Chapter 310: Getting Older

The next morning, the whole family got up early. After breakfast, Zhulan checked to make sure nothing was left behind from the ancestor worship. Then the whole family returned to Zhoujia Village.

The Zhou family has an ancestral hall. Zhou Shuren Zhongju went to the hall to pay homage first, and then brought Zhou Lao Da's sons, as well as Mingyun Mingteng, to the mountain to pay homage to their original parents at the tomb.

Zhulan brought several daughters-in-law to meet the women of the clan in the old house. Zhou Shuren succeeded in getting married and bought some land for the clan. The status of the Zhou family in the clan was almost as high as that of the clan leader's family.

If the clan leader had not been working hard to do things for the clan, Zhou Shuren would have surpassed him long ago.

It was only after listening to the old man's words that Zhou Wangshi realized that Zhou Shuren was the scheming one. Zhou Shuren had been plotting against the entire Zhou family since he took the initiative to return to the clan. From winning the favor of the clan members by presenting books to buying land to win the hearts of the people, Zhou Shuren was so scheming in every step.

After hearing this, Mrs. Zhou Wang was angry, because their family's status was threatened, and the old man was not happy. But he was also happy. He was happy that the Zhou family had produced a capable person, and that the Zhou family would become a big family in the future, and who knows, it might be more powerful than the Dong family!

Mrs. Zhou Wang's feelings were extremely complicated. She was angry, but she couldn't show it because her grandson would have to rely on Zhou Shuren to support him in the future!

Zhulan kept looking at Zhou Wangshi with the remaining eyes. Zhou Wangshi didn't say much when she came. She understood the gap in Zhou Wangshi's heart. Zhou Wangshi could come along and smile at her. Zhou Wangshi's heart was very strong. Not everyone can adjust her mentality overnight.

Zhulan poured tea herself and handed it to Zhou Wangshi, "Auntie, have a cup of tea."

Zhou Wang regained her composure and suppressed her complicated thoughts. Zhou Shuren and his wife were not simple people. They offered her the tea with both hands, which showed that they still respected her. She took it with a smile and said, "It's rare that you can still pour tea for me."

Zhulan felt something was behind the words and curled her lips, "Don't say I'm a court lady's wife now. Even if I really become an official's wife, you're still my aunt and I'll still pour tea for you."

Zhou Wang looked at Yang seriously. Yang was not joking. She took a sip of tea and said, "This tea tastes good. Auntie, wait for you to pour more tea for me."

Zhulan, "This is natural."

Zhou Wangshi was completely relieved. She was afraid that Yang's status had changed and her attitude towards the elders in the clan would also change. Fortunately, she was not wrong about her.

Zhulan thought to herself that she was not stupid, and that it was time for Zhou Shuren to win people's hearts, and she was not the kind of person who would lose sight of herself just because she gained power overnight.

Furthermore, although Zhou Wang and the clan leader have some flaws, they are mostly worthy of respect. Zhulan admires their spirit of caring for the clan.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren had discussed and decided not to hold a big wedding ceremony in their hometown. They would just invite the elders of the clan to have a meal, with only three tables.

Zhulan didn't let Li cook either. After Zhou Lao Da and Zhou Lao Er came back, Zhulan asked them to go to a restaurant in the county and order three tables for a banquet.

There were not enough tables and chairs in the old house, so we borrowed them from neighbors. Each table had twelve dishes, all of which were the restaurant's specialties. When we ordered a banquet, the plates were ready, and we just had to swipe our wallets and send them back to the restaurant after we finished eating. Of course, we had to pay a deposit, but we didn't have to send it back, but then the deposit would be gone. The deposit left was far more than the money for the plates!

They enjoyed the delicious food and wine until three o'clock in the afternoon today. When the Li family members finished cleaning up, it was almost four o'clock and they returned to Lijia Village at four o'clock.

The Zhou family was used to having three meals a day, so if they didn't eat at night, they would definitely feel hungry at night. After returning to the house, they rested for an hour. Li made fried noodles with soybean paste and crucian carp soup noodles for Xuemei alone.

Early the next morning, Zhou Shuren brought Zhou Lao Da back to the village to buy some land, and happened to go to see the county magistrate to transfer the ownership.

Dong and Chang Lian also packed up the things they brought back from Pingzhou, and Zhou Laoer drove the carriage to take the couple to the county government office.

Zhulan and Zhao were the only ones left at home. Li had gone back to her parents' home and this time she wouldn't be able to come back for the New Year. Li wanted to spend more time with her parents.

Zhulan and Zhao sat together to make clothes. Zhulan wanted to make more clothes for the two children before leaving. Especially as winter was approaching, cotton jackets and trousers must be prepared.

Zhao stole glances at her mother-in-law several times, thinking to herself that it would be good to learn from her elder sister-in-law. Only by expressing her thoughts directly could her mother-in-law pay more attention to her. "Mom, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of my elder sister."

Zhulan bit the string and took it again, saying, "You are the most careful among the third daughter-in-law. I trust you."

Zhao received her mother-in-law's affirmation, and couldn't help but smile, "Mother, take good care of yourself when you go to the capital."

Zhulan then remembered what she had overlooked. Servants can be used to carry people. In fact, this rule is quite tricky. It is completely aimed at students from poor families. Students from official families can use servants if they are not carrying people. Well, this can be said to be a matter of one's father. Those who don't have good ancestors and good fathers can only rely on themselves.

It was in ancient times that the concept of relying on one’s father was fully interpreted. In ancient times, having a good father meant the end of one’s life!

Take the Zhou family for example. They changed their father unknowingly, and in just two years, the fate of several sons of the Zhou family changed, and the future of all the grandchildren of the Zhou family was planned!

Seeing that her mother was distracted and about to prick her hand, Zhao quickly reached out to hold the needle, "Mother."

Zhulan came back to her senses and looked down, and almost stabbed herself in the hand, "Look, I was distracted."

Zhao didn't think much about it, she just thought it was normal for her mother to be distracted because of her age.

Fortunately, Zhulan didn't know what Zhao was thinking, otherwise she would have vomited blood. She was not even forty yet, only thirty-eight this year, thirty-eight, and she was thirty-eight in her actual age, so she was only thirty-seven in her actual age!

Xue Han asked, "Mom, are you worried about life in the capital?"

Zhu Lan shook her head, "No, mother is thinking that our family can buy a servant, I am thinking about whether to buy a servant."

Xue Han was stunned, she really didn't expect that their family could already use servants. With servants, would she become a real lady?

Zhao almost stabbed her own hand and quickly lowered her head. She thought of her own mother, who had been a servant. She felt that fate was truly magical. She went from worrying about her own fate to now having a beloved husband and two children. It had only been a short time, and now their family had to use servants.

Xue Han didn't understand, "Why did my mother buy a whole family of servants?"

Zhulan said, "Because it's easy to control. The slave contracts of the whole family are in my hands. They dare not have any evil thoughts, otherwise it will harm the whole family. Mother tells you, when choosing slaves in the future, first, don't choose single slaves, and second, don't choose slaves from wealthy families, especially slaves who are resold."

Xue Han didn't understand, "Why?"

Zhu Lan said, "There are too many unknown factors about the status of a single servant. We should be cautious and not accept him. The servants that are resold by wealthy families are usually those who have committed crimes. They are either sneaky or cunning. You should know that loyal servants are rarely resold."

Of course, there are loyal servants who are framed, but unfortunately the probability is too small. The masters of wealthy families are not fools and they all like loyal servants.

Xue Han was surprised, "There's so much talk about buying a slave!"

Zhulan smiled and said, "There is a lot of knowledge in this. I tell you, when you choose a maid in the future, don't choose one who is always strong, no matter how loyal she is. Don't choose one who only knows how to work, no matter how good she is at work."

(End of this chapter)