Zhulan and Zhou Shuren looked at each other. They were talking privately and thought that the Qian family would come yesterday, but they didn’t.

Then they thought that the Qian family would have to wait for some time to investigate the Zhou family, so they came today.

Today’s visit must have been cleared up. It seems that this Qian Guanshi has his own ability to find out information. He found out everything in just one day!

The stewards of merchants had many friends of all ranks, and they were more diverse than the stewards of officials!

Boss Zhou came back from the front yard to report the news first, and Second Zhou was welcoming people in.

The Zhou family’s house was not big, and there were only a few steps from the front yard to the back yard. As soon as Boss Zhou finished speaking, Zhulan heard the sound of conversation, and they arrived in the backyard.

Boss Zhou hurriedly turned around and opened the curtain. It was not yet March and the weather was still very cold, so the Zhou family’s curtains were always hung.

When the curtain was opened, the person walking in front of Second Zhou was Steward Qian, who looked to be in his fifties. The woman next to him had white hair. She was obviously about the same age as Zhulan, but she looked much older than Zhulan. This was Fang Shi.

At the end were two people carrying gifts. The one in his thirties should be the eldest son of Steward Qian, and the other one was a boy about ten years old, who should be his grandson.

Zhulan thought to herself that the boy they brought along must be a student. Otherwise, they should have brought the eldest grandson.

Zhou Shuren stood up and said, “Old Man Qian, please take a seat.”

Old Man Qian was not surprised that he did not hear the title of in-laws.

He found out that the Zhou family was a farming and reading family. Two of the Zhou family’s sons had passed the xiànshì. Another one was a yǎngfū who was also supported by the Zhou family. Together with his sūnzi, there were quite a few scholars in the family. If Zhou xiùcái passed the yàoshì, the Zhou family would become a family of shūxiāng.

Scholars have their own pride. Among the four occupations—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—although he had never been a merchant, he had been a slave and served in a merchant’s family. Even after becoming a farmer, he was still looked down upon. Zhou xiùcái was quite polite to him, at least not showing any disdain on his face.

What’s more, the Zhou family and the official family were related by marriage, and Zhou xiùcái had contacts with the Zhao family. It was natural for him to be arrogant. After investigating the Qian family, he asked his son to take Zhao Shi to recognize his relatives and took out a generous gift to recognize them. The Zhou family was kind. Being kind was good, but it was also good to be calculating.

However, looking at Zhou xiùcái sitting in the main seat, he was over fifty years old and had seen all kinds of people while dealing with merchants. From high-ranking officials to local thugs, he could tell at a glance that the Zhou family was not easily fooled. They were kind-hearted, but not easy to manipulate.

Looking again at his simple-minded son-in-law who had always appeared naive while at the Qian family, he now behaved with proper etiquette, his expression unchanged. Well, it was clear now. What a supposedly foolish son-in-law! He had deliberately followed his lead in conversation. How else could he have intimidated the Qian family without revealing his true intentions?

Today’s purpose seemed to be in vain!

After all the scheming, it was all for nothing. Indeed, if he was truly just simple-minded and incompetent, how could he have connections with the Zhao family and send his future son-in-law and grandson to the academy?

Zhulan greeted Fang Shi in the inner room. Compared with the quietness of the hall, she was much more affectionate to Fang Shi. She personally held Fang Shi’s hand and sat down, “Mother-in-law, I have wanted to meet you for a long time, but I never had the chance. Today I finally meet you.”

Fang Shi saw that her daughter’s mother-in-law’s eyes were sincere and not fake, and she felt relieved. Her daughter did not lie, and her mother-in-law was really good to her. “I wanted to come yesterday, but something delayed me. I came here especially today not only to recognize the family but also to personally thank my mother-in-law for her love and care for Zhao Shi. I am grateful to my mother-in-law for all these years.”

Fang Shi was about to bow, but Zhulan pulled her back and made her sit down. “Since Zhao Shi has entered my Zhou family, she is a member of my Zhou family. It is my duty to protect her. You don’t need to thank me, mother-in-law.”

Fang Shi was really grateful. At first, when she saw her daughter was disfigured, she was happy that her daughter protected herself, but she was also sad because every woman loves beauty. Fortunately, she was told privately that it was painted. She also learned from her daughter that her daughter’s in-laws were all good people, especially her daughter’s mother-in-law, who made her extremely grateful for everything they did.

She was happy that her daughter had a better life and was more fortunate than her, but she still wanted to visit her in person to feel at ease.

Zhulan sat next to Fang Shi and picked up the teapot on the kang table. “The tea has just been brewed. Mother-in-law must be thirsty after all the way here. Have a cup of hot tea and warm yourself up.”

Fang Shi took the teacup with both hands and felt more at ease. Her in-laws did not despise her for selling herself and remarrying. Her tone was full of gratitude: “Thank you.”

Zhulan knew that this “thank you” encompassed so much. It was a thank you for everything—thanking her for her care of the Zhao family, for acknowledging the tea she had poured herself, and for so much more.

She had already guessed why Fang Shi didn’t come yesterday. The Qian family’s inquiries were one reason, and the other was Fang Shi didn’t have any clothes to wear while going out. The clothes didn’t look like they were made-to-order, so they must have been bought from a ready-made clothing shop in the city.

Looking at Fang Shi’s jewelry, which was low-key but valuable, Zhulan thought that the Qian family was really rich. Not to mention the cash, even if all the jewelry, antiques, calligraphy, and paintings were sold, it would be a large sum of money. The Yun family really fattened up the big rat, Steward Qian. Hmm, it seemed that the housekeepers of wealthy families all had money.

Fang Shi felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, “Mother-in-law, do you think there’s something wrong with me?”

No, she knew what she could bring and what she could wear, and she wouldn’t make any mistakes.

Zhulan smiled and said, “From what I’ve seen, Zhao Shi doesn’t look much like my mother-in-law.”

Fang Shi’s lips curled into a dry smile. “She takes after her father more. This girl has grown up so well, always choosing the best traits to inherit.”

She was good-looking to begin with, and her husband was a handsome man well-known in the surrounding villages. She also chose good looks, so she ended up harming herself. Fortunately, she was lucky.

Zhulan saw that Fang Shi had not yet moved on, and she felt sad. Women were particularly willing to reminisce, no matter how painful or sweet it was, they would never forget it. Just then, Zhao Shi came into the room.

Zhao Shi came so slowly because she wanted to draw up the wound.

When she saw her mother, she said excitedly, “Mother.”

Fang Shi’s eyes were red. She had never thought that she would have the chance to see her daughter again. Her eyes fell on the child in Zhao Shi’s arms, “Is this Mingrui?”

Zhao Shi handed the son to his mother and said, “He is three years old now. Look how strong he is.”

The son’s birthday is later in the year, so he is somewhat at a disadvantage in terms of age.

Zhulan didn’t see Yushuang. This was because the Zhao family didn’t intend to let anyone see Yushuang, at least not before Zhou Shuren passed the yàoshì. The Qian family would only inquire about the men in the Zhou family, and could not pay attention to the women in the family. This was a common problem among men in ancient times, who subconsciously ignored women.

There was nothing wrong with Zhao Shi introducing Mingrui as the eldest son, as he was indeed the eldest son of the second room.

Fang Shi hugged the child tightly, “Okay, okay.”

When Fang Shi saw the child, she remembered that she had brought gifts for the child. She took out a gold lock and a pair of gold bracelets from her purse and said, “You said you didn’t want to mention Yushuang, so I brought a set over. The gold lock is for Mingrui, and the bracelets are for Yushuang.”

She was no longer Madam Qian who was only in name. After her daughter recognized her relatives, the old man explained why he didn’t help her and the child, and he didn’t lie to her. It was because she was worthless.

She was soft-hearted but always understood that because the old man told the truth, she knew that the old man would really treat her well in the future. He also gave her silver notes for her to spend.

Thinking of this, Fang Shi took out two silver bills from her purse and said, “This is the dowry from your Mother.”

Zhao was a little confused with the two hundred-liang silver notes. “Mother, where did the money come from?”

Fang Shi stuffed the money into her daughter’s pocket and said, “Don’t worry, take it. Qian Shengbao gave it to me and let me use it myself. He gave me three hundred taels in one go to support me in giving it to you secretly. Take it quickly. This money is really nothing to the Qian family. The Qian family may not seem to have much wealth on the surface, but they are actually very wealthy.”

Fang Shi paused and continued, “Although mother doesn’t know the exact amount, she has been married to your uncle for several years. She knows the amount in her heart. Antiques and paintings are not counted, but silver bills are worth tens of thousands of taels. Your uncle knows how to hide things, so he must have hidden a lot. This is why the sons and daughters-in-law of the Qian family are torturing me and your brother. They are afraid that your brother, as the eldest son, will get most of the family property.”

Zhulan, “.”

Did Fang Shi trust her too much? She actually said it to her face!

(End of this chapter)

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