Castle of Black Iron

“Hush, cougar? Only those uncouth guys outside the mansion say that. If the steward heard your gossip, watch out your butt. Hurry up, let’s go. Elder sister Ping is waiting for our fresh flowers. These flowers would be sent to the room of old madam. Keep it in mind. Elder sister Ping serves old madam and could even have a right of speech in front of old madam. With the protection of elder sister Ping, nobody in this mansion dares to bully us. When you see elder sister Ping, you could only call her elder sister Ping instead of calling her aunt Ping. Last time, a newcomer called her aunt Ping. Finally, elder sister Ping casually told the steward something and assigned the newcomer to a village outside Jinwu City…”

The maid in the green skirt stuck her tongue out as she replied, “Ahh, I see…”

“Hurry up…”

The two maids then walked towards the main mansion along a path.

…

‘I prefer…cougar?’

It was out of Zhang Tie’s imagination that he could hear such a gossip in the mansion.

.

After hearing the two maids’ words, Zhang Tie only revealed a smile. He didn’t care about these gossips at all, because he would not lose a hair because of these gossips. ‘Perhaps I have started to prefer mature women since I met Miss Daina. Linda, Olina, Sabrina; even Spencer Clan sent Matia to me as they had heard about my choice. As for Bai Suxian, we were destined to meet each other.’

‘It seems that I really have a lot of mature women.’

But the gossip that he preferred “cougars” really made Zhang Tie embarrassed.

…

When Zhang Yang talked about the current situation facing Tongzhou Province, they had arrived at the main mansion.

After coming to the main mansion, Zhang Yang stopped talking as it was not proper to chat on the way.

“After meeting our parents, we will talk about it later. I’ve already heard about what you did in Ninghe Prefecture these days when in Tongzhou Province!”

“Fine!” Zhang Tie nodded.

The moment they came to the main mansion, they had seen their dad standing at the gate. Zhang Ping greeted them with a smile, “You came back together?”

Zhang Tie looked at his dad and found that his dad looked much more spirited. It seemed that Zhang Ping’s physical potential had been further tapped. Therefore, Zhang Tie became reassured at once. However, after looking at his dad carefully, Zhang Tie found that his dad seemingly looked a bit sorrowful as the places beneath his eyes looked faintly cinereous. It seemed that he had not slept well for a few days. Therefore, Zhang Tie’s heart slightly pounded. Burning night oil hurt people’s health most. Although LV 7 fighter had a much better physical strength than LV 6 fighter, his physical strength was still much weaker than that of a knight; especially Zhang Ping was at his 60s. If he couldn’t sleep well for consecutively a few days, he would definitely reveal an abnormal look.

“Coincidentally, the moment I arrived here, I’ve seen elder brother returning home by airboat. Therefore, I came back together with elder brother…” Zhang Tie smiled. In front of his dad, Zhang Tie had completely hidden his imposing look as Qianji Hermit. He still behaved as same as in Blackhot City by making jokes. After saying those words, Zhang Tie purposefully widely opened his eyes as he looked at Zhang Ping from his head to his toe with an amazed look. He even rubbed his eyes before exclaiming, “Wow, is that real? Dad, you’ve lit 13 surging points. You’re already a LV 7 fighter and have a much better health. Dad, are you finding a good sister for my mom or what? Our mom is so generous that she would never mind that…”

Previously, Zhang Tie’s dad felt a bit sad. After hearing Zhang Tie’s exaggerated words, his face blushed faintly as he glared at Zhang Tie and swore him with a smile, “You’re also a father now. Don’t make such an excessive joke anymore…”

Zhang Tie said with a big smile, “Heh heh, even though I’m also a father now, I’m still your son. I would never be as old as you!”

Watching Zhang Tie’s pleasant look, Zhang Ping felt warm. However, closely after that, he felt guilty as he reserved his smile, “Your mom cooked supper for you today. It’s all the favorite dishes of you two. Come on, have supper first!”

After finishing his words, Zhang Ping turned around and entered the mansion. Zhang Tie and Zhang Yang exchanged a glance with each other as they both felt that their dad had concerns.

After entering the main mansion and coming to the dining hall, Zhang Tie found his mom was also much more spirited than before. However, due to poor sleep lately, she also looked a bit fatigued. Both their mom and their dad must have concerns.

The supper was cooked by their mom. Compared to the usual supper in Zhang Mansion, this supper looked a bit special.

In normal times, there were a lot of chefs in the kitchen of Zhang Mansion. They could cook any food and dish that Zhang family could cook. Besides, all the dishes that they cooked met the ordinary requirements on color, aroma and taste, not to mention a feast of fat things. In Zhang Ping’s words, he didn’t even feel like moving his chopsticks in case of ruining the dishes.

However, the dishes today were all very simple. Compared to the current position of the Zhang family, it was almost “stingy”. There were only two meat dishes: braised turnips with beef; fried pork in soy sauce. All the others were vegetable dishes such as fried white cabbage, fried sliced potatoes, fried red beans, boiled sweet potatoes and mixed lettuce with sugar. Besides, there was a huge stockpot, which just held some leftover rice soup.

Although the dishes were simple, they were enough for the family.

These were all “delicious dishes” that Zhang Tie’s family could enjoy in Blackhot City only on special days. Even the rice soup was once a rare, tasty food that the family could enjoy before dinner after being added with some sugar or salt.

At the sight of the rice soup, Zhang Tie became absent-minded. When in Blackhot City, after boiling rice, they would always keep the rice soup. When the rice soup was served on the table, there was always a thick cover over it, which was Zhang Tie’s favorite. It tasted smooth and aromatic. In Zhang Tie’s eyes, the thick cover of rice soup was even more delicious than milk. His mom always left the thick cover to him.

It had been too many years since Zhang Tie enjoyed the cover on rice soup last time.

At the sight of such dishes, Zhang Tie had known that his parents must have something important to tell him and his elder brother…

Zhang Tie’s elder sisters-in-law were also at the table. As they were all clever, at the sight of Zhang Tie and these ordinary home-cooked dishes, they had known that this meal was unusual for sure.

As they all had concerns, the atmosphere was a bit depressive. Thankfully, Zhang Tie’s nephews and nieces were scrambling for the cover on rice soup, spicing up the atmosphere more or less, making it a little less embarrassing.

At the end of the meal, Zhang Yang and Zhang Tie lowered their heads and finished all the dishes, even the rice soup, leaving nothing at all. After that, they put down their bowl and chopsticks and expressed that they were full.

After finding that the two brothers were as same as usual, Zhang Tie’s mom revealed a faint smile too.

Zhang Tie’s elder sisters-in-law were all observant. After finishing the meal, they had a short chat with Zhang Tie’s parents and Zhang Tie before bidding a farewell to them politely and returning to Zhang Yang’s mansion with their kids, leaving Zhang Yang, Zhang Tie and their parents alone.

Those maids and male servants also moved away when Zhang Tie’s elder sisters-in-law left.

“Dad, mom, why did you call us back? Just say it, no need to be that grand. Even mom cooked the dinner for us, including the secret gold and white jade soup…” Zhang Tie told his parents with a smile.

When in Blackhot City, Zhang Tie named rice soup as gold and white jade soup. When rice became ripe, it looked golden all over in the farmlands. After being boiled, the rice soup looked as rich and smooth as white jade. When the family had a meal, Zhang Tie named rice soup as gold and white jade soup. When the others heard this name, they would even think that it was a top delicacy. Actually, it was just a bowl of ordinary rice soup.

After hearing the name gold and white jade soup, Zhang Yang and Zhang Tie’s parents revealed a reminiscent, warm smile at the same time.

“I’ve not drunk this gold and white jade soup for a long time. It tastes much better than the so-called feast of fat things. The gold and white jade soup is fresh and white without any impurity. It is aromatic and rich and is suitable to both old and young. I suggest the kitchen to keep the rice soup. Do not waste it. This is a tradition of dad and mom. It should root in our home. No matter how rich we’re, we shouldn’t forget about the source; neither should we be extravagant!” Zhang Tie’s elder brother opened his mouth.

“Elder brother is right. Pitifully, I still want to eat the essence of gold and white jade soup today. However, I’m ashamed to scramble for it with my nephews and nieces. When I return to Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory, I will also send the order to keep this rule as the tradition of Zhang family…” Zhang Tie laughed too.

Zhang Tie’s mom threw a glance at Zhang Ping.

“Ahem ahem…” Zhang Ping pretended to cough twice as he threw a glance at the parlor and asked Zhang Tie’s mom, “Do we need to talk about it in the study?”

“No need, we’re at home. There’s no outsider here. Additionally, our servants are not used to eavesdrop our talk. Just talk about it here!” Zhang Tie’s mom said.

“Fine, let’s talk about it here!” Zhang Tie’s dad straightened up his body as he turned solemn at once. After looking at Zhang Tie and Zhang Yang silently for two seconds, he slowly opened his mouth, “I called you back because your mom and I feel that you brothers should have your own families after a few days’ negotiations…”