The couple spent another hour chatting with the Zhou family, explaining in detail what had happened outside.
I heard that Li Mai has also recognized an elder brother in the capital, and the Zhou family elders are happy for Li Mai.
"As long as you think the other person isn't a bad person and is worth having as an older brother, that's fine. Xiaomai doesn't have any family anymore anyway, so it would be good to have an older brother to keep in touch with in the future," Zhao said with a kind smile.
Li Mai nodded, "Yes, my older brother is a very nice person. He said he would come to see me and my family when he has time after his leg heals."
However, the two of them were also tactful in their conversation. She didn't mention the identity of the Cloud King, after all, his status was too high, and she was afraid that revealing it would frighten her family.
She figured her family probably wouldn't see him again, and she didn't need to reveal his identity. After all, she didn't plan to use his status for anything in the future.
“But, Father, Mother, there’s something I might have to tell you. I only told my brother that I live in Qing Shi Town. When he came looking for the Li family, he didn’t tell him the location of the village.”
“Neither of us mentioned the village’s location when we went out, for fear of bringing trouble and disaster to the village. So, I plan to buy a mansion in town when I start doing business in the first month of the lunar year. Business people will be taken there, without them knowing about the village. This way, we can also protect our families.” Li Mai explained carefully to Zhao Shi and Old Man Zhou.
Old Man Zhou nodded, "Yes, this is the safest way."
Having finished discussing the matter, the couple helped Zhuzhu pack some clothes she wanted to take with her, and the family of three said goodbye to the Zhou family and went home.
Before they left, Zhao told them to come back for dinner at Shenshi (3-5 PM).
Zhou Quan agreed.
Zhuzhu was led by Limai, while Zhou Quan helped her carry her things and the packed fish tank. The family left the alley and returned to their own courtyard.
"Mom, should Zhuzhu sleep with you and Dad, or should Zhuzhu sleep in a room by herself?" Zhuzhu asked Limai curiously on the way.
Li Mai looked at her and asked, "Zhuzhu, would you like to live by yourself or with your parents?"
"Zhuzhu wants to live with De's mother!" Zhuzhu said nervously, glancing at her father unconsciously, wondering if he would think she was superfluous.
“Okay, then let’s live together. Zhuzhu is only three years old, still a child. She can live with her parents for a few more years, but after Zhuzhu turns eight, she will have to learn to live on her own, okay?” Li Mai replied.
"Yes, Mom!" Zhuzhu was delighted to hear that. Eight years old?
It seems like it'll be many years before then!
So does that mean she can sleep with her parents for many more years?
Back inside, Li Mai placed Zhu Zhu's koi fish on the eight-immortal table in the outer room so that Zhu Zhu could see it while sitting on the stool.
"I think we should arrange another desk and chair for Zhuzhu in the dormitory so she can read and practice calligraphy." Li Mai glanced at the inner room of the dormitory and saw an empty space by the window where they could put the desk.
Zhou Quan followed her gaze and nodded. "Okay, then let's leave it there. We'll look around town tomorrow to see if there's anything suitable. If not, we'll have Xiao Lin make it!"
"Let Xiaolin do it. I'll provide the design drawings, and the chair too." Li Mai thought for a moment and decided to have Zhou Lin and his master make a set of writing desks suitable for students for Zhuzhu, and the chairs would be height-adjustable.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Quan smiled and said, "Xiao Lin will definitely be very happy to know."
"Not only him, but I believe his master will also be very happy." Li Mai smiled and went out to accompany Zhu Zhu to see the koi.
Zhou Quan went out to check on the other rooms in the courtyard, intending to tidy them up properly.
That evening, Zhou Lin returned.
He returned late, but Zhou Quan's family had already finished eating and gone home to rest.
After being told by his family that his elder brother and sister-in-law had apparently made money on their trip and bought them a lot of New Year's goods and clothes, Zhou Lin was happy and went back to his room to try on the clothes.
The next day, Zhou Lin didn't leave either, saying that his master had given him a holiday and he didn't need to go back before the New Year.
Li Mai handed him a drawing, saying it was a calligraphy practice table and chair for Zhuzhu, and told him to take a look first, and ask her if he didn't understand anything. She said she would make a set for Zhuzhu after the New Year, and then just paint it in its natural color.
Zhou Lin looked at it several times. The table was simple and he could understand it, but the chair looked a bit strange.
Li Mai explained to him that this is called an adjustable chair, which can be adjusted in height, and Zhu Zhu can use this table and chair from when she was a child until she grew up.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Lin's eyes lit up. "Is it another one with hidden mechanisms? My master will definitely like this!"
Therefore, after Li Mai explained things to him, he greeted the Zhou family elders and then went to his master's place.
However, before leaving, Zhao gave him some of the New Year's goods that Li Mai had bought, which could be considered a New Year's gift for the teacher.
I brought a little bit of everything Master Zhou Lin's family would definitely need, such as tea, perfume, cloth, candy, and tobacco.
When Zhou Lin returned, his sister-in-law brought him some New Year's treats he had made. Zhou Lin carried one basket, and this time when he went back, he carried a full basket on his back.
Old Man Nan was happily anticipating the New Year when his former apprentice returned.
He was curious why his apprentice had come back, but to his surprise, his apprentice took away one basket and brought back another.
What's more, it suddenly brought him an even bigger surprise: an adjustable chair, a style he had never made before.
Old Man Nan couldn't stay still any longer, so he pulled Zhou Lin and they went back into the carpentry workshop to start hammering and tinkering.
Zhou Quan and Li Mai didn't concern themselves with Zhou Lin's affairs. On the third day after their return, they took Zhou Lei and Zhou Tao to town to buy more New Year's goods.
They also provided them with shoes.
Of course, they also stopped by Xujia Village to visit Zhou Xing and deliver the gifts that Li Mai and Zhou Quan had prepared for their eldest sister's family when they were in Jinghua City.
Zhou Quan carried clothes, fabrics, trinkets, jewelry, and jade ornaments off the car several times and delivered them to his eldest sister's house, leaving the entire Xu family dumbfounded.
The two sisters-in-law, in particular, were green with envy, but they dared not utter a word. One was because they didn't have such capable family members or younger brothers, and the other was because the two elders of the Xu family seemed to be blind, favoring the third son's family, especially the third daughter-in-law, which made them afraid to openly treat Zhou Xing badly.
Now their biggest concern is whether Xing will keep all the New Year's gifts from her brothers this week to herself or give them to the old lady to contribute to the family coffers.
If she really doesn't hand over any of it and pockets it all, the two of them will definitely make a scene in front of the old man and the old woman. As the matriarch who is in charge of the household, she should be fair and just, instead of favoring whoever can sweet-talk her in front of them!
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