Chapter 1303 One Year

Time passes silently, and before you know it, a year has passed.

The two biggest events in the Zhou family this year were: the first was that Zhulan had a new grandson, and the King of Qin had a grandson; the second was that the eldest grandson Zhou Mingyun got married in the spring of this year.

This year is the second year of the new emperor's reign. Autumn is approaching and Mingyun is preparing to return home again to take part in the provincial examination.

Zhulan looked at Li, who was relaxed, and said, "You let go very quickly. Now you don't have to worry about Mingyun at all."

Li smiled and said, "Wan'er is here, I don't have to worry."

When Li became a mother-in-law, she learned how mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law get along with each other. After her son got married, she never asked about anything happening in his room. Her daughter-in-law was grateful for her kindness and was very filial to her.

Sometimes, when she is busy, the eldest daughter-in-law will help take care of Mingjing, the naughty child. The temperament of the youngest son is completely opposite to his name. He is the most naughty one. Thanks to the patience of the eldest daughter-in-law, she really helps her a lot.

Zhulan likes this granddaughter-in-law. She has watched her grow up. She has a good temper and is kind to her younger siblings. What else can she complain about? Besides, this child often comes to chat with her.

Zhu Lan smiled and said, "Let Ran Wan go back with you, and your parents will be able to see her."

Li thought of her parents who were in good health and smiled, "Yes, ever since Mingyun got engaged, my mother wanted to meet her grandson's wife. She was looking forward to Mingyun taking Ran Wan back with him after the provincial examination!"

Now the Li family is getting better and better. They already have their own estate and many children in the family are studying. As long as they persist, they can change the family in the future. Dad and mom have completely let go of everything now and are focusing on taking care of the children at home. If they are raised well and make up for the losses in their youth, their health will naturally improve.

In a letter a few days ago, my eldest brother told me that my father and mother went up the mountain to pick mushrooms, saying that they were going to give them to my grandson and his wife!

Xuemei arrived at this time. Zhulan saw the eldest lady and said, "I was thinking that you would be here soon."

Xuemei, "Mom, what are you talking about with your sister-in-law?"

Zhulan said that the Li family wanted to meet their grandson's wife, and then asked, "Have you packed your luggage?"

Xuemei nodded, "It's already been packed."

Li then asked, "Is Jiang Du really not going to take part in the provincial examination this time? The boy's results last time were quite good."

Xuemei shook her head, "Jiang Sheng thinks Jiang Du is still young, and three years later is just right. Jiang Du also thinks the same way, and wants to travel with us next year to broaden his horizons."

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren did not interfere too much in Jiang Du's future. The eldest daughter and son-in-law both had their own ideas. In addition to Jiang Du's own wishes, she and Zhou Shuren only needed to support him. In fact, it was better for the two children to take the exams separately rather than together.

Although she and Zhou Shuren did not intervene, they did discuss that Mingyun was destined to be the winner this time, and Jiang Du would inevitably be suppressed by Mingyun's brilliance. In addition, Jiang Du's young age would be disadvantageous to his future.

The Zhou family is at its most eye-catching now. With the high-profile Ming Yun, it is unlikely that Jiang Du will stay in Beijing. Not to mention Jiang Du this year, even the children of the Zhou family who have passed the exam will not stay in Beijing.

Jiang Du left the capital at a young age, and as the grandson of the Zhou family, he was surrounded by schemes, so it was wise for him to leave three years later.

Apparently Jiang Sheng and Jiang Du had also thought of this. It was a good opportunity for them to travel around and gain more experience while they were still young, so as to avoid being fooled in the future.

When Zhulan was distracted, Li and Xuemei were already chatting about something else. Li said, "The latest issue of the promotion has been copied back. I saw the travel article written by my brother-in-law. He wrote very well. Even I, who don't have much education, can understand it. After reading the article, it feels like I have been there myself."

Xuemei narrowed her eyes, feeling proud of her husband. "He also listened to Dad's advice and changed to the easy-to-read vernacular. It was also Dad who said that it should not only record, but also include more comments and highlight local characteristics."

Of course, when her husband was writing, she also gave some suggestions, but I won’t go into that here.

Li raised her thumbs up, "Father is of course amazing, and my brother-in-law is also really talented to be able to write so well. Mingyun has already put this article away, saying that it will save a lot of trouble when he goes to Xiangzhou in the future."

Xuemei smiled and said, "The next one will be published in half a month. It will be more detailed, not only about the scenery, but also about food and accommodation."

Zhulan was the first person to read her son-in-law's manuscript. A state cannot be fully written in one article. It is divided into several chapters, covering food, clothing, housing, transportation, cultural traditions, etc.

After seeing it, Zhulan had to admit that her eldest son-in-law was really talented, especially when it came to painting. He had seen a lot and traveled a lot, so he naturally had a lot of feelings. Thinking of this,

Zhulan asked the eldest daughter, "Did you sell the butterfly painting that Jiang Sheng brought back?"

Xuemei said, "I was just about to tell mother that it has been sold for fifty taels."

For Jiang Sheng, who was just starting out in painting, this price was not low.

Zhulan actually liked it very much, but if she asked for it, the painting would be given to her directly, so she held back after looking at it.

Li's eyes widened: "Fifty taels."

Xuemei smiled and nodded, "Yes, we didn't expect that either."

Zhulan thought that this time the promotional article also included Jiang Sheng's paintings, "After the promotion, Jiang Sheng's paintings will be worth more money."

If Jiang Sheng had not submitted his work more than a year later, he would have been forgotten as more promotional articles appeared. Jiang Sheng's butterfly painting was worth more than fifty taels, but it can be sold for fifty taels now. This is partly due to the Zhou family's connections, but most of the paintings are still the best by Jiang Sheng himself.

Xuemei knew why her husband sold the painting. First, he felt it was imperfect and not worthy of his own collection. Second, he needed money to travel every year. Besides, his son and daughter were growing up, and they needed to save money for the betrothal gifts and dowry.

In the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was fiddling with a self-made clock. As his needs changed, his skills became more sophisticated. Now the clock in Zhou Shuren's hand was one-third smaller than last year.

This is a unified configuration for each department. This benefit did not exist before.

While listening to the time announcement, he heard footsteps. Zhou Shuren looked up and was stunned for a few seconds before he reacted and stood up to greet the emperor. "Your Majesty."

The emperor took the box from the eunuch behind him and said, "No need to give me a gift."

Zhou Shuren straightened up and a box was stuffed into his hand. "What is this?"

The emperor sat down and said, "This is the gift I brought you when I came back. Open it and see if you like it."

Zhou Shuren complained in his heart that ever since the retired emperor left Beijing this year, he has been able to receive special products from time to time. What made him most angry was that the retired emperor was still so ostentatious that he would write a letter about beautiful scenery and delicious food, which made him, a person who lived in the capital, so unpopular that he wanted to vomit blood.

Zhou Shuren was not in a hurry to open it, but instead wondered, "I thought the emperor would come back in winter."

Emperor Retired, "Why do you think I returned to the capital so early?"

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