The next morning, the whole family got up early. After breakfast, Zhulan checked to make sure nothing was left behind as offerings to the ancestors, and then the whole family returned to Zhoujia Village.
The Zhou family has an ancestral hall. After Zhou Shuren passed the imperial examination, he went to the ancestral hall to pay homage first. Then he took Zhou Lao Da and several of his sons, as well as Ming Yun and Ming Teng to the mountain to visit the graves and pay homage to his original parents.
Zhulan brought several daughters-in-law to meet the women of the clan in the old house. Zhou Shuren passed the imperial examination and bought land for the clan. The Zhou family's status in the clan was almost as high as that of the clan leader's family.
If the clan leader had not been working hard for the clan, Zhou Shuren would have surpassed him long ago.
It was only after listening to the old man's words that Zhou Wangshi realized that Zhou Shuren was the shrewd and scheming one. Zhou Shuren had been scheming against the entire Zhou family since he took the initiative to return to the clan. From winning the favor of the clan members by presenting books to now buying land to win the hearts of the people, Zhou Shuren was very scheming and was moving forward at every step.
After hearing this, Zhou Wangshi was angry because it threatened their family's status. The old man was also upset. But he was also happy because he was happy that the Zhou family had produced a capable person. In the future, the Zhou family would become a big family, and might even be more powerful than the Dong family!
Mrs. Zhou Wang felt very complicated. She was angry, but she couldn't show it because her grandson would have to rely on Zhou Shuren's support in the future!
Zhulan kept watching Zhou Wangshi out of the corner of her eye. She didn't say much when Zhou Wangshi came. She understood the disappointment Zhou Wangshi felt. The fact that Zhou Wangshi could come along and even smile at her showed that Zhou Wangshi was very strong. Not everyone can adjust their mentality overnight.
Zhulan poured the tea herself and handed it to Zhou Wangshi, "Auntie, have a cup of tea."
Zhou Wang regained her composure and suppressed her complicated feelings. Zhou Shuren and his wife were not simple people. They served her the tea with both hands, which showed that they still respected her. She took it with a smile, "It's amazing that you can still pour tea for me."
Zhulan heard the hidden meaning in the words and curled her lips, "Don't say that I am now the wife of a juren. Even if I really become the wife of an official, you are still my aunt and I will still pour tea for you."
Zhou Wang looked at Yang seriously. Yang was not joking. She took a sip of tea and said, "This tea tastes good. Auntie will wait for you to pour more tea for me."
Zhulan: “This is natural.”
Zhou Wangshi was completely relieved. She was afraid that Yang's identity had changed and her attitude towards the elders in the clan would also change. Fortunately, she did not misjudge her.
Zhulan thought to herself, she was not stupid, it was time for Zhou Shuren to win the hearts of the people, and she was not the kind of person who would forget who she was once she gained power.
Furthermore, although Zhou Wang and the clan leader have some flaws, they are mostly worthy of respect. Zhulan admires their spirit of caring for the clan.
Zhulan and Zhou Shuren had discussed that they would not hold a big celebration in their hometown to celebrate his success in the imperial examination. Instead, they would just invite the elders in the family to a meal, with only three tables.
Zhulan didn't let Li cook either. After Zhou Lao Da and Zhou Lao Er came back, Zhulan asked them to go to the county restaurant and order three tables for a banquet.
There were not enough tables and chairs in the old house, so we borrowed them from neighbors. Each table had twelve dishes, all of which were the restaurant's specialties. When we ordered a banquet, the plates were ready. We just had to swipe the plates after eating and send them back to the restaurant. Of course, we had to pay a deposit, but we didn't have to send them back, but then the deposit would be gone. The deposit left was far more than the money for the plates!
They enjoyed the delicious food and wine until three o'clock in the afternoon, modern time. When the Li family members finished cleaning up, it was almost four o'clock, and they returned to Lijia Village at four o'clock.
The Zhou family was used to having three meals a day. If they didn't eat at night, they would be hungry at night. After returning to the house, they rested for an hour. Li made noodles with soybean sauce and crucian carp noodle soup for Xuemei.
Early the next morning, Zhou Shuren brought Zhou Lao Da back to the village to buy land, and happened to go to see the county magistrate to transfer the ownership of the land.
Dong and Chang Lian also packed up the things they brought back from Pingzhou, and Zhou Laoer drove the carriage to take the couple to the county government office.
Only Zhulan and Zhao were left at home. Li had gone back to her parents' home. This time she would not be able to come back for the New Year, and she wanted to spend more time with her parents.
Zhulan and Zhao sat together to make clothes. Zhulan wanted to make more clothes for the two children before leaving, especially as winter was approaching, so cotton-padded jackets and trousers must be prepared.
Zhao stole a glance at her mother-in-law several times, thinking to herself that it would be good to learn from her elder sister-in-law. She should express her thoughts directly so that her mother-in-law would pay more attention to her. "Mom, don't worry, I will take good care of my elder sister."
Zhulan bit the thread and took it again and said, "You are the most careful among the three daughters-in-law. I believe you."
Zhao received the affirmation from her mother-in-law, and the corners of her mouth could not help but curl up, "Mother, take good care of yourself when you go to the capital."
Zhulan then remembered what she had overlooked. Juren can employ servants. In fact, this rule is quite unfair. It is completely aimed at students from poor families. Students from official families who are not Juren can also employ servants. Well, this can be said to be a matter of fathers. Those who don't have good ancestors and good fathers can only rely on themselves.
The ancient times interpreted the concept of relying on one’s father to the fullest. In ancient times, having a good father was the end of one’s life!
Take the Zhou family for example. They changed their father unknowingly, and in just two years, the fate of several of Zhou’s sons changed, and the future of Zhou’s grandchildren has been planned!
Zhao saw that her mother was distracted and was about to prick her hand, so she quickly reached out to hold the needle, "Mother."
Zhulan came back to her senses and looked down, almost stabbing herself in the hand, "Look, I was distracted."
Zhao didn't think much about it, she just thought it was normal for her mother to be distracted because of her age.
Fortunately, Zhulan didn't know what Zhao was thinking, otherwise she would have vomited blood. She was not even forty yet, only thirty-eight this year, thirty-eight, and only thirty-seven in terms of her actual age!
Xue Han asked, "Mom, are you worried about life in the capital?"
Zhulan shook her head, "No, mother is thinking that our family can buy a servant, and I am thinking about whether I should buy a servant."
Xue Han was stunned, she really didn't expect that their family could already use servants. With servants, would she become a real lady
Zhao almost pricked her hand and quickly lowered her head. She thought of her biological mother, who had been a servant. She felt that fate was truly magical. She used to be worried about her fate, but now she has a beloved husband and a son and a daughter. It has only been a short time, and their family has to use servants.
Xue Han didn't understand, "Why did mother want to buy a family of slaves?"
Zhulan said, "Because it's easy to control. The slave contracts of the whole family are in my hands. They dare not have any evil thoughts, otherwise it will harm the whole family. Mother tells you, when choosing slaves in the future, first, don't choose single slaves, and second, don't choose slaves from wealthy families, especially slaves who are resold."
Xue Han didn't understand, "Why?"
Zhu Lan said, "There are too many unknown factors about the status of a single slave, so we can't take him for the sake of caution. The slaves that are resold by wealthy families are usually those who have committed crimes. They are either sneaky or cunning. You should know that loyal servants are rarely resold."
Of course, there are also loyal servants who have been framed, but unfortunately the probability is too small. The masters of wealthy families are not fools and they all like loyal servants.
Xue Han was surprised, "There are so many things to say about buying a slave!"
Zhulan smiled and said, "There is a lot of knowledge in it. Mother will tell you, when you choose a maid in the future, don't choose one who is strong in everything, no matter how loyal she is. Don't choose one who only knows how to do things, no matter how good she is at work."