Ran Zheng gestured, "Let's talk outside."
The Ministry of Revenue is indeed not a place to talk, Zhou Shuren said, "Okay, let's go to a nearby teahouse."
When they arrived at the teahouse, Ran Zheng ordered some tea and waited until the door of the box was closed before saying, "You should congratulate me."
Zhou Shuren smiled and asked, "Promoted?"
Ran Zheng nodded, "Yes, second rank."
Zhou Shuren was not envious, "This is what you deserve."
Ran Zheng also felt that he deserved it, "Go back to Beijing, I need to have a good rest for some time."
Zhou Shuren's heart moved. Ran Zheng didn't say it clearly, but he understood what he meant. The emperor didn't assign a position to Ran Zheng, but only promoted his rank. "That's good. You should take a break."
Ran Zheng also felt it was pretty good. When he was in Jinzhou, the King of Chu kept sending people to win him over. Even Concubine Qi sent a message to her wife, and his father-in-law also wrote him a letter. He was very tired, and now that he had come to Beijing and no longer had power, he could finally relax for a while.
The tea came, and Zhou Shuren lowered his voice and said, "Since the title was decided, the princes have been very lively."
I no longer have any illusions in my heart, as if I had been freed from shackles. I only did this secretly before, but now.
Ran Zheng smiled, "So I need to rest."
Zhou Shuren raised his teacup and said, "I really should congratulate you."
After all, the emperor was doing this for the prince. The prince's concubine was Ran Zheng's daughter, and the emperor didn't want Ran Zheng to get involved.
Ran Zheng was in Jinzhou, and had been paying attention to the news from the capital. He drank his tea and glanced at Zhou Shuren. Zhou Shuren was also in the spotlight, and fortunately he had the emperor's trust, otherwise, Zhou Shuren's life would not be easy.
In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren was halfway home when the carriage stopped. Zhou Shuren was used to it, so he opened the carriage curtain and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Zhang Jingshi smiled and said, "What a coincidence, Mr. Zhou really comes home on time every day."
Zhou Shuren sneered in his heart. He was not stupid. Whether he was on time or not, they would meet by chance. He might as well go home on time. "There is nothing going on in the Ministry of Revenue recently."
What Zhou Shuren said was true. The money for shipbuilding and the Ministry of War had all been allocated. There was no disaster now, so anything involving money was not a big deal. Of course, the most important thing was that the national treasury now had money. The treasury was well-stocked after the property was confiscated years ago, so the Ministry of Revenue had an easy time.
Zhang Jingshi cursed the old fox in his heart. He tried to get nothing out of Zhou's conversation several times. He also wanted to start with Zhou's sons, but unfortunately, the eldest son of Zhou family was not only a commoner, but also a coward and a homebody. He never left the house. The second son of Zhou family went out to sea.
Zhou Changlian can be seen often, but unfortunately he is unyielding and has learned the true skills of an old fox. Zhou Changzhi is also a person who plays dumb. He looks as if he doesn't understand anything no matter what is said, as if he is just a bookworm. Everyone knows that Mr. Zhou has changed!
Zhang Jingshi was not in a good mood. Ran Zheng came to Beijing but did not get the real power. He was angry. He wanted to get some information, but finally let down the carriage curtain and said, "Go back home."
Zhou Shuren was surprised that he left so soon. He thought they would continue to linger for a while.
When Zhou Shuren got home, he didn't see Wu Ming. "When did they leave?"
"They left in the afternoon. Wu Ming wanted to take Chang Zhong back, but I didn't let him. I insisted on waiting for Song Lan to come back."
Zhou Shuren changed his clothes and said, "I have to admit that Changzhong is more sensible than when he was at home."
Zhulan, "How dare you say that? When we were at home, my son knew that you were his support. No matter how strict I was, he was just afraid of me."
He is spoiled by the eldest brothers and his daughters-in-law even more. Although his son is well-behaved in front of her, he has a bad temper in front of other people.
Zhou Shuren smiled apologetically, "It's all my fault."
"As long as you know."
Zhou Shuren dotes on her, how dare the elders say anything? Before Wu Ming returned to Beijing, she had set her sights on Wu Ming, but she never mentioned it to Zhou Shuren!
It was time to rest at night. Mrs. Dong's stomach started to ache. Zhulan wanted to go over, but Zhou Shuren stopped her, saying, "There are already several children born in the family. The adults and children will be fine. You don't need to go over to watch them."
Zhulan didn't listen and continued to put on her shoes. "Mrs. Dong is hoping for a son, but I'm worried it's a girl. Mrs. Dong is feeling uncomfortable after giving birth, so I can help her with some counseling by staying with her."
Zhou Shuren stopped trying to stop him, "Chang Lian didn't do well."
Or maybe Chang Lian also wanted a son, and Dong felt it, so she kept hoping for him. It was Chang Lian's fault.
Zhulan knew that Chang Lian had been trying to comfort Dong, but sometimes his emotions would still show up. Husband and wife couldn't hide anything, and Dong's stress was indeed related to Chang Lian.
The midwife was hired early, and when Zhulan arrived, everything was in order. Zhulan asked, "How is Chuchu?"
Chang Lian looked at the delivery room and replied, "The midwife checked and said the baby is in a normal position."
Zhulan was relieved, "We don't know when the baby will be born, so don't just stand and wait, sit down."
As for Yuyi, Zhulan was worried about giving birth at night, so Yuyi slept in the second room with Yudie these days.
The weather was getting warmer, but it was still cool at night. Zhulan held the hand warmer in her arms and listened to the noises in the delivery room. The doctor soon arrived. Zhulan looked at Chang Lian who was spinning around, and then looked away.
Time passed little by little, Dong Chuchu's screams became louder, and after almost two hours, the child was finally born.
Zhulan stood up. She heard Mrs. Dong's voice, and then the midwife's voice. Zhulan knew it was a girl. Without waiting for the child to be taken out, Zhulan went into the house.
Dong closed her eyes, disappointment evident on her face.
Zhulan asked the midwife, "How is the baby?"
The midwife wiped the child carefully and said, "The child is fine. He was crying very loudly just now."
Zhulan looked at the child. The little girl had her eyes closed. She was a fat girl. She smiled and said, "Okay, okay."
After the child was picked up, Zhulan personally took him out to show Changlian, "Look how much the little one looks like you."
Chang Lian already knew it was a girl. He was disappointed that the third room had no son. Seeing the little girl sleeping, he smiled. A girl is also a treasure. He carefully held her in his arms and said, "The little one is quite heavy. She seems to be heavier than when Yuyi was born."
"More than seven pounds."
Chang Lian was amused, "Fat girl."
Zhulan chatted with her son for a while before taking the child back. Dong had already cleaned up and changed the bedding. She handed the child to the maid and said to Dong: "Mother knows you didn't sleep. You and Changlian are still young."
Dong opened her eyes. She was very tired, but she felt sad. "Mother, it's not that I don't like my daughter."
But when the husband looked at the happy eyes of his nephews, he realized that their third branch needed a son, and their daughter would need brothers to rely on in the future.
Zhulan smiled, "Mom knows."
Dong felt relieved. The child was already born. There was no point in worrying about it. Her mother-in-law was right. She and her husband were young. When she thought of her mother-in-law having given birth to seven children, Dong finally smiled. "Mother, you've worked hard tonight. You should go home and rest earlier. I'm fine now."
Zhulan was relieved to see that Mrs. Dong was not perfunctory. "Okay, I'll go home first and come to see you tomorrow morning."