After Second Zhou left, Zhulan carefully examined the gift list sent by the Qian family. It included ginseng and other precious medicinal herbs. Zhulan fell silent. The more valuable the Qian family’s gifts, the more money Fang Shi had taken away. Fortunately, it had been dealt with before a feud was formed.

She and Zhou Shuren never underestimated anyone. When Steward Qian was alive, he emphasized the education of his descendants. The Qian family had many children with a strong foundation. If the adults, in order to motivate their children, treated the Zhou family as enemies, and even if one of them succeeded, it would be troublesome for the Zhou family in the future.

Zhulan had witnessed Fang Shi’s greed this time. She wasn’t afraid of having ulterior motives, because everyone has their own. Even she, who had initially treated everyone equally, couldn’t maintain that level of impartiality later.

But she was wary of greed. Greed would infinitely expand desires. She felt it was best for Fang Shi to remain in Lizhou City and to remain there permanently.

The next morning, Second Zhou, who had just returned, boarded a carriage bound for Chuanzhou with his already packed luggage.

Ming Rui always lived with Ming Teng. Ming Teng was a lively character, and Ming Rui was also restless. The two brothers were as close as brothers. When Second Zhou and Zhao Shi left, Ming Rui, being young, cried for a while, but Ming Teng comforted him, and he was fine the next day. On the other hand, Yu Shuang, though she understood the situation, didn’t recover for a while and was listless the next day.

Zhulan called Yu Shuang over. “Your Da Bo has left. Although the spring plowing is already over, Nai still has quite a lot of things to keep busy with, so Nai wants to ask you for a favor.”

Yu Shuang blinked her beautiful, big eyes. She had wanted to help her Nainai for a long time, just like her little Gu. “Nai, what kind of favor do you want me to do?”

Zhulan smiled, “Nai would like to ask Yu Shuang to help your little Gu manage the kitchen’s purchasing accounts.”

Yu Shuang nodded in surprise, “Nai, I can do math. I will help Gu manage the accounts well.”

Zhulan pinched Yu Shuang’s little face. “Nai believes in you.”

Second Zhou and his wife had been gone for more than two months. Boss Zhou had returned to Lizhou City. The hottest time in Lizhou City in the eighth lunar month had already passed.

Boss Zhou sent the message back first. It was almost noon when Zhulan and Xue Han were waiting for Wu Ning at the door.

Zhulan didn’t wait long at the door before the caravan arrived. There were six carriages in total, with Boss Zhou in the first one. After Boss Zhou got out of the carriage, he said, “Mother, your son is back.”

Zhulan noticed that Boss Zhou had lost a lot of weight; he had been away for two months, and it was summer. “You’ve had a hard time.”

Boss Zhou was quite tanned and grinned. “Mother, your son had no trouble.”

At that moment, Wu Ning’s maid helped her down from the carriage. Seeing Shenzi personally waiting for her at the entrance, Wu Ning was so touched that her eyes reddened. She hurried forward to pay her respects. “Shenzi, I am only a junior. How could I trouble Shenzi to wait for me at the gate?”  

Zhulan took Wu Ning’s hand. The girl was so thin she was little more than skin and bones, making Zhulan think again of Wu Li Shi. Holding Wu Ning’s hand, she led her toward the courtyard. “Shenzi had been worrying about you and wanted to see you sooner, so I couldn’t wait and came out to wait for you instead. Just look at how thin you’ve become — this journey must have been hard on you.”

Wu Ning used her handkerchief to wipe her eyes. Ever since Nainai passed away, she had been unable to eat properly. She had been raised personally by Nainai, and now that the person who loved her most was gone, her heart ached terribly. “Shenzi, I’m not suffering.”

Zhulan shot her daughter a look, and Xue Han quickly stepped forward to hold Wu Ning’s other hand. “I knew you were coming, so I already cleaned up a room in my courtyard for you. But now I’ve changed my mind — I want to stay with you instead. Sister Wu Ning, shall we live together?”

Wu Ning froze for a moment, her eyes reddening even more. Xue Han had clearly noticed how troubled and sorrowful she was, so she wanted to keep her company. Wu Ning tightened her grip on Xue Han’s hand. “Alright.”

Zhulan then said to Liu Ya, “Take the luggage Miss Wu brought and move the everyday items into the young lady’s room. The two sisters haven’t seen each other in a long time, so let them stay together.”

Liu Ya acknowledged obediently, “Yes.”

Zhulan led Wu Ning back to the main courtyard, and Wu Ning brought two maids and an old woman who also came in.

After Zhulan helped Wu Ning sit down, Wu Ning remembered the letter her brother had written and hurriedly went to the old woman who had come with her. “Bring me my brother’s letter.”

The old woman quickly brought out the letter and stepped forward. “Miss, the letter.”

Wu Ning took the letter. “Auntie, this is a letter from my brother to you.”

Zhulan took it and opened it. Inside the letter was a list and a silver note. Wu Ming wrote that some of the items on the list were gifts for the Dragon Boat Festival, and some were gifts for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. The silver note was for one hundred taels of silver, which was for the Zhou family to use for Wu Ning’s expenses. He didn’t say much else. Zhulan accepted the letter. Wu Ming really trusted her and Zhou Shuren.

Zhulan accepted the silver note. She planned to return the New Year’s money to Wu Ning. She accepted it now to put Wu Ning’s mind at ease. Otherwise, Wu Ning was at her most sensitive time, and if she didn’t accept it, the girl wouldn’t feel at ease.

Sure enough, Zhulan accepted the money, and Wu Ning breathed a sigh of relief. Zhulan smiled and said, “Lunch will be served soon. Xue Han will take you to wash up and change your clothes first. After lunch, you can rest. Once you’re rested, you can chat with your shenzi.”

Wu Ning had come all this way feeling uneasy. Even though her brother said he treated the Zhou family as his own, it wasn’t really her home. She had been thinking about it the whole way, and now that her tense nerves had snapped, she really didn’t have the energy to talk. “Shenzi, then I’ll go wash up first.”

Zhulan patted Wu Ning’s hand. “Xue Han will take you to…”

“Alright.”

Xue Han stood up and took Wu Ning’s hand. “Sister Wu Ning, come with me.”

After Wu Ning left, Li Shi felt a pang of sadness and said, “Mother, this girl is so thin she’s unrecognizable.”

Zhulan said, “Then you should treat her better. This child is pitiful.”

Li Shi muttered, “Mother, this child’s marriage prospects are not easy to find.”

Zhulan said, “…”

Indeed, it was not easy. Her parents died when she was young, and before she grew up, her Nainai and Yeye both passed away. The Wu family’s children all had a reputation for bringing bad luck to their relatives, and this time the reputation was even more prominent.

(End of this chapter)

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