Seven days passed in a blink of an eye. Zhulan was very busy. The rainy weather finally cleared up. Zhuangzi and the land had to be cultivated quickly. There were many things to do every day.
Now in the Zhou Mansion, Li is busy taking care of the children. Mingjing is a difficult child and is particularly attached to Li. So Li can only take care of her own small courtyard.
Zhao had to manage the mansion and arrange the second wife's business. The second wife had a large business, so Zhao was very busy.
It wasn't just the capital that was rushing to farm; every place was the same. This caused a shortage of seeds, and many places were forced to plant crops such as sweet potatoes.
Zhulan had made preparations in advance, but the seeds were not enough, so the Xu family helped find seeds from overseas.
The price of overseas seeds has increased, but because the prices are controlled, the increase is not excessive.
Zhulan felt that the temperature was rising quickly. After it stopped raining, the temperature was rising every day. The temperature changes were quite big and she felt a little bored.
Mrs. Song came in, "Liu is here."
Zhulan became more energetic and said, "Please come in."
Liu came into the house soon, fanning herself with a handkerchief. "This weather is really abnormal, it seems like summer has arrived."
Zhulan handed over a cup of herbal tea, "Who said it wasn't? I'm really worried about a severe drought. The droughts in previous years are still fresh in my memory."
Liu felt much better after drinking the herbal tea. "Yes, my master is also complaining about it at home."
Zhulan fanned herself with a fan, "Is your family busy?"
Liu smiled and said, "My daughters-in-law are busy, and I am relatively free, so I came to talk to you. Anyway, you really don't like to go out."
Zhulan has the attribute of staying at home. There is no need to be comfortable. She can stay at home all the time. "I don't like to move around as I am old. Besides, there are many things going on in the capital. It is more comfortable to stay at home."
Seeing that the maids were all outside, Liu whispered, "Song Xin has been back to her parents' home for three days. Ning Zhiqi has gone to pick her up several times but she still hasn't returned. As her aunt, I can't ask her. Alas, this girl doesn't say anything, and her mother is worried."
Zhulan put down the fan in her hand and said, "Why are you here in such hot weather? Are you here to get information?"
Liu spread her hands, "Aren't we on good terms? And aren't we, as elders, supposed to worry about the younger generation? Song Xin keeps all her sufferings to herself, and we, as elders, feel sorry for her? Your daughter is loved by the old lady? I can only beg you."
Zhulan really knows something? My daughter can't attend the banquet, the only place she can go is to her parents' home? She came back a few days ago and said a few words angrily, "Song Xin has always been generous, I admire her."
Liu felt upset, "Who said it wasn't true? Song Xin is the old lady's favorite. I also cherished her as my daughter. How can this child tolerate it? This time when I went back to my parents' home, I really couldn't tolerate it. How much injustice must she have suffered."
Zhulan thought, Song Xin was being bullied by Mrs. Du, but the girl probably didn’t tell her family? That’s right? As the daughter-in-law of the Duke of Ning’s mansion, she has to take care of the Duke’s mansion’s reputation. “Don’t worry about it. Song Xin has something on her mind, and you don’t know it even though she’s grown up watching her.”
Liu didn't say anything. She was even more certain that Yang knew something, but she just couldn't say it. "Hey."
She always felt that it was a waste for Song Xin to marry Ning Zhiqi, and now this is the only way.
At the Song family, Song Xin sent her sister-in-law Bai away, and fiddled with the flowers in the vase from time to time, her mind wandering from time to time.
Ning Ting felt sad seeing her mother like this. She happened to be delivering something when her parents were arguing, and she heard it clearly. She felt sorry for her mother. Why did her father vent his anger on her mother? It was obviously grandma's fault. "Mom."
Song Xin came back to her senses. She was very impulsive when she took the child back to her parents' home, but when she stepped out of the gate of the Duke's Mansion, she felt happy, especially happy. She had endured it for the sake of her husband and child. Why should she endure it now? Her husband came to apologize several times, but she did not accept it. Now is not the time to accept it. "Mom knows what's going on. Don't worry about it."
Ning Ting, "My daughter is just feeling sorry for you."
Song Xin chuckled, "There's nothing to feel wronged about. I'm going to be the wife of a duke soon. I don't feel wronged."
She was thinking very clearly now. Since it was not worth getting angry at herself, she would think about how to control her husband, for the sake of her children and herself.
In the past, she was too virtuous. She was tolerant towards her mother-in-law and considerate of her husband. In the end, she got nothing in return. In that case, there was no need for her to be virtuous anymore.
At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren took the list to confirm it, checked it several times, and then stamped it and handed it to Doctor Lei, "Then go and collect the silver."
Doctor Lei was stunned. "Sir, do you need to buy so much food?"
Zhou Shuren, "Well, just to prepare for a rainy day."
The harvest this year is poor, and there is a fear of drought. The weather is too abnormal. The Emperor and the Crown Prince are very concerned and read the memorials sent in from all over the country every day.
Doctor Lei held the letter in his hand and said, "I will take my leave."
"Um."
Qiu Yan spoke up, "We just sent a ship out to buy grain seeds a few days ago."
Zhou Shuren was silent. He had been spending a lot recently and money was flowing out of the national treasury like water. He remembered several major droughts in history. When the climate was acting up, humans really had no way to deal with it. Even in the future, the power of nature would still be frightening.
Zhou Shuren estimated the time and made an appointment with Mr. Fang from the Ministry of Works. "I'm going to the Ministry of Works. I'll leave the Ministry of Revenue to you."
Qiu Yan: "Okay."
Zhou Shuren didn't like the Ministry of Revenue's carriage. It wasn't that the carriage was bad, but he didn't like the design of the carriage. It was hot in this weather, so he preferred to ride in his own carriage.
The driver of the Ministry of Revenue received the news and was already waiting at the door of the Ministry of Revenue.
Zhou Shuren frowned and said, "I don't want to use the carriage of the Ministry. Please send the carriage back."
The driver was dumbfounded, "Sir, you just informed me that you would use the carriage, why don't you use it?"
Zhou Shuren paused as he turned around, "I have never sent anyone to notify them."
The driver frowned and said, "Sir, I won't make a mistake. I just informed you. I was afraid I heard it wrong, so I asked twice."
Zhou Shuren looked at the coachman, then silently took a step back. The coachman was an old man from the Ministry of Revenue, and had been driving a carriage for the ministry for more than ten years. This mistake would definitely not happen.
Zhou Shuren thought to himself that he was not an official who followed common sense. If it were any other official, he would definitely ride in the carriage of the Ministry of Revenue, but he did not do that, and he winked at Jinyan.
Jinyan became nervous and carefully went forward to check the carriage. When the coachman reacted, his eyes widened and his lips trembled.
Jin Yan quickly checked and said, "The carriage wheels have been tampered with, and..."
Zhou Shuren cherishes his life. He especially cherishes his life now. "And what?"
Jin Yan pursed her lips and said, "It's not clear yet. The carriage needs a careful inspection. My lord, you have to go to the Ministry of Works in a while."
Zhou Shuren felt that it was not appropriate to go out today, so he took a step back and said, "No, I will not go to the Ministry of Works today. I will send someone to tell Lord Fang later."
Jinyan was also afraid that if the master insisted on going, something might happen, so now he relaxed, "Master, go back and rest first."
Zhou Shuren's eyes darkened slightly. He also wanted to check it carefully. "I'll leave it to you."