Zhou Shuren took off his clothes and said, “No choice. Our family is moving to Pingzhou next year, and I have to participate in the imperial examinations. If everything goes smoothly, I’ll be taking the exams the year after. If luck is on our side, our whole family will move with me. Delaying marriage for a year or two will make it more complicated. It’s better to get married early. Do you think the Dong family is willing to marry off their daughter early? It’s just that there are too many considerations.”

Zhulan thought about it and said with a smile: “Today the engagement went smoothly, Li Shi did not make any mistakes, and my education was effective.”

In fact, she was mentally prepared for Li Shi to make a fool of herself. After all, it was Li Shi’s first big event. Unexpectedly, silly people also have their own ways, and several of the Dong family’s daughters-in-law failed to find trouble.

Speaking of this, Zhulan frowned, “The Dong family’s daughters-in-law are not easy to get along with.”

Zhou Shuren furrowed his brows, “With the engagement settled, there will be more interactions between the two families. If anyone causes you trouble, you don’t need to worry. After all, you are the elder. I’ve got your back in everything!”

Zhulan listened and raised her eyebrows, “I thought you would say, who made me angry and ask me to endure it, and you will get back in the future!”

Zhou Shuren pinched Zhulan’s nose, “Am I someone who can’t protect my wife?”

Zhulan chuckled, “Rest assured. With Dong Lin Shi around, the daughters-in-law of the Dong family dare not act rashly. Harming me is equivalent to harming Dong Chuchu. Dong Lin Shi wouldn’t allow that.”

Zhou Shuren smiled, and he also believed that Zhulan was not at a disadvantage.

Zhulan and others who went to the engagement didn’t eat dinner. They ate lunch too late. Not long after they finished eating, Zhao Shi took several children to dinner.

Li Shi’s mouth seemed to be locked at the County Magistrate’s house. Now the fear was gone once she reached home. She never stopped talking. Zhulan could hear Li Shi’s voice from inside the house, covering topics ranging from the size of the county magistrate’s yard to the decorations, the servants, and finally the attire of the Dong family. Li Shi recounted everything she had seen and remembered, expressing envy and admiration. With a sense of satisfaction, she concluded: “It’s a pity that my dìmèi didn’t go.”

Zhulan said, “.”

As soon as she got home, her true colors were revealed!

Zhulan lay in bed for a while. Even though there was no fire on the kang, the room was still stuffy. She sweated a lot. The Dong family’s room was well ventilated and she didn’t feel stuffy at all. The same could not be said for the Zhou family. Even though the room was small, she didn’t dare to open the windows because there were too many mosquitoes in the countryside.

Zhou Shuren saw that Zhulan was uncomfortable, “Wait a while, I will bring water back and you can take a bath.”

Zhulan enjoyed the service of Zhou Shuren fanning her. She tilted her head and said, “Having gotten used to air conditioning, though in ancient times the summer heat isn’t as intense as in modern times, I find it a bit hard to endure. Plus, bathing in the summer is quite troublesome. These days, I bathe every day, and you tire yourself out bringing the bathwater.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t find it tiring, but he did break a sweat from the effort. After finally taking a bath, he felt a bit sticky again. He stroked his chin, “Next time, I’ll build a wooden shed specifically for bathing. It’s a pity there’s no bamboo in the north to make pipes for water supply. However, I can dig a channel and pour water directly into the wooden shed, making bathing more convenient.”

Zhulan’s eyes lit up, “It is indeed convenient.”

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren chatted for a while, then the commotion in the main hall stopped and they all went back to their respective houses. Zhou Shuren went to the ground to get bath water for Zhulan. Zhulan felt alive after taking a bath.

The sound of Zhou Shuren pouring water was loud and could be heard in several rooms.

Li Shi looked at the head of the house and said, “I am an unlucky person. I boil water and pour water by myself. I also have to serve my husband and son. I don’t know when someone will be able to fetch me bath water and pour my bath water.”

Boss Zhou, “.”

This was not a hint, it was a clear statement, but he didn’t want to move, “I am also doing it for your own good.”

Li Shi was angry, “For my own good?”

Boss Zhou stared at Li’s increasingly round face and body: “It’s summer, you should lose weight. Mom said being too fat is not good for your health, and I do it for your own good.”

Li Shi, “Do you really think I’m stupid?”

Boss Zhou caught the pillow thrown his way and laughed heartily, “You’re not foolish, you’re just simple and honest.”

Li Shi’s little eyes widened. She found that the head of the family was more and more willing to bully her!

Next door, Zhao Shi could hear the loud noise clearly and couldn’t help laughing. Her dàsǎo was so pitiful that even her dàgē bullied her. Second Zhou covered his face. His dàgē was so promising that he could bully his dàsǎo.

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