Do you know: I, a commoner prime minister

Chapter 41 Relatives Visit

"Um."

Seeing that Zhou An wasn't angry, Shulan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Yu Jie'er, saying, "Yu Jie'er, go through what I taught you before."

"good!"

Yu Jie'er responded, placed her right hand on her left hand, rested it on her abdomen, maintained a slightly hunched posture, and took small steps forward.

The hair ornament on her head swayed slightly as she walked.

A hairpin with a swaying ornament is a piece of jewelry that maintains a proper posture.

If you walk too fast, the pendant on the hairpin will swing violently, and you can correct it immediately once you feel it.

Although Yu Jie'er's head swayed very little when she walked, Zhou An could tell that she was walking with her whole body tense.

Not only does it look awkward, but I also feel tired for her.

"Relax, be more natural!" Shulan stepped forward to correct her.

Yu Jie listened very attentively; it was clear she really wanted to learn.

After a moment's thought, Zhou An roughly understood Yu Jie'er's mindset.

This is similar to how early rural people who went to work in the city would earn money and buy fashionable clothes, and learn the way city people spoke.

Some are simply insecure and don't want city people to realize they are from the countryside.

Others simply think that city people dress fashionably and speak with more flair.

Yu Jie'er is still young. Although the Zhou family's conditions weren't great before, they weren't bad in Youyang Town either.

Therefore, it's unlikely to cause her to feel inferior; rather, it's more likely that she feels a sense of longing.

I think women look better this way and I want to learn how to do it.

Zhou An thought about it and let her be. She would have to learn it sooner or later anyway, and since she was interested, it wouldn't be so tiring for her to learn.

"Alright, let's rest for a while," Shulan said.

"Um."

Yu Jie'er ran up to Zhou An with a grin and asked, "Big brother, how did I do?"

"Very good, Yu-jie, go play. You can come back to learn from your sister-in-law this afternoon." Zhou An rubbed her head.

"Ugh, you've messed up my hair!"

Yu Jie'er dodged his hand and made a face at him.

"Sister-in-law, I have to go now. I'll come find you again this afternoon!"

"This girl!"

Watching Yu Jie'er jog away, Zhou An smiled and shook his head.

"If you're worried about Yu-jie'er working too hard, I can teach her whatever I want in the future," Shu-lan said.

"sit!"

Zhou An pointed to a seat on the side, and Shulan slowly walked forward and sat down.

Zhou An grasped Shulan's hand, looked at her, and said, "We're husband and wife, why are you so nervous?"

The two had been married for two or three days, but he could sense that Shulan was somewhat cautious when facing him, and her words were tinged with nervousness.

"This humble servant..."

"You don't need to refer to yourself as 'this concubine'."

Zhou An interrupted her, saying, "We're husband and wife now, and we'll be spending our lives together. Just say what's on your mind, don't be nervous. Our Zhou family doesn't have many rules, so you don't need to be so careful."

"Yes, I understand." Shulan nodded, her face flushed.

"Now that you know, if you do it again next time, I'll have to punish you!" Zhou An said deliberately with a stern face.

"Yes."

Looking at Zhou An's expression, Shulan became a little nervous again. Her lips moved, but she hesitated to speak.

"Didn't we just say that? Just say what you have to say."

"I would like to ask how you will punish me if I am wrong."

Zhou An was both amused and exasperated. He had only meant it as a joke, but Shulan had taken it seriously.

"You may all step back!" Zhou An said, waving his hand.

"yes!"

The maidservant standing inside bowed and withdrew.

"Get up!" Zhou An said.

Shulan got up, somewhat puzzled.

Zhou An reached out and pulled Shulan onto his lap.

"Snapped!"

Zhou An said, "If you disobey, this is the punishment. Understand?"

Shulan blushed and said in a barely audible voice, "I...I understand."

"Does it hurt?"

Zhou An reached out and rubbed it for her.

"No...it doesn't hurt." Shulan's whole body went limp.

Zhou An picked up Shulan and carried her into the inner bedroom.

"My lord, it is daytime now..."

"It's good during the day; you can see clearly."

Caution and nervousness both stem from a lack of understanding and familiarity.

Nothing speeds up getting to know someone and eliminates awkwardness better than being honest with each other.

……

In the following days, apart from inviting a few teachers from the academy to his home for a meal to thank them for their help at the wedding, Zhou An did not leave the house.

He spends his days at home reading books and teasing his wife, living a very comfortable life.

After spending a few days together, Shulan gradually overcame her nervousness, and the couple's relationship improved significantly.

That morning, Zhou An was reading in his study, while Shulan was teaching Yu Jie'er etiquette in the flower hall. A maid came to report that guests had arrived and that the mistress had invited them to the main hall.

After asking a few questions, Zhou An learned the identity of the visitor.

"According to seniority, I should call her 'Grandma.' She's probably here to borrow money."

On the way to the main hall, Zhou An told Shulan about the identity of the visitor and his guesses.

"Then I'll have Bitao go and get some silver notes," Shulan said.

"Need not!"

Zhou An shook his head and said, "My great-aunt borrowed money from my family several times. Later, my parents found out that her son was a gambler who borrowed money everywhere to gamble. Since then, my parents have never lent her any more money."

I'm worried she might ask you for something later, taking advantage of you being a new bride and feeling pressured to refuse. I wanted to prepare you mentally.

"But if we refuse, won't it affect your reputation, sir?"

Shulan said with some concern, "How about we lend some money to send him away? Although it would be a loss of money, it would also be good for the gentleman's reputation."

The third branch of the Sheng family is lazy and good-for-nothing, and has been supported by the eldest branch all these years.

It's not that Sheng Wei is being taken advantage of, but rather that the eldest branch of the family is wealthy, and if they don't even help their own clan, it will damage their reputation.

Conversely, although Shengwei had to subsidize the third wife quite a bit every year, everyone praised him for his benevolence and righteousness.

Spending this little money to gain a good reputation is hard to say whether it's a loss or a gain.

"No!"

Zhou An shook his head and said, "I'd rather not have that kind of reputation. Her son is a gambling addict. If I give him the money, she'll come over every few days!"

His great-aunt and his father weren't actually very close; they were practically beyond the fifth degree of kinship.

She married someone from a place quite far from Youyang, so Zhou Li didn't know anything about her family situation.

She made up all sorts of excuses to borrow money, and Zhou Li, seeing her pitiful state, lent her the money.

Later, she learned that her son was gambling and that the money she had borrowed had been used to pay off his gambling debts, so she was severely scolded.

He hadn't visited again since then, and his sudden visit now is simply because he learned that Zhou An had married a wealthy woman.

Once this door is opened, given her shameless nature, she'll probably come here frequently.

"I see!"

Zhou An said, "When we get there, your parents will handle it, so you don't need to worry about it."

"Mm." Shulan nodded.

When the couple arrived at the main hall, they saw a woman in her sixties with white hair and white clothes sitting on the right, talking to Madam Hao.

"I haven't seen you for years, I almost didn't recognize you!"

When the old woman saw the young couple walk in, she smiled and looked them over, her gaze lingering on Shulan: "This must be Dalang's wife, right? No wonder she's from a wealthy family, she's much prettier than the country girls."