Chapter 540 Sympathy for the Li Family's Baby
Zhulan waited for Boss Zhou to go out and looked through the account books carefully. The Li family was indeed trustworthy. Every payment was recorded very clearly. The two thick account books were full of records. Because County Magistrate Dong was a relative of the Zhou family and Zhou Shuren was the prefect of Jinzhou, no one had ever caused trouble for the two estates.
This year, God did not make things difficult for the farmers in my hometown in Northeast China. The grain harvest from Zhulan's two farms could not be considered a bumper harvest, but it was good at the same time. After deducting the taxes given to the Li family, there was also the grain that was transported and the expenses. The total amount of silver earned from selling the grain was 800 taels.
Because a lot of food was left over and transported over, otherwise the income would be much greater.
A sum of money was deposited into the account. Although it was not the largest amount, it made Zhulan feel relieved. At least the money for the New Year gift was available.
In the evening, Zhou Shuren came back early. His in-laws had come, and the whole Zhou family had dinner together to welcome them.
Zhou Shuren specially came back and changed into casual clothes to meet Li Cong. At first, his father-in-law was very nervous and reserved, but Zhou Shuren, a fox, quickly took the lead and his father-in-law relaxed. By the time the meal was served, his father-in-law was already able to chat and laugh with Zhou Shuren.
Li sat next to her mother-in-law, but her eyes were always on her father. When she heard her father laugh, she also grinned. Ever since her father came into the yard and saw her, he had been nervous. She felt bad but was worried about him at the same time, but now she was relieved.
Zhulan picked up a piece of food for Li with her chopsticks and said, "You haven't touched your chopsticks for a long time. This is your favorite braised pork. Eat more."
Li looked at the braised pork in the bowl and was deeply moved. It was still her mother-in-law who cared about her the most. "Thank you, mother."
Li was no longer worried about her father. She felt relieved and her tone was light. "Mom, my mom said that if she really couldn't leave her family, she would have come along."
After saying this, Li still felt a little sad. Her mother's family was doing better now, the family business had grown, and the family could no longer do without the elders, so her mother had to stay at home.
Zhulan knew in her heart that it would be difficult to see Li's mother again in the future. The Li family had risen, and Li Xu was more guarded. Who could make the men of the Li family stupid? "Wait until Minghui is older next year, you and the eldest brother can go back to see her."
Li's depressed mood disappeared. She hadn't been home for several years. Although her mother would introduce her home every time she wrote to her, she still wanted to see it in person. She felt a little proud in her heart. She imagined the treatment she would receive when she returned to her mother's home and grinned foolishly.
Bamboo orchid,
It's too embarrassing to watch. Li probably wants to go back and show off!
Zhao envied her mother's family for being able to return. Thinking of her mother, she felt very upset. Compared with her eldest sister-in-law and third brother's wife who wrote once a month, she received two letters when she came to Jinzhou. One was written to her after she got the news of a difficult delivery, and the other was written to ask the Zhou family to hide the house for her younger brother.
Dong touched her belly. She was not jealous. After the child was born, her husband said that he would go back early to prepare for the provincial examination and would stay with her at her parents' home for a while.
There was envy in Su Xuan's eyes. She envied them for having parents while she didn't even have her parents' home to return to.
The table of Zhulan women finished drinking first, while the men were still drinking. The Li family members were all good at drinking, and Zhou Shuren drank quite a bit out of his rare happiness.
At night, Zhulan coaxed her son to sleep, and Zhou Shuren came back drunk. Zhulan handed Zhou Shuren a clean handkerchief and asked, "Are you happy today?"
Zhou Shuren took the handkerchief and wiped his face with a smile on his face, "Well, I'm happy today. I haven't had such a relaxed chat in a long time. I feel relieved."
Zhulan felt sad. Zhou Shuren had to go over everything he said outside in his mind and heart, and at home he had to act like the head of the family. So when chatting with those simple-minded people in the Li family, Zhou Shuren didn't have to hide anything.
Zhou Shuren took off his clothes and got into bed, "My father-in-law will be back the day after tomorrow, you should prepare some gifts. His grandchildren have all been sent to school to learn how to read, so prepare some writing materials."
After saying that, Zhou Shuren paused and said, "Right, prepare some paper."
Zhulan couldn't help but burst out laughing. The Li family had no talent for writing, so they really needed paper.
Zhou Shuren was also happy. When he heard that Li Gui had learned calligraphy, he asked Chang Lian to take the pen and ink to teach him. However, he was silent for a long time after reading it. The eldest brother said with great emotion, "He is indeed a member of the Li family."
He couldn't help laughing at that time. The eldest son was thinking of his eldest daughter-in-law's pen name.
The next day, the Zhou family would only eat together when there were visitors. After the family had breakfast, Zhulan asked the eldest son and his wife to take her father-in-law around the city, but they could forget about going outside the city.
As long as Zhou Shuren's investigation is not finished, the Zhou family is still in crisis, so this time if they go out, they have to bring a servant with good martial arts skills.
Li Cong and his son were sitting in the carriage in shock. They opened their mouths and said to their son-in-law, "Aren't we just going to walk around the streets? Is it necessary to bring so many people?"
Boss Zhou didn't want to scare his father-in-law, so he smiled and said, "Dad, we usually do this, you just need to get used to it."
As he said this, he pinched his wife's wrist.
Li glared at him, wondering why he was pinching her. She was not stupid, and it seemed as if she had no brains. She was furious and secretly pinched the head of the family's back.
Boss Zhou hissed. He had gained weight, and his skin had become much whiter. He was turning into a steamed bun. It really hurt when his wife pinched him like that.
Luckily, Li Cong didn't notice and kept muttering, "My dear, my girl, you are so blessed. No wonder your grandmother said you were the most blessed when she was alive."
Li was smiling, she also felt that she was the most blessed daughter in the Li family!
Zhulan has already asked housekeeper Ding to buy New Year's goods, so it's a good opportunity for the Li family to take the New Year's gifts back on the way.
The list of New Year gifts has been kept, you can just buy according to the list, but this year Zhulan has added seafood. Now it is winter, frozen prawns, sea fish, and sea vegetables can all be kept. Zhulan's favorite is sea bass, and she also likes knife fish.
These are rare items. Su Xuan has her own fishing boat, and Zhu Lan ordered them directly from Su Xuan.
At noon, the eldest brother and his wife took the Li family to a restaurant for dinner and did not return until the evening.
Except for the fourth son who married the county lord, the other three daughters-in-law of the Zhou family were of humble origins. When the farmer relatives of the Li family arrived, everyone in Jinzhou knew about it, and then after tasting the Zhou family's attitude towards their relatives, they had to admit that the Zhou family had really good character. They did not forget their poor relatives even though they were rich, and they treated them with courtesy.
The Li family hasn't left yet, and the grandsons and granddaughters of the Zhou family are in better shape, just waiting for the Zhou family to open a house and entertain them.
The father-in-law was in a hurry to go home, Zhulan had prepared the New Year gifts, and Zhou Shuren also took a special leave to see them off.
The eldest Zhou and his wife also prepared a lot of things, the second brother and his wife also prepared some things, and the Chang Lian couple didn't give anything outstanding.
It was Changzhi and his wife's turn. Changzhi took out a bundle and handed it to Li Gui, "This is the calligraphy I copied. If you copy it a hundred times, you will definitely improve. These are all for you. If there are not enough, please write to me and I will send you more. I don't have much else, but the calligraphy I copied is the most. Take it well."
Su Xuan's expression froze. The bundle was clearly hidden. She had the urge to cover her face. How did Chang Zhi find it? And where was the gift she prepared?
Li Gui stared at the bundle, took it and pressed it in his hand. At least ten copies, and a hundred times, it would kill people!
Zhulan and Zhou Shuren, ""
The two looked at each other. Fortunately, it was a real member of the Li family. If it were someone else, they would have wanted to beat Chang Zhi.
Li wanted to speak several times but kept silent. It was not that she didn't want to help her nephew, but she really couldn't afford to offend him!
Boss Zhou looked at his dumbfounded father-in-law and felt sympathy for the children of the Li family who didn’t like to study!
The brothers Zhou Laoer and Chang Lian not only took a step back, they also pulled their wives back.
Only Chang Zhi was very satisfied, and he looked at his wife with pride. For his book collection, he knew the whole yard very well, so it was easy for him to find the bag. He came late on purpose because he was afraid that his wife would stop him from delivering it!
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