Zhulan adapted very well. It was great that she didn’t have to greet people politely. The pain of losing the three houses was much less. Zhulan felt relieved when she was called shěnshěn. She was also an ordinary person. Jiang Shi was indeed kind last time, but she couldn’t hide her condescending attitude. Finally, they were on the same level!

Zhulan smiled and said, “Let’s go together.”

Jiang Shi was smiling. After everyone sat down, Jiang Shi’s eyes fell on Xuehan. Her mèimèi’s xiǎogūzi was indeed good-looking, but it was a pity that she was engaged. “This must be sister Xuehan. I have always heard Chuchu talk about you. I was sorry that I couldn’t see you last time. Today I finally met you in person.”

Xuehan was a little nervous. She pinched her palm to reassure herself, and then replied, “Xuehan has met the eldest sister of the Dong family.”

Her sǎozi’s jiějiě called her mèimèi, and called her mother shěnzi affectionately. She couldn’t call her Madam Jiang either. Although this jiejie was quite a bit older; still, calling her jiejie felt more intimate.

Jiang Shi raised her eyebrows. The little girl was young, but she was very clear-headed. No wonder her mèimèi liked her. “Mèimèi, get up quickly.”

Xuehan stood up with a smile. She was happy that she had not embarrassed her mother, but she did not show it on her face.

Jiang Shi saw that Zhou Xuehan was very generous and calm, and her posture of greeting was more standard than her daughter’s. Her daughter was born into an official family and was taught since childhood. How long had the Zhou family started?

Jiang Shi’s eyes fell on Yang Shi. This old lady did not look like a country girl. It was true that such a mother would raise her children like her. Jiang Shi sighed again. It was a pity that Zhou Xuehan was engaged. If she was not engaged, she would definitely be able to get married to a better family.

Jiang Shi’s daughter and son came in. Jiang Shi was happy to see her own children and said, “Come and meet Grandma Zhou.”

Zhulan, “.”

She actually took good care of herself!

Zhulan had prepared gifts long ago. After Jiang Dong Shi got married, she gave birth to a son and a daughter. Both children were young, the son was only seven years old and the daughter was only five years old. Zhulan gave the boy a jade pendant and the girl a forehead pendant.

The boy, the only boy in the Jiang family, was very stable, while the girl was a little girl who was spoiled and a little naive.

After the greetings, Xuehan took the little girl Jiang Mulan out, and the seven-year-old boy Jiang Muchen went to the front yard.

Jiang Dong Shi waited for the children to leave and said, “I thought I could get closer to my shěnzi, but who would have thought that we would be separated again after today.”

Zhulan smiled and said, “We will meet again in the future.”

She was still thinking about her free house, and they must return to the capital.

Jiang Dong Shi smiled, but she didn’t have any hope in her heart. Although her husband didn’t say much, she was not a woman who knew nothing. Lizhou City was not a good place, and it was difficult to return to the capital!

Zhulan and Jiang Dong Shi talked a lot today. This time, Jiang Dongshi said everything and Zhulan just had to cooperate. The women talked about materials, children, and jewelry.

After having dinner at Jiang’s house, Zhulan and her family returned home.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren took Xuehan in a carriage. Zhulan asked, “Are you going tomorrow?”

Zhou Shuren nodded, “Yes, I’ll take Chang Lian with me tomorrow.”

Zhulan said, “That’s good.”

The next day, Zhou Shuren took Chang Lian to meet Jiang Ming and go to his master’s house. Jiang Ming’s master was a juren, Juren Meng.

Zhou Shuren came back with Chang Lian in the afternoon. Zhulan asked, “How was it?”

Zhou Shuren talked a lot today. “Let me drink some water first.”

Zhou Shuren drank several glasses of water and his throat felt much better. “If Jiang Ming hadn’t introduced him today, Meng Juren wouldn’t have accepted Chang Lian.”

Zhulan was not surprised. Chang Lian was indeed impetuous in recent days because Zhou Shuren’s status had become so great. “Then what?”

Zhou Shuren said, “He asked Chang Lian many questions before reluctantly accepting Chang Lian.”

It was truly out of obligation—only for Jiang Ming’s sake. He had come to realize that Juren Meng wasn’t mentoring Jiang Ming because he valued him, but because Jiang Ming’s father had once done him a favor. Now, that favor was being repaid through him. In the future, he would owe Jiang Ming for this. Being a father was truly exhausting—even the burden of social debts fell on his shoulders for his son!

Zhulan asked, “What about your business?”

Zhou Shuren coughed, “I didn’t hide it from Jiang Ming. I tested Meng Juren first, and he is indeed capable. Then I told Meng Juren my purpose in front of Jiang Ming, and we talked alone for a while. I had to convince him with a lot of words.”

“What did you promise him?”

Zhou Shuren knew he couldn’t hide it from Zhulan, “Meng Juren’s request is very simple. He will help me for ten years, and I will accept his youngest son as my apprentice.”

Zhulan, “No, Meng Juren is talented, why doesn’t he teach his youngest son himself?”

Zhou Shuren, “It’s simple. Meng Juren doesn’t want to be an official, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want his sons and grandsons to be officials. Moreover, no matter how talented he is, there are aspects that he can’t teach his son. With the relationship with the Jiang family, I am a perfect master.”

Zhulan was about to reply to Zhou Shuren when Boss Zhou knocked on the door, “Dad, a post from the Marquis’ Mansion.”

(End of this chapter)

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