Li Shi couldn’t help but look at Zhao Shi. She thought that she had the best relationship with Zhao Shi. As a result, Zhao Shi hugged Mingrui and said, “Mother, Mingrui is sleepy. I’ll take him back to the house first. Saozi, leave the dishes to me. I’ll wash the dishes today.”

Zhao Shi slipped away. She had her own things to do. She was very excited to come to Pingzhou. She could embroider screens. The embroidered handkerchiefs were also sold at a high price in the county. There were more nobles in Pingzhou, and the screens were more valuable. She had to save more money.

At least she could catch up with her saozi’s savings, so she really couldn’t help!

Li Shi looked at Dong Shi depressed, and then quickly retracted her gaze. Dong Shi was an official lady, so was even worse.

Dong Shi, “.”

She was disliked by her saozi! This realization hit her hard!

However, it seemed that she really couldn’t grow vegetables. Yes, she couldn’t even grow flowers well. It shouldn’t be said that she couldn’t grow them well, but whatever flowers she raised would die. Before she got married, her mother never let her get two meters closer to her father’s flowers. Her father was on guard against her!

Dong Shi looked at her husband with a guilty conscience. She didn’t know whether her husband liked flowers or not. However, she was good at raising fish. She took care of the koi at home!

Zhulan stood up tiredly, “You should clean up the kitchen and rest early. You are tired after a day’s journey.”

After that, Zhulan went back to the bedroom. Zhou Shuren had changed his clothes and lay on the kang. Zhulan said while changing her clothes, “We are in Pingzhou. Dong Shi’s sister sent a letter. Changlian and Dong Shi will visit tomorrow. Although we have prepared wolf skins, we still need to prepare some other gifts, which is another sum of money.”

Zhou Shuren waited for Zhulan to get on the kang, and naturally reached out to untie Zhulan’s hair. While untying her hair, he asked, “How much money is left in the family?”

Zhulan calculated, “Before we left, we bought four wolf skins in a nearby village as gifts, which cost 40 taels. The money for hiring a carriage, plus some expenses, left more than 130 taels in the family.”

They were a big family, money waiting to be spent everywhere, and Zhou Shuren had to entertain. This money was really not enough to spend.

Zhou Shuren thought for a moment and said, “I want to sell our two shops a year in advance. It’s just the right time to sell them. Let’s deal with them.”

Zhulan frowned, “The rent for a year is not a small amount of silver. Wouldn’t it be a pity to sell them like this? One hundred and thirty taels of silver is enough to save.”

She was still thinking about selling them next year so that she could earn an extra year’s rent!

Zhou Shuren pinched Zhulan’s nose, “I can’t bear to see you save money, and I’m going to pick up bargains. It would be a pity if I don’t have any silver.”

Zhulan knew that it was not easy to pick up bargains. If it was easy to pick up bargains, Zhou Shuren would have done it a long time ago. This depends not only on ability but also on luck. The bracelet last time was a rare good luck. It was not easy to pick up bargains again. She knew that Zhou Shuren’s last words were to make her feel at ease.

Zhulan nestled in Zhou Shuren’s arms, “Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s not hard to raise you.”

Zhulan chuckled. This man never missed an opportunity to confess!

The two of them lay down for a while, then got up to wash their faces and feet. It was already late when they finished cleaning up, so they went to bed quickly.

The next day, Zhou Shuren started his life in Pingzhou. After breakfast, he went out early.

Changlian came to get the visiting gift. Zhulan had already prepared it. She took the silver and two wolf skins and gave them to Changlian, “There are not many good things at home. You can’t be impolite on your first visit. Go buy some more gifts later, so people don’t look down on you.”

Changlian accepted the silver, thinking to himself, “No wonder it’s common for high-ranking families to marry their daughters into lower-status households. The wife’s family background is too lofty, and it’s exhausting for one’s own family. Even the gifts brought during visits are a burden.” He kept track of the expenses in his mind, realizing that he had spent quite a bit of silver on his own.

Changlian clenched the silver, “Mom.”

Zhulan was puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

Changlian said, “It’s a burden to you and Dad.”

Zhulan thought it was something else, it turned out that this kid had put all the expenses on herself, “You can’t just consider the money when you marry into the Dong family, you should also consider the future and the current benefits, these are things that money can’t buy. Although the expenses are higher, they should be spent. Let’s not talk about the long-term. Let’s say your father passes the imperial examination and becomes a Jinshi, it will be easier for him to have relatives in the officialdom than to be alone. If he fails and stops at being a juren, he can still get the protection of his relatives in the future, not to mention the benefits it will bring to you. Son, don’t just look at the present, look at the long-term benefits.”

Zhulan paused, thought about it, and continued, “We are in a weak position now. Mother knows that you still feel uncomfortable, but who knows the future. It is said that one should not despise a young man because he is poor. Dynasties change constantly, let alone people. The future is not static. If you are really uncomfortable, then work hard to prove yourself. There will always be a day when you will be someone different. There is no need to worry about the present. It is unnecessary.”

Changlian was a little frightened. It was the first time he heard these words from his mother. Even though he knew that his mother was very powerful in not showing off, he never thought that his mother was not only powerful in the inner house but also had a clear understanding of the interests outside and had a particularly good mentality. His mother’s mentality made him ashamed. His mother didn’t even go out. “Mom, your son has learned a lesson.”

He thought to himself that if his mother were a man, she would definitely be very powerful.

Zhulan was depressed. She had talked a lot, but she still had to explain. When her original body married Zhou Shuren, she didn’t know much. It was obviously her own knowledge, but she had to apply it to Zhou Shuren. “Mom has also listened to your father a lot and learned a lot. It’s good for you to listen to it.”

Changlian thought to himself that it was no wonder that his mother had such insights, and he admired his mother’s high understanding. Dad must be very satisfied to teach his mother. Who didn’t like people with high understanding? Why didn’t he have his mother’s understanding?

Zhulan knew what Changlian was thinking by looking at his expression. Her stomach hurt. She really wasn’t taught by Zhou Shuren. She was also a capable person. It was a pity that it was in ancient times. If it was in modern times, she would tell him in a minute that your mother is no worse than your father.

Zhulan waved her hands in frustration, “It’s getting late, Madam Dong must be waiting anxiously, you should go too.”

Changlian, “Mom, I’m going out.”

“Yes.”

Zhulan waited for Changlian and Dong Shi to leave, took out the gifts prepared in the county, wild boar meat and cakes, and took Li Shi and Xuehan to visit the Wu family.

Second Zhou led the way, and when they arrived, he went home.

Zhulan followed Wu Li Shi into the house and took a look, “Aunt’s yard is really nice, and there is an independent well.”

Wu Li Shi said happily, “Thanks to my eldest grandson, I never dreamed that I would enjoy the blessing of my eldest grandson so early. Look at me, I have gained a lot of weight this year!”

Zhulan had noticed that Wu Li Shi had become fatter and more prosperous, “Aunt will be very blessed in the future!”

Wu Li Shi liked to hear this, “We are all blessed people!”

Upon entering the room, Zhulan presented the gift. “When I arrived, we happened to encounter wild boars coming down the mountain. I bought some wild boar meat, although it’s not anything fancy. This year, I’ll trouble Auntie to look after the house.”

Wu Li Shi glared, “You are being so formal, aren’t you? What is the relationship between our two families? If you say that again, Auntie will be angry.”

Zhulan smiled, “Okay, we will be informal in the future.”

Wu Li Shi looked at Li Shi, “This is the eldest daughter-in-law you mentioned!”

Zhulan nodded, “Yes, my eldest daughter-in-law is also surnamed Li, come and meet Grandma Wu.”

Li Shi hurried forward, “Hello, Grandma Wu.”

Wu Li Shi liked the fat ones who looked blessed, and smiled and said, “Okay, okay.”

Wu Li paused, “Then Auntie has something to ask you.”

(this chapter is finished)

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