Chang Lian didn't have any thoughts at all. He was not only afraid of his father, but he was even more afraid of his mother. His mother was very cruel. Anyway, the room was warm, so he might as well stand there!
Zhao and Dong lowered their heads even more. If it were in the past, Dong would have felt a little dissatisfied, but now she was not dissatisfied at all. She just wanted to please her mother-in-law and hoped that her mother-in-law would protect her more before she consummated the marriage. When Dong thought of her mother telling her that Chang Lian might have a concubine in the future, her heart ached. At this time, she just wanted to please her mother-in-law, not to mention standing, she could even kneel down.
Time passed little by little, and Steward Ding came in without looking away and said, "Madam, the luggage of the Second Master and the Third Master has been delivered to the various courtyards, and the mountain products they brought have also been put into the warehouse. Now the house is heated up, and the hot water is ready."
Zhulan asked, "Is the pot ready?"
"It's ready and served."
Zhulan stood up and said, "Let's all go eat first. After dinner, Lao Er and Chang Lian will stay. Zhao will take the two children back to take a bath and change clothes. Dong will also go back to pack the luggage. Chang Zhi will take Rong Chuan and Ming Yun back. The three of you will stay in one yard."
Zhulan took the lead and went to the main hall to eat. The pot on the table was already boiling. There were still few vegetables in winter, only radishes and cabbages. What was mostly on the table was meat, and the kitchen also rolled some noodles.
Zhulan saw that they were already seated but didn't start eating. It seemed like they were waiting for her to speak. "Don't just stare. Hurry up and eat. After dinner, take a rest. We can talk tonight."
After he finished speaking, Zhou Laoer and the others dared to pick up their chopsticks to eat.
Zhulan had eaten lunch and sat aside to pick up food for her grandchildren. Although Mingrui had caught a cold, he had a good appetite and even picked out the meat to eat. "Slow down, slow down, no one is snatching it from you."
Mingrui swallowed the meat in his mouth and said, "Grandma, I haven't eaten meat for a long time."
Zhulan looked at Zhou Laoer, "... Mom, don't listen to his nonsense. He even had meat buns this morning!"
Mingrui, "I mean, I haven't eaten meat so much in a long time."
Zhulan, "... ..."
Well, Zhou Laoer doesn’t have to laugh at his eldest brother for having a son who betrayed his father, because he already has one too.
Zhou Laoer gritted his teeth. This kid was such a bastard. Every time he wanted to express something far different from what he wanted to say. Later he figured out that this kid did it on purpose, especially when he was unhappy.
This kid was angry because he didn't have lunch at noon, and he saw how powerful his grandma was. This kid must have done it on purpose. Look at his excited little eyes!
Butler Ding came with a doctor, and Zhulan asked the doctor to take the pulse of Zhou Laoer and his group one by one.
Only Mingrui caught a cold, everyone else was fine. The doctor prescribed some medicine and left.
Zhao waited for the doctor to leave and explained, "This kid has a stubborn temper. I asked him to change into thick cotton clothes but he refused to wear them, so he caught a cold."
Zhulan held the teacup and looked at Zhao. Zhao felt uneasy when her mother-in-law looked at her, "Mother."
Zhulan discovered that Mingrui was not stubborn. Zhao had not spoiled the child in the past year. Mingrui was not only picky about food, but also put the food he didn't like into Zhao's bowl. Just now, he even provoked his father. A good child would be ruined if he was spoiled like this.
Zhou Laoer couldn't eat anymore. He really didn't realize that his son was spoiled. Instead, he was happy to compete with him in wits and courage. However, when they got home and there were so many children around, his son's bad temper and disobedience were immediately revealed.
Zhou Laoer couldn't help but look at Ming Teng, who was the most noisy. Ming Teng sat obediently with his back straight. Even if he didn't eat, his eyes didn't wander around. When they were eating, he didn't make a sound.
Zhou Lao Er pursed his lips and said, "Mom."
Zhulan put down her teacup. "Mingrui is young, but his education cannot be neglected. Children should be taught well when they are young. Pack up Mingrui's things and move to Mingteng's room. The two brothers will live together. Changzhi will teach Mingrui in the future."
Changzhi was dumbfounded. How could this have anything to do with him? It was enough for him to teach Mingteng. He didn't even say the word "mother". When he met his mother's eyes, he immediately changed his words and said, "I listen to you."
He deeply felt that his mother was a man of her word, and thinking of the book he had been dreaming of, he agreed to many of his mother's conditions!
Zhu Lan hummed, stood up and said, "I'm going back to the house first. Lao Er and Chang Lian, come over after you finish eating. Everyone else, please go away!"
Zhulan left, and Zhou Laoer hurriedly said, "Brother, tell me about the situation in Lizhou."
Boss Zhou curled his lips in his heart. He called him "big brother" affectionately at this time, instead of standing stiffly at the door just now. He was upset about his younger brother. He smiled and said, "Okay, I'll tell you."
Boss Zhou told everything that had happened, how much money the family had invested and how much money they had earned, and he described every detail. Boss Zhou felt very happy when he talked, and he could also help his mother on his own.
Zhou Laoer felt depressed. He was thinking about taking over the job from his eldest brother, but he didn't expect that his eldest brother could handle it so well. The eldest brother was the only one he could compete with. There was no need to compete with his third and fourth brothers. Both of his younger brothers were going to take the imperial examinations, and he could not compare with them. Now even his eldest brother has stood up, what advantages does he still have
Chang Lian ignored his second brother who was in deep thought. He looked down upon his eldest brother. Now that he was home, he still had to give his eldest brother what he owed. He took out a banknote from his purse and said, "Brother, this is the money my sister-in-law earned from selling the family."
Big Brother Zhou didn't understand, so Chang Lian explained what happened again. Big Brother Zhou finally understood. It was one thousand taels. Although it belonged to his wife, it also belonged to the eldest wife. After being happy, he remembered that his mother had not mentioned it to him, so it could only be said that his two younger brothers did not write it at all. Big Brother Zhou was happy. This was jealousy!
There are times when he is envied by his younger brothers, and it feels so good to think about it!
Li was so happy that she almost fainted. "Is this one thousand taels?"
Boss Zhou smiled and said, "Yes, one thousand taels."
Li quickly put it away and said, "This is the greatest joy since I became pregnant."
With one thousand taels, she can save some dowry for her daughter!
Zhao and Dong looked at each other. Just now their attention was on their mother-in-law, but now they realized that their eldest sister-in-law was pregnant again. Then they looked at their eldest sister-in-law's jewelry, a complete set of jewelry and head ornaments, and the cloak was also newly made. They looked at their younger sister-in-law, and their eldest sister-in-law's outfit was no worse than that of their younger sister-in-law.
The two of them felt very jealous. Did the mother-in-law treat the eldest sister-in-law as her own daughter
A quarter of an hour later, Zhulan waited for Zhou Laoer and Changlian to arrive. Seeing Zhou Laoer holding the account book, Zhulan felt that Zhou Laoer was thoughtful and said, "Bring it here and have a look."
Zhou Laoer handed over the account book and took out the silver bills, "Mom, this is the money from selling the house. Some of the money from selling grain in the past two years was spent on hiring a team and escorts. The rest, after expenses, was spent on buying mushrooms and mountain products."
Zhu Lan responded without looking at him, motioning Zhou Lao Er and Chang Lian to sit down, "Have some apples, they're from our own garden."
Zhou Laoer and his brother responded. They had been thinking about the apples for a long time. This was a good thing. The artist took one and ate it slowly. The two brothers looked at each other and decided to go home and feel more comfortable.
Zhulan believed that Zhou Laoer would not dare to cook the books. Zhou Laoer was too shrewd to be interested in such small profits. Zhulan simply skipped the expenses and paid more attention to the list of gifts received. Zhou Laoer was very careful and remembered every gift sent by the gentry, including how many vases there were, how many calligraphy and paintings there were, who got them from, and the estimated prices at the end.
Zhulan raised her eyebrows. Zhou Laoer is so smart. He wants to show his ability by using the account book!
Zhulan estimated the money and found that the most important thing was the gifts. The expensive ones were calligraphy and paintings. During the war, many people who were brave enough to get rich tried to make a fortune. People who didn't know calligraphy and paintings thought they were worthless, but in the hands of scholars they became treasures.
Zhulan asked, "Have you brought them all?"
Zhou Laoer put down the apples in his hand and said, "I have packed them and brought them here. I have also arranged everything in my hometown according to what my mother said."
Zhulan closed the account book and said, "I know you are careful and attentive. I am relieved that you can handle this matter. Can you tell me about your eldest sister's family situation?"