Zhulan was happy. She was happy about Li's trust in her. As for Dong, she just wanted to please her.
Each family discussed the matter when they returned. Boss Zhou was dumbfounded. Li really had not discussed it with him. However, Li did a good job!
Zhou Laoer was silent for a while. He trusted his mother, but like Zhao, he liked to keep some things in reserve. He also preferred to test his abilities himself. So Zhou Laoer had no reason to blame Zhao.
Chang Lian praised Dong, "You did a good job. Mother really has a pair of hands that grasp money. If you give the money from the family to mother, you will have more income every year in the future."
Mrs. Dong was happy that this was the right move. "My husband is right. I will listen to my mother more in the future."
Chang Lian looked at Dong. He knew how uneasy she felt. He thought of what his father had said in the study. The more the emperor valued his father, the more people would want to frame him. That was why his father had made it clear that the Zhou family did not have concubines. If anyone really disregarded the entire Zhou family for the sake of profit, his father would show no mercy.
Chang Lian held Dong's hand and said, "Let me be honest with you. We in the Zhou family don't have any concubines. Not now, and not in the future. Don't worry, I will only protect you in this life."
Mrs. Dong's heart was beating fast. What her mother had never asked for in her life, she got it? Mrs. Dong bit her lip and said, "What if I can't give birth to a son?"
Chang Lian was silent, thinking about what his father said, "I have many brothers, and I will have many nephews in the future. If they are all girls, I will adopt them."
Mrs. Dong held her husband's hand and blinked her eyes as she said, "If you really don't have a son, then adopt one from my eldest brother's family."
Forget about the second brother's family. Mingrui is indeed very smart, but when she thinks of her second brother and second sister-in-law, she really can't like them. Although Mingteng is noisy, she likes Mingteng very much. Although she is jealous of her eldest sister-in-law, she recognizes the character of her eldest sister-in-law and eldest brother in her heart.
Chang Lian smiled, "I thought so too."
Forget about his second brother. He and his second brother have been brothers for so many years, but he still hasn't seen through his second brother. He is too thoughtful. The performance of his second sister-in-law today has further strengthened his thoughts. As for Changzhi, forget it. He doesn't want to worry about it.
In the evening, the Zhou family cooked a table full of dishes. This year, there were sixteen dishes. With more dishes, they actually didn’t eat as much. In recent years, the Zhou family’s stomachs have never lacked for oil and water, and their mouths have also become more picky!
The whole family was in a lively mood because no one went home to rest because they were staying up all night to celebrate the New Year. There were many scholars in the family who played word guessing puzzles to win money.
Each person gives a riddle and designates someone to answer it. If the person fails to answer it, he will be given 100 coins of silver. If the person who gave the riddle answers it, he will be given 100 coins.
Zhou Shuren didn't intend to participate and just sat on the kang and watched with Zhulan.
After a few rounds, Boss Zhou didn't want to play anymore. He said with a dark face, "You guys are going too far. You wouldn't even come to me to get the wool. It's too much of a bully for you guys to come to me."
During this short while, he took out one or two taels of silver. All the silver in the family was given to his mother by Li. Now, the only money left in his pocket was the money for this year's New Year's greetings. The eldest wife was really poor!
Zhou Laoer smiled and said, "Brother, we just agreed that you are not allowed to quit."
Chang Lian continued, "That's right, big brother. We are brothers. We are only looking for you. Isn't it also giving you a chance to make money?"
Chang Zhi laughed, "Brother, we are all on your side."
Boss Zhou pouted and said, "Thank you so much."
These annoying younger brothers, he really preferred the quiet and less annoying time he spent with his parents last year when the New Year was quiet!
Zhulan saw that Li was so anxious that she wanted to do it herself. Zhulan was biased after all. Zhulan pulled Mingteng, who was watching the fun, over and said, "Go and change your father."
Ming Teng had been anxious for a long time. He had a monthly allowance, but compared to his elder brother, he had only heard of it but never touched it. He knew that all the money in the family was given to his grandmother. He stood up and said, "In ancient times, a man went to war for his father. Today, a son will guess riddles for his father. I will do it for you."
Boss Zhou felt that his love for this naughty boy was not in vain, "Okay, okay."
Chang Lian and Chang Yi had no idea of Ming Teng's abilities.
Changzhi knew it, because he taught him personally. Mingteng's talent was not high, but his mind was very clever and active. He liked these word guessing and crossword games the most. He often used word riddles to get this kid to recite poems and study!
Zhulan was watching the fun. Zhou Laoer and Chang Lian started to bully Mingteng, and then Mingteng got the money. The two of them didn't believe it anymore.
Mingyun is fine, Zhou Laoer and Chang Lian know that Mingyun is very talented, but Mingteng and the others really don’t believe that this kid is so amazing.
As a result, after a few rounds, a pile of copper coins was piled in front of Ming Teng.
Zhou Laoer and Chang Lian just realized that after Ming Teng came up, Chang Zhi had never looked for Ming Teng once. The two looked at each other and gritted their teeth. They wanted to seek revenge on Chang Zhi, but when they saw Chang Zhi's smiling face, they scared away.
Zhulan was enjoying the fun and Zhou Shuren was also smiling. Zhulan thought, it would be great if every year could be so lively and harmonious in the future. Unfortunately, it was just a thought.
After eating dumplings in the evening, everyone in each room returned to their own courtyard. Ming Teng had killed many people today and earned a lot of money. This kid ate the dumplings and ran away with the money, fearing that Li would take the money away again.
Zhulan and Zhou Shuren lay down, and Zhulan said, "It's already the fourth year. Time flies."
Zhou Shuren responded, "Yes, four years."
Zhulan was a little sleepy. She was used to going to bed early, and she was very tired from staying up late to celebrate the New Year. She responded in a daze and soon fell asleep.
Zhou Shuren kissed Zhulan on the forehead and fell asleep.
In the Li family of Lijia Village, Li's mother couldn't sleep. "At the end of her life, we enjoyed the blessing of our daughter, but we don't know whether she is living well. Our daughter has no strengths, and she can only cry by herself when she is wronged."
Li's father said, "You just want to overthink. If our daughter wasn't doing well, would she send us so much money and food? You can tell from the New Year gifts sent by my in-laws that my mother-in-law treats our daughter very well!"
Li's mother thought of the servant's respectful attitude and smiled, "It seems that I was overthinking it."
She really didn't expect that her innocent daughter would have such great fortune, and it also benefited her parents' family. Now everyone in the surrounding villages is polite to the Li family.
The next morning, the first day of the Lunar New Year, no children from the neighborhood came to pay New Year's greetings this year. Instead, Zhulan received greetings from the servants. Zhulan prepared red envelopes, not much for each person. The steward and the old woman each gave five cents of silver each, and the servants and maids each gave two cents of silver each.
These were all made by Zhulan. She also learned this from Lord Chen. They look good and have good meanings.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren went back to her parents' home, and the whole family went to the Yang family. This was the first year that the Yang family settled in Lizhou City, so naturally the more lively the better.
Zhulan's second brother and his family also came back, and Zhulan also met Wuhe. Wuhe had a scar on his face, but the scar was not deep and some marks could be seen.
When Zhulan saw Wu He's injury, she thought of Wu Dong again. She couldn't help but blush, "Let me take a good look."
Wu He grinned, "Aunt."
Zhulan quickly calmed down. It was the New Year and she wanted to smile. This was also what Wu Dong wanted to see.