Next year is the year of the provincial examination, and many people have come to buy bamboo paper. Just then, a delivery came from Luzhou. The deliveryman was a cousin of Zhou Erzhu from Huitouling. After meeting, we didn't bother with small talk. We first moved the dozens of rolls of bamboo paper into the warehouse and put them away. Only then did we have time to sit down, have a drink of water, and rest.

After exchanging a few words, Zhou's cousin said, "When I came here, I met your uncle. He asked me to pass on a message to you, saying that if you have time this year, you should take the children back to visit."

Zhou Erzhu often had the deliverymen bring back money, a specialty of the capital. Zhou Erzhu's parents were also very proud in the village because of his success. However, it was true that Zhou Erzhu's family hadn't been home for several years. Some people in the village were already talking about how Zhou Erzhu's parents had mistreated him and his wife back then. Zhou Erzhu's father, Xi'an, felt ashamed and regretful. This was clearly the most promising child in the family, but now he was the child who was most estranged from him.

After Zhou Erzhu and his wife established themselves in the capital, their family members did consider coming to the capital to benefit from their connections. However, the Zhou family patriarch was very strict. Both the village head of Huitouling and the patriarch understood that if the Zhou family members were allowed to come to the capital to find Zhou Erzhu, they would eventually be disliked by their employer. Luzhou was not only a place where Huitouling produced pillars; they could easily open a workshop elsewhere. Therefore, after the Zhou family had tried several times to bring Zhou Erzhu back, the patriarch told Zhou Erzhu's father that if they continued to be so stubborn, everyone except Zhou Erzhu would be expelled from the Zhou family.

Being expelled from the clan is a big deal. In this era, the clan is a person's root and a person's support. A person without a clan has a hard time living in this world. Not only are they easily bullied, but they are also disliked when it comes to marriage. Therefore, after the Zhou family patriarch Genli Zheng explained this to Zhou Erzhu's father, the Zhou family finally settled down.

Zhou Erzhu smiled and said, "Second cousin, look how busy this shop is! My wife and I are really overwhelmed right now, so the owner has hired a few more helpers. This is just the normal situation. If it's a year of the competition, the shop will be even busier. I'll have to trouble you to explain things to us when you get back."

Zhou Erzhu's cousin hesitated for a moment and said, "Before I came, your aunt told me that you and Gouwazi's mother were too busy, so she asked me to take your second son back with her and help take care of him."

Zhou Erzhu's expression remained unchanged, but a surge of anger slowly rose from the bottom of his heart. His youngest son had come with great difficulty. Not only did his pregnancy coincide with the incident where Zheng Yuanyuan was chased and killed in the street, and the mother risked her life to help Zheng Yuanyuan escape, but because of this, she suffered a miscarriage and was bedridden for three months. She even lost the baby several times. Not only did the master of the house inquire about the baby every time he wrote, but the third madam of the Yongning Marquis's mansion also frequently sent her sister to examine the mother. Despite such meticulous care, she still suffered a difficult childbirth and had to risk her life to give birth to the child. Because of this, not only did Zhou Erzhu and his wife take extra care of this hard-won child, but the Zheng and Xu families also frequently brought the child food, supplies, and toys.

Zhou Erzhu smiled and said, "Second cousin, my child came into this world with great difficulty, and it was the life of the child's mother. If I send the child back to my hometown, I'm afraid Gouwazi's mother will fight me to the death. Second cousin, I understand my parents' intentions. I need to trouble you to explain to my parents when you go back. Gouwazi's mother and I are working for the employer here, not running our own business. Even if they come, I can't make arrangements for them. As for my parents' retirement, I will make sure that my other brothers take care of them."

Zhou Erzhu's cousin sighed inwardly, but could only agree. He took the silver that Zhou Erzhu had sent home, along with several gift boxes for his parents and elders in the clan, and returned to Lüzhou.

After seeing his second cousin off, Zhou Erzhu returned to the backyard. His wife, Zhou Er, said with a smile, "What did your second cousin say to you? Look how angry you are, you're as hot as a toad by the river."

Zhou Erzhu's youngest son ran out of the room, grabbed Zhou Erzhu's leg, and kept calling him "Daddy." Zhou Erzhu picked up his son and said, "He didn't say anything. By the way, the boss said we should buy a house in the capital. What do you mean by that?"

Zhou Ersao's eyes sparkled as she said, "Of course we should buy it! What the boss says is definitely right. Besides, if we buy a small house in the capital, our children might be able to take the exams there in the future, instead of having to go all the way back to Luzhou. Let's go find Brother Jingji to help us take a look." Over the years, Zhou Ersao had grown to admire Xu Zhi more and more. She did her best to do whatever Xu Zhi asked of her. She had a thought in her mind: as long as she followed her boss, she wouldn't have to worry about making a living.