Chapter 1076: Tampering

Seven days passed in a blink of an eye. Zhulan was very busy. The rainy weather finally cleared up, and she had to work hard on cultivating the farm and the land. There was a lot to do every day.

Now in the Zhou residence, Li is busy taking care of the children. Mingjing is a difficult child to take care of and is especially attached to Li. So Li can only take care of her own small courtyard.

Zhao had to manage the mansion and also arrange the second wife's business. The second wife's business was big, so Zhao was very busy.

Not only the capital was scrambling to cultivate crops, but every place was the same. This caused a shortage of seeds, and many places were forced to plant crops such as sweet potatoes.

Zhulan had made preparations in advance, but the seeds were not enough, so the Xu family helped to find seeds from overseas.

The price of seeds from overseas has increased, but because the prices are controlled, the increase is not excessive.

Zhulan felt that the temperature was rising quickly. After it stopped raining, the temperature was rising every day. The temperature changes were quite large and she felt a little bored.

Mrs. Song came in and said, "Mrs. Liu is here."

Zhulan became more energetic, "Please come in."

Liu came into the house soon, fanning herself with a handkerchief. "This weather is so abnormal, it's like summer has arrived."

Zhulan handed over a cup of cool tea, "Who said it wasn't? I'm really worried about a severe drought. The droughts of previous years are still fresh in my mind."

Liu felt much better after drinking the cool tea. "Yes, my grandfather is also complaining about it at home."

Zhulan fanned herself with a fan, "Is your family busy?"

Liu smiled and said, "My daughters-in-law are busy, but I am relatively free, so I came to talk to you. By the way, you really don't like to go out."

Zhulan is a homebody by nature. She doesn't need to be comfortable. She can stay at home all the time. "I don't like to move around as I get older. Besides, there are a lot of things going on in the capital. It's more comfortable to be at home."

Seeing that the maids were all outside, Liu whispered, "Song Xin has been back to her parents' home for three days. Ning Zhiqi has been trying to pick her up several times, but she still hasn't returned. As her aunt, I can't ask. Alas, this girl won't say anything. Her mother is so worried."

Zhulan put down the fan in her hand and said, "Why did you come to my house in such hot weather? Are you here to get information?"

Liu spread her hands, "We have a bad relationship, and as elders, aren't we supposed to worry about the younger ones? Song Xin keeps all the sufferings to herself. We elders feel sorry for her, but your daughter is loved by the old lady. I can only beg you."

Zhulan actually knew something. She couldn't attend the banquet for the ladies, so the only place she could go was her parents' home. She came back a few days ago and said something angrily, "Song Xin has always been generous. I admire her for that."

Liu felt upset. "Who said it wasn't true? Song Xin is the old lady's favorite. I was also a concubine and a favorite of her. This child could tolerate it, but she really couldn't tolerate it this time when she returned to her parents' home. How much injustice must she have suffered."

Zhulan thought that Song Xin was being bullied by Mrs. Du. This girl probably didn't tell her family. It was also true that as the daughter-in-law of the Ningguo Mansion, she had to consider the reputation of the Mansion. "Don't worry about it. Song Xin has something on her mind. You don't know it even though she has grown up watching her."

Liu didn't say anything. She was even more certain that Yang knew something, but she just couldn't say it. "Ah."

She always felt that it was a waste for Song Xin to marry Ning Zhiqi, and now this is the only way.

At the Song family, Song Xin sent her sister-in-law Bai away, and fiddled with the flowers in the vase from time to time, becoming distracted from time to time.

Ning Ting felt sad seeing her mother like this. She happened to be delivering something when her parents were arguing. She heard it clearly. She felt sorry for her mother. Why did her father get angry at her mother? It was obviously grandma's fault. "Mom."

Song Xin came back to her senses. She was very impulsive when she took the child back to her parents' home, but when she stepped out of the gate of the Duke's Mansion, she felt happy, especially happy. She had endured it for the sake of her husband and children. Why should she endure it now? Her husband came to give her gifts several times, but she refused to accept them. Now was not the time to accept them. "Mother knows what is going on. Don't worry about it."

Ning Ting, "Your daughter is here to feel sorry for you."

Song Xin chuckled, "There's nothing to feel wronged about. I'm going to be the wife of a duke soon. I don't feel wronged."

She was thinking very clearly now. Since it was not worth getting angry at herself, she thought about how to control her husband, for the sake of her children and herself.

In the past, she was too hygienic. She was tolerant towards her mother-in-law and considerate towards her husband, but in the end, she got nothing in return. If that's the case, there's no need for her to be hygienic anymore.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren took the list to confirm it, checked it several times, and then stamped it and handed it to Doctor Lei, "Then go and collect the silver."

Doctor Lei was stunned. "Sir, do you need to buy so much food?"

Zhou Shuren, "Well, it's too late to prepare for a rainy day."

The harvest this year is poor, and there is a fear of drought. The weather is too abnormal. The Emperor and the Crown Prince are very concerned and read the letters sent in from all over the country every day.

Doctor Lei held the letter in his hand and said, "I will take my leave."

"Um."

Qiu Yan spoke up, "We just sent a ship out to buy grain and seeds a few days ago."

Zhou Shuren was silent. The expenses had been huge recently and money was flowing out of the national treasury like water. He remembered several major droughts in history. When the climate was volatile, humans were really helpless. Even in the future, the power of nature would still be frightening.

Zhou Shuren estimated the time and made an appointment with Mr. Fang from the Ministry of Works. "I'm going to the Ministry of Works. I'll leave the Ministry of Revenue to you."

Qiu Yan, "Okay."

Zhou Shuren didn't like the Ministry of Revenue's carriage. It wasn't that the carriage was bad, but he didn't like the design of the carriage. The weather was hot, and he preferred to ride in his own carriage.

The driver of the Ministry of Revenue received the news and was already waiting at the door of the Ministry.

Zhou Shuren frowned and said, "I don't need the carriage from the Ministry of Revenue. Please send the carriage back."

The driver was dumbfounded, "Sir, you just told me that you would use the carriage, why don't you use it?"

Zhou Shuren paused as he turned around, "I have never sent anyone to notify them."

The driver frowned and said, "Sir, I won't make a mistake. I just informed you. I was afraid I heard it wrong, so I asked twice."

Zhou Shuren stared at the driver, then silently took a step back. The driver was an old man from the Ministry of Revenue and had been driving the carriage for the ministry for more than ten years. This mistake would definitely not happen.

Zhou Shuren thought to himself that he was not an official who followed common sense. If it were any other official, he would definitely ride in the carriage of the Ministry of Revenue, but he did not do that, and he winked at Jianyan.

Jianyan became nervous and carefully went forward to check the carriage. The driver reacted with his eyes widened and his lips trembling.

Jianyan quickly came back from the inspection and said, "The wheels of the carriage have been tampered with, and..."

Zhou Shuren cherishes his life. He is especially cherishing his life now. "And what?"

Jianyan pursed his lips and said, "It's not clear yet. The carriage needs a careful inspection. Sir, you have to go to the Ministry of Works in a while."

Zhou Shuren felt that it was not appropriate to go out today, so he took a step back and said, "No, I will not go to the Ministry of Works today. I will send someone to tell Lord Fang later."

Jinyan was also afraid that the adults would insist on going and if something happened, now that he was relaxed, "The adults, go back and rest first."

Zhou Shuren's eyes darkened slightly. He also wanted to investigate carefully. "I'll leave this to you."

I wrote surprisingly slowly today. The next chapter will be in two hours.

(End of this chapter)