Chapter 95: Calculating Mutual Benefit

Zhou Shuren waited for Zhulan to enter the inner room before he took out the examination papers in his arms. He did not hide it, "Some time ago, I went to Jiangnan with the escort company. These are the examination papers of the two sessions of Jiangnan that I took great pains to obtain in Jiangnan. I copied this by hand and gave it to my clan. I hope it will be helpful to the scholars in my clan who will participate in the provincial examination next year."

Finally, Chief Zhou lost his composure. He hadn't heard the news that Zhou Shuren went to Jiangnan, and not only did he come back with good things. He was surprised, but also glad that his intuition was right. He hurriedly took the test paper and looked through it. The chief was also a student, and he knew the importance of the test paper very well. He was excited after looking through it for a few times.

For several generations, the Zhou family had no capable people or relatives with real power. The chaotic times also cost many capable people in the family. Not to mention getting the questions for the provincial examination, even the cost of taking the examination had to be paid for by the family. He touched the questions curiously and said, "Okay, okay, Shuren, uncle was right about you. I knew you were capable. On behalf of the young people in the family, I thank you."

After saying this, he felt regretful. Zhou Shuren was the best student among his peers, but unfortunately he was born at the wrong time. After the dynasty was established, his children were still young, and there was nothing Zhou Shuren could do. All his attention was on raising his son. Otherwise, when the new dynasty was established, the Zhou family would have produced a hero to protect the family.

Zhou Shuren was willing to talk to smart people without having to explain everything, and he didn't have to work hard at all. Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "This is what I should do. It's embarrassing for the clan leader to thank me. I have something to trouble you with. In the spring of next year, I want Changlian and Changzhi to transfer back to the clan school, and Mingyun and Rongchuan to study in the clan school."

Patriarch Zhou stroked his beard with joy in his heart. It was a great thing for the clan that Zhou Shuren's branch was reintegrated into the clan. He was looking forward to Zhou Shuren even more. His eyes fell on the test paper. These must have cost not only time but also a lot of money. Zhou Shuren's family must be very wealthy.

It was a little unnatural to think that the elders of my father and grandfather's generation had set their sights on Zhou Shuren's branch. However, Zhou Shuren even sponsored Rongchuan's study, so he must have a lot of money. I thought to myself that it was no wonder that they were targeting this branch of the clan. It was all because of the money.

Patriarch Zhou thought that the imperial examination would require a lot of money, and Zhou Shuren's family had no shortage of money, so it would be easier for them to provide a successful candidate. If the ancestors blessed them with a successful candidate, Zhou Shuren's family would be able to change their status.

Zhou Shuren's family was reintegrated back into the tribe. The tribe had to raise money, but Zhou Shuren would not be stingy and would not be stingy. He knew what the purpose of reintegrating into the tribe was, and it was mutually beneficial. "It's no problem for them to join the tribe school. I heard that Changlian and Changzhi are good, so they can come to study directly after the new year. The two new students will follow the new batch of children to school."

Zhou Shuren stood up and thanked, "Thank you, Chief."

Patriarch Zhou smiled and said, "It's unorthodox to call you Patriarch. Call me uncle."

Inside the house, Zhulan also learned from the conversation that several generations ago, their branch did have some kinship with the clan leader's family. When the Zhou family merged into the clan, several generations married daughters of Zhou family relatives. Zhou Shuren's great-grandmother was a relative of the clan leader's family.

Although there are several generations between us, we are still somewhat related.

Zhulan was stunned when she heard this, this was not in her memory and her original mother-in-law had never told her either. But after all, several generations had passed and there was no point in talking about it. The person had died long ago and the affection was gone long ago.

If Zhou Shuren hadn't been reintegrated into the clan, the clan leader's family wouldn't have mentioned it.

At noon, Clan Leader Zhou's family prepared a variety of main dishes, including slaughtering a chicken and stewing meat, eight main dishes. Clan Leader Zhou also called over several respected elders in the clan. From the moment they saw Zhou Shuren and the test paper, they knew that old people are shrewd and none of them are stupid, so there was no need to explain anything, as everything was self-explanatory.

Zhulan was a capable and skillful person, and after several attempts she won the favor of all the women in the clan leader's family.

Zhulan smiled. In the past, she had no outside support, and no one in the clan would help her when she was bullied, and no one would stand up for her. But it was different now. Zhou Wang first scolded the black-hearted women in the village, and then promised to teach whoever bullied Zhulan a lesson.

Zhulan was very happy. The Zhou Wang family had a high status in the village, and the wife of the Zhou clan leader was Li Zheng's mother. As long as she opened her mouth, anyone who wanted to slander Zhulan in the future would have to think twice.

Zhou Shuren and Zhulan returned home with great success. After some exercise, Boss Zhou had changed a lot and had a deeper understanding of what it means to be the eldest son and what face is.

In the following days, Zhou Shuren and Zhulan took their eldest son and eldest grandson to visit the homes of several elders in the clan. The gifts they gave were all cloth, enough to make a set of clothes for an adult, so that they could wear decent clothes when going out. They all accepted Zhou Shuren's kindness.

Zhulan's wife is also very good at diplomacy. Even if she doesn't say that she likes Zhulan, at least she has changed her opinion of her.

The couple's efforts paid off. They gradually got to know each other well in the tribe, and the attitude of the villagers towards Zhulan changed immediately. Zheng no longer dared to be weird when seeing Zhulan, and Zhulan was polite to everyone she met.

After a busy week, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren finally stopped moving around. It was a tiring week.

Finally able to curl up at home, Zhulan didn't want to get out of bed. These days were the coldest time of winter and she was freezing cold.

Zhou Shuren was in the main room, and no one from his grandson's generation dared to come. Zhulan snuggled into the quilt after dinner, feeling comfortable in the warm quilt. She turned to Zhou Shuren, who was holding a book, and said, "We have visited everyone we should have visited, and the New Year is only ten days away. You see, in two days it will be a good day, and Xuehan and Rongchuan's matter should have been settled, too!"

Zhou Shuren put down the book, "Okay, let the second son take Rongchuan to his father-in-law's house tomorrow to give him a New Year gift, and let his father-in-law and mother-in-law see Rongchuan, and let the eldest son invite the family members."

Zhulan saw Zhou Shuren pick up the book again and asked, "Did you forget that there is an important person you haven't informed yet?"