After that, Wei Shichu took care of the child by himself. He was not like the original owner, hiding in his yard all day long and feeling sorry for himself, even ignoring his child.
For some reason, the Zhao family's lobby suddenly became noisy and bustling that day. The servants in the house were all curious and gossipy, and they winked at each other and whispered to each other.
After being disciplined by her, the servants in Wei Shichu's yard no longer dared to slack off blatantly, but they could not hide their curiosity.
Wei Shichu recalled carefully and did not find anything unusual in the original owner's memory. After all, the Zhao family is not an ordinary family. Who would dare to make noise at home regardless of their status
"Zhichun, do you know what's going on? Why does it seem like someone is making trouble at home?" Wei Shichu couldn't help but ask Zhichun. Zhichun had been the personal maid of the original owner and had been in the Zhao family for several years. She was not as unsociable as the original owner. Over the years, she had a good relationship with some of the servants of the Zhao family, so she actually knew the Zhao family better than the original owner.
Sure enough, when Wei Shichu asked this question, Zhichun answered mysteriously, "It must be that old man Zhao from the side branch who came to complain about his miserable life again."
"Old Master Zhao? He is from a side branch? How dare a side branch come to cry and make trouble in the powerful main branch? Isn't he afraid of offending the main family and ruining the future of his descendants?" Wei Shichu was really confused now.
Zhichun curled his lips and said, "It is precisely because he has no descendants that he dares to come to the direct branch to cry and make a fuss."
"What exactly happened? Tell me about it in detail." Wei Shichu immediately became interested.
Seeing that Wei Shichu was so interested in asking him about the old man from the side branch, Zhichun told Wei Shichu without hesitation what he had heard from other people before.
It turned out that the old man who came to complain was Zhao Yiran’s great-grandfather who was not yet out of the fifth degree of mourning. They were the same ancestor a few generations ago, but now he has become an unimportant side branch.
The old man originally had an only son, but the son was frail and sickly, and died in his twenties, leaving behind only a son who was only five or six years old.
The old man therefore treated his only grandson like a treasure, and hired someone to teach him to read since he was young, hoping that he would take the imperial examination and become an official to bring honor to the family. However, this grandson had no talent for studying and could not even pass the examination to become a scholar. After trying several times, he had to give up hope. However, he was very good at interpersonal communication and business management. If he could give full play to his strengths, he could have a good future.
So the old man came to ask Prime Minister Zhao, who was in power at the time, for a future for his son. Prime Minister Zhao, considering that they were from the same clan, sent his grandson to be with Zhao Yiran, to work with Zhao Yiran, and would find a way to give him a job after he had made some contributions.
But unfortunately, a year ago, the old man's grandson followed Zhao Yiran to go on business outside the province and encountered hostile forces who wanted to assassinate Zhao Yiran. In order to save Zhao Yiran, he blocked the knife for Zhao Yiran and then died of his injuries.
Although the old man's grandson has a concubine, he has no children. In other words, once he dies, the old man will have no descendants.
The old man couldn't bear the consequences, so he took out his anger on Zhao Yiran because his grandson was gone. Every once in a while, he would come to Zhao's house and cry about his miserable life. His sons and grandsons were all dead, while others had many children and grandchildren, but he had to shed his own children and had no descendants...
Because he was really pitiful, and his grandson did die because of Zhao Yiran, so even if he came to the Zhao Mansion to cause trouble, no one dared to drive him away. If the Zhao family members tried to persuade them, he would curse at them. If the servants were asked to pull him away, he would pretend to die in front of the Zhao family's door. So the huge Zhao family really had no way to deal with him.
Of course, this is also because the Zhao family felt guilty towards him, and they were also afraid that he would really cause some big trouble. After all, the old man only had him and an old wife who was bedridden and barely alive. Those who are barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes. If he took any risks, he might really ruin the reputation of the Zhao family.
Wei Shichu learned the whole story from Zhichun, and immediately looked at this old man who dared to cause trouble at the Zhao Mansion with a new respect, but he also felt very sympathetic towards him.
"The old man's grandson died because of Zhao Yiran. Didn't he give him any compensation?" Wei Shichu suddenly asked, "Or was the compensation not enough, so the old man was dissatisfied and came to cause trouble?"
"Of course they did compensate, but it was all gold, silver, jewelry, land and other things. But their only grandson is gone. What's the use of these properties? No matter how much wealth and glory they have, they can't pass them on to their descendants. When the old couple dies, won't these properties belong to others?" Zhichun said angrily, obviously understanding the old man's mood of crying.
"You're right. His grandson is dead. What's the use of asking for money? The two old people can't use much, and they can't take it with them when they die." Wei Shichu nodded.
"I don't need you to serve me here. Go and meet your sisters in the mansion." Wei Shichu suddenly told Zhichun and winked at her, "I'm like an invisible person in this mansion. When you go out, ask more about the news in the mansion."
Zhichun was a smart person. She immediately realized that Wei Shichu wanted her to go out and find out the purpose of the old man's visit to the mansion, so she went out happily. After all, who wouldn't be happy to slack off while getting paid and to find out gossip
After Zhichun left, Wei Shichu went to the outer room to see Zhao Lue. Zhao Lue was sleeping soundly on the small bed, with his hands clenched into fists next to his head. His little face was pink in sleep, and he looked very cute. She looked at him for a while and then went out quietly.
There were still faint noisy sounds in the hall. Apparently, Old Master Zhao had not left yet. Wei Shichu simply sent the other servants away. She sat on the couch, closed her eyes, and used her keen hearing to listen attentively to the sounds in the hall.
"I, Zhao Lan, will have no descendants! What's the use of having so much money from you? Am I short of money? Ah?! I'm not short of money! I just lack children and grandchildren! Zhao Yiran, if you really have a conscience, give my grandson back to me!" An old but still loud male voice shouted sternly.
"Fifth Master, I feel very guilty about Zhao Qi's death, but the dead cannot be resurrected, and I really can't return him to you. If you are worried that no one will take care of you in your old age and see you to the end of your life, then I can send someone..." This was Zhao Yiran's voice.
"Am I afraid that no one will take care of me in my old age? Bah! Don't even think about transplanting flowers and trees for me! I hate you for causing me to have no descendants! Zhao Yiran, don't talk so nicely here! If you really want to give my grandson back to me, it's not like you really have no other way! You have so many sons, can't you adopt one as my grandson?!" the old man said angrily.