Zhou Shuren returned home. Although his wife later sent a letter saying that his son had not said anything and was not frightened, he was still worried. He asked carefully again and found out that he said proudly, "As expected of our son, he is young and ignorant. This is a good saying."
Zhulan took the casual clothes and said, "Don't be so proud. Come and change your clothes quickly. We are waiting for you to eat!"
Zhou Shuren's hand that was taking off his official uniform suddenly stopped, and he scolded with a smile, "This brat, why did he run away impatiently after just a few words? He was afraid that I would ask about his reward money."
Zhulan rolled her eyes, "You just realized it?"
Zhou Shuren snorted, "How much did the emperor reward you?"
Zhulan spread her hands and said, "Your son untied half of his purse and then quickly put it back. By the time I was stunned, he had already run away, so I don't know."
Zhou Shuren, "... Who does this kid take after?"
Zhulan, "It's your fault. This kid is afraid that you will steal his money."
Zhou Shuren touched his nose and said, "That was in the past. It won't happen now."
"Now he won't do that, so this kid accepted the banknotes openly. The Wu family just had a baby, and Changzhong lives at home. I thought, I can secretly go and take a look at him when he falls asleep at night. If there is a lot, I can coax him to manage his finances. If there is a little, I will let him keep it himself."
Zhou Shuren changed his clothes and asked, "Do you think it can be reduced?"
Zhulan smiled, "So I have already decided to buy him some land."
Zhou Shuren thought to himself that his son was full of schemes, but unfortunately he had a mother who was more righteous than him.
At dinner in the evening, uncle Changzhong was very impressive. He had received a reward from the emperor today and the emperor had sent him back, so this was his confidence.
Changzhong saw that his father and mother did not cough, so he became bolder and said to his fourth brother: "Fourth brother, I have met the emperor several times. I will tell you how to get along with the emperor. I'm sure you will be able to use it in the future."
Zhou Shuren's hand trembled as he took a sip of wine. Look how capable he is, he never even mentioned passing on his experience.
Chang Zhi, "... Fourth Brother, thank you."
Changzhong patted his chest and said, "Okay, okay, we are brothers, I will definitely let Fourth Brother get more rewards. Look, I have met the emperor several times and received many rewards."
Chang Zhi's mouth twitched. That's because you are young, and your name was given by the emperor. It's a natural favor. If he doesn't have the ability, he won't get any reward in this life. How can they be compared
There was a smile in Mingyun's eyes, and he wanted to see how his fourth uncle would answer. Mingteng was already grinning, and Minghui was looking at his uncle with admiration.
Changzhi looked at his father, then at his mother who was watching the show. Well, he could only coax his brother, "Okay, you talk, and Fourth Brother is listening."
Changzhong was extremely happy. He said something like he felt he couldn't answer the question and wanted to find a way to change the subject. The meal was over but he still felt a little unsatisfied.
In the fourth room, Chang Zhi sat still. Su Xuan asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Chang Zhi pulled his wife to sit down, "I know how much I feel in my heart about the impact of the change in the environment in which I grow up on my children. When I was your age, I had little experience and knew nothing, but you have already met the emperor several times, not to mention the high-ranking officials you have met. At such a young age, you already have your own immature experience in dealing with things."
Su Xuan, "Mom said that parents are the enlightenment teachers of their children. My younger brother is too much like my father-in-law."
She thought it made a lot of sense. She didn't like writing or reading before, but after her child was born, she kept her mother-in-law's words in mind. Even if she didn't like it, she would write and read, for she was afraid that her son and daughter would learn from her.
Changzhong doesn't think so. Although he looks like his father, he thinks he looks more like his mother. His father doesn't spend much time at home, so he learned a lot of things from his mother.
At night, Zhulan looked at Zhou Shuren who went with them speechlessly. The two of them went to their son's room carefully. The little guy had a very good sleep quality and would not wake up even with some noises.
Zhou Shuren looked for his son's purse but couldn't find it. Zhulan couldn't stand it anymore and said, "You hold the candle and I'll look for it."
Zhou Shuren had just searched under his son's pillow and clothes.
Zhulan squatted down and picked up her son's shoes. The weather was still cold and the snow outside had not melted yet. The shoes were boots. One of them was gone, and the other one came out.
Zhou Shuren widened his eyes. This kid was too cunning.
Zhulan opened the purse, gritted her teeth, and put it back. There was only some silver in the purse, no banknotes. She reached out and pinched her son's face.
Zhou Shuren burst out laughing, "Where is this kid hiding?"
Zhulan stood up and looked around the house. There was definitely no secret room. Her son was very cunning and the maids and servants would not believe her. She was afraid that the maids and servants would tell on her. So she had to look for him based on his height and he would not leave the bedroom. She walked around and asked for advice, then smiled.
Zhou Shuren also noticed it. The two found a silver note at the bottom of the box containing papers. When they opened it, they saw a silver note for one hundred taels.
Zhulan carefully put it back, and the two of them carefully went out.
Zhou Shuren, "How can this child be so cunning? He even knew that the maids and the old women were afraid to clean up the box where the paper was placed."
"He also knew not to put it in a book. It would be too easy to be discovered."
Zhou Shuren, "Watching him grow up little by little, I feel like time has passed too quickly."
Zhulan was also a little sad, "Yeah."
The next day, before Changzhong knew his banknotes had been discovered, Zhulan told him her plan, "You can't keep the banknotes, so give them to mother. I'll buy you some land, and let the banknotes make money. When you grow up, you'll have your own fortune."
Chang Zhongxin believed his mother. His mother’s words were trustworthy, unlike his father. “Can you be like Rongchuan’s brother-in-law?”
Zhu Lan laughed, "You also know that Rong Chuan saved his fortune by himself?"
Changzhong nodded his head, "I know, my son listened to what my second brother said."
He eavesdropped on his second brother talking to his nephew's future husband, and he remembered how his brother-in-law Rongchuan had accumulated wealth without acknowledging his ancestral roots.
Zhulan: "It's settled then. Give the money to mother?"
Changzhong was very happy, "Okay."
Pinggang, Changyi was the only official who had been abroad and the only one who had long-term experience of drifting at sea. When seeing the ships, Changyi was the calmest.
The four ships were not merchant ships. They were taller and had longer hulls. On the decks were navy officers standing in neat rows. Their pitch-black cannons looked like man-eating monsters. One took one look and dared not take a second look.
When they boarded the ship, the officials did not have separate rooms. Chang Yi and Wu Ming shared a room, but it was not assigned, but they were just sharing a room, people who knew each other well.
The time spent at sea is already long, and living with people you don't like is not bad enough, so there are not so many rules.
After the luggage was put away, the ships set sail, and the diplomatic officials were on the second ship.
Chang Yi said to Wu Ming: "Are we going out to take a look?"
Wu Ming's heart is now excited, "This is our navy, a navy built from scratch."
Chang Yi was also excited, "The money from the national treasury is worth it."
As the two were talking, they reached the deck. Most of the officials on the diplomatic mission had left the cabin, and the ship set sail. Some merchant ships made way, and merchants from some foreign merchant ships could be seen standing on the deck and watching them.