Chapter 19 : This nephew-in-law was indeed a difficult character to handle

This Zhuangyuan Lane is inhabited by prominent families. They see each other all the time and have known each other for generations.. The Cui family has always considered themselves high and mighty, holding an air of superiority. It was fine when Cui Yunzhao’s father was alive, but when Cui Xu came to power, their relationship with the neighbors in the alley became worse and worse.

Now that this Cui family daughter, who had been married off to a lower status, had returned home to cause trouble, the nearby families grew excited and listened intently.

Cui Xu’s face darkened immediately.

He resembled Cui Yunzhao’s father to some extent, both being refined and elegant individuals, but his eyes were somewhat narrower, lacking the scholarly grace and showing more shrewdness.

At this moment, he narrowed his eyes and gave a cold glance at He Lan Shi, who was visibly upset. He then took a step forward, standing on the steps and looking down on Cui Yunzhao.

To him, Huo Tan, a military man, was not worth his attention.

“Second niece, stop causing trouble,” Cui Xu’s voice was rarely so stern.

In the past, Cui Yunzhao would have retreated, but today she remained unfazed, standing upright in the alley.

Her eyes, clear and calm, did not show fear at the elder’s reprimand.

“Uncle, how am I causing trouble?”

Although her voice was not loud, it was clear and articulate, allowing everyone in the alley to hear her.

“Second uncle, Bo Ling has been peaceful for many years. It is all thanks to the bloody battles of the soldiers that Boling has been protected until now. We should be grateful.”

“Now, when such a good opportunity has come to the Cui family, why is Uncle unhappy? Does Uncle not want to entertain these soldiers who protect our country?”

Cui Yunzhao spoke with such clarity and conviction that Cui Xu almost seemed to choke on his words.

At this moment, Huo Tan stood quietly beside Cui Yunzhao, saying nothing more. He was like a solid mountain, his presence making Cui Xu cautious, preventing him from speaking freely.

After pondering for a while, Cui Xu sighed and said with a troubled expression, “It’s not that I don’t want to entertain the soldiers, but you didn’t tell me earlier so that the family could prepare in advance. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be negligent. Why don’t you invite the soldiers to come another day when everything is ready at home?”

This was Cui Xu’s way of complaining that Cui Yunzhao had not given him advance notice.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Cui Yunzhao’s eyes widened. “Uncle, is the house not able to accommodate the soldiers? I remember the kitchen can prepare meals for dozens of people at a time. The soldiers are easygoing, as long as there’s food and drink, they won’t complain about the conditions.”

In a situation where there might be perceived neglect, people would think the Cui family is hosting well. Today, with my husband and I returning home, it’s a lively occasion with friends and family gathered. This banquet is just perfect for the occasion.

“Moreover, how could the esteemed Cui family of Bo Ling be unable to host a meal?”

Huo Tan lowered his gaze, almost unable to suppress his laughter. He saw Cui Xu gripping his hands tightly, his pale fingers turning white with the force.

Cui Yunzhao was right. The Cui family had a large household, including servants, adding up to more than a hundred people in total. With the household’s reserves, they could easily accommodate the soldiers with enough food.

Cui Yunzhao stood gracefully in the alley, with the young and handsome military officer by her side. Their determined gazes at Cui Xu left him feeling awkward and embarrassed.

A sudden cold wind blew, and Cui Yunzhao shivered slightly.

Huo Tan’s eyes darkened. He slowly lifted his head and fixed his gaze on Cui Xu.

“Uncle, are you not welcoming us back?”

The couple’s back-and-forth made Cui Xu’s face look even worse. But Huo Tan’s words were accurate. The couple arrived early in the morning for their return home, only to be met with a cold reception and no sign of a warm welcome.

It seemed indeed very unwelcoming.

If one thought deeper, was Cui Xu looking down on Huo Tan’s military background? Did he look down on military officers in general?

Such thoughts were quite troubling.

Cui Xu suddenly heard Huo Tan speaking and couldn’t help but glance at him, thinking that the military officer his second niece married was not an ordinary person. No wonder he could switch the marriage contract with the Lu family.

Now that things had reached this point, with neighbors eagerly watching, Cui Xu gritted his teeth and said, “How could we not welcome you!”

“Alright, wife, hurry and prepare the banquet!”

“Second niece, second nephew-in-law, the feast has long been prepared. Please come inside.”

At this point, Cui Xu’s face once again wore a warm and kind smile.

Huo Tan gave him a sidelong glance, thinking that his wife was indeed correct, her second uncle had quite a thick skin.

Cui Yunzhao smiled slightly when she heard him change his tone so quickly.

She took two steps forward and said to He Lan Shi, who was about to arrange the banquet, “Second Aunt, the soldiers all love to drink Ding Tai Fung’s kaoliang wine. If there is still time,  please prepare more.”

He Lan Shi: “……”

He Lan Shi took a deep breath and, catching her husband’s cold glance, immediately said in a strained voice, “Alright, Jiaojiao, don’t worry. I will make sure the soldiers are well treated.”

The family quickly seemed to warm up to each other.

Huo Tan, walking last, said to Cui Xu, “Uncle, our family is not very wealthy, so we couldn’t prepare a grand return gift. Please don’t take offense.”

With that, he waved his hand, signaling Ping Shu to lead two soldiers to carry the return gifts.

Though Huo Tan said the gifts were modest, the items, clearly marked with well-known brands, were anything but. Anyone who had seen them would know that the return gifts were quite impressive.

The gifts prepared by a military household were no less than those prepared by the prestigious families in the alley.

Seeing such elaborate return gifts, Cui Xu felt less joy. He stared at Huo Tan, ignoring the neighbors’ gossip, and forced a smile as he said, “You’ve gone to great expense, nephew-in-law.”

Huo Tan grinned and replied, “To marry my wife is my fortune, so of course, I must treat her well.”

The family exchanged pleasantries and entered through the grand door.

In no time, the Cui family’s gate was eagerly shut, closing off all the gossip outside.

The onlookers at the alley quickly dispersed, rushing back to their own homes to recount the event in vivid detail.

Inside the Cui residence, Cui Xu maintained his role as the kindly uncle and began to introduce the family home to Huo Tan.

“Nephew-in-law, you probably haven’t seen an old mansion like this. The Cui family’s ancestral home is larger than most. The corridors between rooms are designed for ease of movement, especially during hot summers or snowy weather, so that clothes don’t get dirty.”

“But if you’re not familiar with the layout, it’s best not to wander around to avoid getting lost.”

Cui Xu’s comment was tinged with subtle sarcasm.

Huo Tan, however, responded cheerfully, “Thank you for the advice, Uncle. I have seen similar mansions before. The residence of Defense Minister Lu in Bo Ling is actually the ancestral home of the Wang family from the previous dynasty.”

Huo Tan said sincerely, “I believe it’s on the adjacent Tanhua Alley?”

Cui Xu: “……”

The Wang family, having resisted the current Emperor with the deposed emperor from the previous dynasty, saw their entire household fall. The collateral relatives could no longer maintain the ancestral home, which was then sold to Defense Minister Lu.

It wasn’t exactly a sale, as Defense Minister Lu did not pay money for it. Instead, he had arranged for the Wang family’s descendants to be provided with another residence in Tongcheng.

Everyone in Bo Ling knew this, and Cui Xu was certainly aware of it.

Because he knew the details, Cui Xu felt uneasy.

This nephew-in-law was indeed a difficult character to handle.