Zhulan held the hand warmer and said, "They shouldn't delay. It snowed near Lizhou."
Zhulan had already found out everything, and she was afraid that someone would get sick during the trip.
Liu Ya came in and said happily, "Madam, Dong Zhi, who was guarding the city gate, came back to report that the Second Master and his party have entered the city."
Zhulan thought that people really can't help but nag. Oh, she really missed Yushuang and Mingrui. "Go and boil some hot water. Yes, light the fires in the two courtyards. Also, tell the kitchen to cook."
It’s past lunch time at this time, so the second brother and his group must not have had lunch.
Liu Ya remembered it all and hurried out to inform them. Although she knew that the second and third masters would arrive soon, the kangs in the two courtyards had been burning, but they were not burning well and the house was not very hot. The fires in the two courtyards had to be lit first.
Zhulan waited for Liuya to go out, clapped her hands, and thought that the children would be hungry after the meal was ready, and cooking was too much trouble, so she said to Xuehan's eldest maid Liuli, "Go and tell the kitchen to bring two pots over. You don't need to boil soup, just clear soup will do. Cut more meat and bring it over, and steam some egg custard for the children."
Liuli responded, "I've made a note of it."
Zhulan then instructed Liu Jin, "Go find your father Eryue and get some apples and raisins. Wash the apples and bring them back."
Liu Jin was happy. She could see her little brother. Although she couldn't see her grandparents, the arrival of her little brother meant a family reunion. "Hey!"
After Zhulan gave everything she wanted, she sat down and couldn't help but smile. The family was finally reunited and they could spend a lively reunion year.
Li was depressed at first when her younger brothers and sisters-in-law arrived, but then she was happy to see her eldest son, whom she hadn't seen for a year.
Xue Han was also happy. She liked having the whole family together. Her current home was too big and still felt a bit lonely.
Zhulan did not send anyone to tell Zhou Shuren, because Zhou Shuren was not in the yamen today. He and Lord Chen and several other officials went to the pond. While the water in the pond was not completely frozen, the people who contracted the pond hurried to catch fish. Zhou Shuren and others watched the fish merchants collect the fish and collected the silver from the pond contractors. Lizhou City has dug a lot of ponds, and the yamen has made a lot of money from collecting the silver from the contractors!
Zhulan estimated the time. It would take fifteen minutes to get home from the city gate, so she thought they would be there soon.
After a while, Zhulan, who was sitting in the house, heard voices and footsteps. Zhou Laoer's family of four, Chang Lian's family of two, Mingyun and Rongchuan all entered the house after a while.
As soon as Zhou Laoer and his men entered the house, he knelt down and kowtowed, "Mother, I failed to show filial piety to you, father and mother. I am an unfilial son."
Zhulan, “… … ..”
She was just a step slow in speaking, and now she is kneeling down.
The eldest brother Zhou stood behind him, looking up at the sky speechlessly. Should he kneel or not? If you want to kneel, just let me know in advance. Look at how well the second brother and Chang Lian understand each other. These two brothers tricked him as soon as they came back!
Boss Zhou coughed. He really thought he was the boss before. Silly brothers, "Second brother, Chang Lian, get up quickly. Mother is worried about the child!"
Changyi was really jealous of his eldest brother. When he saw his eldest brother at the door of his house, he looked at him carefully for several times before he was sure it was his eldest brother. This was not the eldest brother he had in mind. If he didn't know him, he would have thought he was someone's master. Then he looked at the steward and the servant standing behind his eldest brother. Well, he was jealous!
Look at what the eldest brother said. If he and Chang Lian had set a trap before, the eldest brother would have reacted for a while. But now that these words have been spoken, he can't even show his filial piety by bringing his children.
Zhou Laoer Changyi stood up with a smile, "Mom, I was so excited to see you."
Zhulan curled her lips inwardly. Why was she excited? It wasn't like they had lost contact. She and her family would wait for a letter every two weeks. Zhou Laoer was just taking the opportunity to show off his filial piety. "Now that you're all home, I feel relieved. Mingyun, Yushuang, Mingrui, come to grandma's side."
Compared to her sons who are quite cunning, Zhulan likes children more.
Zhao pulled her daughter's clothes, and Yu Shuang took her brother's hand and walked forward. She really missed her grandma, "Grandma."
Mingrui hesitated. He had forgotten what his grandmother looked like. He blinked and said, "Sister, this is not my grandmother."
Zhao was anxious, "Mingrui, this is grandma."
Zhulan looked at the little guy with a smile, "Why not grandma?"
Mingrui sniffed and couldn't help sneezing, and Zhao quickly wiped it clean with a handkerchief.
Mingrui felt comfortable, and then he tilted his head and said, "Grandma is too young, she should be the same as Grandma Li!"
Zhao heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly explained, "The grandmother Li that Mingrui mentioned is my eldest sister-in-law's mother."
My eldest sister-in-law's mother really looks old. She seems to have aged several years in just one year. Even though the Li family's life has become better, Aunt Li is still worrying about her and getting older quickly.
Zhulan held Mingrui in her arms. The little guy had caught a cold and was sniffling. Zhao was a clean person and her children's faces were always clean. Zhulan said to Liuya who was standing outside, "Go get the doctor."
Liu Ya responded, "Yes."
Zhulan then said to Mingrui, "I am the grandma. Your grandma Li is much older than grandma, so she looks older. Grandma is young and looks younger."
Zhulan felt depressed when she heard this. She was not even forty years old, and she was only forty in age!
Sometimes blood can't be deceived. Even if the core is not original, the blood is real. Mingrui did not act up when sitting in Zhulan's arms.
The little guy tilted his head and thought it made sense. Besides, since Daddy called her mom, then it must be Grandma. "Grandma."
Zhulan agreed and put Mingrui down again. She hadn't held a child for a long time. The boy was so heavy that it made her legs uncomfortable. Zhulan looked at Yushuang. She hadn't seen her for more than a year. The six-year-old girl was getting better and better. It was better to hide this girl. She held Yushuang's little hand, which was icy cold. "Hurry up and take Mingrui to the kang to warm up for a while. Come down to eat when the pot is ready."
Yu Shuang was very obedient. She knew that her grandmother wanted to talk to her parents, so she obediently pulled Ming Rui and sat on the kang with her aunt.
Zhulan added: "Don't eat too many apples and raisins. You can't eat too many apples on an empty stomach. If you eat too much, your stomach will feel uncomfortable."
Xue Han said: "Mom, I'll watch them."
Zhulan was relieved this time. She didn't plan to pay attention to the second brother and Changlian. She waved to Mingyun. She hadn't seen her eldest grandson for more than a year. The eldest grandson had grown a lot taller. "Living in the academy is not as good as living at home. Look at you and Rongchuan, you have lost weight."
Mingyun was still an eight-year-old child after all, with red eyes, "Grandma, we grew taller, so we didn't gain weight."
Zhulan touched her grandson's hand. He was thin. This child was the eldest grandson. Zhou Shuren had high hopes for Mingyun. Although he was small, he had a heavy responsibility. Seeing him trying hard to hold back tears, she felt distressed. "Now that we are home, grandma will take good care of you in the future."
Mingyun nodded heavily, "Yes."
Li saw that his mother had let go of her son and waved to him. When the eldest son came over, Li's tears kept falling, "Let mother take a good look."
Mingyun's eyes were red but he tried not to cry. He remembered that he was the eldest grandson and it was very hard to travel all the way. He didn't even say a word, "Mom."
Zhulan pulled Rongchuan to look at him carefully. The boy was thirteen years old, and his height barely caught up with his peers. His body was still weak. "You have to take care of yourself too."
Rong Chuan grinned, "Yeah."
This is his home. Now that he is home, his heart, which had been wandering for a long time, has finally landed.
Zhulan asked Rongchuan to warm up by the brazier, and then looked at the brothers Zhou Laoer and Chang Lian. The two brothers stood there obediently, and Zhao and Dong did not dare to move.
Zhulan didn't say anything, so they just stood there. They hadn't seen each other for more than a year, and Zhou Laoer had been the head of the household for more than a year, so it would be better for him to calm down first.
Zhou Laoer lowered his head. He had thought of various scenarios of meeting his mother, but he never expected that his mother would ignore them. He felt relieved when he saw his son and daughter sitting on the kang eating apples. He stood still and did not dare to move.
Yu Shuang and Ming Rui wanted to speak, but Xue Han held the two little guys down and shook their heads, saying, "Mom is scolding the second and third brothers, it's better for the children not to make trouble."
Yu Shuang was a smart child. She withdrew her gaze and calmed her brother.