Traveling to Daliang Kingdom starts from falling into the water

It's no joke that good students often receive special favor from their teachers. Zhou Shun saw that when his third son-in-law came up to pay his respects, the headmaster's eyes lit up.

After dinner, Cheng Shanzhang's hearty laughter and scolding could be heard from the study from time to time. It sounded like his third son-in-law was saying some ridiculous but praiseworthy things.

The old man was so fond of them that he wanted to stay up all night to give lectures, but he was almost gone. When he woke up the next day, he could see the old man and the young man already asking and answering questions.

Even if you can't understand the questions and answers in academic matters, you can still see with your eyes whether the child's answer satisfies your master.

Seeing that her third son-in-law was adapting well, Zhou Sishun told him not to worry about home and then bid farewell to Headmaster Cheng. As promised, he went down the mountain with Cheng Zeyan to the city.

He stayed in the prefectural city for two more nights, attending banquets for two consecutive days. During this time, he met with senior officials, Qian Gui, Zhang Dazhuang, and others before running away.

I have to hurry, there are just too many invitations to have tea and drinks, I can't just stay another night. I should just accept this invitation and not go to that one.

As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding," so it's better to simply refuse all invitations from now on, rather than giving the impression that he's on good terms with anyone else.

Another thing is that there are still many things to do at home. Although before he left, his second brother Gu repeatedly told him to just focus on taking care of things outside, the wheat is already in the jointing stage at this time of year, and the brick kiln also needs people.

Therefore, after much consideration to avoid encountering another "coincidental" situation where he had to attend a banquet, Zhou Shunshun did not wait for the Shunyi Escort Agency's caravan to return to Qingyang County and went straight back in the carriage.

There was no need to worry about safety along the way. Outsiders might not know, but he knew perfectly well that his daughter and her husband had a village almost every thirty to fifty miles along the way.

With guards accompanying him, Zhou Sishun wasn't worried about being robbed on the road at all. He even stopped at every village along the way to check on the crops for his wife and her husband.

As for any small workshops in these villages, what they're doing is, according to the old rules, you can't and shouldn't interfere. No matter how close the son-in-law is, he's only half a son.

Even a biological son might not be happy if his father interferes too much, let alone a son-in-law, who has parents to care for.

It's one thing to check on the crops in the fields, but to go in and wander into the small workshops is just asking for trouble. This girl is already supporting her family, and she's still not satisfied?
Use yourself to save others.

On Thursday, he walked and looked around, not saying anything but noting down the things in the villages that didn't satisfy him.

Yuyuan.

Since Thursday, when Zhou Banxia went out with Gu Wenxuan and Dajiang, she has been silently counting down the days.

It was afternoon that day.

As she expected, her father returned on time, within two or three days of the expected deadline. And as she was not surprised, he also brought her a lot of advice.

Of course, there will be the usual warnings to scare her into spending less money, and countless admonitions to be more careful with her finances.

It made her very happy.

Still laughing?

His daughter is good in every way, except that she doesn't value money enough. No matter how much you talk to her, it's no use. "She's my daughter, so you should listen to your father."

"Okay." "Just one 'okay'?"

"No, I'm not finished yet. Dad, I know that to earn ten copper coins, you need to keep at least five hidden in your pocket. I'm very clever."

"You're quite clever, replying so quickly. Even a fool would know you're just trying to fool your father. You're hiding five out of ten copper coins?"
"If you can hide even one, Dad will be laughing in his sleep. I didn't want to ask before, but now you'd better tell Dad the truth—how many did you hide that your son-in-law doesn't know?"

"That's a lot—"

"take it out."

"Hold on."

Really?
Zhou Shun quickly stopped his daughter, saying that even if she wasn't in postpartum confinement, she was still in confinement. "As her father, how could I not trust my daughter? There's no need to find her."

I knew you'd do this, Dad!

Zhou Banxia almost burst out laughing but nodded while trying not to laugh, "Of course, who's closer to us than you and your son? I've hidden quite a bit of gold in your daughter's possession. No matter what, I'll always hide some gold for you and my mother. Don't worry."

Dad, let me finish. Don't rush me. I know what I'm doing, and I have the ability to handle this now. I'm not worried about my brother being unfilial in the future; it's just that some people, regardless of whether their children and grandchildren are filial, are emboldened by money.

"I've thought this over and over, Dad. Rather than hoping that my brother's wife and children will be filial to you in the future, and that having what others have is not as good as having it yourself, I'd rather give you more confidence and ensure that you never lack money, no matter what you lack."

Zhou Shun was speechless after hearing this. Telling his daughter not to worry about him and her husband and just to live her own life was too fake. Besides, he used what he said.
His daughter Sanya might not be able to save five out of ten copper coins, but she would definitely save two coins for her father. That's just how stubborn she is.

"And I have a child now, so you'll be spending a lot more on favors in the future. You can never have too much money, so I have to save some for you."
"Don't worry, Dad. Your daughter isn't stupid. We have a long life ahead of us. This wasn't something given to me by my master or uncle, so of course I'd keep a record of it."

"..." Zhou Sishun thought for a moment, "That's good. It's not that Dad is afraid that the son-in-law is unreliable, it's that there are many people whose fathers and sons are not necessarily reliable, so don't open your heart to everything."

Putting aside others, just look at your father. Among all your siblings, you are the most capable. Dajiang wants to study but can't make a name for himself and can't pass the imperial examination. Does your father not want to give Dajiang a hand?
Impossible. If your brother is like Gu Dalang, good for nothing and unable to support his wife and children, no matter how reasonable Dad is, he'll probably come after you and ask you to help your brother out.

"Even so, I'm still your own father. It's not wrong for you to wholeheartedly live with your son-in-law, but don't be so open and honest with yourself. Always leave yourself a way out, understand what I mean?"

Understand!
I totally get it!
Zhou Banxia nodded hurriedly, "One should always be wary of others."

"That's right, that's the point!" Zhou Sishun breathed a sigh of relief, but also found it amusing. He had almost forgotten that his daughter Sanya had a whole repertoire of profound wisdom. Oh well, his daughter was right under his nose; he could teach her slowly.

"Alright, that's enough. It's been almost a month now. Stay in your room and rest well. If there's anything you can't tell your father, just send a maid to find him. He'll know you sent someone because something's wrong."

"Be a good boy and listen to Daddy. Stay home and take care of the kids. Leave everything outside to your Uncle Changqing and Aunt Lan. Just hang in there a little longer, it'll be over soon. After that, if you want to run around or jump, Daddy won't care, okay?"

Zhou Banxia readily agreed. It would be soon; there was no need to wait for two months. In a few more days, it would be a month, and she could move back to the main room. Once she moved back to the main room, she would have more freedom.

"And as for your son-in-law, you don't need to worry about anything. Your grand-uncle still wants him to get first place. He won't be out of the academy for a while now, and he'll be back by the time he comes down the mountain." (End of Chapter)