Chapter 282 Peace of Mind

The next morning, Zhulan slept well, but Zhou Shuren couldn't rest well. Zhulan said, "Let's change rooms tonight."

Zhou Shuren waved his hands, "The inns are all on the street. I can hear the sound of horse hooves even if they move. I couldn't sleep last night, and I counted them. The patrols didn't stop all night. It seems that the court has deployed troops much earlier than I estimated."

Zhulan handed the handkerchief in her hand to Zhou Shuren, "I just don't know why they would deploy troops in advance. It seems that the court is not short of money."

Zhou Shuren wiped his face and said, "It should be related to Shi Qing. However, the war has caused casualties and property losses, but we have to fight. The farmers are having a hard time again."

Zhulan was worried about her nephews. "I don't know how Wuchun and his nephews are doing. They haven't sent any letters home."

"No news is also good news. Don't worry about it. Everyone has their own destiny. Sometimes worrying about it won't do anything."

Zhulan was speechless. Sometimes it was really hard to respond to Zhou Shuren's words. She pulled Zhou Shuren to sit down and combed his hair. After his hair was tied up, Zhulan and he went downstairs to have breakfast.

The capital is the center of power, and its people understand the situation better than those in other states. Although the capital is still prosperous, if you look closely you can see that there are many convoys coming and going, and many people leaving the capital.

Zhulan waited for Zhou Shuren to send the invitation back, and motioned for him to come to the window. "I sat there and counted the convoys leaving the city from the South Gate. Four convoys left in two hours. Two were merchant caravans, and two were leaving with their families."

Zhou Shuren sat next to Zhulan, "We came at a good or bad time."

Zhulan followed Zhou Shuren's words and said, "The timing is good. The situation is tense and many people have left Beijing. We don't have to worry about not being able to buy a house in Beijing. As for bad things, Beijing will not comfort us. It's better to leave early."

Zhou Shuren praised, "That's absolutely right. Once I buy the house, I'll find a car team to go back."

Zhulan closed the window, "I just don't know if the war is in the northwest or the northeast border."

"No matter where the war breaks out, the price of food will go up this year. We should sell less food this year and keep the rest!"

"Well, when do you say the war will start?"

Zhou Shuren spread his hands and said, "I am just a scholar and I cannot get in touch with them. My estimate is not accurate either. Especially since there are many variables involved, my estimate is even more uncertain. However, the army has already started collecting food and grass, so we need to prepare for at least some days."

Zhu Lan said quietly, "It will be soon. Whether it's the northwest or the northeast, we should try not to drag it into winter. Fortunately, the dynasty has only been established for twelve years. The soldiers are still fierce and have not yet enjoyed wealth and slackness. The chances of victory are high, and I can rest assured."

Zhou Shuren was not worried. Those who could successfully rebel were all brave and good at fighting. As long as there were enough food and grass, the chance of losing the battle was very small. It is not an exaggeration to say that heroes emerge in troubled times.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren chatted for a while, and then they went out shopping. Zhou Shuren wanted to visit some antique shops in Beijing.

Zhulan wanted to go to the clothing store and the jewelry store, so Zhou Shuren accompanied Zhulan to the clothing store and the jewelry store first.

The clothes in the ready-made clothing shops in the capital are more luxurious and of course the prices are also very touching. Zhulan liked two sets of clothes. Zhou Shuren's wallet was now very fat, so Zhulan naturally bought whatever she liked. Zhulan also picked out a set for Zhou Shuren. Zhulan didn't pick the expensive ones for the three sets of clothes and still spent eighteen taels.

Afterwards, the two of them went to a fabric shop. The fabric shop in the capital had all kinds of fabrics. Zhulan had come to the capital, so naturally she wanted to bring some gifts back, and fabric was the first choice. Although most of the fabrics were also available in Pingzhou, the significance of buying them in the capital was different.

Finally they went to a jewelry shop. Zhulan did not choose the most famous one. She knew her own worth, so she chose one that looked more affordable. This time, Zhulan did not only look at gold and silver jewelry, but also her eyes fell on pearls. Pearls were very small. Although pearls are expensive, small pearls are not that valuable.

Zhulan selected several pearl-inlaid hairpins for her three daughters-in-law, selected pearl earrings for Xuehan and several maids, and bought a jade hairpin and pearl earrings for herself.

Finally, a pair of gold bracelets were chosen for Sun, as the old lady preferred gold ones.

Zhou Shuren said, "Since it's a rare trip to the capital, why not buy two pieces of jewelry for my two sisters-in-law? We live in Pingzhou City and don't go back to Yang's house often. It will be even more difficult to go back if we go far away in the future. My father-in-law and mother-in-law will rely on my two sisters-in-law to take care of them."

Zhulan chose two more pearl hairpins. "That's all. Please calculate the money."

The shopkeeper quickly calculated the amount, "The total is fifty-six taels and five cents. Madam, you bought a lot, so I'll give you fifty-six taels."

The jewelry Zhulan chose was expensive, including a gold bracelet and a jade hairpin. The pearl hairpin was not very big, so it was not too expensive. Zhulan paid the banknote, and the shopkeeper asked, "Do you want silver or gold?"

Zhulan didn't want to carry a bag of silver, "Gold."

The shopkeeper responded, exchanged the gold and handed it to Zhulan, "Madam, keep it and come back next time."

Zhulan took the money and left the shop. She and Zhou Shuren were carrying a lot of things in their hands. "Let's send the things back and go to the antique shop again!"

Zhou Shuren lowered his head and looked at the bag in his hand. "Okay."

The two returned to the inn, and the waiter came up and said, "Dear guests, a scholar named Deng has sent a letter."

Zhulan took the bag from Zhou Shuren's hand. Zhou Shuren took the note, gave the waiter some copper coins, and carried the bag upstairs.

After returning to the room, Zhou Shuren looked at the post and said, "It is not convenient for us to visit Mr. Deng's home. He will come tomorrow."

Zhulan took the post and took a look at it. "I haven't asked you about your visit to Mr. Deng's house yet. How was Mr. Deng's house?"

Zhou Shuren's arms were sore from carrying the bag all the way. He rubbed his arms and said, "Mr. Deng's whole family lives together. When I went there, Mr. Deng was not at home. He left a note, and the house was quite messy."

Zhulan thought, no wonder Zhou Shuren didn't mention it, Deng Xiucai's family must have made Zhou Shuren unhappy, "Let's have lunch first, and then go to the antique shop."

"good."

In the afternoon, Zhulan followed Zhou Shuren to an antique shop. The famous antique shops in Beijing all have backgrounds. Zhulan didn't dare to move anything after entering the shop, as she was afraid that she would lose control and get hurt, resulting in huge losses.

Zhou Shuren came here today not only to broaden his horizons, but also to try his luck and to find bargains. As for why he didn't go to the stalls outside to find bargains, it was because he didn't have time to look at them one by one. If he lived in Beijing, he would have all the time to find bargains slowly, but he was too short on time. It would be better if he had gone through the screening at the antique shop, so the chances of finding a bargain would be greater.

The shopkeeper didn't follow me and just sat there drinking tea. It was easy to tell whether he was really buying something or just trying his luck.

Zhou Shuren turned around twice and said to Zhulan, "Let's go!"

The shopkeeper smiled and continued humming his tune, saying that it was not so easy to get a bargain.

Zhulan waited until they were far away, "This is not your temper, there is still a lot to see!"

Zhou Shuren said quietly, "We shouldn't choose famous shops. There are very few fake ones among these shops. I just walked around twice and saw that a few of them were real. It would be a waste of time to continue looking."

Zhulan chuckled, "Then find an ordinary shop?"

Zhou Shuren shook his head, "I can't go there. We are not from Beijing and we don't have any background. Even if I pick up some bargains, I can't take them away."

"Okay, let's go back!"

"Go back!"

The two were not in a hurry to go back. Zhulan was very interested in the rouge stalls on the street. Just as she was about to pick some to give to others, a carriage stopped beside her.