Sun and Moon Are Wrong: Traveling Through Time from Under One Person

Chapter 313 The Price of Support

Late at night, Zhang's mansion, with its carved beams and painted buildings and bright lights, presents a luxurious scene.

In the hall, the sounds of stringed instruments and orchestras were endless, and the atmosphere was bustling with people drinking and chatting.

Zhang Yingcai sat upright in the main seat, smiling and greeting the guests.

He was dressed in a brocade robe and wore a piece of mutton-fat white jade around his waist, and his every move showed his nobility.

Tonight, he specially hosted a banquet to entertain the descendants of his grandfather's best friend in Yangzhou City decades ago.

These people are now high-ranking officials in Yangzhou City. Some are wealthy businessmen, some are powerful officials, and some are respected celebrities.

Zhang Yingcai hopes to re-establish the Zhang family’s network of contacts in Yangzhou City through this banquet.

"My dear uncles, I haven't been back to Yangzhou for many years. It is a great honor to be reunited with you today!"

Zhang Yingcai raised his glass and said loudly, "Come, I toast to all the elders!"

"You are so polite, my talented nephew!"

"Yes, we old guys are also very happy to see you!"

"I heard that my nephew is also doing very well abroad. It's really amazing how young people can be admired!"

Everyone raised their glasses in response, with smiles on their faces.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, a middle-aged man dressed in silk and with a plump figure asked with a smile.

"My dear nephew, I heard that you are engaged to the young lady of the Lu family. When will the wedding be held?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became a little subtle.

Everyone turned their eyes to Zhang Yingcai, their eyes full of inquiry and amusement.

Zhang Yingcai's heart sank. He knew that what these people really cared about was not his marriage, but his relationship with the Lu family.

The Lu family is the most powerful and influential family in Yangzhou City. If the Zhang family can marry into the Lu family, the status of the Zhang family in Yangzhou City will naturally rise.

"Uncle Li, you're joking. It's still too early to get married."

Zhang Yingcai laughed and tried to change the subject.

"Oh? That's strange."

Another old man in official uniform stroked his beard and spoke slowly.

"I heard that Mr. Lu is very satisfied with this marriage and can't wait to have a grandson."

"Uncle Wang, who told you this? How come I don't know about this?" Zhang Yingcai asked in surprise.

"Haha, nephew, you are still young and don't understand some things."

The old man surnamed Wang smiled meaningfully.

"What kind of things in Yangzhou City can be hidden from the eyes of old guys like us?"

Zhang Yingcai sneered in his heart, these old foxes are indeed shrewd people.

On the surface, they were concerned about his marriage, but in fact they were testing his background to see if he could really get the support of the Lu family.

"My dear uncles, to be honest, I came back to Yangzhou this time, in addition to visiting relatives and friends, I also have an important thing to do."

Zhang Yingcai decided not to beat around the bush and get straight to the point.

"I want to develop some business in Yangzhou City, and I hope you uncles will support me."

"Oh? What kind of business do you want to start, nephew?" asked the man surnamed Li.

"I want to open a money shop." said Zhang Yingcai.

"Qianzhuang?"

When everyone heard this, they looked at each other with a hint of surprise in their eyes.

"My dear nephew, it's not that easy to run a bank."

The old man surnamed Wang frowned.

"In Yangzhou City, the money house business is basically monopolized by a few big families. It would be difficult for an outsider like you to get involved."

"Yes, nephew, you should think about it again." Others also advised.

Zhang Yingcai looked at the crowd and understood everything in his heart. These people did not consider him as one of their own.

The reason they came to attend this banquet was just for the Lu family's sake.

Decades ago, the Zhang family was considered a prominent family in Yangzhou City and had deep friendships with these families.

But now, the Zhang family has been in decline for decades, and the people have left and the kindness of the past is long gone.

A feeling of sadness welled up in Zhang Yingcai's heart.

He thought that with the connections left by his grandfather, he could quickly gain a foothold in Yangzhou City, but reality gave him a heavy blow.

It seems that he has no other choice if he wants to gain a foothold in Yangzhou City.

"Thank you for your reminder, uncles. I will consider it carefully."

Zhang Yingcai suppressed the anger in his heart and said calmly.

"My dear nephew, you are still young. Some things cannot be rushed."

The man surnamed Li patted Zhang Yingcai on the shoulder and spoke earnestly.

"Your most important task now is to marry Miss Lu first."

"As long as you become the son-in-law of the Lu family, are you still afraid that you will not have a foothold in Yangzhou City?"

"Yes, nephew, you must not let Mr. Lu down!" Others also echoed.

Zhang Yingcai sneered in his heart as he listened to these hypocritical advices.

He knew that these people wanted to use him as a tool to curry favor with the Lu family.

It seemed that if he wanted to support the uprising in a few months, he had no other choice.

"I appreciate the kindness of all the uncles and aunts."

...

The Yimeng Tower is magnificent with carved beams and painted buildings. It is actually a den of gold in Yangzhou city.

However, behind this luxury and prosperity, there are some unknown things hidden.

In the dance studio, Du Xiaoping was wearing thin training clothes, which were soaked with sweat.

She gritted her teeth and practiced the dance moves over and over again, but she could never meet the dance requirements.

"Snapped!"

A whip hit Xiaoping's back hard, leaving a shocking red mark.

"You're so clumsy that you can't even learn a dance step!"

The lead dancer was named Hongyu. She had a pretty face and a charming figure, but there was a fierce look in her eyes.

"If you don't carve jade, you won't be able to make a useful tool. If you want to become a star, you have to endure hardships! If you can't even bear this little bit of hardship, get out of here as soon as possible!"

Xiaoping's eyes were filled with tears because of the pain, but she didn't dare cry out loud and just endured it silently.

She knew that she had no one to rely on, and if she was kicked out, she would probably have trouble surviving.

During the break, other little girls gathered in groups of three or four, eating snacks and chatting, but Xiaoping was the only one sitting alone in the corner, ignored by everyone.

"Hey, Death Star, I heard your mother remarried and doesn't want you anymore?"

A little girl named Cui'er walked over with a sarcastic smile on her face.

"You're talking nonsense!" Xiaoping suddenly raised her head and glared at Cui'er.

"I'm talking nonsense? Your father was killed by an undead corpse, and your mother ran off with someone else. If you're not a jinx, what are you?"

Cui Er snorted coldly, "People like you should be locked in a cage to prevent them from coming out to harm others!"

"That's right, that's right!" The other little girls also followed suit, "Unlucky star! Unlucky star!"

"Have you said enough?" A cold voice suddenly sounded.

Everyone looked back and saw a woman in red walking towards them.

She has a beautiful face and an extraordinary temperament. She is Ruyan, the top dancer in Yimeng Tower.

"Sister Ruyan." Cui'er and others immediately restrained themselves when they saw Ruyan.

"Xiao Ping is still young, please don't bully her."

Ruyan walked to Xiaoping and gently touched her head. "If you have any problems in the future, come to me."

"Thank you, sister." Xiaoping said gratefully.

Ruyan smiled slightly, turned around and left. Tonight was the warm-up event for the Thousand Lantern Festival, and she had been very busy.

However, when Cui'er and others saw Ruyan leave, they began to mock Xiaoping again.

Xiaoping continued to keep her head down and said nothing.

Yimeng Tower, elegant room on the third floor.

Zhang Yingcai attended Xu Qiu's banquet again.

"How about it? How many people are willing to donate money to support our uprising?" Xu Qiu asked.

Zhang Yingcai picked up the wine glass, drank it all, then slowly shook his head and nodded.

"What's wrong?" Xu Qiu was puzzled.

“They are willing to provide all the support,” Zhang Yingcai sighed.

"But the prerequisite is that I am sure to become the son-in-law of the Lu family."

...

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