Chapter 161
161 The Networth of Zhou Jia and His Wife
Zhou Jia took out the glutinous rice wine and poured a bowl for Li Yu. He smiled and handed it to Li Yu. “Madam, this is your favorite glutinous rice wine. Drink some to relieve your fatigue.”
Li Yu picked up the wine bowl and said to Ruyi, “Ruyi, pour a bowl for Xiaoyu too. Drink it to relieve your fatigue and have a good sleep.”
He Xiaoyu kicked Ruyi happily. “Hurry up. Madam has instructed me to drink a bowl too.”
“What’s the hurry? I’ll give it to you now.” Ruyi smiled and poured a bowl for He Xiaoyu. Everyone sat together and ate their first meal in the capital. They sat there and chatted to digest their food.
He Xiaoyu looked at Ah Gou. “Ah Gou, this is the capital. You can’t call yourself Ah Gou anymore. You have to ask Young Master to give you a new name.”
“That’s right!” Ah Gou looked at Zhou Jia and bowed with a smile. “Young Master, please give me a better name.”
Zhou Jia looked at Ah Gou, who had a garlic-shaped nose and small eyes. “What is your favorite feature?”
Ah Gou frowned and thought for a moment. “I’m not good-looking, to begin with. My eyes are like Brother Ji Xiang’s. I have narrowed eyes, and a nose like Zhao Cai’s. Just this mouth is still a little interesting. It should be more impressive!”
Zhao Cai smiled and knocked on Ah Gou. “Kid, don’t despise me. My nose is the nose of the God of Wealth.”
Zhou Jia looked at Ah Gou and said with a smile, “You like something more impressive. Then you’ll be called Ah Wei in the future!”
“Ah Wei sounds good. Thank you, Young Master.” Ah Gou stuck out his chest and looked at Ruyi and the others. He instructed, “My name will be Ah Wei from now on. Brother Ruyi, don’t forget.”
Zhao Cai smiled. “I can’t forget. I’ll call you Ah Wei from now on.”
Zhou Jia saw Li Yu sitting there with her head lowered and looking sleepy. He stood up and looked at them. “Your Madam and I will go to rest. Everyone has been tired for a few months. Close the door after you’ve had enough fun. Rest early!”
Zhao Cai nodded and smiled. “Got it, Young Master.”
Zhou Jia led Li Yu back to the inner courtyard. After pouring hot water for Li Yu to wash up, he helped Li Yu to the bed. “Yu’er, you’ve finally settled down. You must be tired after so long. You have to nourish yourself well.”
Li Yu nodded and fell asleep on the bed.
Zhou Jia smiled and shook his head when he saw Li Yu sleeping. He turned her around and pulled the blanket over her. He sat on the bed and watched Li Yu sleep.
He wondered if the people at the old residence knew that he and Yu’er had returned to the capital. If they knew, he wondered what methods they would use to deal with him. Also, how should he take revenge for his mother who was framed? As he thought about it, he leaned against Li Yu and fell asleep.
The next morning, Zhou Jia brought Li Yu to the Zhou family’s graveyard with the offerings.
Zhao Cai drove the cart out of the south city gate. Seeing that Zhou Jia was troubled, Li Yu gently held his hand. “Xiao Xi, is there something on your mind? Or are you worried about something?”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu’s concerned gaze and felt warmth in his heart. But he didn’t want to let Li Yu worry.
Zhou Jia suppressed the frustration in his heart and smiled at Li Yu. “I don’t have anything on my mind. I just miss them a little.”
“Oh! If there’s anything difficult, you have to say it.” Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia and smiled. “We’re husband and wife. If we encounter anything difficult, we’ll think of a way to resolve it together.”
Zhou Jia held Li Yu’s hand and placed it on his chest. He said gently, “I know. My Yu’er is the most capable wife.” The couple looked at each other and smiled.
In the Zhou family’s old residence, Mrs. Zhou’s maidservant, Qiu Xiang, and a young man in his twenties walked towards the main courtyard. The man was wearing a green cotton robe and a half-worn hat. His eyes were swollen and he did not look like a good person.
Qiu Xiang pulled the man’s sleeve and kept reminding him in a low voice along the way, “Brother, you have to be careful when you work for Madam. Madam is temperamental. She can’t do anything to you since your contract is annulled, but I’m unlucky. Remember that!”
The man pulled his sleeve out of Qiu Xiang’s hand and looked at her with a roguish smile. “Great Aunt, I’ll remember why you’re nagging like a gossipy woman.”
The man glanced at Qiu Xiang and thought to himself, It’s her who asked me to do something, not me. Can’t I earn some money?
When the two of them arrived at the main courtyard, a middle-aged man who looked similar to Zhou Jia came out of the house angrily. He took two steps before turning around and cursing, “Huang Jiaoyu, you’re an unreasonable jealous woman. When I come back, I’ll definitely divorce you.”
With a bang, a teacup was thrown into the courtyard from the house. A furious shout came from the house. “Zhou Rongxian, you’re a bastard. Unfortunately, the bitch you’re thinking about would rather have an affair with a servant than look for you.”
Oh no, Qiu Xiang thought to herself. She hurriedly pulled her brother to the corner of the courtyard wall and listened to the angry footsteps walk away. After a while, she pulled her brother out of the corner and entered the main courtyard.
Qiu Xiang stood at the door uneasily and reported, “Madam, I brought my brother here.”
After a moment, Huang’s sharp voice came out. “Bring him in.”
“Yes.” Qiu Xiang and her brother entered the house. Qiu Xiang looked up and saw Huang Jiao Yu alone in the house, staring at her with a vicious expression. Qiu Xiang bowed in fear and retreated behind Huang Jiao Yu.
Brother Qiu Xiang took two steps forward and bowed. He smiled obsequiously. “Madam, what instructions do you have for me?”
Huang Yujiao looked at the man’s roguish appearance and frowned in disdain. She pursed her lips and said, “Chang Gui, I have something for you to do. I wonder if you can do it well?”
Chang Gui knelt in front of Huang Yujiao with a bang and revealed a loyal expression. “Madam, don’t worry. As long as you order it, I won’t hesitate to go through fire and water.”
Huang Yujiao rubbed the jade bracelet on her wrist and looked at Chang Gui for a long time. “I have something for you to do. If you do it, I’ll reward you with Qiu Yue.”
Chang Gui lost interest when he heard that. Qiu Yue had long been played by her two sons. Did she think the Zhou family was still the Zhou family of the past?! Did she want him to drink someone else’s bathwater? No way.
“Madam, Miss Qiuyue is not worthy of me.” Chang Gui sat on the ground. “You should reward me with some silver. It’s easier for me to raise a countryside girl.”
Huang Jiaoyu looked at Chang Gui’s shameless appearance and sneered. “Alright, as long as you do it well, I’ll reward you with some silver and let you marry a wife.”
Hearing that there was money, Chang Gui got up and knelt down with a smile. “Please instruct me, Madam.”
Huang Jiaoyu glanced at Qiu Xiang. “Qiu Xiang, go out.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Qiu Xiang glanced at Chang Gui as he left.
Huang Jiaoyu waved at Chang Gui. Chang Gui walked up to Huang Jiaoyu. Huang Jiayu said in a low voice, “The third house on the left of the ten alleys in the north of the city. You know the new family who moved in. I don’t care what method you use, find someone to destroy his wife in front of him before killing him. I’ll give you a hundred taels of silver and give you the house in the north of the city.”
Chang Gui took two steps back and sat on the ground. He looked at Huang Jiaoyu roguishly. “Madam, don’t lie to me. Old Master has already given the mansion in the north city to that person. It’s fine if you want me to do something.” Chang Gui raised his palms. “I’ll get someone to do it if you give me this amount. Otherwise, you should find someone else!”
Huang Jiaoyu looked at Chang Gui and sneered. “A thousand taels. That bastard isn’t worth that much.”