Time flies, and the first month of the lunar calendar passed in a flurry of visits. Throughout the month, the Zhou family children received a considerable amount of New Year’s money, with the Chen family being the most generous.

During the first month, Li Shi received a reply from Qi Shi. The Xu family, considering Zhou Shuren’s future prospects, offered a high price, buying out five hundred taels of silver in one go.

These five hundred taels reached Li Shi’s hands by mid-February. She gave it to Zhulan, who diligently acquired property for the eldest and third branches of the family.

Zhulan didn’t go too far to buy anything; she bought two shops for the eldest branch in Chuanzhou city. With the remaining silver, half was used to buy land, part of the other half was used to dig a pond for fish farming, and the rest was used to buy some wasteland to plant apple trees.

Most of the silver for the eldest branch belonged to Li Shi herself; when Zhulan bought the land, it was directly registered under her name. The land bought with the eldest branch’s monthly savings was registered under the eldest son’s name.

The eldest son was already capable of managing things independently, and he could manage these lands well.

Most of the money in the third branch of the family belonged to Dong Shi. Zhulan didn’t buy land; she only bought shops.

Chuanzhou City, thanks to Lizhou City’s ambition to become the “Apple City”, has many apple trees, and its future looks promising. There’s still room for investment in shops in Chuanzhou over the next two years. Zhulan knew that Chang Yi had bought land and shops on his own. It wasn’t that she wanted to show favoritism; among her sons, the second son was too calculating. If we’re talking about selfishness, Chang Lian was no match for Chang Yi.

Chang Lian was young and could be reformed. After a few years of guidance from her and Zhou Shuren, while Chang Lian hadn’t undergone a complete transformation, they had used some serious methods, and now they were satisfied with him.

On the other hand, Chang Yi was obedient when in front of Zhulan and Zhou Shuren. Even though he was afraid of them, once he gained some confidence, he would have his own ideas.

Now, the married members of the third branch all had their own businesses and income, and the branches had clearly undergone significant changes.

Boss Zhou felt more confident and no longer hesitated to speak in front of Zhulan.

Second Zhou, no longer needing to worry about the businesses in Jiangnan, focused entirely on his own family’s operations and no longer coveted the power held by Eldest Zhou.

The newlywed couple, Dong Shi and Chang Lian, seemed to have gotten along well; sometimes, Zhulan could see a sweetness in their eyes.

In March, Li Shi’s belly grew even larger. While Zhulan worried about Li Shi’s pregnancy, she couldn’t help but touch her own belly, still without any sign of pregnancy.

Zhulan sat by the window, gazing out, her thoughts drifting.

Liu Ya entered and said, “Mistress, the Second Madam’s mother and brother have arrived.”

Zhulan snapped back to reality. “The Second Madam’s mother and brother?”

Liu Ya replied, “Yes, the steward inquired.”

Zhulan was surprised. Why would Zhao Shi’s mother, Fang Shi, bring her son to Lizhou City? “Is there no one else?”

Liu Ya thought of what she had seen. “Madam, there were only the Second Madam’s mother and her younger brother. There was no one else, and…”

Zhulan felt that the Qian family wouldn’t dare to mistreat Fang Shi, yet Fang Shi had come alone with her child. Something must have happened. “Tell me.”

Liu Ya said. “The Second Madam’s mother was dressed very poorly.”

Zhulan pressed her temples. “Isn’t the Second Madam at home? No, this morning Chang Yi took Zhao Shi out of the city. Go and invite them here, then send someone outside the city to find the Second Master and the Second Madam.”

Liu Ya responded, “Yes!”

Zhulan sat and waited for a while. Fang Shi was carrying a tattered bundle in one hand and holding her youngest son, Qian Keqi, in the other. Zhulan looked away, but before she could speak, Fang Shi burst into tears, dropped the bundle, and knelt down before Zhulan with Qian Keqi, saying, “Mother-in-law, I’ve finally found Lizhou City!”

Zhulan was speechless. Fang Shi was dressed in rags, but judging from her spirits, she hadn’t suffered much. Besides, Fang Shi was usually very good at hiding her true identity; this attire was clearly meant to conceal her true nature.

Seeing the mistress frown, Liu Ya quickly helped her up, saying, “Mistress doesn’t like kneeling. You are the Second Madam’s mother; please sit down.”

Fang Shi stiffened, awkwardly saying, “I was just too excited.”

Zhulan gestured for Liu Ya to bring some snacks. Looking at Fang Shi’s posture, Zhulan suddenly didn’t want to ask what had happened. “You must be tired from your journey. Have some snacks first.”

After saying that, Zhulan drank plain water. Yes, just plain water. To better nourish her body, she had stopped drinking tea and had been drinking plain water for almost three months. Even when visiting others, Zhulan wouldn’t drink much, just a small sip.

Fang Shi regretted it in her heart, regretting that she had overdone it. Fang Shi responded, secretly glancing at her daughter’s mother-in-law out of the corner of her eye. It had been almost two years since she last saw her. Even though she was doing well, the infighting within the family made her age quickly.

In contrast, her qīnjiā mǔ’s appearance hadn’t changed much, but her demeanor had. She no longer resembled a peasant woman; now, sitting silently, she exuded an imposing aura. Fang Shi felt hesitant to speak. Looking at her qīnjiā mǔ’s clothing and jewelry, Fang Shi lowered her head even further.

Seeing Fang Shi’s bowed head, Zhulan said, “Second son and Zhao Shi went out today and won’t be back for a while. You must be tired from your journey. You and the children should go change and rest. We can talk about everything later tonight.”

Fang Shi opened her mouth but then closed it again. She was somewhat afraid of her qīnjiā mǔ’s imposing presence. She had been reprimanded in Pingzhou City, and now she was even more terrified. She felt as if she had returned to her days as a servant, barely daring to breathe. “Thank you, qīnjiā mǔ.”

Zhu Lan truly could not bring herself to act warmly. Fang Shi had come with ulterior motives. She just responded with an “Mhm”.

After Liu Ya led Fang Shi away, Zhulan continued to space out. She wanted to write to Old Master Lü, but there was no rush.

Second Zhou and Zhao Shi returned an hour later. They first went to see Zhulan, and less than a quarter of an hour later, they returned to the main courtyard.

Zhulan noticed Zhao Shi’s subtle actions; Zhao Shi tugged at Second Zhou’s clothes before he stepped forward.

Second Zhou hesitated to look his mother in the eye. He and Zhao Shi had only learned upon returning home that his mother hadn’t asked his mother-in-law anything, but looking into her eyes, he knew she had guessed. “Mother.”

Zhulan put down her book, having not read a single page that day. “I’m listening. Speak.”

Second Zhou said hesitantly, “Mother, Manager Qian suddenly passed away in the first month of the lunar year. My mother-in-law and Keqi couldn’t stay in the Qian family any longer, so they came to us.”

Disappointment flashed in Zhulan’s eyes. “I’ll give you a chance to speak again.”

Second Zhou’s heart trembled. He was telling his mother-in-law’s version of events, and he knew she wasn’t telling the truth. Second Zhou met his mother’s eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. “Mother, I…”

Zhao Shi panicked. Her mother-in-law making her husband speak again was a disgrace to her. Her mother’s coming to her had already made her feel insecure; if she told the truth, how could she maintain her standing in the Zhou family? “Mother, my mother feels that with Master Qian gone, she has no connection with the Qian family anymore, and because she still cares about me, that’s why she came.”

(End of Chapter)

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