After dinner the next day, Zhou Shuren took the calligraphy and paintings to the antique shop and did not return until the afternoon.

Zhulan was altering a cloak. Now that the Qian family had sent her a better one, she found out her and Zhou Shuren’s old cloaks and altered them for the children. After some modifications, Zhou Shuren’s cloak could be given to Changlian and Changzhi.

As for why they didn’t give the capes to the eldest and second child, Zhou Shuren’s body shape meant that these two people couldn’t wear them!

Zhulan’s capes were given to Xuehan and Xuemei. As for her daughters-in-law, she had three at home, and she could only make two cloaks, which wouldn’t be enough to go around. So, she decided it was better to give them to her own daughters.

She rarely wears her cloak. Ahem, it was mainly because she was too much of a homebody. She stayed in the house in winter and rarely went out. Her cloak was almost as good as a new one.

Zhulan had finished altering Xuemei’s cape. Xuemei was about the same height as her, so it was easier to alter. When she was about to alter Xuehan’s cape, Zhou Shuren came back. “Why did you come back so late? Did you have a meal outside? I’ll go get you some food.”

Zhou Shuren was so happy that he didn’t feel hungry at all. He rubbed his hands and pulled Zhulan’s clothes, “I’m not hungry. Don’t worry. Guess how much this painting is worth?”

Zhu Lan took Zhou Shuren’s hand and covered it for him. “From your happy tone, the value must be high. Let me guess, two hundred taels?”

Zhou Shuren’s hand felt warmer, but he was unwilling to take it back, so he let Zhulan hold it. “Guess again.”

“That’s an underestimation. It’s just a single calligraphy piece from the previous dynasty. Didn’t Changzhi say that not many people like it? How is it still worth so much silver?”

Zhou Shuren didn’t expect the value to be so high. “Because few people like it, there are few authentic works left. Scarcity makes things valuable. Master Xiheng’s calligraphy is not liked by the arrogant scholars, but some dignitaries still like it.”

Zhulan understood, “The consumer groups are different. If it’s something that the rich and powerful like, the price will naturally be higher. Then I guess five hundred taels?”

Zhou Shuren shook his head, “This time you guessed too much. Although many people like it, Xiheng has only been dead for a hundred years. He is just a calligrapher from the previous dynasty and is not worth five hundred taels.”

Zhulan was angry and couldn’t help wanting to twist Zhou Shuren’s hand. “I won’t guess anymore. You can tell me if you want.”

Zhou Shuren kissed Zhulan on the cheek, “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you what I mean. The original is worth four hundred taels, and the fake is worth a hundred taels. I went to several of the best antique shops in Pingzhou City today. Except for one old shop where a respected master found out that it was a fake, the others didn’t. It’s safer to use this painting to participate in the competition.”

Zhulan secretly thought it was a pity that she couldn’t attend such a lively event. She could only wait for Zhou Shuren to come back and tell her about the whole thing.

Zhulan let go of Zhou Shuren’s hand, picked up the cloak, and instructed Zhou Shuren, “Help me pull it aside.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t understand, “Why did you cut the cape?”

Zhulan took the scissors and cut along the line drawn with charcoal. After she finished cutting, she said, “I got a better one. It’s a waste to keep these two. I’ll change them for Xuemei and Xuehan. Xuehan is not very tall, so the cloak is too big. I can cut off some of it and make a cushion for Yulu and Mingrui.”

Zhou Shuren snorted, “Xuehan’s sewing is better than yours, and Xuemei’s is not bad either. Why bother doing it yourself? Give the cloaks to them and let them modify them themselves.”

Zhulan was speechless, “You are jealous of them too?”

“Didn’t you say I’m a jealous old man? I’ll be jealous just to show you.”

He now found the Zhou family to be quite annoying—very annoying!

Zhulan pulled the cut part from Zhou Shuren’s hand and said, “Don’t be jealous. You have been busy with antiques recently. Changlian and Changzhi are about to take the provincial examination. You should go and take a look.”

Zhou Shuren snorted twice, “I finally understand that in your heart, my position has been gradually squeezed out by the Zhou family.”

Zhulan picked up the needle in her hand and said, “Your heart is as small as the tip of a needle. See? It’s that small!”

Zhou Shuren leaned close to Zhulan’s ear and said, “You are the one who caused all this trouble at such a young age. I’m going to punish those Zhou family boys and relieve the bitterness in my heart.”

Zhulan said, “Virtue.”

Zhou Shuren walked with his hands behind his back, moving in an eight-character pattern, and sighed, “Ah, this is just my virtue. My temperament isn’t quite right!”

Zhulan watched Zhou Shuren stride out, shook her head, and laughed.

This man, as time went by, became more and more open-minded. Zhou Shuren used to be very cold, but now he was willing to integrate into the atmosphere of the Zhou family. Zhou Shuren himself didn’t even notice that when he mentioned his adopted sons, his tone was light and there was a smile in his eyes.

As for Changlian and the others who were punished by Zhou Shuren, Zhulan’s heart was of course biased towards Zhou Shuren. Just punish them. It won’t hurt anyway. If he punishes them a few more times, Zhou Shuren will feel less stressed. It won’t do any harm!

Fortunately, the four sons of the Zhou family didn’t know what Zhulan was thinking, otherwise, their mother wouldn’t be the best. It turned out that the four brothers were just trying to relieve their father’s pressure! It was true that they loved their father and mother.

In less than half an hour, Zhulan not only modified the cloak but also made two cushions. Practice makes perfect, and Zhulan’s needlework skills were getting better and better.

After wrapping up the things for Xuemei, she took Xuehan and two cushions and went out. She went to Xuehan’s room first. Xuehan was sitting on the kang making lace, Yushuang was tracing red characters, and Yulu was small, so Xuehan was willing to take care of Yulu because she was quiet. The little girl was not very big, so she was playing with coins by herself!

Xue Han saw her mother coming in with a cloak, “Mom, isn’t this your cloak? Why did you bring it?”

Zhulan shook out her cape and said, “I’ve made it smaller. It will be yours in the future. Come and try it on to see if it fits you.”

Xuehan was not very old. All girls liked to dress up, and Xuehan was no exception. She put on her shoes and got down from bed. She liked her mother’s cape very much. “Mom, are you really giving it to me?”

“I’ve changed it to a smaller size, what do you think?”

Xuehan put on her cloak and turned around twice, “Thank you, mother.”

Zhulan sighed secretly, time passed so quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it had been almost two years. The little country girl had changed a lot now, her skin was fair, she wore jewelry, and her baby fat was gone. There was no trace of the country girl left in her. Zhulan was proud, she had been well-raised.

Zhulan gave the cushion in her hand to Yulu. “Grandma made the cushion for you. Do you like it?”

Yulu gathered the coins and said in a baby voice, “I like it.”

Zhu Lan looked at the copper coins a few more times and asked Xuehan, “Did you give it to her?”

Xuehan’s mouth twitched, “My dasao gave it to me. She told me to let Yulu recognize the copper coins.”

Zhulan, “.”

It was indeed a stupid thing that Li Shi could do. Fortunately, Yulu didn’t liked putting anything in her mouth since she was a child, otherwise, it would be really dangerous.

Zhulan told her daughter, “When your dasao comes to pick up Yulu, tell her I said not to give Yulu copper coins in the future. What if she chokes?”

Xuehan was also a little scared and lowered her head in shame, “Mom, I didn’t notice the danger either.”

“It has nothing to do with you. You are so young, it’s normal that you don’t notice it. Your dasao is already a mother of three children, and she doesn’t understand this. You should blame your dasao if you want to.”

Xuehan, “Mom, even if my dasao gives birth to five children in the future, she will still be confused.”

Zhulan, “.”

There was no way to refute it. Who made Li Shi so careless?

Zhulan gave another cushion to Yushuang, “This one is for Mingrui. Don’t forget to bring it to Mingrui when you go back. Grandma won’t go there anymore.”

Mingrui was sleeping at this hour, and she didn’t want to wake him up by going over.

Yushuang was the most obedient, “Yes.”

“So good.”

When Zhulan returned to the room, Zhou Shuren had already returned. He took off his shoes and lay on the kang without any image at all. He was really too casual!

The next day, Zhou Shuren hadn’t left the house yet when a guest came to visit. Old Man Qian and Zhao’s mother, Fang Shi, came to visit!

(End of this chapter)

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