On the second morning, Zhulan slept well, but Zhou Shuren did not rest well. Zhulan said, “Let’s change rooms tonight.”

Zhou Shuren waved his hand, “The inns are all facing the street. I can hear the sound of a team of horses’ hooves even if they change. I couldn’t sleep last night, and I counted them. The patrols didn’t stop all night. It seems that the court sent troops much earlier than I estimated.”

Zhu Lan handed the handkerchief in her hand to Zhou Shuren, “I just don’t know why they would deploy troops in advance. It seems that the court is not short of money.”

Zhou Shuren wiped his face and said, “It should be related to Shi Qing. However, the war is a waste of money and labor, but it has to be fought. The farmers’ lives are getting harder.”

Zhu Lan was thinking about a few nephews in her heart, “I don’t know how Wu Chun is, and he didn’t send a letter to the family.”

“No news is also good news. Don’t worry about it. Everyone has their own destiny. Sometimes worrying about it won’t help.”

Zhulan was speechless. Sometimes it was really hard to respond to Zhou Shuren’s words. She pulled Zhou Shuren to sit down and combed his hair. After his hair was tied up, Zhulan and he went downstairs to have breakfast.

The capital was the center of power, and its people understood the situation better than those in other provincial capitals. Although the capital was still prosperous, a closer look revealed that many convoys were coming and going, and many people leaving the capital.

Zhulan waited for Zhou Shuren to send the invitation back and motioned for him to come to the window. “I sat there and counted the caravans leaving the city from the South Gate. Four caravans left in two hours. Two were merchant caravans, and two were leaving with their families.”

Zhou Shuren sat next to Zhulan, “Our timing is neither good nor bad.”

Zhulan followed up, “Given the current situation and the number of people leaving the Capital, we don’t need to worry about not finding a property. However, if things get worse, the Capital won’t be comforting. It’s better to leave early.”

Zhou Shuren praised, “That’s right. Once I buy the house, I’ll find a convoy to return.”

Zhulan closed the window, “I just don’t know if the war is in the northwest or the northeast border.”

“No matter which side starts the war, the price of food will go up this year. We should sell less of our food this year and keep the rest!”

“Well, when do you think the war will start?”

Zhou Shuren spread his hands, “I am just a scholar and cannot get in touch with it, so my estimate is not accurate, especially since there are many variables, so my estimate is even more inaccurate. However, the army will set out first, and the food and grass will have to be prepared for at least some days.”

Zhulan said quietly, “That will be soon. Whether it’s the northwest or the northeast, try not to drag it into winter. Fortunately, the dynasty has only been established for twelve years, and the soldiers are still as fierce as tigers and wolves. They have not enjoyed wealth and slackness. The chances of victory are high, and I can feel more at ease.”

Zhou Shuren was not worried. Those who could successfully rebel were all brave and good at fighting. As long as there were sufficient food and grass, the chance of defeat was very small. It was not an exaggeration to say that heroes emerged in troubled times.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren chatted for a while, and then they went out shopping. Zhou Shuren wanted to visit some antique shops in the Capital.

Zhulan wanted to go to the clothing store and the jewelry store, so Zhou Shuren accompanied Zhulan to the clothing store and the jewelry store first.

The clothes in the ready-made clothing stores in the Capital were more luxurious, and of course, the prices were also very touching. Zhulan liked two sets of clothes. Zhou Shuren’s wallet was very fat now, so Zhulan naturally bought whatever she liked. Zhulan also picked out a set for Zhou Shuren. For the three sets of clothes, Zhulan did not pick the expensive ones and still spent eighteen taels.

Afterward, the two of them went to the fabric shop. The fabric shop in the capital had all kinds of fabrics. Zhulan had come to the capital, so naturally, she had to bring some gifts back, and fabric was the first choice. Although most of the fabrics were also available in Pingzhou, the meaning of buying them in the Capital was different.

Finally, they went to a jewelry shop. Zhulan did not choose the most famous one. She knew her own worth, so she chose one that looked more affordable. This time Zhulan did not only look at gold and silver jewelry, her eyes also fell on pearls. The pearls were very small. Although pearls were expensive, small pearls were not that valuable.

Zhulan selected several pearl-inlaid hairpins for her three daughters-in-law, selected pearl earrings for Xuehan and the other girls, and bought a jade hairpin and pearl earrings for herself.

Finally, a pair of gold bracelets were chosen for Sun Shi, as the old woman preferred gold ones.

Zhou Shuren said, “Since it’s a rare trip to the capital, why not buy two pieces of jewelry for my two sǎozi? We live in Pingzhou City and don’t go back to the Yang family often. It will be even more difficult to go back if we go far away in the future. My father-in-law and mother-in-law will rely on my two sǎozi to take care of them more.”

Zhulan also selected two pearl hairpins. “That’s all. Boss, please calculate the price.”

The shopkeeper quickly calculated the amount, “The total is fifty-six taels and five cents. Madam, you bought a lot, so just give me fifty-six taels.”

The jewelry Zhulan chose was expensive, especially the gold bracelet and jade hairpin. The pearl hairpin was not very big, so it was not too expensive. Zhulan paid the silver note, and the shopkeeper asked, “Do you want silver or gold?”

Zhulan didn’t want to carry a bag of silver, “Gold.”

The shopkeeper responded, exchanged the gold, and handed it to Zhulan, “Madam, keep it and come back next time.”

Zhulan took the money and left the shop. She and Zhou Shuren were carrying a lot of things in their hands. “Send the things back, and then we will go to the antique shop!”

Zhou Shuren lowered his head and looked at the bundle in his hand. “Alright.”

The two returned to the inn, and the waiter came up and said, “Dear guests, a Xiucai named Deng has sent a letter.”

Zhulan took the bag from Zhou Shuren’s hand. Zhou Shuren took the note, gave the waiter a few copper coins, and carried the bag upstairs.

Back in the room, Zhou Shuren looked at the post and said, “It’s not convenient for us to visit Deng Xiucai’s home. He will come tomorrow.”

Zhulan took the note and took a look at it. “I haven’t asked you about your visit to Deng Xiucai’s house. How is Deng Xiucai’s house?”

Zhou Shuren’s arms were sore from carrying the bag all the way. He rubbed his arms and said, “Deng Xiucai lives with his whole family. When I went there, Deng Xiucai was not at home. I left a note and the house was quite messy.”

Zhulan thought, no wonder Zhou Shuren didn’t mention it, Deng Xiucai’s family must have made Zhou Shuren unhappy, “Let’s have lunch first, and then go to the antique shop.”

“Good.”

In the afternoon, Zhu Lan accompanied Zhou Shuren to an antique shop. The renowned antique shops in the Capital all had influential backgrounds. Zhu Lan was careful not to touch anything once she entered the shop, fearing that she might accidentally damage or break something and end up having to pay a steep price.

Zhou Shuren came here today not only to broaden his horizons but also to try his luck and to find a bargain. As for why he didn’t go to the stalls outside the door to find a bargain, it was because he didn’t have time to look at each stall one by one. If he lived in the Capital, he would have all the time to find a bargain slowly, but he was too pressed for time. It would be better if the antique shops had screened it, so the chance of finding a bargain would be greater.

The shopkeeper didn’t follow him either. He just sat there drinking tea. It was easy to tell whether someone was really buying something or just trying his luck.

Zhou Shuren turned around twice and said to Zhulan: “Let’s go!”

The shopkeeper smiled and continued humming his tune, thinking that it was not so easy to get a bargain.

Zhulan waited and walked away, “This is not your temper. There is still a lot to see!”

Zhou Shuren said quietly, “We shouldn’t choose famous shops. There are very few fake ones in these shops. I just walked around twice and saw that a few of them were real. It would be a waste of time to continue looking.”

Zhulan chuckled, “Then find an ordinary shop?”

Zhou Shuren shook his head, “We can’t go there. We are not from the Capital and we don’t have any background. Even if I find a bargain, I can’t take it away.”

“Come on, let’s go back!”

“Go back!”

The two were not in a hurry to go back. Zhulan was very interested in the rouge stalls on the street. Just as she was about to pick some to give to others, a carriage stopped beside her.

(End of this chapter)

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