Chapter 1673 Take You Home

Zhulan specifically asked Shuren at night, and got the answer that the emperor had not discussed it with Shuren. She thought there would be a result soon, but she waited for some time and there was no news at all.

On this day, Zhou Shuren came back at night. As soon as he entered the room, he signaled the maids to go downstairs. "Today, the emperor talked to me about the orphans in the manor."

Zhulan asked, "Are there any results?"

Zhou Shuren shook his head, "It's not that easy. The emperor has comprehensive considerations."

"So what did you talk about?"

Zhou Shuren said: "The emperor talked about the need to prepare formal books. The Imperial Hospital is sorting out medical books. I also proposed that the children of Zhuangzi go for internship in batches."

Zhulan: "Internship?"

"Well, put what the children have learned into practice and let the Emperor see their abilities."

Zhu Lan frowned, "It's easier for boys than for girls."

Ultimately, it is the unfairness of the times. Even though the girls in the village are no worse than the boys, they are still restricted.

Zhou Shuren was helpless. Women in ancient times had a low status. He comforted her, "Take your time."

Zhulan also knows that things cannot be achieved overnight. Until the status of women is improved, everything she says is just empty talk.

The next day, Zhulan received a decree from the Queen Mother, asking her to arrange internships for the children in batches and compile a list to be sent to the palace.

Zhulan thought that the emperor was very efficient. She sent the female official who delivered the emperor's orders away and asked Qingxue to find the list of orphans.

The orphan register not only records the names, but also the children's personal information at the back. Below the information is the children's academic performance, including every test score, which is recorded in great detail.

Then he asked the butler to prepare the carriage and called the eldest brother and his wife to leave the city together.

In the carriage leaving the city, Zhulan flipped through the list, focusing on the girl's name.

Li asked, "Mom, where are the children going for internship?"

Zhulan took out the paper the female official gave her, "Shipyard, Medicine Department."

The internship place could not be a private industry, all the places we went to were run by the imperial court.

Li asked, "The pharmacy department is in need of people?"

"Well, the pharmacy department needs masters to prepare medicinal materials, pharmacists to handle medicinal materials, etc. The pharmacy department recruits people every year."

Unfortunately, in ancient times, people emphasized inheritance, with medicines passed down from master to apprentice, and ordinary people had no access to them. The pharmacy recruited people every year but was still short of staff. The shortage of staff restricted production, resulting in a shortage of ready-made medicines, making it difficult for ordinary people to buy them.

Lee, “I thought I would have an internship in the medical department.”

Zhulan smiled and said, "The children in Zhuangzi haven't learned enough."

The threshold to the medical department is too high. I am not even qualified to be an assistant. So forget it for now.

Arriving at the manor, Zhulan got off the carriage and saw a row of children at the door of the manor. She looked at the steward with a puzzled look, "What's going on?"

The manager explained: "These kids are from a nearby village. Some of them were brave enough to climb over the wall and enter the village to eavesdrop on the lecture."

Zhulan saw the children lowering their heads, which meant they knew they were doing something wrong. "Does this happen often?"

Boss Zhou continued, "In winter, it's too cold for children to go out, but after the New Year, when the temperature warms up, this situation becomes more common."

Zhulan tilted her head and said, "You didn't tell me that when you came back."

Boss Zhou explained: "These are all trivial matters, so I didn't tell you."

Zhulan signaled to the manager to release the children, and the manager waved his hand to signal the children to leave.

These kids were very brave to climb over the wall. They looked at each other and instead of leaving, they stepped forward and pushed one of them to speak, "Madam, we can help with the farm work. Can we just stand outside instead of going into the house to listen to the class?"

Zhulan stopped and asked, "You are very brave."

The boy, who was about 11 or 12 years old, pinched his palms to prevent himself from retreating, "We don't have any bad intentions."

He knew that there were orphans in several villages, so he dared to climb over the wall. He knew that climbing over the wall would be fine, and several times the results proved that his guess was correct.

Zhulan said to the children, "It's too cold today. Don't get sick from catching a cold. You should go back first."

As she spoke, Zhulan entered the manor. After the gate was closed, she said to the steward, "In the future, put up a board at the gate of the manor. Write a few words or arithmetic problems on the board, and then draw a common herb. Change the content every seven days. Find a literate guard to watch over it and help explain to the children when they ask questions."

As for how long it can last, it depends on what changes happen in the village.

The manager said, “Yes.”

Zhulan then got busy. She first selected the children from the list, and then met these children in person to make adjustments. It was a lot of work.

The Second Prince was also there. Zhulan ignored him as he was busy with his own business and wrote out new list books, which would record the internship situation and she would bring the booklets back when the internship was over.

Zhulan doesn't have to do anything herself, she just needs to use her brain, which is not too busy, and she can even sit down and drink tea.

The Second Prince did not leave, as he already knew that it was the Queen Mother's order. He was surprised at the ability of Madam Zhou. He thought that he could not finish it in one day, but it was almost done by the afternoon.

The Second Prince looked through the list brought by Marquis Zhou's wife and asked the Crown Prince, "Was this Marquis Zhou's idea?"

Boss Zhou shook his head and said, "This is what my mother meant."

The second prince put down the booklet and said, "The old lady is admirable."

Boss Zhou was very proud, "My mother is really amazing."

He thinks his mother is as awesome as his father!

The second prince laughed dryly. He still did not leave. He was thinking about picking peaches. He thought that it was a good thing that Madam Zhou was a woman, otherwise it would be difficult to pick peaches!

Zhulan was returning to Beijing from the manor. She looked at the clock in the car and said, "Let's take a detour to the Ministry of Revenue."

Mrs. Li felt uncomfortable sitting in the carriage, "Mother, I'm going to take a carriage with my husband."

Zhulan signaled the carriage to stop, "You don't have to go together, go home first."

Li wanted to speak, but Zhou Laoda said first: "Mom, let's go home first."

Zhulan waved her hand, "Go back slowly."

When Li saw her mother-in-law's carriage leave, she stepped on her husband's foot and said, "I'm worried about you."

Zhou Lao Da was helpless. Ever since his father-in-law and mother-in-law passed away, his daughter-in-law had been particularly clinging to her mother. "Dad must not want to see us."

Li was depressed. After all these years, she was still afraid of her father-in-law.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren saw Qingxue standing next to the carriage as he walked out of the government office. He quickened his pace and saw his wife in the carriage. He thought something had happened and quickly got into the carriage. "You came to pick me up in person. What happened?"

Zhulan signaled Shuren not to be nervous, "I just came back from a trip out of town today, and I think I have enough time to pick you up. Don't mention that it feels good to pick you up."

Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "Then you will come to pick me up every day?"

Zhu Lan laughed, "Aren't you afraid of being talked about?"

If she dares to come to pick people up every day, the whole capital will be talking about Shu Ren!

Zhou Shuren, "As long as I am happy, that's fine."

Zhulan, "Look at me, I'm happy."

Zhou Shuren asked, "Why did you leave the capital today?"

Zhulan told the Queen Mother the order, "Look at my efficiency and I will report to her tomorrow."

Zhou Shuren, "Yes, yes, you are the best."

Although Zhulan had been busy all day, she was in good spirits. "The Second Prince is at the manor today."

Zhou Shuren was not surprised, "He has a lot of ideas."

Zhulan, "Who let the Second Prince be in the Ministry of Rites?"

There is one more chapter to read tomorrow morning

(End of this chapter)