Zhang Laotou then took out some money and counted it again. His three daughters had given him four taels of silver last time they visited, and the Liu siblings who moved in contributed two taels. Yesterday, Zhang Fang had also given nearly two taels. With this, the Zhang family was now financially secure! Supporting Zhang Fang’s education for a few more years was no problem!
“Old woman, get up and make breakfast!” Zhang Laotou called to Zhang Laotai. She tried several times to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt heavy and uncomfortable. She got up, reached for the basin of water beside her, and splashed some water on her face. After a while, she could open her eyes normally.
After grabbing some grains, Zhang Laotai prepared to head to the kitchen to cook.
Zhang Dalang saw her and immediately called out, “Mother, the fourth brother is looking for you.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Laotai took the grains and went to Zhang Fang’s room. When she saw Zhang Fang writing, she didn’t dare to disturb him and was about to leave when he looked up, setting his pen down. He smiled and said, “Mother, you’re awake. Let’s go to the city together later! Change into your new clothes.”
Zhang Laotai entered the room and asked, “Can’t your father accompany you?” After all, since she was blind in one eye, seeing her handsome and youthful son made her nervous about accompanying him outside, fearing it would embarrass him. Scholars were very concerned about their reputation. If everyone knew Zhang Fang had a one-eyed mother, they would certainly mock him!
“Mother, is it that you don’t want to go out with me?” Zhang Fang looked straight at her.
Zhang Laotai stammered, “Your father often goes to the city; he is more suitable to accompany you.”
“Mother, today I want you to accompany me. Will you do it?” Zhang Fang, aware of her hesitation, gently insisted that she come with him.
Zhang Laotai didn’t know how to refuse him, so in the end, she had to comply with Zhang Fang’s wishes. She handed the grains to her eldest daughter-in-law and asked Zhang Dazhao to prepare the meal, while she went back to change her clothes.
Seeing her pick out new clothes, Zhang Laotou curiously asked, “Why are you dressing up nicely to make a meal?”
“Fourth son wants me to go to the city with him.” Zhang Laotai sighed, her expression conflicted. She was afraid of others’ gazes, worried that they would gossip about Zhang Fang having a one-eyed mother.
Zhang Laotou was surprised and asked, “What does he want you to go to the city for?”
“He didn’t say.” Zhang Laotai focused too much on others’ opinions and overlooked that question entirely.
Zhang Laotou went outside to find Zhang Fang and clarify.
“I want to take Mother to see a doctor for her eyes. Dad, don’t tell her. If she knows, she won’t want to spend money on a doctor,” Zhang Fang told Zhang Laotou frankly.
Zhang Laotou fell silent. Having money on hand, he only thought about continuing to support his youngest son in his studies and hadn’t considered taking his elderly wife to see a doctor. Perhaps he had gotten used to her condition, or maybe he thought her eyes were simply this way now. Or perhaps he was clear that his wife would never speak up about this matter, which is why he had never thought of it for her.
“I’ll accompany you both.” Zhang Laotou planned to take two or three taels of silver with him.
“Alright,” Zhang Fang nodded.
Zhang Laotai was already dressed in her new clothes and shoes, but still felt uncomfortable. She touched her hair and used the water’s reflection in the basin as a mirror to comb it.
When she saw Zhang Laotou return, she nervously asked while touching her blind eye, “Is this look alright? Will it embarrass Fourth Son?”
Seeing this, Zhang Laotou felt a pang in his heart. He feigned calmness and said, “You look very respectable; how could you embarrass Fourth Son? I’ll go out with you.”
Zhang Laotou also changed into new clothes and shoes, while Zhang Laotai tidied his messy hair. The elderly couple stepped out of the house, stunning their three sons, daughters-in-law, and several grandchildren.
“Oh my goodness, Mom and Dad!” Zhang Erlang screamed. He couldn’t wait for his wife to make him fitted clothes so he could wear new clothes to match! What a magnificent sight!
Zhang Laotou deliberately put on a stern face and told them, “After we eat, we’ll go out with Fourth Son. Don’t slack off at home! Find something to do for yourselves!”
Zhang Fang stepped out and, seeing how the elderly couple looked after their dressing up, smiled and praised, “Mom and Dad look wonderful!”
Hearing this, Zhang Laotou couldn’t contain himself and smiled. Zhang Laotai rarely showed a shy expression.
This scene left Zhang Dalang and the others dumbfounded, suddenly understanding why the elderly couple favored Zhang Si the most.
Zhang Fang had initially planned to take his parents to eat in the city, but neither Zhang Laotou nor Zhang Laotai would agree to eat out. They insisted on finishing their meal at home before going out.
As the villagers saw Zhang Laotou and Zhang Laotai dressed in completely new clothes, their clean and respectable appearance drew surprised looks, and they gathered around to inquire.
“Old Zhang, you two have dressed in new clothes! Did you strike it rich?”
Could it be that Zhang Si had truly become successful?
Zhang Laotou proudly told these folks, “It was our Fourth Son who bought them for us. I initially wanted him to return them, but he said that wouldn’t work. So, we can only wear them.”
Oh my, it seems that Zhang Si really is doing well! Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so extravagant to buy so many things for the family.
Zhang Laotai also spoke with a face full of joy, “Yes! Our Fourth Son is so filial! Not only did he buy new clothes and shoes for us, but he also prepared fabric and new shoes for the entire family! Yesterday he even brought back quite a bit of money for his father! The grains at home were also bought by him when he asked the second and third sons to go!” She exclaimed, “Oh, having such a filial son can be quite troublesome too!”
Her words made many people jealous, and they began to feel envious.
Someone asked Zhang Fang, “Zhang Si, I heard that after your imprisonment, you gained the appreciation of the county magistrate?”
“Yes. Folks, I have business to attend to in the city and will chat with you more when I return.” From what was said by the jailer yesterday, he suspected Lin Zheng had other plans. Zhang Fang needed to seize the moment to make a name for himself! To attract more readers! To strengthen his influence!
The others had no choice but to disperse.
Zhang Laotou and Zhang Laotai wanted to brag a bit more, but it wouldn’t do to delay Zhang Fang’s important matter, so they could only follow him to the village entrance to wait for the carriage.
Before sitting on the donkey cart, Zhang Laotai deliberately took out an old garment to lay on the cart’s bench, and only then did the couple sit down.