to Door — First published on 3G Web

At home, Mother Zhang gazed at the black token in her hand. Its surface was carved with delicate patterns, and on the back was the emblem of the Western Chu Kingdom. She couldn't bear to put it down.

"The Cold Gate qualification is ours just like that. From now on, our family is a third-rank gentry family, the thirteenth Cold Gate in Mengyin City." Mother Zhang was beside herself with excitement. There had originally been twelve Cold Gate families in Mengyin City; now Zhang He's family was the thirteenth.

Though the Cold Gate was the lowest rank of gentry, it was still a privileged class. Most importantly, becoming a Cold Gate family meant they could do many things.

Seeing how happy his mother was, Zhang He smiled too. He remembered being publicly granted Cold Gate status by Prince Qu in the square that day. The city lord was supposed to preside over the ceremony, but Prince Qu had stepped in and personally bestowed the title on Zhang He. Such an honor had left many people green with envy.

"Prince Qu is trying to win me over," Zhang He realized.

"Now that we're a Cold Gate family, we're a household of means. Though we've received some fief land, that alone won't be enough. We also need businesses of our own if we want to make this last." Mother Zhang suddenly said, "I was thinking that when the time is right, I could reopen a merchant guild. What do you think?"

When Mother Zhang spoke to Zhang He, she no longer treated him like a child, but as an equal.

"You should stay home and focus on getting better. Leave the money-making to me." Zhang He didn't want his mother wearing herself out. Open a merchant guild? What a joke. It took so much effort and worry; it would wear her to the bone!

"Silly child, a wealthy family absolutely must have businesses of its own." Mother Zhang smiled warmly. She knew her son only wanted to spare her the worry. But she had recovered now. How could she sit idle?

"Then there's no need to open a merchant guild. If you get busy, who'll look after Little Sister?" Zhang He played the family card with his younger sister, Zhang Yu.

"Well..." Mother Zhang hesitated. Her daughter was still young, and she couldn't leave her behind. If she really opened a merchant guild, she would be so busy that she'd have no time to look after her little girl. Having once gained something and then lost it, Mother Zhang knew what mattered most to her and what she cherished.

"Mother, I'm hungry. When are we eating?" Zhang Yu suddenly came running in, clutching a dragonfly and beaming, her little cheeks rosy. She'd been having a wonderful time playing in the spacious courtyard these past few days.

A girl about Zhang He's age followed close behind. Her name was Zi Xuan, and she had once served as a maid to the former owner of the estate. She was clever and skillful, and most importantly, she could keep Zhang Yu company and chat with Mother Zhang to lift her spirits when Zhang He was away. That was why Zhang He had kept her on.

"Enough. Just take it easy. It's only a matter of setting up a business; leave it to me. Look, Little Sister's starving. Let's eat first." Zhang He hurriedly changed the subject.

"Fine, let's eat first." Knowing why Zhang He had said that, Mother Zhang smiled.

At the dinner table, Mother Zhang ladled Zhang He a bowl of old duck soup. "Here, try it. I made it myself."

They had a cook now, but Mother Zhang still sometimes went into the kitchen to make soup for her children.

Zhang He took a hearty sip. The rich, savory taste spread through his mouth, so delicious it almost hurt. "This is incredible!"

Mother Zhang's face broke into a broad smile at her son's praise.

"Big Sister Zi Xuan, sit down and eat with us!" Seeing Zi Xuan about to leave, Zhang Yu immediately called out with a pout. Zi Xuan had played with her these past few days, and in Zhang Yu's heart, she was her own big sister, not a maid.

Zi Xuan smiled wryly. She was a maid; how could she eat at the same table as her masters?

"Mother, don't let Big Sister Zi Xuan go." Zhang Yu didn't care about distinctions in rank. She only wanted Big Sister Zi Xuan to stay and eat with them.

"Miss Zi Xuan, we don't have any of those rules here. There's plenty of room at the table, so sit and eat with us." Mother Zhang smiled warmly. In the past, she would have cared about rank and status, but after all the ups and downs she had been through, she no longer thought much of such rules. Besides, she liked Zi Xuan.

"Sit, sit." Zhang He was even less formal. He personally set a place for Zi Xuan.

Zi Xuan felt strangely touched. This family really didn't put on airs. Since her hosts had insisted, she obediently came back and sat beside Zhang Yu, where she could look after her more easily.

"Big Sister Zi Xuan, have some meat." Zhang Yu cheerfully placed a piece of meat in Zi Xuan's bowl.

"Here, have some soup. Old duck soup is very nourishing." Mother Zhang also smiled as she ladled a bowl and handed it to Zi Xuan.

Seeing how kindly Mother Zhang and Zhang Yu treated her, Zi Xuan's nose stung, and she felt like crying.

"Big Sister Zi Xuan, why are you crying?" Zhang Yu noticed something was wrong and asked in surprise. Thoughtfully, she took out a flowered handkerchief and offered it to Zi Xuan.

"Zi Xuan, what's wrong?" Mother Zhang asked, puzzled. Why had she suddenly started crying?

"Seeing your family all happy together reminded this humble servant of my own family, so..." Zi Xuan murmured through her tears.

Mother Zhang understood at once. Zi Xuan had been reminded of her family.

"Zi Xuan, then... where is your family?" Zhang He couldn't help asking.

"My family wasn't from around here. When I was little, there was a terrible flood. My parents were swept away while trying to save me. Only my grandfather and I were left to depend on each other. With no other choice, we fled our home and escaped here. Later, though, I got separated from my grandfather too. Luckily, my previous master was kindhearted. He took pity on me, brought me into his household, and gave me a meal."

After hearing Zi Xuan's story, Zhang He couldn't help sighing. It turned out she had suffered too.

"Come, come, Zi Xuan, don't be sad. From now on, think of this place as your home. Eat first, and drink your soup while it's hot. It's delicious." Mother Zhang comforted her.

Zi Xuan thanked Mother Zhang gratefully, then sipped her soup in small mouthfuls. Watching her eat so demurely, she seemed like a young lady from a distinguished family. A thought suddenly crossed Zhang He's mind: Zi Xuan carried herself with such refinement. Her family must have been well-to-do.

Tap, tap, tap.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached. The gatekeeper rushed in, flustered. "Madam, a lot of people have come to visit."

"A lot of people have come to visit?" Zhang He couldn't help staring. Not many people knew where he lived.

"They're probably your friends, here to congratulate you. Don't just stand there, Uncle Wang. Go invite them in." Mother Zhang smiled warmly.

"Young Master Zhang, you really are a remarkable young man. Just look at your eyes—they're like the stars in the sky! They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and through yours, I can see how deep and thoughtful you are. Young Master Zhang, I hear you're still unmarried. I have a daughter. She may not be a peerless beauty, but she's fair-skinned and lovely. What do you say...?"

A chubby, middle-aged man in silk robes radiated wealth and prosperity. At that moment, he was holding Zhang He's hand and smiling at him with great warmth.

"Come now, Old Qin, wasn't it said that your daughter was betrothed to the Sun Family? I hear you've already accepted their betrothal gifts," said a middle-aged woman beside him, unable to resist playing innocent.

"Just rumors. How could the Sun Family's boy ever be good enough for my precious daughter?" the chubby man declared righteously. "The people spreading such lies deserve to die. How could they slander my daughter like that?"

"Zhang He, take a look at this needlework my daughter made. Isn't it exquisite? She's a deft and clever girl. If you marry her, I guarantee she'll be a good wife who can manage a household."

"Needlework? Do you think getting married is just about sewing and mending? A wife should be able to grace the parlor and handle the kitchen. Zhang He, this is a poem my daughter wrote. See how talented she is? The fortune-teller said our birth charts are a perfect match, and she'll bring good fortune to her husband!"

As soon as the group came in, they crowded around Zhang He, hawking their daughters like goods.

"Damn, how did these people find this place?" Zhang He's head was spinning. He'd never imagined they would come to his door to play matchmaker.

"Everyone, everyone, I'm truly sorry. I'm still young, and a man should focus on his career. I have no plans to marry just yet." Zhang He rejected them decisively. These people had appeared out of nowhere, and he had to turn them down firmly.

But they had been shameless enough to come right to his door. They weren't about to let Zhang He brush them off with a few words. Even after he finally told them to leave, they insisted on leaving things behind for him to consider carefully. Most of what they left were portraits of their daughters.

"This is insane. I never thought I'd become such a hot commodity." Zhang He wiped away his cold sweat. After he saw the visitors out, the house was in complete disarray. The Martial Child Assessment had only ended that morning, and by noon people were already at his door playing matchmaker. That was astonishingly fast!

"Uncle Wang, hang a sign on the gate at once. No matchmakers!" Zhang He suddenly realized more people might come, and issued the order without hesitation.

"Heh, don't forget, you're the youngest head of a Cold Gate family in Mengyin City. Prince Qu personally granted you the title today, which shows how bright your future is. Of course they want to get in early." Mother Zhang smiled. Seeing her son so popular made her happier than anyone.

"Master, another visitor has come." Uncle Wang had only been out a short while before he came rushing back, panting.

"Tell those matchmakers I've gone out and I'm not here!" Zhang He grumbled.

"They're not matchmakers. They say they're your friends. One is Fatty Tang, and the other is Wang Dachui..." Uncle Wang hesitated.

"Oh, it's them. I'll go see." Zhang He breathed a sigh of relief. At least they weren't matchmakers. Otherwise, he might really have to find somewhere to lie low for a while.

"Strange. Why aren't they eating at home? What's got them in such a hurry to come over?" Zhang He couldn't help wondering.