The third son of the Zhou family was officially engaged to the County Magistrate’s family. After breakfast at Zhulan’s house, people came to visit them all the time. There were women from the clan and people with other surnames in the village. Zhulan who was the least popular person, became the most popular person in the village. Who said that ancient people were stupid and stubborn? Who was she to worry about? After more than a year, she felt that ancient people knew how to adapt to the trend better than modern people. They were good at seeking benefits and avoiding harm.

Zhulan had been hearing flattering words since the morning. This time no one dared to say sarcastic words. They wanted to praise Zhulan so much that Zhulan almost stopped laughing one day.

On the other hand, Li Shi didn’t stop talking all day long. After everyone left, she still had unfinished thoughts. She especially enjoyed the feeling of being envied.

Zhulan was speechless, “You have been talking for a whole day and you are not tired.”

She said something with a smile that made her throat dry and uncomfortable. Li Shi’s voice did not change even when she spoke the most.

Li Shi felt that she hadn’t shown off enough, “Mother, you don’t know, they have always been talking behind my back, thinking I don’t know. Today, they looked jealous and had to flatter me. It really made me feel stifled with anger.”

Zhulan laughed. Li Shi was cute and she always knew it. When Zhulan saw Zhou Shuren push the door in, she said to Li Shi, “Go cook!”

Li Shi was afraid of her father-in-law, so she called out “Dad” and scurried out.

Zhou Shuren looked at Li Shi’s posture of wishing she had two more legs to run quickly, and the corners of his mouth twitched, “I brought back two roast chickens for dinner.”

Li Shi was most afraid of her father-in-law speaking, but fortunately, it was a good thing, so she responded and left quickly.

Zhulan said: “Why did you come back buying roast chicken today?”

Zhou Shuren sat down, changed his shoes, and said: “I met Shi Qing at the county office today. When I came back in the evening, I found an excuse to buy roast chicken to avoid Shi Qing. Unexpectedly, I still didn’t avoid it. He said he was going back to the village, so we happened to come back together. I could only go buy roast chicken and come back.”

Zhulan took Zhou Shuren’s coat and paused her hand, “Shi Qing won’t live next door!”

Zhou Shuren took the clean clothes and said, “Well, he moved in next door.”

Zhulan thought for a while and said, “Shi Qing knows that our family is becoming in-laws with the County Magistrate’s family, and so will be related to Jiang Ming, the eldest son-in-law of the Dong family. Is this why he is paying attention to you?”

Otherwise, a scholar was really not worth Shi Qing’s calculations.

Zhou Shuren changed into clean clothes, feeling much more comfortable. Leaning against the wall near the fire, he fanned himself and said, “This time coming back, I avoided Shi Qing. Although the county magistrate didn’t spell it out, he conveyed his meaning. He and Jiang Ming won’t interfere in any matter, making it clear for me to be cautious and not be manipulated.”

Zhulan felt happy after hearing this, “Master Dong is a sensible person.”

Zhou Shuren remarked, “Old Master Dong is shrewd, otherwise he wouldn’t have become the local county magistrate. Although the court doesn’t have explicit regulations, it’s rare for someone to become an official in their hometown.”

Zhulan liked the god teammates. If it weren’t for the god teammates, Zhou Shuren wouldn’t bother to make friends with the Dong family. She sighed: “Chang Lian is lucky, he has a good in-law family.”

Except for a few daughters-in-law who despised the Zhou family because of their class, everyone in the Dong family was good.

As for Shi Qing’s concern, Zhulan was not worried about Zhou Shuren being tricked. Comparing Shi Qing to Zhou Shuren, there was no guarantee that Shi Qing would end up as the tricked person.

At dinner in the evening, the little ones ate roasted chicken which was very delicious. Ming Teng gnawed on the chicken wings and muttered, “It’s good for the eldest brother to go to school.”

Zhulan immediately understood what the little guy was thinking, “You are the only one with a bright mind.”

Ming Teng laughed. Since his eldest brother ate with his father, there was one less person at the table, so he had more share.

Yu Shuang swallowed the chicken in her mouth, “It will be better when the second brother also goes to school.”

Mingteng became unhappy. The table with his father was always occupied by adults. Unlike eating with his grandmother, where there were more children, and he got a larger share. Just the thought of having to eat at the next table turned his sorrow into an appetite.

Zhao Shi nodded her daughter’s forehead and said, “Just understand in your heart.”

Yushuang laughed. She just liked teasing her second brother, just like her mother liked to watch her bómǔ¹ make trouble from time to time.

Zhulan really liked the pistachio Ming Teng. She pinched Ming Teng’s fat face and it felt particularly good. This kid seemed to be getting fatter and fatter.

The next day, Zhou Shuren did not have to go to the county. After dinner, Zhulan took out the good tea leaves at home and made tea.

Li Shi saw her make tea and went into the house to ask, “Mom, are there any guests coming to the house today?”

The tea at home was also divided into different grades. The cheaper tea leaves were for daily visitors, the better ones were brought out for elders such as clan leaders, and the best tea leaves were only brought out when important guests came home.

Zhulan, “En.”

As soon as Zhulan finished speaking, Second Zhou led people into the main hall. Zhulan listened, and heard Shi Qing say to Zhou Shuren, “I’m sorry to bother you.”

Zhou Shuren was waiting in the main hall, “You’re welcome, Shi Gongzi, please sit down quickly.”

Li Shi heard the noise and lowered her voice, “Mom, the guest you are talking about is Shi Gongzi? Isn’t he related to Wang Ru? Why did he come to our house?”

Zhulan had no intention of explaining to Li Shi. Li Sshi loved to speculate, and she was afraid that excessive speculation from Li Shi might lead to unnecessary concerns. “I guess he is staying with Wang Ru next door, so he came to visit on her behalf!”

Li Shi, “I see, Shi Gongzi didn’t live next door yesterday, did he? My God, the next door is full of young girls. The reputation next door is not good, and they let the foreign man live in it. How many sisters are there?” My reputation is completely ruined.”

Fortunately, Li Shi knew there was someone outside, so she kept her voice low when speaking.

Zhao Shi interjected, “Yesterday when the head of the house was closing the door, he saw Wang Rong next door carrying baggage back to Fourth Wang’s house.”

Zhulan was not surprised that the second girl Wang Rong would leave, but she was surprised, “Wang Rong was alone?”

Zhao Shi nodded, “She was the only one.”

Li Shi’s expression was strange. Under the attack of the smart people in the family, she became a lot smarter, “I said Wang Xin is not a good person like her mother. This girl must think that she is older and Wang Ru is younger, so she also thinking about it!”

Zhulan signaled, “Okay, let’s stop talking.”

She didn’t want to hear what was going on next door. On the one hand, Shi Qing was still outside. She was really afraid that Li Shi would not control herself and raise her voice to let the outside hear.

Li Shi closed her mouth, smiled flatteringly, lowered her head, and continued to help her mother-in-law separate the lines.

Shi Qing didn’t stay for long; he left soon. Li Shi and Zhao Shi exchanged knowing looks. Upon hearing the guest’s departure, they knew that their father-in-law would be returning to the main house, so they both went back to their respective rooms.

When Zhou Shuren entered the room and saw only Zhulan, he became even more pleased with his two daughters-in-law, his discernment growing stronger.

Zhulan put down her needle and thread and asked, “What did Shi Qing say?”

(End of this chapter)

---

Footnote

1. Wife of father’s eldest brother