038 Selling His Own Daughter Door-to-Door

At home, Mother Zhang stared at the black token in her hands. It was engraved with exquisite patterns, and the reverse side bore the emblem of the Western Chu Kingdom. She couldn't bear to put it down.

"The status of a Cold Gate, just like that, it's ours. From this day forward, our family is a third-tier noble house, the thirteenth Cold Gate of Mengyin City." Mother Zhang was overcome with excitement. There had originally been twelve Cold Gate families in Mengyin City; now, the Zhang family was the thirteenth.

Though the Cold Gate was the lowest rank of nobility, it was still a privileged class. Most importantly, once one attained this status, many doors were opened.

Zhang He watched his mother's joy and smiled along with her. He recalled the scene earlier that day at the plaza, when Prince Qu had personally bestowed the Cold Gate status upon him in front of everyone. Ordinarily, such a ceremony would be presided over by the City Lord, but Prince Qu had stepped in to present it to Zhang He himself. Such an honor had left many filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Prince Qu is trying to win me over, Zhang He thought, well aware of the Prince's motives.

"Now that we are a Cold Gate, we are a prominent family. While we have been granted some fiefs, the land alone is far from enough. We need to establish our own industries to ensure long-term prosperity," Mother Zhang said suddenly. "I was thinking, when the time is right, we should reopen a merchant guild. What do you think?"

Mother Zhang no longer treated her son like a child; she spoke to him as an equal.

"You should just stay home and focus on your health. As for making money, I can handle that myself," Zhang He replied, unwilling to let his mother overexert herself. Open a merchant guild? That was a joke—it was back-breaking, exhausting work!

"Silly child, a prominent family cannot survive without its own industries," Mother Zhang said with a smile. She knew her son was only trying to spare her the trouble, but now that her health had recovered, how could she possibly sit idle?

"There's no need to open a guild. If you get busy, who will look after little sister?" Zhang He played his trump card: his younger sister, Zhang Yu.

"This..." Mother Zhang hesitated. Her daughter was still young, and she certainly couldn't neglect her. If she really opened a guild, she would be far too busy to look after the little one. Having once possessed much and then lost it, Mother Zhang knew what was truly important and precious.

"Mother, Nannan is hungry. When are we eating?" Zhang Yu suddenly ran in, clutching a dragonfly, her little face flushed with excitement. She had been having a wonderful time playing in this large courtyard these past few days.

Following close behind her was a girl about Zhang He's age. Her name was Zi Xuan, the former maid of the courtyard's previous owner. She was clever and dexterous, and most importantly, she could play with Zhang Yu and keep Mother Zhang company when he was away. It was precisely for these reasons that Zhang He had kept her on.

"Alright, put your mind at ease. As for setting up the business, just leave it to me. Look, little sister is hungry, let's eat first," Zhang He said, quickly changing the subject.

"Very well, let's eat." Knowing Zhang He's intentions, Mother Zhang smiled.

At the dinner table, Mother Zhang ladled a bowl of old duck soup for Zhang He. "Here, taste this. I stewed it myself."

The family now had a cook, but Mother Zhang still insisted on preparing soups for her children with her own hands.

Zhang He took a satisfied sip. The rich, savory flavor instantly bloomed in his mouth, so delicious it was almost overwhelming. "It's incredible!"

Hearing her son's praise, Mother Zhang's face beamed with joy.

"Sister Zi Xuan, come sit and eat with us!" Zhang Yu pouted as she saw Zi Xuan preparing to leave. In Zhang Yu's heart, Zi Xuan, who had been playing with her these past few days, was her big sister, not a servant.

Zi Xuan offered a faint, bitter smile. She was a maid; how could she possibly dine at the same table as her masters?

"Mother, don't let Sister Zi Xuan go!" Zhang Yu had no concept of social hierarchy; she only wanted her big sister to stay and eat.

"Miss Zi Xuan, we don't stand on such ceremony here. The table is large enough, so please, sit and eat with us," Mother Zhang said with a gentle smile. In the past, she might have been concerned with status, but after experiencing such great highs and lows, those rules had faded. Besides, she had grown quite fond of the young girl.

"Sit, sit." Zhang He was even less concerned with formalities; he personally set a place for her.

Zi Xuan felt a strange warmth in her heart. This family truly had no airs. Since the master had spoken, she obediently returned and sat beside Zhang Yu, where she could easily look after her.

"Sister Zi Xuan, eat some meat." Zhang Yu giggled as she placed a piece of meat into Zi Xuan's bowl.

"Here, have some soup. Old duck soup is very nourishing." Mother Zhang also smiled as she ladled a bowl for her.

Seeing the kindness Mother Zhang and Zhang Yu showed her, Zi Xuan felt a lump form in her throat, and she was on the verge of tears.

"Sister Zi Xuan, why are you crying?" Zhang Yu noticed her distress and asked in surprise. She sensibly pulled out a floral handkerchief and handed it to her.

"Zi Xuan, what's wrong?" Mother Zhang asked, equally puzzled. Why was she crying all of a sudden?

"Seeing how happy and harmonious the Madam's family is, this servant couldn't help but think of my own kin, and so..." Zi Xuan sobbed softly.

Mother Zhang understood immediately; she was missing her family.

"Zi Xuan, then... where are your relatives?" Zhang He couldn't help but ask.

"My home was not in these parts. When I was young, there was a great flood. To save me, my parents were swept away by the water, leaving only my grandfather and me to rely on each other. Forced by circumstance, we left our home and fled here. Later, I became separated from my grandfather. Fortunately, the previous master was kind; seeing how pitiful I was, he took me into his household to provide me with a meal."

Hearing Zi Xuan's past, Zhang He sighed. She, too, was a soul who had suffered much.

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

Zi Xuan thanked Mother Zhang gratefully and sipped the soup in small mouthfuls. Watching her quiet, refined manner of eating, she looked just like a young lady from a noble house. A thought flashed through Zhang He's mind: Zi Xuan's every gesture was so cultured; it seemed her family must have been quite prominent once as well.

Tap, tap, tap.

Rapid footsteps suddenly approached. The gatekeeper rushed in, looking anxious. "Madam, there are many people at the door asking to see you."

"Many people?" Zhang He was taken aback. Not many people knew where he lived.

"They are likely your friends, here to offer their congratulations. Don't just stand there, Uncle Wang, go and invite them in," Mother Zhang said with a smile.

"Young Master Zhang, you truly are a brilliant young talent! Look at those eyes, like stars in the sky. Tsk, tsk, they say the eyes are the windows to the soul; through yours, I can see your profound character! Young Master Zhang, I hear you are still unmarried. I have a daughter—though she may not be a peerless beauty, she is fair-skinned and lovely. What do you think..."

A middle-aged man with a potbelly, dressed in fine silks and exuding an air of wealth, was currently pulling Zhang He aside, acting extremely intimate.

"Bah! Old Qin, didn't rumors say your daughter was betrothed to the Sun Family? I heard you even accepted the dowry!" A middle-aged woman nearby couldn't stand it any longer and feigned surprise.

"Mere rumors! How could a brat from the Sun Family ever be worthy of my precious daughter?" the middle-aged man declared righteously. "Those who spread such lies are truly detestable! How could they slander my daughter like that!"

"Young Master Zhang He, look, this is the needlework my daughter made. Isn't it exquisite? She is a clever and dexterous girl. If you marry her, I guarantee she will be a wife who knows how to manage a household well."

"Needlework? Do you think taking a wife is just about mending clothes? To marry, one naturally needs a woman who can grace the parlor and master the kitchen. Zhang He, look at these poems my daughter wrote; aren't they full of talent? The fortune teller said her horoscope is a perfect match for yours—she has the face of a wife who brings prosperity to her husband!"

After the group crowded in, they immediately surrounded Zhang He, peddling their daughters as if they were hawking goods.

Damn, how did these people find this place! Zhang He's head throbbed. He never imagined that these people had actually come to his doorstep to play matchmaker.

"Everyone, everyone, I am truly sorry. I am still young, and a man should prioritize his career; I have no intention of marrying at the moment," Zhang He said decisively. He had to firmly reject these people who had popped up out of nowhere.

However, those who could set aside their pride to come knocking in person were not about to be dismissed by a few words from Zhang He. Even when he eventually issued an order to leave, they insisted on leaving behind various items for him to carefully consider. Among these offerings, the most numerous were portraits of their daughters.

"This is madness. I never expected to become such a hot commodity." Zhang He wiped away a cold sweat. After ushering those people out, the room was in complete disarray. The Martial Child Assessment had only ended that morning, and by noon, people were already knocking on his door to play matchmaker—the speed was astonishing!

"Uncle Wang, hang a sign on the front gate immediately: 'No Matchmaking Inquiries Accepted!'" Zhang He thought there might be more people coming, so he gave the order decisively.

"Hehe, don't forget, you are the youngest head of a Cold Gate family in Mengyin City. Prince Qu even bestowed honors upon you personally today, which shows you have a brilliant future ahead. Naturally, they want to strike while the iron is hot," Mother Zhang said with a smile. Seeing her son so popular, she was, of course, the happiest of all.

"Young Master, there are more visitors at the door." Uncle Wang had only just gone out, but he returned panting.

"Tell those matchmakers that I've gone out and am not home!" Zhang He said irritably.

"It's not the matchmakers; they say they are your friends. One is called Fatty Tang, and the other is Wang Dachui..." Uncle Wang said hesitantly.

"So it's them. I'll go see." Zhang He breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness they weren't here to play matchmaker, or he really would have had to find somewhere to lay low for a while.

Strange, they aren't eating at home; why are they in such a rush to come here? Zhang He couldn't help but wonder.