Seeing that his mother wasn’t looking at the account book anymore, Second Zhou knew she was satisfied with his work. He smiled and said, “My eldest sister also benefited from Father’s help this year. Not only did she buy three more acres of dry land, but her husband also went to teach at the clan school, earning four hundred coins a month. Jiang Du also entered the clan school for his early education, and Jiang Miao now cherishes her hair the most, not letting anyone touch it. The youngest twins can already walk. The two children look alike, small in stature but very clever.”

Seeing that his mother enjoyed listening, Second Zhou told her more about the twins’ amusing stories.

Zhulan knew her eldest daughter’s family was doing well, so she was relieved. Now that her eldest daughter was slowly building up her wealth, her future wouldn’t be bad.

Zhulan looked at Chang Lian. “After spending half a year in our hometown, I see you’ve become much more composed.”

Chang Lian had thought a lot during these past six months. He had never seriously considered his own shortcomings before, but he had figured them out in the last six months. He had focused on his studies for half a year, and it had indeed washed away much of his impetuousness. “Mother, I understand your good intentions.”

Zhulan nodded inwardly. From observing Chang Lian all this time, she thought that Master Meng was satisfied with him now. “Your master has been talking about you a lot lately. Tomorrow, take some gifts to the Meng residence to see your master!”

Chang Lian felt at ease. “Yes.”

Zhulan saw the weariness on her two sons’ faces. They had rushed here desperately, afraid that the wind and snow would delay their journey. “Go back, take a bath, change your clothes, and rest first. We’ll talk again when your father comes back tonight.”

Second Zhou and Chang Lian stood up. “Mother, we’ll go back now.”

“Go back!”

After her two sons left, Zhulan still had a lot of work to do. The gifts Second Zhou brought all needed to be unpacked and stored in the storeroom. Zhulan called over Steward Ding and Liu Ya, and she checked each item on the list one by one.

Books and calligraphy were kept separately, waiting for Zhou Shuren to return. Other vases and antiques were inspected; those suitable for display were removed, and those unsuitable were placed in storage.

An hour later, everything was checked. Zhulan then checked the mountain produce Second Zhou had brought. Second Zhou had indeed collected a lot: mountain fungus, mushrooms, monkey head mushrooms, bracken, daylilies, and more were all there.

Zhulan asked Liu Ya to take some bracken and daylilies to the kitchen; they could have some extra vegetables tonight, as they’d had enough radishes and potatoes these days.

And yes, they’d also had their fill of mutton and pork.

Speaking of which, cabbage and radishes in Lizhou City were a bit more expensive than in the inland areas and the north. Even if ordinary people grew a lot of cabbage in their gardens, they could sell it; merchants from other tribes often came to buy cabbage and radishes.

After Zhulan finished inspecting, Wan Jiu, who drove the carriage for Zhou Shuren, returned first, carrying two buckets of fish.

Wan Jiu said, “These fish were given to me by the people who contracted the pond. Master couldn’t accept them, so he used the money to buy them all. Mistress, Master told me to deliver them and then pick him up. Mistress, I’m going to pick him up now.”

Zhulan replied, “Go ahead.”

After Wan Jiu left, Zhulan circled around the two buckets of fish. These weren’t small buckets for drawing water; they were large wooden buckets specifically for holding live fish. Both buckets contained a considerable number of fish, each weighing over two jin (approximately 1 kg). Zhulan knew that the fish fry in the pond were caught from the river. The larger ones, weighing three or four jin, were sold directly, while those under two jin were raised together. It was considered good if they grew to over two jin in a few months.

These two buckets contained about fifteen fish, weighing over thirty jin. Although Lizhou City was poor, everything was expensive in winter. These thirty jin of fish could sell for thirty wen per jin, almost a tael of silver.

Judging from Wan Jiu’s cheerful appearance, it seemed that the people who contracted the pond had also made money.

Zhulan smiled and said, “We’re having fish tonight, and I’ll give you three fish each. The whole family’s here today, so let’s have a lively time.”

Liu Ya was delighted; she hadn’t eaten fish in a long time. “Okay, I’ll go to the kitchen.”

“Go ahead.”

The servants of Zhulan’s household all ate together. Zhulan’s household did not need anyone to serve them meals. When their masters ate, they would also go to eat. There were more than twenty servants, and three tables with three fish each were just right.

Zhulan returned to the courtyard. Li Shi had woken up and was holding a purse. “Mother, this is for you.”

Zhulan was taken aback. She already knew about the thousand taels of silver and wondered if Li Shi would get carried away. She hadn’t expected Li Shi to give it to her first. Zhulan took the purse lightly and opened it under Li Shi’s expectant gaze. Inside was a silver note, a fifty-tael note. Zhulan’s heart swelled. “For me?”

Li Shi was still a little reluctant, but thinking of her mother-in-law’s kindness, she felt she should give it. “I originally wanted to go to the market to buy you jewelry, but I don’t have a good eye, so I asked my husband to exchange it for a silver note. Mother, it’s not much money, but it’s our filial piety.”

Zhulan held the purse. Li Shi’s stinginess was due to the lack of money. With little money, she had no confidence and could only be stingy. But thinking about it carefully, from her time in ancient times, Li Shi had always given her money, whether it was to please her or out of genuine affection.

The other two daughters-in-law also tried to please her, but they didn’t really do what Li Shi could do; they mostly just talked the talk.

Zhulan took Li Shi’s hand; her chubby hand had become much thinner, and she could wear the jade bracelet again. Don’t blame her for favoring Li Shi; people really do reciprocate. She felt Li Shi’s sincerity; this time, Li Shi was genuinely filial to her.

“Don’t stand; come and sit down.”

Li Shi said, sensing her mother-in-law’s happiness. “Mother, buy whatever you like.”

Zhulan repaid kindness with kindness, never forgetting those who treated her well. Her two daughters always thought of her, and she always thought of her daughters. Li Shi was filial to her, and she wasn’t stingy. “I have a cloak here that Lady Chen gave me. The color is a bit dark, but the leather is top-notch. It suits your fair complexion.”

After Zhulan finished speaking, she gestured for Liu Ya to take out the cloak. This cloak was truly beautiful; she really liked it, but she didn’t like the color and had just kept it.

Liu Ya brought it over, and Zhulan draped it over Li Shi’s shoulders. Although the color was a bit dark, it suited Li Shi’s fair complexion quite well, and her plump figure made her look even younger. It didn’t seem like a cloak was only for older people.

Li Shi was stunned. “Mother.”

She hadn’t come to ask for anything.

Zhulan smiled. “Alright, take it back. It’ll be time for dinner soon, and I’ll change my clothes too.”

Li Shi, feeling a little dizzy, returned to her courtyard wearing the new cloak. Boss Zhoua immediately noticed his wife’s cloak; he recognized it. Li Shi had exclaimed that the fur alone was worth tens of taels of silver!

Boss Zhou, “Weren’t you supposed to be filial to Mother? How come you came back with a cloak instead?”

Li Shi stroked the fur on her collar, remained silent for a moment before sitting down and saying, “Husband, Mother gave it to me.”

Boss Zhou glanced at the cloak and fell silent as well, unable to help but laugh at himself. His parents were so shrewd; they understood their brothers’ thoughts perfectly well. Boss Zhou realized he shouldn’t have any ulterior motives. As the eldest son, he only needed to be filial to his parents and fulfill his duty. “My wife taught me a lesson today.”

Li Shi said, “Don’t be so formal; it sounds strange to me.”

Boss Zhou laughed heartily, “Alright, I won’t be so formal.”

Zhou Shuren returned after dark, or rather, the days were shorter, and his return time was the same as usual.

(End of Chapter)

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