Chapter 1527: Persistence

Zhou Shuren returned home from the government office without taking the letter back. After dinner, he said, "I received a letter from Zhao Bo today."

Zhulan hummed, "What?"

The correspondence between the two of them became less and less frequent, mainly because Shuren was unwilling to reply.

"His little son is ill, and his wife brought the child to the capital to see a doctor. She said she would come to visit the Marquis's mansion."

Zhulan still remembered what Zhao Bo had said when he joked about wanting to get married, "You should bring more than just your youngest son to the capital."

"Well, according to the date, we will soon reach the capital."

Zhulan smiled, "Changzhong is not at home, what a coincidence."

Zhou Shuren's smile deepened, "What a coincidence indeed."

Zhulan added, "By the way, the Wang family sent an invitation to Li today."

"I heard that the Liu family has been making a lot of moves, and the Wang family is trying to win over someone."

"Hey, I heard from Xue Han that the emperor has not been to any place except the queen's bedroom recently. The emperor has done so obviously, and he also allowed the news to be leaked. Doesn't the Wang family understand what he means?"

Zhou Shuren fanned his wife with a fan, "I understand, but it's still the same sentence, the emperor is in his prime, who can predict the future?"

Zhu Lan sighed, "The Wang family relies on having worked with you before, so they should give you some face. Otherwise, I really don't want Li to go."

"Just go and sit there, follow the crowd and don't get picked on."

"Well, I know what I'm talking about."

The next day, Boss Zhou did not leave the city. He had breakfast and came to the main courtyard early in the morning. Boss Zhou said, "Mother, I want to select a few more children from the family to go to Beijing."

Zhulan, "Didn't you bring back six? Isn't that enough manpower?"

Zhou Laodao said, "My son brought back six people. My second brother liked three of them and took them away directly. I don't have enough here."

"Is that so? Just be aware of this. However, don't bring too many children from your clan to the capital, as this will make them restless and stop them from studying well."

Mr. Zhou said, "Son, I've made a note of it."

"Oh, by the way, the ducks you raised in the spring are getting quite big now, right?"

Boss Zhou smiled and said, "It is indeed not small anymore. We can eat it in a few days."

Zhulan wanted to eat roast duck. After saving money, she felt more hungry. "Okay, let's eat roast duck when we can."

Boss Zhou nodded. He raised many chickens, ducks and geese on the farm, all for his family. Whenever his family ate the chickens, ducks and other animals he had raised, he felt very satisfied.

Boss Zhou asked, "Mom, do you want a big birthday?"

Zhulan waved her hands, "Your father couldn't do it, so I won't do it either. It's enough for the family to have a meal together."

Boss Zhou felt regretful but there was nothing he could do. Nowadays, people emphasize frugality and there are fewer banquets in the capital. Some adults in the capital can show off their talents.

In the fourth room, Yu Jiao pulled the fifth sister who wanted to go back to sleep, "Fifth sister, it's cloudy today and not so hot, how about we go out to the street?"

Yuwen didn't want to go out, "Go find your third sister."

"My third sister and my elder sister are out."

Her elder sister thought she was too noisy and was afraid that if she took her out she would not be back for a while. No matter how much she begged, her elder sister just wouldn't agree to take her out!

Yuwen perked up a little, "Why didn't you go with me?"

Yu Jiao spread her hands, "My sister won't let me."

Otherwise, she would not have come to see her fifth sister. Her sister asked her to practice the piano at home, but she had already memorized the piece very well and did not want to practice the piano. She wanted to go shopping.

Yu Wen pushed Yu Jiao's hand away, "No, my fourth sister won't let me. I don't dare take you out."

Su Xuan came in and heard this, "I just want to go to the shop, would you guys come with me?"

Yujiao was so happy, "Auntie Four is the best."

Su Xuan smiled and said, "You are the sweetest girl."

Yuwen, "Mom, I didn't agree to go with you."

"Objection is useless. Go change your clothes."

Su Xuan got angry when she saw the lady's clothes. In order to sleep well, the girl wore very simple clothes. The lady's mind was spent on how to be lazy.

It was already half an hour by the time they left the house. Su Xuan and her group went to the shop first. After meeting the manager, Su Xuan took the two girls shopping.

Yu Wen followed lazily all the way. Even though it was a cloudy day, the weather was still a bit hot and humid. She hated shopping. She preferred to put a few basins of ice and then sleep with a thin blanket.

Yuwen felt that Yujiao was the right child for her mother. Yujiao and her mother were the two women in the family who loved shopping the most. Seeing them going from house to house, Yuwen really didn't want to move. "Mom, there's a tea shop up ahead. I'll wait for you there."

Su Xuan, with Yu Jiao by her side, let the listless lady go, "Go ahead."

Yu Wen arrived at the shop, chose a seat near the window, ordered some cool tea, and had a maid fan her. She felt comfortable and instantly felt much more energetic.

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, it began to rain heavily. Some pedestrians on the street were holding umbrellas, but most of them did not have umbrellas and had to find places to shelter from the rain.

Yuwen was worried about her mother, but then she thought that her mother wouldn't get wet in the shop, so she sat down and waited with peace of mind.

"Ms. Zhou."

Yu Wen turned around, "Master Ning."

Very good, the two greeted each other and calmed down.

Ning Ming came in to avoid the rain. She did not sit at the same table with Miss Zhou, but chose a table next to her and ordered a pot of tea. Ning Ming frowned, but when she saw that the snacks she bought were not wet, a little smile appeared on her face.

Yuwen listened to the sound of rain, "Oh, it's very hypnotic."

The maid stood behind the young lady to block the view from behind, "Wait until the rain stops, and then we can go back home when the carriage comes to pick us up."

Yuwen, "Yeah."

The heavy rain came and went quickly. When the rain stopped, the Zhou family's carriage came and Su Xuan had already taken Yu Jiao on the carriage.

Yu Wen stood up and nodded to Master Ning, then took the maid out, got on the carriage and left.

Ning Ming felt a headache when he thought about his mother's determination not to give up.

It rained several times in succession in the capital. The emperor had just finished muttering that the rain this year was good and there was no flood in the south, and that this year was a peaceful year. But the next day, urgent news was sent to the capital that a locust plague had occurred in Jiaozhou.

The smile on the emperor's face disappeared. It was a locust plague. Not only the emperor, but Zhou Shuren also sighed. He hoped that the scale of the locust plague was not large.

When I got home at night, Zhou Shuren said, "Jiaozhou is a grain-producing state. It ranks among the top states in terms of grain production. It's the grain of the entire state."

"It would be better if we had more chickens and ducks."

Zhou Shuren, "Due to food shortages, most poultry were killed. Not many were raised this year. Plus, it's impossible to raise poultry on a large scale right now, so even if every family has chickens and ducks, it's useless."

Zhulan, "I remember that locusts can be eaten?"

"Um."

Zhulan, "Just catch them, dry them and mix them with cornmeal. Even if you don't eat them, you can feed them to chickens, ducks and other poultry."

Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "I have already mentioned this to the Emperor."

"Just mention it."

The couple is worried that the locust plague will spread to other states and they are somewhat helpless.

Fortunately, the situation in Jiaozhou was not too serious. Although grain production decreased, some grain was still saved. Of course, it might be an exaggeration.

On this day, Zhulan saw Yu and was extremely surprised. Why did Yu come to her house in person when he was seriously ill?

(End of this chapter)