When Zhou Shuren came back in the evening, Zhulan waited for the whole family to rest. She and Zhou Shuren went back to the house and asked, “When Lin Shi went back, did the County Magistrate say anything?”
“After tomorrow, the County Magistrate will be free. He mentioned that he hasn’t seen our two sons studying for a long time and hopes to meet them.”
Zhulan understood, “Dong Chuchu has taken a liking to our son, but he just doesn’t know whether it is Chang Zhi or Chang Lian.”
Zhou Shuren was a little tired, “We’ll know when the time comes. Please give me a shoulder massage. I’ve been writing an article all day today and my shoulders are sore.”
A child who can cry gets milk. He had long understood that Zhulan had a soft heart, so he wasn’t going to be stupid and carry it by himself. When he was tired, he let her know. Moreover, Zhulan’s massage techniques were really good. He didn’t want to miss this benefit.
Zhulan signaled Zhou Shuren to lie down. She learned massage techniques from her grandmother, but she didn’t learn much. When she was a child, she often massaged her elders. Later, when she got older, she just didn’t have time and stopped doing it. She didn’t expect that her elders wouldn’t get to enjoy her massage, but Zhou Shuren got to enjoy it.
Zhulan noticed that Zhou Shuren’s shoulders were very tense, a sign of genuine exhaustion. Feeling sorry for him, she understood that Zhou Shuren needed to continuously strive for excellence to prove his worth. Outside, he had to be extremely cautious. Having experienced the challenges of ingratiating oneself with others, she knew the taste of flattery in the face of difficulties. Between the two of them, Zhou Shuren was the one who contributed the most to the family. After a short massage, Zhou Shuren drifted into a sleepy state.
Zhulan stopped her hand and untied Zhou Shuren’s hair. It had been hanging down for a day and was so tight that his scalp hurt. She scratched Zhou Shuren’s hair with her fingertips and couldn’t help but curl her lips. After Zhou Shuren came here, he paid special attention to maintaining his hair. He was afraid that he would have a mid-life crisis and lose his hair and go bald like in modern times!
Zhulan’s house was warm and cozy, but many houses in Zhoujia Village were not sleepy at all. Patriarch Zhou didn’t look at the surface. He always felt that it was not a simple visit. He tossed and turned and wondered why the County Magistrate’s wife came to Zhou Shuren’s house.
At Wang Ru’s house next door, Wang Ru couldn’t sleep. Her money and jewelry were gone, leaving only two taels of silver. She knew that Shi Qing did this to warn her about how weak she was, and she hated herself for a day. But next door, the county magistrate’s wife came to visit as a guest. Her heart was burning, and she hated why she couldn’t wear it as Zhou Xuehan!
The next morning, right after Zhulan’s family finished breakfast, Zhou Wangshi arrived. “I wanted to come over yesterday, but the head of the household stopped me, afraid that I might disturb the County Magistrate Madam. We are now the only ones in the room. Tell me, did the County Magistrate Madam truly come just for a visit?”
Zhulan had known for a long time that the Zhou Wang Shi would come today and guessed that she would pry, but she didn’t expect to ask such a straightforward question, which is difficult to deal with. “I’m not lying to you. There is indeed something going on, but I can’t say it. We’ll find out in a few days. It has nothing to do with our clan.”
Zhou Wang Shi was happy that Zhulan didn’t try to evade the answer with her. If Yang Shi had dealt with her now, it could have left a knot in her heart. So she said with a smile: “With what you said, my heart will be settled. It’s all my fault that the head of the family loves to think about things. I couldn’t sleep well last night because of the troubles. It made me think about it too. Isn’t that right? So I asked shamelessly.”
Zhu Lan maintained a smile. “If Shuren didn’t go to the county today, he would’ve definitely gone to see the clan leader. But telling you is the same; it’s just making you take an extra trip.”
But she thought in her heart look, the smarter the person, the more willing he was to think things. I wonder what the patriarch was thinking!
After Zhou Wang received her answer, she didn’t stay any longer. The old man was waiting for her at home. She stood up and said, “I’m going back first. Don’t worry, I’m not a talkative person. I won’t tell anyone what you say.”
Zhulan felt reassured, so she directly informed Zhou Wang Shi. Zhou Wang Shi knew what could be said and what couldn’t. “I’ll accompany you,” she said.
When they arrived at the door, Mrs. Zhou exclaimed, “Isn’t that the girl from Zhang Datie’s family?”
Zhulan had never seen the girl from Zhang Datie’s family. She didn’t see any of the children at Zhang Datie’s house last time. Later, the Zhang family’s children came to see Rong Chuan. They didn’t see Zhulan because she was resting in the house. Zhou Shi didn’t remind Zhulan. She really didn’t know her, so she looked at the girl standing at the door of her house with confusion, “Are you looking for Rong Chuan?”
Zhou Wang Shi didn’t leave in a hurry. She smirked, fully aware that Zhang Datie and his wife, despite instructing their child to find Rong Chuan, gained no benefits. Yet, they were still unwilling to let the child go to Rong Chuan directly.
Zhou Wang Shi couldn’t help but feel emotional. She used to pity the child who was the most destitute in the village and feared that Rong Chuan might have died at any moment due to his difficult circumstances. Who would have thought that Rong Chuan’s fortunes would change? The first ten years were tough, but then luck turned around. He ate well, dressed well, didn’t have to work anymore, and could even study and read. His appearance had also improved, resembling a young gentleman. Every time she saw him, she couldn’t recall the pitiful image of Rong Chuan from the past; instead, she remembered the polite and well-mannered Zhang Rong Chuan of today.
Zhang Sanni pinched the corner of her clothes cautiously. She was afraid of the mother of the village head, so she lowered her head and did not dare to say a word.
Zhulan saw that this person was not here to see Rong Chuan, “Did you come to see me?”
(End of Chapter)
When Zhou Shuren came back in the evening, Zhulan waited for the whole family to rest. She and Zhou Shuren went back to the house and asked, “When Lin Shi went back, did the County Magistrate say anything?”
“After tomorrow, the County Magistrate will be free. He mentioned that he hasn’t seen our two sons studying for a long time and hopes to meet them.”
Zhulan understood, “Dong Chuchu has taken a liking to our son, but he just doesn’t know whether it is Chang Zhi or Chang Lian.”
Zhou Shuren was a little tired, “We’ll know when the time comes. Please give me a shoulder massage. I’ve been writing an article all day today and my shoulders are sore.”
A child who can cry gets milk. He had long understood that Zhulan had a soft heart, so he wasn’t going to be stupid and carry it by himself. When he was tired, he let her know. Moreover, Zhulan’s massage techniques were really good. He didn’t want to miss this benefit.
Zhulan signaled Zhou Shuren to lie down. She learned massage techniques from her grandmother, but she didn’t learn much. When she was a child, she often massaged her elders. Later, when she got older, she just didn’t have time and stopped doing it. She didn’t expect that her elders wouldn’t get to enjoy her massage, but Zhou Shuren got to enjoy it.
Zhulan noticed that Zhou Shuren’s shoulders were very tense, a sign of genuine exhaustion. Feeling sorry for him, she understood that Zhou Shuren needed to continuously strive for excellence to prove his worth. Outside, he had to be extremely cautious. Having experienced the challenges of ingratiating oneself with others, she knew the taste of flattery in the face of difficulties. Between the two of them, Zhou Shuren was the one who contributed the most to the family. After a short massage, Zhou Shuren drifted into a sleepy state.
Zhulan stopped her hand and untied Zhou Shuren’s hair. It had been hanging down for a day and was so tight that his scalp hurt. She scratched Zhou Shuren’s hair with her fingertips and couldn’t help but curl her lips. After Zhou Shuren came here, he paid special attention to maintaining his hair. He was afraid that he would have a mid-life crisis and lose his hair and go bald like in modern times!
Zhulan’s house was warm and cozy, but many houses in Zhoujia Village were not sleepy at all. Patriarch Zhou didn’t look at the surface. He always felt that it was not a simple visit. He tossed and turned and wondered why the County Magistrate’s wife came to Zhou Shuren’s house.
At Wang Ru’s house next door, Wang Ru couldn’t sleep. Her money and jewelry were gone, leaving only two taels of silver. She knew that Shi Qing did this to warn her about how weak she was, and she hated herself for a day. But next door, the county magistrate’s wife came to visit as a guest. Her heart was burning, and she hated why she couldn’t wear it as Zhou Xuehan!
The next morning, right after Zhulan’s family finished breakfast, Zhou Wangshi arrived. “I wanted to come over yesterday, but the head of the household stopped me, afraid that I might disturb the County Magistrate Madam. We are now the only ones in the room. Tell me, did the County Magistrate Madam truly come just for a visit?”
Zhulan had known for a long time that the Zhou Wang Shi would come today and guessed that she would pry, but she didn’t expect to ask such a straightforward question, which is difficult to deal with. “I’m not lying to you. There is indeed something going on, but I can’t say it. We’ll find out in a few days. It has nothing to do with our clan.”
Zhou Wang Shi was happy that Zhulan didn’t try to evade the answer with her. If Yang Shi had dealt with her now, it could have left a knot in her heart. So she said with a smile: “With what you said, my heart will be settled. It’s all my fault that the head of the family loves to think about things. I couldn’t sleep well last night because of the troubles. It made me think about it too. Isn’t that right? So I asked shamelessly.”
Zhu Lan maintained a smile. “If Shuren didn’t go to the county today, he would’ve definitely gone to see the clan leader. But telling you is the same; it’s just making you take an extra trip.”
But she thought in her heart look, the smarter the person, the more willing he was to think things. I wonder what the patriarch was thinking!
After Zhou Wang received her answer, she didn’t stay any longer. The old man was waiting for her at home. She stood up and said, “I’m going back first. Don’t worry, I’m not a talkative person. I won’t tell anyone what you say.”
Zhulan felt reassured, so she directly informed Zhou Wang Shi. Zhou Wang Shi knew what could be said and what couldn’t. “I’ll accompany you,” she said.
When they arrived at the door, Mrs. Zhou exclaimed, “Isn’t that the girl from Zhang Datie’s family?”
Zhulan had never seen the girl from Zhang Datie’s family. She didn’t see any of the children at Zhang Datie’s house last time. Later, the Zhang family’s children came to see Rong Chuan. They didn’t see Zhulan because she was resting in the house. Zhou Shi didn’t remind Zhulan. She really didn’t know her, so she looked at the girl standing at the door of her house with confusion, “Are you looking for Rong Chuan?”
Zhou Wang Shi didn’t leave in a hurry. She smirked, fully aware that Zhang Datie and his wife, despite instructing their child to find Rong Chuan, gained no benefits. Yet, they were still unwilling to let the child go to Rong Chuan directly.
Zhou Wang Shi couldn’t help but feel emotional. She used to pity the child who was the most destitute in the village and feared that Rong Chuan might have died at any moment due to his difficult circumstances. Who would have thought that Rong Chuan’s fortunes would change? The first ten years were tough, but then luck turned around. He ate well, dressed well, didn’t have to work anymore, and could even study and read. His appearance had also improved, resembling a young gentleman. Every time she saw him, she couldn’t recall the pitiful image of Rong Chuan from the past; instead, she remembered the polite and well-mannered Zhang Rong Chuan of today.
Zhang Sanni pinched the corner of her clothes cautiously. She was afraid of the mother of the village head, so she lowered her head and did not dare to say a word.
Zhulan saw that this person was not here to see Rong Chuan, “Did you come to see me?”
(End of Chapter)
