Zhao Shi just wanted to die. Her sister-in-law had no problem with arithmetic, but she may not be able to learn accounting. She moved her mouth without daring to refute, “Mom, I will try my best to teach my sister-in-law.”
The conversation wasn’t complete, so it was really Sister-in-law’s fault that she didn’t understand.
Li Shi felt that Zhao Shi was scheming and kept taking the opportunity to step on her, “Mom, I will definitely keep track of every account.”
She would never let her younger siblings compete!
Zhulan looked at Li Shi silently and suddenly realized that Li Shi’s brain supplement was also beneficial. If she imagined that Zhao Shi was targeting her every day, Li Shi would be particularly motivated. She could also educate Li Shi easily. No wonder those in power like to play the balance game. Pulling someone up instead of suppressing them can make them even more motivated!
Zhulan asked, “Have you counted all the gifts I brought back?”
Li Shi didn’t know how to keep accounts, but she had a very good memory of what she ate or used. “Two pieces of linen, eight snacks, six jars of wine, ten pounds of sauced meat, five pairs of embroidered women’s cloth shoes, five pairs of men’s cloth shoes, and two cloaks.”
Li deliberately looked and realized that there was no gift for her. It then occurred to her that every time her mother went out, she would bring gifts for each of the rooms. This time, she didn’t bring one, and she wondered if her mother was dissatisfied with her. Yet, she felt that it wasn’t right. If her mother was dissatisfied with her, she seemed quite pleased with her younger siblings. But then again, her younger siblings didn’t do anything wrong either!
Zhulan really didn’t forget it, but she had just given some hairpins to Li Shi and Zhao Shi. So she thought she shouldn’t bring gifts frequently, and hence she didn’t buy them. It wouldn’t be good if they got used to getting gifts too much.
As for the gifts brought back, most of them were for Zhulan’s parents. Her father and mother had birthdays in the same month, and this year they were celebrating their longevity together. Zhulan knew how much this original body loved her parents and how much they had supported this family. Now, with her father and mother celebrating their longevity in early June and Zhou Shuren becoming a scholar, the family had a decent foundation. Naturally, they wanted to give face to their parents.
Zhulan prepared six gifts, bringing back fabrics to make clothes for the old couple, cloaks to wear in winter, shoes, pipes, a set of gold jewelry, and birthday bags.
The snacks she brought back this time were bought at Wang Ru’s shop. The soft and glutinous pastries were more suitable for the elderly. The wine was bought by Zhao Bo, especially for her father.
Zhulan took the valuable jewelry and pipes to the bedroom when she came back.
Zhulan called her eldest son, took three snacks, five kilograms of beef, and six jars of medicinal wine, and put them on the bullock cart, “Send it to your grandpa’s house. Tell your grandpa that the wine is specially used to treat his legs. He can drink every day, but not more than one glass after dinner.”
Boss Zhou carefully stuffed the wine into the straw mat, “Mom, I remember.”
Zhulan also took another portion of snacks and a catty of preserved meat, handing it to Li Shi. She said, “Take this to your mother’s family and tell your grandmother that we’ll visit her when we have the time.”
Li Shi felt happy in her heart. When her mother went out and returned without gifts, no one would say anything. Giving her something was a matter of face, so she said, “Thank you, Mother.”
Her mother-in-law still thought about her. The younger siblings don’t even have a natal family, and her waist was even straighter.
Zhao Shi completely ignored her sister-in-law’s showing off. If she had to argue with her sister-in-law about everything, she would have been furious long ago. She wasn’t foolish enough to engage with her sister-in-law.
Zhulan kept two of the remaining four snacks and two kilograms of soy sauce meat. She was waiting for the eldest to come back and deliver them to the eldest daughter’s house later. It was mainly to signal to the eldest daughter that she and Zhou Shuren were back. Now they can prepare to move by renting a house in their village.
Zhulan held the fabric and left the rest to Zhao Shi to clean up. There was still more than a month left. Zhulan had to make two sets of clothes and embroider them, so she was in a hurry.
At noon, Mingqing came to the house to look for Zhulan, “Shū nǎinǎi, the food has been prepared at home. I’m here to invite you all to come over for lunch.”
Zhulan responded, “Okay, you go back first, I will be there in a minute.”
“Shū nǎinǎi1, then I’ll take my leave.”
“Yes.”
The Patriarch knew from Mingqing’s mouth that Zhou Shuren had taken good care of him, so he specially invited him to dinner, firstly to thank him, and secondly to deepen the relationship between the two families.
Zhulan put the cut fabrics away, changed her clothes, and put on a hairpin before going to the Patriarch’s house.
Now Zhou Shuren was a xiucai. She heard Li Shi talk about it and knew it. Everyone in the village was shocked when they found out that Zhou Shuren was admitted as a xiucai.
As Zhulan walked along the village road, she could sense that envy and jealousy were becoming tangible. People were complimenting her with tones that could be cutting, but they had to smile at her. Zhulan felt relieved. Don’t think her heart was that broad; after hearing so many backhanded compliments, she had had enough of it.
Zhulan passed by Wang Zhang Shi’s house. When Wang Zhang Shi saw Zhulan, she twitched the corners of her stiff mouth. She wanted to speak but felt suffocated. Finally, Wang Zhang Shi quickly returned to the house.
Zhulan looked at the Wang family. Wang Zhang Shi often took money from Fourth Wang’s hands. The family even bought cattle. Zhulan thought of the shop under Wang Ru’s name. She probably didn’t know that Wang Ru had any property in her name!
When they arrived at the Patriarch’s house, Zhulan was warmly welcomed into the courtyard. Zhou Wang Shi took Zhulan’s hand and said, “I have heard what Mingqing said. Mingqing was entirely taken care of by you and Shuren. I would like to thank you and your husband. Our whole family will remember this.”
Zhou Wang’s eldest daughter-in-law, the mother of the Mingqin, never closed her mouth, “Auntie, if you need anything in the future, just ask, I will definitely help without any ambiguity.”
Zhulan was also true. She said, “Okay, I will remember what you said, and you won’t be allowed to cheat when the time comes.”
Zhou Wang Shi’s smile deepened, “We are all genuine relatives, as close as bone and sinew. We won’t shirk our responsibilities.”
She had heard from the old man that Zhou Shuren not only looked after Mingqing’s food but also introduced Mingqing to various people, helping her make many connections. Mingqing had been settling down for a few years, and it was possible that he could indeed become a juren. In that case, their whole family would have a juren, and it would bring about a significant change for their descendants.
Zhao Shi just wanted to die. Her sister-in-law had no problem with arithmetic, but she may not be able to learn accounting. She moved her mouth without daring to refute, “Mom, I will try my best to teach my sister-in-law.”
The conversation wasn’t complete, so it was really Sister-in-law’s fault that she didn’t understand.
Li Shi felt that Zhao Shi was scheming and kept taking the opportunity to step on her, “Mom, I will definitely keep track of every account.”
She would never let her younger siblings compete!
Zhulan looked at Li Shi silently and suddenly realized that Li Shi’s brain supplement was also beneficial. If she imagined that Zhao Shi was targeting her every day, Li Shi would be particularly motivated. She could also educate Li Shi easily. No wonder those in power like to play the balance game. Pulling someone up instead of suppressing them can make them even more motivated!
Zhulan asked, “Have you counted all the gifts I brought back?”
Li Shi didn’t know how to keep accounts, but she had a very good memory of what she ate or used. “Two pieces of linen, eight snacks, six jars of wine, ten pounds of sauced meat, five pairs of embroidered women’s cloth shoes, five pairs of men’s cloth shoes, and two cloaks.”
Li deliberately looked and realized that there was no gift for her. It then occurred to her that every time her mother went out, she would bring gifts for each of the rooms. This time, she didn’t bring one, and she wondered if her mother was dissatisfied with her. Yet, she felt that it wasn’t right. If her mother was dissatisfied with her, she seemed quite pleased with her younger siblings. But then again, her younger siblings didn’t do anything wrong either!
Zhulan really didn’t forget it, but she had just given some hairpins to Li Shi and Zhao Shi. So she thought she shouldn’t bring gifts frequently, and hence she didn’t buy them. It wouldn’t be good if they got used to getting gifts too much.
As for the gifts brought back, most of them were for Zhulan’s parents. Her father and mother had birthdays in the same month, and this year they were celebrating their longevity together. Zhulan knew how much this original body loved her parents and how much they had supported this family. Now, with her father and mother celebrating their longevity in early June and Zhou Shuren becoming a scholar, the family had a decent foundation. Naturally, they wanted to give face to their parents.
Zhulan prepared six gifts, bringing back fabrics to make clothes for the old couple, cloaks to wear in winter, shoes, pipes, a set of gold jewelry, and birthday bags.
The snacks she brought back this time were bought at Wang Ru’s shop. The soft and glutinous pastries were more suitable for the elderly. The wine was bought by Zhao Bo, especially for her father.
Zhulan took the valuable jewelry and pipes to the bedroom when she came back.
Zhulan called her eldest son, took three snacks, five kilograms of beef, and six jars of medicinal wine, and put them on the bullock cart, “Send it to your grandpa’s house. Tell your grandpa that the wine is specially used to treat his legs. He can drink every day, but not more than one glass after dinner.”
Boss Zhou carefully stuffed the wine into the straw mat, “Mom, I remember.”
Zhulan also took another portion of snacks and a catty of preserved meat, handing it to Li Shi. She said, “Take this to your mother’s family and tell your grandmother that we’ll visit her when we have the time.”
Li Shi felt happy in her heart. When her mother went out and returned without gifts, no one would say anything. Giving her something was a matter of face, so she said, “Thank you, Mother.”
Her mother-in-law still thought about her. The younger siblings don’t even have a natal family, and her waist was even straighter.
Zhao Shi completely ignored her sister-in-law’s showing off. If she had to argue with her sister-in-law about everything, she would have been furious long ago. She wasn’t foolish enough to engage with her sister-in-law.
Zhulan kept two of the remaining four snacks and two kilograms of soy sauce meat. She was waiting for the eldest to come back and deliver them to the eldest daughter’s house later. It was mainly to signal to the eldest daughter that she and Zhou Shuren were back. Now they can prepare to move by renting a house in their village.
Zhulan held the fabric and left the rest to Zhao Shi to clean up. There was still more than a month left. Zhulan had to make two sets of clothes and embroider them, so she was in a hurry.
At noon, Mingqing came to the house to look for Zhulan, “Shū nǎinǎi, the food has been prepared at home. I’m here to invite you all to come over for lunch.”
Zhulan responded, “Okay, you go back first, I will be there in a minute.”
“Shū nǎinǎi1, then I’ll take my leave.”
“Yes.”
The Patriarch knew from Mingqing’s mouth that Zhou Shuren had taken good care of him, so he specially invited him to dinner, firstly to thank him, and secondly to deepen the relationship between the two families.
Zhulan put the cut fabrics away, changed her clothes, and put on a hairpin before going to the Patriarch’s house.
Now Zhou Shuren was a xiucai. She heard Li Shi talk about it and knew it. Everyone in the village was shocked when they found out that Zhou Shuren was admitted as a xiucai.
As Zhulan walked along the village road, she could sense that envy and jealousy were becoming tangible. People were complimenting her with tones that could be cutting, but they had to smile at her. Zhulan felt relieved. Don’t think her heart was that broad; after hearing so many backhanded compliments, she had had enough of it.
Zhulan passed by Wang Zhang Shi’s house. When Wang Zhang Shi saw Zhulan, she twitched the corners of her stiff mouth. She wanted to speak but felt suffocated. Finally, Wang Zhang Shi quickly returned to the house.
Zhulan looked at the Wang family. Wang Zhang Shi often took money from Fourth Wang’s hands. The family even bought cattle. Zhulan thought of the shop under Wang Ru’s name. She probably didn’t know that Wang Ru had any property in her name!
When they arrived at the Patriarch’s house, Zhulan was warmly welcomed into the courtyard. Zhou Wang Shi took Zhulan’s hand and said, “I have heard what Mingqing said. Mingqing was entirely taken care of by you and Shuren. I would like to thank you and your husband. Our whole family will remember this.”
Zhou Wang’s eldest daughter-in-law, the mother of the Mingqin, never closed her mouth, “Auntie, if you need anything in the future, just ask, I will definitely help without any ambiguity.”
Zhulan was also true. She said, “Okay, I will remember what you said, and you won’t be allowed to cheat when the time comes.”
Zhou Wang Shi’s smile deepened, “We are all genuine relatives, as close as bone and sinew. We won’t shirk our responsibilities.”
She had heard from the old man that Zhou Shuren not only looked after Mingqing’s food but also introduced Mingqing to various people, helping her make many connections. Mingqing had been settling down for a few years, and it was possible that he could indeed become a juren. In that case, their whole family would have a juren, and it would bring about a significant change for their descendants.
