At night, Zhou Shuren saw Zhulan still looking at the small clothes, frowned and pulled her over, "Stop looking."
Zhulan laughed. She knew Zhou Shuren was unhappy. They hoped for a son. Zhao's gift of clothes to a girl hurt Zhou Shuren's heart. "I just wanted to see that Zhao's embroidery has improved a lot."
Zhou Shuren didn't believe it. Zhulan's appetite had decreased tonight, and she looked depressed. "I'm the only one in the room, so stop pretending."
Zhu Lan sighed, "Okay, I won't pretend anymore. I'm not that depressed, but I just can't help but think about what if it's a daughter. Should we prepare something in advance?"
Zhou Shuren stared at the small dress in his hand and pursed his lips, "I also thanked Zhao for reminding us?"
Zhulan, "Thank you, no need. You did remind us. We have been brainwashed by her constant talk about our son these days. We took everything for granted. What if it's a daughter? So we better be prepared."
Zhou Shuren's eyes sparkled, "What if the daughter raises a child husband, and then raises the child husband as a son and brainwashes him."
Zhu Lan burst out laughing. This was indeed something Zhou Shuren could do. Zhu Lan touched her belly and said, "It's getting late. You should go wash up too."
Now after dinner every day, Zhou Shuren would go to teach Shi Qing. Zhulan would have already washed up and was waiting for Zhou Shuren.
Zhou Shuren stood up and said, "Okay, I'll be back soon."
Zhou Shuren came back in a quarter of an hour. After taking a simple bath, Zhulan took the towel and wiped Zhou Shuren's hair. "Zhou Laoer brought us a lot of things today."
Zhou Shuren curled his lips, "He's just afraid. I think the couple should just stay in Chuanzhou for a few years."
He hasn't been well educated, so don't even think about returning to the Zhou family.
Zhulan was just feeling emotional. Zhou Laoer was an adult, and even if he had taken ruthless measures, it would still be difficult for him to change. She told the couple about her pregnancy, but they didn't say anything. They did bring some things home.
Zhou Shuren heard Zhulan sigh, "Don't think about the second brother and his wife."
Zhu Lan hummed, and when Zhou Shuren's hair was dry, she put down her handkerchief and combed Zhou Shuren's hair. "Your hair is much thinner now."
Zhou Shuren was depressed. Fortunately, the hair fell all over the body and not from the top of his head, otherwise he would have really cried. "I took the medicine prescribed by Doctor Zhang, but I don't know if it will work. I think Mr. Lu is more trustworthy."
Zhulan’s physique is proof that the old man is the one who has kept her in such good health.
Zhou Shuren thought of Grandpa Lu. It would have been great if Grandpa was there when Zhulan gave birth. He would have felt more at ease then. However, Grandpa was old and it was unlikely for him to travel far.
The next morning, after breakfast, Zhulan called Zhou Laoer and handed him a list, "Here is the list for shopping on the return trip. Keep it."
Zhou Laoer took the list and said, "Mom, do you have any other instructions?"
Zhulan took out the deeds of two shops in Jinzhou and said, "Sell these two shops, and then use the money from the sale of the shops and the rent collected to buy a house in the west city of Jinzhou. Don't want a small one, at least a house with two entrances. Bring back the money from the sale of the grain in the two farms."
Zhou Laoer couldn't help but glance at the deed of the shop. His father's name was on it. He couldn't help but ask, "Mom, is the house we bought in your name or Dad's?"
Zhulan was not in good spirits due to her pregnancy, but she was not dull. She noticed Zhou Laoer's gaze and said, "Write about me."
Zhou Laoer lowered his head. Although he didn't want the family to be divided, his father had said that just because the family couldn't be divided now didn't mean it couldn't be divided in the future. The money under his father's name had to be divided equally among the brothers, and the money under his mother's name was up to her preference. Therefore, in this family, the money in his mother's hands was the most. "Mom, I remember that."
Zhulan wanted to say a few more words, but she didn't want to say them anymore. Zhou Laoer's character was ingrained in his bones, and it would be unrealistic if he didn't want to. He sent Zhou Laoer away, "Butler Ding has packed his luggage, you should go back and pack as well, we'll leave tomorrow."
Zhou Lao Er lowered his head and said, "Yes."
Zhou Laoer went out and stood on the steps. He had not been away from home for long, but he felt like a guest. When he came back yesterday, Chang Lian shouted that his second brother was back. He paused, because he had not seen him for many days. He found that Chang Lian had changed again. Chang Lian had become more introverted. Although they were both sons of the Zhou family, the gap between him and his eldest brother, Chang Lian, had grown.
Even though Zhou Laoer made some money, he didn't feel happy. He just wanted to go home early. The only consolation was that his son and daughter were well educated by their parents. His daughter's every move was becoming more and more like her younger sister, not to mention his son, who could recite his lessons very well.
When Zhou Laoer thought of his son, he felt stronger in his steps. His son was the hope of the second house. He did not ask his son to be as good as his eldest grandson Mingyun, but just to surpass Mingteng.
The next day, after Zhou Laoer and Steward Ding left, Zhao came to the main courtyard.
Zhao looked at her mother-in-law and said, "Mother, you have worked hard to teach Yushuang and Mingrui."
Zhulan smiled when she thought of her grandchildren. Yushuang didn't need to say anything, she said Mingrui, now that Dong Li is not arrogant or impatient, she feels very accomplished, "They are my grandchildren, it's not hard."
Zhao came here today hesitating whether to go see her mother. Her husband was not at home, so she asked her mother-in-law for permission before going out. She didn't want to go to her mother's house. Her mother had been writing to her frequently recently, all about her brother's studies. She also said that only when her brother became successful could he support her. She didn't have much affection for her brother.
She had been tempted in Chuanzhou, but after seeing her son and daughter, she gave up. Her support has always been her son and daughter. It's a pity that no matter how much she changes, she can never be like the eldest sister-in-law. If she could be liked by her mother-in-law like her eldest sister-in-law, her support would be her mother-in-law.
Zhulan saw Zhao was distracted, "What's the matter?"
Zhao smiled lightly, "Mom, I just asked if I wanted to go back to my parents' home. You know my mother has been writing to me, but it would be bad if I didn't go back now that I'm back."
Zhulan was more pleased with Zhao's words. She didn't want to keep it in her heart and let her guess. She should just speak it out. "You don't have to go. If your mother doesn't come today, she will come tomorrow. But when she comes, just take the gift you gave her back with you."
Zhao blushed, she felt strange about her mother now, "Mom, why has my mother changed? It's nothing, mom, you take a rest first, I'll go back first."
Zhao's face flushed. How could she just blurt out what was in her heart? But she really couldn't understand why her mother had changed
Zhulan heard this and thought to herself, Fang has been oppressed for a long time, and now there is no one to control her, so she bounced back like a spring.
Not long after Zhao left, Fang arrived. Zhulan didn't want to delay any longer for the sake of the quietness of the baby in her belly and for the sake of Zhao's grandchildren.
Fang brought gifts. There were only Fang and Qian Keqi in the Fang family. They spent little money each year, and Fang had money, so the gifts she asked others to bring were also expensive. Zhulan looked at the fur and thought to herself that everyone probably knew that she liked fur.