Chapter 187: Engagement

Zhou Shuren called Zhulan back to life. When she woke up in the morning, she felt much better, at least not so weak anymore. She didn't want to get up even though she was nestled in Zhou Shuren's arms. Feeling his body temperature, she felt especially lucky that she had someone to accompany her in this strange environment. If she was alone, she would not have slowed down so quickly.

Zhulan reached out and played with Zhou Shuren's fingers. Zhou Shuren's fingers had distinct joints and he could even touch the cord that held the pen. It was obvious how hard Zhou Shuren was trying. Zhulan lifted Zhou Shuren's hand and compared it with her own, and her own hands seemed really small.

Zhou Shuren was worried about Zhulan and didn't sleep well all night. He woke up when Zhulan moved. Seeing that Zhulan was energetic and was shaking hands with him, he put down the worry that had been hanging in his heart all night. He put his other hand around Zhulan's waist and held her close to him, and asked in a gentle and charming voice, "Are you awake? Are you feeling better?"

Zhulan's heart was moved, and she smiled, "Yeah, much better."

She knew that she was dreaming, one dream after another. Later, she stopped dreaming and slept more soundly. This was all thanks to Zhou Shuren.

Zhou Shuren rested his chin on Zhulan's hair and tightened his arms. He really didn't expect that he would have love one day. In modern times, he didn't believe in marriage. He had seen too many children being abandoned and was particularly resistant to marriage. He planned to live alone for the rest of his life. Unexpectedly, after traveling through time, he became a father, had a wife, and believed in love. He never told Zhulan that he was grateful to her for saving him and not letting him travel through time alone. Fortunately, he had her. With her around, his heart had a place to stay in ancient times.

Zhulan just thought, "It's too tight, are you trying to strangle me?"

Zhou Shuren chuckled, and the previous atmosphere was gone. He loosened his grip and asked, "Is it better now?"

Zhu Lan breathed a sigh of relief, feeling relieved this time. She nodded and thought of Chang Lian, "I will go find the official matchmaker today. However, Dong Chuchu is the daughter of the county lord. How can we pay the betrothal gift?"

This is a worrying matter. Before County Master Dong passed the imperial examination, the Dong family was a landlord family with money, land and shops. Later, he became a procurator and his family property became even more substantial. After he became County Master, he never stopped accepting gifts, so County Master had no shortage of money, but it was difficult for their family to offer a betrothal gift!

Zhou Shuren was also worried. "Our family is poor. If we give more, people won't think it's too much. If we give less, the Dong family will lose face. Besides, we have four sons. If we give more to Changlian to marry, the eldest and second sons will inevitably have some problems. After all, it's a shared property for now."

Zhulan felt exhausted again. "I spent a lot of money in Pingzhou, and also spent a lot on gifts for the county magistrate. I currently have 750 taels of silver and a dozen taels of silver. A few days ago, you said you wanted to buy some more land, and you also wanted to set aside some money for the family's daily expenses. How much do you think is appropriate for the betrothal gift?"

Zhou Shuren thought for a while and said, "Let's set the betrothal gift at 200 taels. If we prepare other gifts well, it won't seem too little."

Zhulan was surprised, "Two hundred taels!"

This is no small number!

Zhou Shuren sighed, "The county lord has found out everything about our family. It's not good to have too little. Anyway, the county lord doesn't know how much money we have. Two hundred taels should be the amount the county lord has guessed. After all, we just bought a house and a shop, and I can't hide my expenses in Pingzhou. The county lord estimates that we can come up with two hundred taels, which is already good. However, the plan to buy land this year has fallen through."

Zhulan knew that Zhou Shuren was cunning. She took out two hundred taels of betrothal money, and Zhou Shuren said that it was his greatest ability. The county treasury felt proud and would feel aggrieved. After all, the county treasury looked at the Zhou family first, and thought that Zhou Shuren had taken out all his family assets, so he would naturally be extra attentive to Zhou Shuren. This man was as cunning as a beehive, and would never suffer a loss.

Zhulan tilted her head, "Now that the betrothal gift has been settled, why don't you tell the eldest and second brothers, and Changlian, not to let him get too cocky, as if we gave him two hundred taels of betrothal gift and the family is counting on him for the future."

Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will go and chop Chang Lian after dinner and will not let him fly."

Zhulan, "........Yeah."

The two of them lay down for a while before getting up. Breakfast was ready. Zhulan had specifically asked that they cook porridge for breakfast in a newly purchased clay pot. Zhulan drank the porridge and ate salted vegetables. Finally, she stopped feeling sick. There was food in her stomach and she felt more energetic.

After dinner, Zhou Shuren called his sons over, but Zhulan didn't listen. She wanted to change her clothes and get herself ready as she was going to the county town to find the official matchmaker.

When Zhulan came out after packing up, she saw Changlian walking out to the clan school in a daze. She felt frightened. Zhulan pulled Zhou Shuren over and asked, "Look how scared Changlian is. What did you say?"