Zhulan was happy; she was happy because of Li Shi’s trust. As for Dong Shi, she was just trying to please her.

The other branches of the family went back and discussed the matter. Eldest Zhou was dumbfounded; Li Shi really hadn’t consulted him. However, Li Shi had done a good job!

Second Zhou was silent for a while. He trusted his mother, but like Zhao Shi, he liked to keep some things to himself. He also preferred to test his abilities, so Second Zhou had no reason to criticize Zhao Shi.

Chang Lian praised Dong Shi, “Well done. Mother really has a knack for making money. Giving the family’s money to her will increase our annual income.”

Dong Shi was happy that she had made the right move. “Husband is right. I will definitely listen to Mother more in the future.”

Chang Lian looked at Dong Shi. He knew the anxiety in her heart. He thought of what his father had said in the study. The more favored his father was by the Emperor, the more people would try to frame him. That’s why his father had clearly stated that the Zhou family did not have concubines. If anyone disregarded the entire Zhou family for profit, his father would not show any mercy.

Chang Lian held Dong Shi’s hand. “Let me be clear with you, our Zhou family has never had concubines. We don’t take concubines now, and we never will. You can rest assured. I will only protect you for the rest of my life.”

Dong Shi’s heart pounded. What her mother had never been able to ask for in her entire life, she had obtained? Madam Dong bit her lip. “What if I can’t have a son?”

Chang Lian paused, thinking of his father’s words. “I have many brothers and many nephews in the future. If we have all girls, I’ll adopt one.”

Dong Shi held her husband’s hand, blinking her eyes. “If we really don’t have a son, we’ll adopt one from my eldest brother’s family.”

She wouldn’t consider her second brother’s family. Ming Rui was indeed very clever, but thinking of her second brother and saozi, she genuinely couldn’t like them. Despite Ming Teng’s antics, she liked him very much. Although she was jealous of her eldest saozi, she respected her eldest saozi’s and brother’s character.

Chang Lian smiled. “That’s what I think too.”

He wouldn’t consider his second brother. They’d been brothers for so many years, and he still hadn’t seen through him; his thoughts were too deep. His saozi’s behavior today only strengthened his resolve. As for Chang Zhi, he wouldn’t consider him either; he didn’t want to worry about him.

That evening, the Zhou family prepared a feast—sixteen dishes in total this year. With so many dishes, they didn’t eat as much as they’d hoped; in recent years, the Zhou family had been well-fed and clothed, and their palates had become quite discerning!

The whole family was bustling about, having stayed up all night to celebrate the New Year. Many of the family members were scholars, and they played a game of riddles to win money.

Each person would present a riddle, and someone else would answer it. If someone couldn’t answer, they would receive one hundred coins; if the riddle was answered correctly, the person who presented the riddle would have to give one hundred coins.

Zhou Shuren didn’t intend to participate and sat on the kang (heated brick bed) watching with Zhulan.

After several rounds, the Eldest Zhou stopped playing, his face darkening. “You’ve gone too far! You can’t even get a proper answer, yet you keep coming at me like this! It’s too much!”

In that short time, he had already taken out one tael of silver. All the family’s money had been given to their mother by Li Shi, and now he only had the money left for New Year’s greetings. The eldest branch of the family was truly poor!

Second Zhou smiled broadly. “Big brother, we just agreed that you couldn’t back out.”

Chang Lian chimed in, “That’s right, big brother; we’re brothers. We only came to you. Isn’t that also giving you a chance to earn money?”

Chang Zhi laughed heartily. “Big brother, we’re all on your side.”

Eldest Zhou was irritated, “I really thank you all.”

These troublesome younger brothers – oh, he really preferred last year when he spent the New Year with his parents, peaceful and not troublesome!

Zhulan saw that Li Shi was so anxious that she wanted to step in herself. Zhulan was definitely biased. Zhulan pulled over Ming Teng, who was watching the commotion. “Go and replace your father.”

Ming Teng had been anxious for a long time. He had a monthly allowance, but compared to his older brother, he had only heard about it and never touched it. He knew that all the money in the family had been given to his Nainai. He stood up. “In ancient times, there were those who went to war in place of their fathers. Today, sons will solve riddles for their fathers. Father, I’ll do it for you.”

Eldest Zhou felt that he hadn’t spoiled this naughty boy for nothing. “Good, good.”

Chang Lian and Chang Yi didn’t know the depth of Ming Teng’s abilities.

Chang Zhi knew perfectly well that Ming Teng wasn’t particularly talented, but he was quick-witted and clever and loved riddles and word games. Chang Zhi had often used riddles to get the boy to memorize poems and study!

Zhulan watched the spectacle with amusement. Second Zhou and Chang Lian immediately started bullying Ming Teng, only to have him win money, which they found unbelievable.

They knew Ming Yun was talented, but they couldn’t believe Ming Teng was so good.

After several rounds, a pile of copper coins accumulated in front of Ming Teng. Only then did Second Zhou and Chang Lian realize that Chang Zhi hadn’t bothered with Ming Teng once since he came up. They exchanged a glance, grinding their teeth, wanting to get revenge on Chang Zhi, but seeing his smiling face, they chickened out.

Zhulan watched the spectacle with amusement, and Zhou Shuren also smiled. Zhulan thought how wonderful it would be if every year were this lively and harmonious, but unfortunately, it was just a dream.

After having dumplings for dinner, everyone returned to their own courtyards. Ming Teng had made a killing today, earning quite a bit of money. The boy ate his dumplings, pocketed his silver, and ran off in a flash, afraid that Li Shi would take it all again.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren lay down. Zhulan said, “It’s the fourth year already. Time really flies.”

Zhou Shuren replied, “Yes, four years.”

Zhulan was a little sleepy; she was used to going to bed early. Staying up all night tonight was too tiring. She mumbled a reply and quickly fell asleep.

Zhou Shuren kissed Zhulan’s forehead and also fell asleep.

In the Li family of Lijia Village, Mother Li couldn’t sleep. “We’re getting old, and we’ve enjoyed our daughter’s good fortune, but we don’t even know if she’s doing well. Our daughter has no special talents; when she suffers, she can only cry alone.”

Father Li retorted, “You’re just overthinking things. If our daughter weren’t doing well, would she be sending us so much money and food? You can tell from the New Year’s gifts from our in-laws that her mother-in-law treats our daughter very well!”

Mother Li, thinking of the servants’ respectful attitude. “It seems I was indeed overthinking things.”

She truly hadn’t expected her simple-minded daughter to have such a great fortune, which even extended to her own family. Now, everyone in the surrounding villages treated the Li family with utmost respect.

Early the next morning, on the first day of the New Year, no neighborhood children were coming by to offer New Year greetings this year. Instead, Zhulan received greetings from the household servants. She had already prepared red envelopes for them all. The amounts were not large—the stewards and older maids each received silver peanuts worth five qian, while the young servants and maids received silver peanuts worth two qian.

Zhulan had specially commissioned these silver peanuts to be made after learning the idea from Lord Chen’s household. They looked attractive and carried an auspicious meaning.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren returned to Zhulan’s parents’ home. The whole family went to the Yang family’s house; it was the Yang family’s first year settling in Lizhou City, so naturally, the more lively, the better.

Zhulan’s second brother’s family also returned, and Zhulan saw Wu He. Wu He had scars on his face, but they weren’t deep, and the marks were still visible.

Seeing Wu He’s scars reminded Zhulan of Wu Dong, and her eyes couldn’t help but redden. “Let Gu take a good look.”

Wu He grinned, “Gu.”

Zhulan quickly calmed down; it was the New Year, and she wanted to smile—something Wu Dong would also want to see.

(End of this chapter)

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