Chapter 437 Invitation

The next morning, Zhulan received the New Year gift from Shi Qing. Looking at the gift list, Zhulan was stunned. Shi Qing's gift list was not light. Zhou Shuren resold the gifts, and Shi Qing gave her a lot of gold and silver items. The gold jewelry was all for her, and there was also calligraphy and painting for Zhou Shuren. The most valuable thing was the seal.

She heard Zhou Shuren talk a lot about Shi Qing. Shi Qing could not do business because of the price of the imperial examination, and he was in trouble for several years. It was said that his family was robbed and some house deeds and shop deeds were lost. She believed that this was not a self-directed act, but a real revenge.

She said that Shi Qing was not someone who would not leave a way out for himself, and that he was really generous.

Zhulan showed Zhou Shuren the gift list and asked, "Do you want to accept it?"

Zhou Shuren, "I taught him for free for two years and also protected him for two years. I accept these gifts with a clear conscience."

However, Shi Qing lived in a small courtyard and was surrounded by only a groom and a servant. Yet he was so generous as to give him these things, which showed that he really trusted him!

Zhulan is so vulgar. She really likes gold and silver. "Did you really accept it?"

"receive."

Zhulan smiled happily, she was in a really good mood. She had two sets of gold jewelry, both made by masters. The gold brooch was thin and the butterflies looked like they could fly. Although this set of jewelry was not made of gold, the craftsmanship was worth silver.

Zhulan happily accepted them all. She really liked them. She didn't know whether she was carrying a girl or a boy. "These two sets of jewelry are for the baby in my belly."

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard. He thought that he should save good things for his unborn daughter and son. "Yeah."

Zhulan put away all the jewelry and asked, "Shi Qing will be spending the New Year alone, do you want to invite him over?"

Zhou Shuren, considering Shi Qing's generosity, said, "Okay."

Zhulan, "Tell him tomorrow. I think he admires you very much."

Zhou Shuren paused, "Okay."

The next day, Zhou Shuren punished Shi Qing again, "Many of your understandings of this article are inaccurate. Go back and copy it a hundred times."

Shi Qing's wrist was used to it. "Yes."

Today's class is over, Shi Qing packed up his writing brushes. He has been studying at Zhou's house for quite some time, and he also met his former partners in Lizhou City. When he knew that Lord Zhou was teaching him, he was sarcastic to him at first, but immediately changed to a flattering attitude, as everyone now knew that he was Lord Zhou's student.

The students alone are protected, what about the son? Miss Wu's brother is the adopted son, and it seems that he is also being protected by Mr. Zhou!

Shi Qing lowered his head and thought a lot, with loneliness in his eyes. It was New Year again, and he had never celebrated New Year since he was a child. In the past, he never participated because his stepmother didn't want to see him.

Later, his brother died and he could not attend either. This was a concession made by his father to his stepmother. Fortunately, he got used to it.

Zhou Shuren waited for Shi Qing to bow and walk to the door before speaking, "You are alone outside, why don't you come home to celebrate the New Year."

Shi Qing thought he was hallucinating, but after Lord Zhou left, Shi Qing realized he was not mistaken.

Zhou Shuren walked to the gate and heard Shi Qing loudly reply, "Thank you, sir."

He paused, then waved and walked away.

Shi Qing held the book tightly. It was New Year's Day and he had planned on reciting an article for the New Year. Shi Qing walked out of the yard with brisk steps.

Outside the gate, the servant saw the young master and asked, "Young master, are you happy?"

He has followed the young master since he was a child, but this is the first time he sees him so happy.

Shi Qing, "Is it so obvious?"

Shi Qing nodded, "Yes, my lord's eyes are bright."

Shi Qing curled her lips, "Is that so? The day after tomorrow, the young master will bring you to the Zhou residence to celebrate the New Year. This is indeed a happy event."

The servant exclaimed, this is indeed a great joyous event. Since Lord Zhou called him "Young Master", he went to worship Buddha secretly. He will go to worship Buddha again tomorrow, hoping that Lord Zhou will live a long life. Yes, and that the mistress of the Zhou family will be able to give birth safely.

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve. This was Zhulan and Zhou Shuren's fifth New Year. This year was different. They had their own child, and they felt that the New Year was different.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren were quite excited when they came to the ancient times. They spent their first year together and the second year was okay, but they didn't feel anything after the third year.

But this year, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren got up early in the morning. Both their spirits and attitudes had changed. Zhou Shuren personally took his grandchildren to post spring couplets and hang red lanterns.

Zhulan cut some window flowers and also made a small red lantern out of a lot of red paper and hung it on the tree outside.

The bare trees were now covered with little red lanterns and red ribbons, as if they had borne fruit in winter.

Outside, Zhou Shuren had put up couplets, bought some cannons, taken off his official uniform and put on casual clothes. The kids beside him were calling him Grandpa, and Zhou Shuren smiled. He imagined his son or daughter pulling him and calling him dad when they were born.

Zhulan took her daughter, Wu Ning and two granddaughters to stack red envelopes together. This year, Zhulan brought a lot of peanuts, one in each red envelope.

Yu Shuang asked, "Grandma, the red envelopes you prepared are too many."

There aren't so many people at home.

Zhu Lan explained, "We're going to be a little more creative this year. We'll tie all the red envelopes to the tree and put a riddle underneath. Whoever guesses the answer correctly gets the red envelope."

Yu Shuang narrowed her eyes, "This is interesting."

Xue Han, "Mom, you are especially happy this year."

Last year, Mom didn’t even want to have fun and she wasn’t in a good mood. This year, I’m really looking forward to the New Year. I have an indescribable feeling, more than just happiness.

Zhulan thought to herself that because she had a sense of belonging, she and Zhou Shuren had changed. Now she and Zhou Shuren felt that every day was interesting and they especially cherished time. Unfortunately, she couldn't say it. She replied, "Because Mom is pregnant again, she feels that she is still young. In the past, Mom felt that she was getting old every year."

Xue Han leaned against her mother and said, "Mom, you don't look old at all. In my eyes, you are always young."

Xuehan hopes her mother will always be with her, but she feels sad when her mother says she is getting old.

Yu Lu said, "Grandma, we will take good care of our uncle and aunt."

Zhulan, "......."

Yes, the baby in the belly is older.

Xue Han chuckled. It was quite interesting to think about a little brother or sister growing up under the care of a niece.

At noon, we always had hotpot. Because Zhulan couldn't eat mutton, this year during the New Year, each room had its own table, so Zhulan and her husband sat at the same table with Wu Ning and Xue Han.

Rongchuan and Mingyun sat at the same table with Shi Qing.

Zhulan's table has a chicken soup base, and there are fish slices, pork, mushrooms, etc. on the table.

Because Xue Han and Wu Ning didn't want to eat mutton and beef, Zhu Lan didn't have two pots at her table.

It was Wu Ning’s first time to celebrate the New Year with so many people. Although the conversation in the room was chaotic, it was lively and warm.

Shi Qing had eaten better hotpots before, but the one he ate today was the most heartwarming hotpot.

Mingyun acted like a little adult, "Mr. Shi, you're welcome."

Shi Qing smiled and said, "Okay."

This is the eldest grandson of the Zhou family. Chang Lian said that Lord Zhou taught him personally and he has been brought up by Lord Zhou since he was a child. It is true that he has learned a lot from the few contacts he has had.

(End of this chapter)