Chapter 661: Chapter 661: The Slap in the Face Came Too Quickly
A lifetime, a pair, not sharing a husband with other women?
Even Old Master Zhan San and Master Xia and his wife were shocked.
Old Master Zhan San said, "From ancient times to the present, any capable man has multiple wives and concubines. Wives manage the household, and concubines add charm. Where is there a man who sticks to one woman for life? Only incapable farmers stick to one woman for their entire life."
Gu Dashan was very angry and said to Old Master Zhan San, "How can you say that? If your son-in-law married several wives, wouldn’t you be angry? Wouldn’t you feel sorry for your daughter?"
He couldn’t believe that Old Master Zhan San could bear to see his own daughter suffer.
But unexpectedly, Old Master Zhan San waved his hand and said indifferently, "As the official wife, she should accept beauties for her husband; those who cannot are jealous wives and should be divorced and sent back to their families."
Gu Dashan didn’t understand what accepting beauties meant, and Brother Cheng explained beside him, "It means accepting concubines. Wives should bring concubines for their husbands; otherwise, they are considered jealous wives and should be divorced."
After hearing this, Gu Dashan was so angry that he almost hit someone. He pointed at Zhan Er and asked, "Do you think the same?"
Zhan Er instinctively nodded, then hastily shook his head, "No, no, Uncle Gu, you misunderstand."
"Pfft, what misunderstanding? You and your uncle think alike," Gu Dashan said, looking at Lady Xia standing at a distance, "Ma’am, we originally thought you were good, but I didn’t expect you to demean our Sister Xiu like this. We thank you for finding a potential match for Sister Xiu, but look at what kind of person you found. Is this youngster suitable for marriage?"
Lady Xia, who already looked down on Gu Dashan, saw his audacity to question her and retorted, "Brother Cheng’s father, it has always been normal for men to take concubines. What is wrong with that? Zhan Family’s Xiao Er is the legitimate son of the eldest branch of the Zhan Family in Jiangnan—a member of the direct lineage with capabilities, deeply in love with Sister Xiu. Even if he takes concubines after marrying Sister Xiu, it’s okay as long as he doesn’t favor the concubines over his wife."
Men from noble families always take concubines, even her Old Master does. The Old Master has two maids, just not suitable to bring to Qingfu Town, so those two are left back at Jinling Prefecture.
Gu Dashan is a country farmer where it is uncommon for men to take concubines in the countryside; only disreputable men mingle with widows and end up marrying them as secondary wives. Hence, Gu Dashan was utterly shocked by Lady Xia’s words and pointed at her, speechless.
Seeing this, Gu Jin’an comforted him, "Don’t be angry, father. We are not like them; our Gu Family’s daughter will not share a husband with others. Those who want to take concubines and keep maids should not come asking for our Gu Family’s daughter."
He turned to Zhan Er, "Today, we came for two reasons: one is to beat you up, and the other is to tell you to stop dreaming about marrying my older sister; you are not worthy of her."
Zhan Er was shocked, having thought Gu Jin’an was just talking about not sharing her husband, didn’t expect it to be true, and immediately got scared and promised, "Brother An, rest assured, I, Zhan Hengzhi, swear to heaven that once I marry Sister Xiu, I will be utterly devoted to her, with no one else."
"Hah~" Gu Jin’an scoffed, clearly not believing Zhan Er’s words.
Seeing this, Zhan Er hurriedly said, "Ever since I met Sister Xiu, I have started to correct my behaviors, no longer allowing other women to serve me."
However, the irony struck too swiftly, like lightning.
"Young Master, how are you?" A burst of fragrant breeze wafted, and a beautiful, seductive sixteen or seventeen-year-old young woman rushed from outside the courtyard straight to Zhan Er, "Wuwuwu, this slave heard that a brute came to beat up the Young Master, and cried in anxiety, all because this slave is too frail and overslept this morning... I should have accompanied the Young Master to breakfast; if I had been there, I could have used my body to shield the Young Master from this brutal beating."
The lady cried like pear blossoms bathed in rain, pitifully beautiful. When she spoke, her voice was not only tender but the end tones slightly raised. Gu Jinli swore that if he were a man, he would be utterly captivated by this woman.
Gu Dashan saw this woman throwing herself onto Zhan Er, sobbing heavily, and he trembled with anger... To think she dares claim to be wholeheartedly devoted to Sister Xiu?
Gu Jin’an was not at all surprised. He watched Zhan Er like watching a drama, and even glanced at Lady Xia, sneering, "Lady, please keep such a fine gentleman for your own daughter. The Gu Family dares not aspire to such heights."
Lady Xia’s face flushed red, shocked that Yue’er would be so bold as to run out like this.
Zhan Er snapped back to his senses and shoved Yue’er away: "Where did this wretched slave come from? So ignorant of the rules! Come, drag her down and execute her by beating!"
The maid Yue’er was shocked, staring disbelievingly at Zhan Er: "Young Master, it’s me, Yue’er, your most beloved Yue’er. Don’t you want Yue’er anymore? Just this morning we were still..."
"Silence!" Zhan Er was nearly driven mad. He used to be very fond of Yue’er, but no matter how fond, she was merely a maid meant to extinguish lust, a plaything. He brought her along thinking it was nothing serious as he was young and vigorous and needed someone to relieve stress. His younger brother also brought a girl; he thought nothing of it, but who would have expected Gu Jinxiu?
And who would have known that what the Gu Family’s daughter sought was a lifetime partner, and at such a moment, this Yue’er would run out, unluckily?
"Are you deaf? Didn’t hear me? Drag this wretched slave down for execution!" Zhan Er yelled at his servants.
The servants hurried forward and dragged crying Yue’er away.
Gu Dashan was shaking all over. If before he merely thought Zhan Er was not a decent person, now he believed Zhan Er was not even human.
To kill the maid who served him just because he was displeased, was this what noble young masters were like?
If Sister Xiu really married him, and one day he disliked Sister Xiu, would he kill her too?
Terrifying, utterly terrifying.
Master Xia frowned, seeing things getting out of hand and noticing Brother Cheng looking a bit scared, he couldn’t help but say to Zhan Er: "Discuss matters properly, no need to shout about beating and killing. This maid has served you after all, just beat her then sell her off, spare her life and avoid creating a killing sin."
Zhan Er, upon hearing this, looked at Uncle Gu and Good Brother An: "What do Uncle Gu and Good Brother An think? If you’re still dissatisfied, I won’t keep this maid."
Gu Jin’an coldly laughed: "You really have a way with words, making it sound as if my family wants this maid dead. This is your affair, kill or butcher at your discretion, but don’t drag my family into it."
Zhan Er was taken aback, unable to refute.
Master Xia, seeing that things were getting out of hand, quickly motioned with his hands, telling the servants to take the maid away and lock her up first.
Then he feigned severity towards Zhan Er: "Xiao’er, if you’re truly sincere about marrying Sister Xiu, you should cultivate your character. A maid like this who cluelessly clings to you should have been dealt with long ago."