Chapter 264 Sour

After dinner the next day, Zhou Shuren took the calligraphy and paintings to the antique shop and did not return until the afternoon.

Zhulan was altering a cloak. Now that the Qian family had sent her a better one, she found out her and Zhou Shuren's old cloaks and altered them for the children. After some modifications, Zhou Shuren's cloak became just the right size for Changlian and Changzhi to wear.

As for why it wasn’t given to the eldest and second oldest, given Zhou Shuren’s body shape, these two guys can’t wear it!

Zhulan's cloaks were given to Xuehan and Xuemei. Forget about the daughters-in-law, there were three daughters-in-law in the family. She could only alter two cloaks, which were not enough, so she might as well give them all to her own daughters.

She has rarely worn her cape. Ahem, it’s mainly because she is too much of a homebody. She stays in the house in winter and rarely goes out. Her cape is almost as good as new.

Zhulan had finished altering Xuemei's cape. Xuemei was about the same height as her, so it was easier to alter. She was about to alter Xuehan's cape when Zhou Shuren came back. "Why did you come back so late? Didn't you take a nap outside? I'll go get you some food."

Zhou Shuren was so happy that he didn't feel hungry at all. He rubbed his hands and pulled Zhulan's clothes, "I'm not hungry. Don't bother. Guess how much this painting is worth?"

Zhou Shuren took Zhou Shuren's hand and covered it for him. "From your happy tone, the value must be high. Let me guess, two hundred taels?"

Zhou Shuren's hand felt warmer, but he was unwilling to take it back, so he let Zhulan hold it. "Guess again."

"You're underestimating. It's just a painting from the previous dynasty. Didn't Changzhi say that not many people like it? How can it be worth so much money?"

Zhou Shuren did not expect the value to be so high. "Because few people like it, there are few authentic works left. Scarcity makes things valuable. Mr. Xiheng's calligraphy is not liked by scholars, but some powerful people still like it."

Zhulan understood, "The consumer groups are different. If the rich and powerful like it, the price will naturally be higher. Then I guess five hundred taels?"

Zhou Shuren shook his head, "This time there are too many. Although many people like it, Xiheng has only been dead for a hundred years. He is just a calligrapher from the previous dynasty. He is not worth five hundred taels."

Zhu Lan was angry and couldn't help wanting to pinch Zhou Shuren, "I won't guess anymore. You can tell me if you want."

Zhou Shuren kissed Zhulan on the cheek, "Okay, okay, I'll tell you what I mean. The original is four hundred taels, and the fake is worth a hundred taels. I went to several of the best antique shops in Pingzhou City today. Except for one old shop where a respected master found out it was a fake, the others couldn't. It's safer to use this painting for the competition."

Zhulan secretly thought it was a pity that she couldn't attend such an exciting event. She could only wait for Zhou Shuren to come back and explain the process.

Zhu Lan let go of Zhou Shuren's hand, picked up the cloak and instructed Zhou Shuren, "Help me hold it aside."

Zhou Shuren didn't understand, "Why did you cut the cape?"

Zhulan took the scissors and cut along the line drawn with charcoal. After she finished cutting, she said, "I got a better one. It's a waste to keep these two. I changed them for Xuemei and Xuehan. Xuehan is not very tall, so the cape is too big. I cut off some of it and made a cushion for Yulu and Mingrui."

Zhou Shuren snorted, "Xuehan's sewing is better than yours, and Xuemei's is also good. Why do you have to do it yourself? Give the cloak to them and let them modify it themselves."

Zhulan was speechless, "You are jealous too?"

"Didn't you say I'm a jealous person? I'll be jealous to show you."

Now he feels that the Zhou family is annoying again, very annoying!

Zhu Lan pulled the cut part from Zhou Shuren's hand and said, "Don't be jealous. You have been busy with antiques recently. Chang Lian and Chang Zhi are going to take the provincial examination. You should go and take a look."

Zhou Shuren snorted twice, "I finally understand. In your heart, my position has been gradually squeezed out by the Zhou family."

Zhulan picked up the needle in her hand and said, "Your heart is the size of the needle tip. See? It's that small!"

Zhou Shuren leaned close to Zhulan's ear and said, "It's all you at such a young age. I'm going to punish those Zhou family boys to relieve the bitterness in my heart."

Zhulan, "Virtue."

Zhou Shuren put his hands behind his back and said, "Oh, this is just my character. I'm just not happy!"

Zhulan watched Zhou Shuren stride out and shook her head with laughter. This man, as time went by, became more and more open-minded. In the past, Zhou Shuren was very cold, but now he was willing to blend into the atmosphere of the Zhou family. Zhou Shuren himself didn't even realize that when he mentioned his adopted sons, his tone was light and there was a smile in his eyes.

As for how many times Zhou Shuren had scolded Chang Lian, Zhu Lan's heart was of course biased towards Zhou Shuren. Just scold him, it won't hurt anyway. If he scolds him a few more times, the pressure on Zhou Shuren will be reduced. There's no harm in that!

Fortunately, the four sons of the Zhou family didn't know what Zhulan was thinking, otherwise, their mother wouldn't be the best. It turned out that the four brothers were there to relieve their father's stress! They really are a close family.

In less than half an hour, Zhulan not only finished modifying the cloak, but also finished making two cushions. With practice, Zhulan's needlework skills are getting better and better.

After packing up the things for Xuemei, he took Xuehan and two mattresses and went out, going to Xuehan's room first. Xuehan was sitting on the kang knitting, Yushuang was tracing red characters, and Yulu was small, so Xuehan was willing to take Yulu with her because she was quiet. The little girl was not very big, so she was playing with copper plates by herself!

Xue Han saw her mother coming in with a cloak, "Mom, isn't this your cloak? How did you get it?"

Zhulan opened her cape and said, "I've made it smaller. It will be yours in the future. Come and try it on to see if it fits you."

Xue Han is not very old, and all girls like to dress themselves up. Xue Han is no exception. She puts on shoes and goes out. She likes her mother's cape very much. "Mom, are you really giving it to me?"

"I've made it smaller, what do you think?"

Xue Han put on her cape and turned around twice, "Thank you, mother."

Zhulan sighed, time flies so fast, almost two years have passed in a blink of an eye, the little country girl has changed a lot now, her skin is fair, she wears jewelry, and her baby fat is gone, there is no trace of country in the little girl anymore, Zhulan is proud, she is well raised.

Zhulan gave the pad in her hand to Yu****. "Do you like the pad that Grandma made for you?"

Yu Lu rubbed the copper plate and said in a baby voice, "I like it."

Zhu Lan looked at the copper plate for a few more times and asked Xue Han, "Did you give it to her?"

Xue Han's mouth twitched, "My sister-in-law gave it to me, and told me to let Yu Lu recognize the copper plate."

Zhulan, "......."

It was indeed a stupid thing that Li could do. Fortunately, Yu Lu never liked putting anything in her mouth since she was a child, otherwise it would be really dangerous.

Zhulan warned her daughter, "When your sister-in-law comes to pick up Yulu, tell her not to give her copper coins in the future. What if she chokes?"

Xue Han was also a little scared and lowered her head in shame, "Mom, I didn't notice the danger either."

"It has nothing to do with you. You are so young, it's normal that you don't notice it. Your sister-in-law is already a mother of three children, and she doesn't understand this. You should blame your sister-in-law."

Xue Han, ".......Mom, my eldest sister-in-law is the mother of five children, she is still confused."

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

There is no way to refute it. Who made Li so bold?

Zhulan gave the other cushion to Yushuang, "This one is for Mingrui. Don't forget to bring it to Mingrui when you go back. Grandma won't go there."

Mingrui was sleeping at this hour, so she shouldn't wake him up if she went over.

Yu Shuang was the most obedient, "Yes."

"That's good."

When Zhulan returned to the room, Zhou Shuren had already returned. He was lying on the kang in his slippers without any image at all. He was really too casual!

On the second day, before Zhou Shuren went out, guests came to his house. Mr. Qian and Zhao's mother, Fang, came to pay their respects!

(End of this chapter)