Chapter 421: Doubts

Zhulan took the warm water Zhou Shuren handed her and said, "It's a pity that I can only see the baby crawling around. I can't tell whether it is a boy or a girl."

She was so tired in the dream that she kept chasing him but never caught up.

Zhou Shuren sat next to Zhulan, "Still drinking?"

Zhulan shook her head, "I don't want to drink anymore."

Zhou Shuren put down the cup, "Do you hope it's a boy or a girl?"

Zhu Lan curled her lips and said, "I like girls very much, but it's a pity that boys were better in ancient times. They can go wherever they like without being restricted, but girls can't. To be honest, if I give birth to a girl, I really don't want to marry her off. It's better to marry a boy into the family."

Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "I also think boys are good."

He loved his daughter very much and also hoped to have a concubine like Zhulan, but there were too many restrictions on girls in ancient times. It would be difficult for a girl to return to her parents' home once her family returned. If a concubine was bullied, he and Zhulan would be heartbroken.

Zhulan played with Zhou Shuren's hand, "You have been teaching Shi Qing for a while, how do you feel?"

Zhou Shuren, "What Shi Qing lacks is vision and a sense of the overall situation. I teach him a little bit every day, and he absorbs it very quickly. Why are you suddenly asking him?"

"I saw him today and felt that he had changed a lot, so I asked."

Zhou Shuren looked at the time and said, "I'll go to the garden with you."

"I really should clear my head. Let's go!"

Zhou Shuren was afraid that Zhulan would get cold, so he gave her a cape. The two of them went to the garden. After walking for a while, Zhou Shuren said, "I don't think I've seen Li clinging to you for a long time."

In the past, even when he was on leave, Li would dare to get close to Zhulan.

Zhu Lan burst out laughing, "Ever since you knew I was pregnant, your eyes have been murderous. How dare Li come here?"

Zhou Shuren snorted, "Why wasn't she afraid before? She was just afraid that you would be hurt and she wouldn't be able to take the responsibility, so she didn't dare to come."

Zhu Lan curled her lips and said, "I am now the protected person in the family. Not to mention Li, even the children don't dare to come over."

Zhou Shuren was silent for a moment, "Do you feel bored?"

Zhu Lan shook her head, "No, I'm not energetic enough, it's good to sleep without someone to accompany me."

"That's good."

He was really afraid that Zhulan would feel bored. Zhou Shuren held Zhulan's hand. He regretted that when Lord Chen asked him to give up the government office, he should have agreed.

This way he can spend more time with Zhulan.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren were walking and chatting. Zhou Shuren felt that it was getting late, so he helped Zhulan back to the yard through the main gate of the garden.

Chang Lian brought Shi Qing out of his yard and saw his father supporting his mother from behind. He couldn't help but smile. His parents had such a good relationship. But he felt sick at the thought of having a younger brother or sister, because they were too young.

Chang Lian turned around and saw Shi Qing staring blankly in the direction of his parents. "Come back to your senses. You must be stupid because you haven't seen my father's gentle face. You will get used to it when you come to our house more often in the future."

Shi Qing looked at the backs of Lord Zhou and Lord Zhou's wife. He was a little confused. He had heard Lord Zhou's oath, but he felt that Lord Zhou was scheming. The more he got in touch with him, the more he felt that Lord Zhou was extremely cunning, and the more he felt that the love Lord Zhou said was all lies. He did not think that there was any love between Lord Zhou and his wife, but after what he saw just now, Shi Qing knew that he was wrong.

Mr. Zhou loves his wife. He has never seen Mr. Zhou smile so tenderly. His heart and eyes are full of Mrs. Zhou. Is this love?

He never believed in love. His father taught him that as long as it has value, anything can be used. He also understood from a young age that profit is paramount. His father liked his mother only for her appearance. His mother was killed by his stepmother. His father knew it but kept silent because his mother could not compare to the benefits brought by his stepmother.

He was abused as a child, but his father didn't care. So was he. He plotted to kill his elder brother, but his father didn't say anything, because he saw his ability.

He had also met the wives of officials and many couples, but he had never seen love between them. It was all about family interests.

But today he saw love, and he was a little confused. Is there really love between husband and wife, not interests?

Chang Lian took two steps and turned back to see Shi Qing was still there, "What were you thinking about? Come back to your senses."

Shi Qing took two quick steps and asked, "Master Zhou, is Mr. Zhou always like this at home?"

Chang Lian laughed. It seemed that his father had frightened his student. "Yes, I told you, my father is at home on vacation, and no one ever comes to visit because they all know that he will be with my mother. Also, we are like children, and we are always busy. It's ok if we don't see our father smile at ordinary times, but once we see him smiling, we will definitely be in trouble. However, our father has not tormented us in the past two years."

Chang Lian looked at Shi Qing, the son of Shang Jia. He didn't want to know how Shi Qing got the grace to become a scholar. He only wanted to know why his father accepted Shi Qing. In his heart, he already regarded Shi Qing as an opponent. When he thought of his master's evaluation, he felt uncomfortable. Was he that bad?

Chang Lian turned his head away from Shi Qing, took two steps forward and said, "Come to think of it, Dad made an exception for you today. I didn't accompany Mom on this day off, but took you to see my master instead."

Chang Lian paused and said casually, "My father didn't let you become his disciple like he did with Meng Jie. He only let you call him Master. I'm confused. Why would my father teach you?"

His father is very famous now. Not to mention his real talent as the runner-up in the imperial examination, just talk about his reputation in the past two years. More and more people want to become his father's disciples. Someone comes to visit him every once in a while. Some have good family backgrounds, some are from prominent families, and some are very talented. His father did not accept any of them, so why did he accept the son of a merchant?

Shi Qing felt that he had been greatly shocked. Was the Lord Zhou that Chang Lian was talking about the same person that he knew? Recalling the scene when Lord Zhou taught him, Shi Qing couldn't help but touch his sore wrist. His hand was really going to be useless.