Zhulan took a nap, and Zhao came back. She wiped her face with a handkerchief and looked more energetic. "Have you arranged for your two cousins?"
Zhao nodded, "They said that the Zhao family had offended someone, their food was stolen, and there was a natural disaster. These two families were very brave, and they decided to go to Beijing."
Zhu Lan asked, "What about the rest of the Zhao family?"
Zhao was silent, then said, "We fled in the early years and our health was very poor. First, my father passed away. Although they didn't suffer from the snowstorm a few years ago, a cold caught a few of the elderly and they didn't survive the winter and all died. Only their families were left. The two of them were brave enough to go to Beijing, and the rest fled to other places."
Zhu Lan put down the handkerchief in her hand and said, "The remaining families will not go to the vicinity of Zhoujia Village, right?"
If one wants to survive and does not want to be bullied, the brave ones can go to Beijing to seek refuge with the Zhao family, while the timid ones who want to be safe can go to the vicinity of Zhoujia Village.
Zhao thought her mother-in-law was really smart. "I asked them, but they looked away. I guess they went to the vicinity of Zhoujia Village."
Zhulan was not unhappy. This was a human instinct to survive. "But are they telling the truth?"
Zhao replied, "My daughter-in-law has just sent someone to investigate, and she should get back to me in a few days."
Zhulan stared at Zhao, "You want to keep them?"
Zhao smiled and said, "Well, it's better to keep them under our eyes than not to see them. My husband said that we should be careful at all times. I always remember that. I will keep them in the mansion today, and send them out of the city to the farm our second wife bought tomorrow. The farm needs people to grow vegetables, and they are suitable."
Zhulan understood that not only were they not allowed to eat and drink for free, but they also had to be kept under surveillance. Then she smiled. If they were still in Zhoujia Village, these people would be trouble. Now their status was too different, and these people didn't even dare to cheat. They were honest. Now these people really couldn't catch Zhao's eye, "Yeah."
The small courtyard where the two branches of the Zhao family were housed was very small and rather remote. Behind it was where the martial arts servant lived.
Zhao Dalang and Erlang looked at each other with lingering fear. Zhao Dalang let out a long sigh, "If Qiu Niang hadn't admitted it, I really wouldn't have believed it was Qiu Niang. Her momentum just now was really scary, her eyes were sharper than those of the wives in the county."
Erlang, "That's right. Look at the girls and servants along the way. My goodness, they are not the girls who were bullied in their early years."
Zhao Dalang quickly covered his brother's mouth and said, "Shut up, don't say that."
Several children had already looked around the yard. The oldest boy was about fifteen or sixteen, and the little girl was about seven or eight. The little girl asked, "Dad, are we going to live here?"
Zhao Dalang shook his head, "No, we are going to work at your cousin's farm."
The little girl was disappointed, "Why can't we live here? It's so big here, and there are so many people."
Zhao Erlang looked at his niece and felt regretful. Who could have thought that the girl who was bullied back then would have such good fortune? If he had been nicer to Qiu Niang back then, they would have had a good life this time. Unfortunately, regret was of no use. He could only be obedient and at least he could survive and would not be bullied on Qiu Niang's farm. They were refugees and had been bullied by the locals for years. This time, they wanted to rob the girl from their home. If they hadn't been told that Qiu Niang's family was an official's family, they really would not have been able to escape.
Thinking of this, Zhao Erlang looked at his eldest daughter. This time she was safe. He did not tell the truth. In fact, their two families could have gone to the vicinity of Zhoujia Village, but their two families' daughters were pretty. If they did not want this to happen again, they would have the courage to come to Qiu Niang for help.
The next day, after breakfast, Zhulan met with Zhao's family. Everyone from both families changed their clothes. Zhulan nodded. Although she did not intervene, she was satisfied with what Zhao did. Zhao's harsh treatment of her family would also be embarrassing for the Zhou family. Zhou Shuren knew about what happened yesterday when he came back, which shows how quickly the news spread.
Zhulan looked at the girls from the Zhao family. They were pretty, especially the oldest one, who looked a bit like Zhao. "Did you have a good rest yesterday?"
Zhao Dalang replied tremblingly, "Xiu, I had a good rest."
In fact, they didn't sleep the whole night. They were very nervous all night, covering themselves with a new quilt and wearing new clothes.
Zhulan looked at the others, and she wanted to lower her head even lower. "I heard from Qiu Niang that these are some materials. Take them."
The maid handed over two bundles containing some clothing materials, all of which were materials they could wear. They had to go to the cloth shop to buy them first.
Zhao Dalang took it and was about to kneel down in gratitude, but Qingxue quickly held him up.
Zhao came back to her senses from her niece's face. She suddenly guessed how she had offended someone. She was silent for a moment and said, "I'll send someone to take you to the manor. The manor's steward will arrange a place for you to stay."
Zhao Dalang moved the corner of his mouth, "Thank you."
In the Zhou family's carriage, Zhao Dalang and his family sat together. Zhao Dalang's wife had already unpacked the bundles. It turned out that Zhulan had only given them cloth, while the two bundles given by Zhao contained a few more silver jewelry.
Zhao Dalang's wife touched a few pieces of silver jewelry and then put them away. "The two girls I just saw are Qiu Niang's daughters. They are very beautiful. Look at their demeanor. Even the daughters of the county magistrate can't compare to them."
Zhao Dalang did not dare to ask, but the maid guarding the yard told him. He knew that Qiu Niang had let them know on purpose and warned them to be honest. "How can they be compared? Qiu Niang's father-in-law is a third-rank official, and her brother-in-law is also an official and has traveled to various countries. They are different, different."
The carriage became quiet in an instant. It was indeed different. The girl who was hiding back then was now in a high position.
Zhao Dalang finally said, "No wonder Qiu Niang was always so shameless. Fortunately, I married into the Zhou family. People are destined to be together."
With that, the carriage fell into complete silence and no one spoke any more.
In Zhoujia Village, Chang Zhi went to the clan school immediately after hearing the news. When he entered the classroom, he saw King Liang sitting at the back seat listening to the class. He couldn't help but look up at the sky. Why didn't he look like King Liang
He didn't cause any trouble and listened to the lecture seriously.
Chang Zhi did not go in, but waited patiently until the class was over, then he went in, "Meet His Royal Highness Prince Liang."
King Liang smiled and said, "Why are you afraid of me causing trouble?"
Chang Zhi thought, that's right, this is the King of Liang, "I have the responsibility to take the King of Liang around, but I'm late, please forgive me, Your Highness."
King Liang snorted and laughed, "Is your house a den of foxes? They are all very cunning."
You're really good at avoiding the subject.
Changzhi pretended not to understand and said with a smile, "Your Highness, is there anywhere else you want to go?"
King Liang did not plan to continue attending classes at the clan school. He had no intention of attending classes just now. He just watched the Zhou clan teacher teach well, so he patiently listened to a class. "No, take me around."
Chang Zhi sighed inwardly. King Liang's coming really wasted his time. Fortunately, he had been reviewing without interruption, otherwise he would have been very confused.
Prince Liang left the clan school and asked, "I heard that your family is going to move the ancestral tomb?"
Changzhi: “… Yes.”