The next day, Zhou Shuren took Mingqing out to socialize. Only Zhulan and two children were left at home. Wu Li Shi was busy with relatives visiting in groups, so she quickly returned home after having breakfast. There was no need to bring food back home anymore.
Xuehan embroidered a handkerchief, “Mom, our family should know by now that Dad has passed the examination to be a xiucai!”
Zhulan put down the thread she had divided in her hand, “Yes.”
Mingteng held biscuits in his fat hand, “Grandma, are we ready to go back home?”
He really liked Pingzhou. In Pingzhou, he had enjoyed several dishes, and his grandfather had ordered even more during the examination. They had snacks every day, and he had tried many delicious things he had never eaten before. He didn’t want to go back home.
Zhulan said, “Don’t you want to go home? Don’t want Mingyun, don’t want your parents?”
Mingteng was very straightforward, “There’s nothing special to eat and drink at home, and I miss Big Brother even less.”
Every day, he was caught by his Big Brother to do his studies. The days without his big brother around were much more carefree.
Mingteng looked at her grandma and added, “And my parents won’t miss me either.”
Zhulan said, “…”
That’s the truth. Li Shi’s own fiery temperament made her unable to handle her son’s restlessness. While the eldest son tolerated Li Shi to some extent, it became more challenging with Mingteng. These two really didn’t know what to do with Mingteng, the troublesome child was indeed a pitiable one.
Xuehan was amused by her nephew and said, “You don’t want to go home, should we all go back and leave you here in Pingzhou by yourself?”
Mingteng said pitifully, “Grandma, can’t we not go back?”
“No.”
Mingteng covered his head with his fat hands, got off the ground to put on his shoes, and ran away quickly. Zhulan didn’t understand, “What’s wrong with him?”
Xuehan suppressed a laugh and said, “Mingyun assigned him writing activities, and he’s been having a blast these days. He completely forgot about the writing until he realized he had to go back home. He’s rushing to finish the homework now.”
Zhulan, “…….”
This kid took quite a detour, and a big part of it was probably because he hadn’t finished his homework, fearing that Mingyun would scold him when he got back!
In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren and Mingqing came back. Zhulan looked at Zhou Shuren carrying the gift box, “What did you buy? Who do you want to give it to?”
Zhou Shuren pointed at the gift box and said, “It’s not something I bought; it was a gift from Shi Qing. He didn’t just give it to me; Mingqing got one too.”
Zhulan put on her shoes and went down, “How did you meet him?”
Zhou Shuren motioned Zhulan to look at the gift box and continued: “Our schedule has always been under the control of others, it is too easy to find us. Yes, he gave it by the way, mainly to Wu Ming. Mingqing and I were also here, so we got the gift for nothing.”
Zhulan had already opened the gift box. Inside the gift box was a pair of jade bracelets. Zhulan picked it up and played with it, “This Shi Gongzi, he is not simple. Our family’s affairs are very clear. He knows it’s better to give it to me than to you. Speaking of which, does this incidental gift need to cost so much? The Shi family are all royal merchants, so they shouldn’t have to please someone in advance. If Wu Ming becomes a successful jǔrén in the future, it would make more sense, but isn’t it a bit too early now?”
Zhou Shuren had experience with jewelry and had a good understanding of its value. With a single glance, he estimated that the jade bracelets were worth around thirty taels. He took the bracelets from Zhulan’s hand and put them back into the box. “It’s a pity he still doesn’t understand. I only hope that you wear the jewelry I buy for you.”
Zhulan chuckled. Shi Qing had given her jewelry, and in terms of age, she was Shi Qing’s elder. There wasn’t any other meaning behind it. However, Zhou Shuren was still not pleased, and Shi Qing’s gift had been given to everyone. “His attention to Wu Ming might be because of something Wang Ru said!”
She had lost confidence in Wang Ru, and without the words of the novel, she realized that Wang Ru was quite foolish. Wang Ru could dig her own grave!
Zhou Shuren explained, “During my time in Pingzhou, I’ve been inquiring about the Shi family. While the imperial merchant title appears prestigious, it’s essentially being the moneybag for those in power. The Shi family has strong backers who reportedly take a significant portion of the profits every year. This young Shi fellow didn’t want to be manipulated forever, so he boldly initiated reforms. Instead of saying that his stepmother wanted to kill Shi Qing for revenge, it’s more like someone used Shi Qing’s stepmother to carry out the deed. After experiencing a near-death situation, Shi Qing is now cautious about taking any rash actions. Therefore, he needs to distance himself from the Shi family’s connections and build his own network. Wu Ming, in all aspects, should have been thoroughly investigated by Shi Qing. It’s because he sees potential in Wu Ming that he decided to send a valuable gift in advance.”
Zhulan followed up on Zhou Shuren’s words, saying, “By controlling Wang Ru, he’s also using her as a trump card, to be thrown out when necessary, right?”
Zhou Shuren sipped his tea and said thoughtfully, “It’s interesting how reality can be so different from novels. This young Shi fellow, even if Wang Ru owns a life-saving favor, values himself more in his heart than Wang Ru. When the time comes to use her, he definitely won’t hesitate. That’s the reality for you. Counting on Shi Qing, who as a shu son dared to kill his own legitimate elder brother to become the only son of the Shi family to be lovesick, is simply impossible.”
Zhulan couldn’t trust the novel’s plot line or story in the same way anymore, given her real-life interactions with people. “However, no matter how capable Wu Ming is, it might take many years for him to attain a high position. Can Shi Qing afford to wait?”
Zhou Shuren asked, “Shi Qing is not very old, isn’t he? It’s a pity that he is a businessman, otherwise he would still have a place in the imperial examination if he wanted to take part in it.”
Zhulan asked, “Wu Ming accepted it ?”
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, “Take it, why not? Wu Ming has adapted well. When he becomes a court official, more people will seek shelter and come to give gifts. Now he doesn’t have to agree to anything. It’s no big deal.”
Zhulan closed the gift box, “No wonder it is said that the poor xiucai is the richest man.”
The next day, Zhou Shuren took Mingqing out to socialize. Only Zhulan and two children were left at home. Wu Li Shi was busy with relatives visiting in groups, so she quickly returned home after having breakfast. There was no need to bring food back home anymore.
Xuehan embroidered a handkerchief, “Mom, our family should know by now that Dad has passed the examination to be a xiucai!”
Zhulan put down the thread she had divided in her hand, “Yes.”
Mingteng held biscuits in his fat hand, “Grandma, are we ready to go back home?”
He really liked Pingzhou. In Pingzhou, he had enjoyed several dishes, and his grandfather had ordered even more during the examination. They had snacks every day, and he had tried many delicious things he had never eaten before. He didn’t want to go back home.
Zhulan said, “Don’t you want to go home? Don’t want Mingyun, don’t want your parents?”
Mingteng was very straightforward, “There’s nothing special to eat and drink at home, and I miss Big Brother even less.”
Every day, he was caught by his Big Brother to do his studies. The days without his big brother around were much more carefree.
Mingteng looked at her grandma and added, “And my parents won’t miss me either.”
Zhulan said, “…”
That’s the truth. Li Shi’s own fiery temperament made her unable to handle her son’s restlessness. While the eldest son tolerated Li Shi to some extent, it became more challenging with Mingteng. These two really didn’t know what to do with Mingteng, the troublesome child was indeed a pitiable one.
Xuehan was amused by her nephew and said, “You don’t want to go home, should we all go back and leave you here in Pingzhou by yourself?”
Mingteng said pitifully, “Grandma, can’t we not go back?”
“No.”
Mingteng covered his head with his fat hands, got off the ground to put on his shoes, and ran away quickly. Zhulan didn’t understand, “What’s wrong with him?”
Xuehan suppressed a laugh and said, “Mingyun assigned him writing activities, and he’s been having a blast these days. He completely forgot about the writing until he realized he had to go back home. He’s rushing to finish the homework now.”
Zhulan, “…….”
This kid took quite a detour, and a big part of it was probably because he hadn’t finished his homework, fearing that Mingyun would scold him when he got back!
In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren and Mingqing came back. Zhulan looked at Zhou Shuren carrying the gift box, “What did you buy? Who do you want to give it to?”
Zhou Shuren pointed at the gift box and said, “It’s not something I bought; it was a gift from Shi Qing. He didn’t just give it to me; Mingqing got one too.”
Zhulan put on her shoes and went down, “How did you meet him?”
Zhou Shuren motioned Zhulan to look at the gift box and continued: “Our schedule has always been under the control of others, it is too easy to find us. Yes, he gave it by the way, mainly to Wu Ming. Mingqing and I were also here, so we got the gift for nothing.”
Zhulan had already opened the gift box. Inside the gift box was a pair of jade bracelets. Zhulan picked it up and played with it, “This Shi Gongzi, he is not simple. Our family’s affairs are very clear. He knows it’s better to give it to me than to you. Speaking of which, does this incidental gift need to cost so much? The Shi family are all royal merchants, so they shouldn’t have to please someone in advance. If Wu Ming becomes a successful jǔrén in the future, it would make more sense, but isn’t it a bit too early now?”
Zhou Shuren had experience with jewelry and had a good understanding of its value. With a single glance, he estimated that the jade bracelets were worth around thirty taels. He took the bracelets from Zhulan’s hand and put them back into the box. “It’s a pity he still doesn’t understand. I only hope that you wear the jewelry I buy for you.”
Zhulan chuckled. Shi Qing had given her jewelry, and in terms of age, she was Shi Qing’s elder. There wasn’t any other meaning behind it. However, Zhou Shuren was still not pleased, and Shi Qing’s gift had been given to everyone. “His attention to Wu Ming might be because of something Wang Ru said!”
She had lost confidence in Wang Ru, and without the words of the novel, she realized that Wang Ru was quite foolish. Wang Ru could dig her own grave!
Zhou Shuren explained, “During my time in Pingzhou, I’ve been inquiring about the Shi family. While the imperial merchant title appears prestigious, it’s essentially being the moneybag for those in power. The Shi family has strong backers who reportedly take a significant portion of the profits every year. This young Shi fellow didn’t want to be manipulated forever, so he boldly initiated reforms. Instead of saying that his stepmother wanted to kill Shi Qing for revenge, it’s more like someone used Shi Qing’s stepmother to carry out the deed. After experiencing a near-death situation, Shi Qing is now cautious about taking any rash actions. Therefore, he needs to distance himself from the Shi family’s connections and build his own network. Wu Ming, in all aspects, should have been thoroughly investigated by Shi Qing. It’s because he sees potential in Wu Ming that he decided to send a valuable gift in advance.”
Zhulan followed up on Zhou Shuren’s words, saying, “By controlling Wang Ru, he’s also using her as a trump card, to be thrown out when necessary, right?”
Zhou Shuren sipped his tea and said thoughtfully, “It’s interesting how reality can be so different from novels. This young Shi fellow, even if Wang Ru owns a life-saving favor, values himself more in his heart than Wang Ru. When the time comes to use her, he definitely won’t hesitate. That’s the reality for you. Counting on Shi Qing, who as a shu son dared to kill his own legitimate elder brother to become the only son of the Shi family to be lovesick, is simply impossible.”
Zhulan couldn’t trust the novel’s plot line or story in the same way anymore, given her real-life interactions with people. “However, no matter how capable Wu Ming is, it might take many years for him to attain a high position. Can Shi Qing afford to wait?”
Zhou Shuren asked, “Shi Qing is not very old, isn’t he? It’s a pity that he is a businessman, otherwise he would still have a place in the imperial examination if he wanted to take part in it.”
Zhulan asked, “Wu Ming accepted it ?”
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, “Take it, why not? Wu Ming has adapted well. When he becomes a court official, more people will seek shelter and come to give gifts. Now he doesn’t have to agree to anything. It’s no big deal.”
Zhulan closed the gift box, “No wonder it is said that the poor xiucai is the richest man.”
