AD (QT) Chapter 132

Liu Jiahua had been fuming over Han Ze’s attitude for several days, staying cooped up at home. However, once she heard that Han Ze had not only provided Han Xiaochun with fifty mu of irrigated land as a dowry but had even bought her a courtyard house in town, her mind became active once again.

Han Xiaochun was Han Ze’s sister, but Meizi was also Han Ze’s sister. Since he was willing to provide for Xiaochun, he surely would be willing to do the same for Meizi. Thinking of this, and noting that Meizi was now fifteen and of marriageable age, she arranged for a matchmaker. She found a decent family in town and settled Han Meizi’s engagement.

Once the engagement was set, Liu Jiahua found Han Ze and demanded bluntly, “Meizi is getting married in two months. When are you going to prepare her dowry?”

Han Ze looked at her in surprise. “If Meizi needs a dowry, go find Uncle Xingwang. Why are you looking for me?”

Liu Jiahua stood with her hands on her hips and said, “Didn’t you provide so much for Han Xiaochun? Xiaochun is your sister, and Meizi is also your sister. If Xiaochun gets a dowry, why shouldn’t Meizi? I’m not asking for much; just buy Meizi twenty mu of irrigated land. However, you still need to buy the courtyard in town.”

Han Ze laughed. “Find a way to handle Meizi’s dowry yourselves. When she marries, I’ll have Ge Hongbu send over a wedding gift, but as for providing the actual dowry—forget it. That is not my responsibility.”

Although Meizi was siblings with Han Chengming, she was a reasonable girl. When she married, he wouldn’t mind giving her a generous supplementary gift, but providing her full dowry was impossible.

Liu Jiahua’s face darkened. “True, by rule, a brother isn’t required to prepare a sister’s dowry, but you did it for Han Xiaochun, so why not for Meizi? Is Meizi not your sister? Since they are both sisters, you must treat them equally.”

Han Ze frowned and said, “Mother, these sisters really aren’t the same. Since they aren’t the same, how can I treat them equally?”

Liu Jiahua questioned him with a black face, “How are they different?”

Han Ze said seriously, “Xiaochun and I share the same ancestors and the same father. Meizi does not. Preparing a dowry for Xiaochun is doing it for my own family; Meizi, however, is an outsider. I cannot take the resources of this house and help an outsider. I’m afraid that when I go to the afterlife, I won’t have the face to see my ancestors.”

Liu Jiahua hadn’t expected Han Ze to say this, and for a moment, she was speechless. Meizi was Han Xingwang’s child, and Han Xingwang’s family were refugees who had fled to Han Village. She couldn’t tell Han Ze that Meizi shared his ancestors—unless Meizi were Han Maode’s child, but that was impossible.

At this, her expression shifted between anger and gloom. She asked sharply, “You truly won’t prepare a dowry for Meizi?”

Han Ze said firmly, “I won’t.”

Liu Jiahua pointed at him. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll sue you for being unfilial?”

Han Ze replied, “I’m not. You won’t win.”

Liu Jiahua: “…”

She really wouldn’t win. The village chief knew the history of their families and would never side with her. She couldn’t very well go to the county magistrate to sue this “wicked obstacle” for such a thing; even if she won, she wouldn’t be able to stay in the village peacefully afterward.

She looked at the indifferent Han Ze and wished she could go back in time and strangle him. How was this a son? This was a debt collector sent to torment her.

…

Han Ze watched Liu Jiahua’s furious back and felt quite speechless. After being shut down so many times, how could she still think he would agree to provide Meizi’s dowry?

When Liu Jiahua returned home, Han Xingwang and Han Chengming came over and asked, “Did he agree?”

Liu Jiahua slumped into a chair and said angrily, “That wicked obstacle… he said Meizi doesn’t share his ancestors and he won’t help an outsider.”

The smile on Han Xingwang’s face vanished. Although they shared the Han surname, they truly did not share the same ancestors.

Han Chengming collapsed dejectedly into a chair. “Han Ze is just a crafty, petty man. He doesn’t even care for his own mother. We shouldn’t count on him anymore.”

Liu Jiahua sneered, “Not count on Han Ze? I’d like to count on you, then. Why don’t you go and earn some silver for me?”

Han Chengming was choked. He thought to himself: If I were Han Maode’s son, would I be short on silver? Flushed with shame and anger, the words slipped out: “If you had been smarter back then and birthed me before separating from Han Maode—letting him believe I was his son—I could have inherited half the Han estate. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be living in such poverty, and Jixue and Jiwen wouldn’t be going hungry at school.”

Liu Jiahua stared at Han Chengming in disbelief. Her son was actually blaming her. “You… you’re blaming me?”

Han Chengming pursed his lips and turned his head away, saying nothing.

Liu Jiahua finally saw the truth; her vision went dark, and she fainted on the spot.

Han Chengming jumped in alarm.

Han Xingwang glared fiercely at his son and roared, “Hurry up and help your mother up!”

Han Chengming stammered several “Ohs” and helped Han Xingwang move Liu Jiahua onto the bed. Looking at his unconscious mother, Han Chengming felt a rare surge of guilt. “I’ll go get the doctor.”

Han Xingwang waved him off.

Han Meizi heard the commotion and ran in. Seeing her mother fainted, her face turned pale. “What happened to my mother?”

Han Xingwang frowned. “Your mother fainted.” Then, his eyes flashed, and he said, “Go tell your Big Brother. Tell him your mother is sick and have him come see her.”

Han Meizi paused. Han Xingwang snapped impatiently, “What are you standing there for? Go, quickly!”

Startled by the shout, Han Meizi said, “I’m going, I’m going!”

…

Han Ze was in the manor watering the flowers when he heard Meizi’s news. “How did she become unconscious?”

Han Meizi was frantic. “I don’t know!”

Han Ze set down his watering can and took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands. “Fine, let’s go.”

Meizi let out a sigh of relief. She had thought that since her Big Brother had such a strained relationship with the family, he wouldn’t come.

When they reached Han Xingwang’s house, Liu Jiahua had not yet woken up. The doctor was feeling her pulse. Han Ze hadn’t expected her to truly be unconscious. He looked at Han Xingwang: “Why did my mother faint?”

Hearing Han Ze’s question, a look of guilt flashed across Han Chengming’s face.

Han Xingwang, however, said, “Your mother fainted the moment she returned from your house. What exactly did you say to her to make her so angry? You’ve practically fumed her to death.”

Han Chengming’s expression relaxed slightly.

Han Ze was taken aback and said unpleasantly, “Uncle Xingwang, don’t talk nonsense. When my mother left my house, she was holding her head high and looked full of spirit. Besides, I didn’t say anything out of the ordinary. What is she angry about? You can’t just blame everything on me.”

Han Xingwang shook his head and sighed. “You child, would I lie to you? If you don’t believe me, wait until your mother wakes up and ask her yourself.”

Han Ze mocked, “I don’t need to ask. My mother fainted in your house. Who knows what you people did?”

Han Xingwang only shook his head and said nothing.

Han Ze ignored him and looked at the doctor. “What’s wrong with my mother?”

The doctor said, “Extreme anger attacking the heart, excessive liver fire…”

Han Ze said seriously, “No matter the ailment, prescribe the medicine. Uncle Xingwang is good to my mother; he won’t be stingy with the silver.”

Han Xingwang: “…”

The doctor smiled and said, “Rest assured, I will only charge what is fair.”

Han Xingwang breathed a sigh of relief. He could afford the medical fee. He then asked, “Is my old lady simply unable to handle being angry?”

The doctor nodded. “It’s best if she doesn’t get angry.”

Once the doctor was sent off, Liu Jiahua finally came to. Han Xingwang hurriedly said, “Old lady, you can’t go fainting from anger just because Han Ze won’t provide Meizi’s dowry. If you faint a few more times, you’ll be the death of me.”

Hearing his words, Liu Jiahua blinked. What did my fainting have to do with Han Ze?

Han Ze looked at Han Xingwang with a half-smile. Han Chengming understood his father’s intent and chimed in from the side, “That’s right, Mom. You can’t faint again. Han Ze will agree to prepare the dowry for sister.”

Liu Jiahua turned her head toward Han Chengming with anger in her eyes. But seeing Han Ze standing nearby, her eyes shifted as she realized why the father and son were saying this. Thinking that Meizi’s dowry was the most important thing, she said, “Han Ze, do you really agree to prepare Meizi’s dowry?”

Han Ze smiled and said, “Mother, you’re just worried Meizi’s dowry is too small. How about this: I’ll help you convince Uncle Xingwang and Han Chengming to provide more for her. That should calm your anger, shouldn’t it?”

Liu Jiahua hadn’t expected that even after she fainted, Han Ze still refused to give in.

Seeing this, Han Xingwang hurriedly said, “Han Ze, hurry and promise your mother! What if she faints again?”

Han Ze replied, “Meizi is a girl of your household. What would it look like if I provided her dowry? The rules cannot be changed. If Mother truly wants to faint over this, I have no way to stop her.”

Liu Jiahua pointed at him. “You… you’re such a scoundrel? You don’t even care about my health?”

Han Ze said, “Mother, seeing how spirited you are now, how could you faint? Don’t worry, your health is perfectly fine. Since you’re okay, I’ll be heading back.”

Seeing him actually leave just like that, Liu Jiahua sat up and pounded the quilts, wailing, “What did I do to deserve this? Every son I birthed is a white-eyed wolf!”

Han Chengming felt a bit guilty, as he was included in that “every son” his mother mentioned.

Han Xingwang narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t expect Han Ze to be so cold-hearted. He’s quite the character.”

Liu Jiahua shouted, “I’m going to sue him for being unfilial! I’m going to sue him…”

Han Xingwang shot her a look and let her scream. Sue? Where would she go to sue?

…

Han Ze returned home and put Liu Jiahua’s matters out of his mind. Aside from using “filial piety” to manipulate him, what else could she do?

After Han Xiaochun married out, Han Xiaodong’s marriage was placed on the agenda. However, Xiaodong was even more pickier than Xiaochun. Even when Han Ze introduced several suitable boys to her through his connections, she refused them all.

Xiaoliu was now nine years old and had been studying for nearly three years. The teacher at the academy suggested he take the Tongsheng exams this year.

Han Ze poured all his attention into Xiaoliu. The family essentially lived in the town every day, and he had no mental energy left to worry about what kind of husband Han Xiaodong wanted to find.

Not only did Han Ze have no time for Xiaodong’s marriage, but once Han Maode heard his grandson was going to take the exams, he stopped worrying about his daughter as well. He only thought that if his grandson became a Tongsheng, their family would officially be considered a scholarly household.

Only Wang Lanhua remained anxious, but anxiety didn’t help. The girl was stubborn; if she didn’t find someone to her liking, she wouldn’t marry. What could Wang Lanhua do?