After coming to Pingzhou for a week, Zhulan has become familiar with the surrounding environment. Zhou Shuren is busy reading or going out with Zhao Bo to expand communication. She has nothing to do to go out for a walk, or to tease the children at home.
Today, Zhou Shuren not only went out by himself, but also brought Ming and Qing and Shu Mo together, and did not come back for lunch at noon.
It was rare for Mrs. Wu Li to go home without food. Zhulan asked, "Aren't you going to bring it back to the children?"
Wu Li smiled, "The four of them went to grandma's house, and I was the only one at home."
Zhulan's eyes lit up, and Mrs. Wu Li was in no hurry to go back. She just happened to be able to chat with Mrs. Wu and Li.
The neighbors around are quite arrogant. The family on the left is a scholar, and the relative on the right is a small official. I have inquired about the Zhulan family clearly. Zhou Shuren took the exam for a scholar even at his age, which made people look down on him, thinking that Zhou Shuren was not worth paying. Zhulan came to visit according to the etiquette, both of them were neither salty nor bland, and Zhulan smiled.
When she came back, she carefully inquired about the situation of the two families. The neighbors thought that the Zhou family had no value in making friends, so she wanted to check it out. If it wasn't for worrying about troublesome Zhao Bo, she would have asked for it when she came to Pingzhou.
After inquiring, Zhu Lan became clear in her heart that the Xiucai family was the arrogance of pure scholars, and the neighbor on the right just looked down on others, but she had no bad intentions.
Zhulan was relieved, and the etiquette had arrived, so it was really only Wu Li who could talk.
Wu Li and Zhulan get along well. She knows that the Zhou family is kind and doesn't look down on her, and they often ask her to bring back some food. She is grateful and didn't go home after the meal, so she stayed to chat.
Mr. Wu talked about the difficulties of life, "Ordinary people in Zhoucheng are really not as good as those in the countryside, and they need to spend money on everything, unlike having their own land in the countryside. The waistband will not really starve to death, at least the food does not cost money, the vegetable garden can grow vegetables and eat, and self-sufficiency is no problem."
Zhulan agrees, "Life in the city is indeed not easy, and it is even more difficult to catch up with natural disasters."
Wu Li shivered, "Whoever said no, just said that there was a severe drought four years ago, and the price of food doubled before it became a drought. If it wasn't for the increase in food prices, neither would my youngest son and daughter-in-law. He died unexpectedly in a man-made accident.”
Seeing that Mrs. Wu Li was touching her tears, Zhu Lan was busy comforting her, "The days will get better and better. Your eldest grandson is about to become a talent, so he can comfort the spirits of the two of you."
Wu Li wiped his tears, and a smile appeared on his face, "This child is sensible, he is only fifteen years old this year, neither the old man nor I thought he would pass the county examination. I wish I could pray to Buddha every day and hope that the Lord will bless Wu Ming and this child well. Pass the exam and become a scholar."
Zhulan followed along and said, "It will definitely happen."
Everyone likes to listen to good words, Wu Li grinned, "I'll borrow your good words."
The next day, it was the day of the government examination. Zhulan sent Zhou Shuren out of the door, and the genius was bright. Zhulan didn't think about it very much at first, but she couldn't bear Wu Li's thinking about her grandson often, and Zhulan's heart also followed.
When Zhou Shuren came back in the evening, Zhulan felt at ease. There were several government exams, so Zhulan bought several hens to make up for Zhou Shuren.
In the evening, Zhulan didn't ask, Zhou Shuren was quite tired, so he had an early rest and refreshed himself.
Although Zhou Shuren didn't say how the exam went, Zhulan knew from Zhou Shuren's expression that she did well in the exam. As for Ming and Qing and Shumo, they both had good looks and even good food, they both had no appetite.
In order to build a good relationship, Zhulan will bring back some of the food she has cooked these days for Wu Lishi. Wu Lishi is very grateful. From Wu Lishi's wide-eyed smile, she knows that Wu Ming did well in the exam.