Zhulan took the warm water Zhou Shuren handed her. “It’s a pity I could only see the little baby crawling around; I couldn’t tell if it was a boy or a girl.”

She was exhausted in her dream, chasing after the baby but still couldn’t catch up.

Zhou Shuren sat down beside Zhulan. “Want some more?”

Zhulan shook her head. “No, I don’t want any more.”

Zhou Shuren put down the cup. “Do you hope it’s a boy or a girl?”

Zhulan smiled. “I really like girls, but unfortunately, in ancient times, boys were better. They could go wherever they wanted without being restricted, but girls couldn’t. To be honest, if I had a girl and she got married, I really couldn’t bear to let her go. Boys are better; they’re the ones you bring into the family.”

Zhou Shuren smiled. “I also think boys are better.”

He loved daughters and hoped to have a daughter like Zhulan, but there were too many restrictions on girls in ancient times. Once married, it was difficult for them to even return to their parents’ home. If their daughter was bullied, he and Zhulan would be heartbroken.

Zhulan played with Zhou Shuren’s hand. “You’ve been teaching Shi Qing for a while now. How does it feel?”

Zhou Shuren replied, “Shi Qing lacks vision and a broad perspective. I teach him a little bit every day, and he absorbs it very quickly. Why are you suddenly asking about him?”

“I saw him today, and I feel he’s changed a lot, so I asked.”

Zhou Shuren glanced at the time. “I’ll accompany you for a walk in the garden.”

“I really need to clear my head. Let’s go!”

Zhou Shuren, worried that Zhulan might get cold, gave her a cloak. The two went to the garden, and after walking for a while, Zhou Shuren said, “It seems like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Li Shi clinging to you.”

Before, even when he was on leave, Li Shi would still dare to get close to Zhulan.

Zhulan chuckled, “Ever since you found out I was pregnant, your eyes have been killing me. How dare Li Shi come?”

Zhou Shuren snorted, “She wasn’t afraid before, but she was afraid of hurting you and not being able to take responsibility, so she didn’t dare come.”

Zhulan curled her lips. “Now I’m the family’s protected one. Not to mention Li Shi; even the children don’t dare come.”

Zhou Shuren paused for a moment. “Don’t you find it boring?”

Zhulan shook her head. “No, I don’t have much energy. It’s good that no one is there to sleep with.”

“That’s good.”

He was genuinely worried that Zhulan would get bored. Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand, regretting his decision. He should have agreed when Chen Daren suggested giving up the government office.

That way, he could have spent more time with Zhulan.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren chatted as they walked. Zhou Shuren felt it was getting late, so he helped Zhulan back to her courtyard through the main gate of the garden.

Chang Lian, leading Shi Qing out of his own courtyard, saw his father supporting his mother’s back. He couldn’t help but smile. His parents had such a good relationship. But the thought of having another younger brother or sister made his stomach ache; they were too young.

Changlian turned around and saw Shi Qing staring blankly in the direction of his parents. “Snap out of it! You’ve never seen my father so gentle before, have you? You’ll get used to it as you come home more often.”

Shi Qing looked at the backs of Zhou Daren and his wife. He was a little confused. He had heard about Zhou Daren’s vows, but he had always thought of Zhou Daren’s scheming. The more he interacted with him, the more he felt that Zhou Daren was extremely cunning, and the more he felt that the affection he expressed was all a lie. He didn’t believe that there was any love between Zhou Daren and his wife. But what he had just seen made Shi Qing realize that he was wrong.

Zhou Daren loved his wife dearly. He had never seen him smile so gently, his heart and eyes filled with his wife. Was this love?

He had never believed in love. His father had taught him that anything could be used as long as it had value, and he had understood from a young age that profit was paramount. His father liked his mother, but only for her appearance. His mother was killed by his stepmother, and his father knew this but remained silent because his mother was not as valuable as the benefits brought by his stepmother.

He was abused when he was a child, but his father didn’t care much. Well, it was fine. He had schemed to kill his elder brother, and his father didn’t say anything either, simply because he had seen his abilities.

He had seen officials’ wives and many couples, but he had never witnessed true affection; it was all about intertwined family interests.

Yet today, he had seen affection, and he was somewhat bewildered. Could there truly be affection between husband and wife, or was it merely a matter of self-interest?

Changlian took a few steps and turned back to see Shi Qing still there. “What are you thinking about? Snap out of it.”

Shi Qing quickly took two steps forward. “Was Zhou Daren, your father, always like this at home?”

Changlian chuckled; it seemed his father had frightened his student. “Yes, let me tell you, when my father is on leave at home, no one ever comes to visit, because everyone knows he’ll be with my mother. Also, we sons and daughters are treated like we were born out of wedlock. It’s one thing if we never see our father smile, but if we do, we’re guaranteed to be in trouble. However, these past two years, he hasn’t bothered us.”

Changlian sized up Shi Qing, this young master Shi, the son of a merchant. He didn’t want to know how the young master had received such favor to become a scholar; he only wanted to know why his father had taken Shi Qing in. In his heart, he already considered Shi Qing a rival. Thinking of his master’s evaluation, he felt uncomfortable. Was he really that bad?

Changlian turned away from Shi Qing, took two steps forward, and said, “Speaking of which, your father made an exception for you today. He didn’t spend his day off with your mother but instead took you to see my master.”

Changlian paused, his tone casual. “My father didn’t make you formally become his disciple like he did with Meng Jie; he only made you call him ‘Xiānsheng.’ I’m very confused. Why would my father teach you?”

His father was very famous now. Leaving aside the truly talented second-place scholar, his reputation in the last two years has attracted many people who want to become his disciples. Every so often, someone comes to visit—some from good families, some from prestigious clans, and some with exceptional talent—but his father didn’t accept any of them. Why did he accept a merchant’s son?

Shi Qing felt quite shocked. Was the Zhou Daren that Changlian mentioned the same person he knew? Recalling the scene of Zhou Daren teaching him, Shi Qing couldn’t help but touch his aching wrist; his hand was really going to be ruined from copying so much.

(End of Chapter)

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