Words Strategize for the World

After saying goodbye to Fang Wei and the other two, Zhang Nianwei quickly returned to the Zhang family home. As she stepped inside, she felt something was off.

Because the Zhang family's gatekeepers looked at him very strangely, everyone he encountered after entering the mansion looked at him very strangely as well.

Feeling strange, Zhang Nianwei returned to her place.

Before I even entered, I saw an old woman sitting at a table, talking non-stop.

The mother opposite her had a frosty expression and glared angrily at the old woman.

Standing behind the door, Zhang Nianwei overheard, "This person may be a bit simple-minded, but he's a very good person, tall and strong, and hardworking. Zhang Nianwei won't suffer after marrying him..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Nianwei was instantly enraged. It turned out the old woman was a matchmaker, there to arrange a marriage.

Besides, I haven't even said I want to get married yet, so what right does this old woman have to propose marriage? Thinking of this, Zhang Nianwei went straight into the house and chased the matchmaker out.

The matchmaker, who had been kicked out by Zhang Nianwei, looked displeased and said, "Hmph, little brat, whether you marry or not is not up to you. The Zhang family has already taken your money."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Nianwei immediately put two fingers together as if to write something to drive the matchmaker away. Seeing this, the matchmaker quickly ran away.

When Zhang Nianwei saw the matchmaker run away, she asked her mother what had happened.

When Zhang Nianwei heard her mother recount the whole story, she was filled with rage. If it weren't for her mother's presence, she would have left the Zhang family immediately.

morning.

After getting up and getting ready, Zhang Nianwei prepared to go to the prefectural school.

Before they even stepped out the door, they saw Zhang Fengyi and his son, Zhang Wensan and his son, and several members of the Zhang family, along with some servants, enter the house.

"Zhang Nianwei, you don't need to go to the academy today, and you don't need to go to the academy in the future either, hahaha..." The arrogant Zhang Wensan said presumptuously as soon as he entered the door.

Zhang Nianwei is clever and quick-witted. Having grown up in the Zhang family, she is used to being bullied and oppressed. Although she is a little confused, she is by no means a coward.

"Zhang Wensan, why should it be up to you whether I go to the prefectural school or not?" Seeing Zhang Wensan's arrogance and presumption, Zhang Nianwei retorted without hesitation.

Given that he could father a son like Zhang Wensan, Zhang Xiao's character was naturally not much better. Hearing Zhang Nianwei's words, Zhang Xiao immediately replied, "His word doesn't count; someone else does. You don't need to go to the prefectural school anymore."

Early in the morning, Zhang Fengyi and his son, along with Zhang Wensan and his son, arrived together, and Zhang Nianwei knew something was wrong. She hadn't expected they wouldn't let her go to the prefectural school.

"I am a refined person, and it is none of your business." After saying that, Zhang Nianwei made a move to leave.

Zhang Fengyi's father, Zhang Ruifeng, stepped forward and said, "Nianwei, you are already 16 years old this year, not young anymore. Our Zhang family doesn't need you to show your face in public and become some kind of refined scholar, so you don't need to study hard at the prefectural school. For the sake of your and your mother's livelihood, the Zhang family has already arranged a marriage for you with a wealthy family, and in the future..."

"Alright, that's enough. I'm not getting married."

Zhang Ruifeng held a high position in the Zhang family and was generally considered fair in his dealings. Zhang Nianwei had intended to listen to the whole story, but the more he spoke, the more outrageous it became, so she couldn't help but interrupt him.

Just then, Zhang Nianwei's mother came to Zhang Nianwei's side and said, "Please don't make things difficult for us, mother and son. We'll move away."

"It's not a question of whether or not to move out now, but that Zhang Nianwei must get married," Zhang Wensan's voice rang out.

"I will not get married. If anyone is to get married, it will be you who find someone else to marry," Zhang Nianwei replied outright.

"I see you're refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Come on, arrest Zhang Nianwei!" Seeing Zhang Nianwei's ungrateful attitude, Zhang Xiao ordered his men to take action.

As soon as Zhang Xiao finished speaking, the servants following behind filed out and approached Zhang Nianwei.

Zhang Nianwei was a refined scholar, not a weak woman who couldn't even kill a chicken. Seeing the servant step forward, she put two fingers together, preparing to write, and said, "Let's see who dares to step forward."

Seeing this, the servants dared not step forward, but instead stopped and looked at Zhang Xiao.

At the same time, Zhang Nianwei said: "Don't think that just because you have more people I'm afraid of you. I will not get married. If I do get married, I will choose my own husband. I don't need you to arrange it for me."

Zhang Nianwei's mother also spoke up, saying, "Brother Ruifeng, my son and I have already been careful and patient enough. Why are you forcing us like this?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fengyi and Zhang Wensan were furious. What did they mean by being careful and patient? It was all your daughter's doing.

Zhang Fengyi found out and said, "Ask your daughter about this and see what she's been doing. She's always going against the Zhang family outside, so of course you wouldn't know if you were at home."

Zhang Wensan chimed in, "That's right. She's always ruining the Zhang family's plans because of that brat. Who else should we marry her off to?"

Zhang's mother looked at Zhang Nianwei with an understanding gaze. She knew her daughter best. Zhang Nianwei was very likely as they said, but so what? She didn't dare to do what she wanted to do. How was that any different from her own daughter?

"No matter what she did, for the sake of her dead father, I beg you to let my son and me go."

It would have been better if Zhang's mother hadn't said those words, because they touched a raw nerve with Zhang Ruifeng and Zhang Xiao.

Zhang Xiao shouted, "Shameless woman, how dare you say that! Come on, arrest them both!"

Upon hearing Zhang Xiao's words, Zhang's mother covered her face and wept. Zhang Nianwei stepped forward and shielded her mother behind her.

"Come on if you're not afraid to die."

Seeing Zhang Nianwei about to make a move, the servant stopped in fear, only to hear Zhang Ruifeng's icy voice: "Didn't you hear me? Go and grab them."

Zhang Ruifeng was different from Zhang Xiao. Since Zhang Ruifeng had spoken, the servants had no choice but to bite the bullet and go forward to grab Zhang Nianwei.

Hearing Zhang Ruifeng's cold words, Zhang Nianwei's last hope was shattered. Seeing the servant step forward, Zhang Nianwei thought: Since they have no regard for past feelings, then I have no choice but to rebel.

Zhang Nianwei put two fingers together and wrote the character "摔" (shuāi, meaning "to fall" or "to crash"). After a few golden flashes, the servant at the front fell to the ground.

Just as Zhang Nianwei was about to write the second character, Zhang Xiao's voice came through.

"How dare you lay a hand on me! I'll take you down!"

Zhang Xiao is a teacher in the Elegant Scholars Class, so he is naturally no ordinary person. Moreover, there is also Zhang Fengyi, an elegant scholar of general rank, here.

Zhang Xiaoling wrote the character "bind" in mid-air. After the golden light dissipated, Zhang Nianwei stood rooted to the spot, unable to move.

Then a group of servants swarmed up and grabbed Zhang Nianwei. When they were about to grab Zhang's mother, Zhang Ruifeng finally couldn't bear it and said, "Just grab Zhang Nianwei, let's go."

When she saw the servants grabbing at Zhang Nianwei, Zhang's mother cried and tried to snatch her away, but how could a weak woman possibly fight against a group of young and strong servants?

After tying Zhang Nianwei up with rope, the servant obeyed Zhang Ruifeng's instructions and prepared to leave.

Seeing this, Zhang's mother was heartbroken. Zhang Nianwei was still so young; if she married that fool, her life would be ruined.

Clinging to her last hope, Zhang's mother rushed to the front of the crowd, knelt down, and hugged Zhang Ruifeng's legs, saying, "Brother Ruifeng, please let Nianwei go. She's still young and doesn't understand. If you marry her off to that idiot in the east of the city, her life will be ruined."

Seeing her mother like this, Zhang Nianwei burst into tears: "Mother, don't be like this, don't beg them, it's no use."

Held in his mother's arms, Zhang Ruifeng stopped. Looking at the woman at his feet, he thought of his younger brother, a man of innate talent, and then of the scenes of his brother being killed by people he had personally arranged.

All of this was thanks to this woman. In an instant, Zhang Ruifeng's heart turned as cold as iron. He kicked his mother aside and walked forward.

After walking a few steps, Zhang Ruifeng stopped and said, "Do you know how Chu Fang died? He was killed by you. If it weren't for you, Chu Fang would definitely have achieved great success. You killed him with your own hands. Now it's your daughter's turn. You are an unfaithful woman, you..."

Zhang Ruifeng suddenly stopped talking, unsure of what else to say, feeling conflicted.

Hearing Zhang Ruifeng's words, Zhang's mother, who was lying to one side, thought of Chu Fang who had died in her arms, and looked at Zhang Nianwei who was tied up. Her heart was filled with despair.

Zhang's mother already felt immense guilt over her husband Zhang Chufang's death, and now Zhang Ruifeng's words struck a nerve with her.

Looking at the scene before her, and thinking of the deceased Zhang Chufang, Zhang's mother felt utterly hopeless, and the only thing she could not bear to part with was Zhang Nianwei.

Zhang's mother, her heart heavy with resignation, gazed at her daughter Zhang Nianwei with endless longing. Deep down, she desperately wanted to see Zhang Nianwei married, to see her give birth… but all of that was impossible now… Chu Fang, I'm here…

Zhang Nianwei, her face streaked with tears, turned to look at her mother. Seeing her mother clinging to Zhang Ruifeng and pleading, seeing her mother kicked away and falling to the side, Zhang Nianwei felt as if her heart was being pierced by needles.

Suddenly, Zhang Nianwei saw her mother stand up and crash headfirst into the artificial hill next to her.

"Mother, no..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhang's mother had already run into the artificial hill, her head bleeding profusely.

Zhang Ruifeng was stunned, not expecting his mother to be so resolute, choosing death to prove her resolve.

Seeing her mother lying in a pool of blood, Zhang Nianwei screamed at the top of her lungs, "Mother..."