Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 330 - 316: Zhang San, Aren’t You Going to Explain?

Chapter 330: Chapter 316: Zhang San, Aren’t You Going to Explain?

As many people were targeting Zhang San with murderous gazes, Big Head Wang made his way towards Zhang San’s position.

After all, they had come together, so they should sit together.

When Qiong saw that Wang Junwu was still heading towards Zhang San, she gritted her teeth and followed him.

She knew that with the Yu Family’s status in the Capital, she had some influence, enough so that sitting with them wouldn’t overly trouble Zhang San and the others.

But just as the two had reached Zhang San’s side, and Big Head Wang had just introduced her as someone from the Yu Family who had come to deliver a birthday gift, someone began to speak in a mocking tone.

"Why doesn’t the woman sit in the side hall for ladies, instead of running over to sit in the main hall?"

Nobody knew who suddenly said this, making the atmosphere even more awkward.

At that moment, Ximen Jinxing slammed the table and said sharply, "Who just said something? I didn’t hear it clearly!?"

With one sentence, complete silence fell over the room.

Even many who had just learned who had made that comment were now glaring at the speaker.

If you end up driving Ximen Jinxing away because of your words, wait until after the birthday feast is over and see if we won’t beat you!

Then, Zheng Poyue spoke, "Although I do not know who this tall, dark man is, since this plump girl is from the Yu Family... The Yu Family, if I remember correctly, should just be a merchant family."

Although Zheng Poyue’s comment was directed at the Yu Family’s Qiong, he was coldly looking at Zhang San.

"Among the scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant classes, merchants are the lowest. Today, at the birthday feast of the Ministry of War’s Young Master Pei, in the main hall’s seat of honor, yet there sits a mere merchant; perhaps that is much inappropriate?"

With that, Zheng Poyue glanced at Qiong.

He couldn’t tell if it was an illusion, but Zheng Poyue felt that perhaps he had been on the northern front for too long. Now, back in the Capital, seeing this plump and short girl, he found her rather delicate and pleasing to the eye, only slightly overweight.

"Moreover, Miss, what is your position in the Yu Family? At such a young age, surely you’re not the head of the Yu Family. What right do you have to sit here?"

It was obvious to everyone that this person from the Yu Family had come to support Zhang San.

After all, with the Yu Family’s status in the Capital, many nobles and dignitaries dared not offend them lightly.

It is true that among the scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant classes, merchants rank the lowest.

But if someone becomes the biggest merchant family in Daxing City, it is probably not as simple as being just a merchant.

Therefore, many noble youths knew not to offend people indiscriminately when they were outside, including the Yu Family.

But Zheng Poyue was fearless. In the past, the Zheng Family had contributed significantly to the establishment of the Kaihuang era, and one could say that the Liu Family and the Zheng Family’s contributions were indispensable.

It’s just that Kaihuang never recognized the Zheng Family’s value.

But facing a mere merchant, Zheng Poyue, who had just returned from the battlefield with extraordinary military merits, still didn’t consider them important.

At this moment, Zheng Poyue’s words, though truthful, were equivalent to publicly slapping the Yu Family.

Originally, Qiong thought that with the Yu Family’s influence in the Capital, sitting here could bolster Wang Junwu and the others, but she never anticipated that it would instead lead to difficulties for herself.

Then, Zhang San spoke, "Speaking of which, I know someone from your Yu Family; I even recognize her as my sister. It seems, then, we are all one family. Young Master Pei, considering how spacious this front hall is, it should be okay for my sister to sit close to me, right?"

Pei Shouqi began to sweat at this moment.

What on earth is happening today!?

If I had known, I would not have invited Zheng Poyue. This fellow used to be arrogant and unruly in the Capital, and after going to the northern front for some exposure, he’s become even more reckless in his speech.

Unfortunately, the entire Zheng Family resides in the Capital, and coupled with their past merits and current allegiance to the Crown Prince, I really can’t afford to offend Zheng Poyue.

But I dare not provoke Zhang San either!

"Since we are one family, then let’s sit together."

After all, if a woman wants to sit here, Pei Shouqi felt that in comparison to the still warm book titled "Baili Shenxuan" in his lap, it really wasn’t anything significant.

But Zheng Poyue coldly said, "Zhang San, you are, after all, the Acting Military Chief of the Town Martial Office; mingling with a mere servant girl from a merchant’s family is unseemly. If word spreads, it will disgrace the face of the Great Sui’s martial artists!"

Just as Zhang San was about to retort, he heard a familiar voice at the entrance of the front hall.

"Brother San, really! Whenever you see a beauty, you just follow her and don’t even turn to look back at me. You’ve gone too far!"

The newcomer was none other than Wang Ziteng, who had been watching the drama unfold at the entrance for a while.

Wang Ziteng stepped inside, bowed with clasped hands towards Pei Shouqi, and smiled, "Wang Ziteng from the Wang Family, especially here to celebrate your birthday. Young Master Pei, you won’t mind my uninvited presence, will you?"

The Wang Family!?

Certainly, in Daxing City, there were numerous officials and nobles surnamed Wang, but no one dared to claim they were from the Wang Family.

For everyone knew that in all the land, only the Wang Clan of Taiyuan dared to claim that title.

Upon hearing the name "Wang Ziteng," someone immediately remembered something.

"I heard that some time ago, a prodigy from the Wang Family joined the Town Martial Office. Could it be..."

"I’ve heard about this matter too. Could it really be this Wang Ziteng?"

Many people present did not know, but quite a few at the Ministry of War did. This Wang Ziteng was the prodigy of the Wang family, legend spoke of him as born amidst miraculous clouds and later taken up by a crane to cultivate among the clouds.

"So it is the prodigy of the Wang family, Shouqi was unaware of such an honored guest arriving and did not welcome him at the door. I truly apologize."

Pei Shouqi immediately came forward to greet Wang Ziteng with a clasped fist and a bow.

Indeed, many people present stood up to greet Wang Ziteng with a clasped fist and a bow.

Wang Ziteng had never revealed his identity, but that did not mean his identity wasn’t useful.

On the contrary, in a place like the Capital which values background and status, Wang Ziteng’s identity sometimes was even more effective than that of Ximen Jinxing.

Wang Ziteng returned the gesture to Pei Shouqi and smiled, "Speaking of which, it was on Chuan-Yu Road where I met your younger brother Pei Shoushen. My Brother San and young brother Pei Shoushen hit it off at first sight, and that’s why we came. The Eldest Young Master can take care of the others. My Brother San, Brother Wu, Miss Ximen, and I will accompany Miss Yu."

The four of them were accompanying Miss Yu.

This statement alone, even if Qiong was just a maid of the Yu family, no one dared to question her status at this moment.

The prodigy of the Wang family, one of the Five Surnames and Seven Families, standing up for someone boosted their status significantly. If you still looked down on the merchant status of the Yu family, it was akin to looking down on the Wang family.

Seeing Zheng Poyue didn’t dare to say anything further, Wang Ziteng walked towards where Zhang San was, had Big Head Wang and Qiong sit closer, and then discovered there was nowhere for him to sit.

He glanced at someone sitting at a nearby table.

The person immediately understood the hint and left their original spot for another area.

The maid quickly replaced Wang Ziteng’s cup and dishes with new ones.

At this moment, on Zhang San’s left was Ximen Jinxing. Behind him was Big Head Wang, with Qiong from the Yu family on his left and Wang Ziteng on his right.

The five of them sitting together in the front hall was very eye-catching.

After all, it’s hard not to draw attention with Ximen Jinxing present.

Also, another female guest was sitting there too. Although Qiong appeared plump, which made many people not want to take a second glance, due to Ximen Jinxing’s presence, many still stole a few glances from time to time.

Even hearing that the prodigy of the Wang family was there, many ladies from the side halls tried to stealthily peek into the main hall.

"Which one is the Wang family’s prodigy?"

"I heard that when the Wang family’s prodigy was born, the sky descended with auspicious clouds. Such a person, endowed with great Qi Luck, really does not look down on a merchant’s daughter."

Even though Great Sui’s customs were open, and women could normally go out on the streets, relatively speaking, women’s status was often not very low.

However, ’not very low’ meant that in many instances, women’s status was still somewhat inferior to men’s.

Wang Ziteng, already of extraordinary origin, coupled with his previous words, gained substantial favor from these ladies.

However, some ladies peeking out from behind several screens first noticed Zhang San.

After all, with two women sitting next to Zhang San, it was too easy to find him.

And among the nearby young men, Zhang San was the most handsome.

"That man sitting in the front is so handsome!"

"Is he Wang Ziteng? The Wang family’s prodigy, and he’s also so attractive, absolutely mesmerizing."

"Speaking of which, why isn’t this Wang Ziteng among the Four Young Masters of the Capital? I think even if you combined all the Four Young Masters, they wouldn’t compare to him alone."

Meanwhile, Zheng Poyue, sitting on the main seat to the left in the main hall, was already annoyed for having unsuccessfully troubled Zhang San just now.

What irritated him more at this moment was the buzzing of several ladies behind the screens right behind him.

Moreover, he knew that these people had mistaken Zhang San for Wang Ziteng.

Although he wished nothing more than for Zhang San to die, he had to admit that Zhang San indeed had a good appearance.

Just then, Lady Yu walked up to her husband, Pei Shouqi, gestured for him to sit, and gave him a look.

Pei Shouqi immediately picked up his cup, smiled at everyone, and said, "Shouqi thanks everyone for coming today. Let us all drink this cup together."

Lady Yu knew that once the feast officially started and got these people to talk less, it would avoid a lot of trouble.

However, just as many were about to raise their glasses, they were suddenly interrupted by a cool voice.

"Hold on!"

Everyone turned to look at the speaker and found it was Wen Ruyu, who was not far from Zhang San.

Wen Ruyu glanced at Baili Chengfeng beside him who was about to cry and then turned to Zhang San, asking, "Brother Zhang San, although we are friends, precisely because we are friends, I need to ask something clear for Baili Chengfeng."

Zhang San, curious, asked, "What is it?"

"Brother Zhang San, could you explain what’s the deal with that ’Baili Shenxuan’ book?"