In the main courtyard, Zhulan sat on a chair waiting for Zhou Shuren. When Zhou Shuren entered the house, Zhulan smiled and said, "You're back."
Zhou Shuren took two quick steps and looked at Zhulan's feet with worry in his eyes, "I heard everything. Are you feeling better?"
Zhulan moved her feet. "It's fine. Why did you come in alone? Where are the children?"
Zhou Shuren's upturned mouth disappeared, "I punished Changzhi, and the others ran away."
Zhulan chuckled, "How did you punish Changzhi?"
Zhou Shuren snorted, "Doesn't Changzhi like reading? This time I'll let him write and read as much as he wants."
Zhulan was silent, "You won't make Changzhi hate reading, will you?"
Zhou Shuren held Zhulan's hand and said, "No, I know my limits. The county lady will watch Changzhi write."
Zhu Lan knew clearly that Zhou Shuren was going to teach Chang Zhi a lesson this time, so that Chang Zhi would remember it deeply and learn from it. "Actually, I sprained my foot, and I am also responsible. I didn't expect Su Xuan to be so excited."
Zhou Shuren didn't want to discuss this topic. "I brought gifts for you and your son. Do you want to see them?"
Zhulan paused, then squinted her eyes and said, "Okay."
Zhou Shuren called Jinyan in, opened the gifts for Zhulan one by one, and then told her about the loan. "Yes, we need to send someone to pay back the money."
Zhu Lan burst out laughing. This was the first time Zhou Shuren had borrowed money since he came to ancient times. "I think Lord Wang is stupid."
Zhou Shuren's eyes were full of smiles. "Well, by the way, I'm back with Deng Xiucai's son, Deng Yun, who is six years old. Do you want to meet him?"
Zhulan looked at him inquiringly. Zhou Shuren told her what happened. Zhulan smiled and said, "Then I want to take a good look at this child."
When Deng Yun entered the room, Zhulan smiled. Not only did Zhou Shuren like it, she liked it too. She liked the look in this child's eyes.
Deng Yun was very nervous at first, but when he saw the master's wife's smile, he slowly relaxed. He opened his mouth but didn't know how to address her, so he said dryly, "Hello, master's wife."
Zhulan thought about it and realized that according to age, Zhou Shuren would not want to be of the same generation as Deng Xiucai, and Deng Yun was very young. She smiled and said, "Call me Grandma Zhou in the future."
Deng Yun hesitated and looked at Mr. Zhou, "Is it okay?"
Zhou Shuren nodded, "Yeah."
Zhulan heard crying and smiled, "My son is awake."
Zhou Shuren called Jinyan in and said to her, "Take the child to Rongchuan's yard to settle him down."
Jinyan, "Yes."
After everyone left, Zhou Shuren went into the house and wrapped his son. The little guy was howling with his eyes closed. Zhou Shuren laughed, "You are so useless. What a shame."
The little guy didn't understand, but he recognized his father's voice. He opened his eyes and looked at his father. Then he forgot to cry and laughed again, "Dad."
Zhou Shuren had already picked up his son, "Good son."
Zhulan sat outside the house listening to the interaction in the house, with a smile on her face, playing with the gift in her hand. Only when Zhou Shuren came back did Zhulan's heart feel at peace.
The next morning, Zhou Shuren went to the government office. Zhulan waited for Dong Yiyi to come over. Zhulan recalled what Zhou Shuren said, and before Dong Yiyi could speak, she said, "I heard from the master that Lord Jiang specially asked for leave to visit. The master was quite emotional after not seeing him for several years."
Dong Yiyi's smile froze. She knew her husband best. She didn't dare to look into Yang's eyes. She felt a little panicked because she had heard the master's resentment and complaints more than once, and many of them were directed at Lord Zhou.
Dong Yiyi knew clearly that there were not many fools in the Zhou family. Jiang Ming's purpose was obvious. She should go back. "Come to think of it, I have been bothering you for some time. Aunt, I came here to say that I will go home tomorrow. I am sorry for bothering you these days."
Zhulan achieved her goal and said politely, "You are Dong's sister, so it's not a problem."
Dong Yiyi didn't hear the words "come back when you're free", and her heart sank. It seemed that her husband had displeased Lord Zhou. Now she also hated her ambitious husband and only hoped that she would leave tactfully and not affect her son. "Then I won't disturb your rest, I still have to go back and pack my luggage."
Zhulan: "Okay."
Zhulan looked at Dong Yiyi's back, and after the others left, she said to Mrs. Song, "Actually, Dong's sister is pretty good."
Mrs. Song had been staring at her these days, and she was also aware of the people she was interested in, "Yes."
Before two hours had passed, Xue Han, who had attended the banquet, came back. Zhu Lan asked, "Why did you come back so early?"
Xue Han sat next to her mother and said, "Mom, the fourth daughter of the Min family passed away yesterday. I heard the news and felt bored so I came back."
Zhulan sat up straight, "Dead?"
Xue Han nodded, "Yes, they said he died yesterday afternoon, and Liu has already gone to the capital."
Zhu Lan was silent. Fourth Miss Min died at this time, not earlier or later. She had heard Zhou Shuren say the specific date of the wedding. Her eyes dimmed again. Fourth Miss Min was only a young girl, and a fresh appointment was lost in the game. "How cruel."
Xue Han also sighed at the fate of women in her heart and lay on her mother's lap, "Mom, I am happy."
Zhulan touched her daughter's hair, and the sadness in her heart eased a lot. "Your father and I will protect you, don't be afraid."
Xue Han smelled the fragrance of her mother and closed her eyes, "Hmm."
In the afternoon, Wu Qiu came to say goodbye and said he would be back the next day. Zhulan had already prepared New Year's goods and knew that Wu Qiu was in a hurry to go back, so she didn't keep him any longer.
Resting at night, Zhulan played with Zhou Shuren's hand, "I heard that Miss Min Si died."
Zhou Shuren was the most informed, and knew it as soon as morning came, "Yeah."
Zhulan asked, "Who do you say did it?"
Zhou Shuren lowered his voice, "Fifth Prince Zhang Jinghong."
Zhu Lan said: "I thought so too, playing the victim!"
Zhou Shuren sighed, "You still have a fluke mentality and don't want to marry Miss Lin as a concubine. If you really marry her, even if she is not the principal wife, it will be a stain on the Fifth Prince."
Zhulan, "Human life is really worthless."
Zhou Shuren held Zhulan's hand tightly, "I'm here."
Zhulan leaned closer to Zhou Shuren, "Yeah."
The next day, Zhulan first sent Wu Qiu away, and then sent Dong Yiyi away.
Dong Yiyi's two children were reluctant to leave and left reluctantly.
Not long after Zhulan sent the guests away, she received a visiting invitation from Prince Yao, asking her to visit tomorrow, which was Zhou Shuren's day off.
Zhulan wondered what this prince was doing here.
Xue Han and Wu Ning came together. Zhu Lan didn't want to know why Master Yao came. "Are you two going out?"
Wu Ning spoke first: "Aunt, it's almost the end of the year, and I want to embroider a folding screen, so I want to go to the embroidery shop to buy some thread."
Xue Han hadn't been out for a while, so she smiled and said, "I'll go with you and take a look."
Zhulan said: "Go early and come back early."
Although it's over now, it's still better to be vigilant.
Xue Han said: "Mom, don't worry, we will never leave you."
Zhulan was relieved about Xuehan. This child was very reliable. "Yeah."