The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2052 - 2027: Second Uncle Zhou

Zhou Lijun lightly coughed and said with a smile: "It’s our fault, actually it’s nothing confidential, just that our parents were worried at home, so my siblings and I avoided speaking here."

She then turned her words around and asked with a smile: "When did Brother Xiang return? Have you eaten? Would you like to have some food with us?"

Xiang Mingxue thought for a moment and nodded, "Then I’ll impose, just right to pay a visit to your parents."

Not just Zhou Lijun, even Zhou Liwei was stunned for a bit. The siblings were just being polite; Brother Xiang, who was always courteous, suddenly was so unceremonious?

Zhou Liwei scratched his head, couldn’t help but look at Zhou Lijun. What to do? They had already eaten.

Zhou Lijun was also only stunned for a moment before nodding, "Brother Xiang, please, just right my Fourth Uncle is here as well, would you like to have some drinks?"

Xiang Mingxue smiled and nodded.

Upon arrival at the main hall, Old Zhou was talking with Old Madam Liu and Mr. Zhuang. The Zhou brothers, including Zhou Dalang, stood aside in a group, also unclear what they were discussing.

Seeing Xiang Mingxue, Zhou Silang’s eyes brightened immediately, leaving his brothers behind to greet him. He laughed and patted Xiang Mingxue on the shoulder, "Brother Xiang, as soon as I returned, I heard someone say you went to Fengzhou. I thought it’d be a few more days before I could see you, didn’t expect you to return already."

Xiang Mingxue laughed, "I returned early today, came after settling things with my subordinates, didn’t expect such a coincidence, you also came to the capital now."

Zhou Silang asked, "Have you concluded your talks with Fengzhou?"

Xiang Mingxue smiled and nodded, "Yes, so this year the time to enter the grassland will be delayed a bit, at least until the summer harvest ends."

Xiang Mingxue didn’t plan to compete with Zhou Silang on tea business. The goods from the grasslands included medicinal herbs, fur, and pearls, as they each had their sales channels, there was no immediate conflict.

So it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

Originally, Xiang Mingxue also had a small tea business, but as his hometown was in Jiannan, finding tea wasn’t hard.

After consideration, he gave up this business entirely to Zhou Silang, opting to find grain in Fengzhou, planning to focus on grain trade when entering the grasslands, along with some porcelain and fabrics to earn quite some profit.

Zhou Silang understood this was Xiang Mingxue’s goodwill, feeling a mix of agitation and gratitude. He paused, intending to take Xiang Mingxue to discuss this matter thoroughly. However, before he spoke, Xiang Mingxue glanced over, "That’s..."

"Oh, that’s my Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law," Zhou Silang remembered Xiang Mingxue hadn’t met his Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law yet. Though Xiang Mingxue was residing in the Zhou Residence, even living on the other side and entering through the east side gate, under the same roof they would meet eventually. Thus, Zhou Silang took Xiang Mingxue to meet Zhou Erlang and his wife first.

"Second Brother, this is the Brother Xiang I’ve mentioned, Brother Xiang, this is my Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law."

Zhou Erlang raised his smiling face ready to greet, Xiang Mingxue paused briefly and called out, "Second Uncle Zhou, Second Aunt-in-law Zhou..."

Zhou Erlang’s smile stiffened and he couldn’t help but glance at Zhou Silang. What’s going on? How did he suddenly become a generation older than Four?

Zhou Silang also stiffened, turning his head stiffly to look at Xiang Mingxue.

A suspicious red tint appeared on Xiang Mingxue’s face. Though not obvious, Zhou Silang could still tell his good friend was embarrassed...

Why the embarrassment?

Zhou Silang’s mind slowly pondered, clearly they all called each other brothers, even with the elder Zhou Dalang, Xiang Mingxue referred to him as Brother Zhou. How come turning to Second Brother, he called him Uncle?

In Zhou Silang’s mind, a sudden burst of fireworks went off. He suddenly recalled Second Sister-in-law’s incessant worries earlier, saying Lijun was already of age but with no marriage talk...

Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang also fell silent, quietly watching Xiang Mingxue.

Zhou Liwei stiffened as he turned to look at his sister. Zhou Lijun met his gaze with a baffled expression, briefly understanding his implication... and Xiang Mingxue’s meaning.

Zhou Lijun was momentarily astonished and couldn’t help but look up at Xiang Mingxue.

Zhou Dalang rolled down his rolled-up sleeves from the other side and walked over. Seeing them standing together without speaking, he asked, "What are you guys talking about? Young Master Xiang is back? Have you had your meal? Want some food?"

Xiang Mingxue discreetly took a deep breath, trying to appear unchanged, "I already had my meal, thank you... Brother, it’s getting late, I’ll go back to my room to rest first, I came over because I hadn’t met Second Uncle Zhou yet and wanted to greet him."

Thus, Xiang Mingxue paid his respects and left.

Zhou Dalang looked confused and turned to ask Zhou Silang, "Who’s Second Uncle Zhou? Is he our family’s younger uncle?"

Zhou Silang then stared at Zhou Erlang with an inexplicable look.

Zhou Erlang wasn’t foolish, initially thinking Xiang Mingxue called wrongly, but he specifically even called Brother afterward, clearly not unintentional, it was deliberate.

Yet unsure if it was a mistake or intentional. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Zhou Erlang looked at Zhou Lijun, father and daughter silently held each other’s gaze, ultimately Zhou Erlang felt too awkward to ask his daughter about this.

Such matters are better for the mother to inquire.

However, knowing his wife and daughter were somewhat at odds, especially as the daughter became more formidable, her temper grew stronger, having them together might not gain any answers, avoiding a quarrel would already be fortunate.

So he looked at Zhou Silang and simply pulled him away.

Ms. Feng wanted to pull Zhou Lijun aside to ask, Zhou Silang intuitively sensed trouble, immediately grabbed Feng as well, "Second Sister-in-law, let’s chat too."

Ms. Feng entered early; at that time Zhou Silang was still a little rascal, so she unapologetically slapped his hand away, though not opposed, briskly following them, she also wanted to clarify the matter.

However, Zhou Lijun felt a sense of collapse internally, such a misstep. Her plan was to divert trouble eastward, why did it flow toward her own head?

She suspiciously looked at Zhou Liwei, "Was it you..."

"No," Zhou Liwei said without hesitation, "Second Sister, this concerns your reputation, do you think I’d joke about our sister’s reputation?"

Zhou Lijun then pondered another possibility, "So..."

Zhou Liwei lowered his voice, "So Brother Xiang likes you, no wonder he specifically had us call him Brother Xiang, saying whatever each calls..."

Zhou Silang was also explaining to Zhou Erlang and Ms. Feng, "The people from the grassland are not concerned with small matters, and since our families aren’t relatives, just friends with some favors, he told Lichong and the younger ones he didn’t want to be called old without reason, so he had them call him Brother Xiang. Having business with him, we naturally called according to our own line, hence the mix in calling."

"Mix in calling? How come he calls Brother Dalang, Brother, and turns to me calling Second Uncle? Who followed whom in calling, he’s quite clear," Zhou Erlang stared at Zhou Silang and asked, "Honestly, is there something between Lijun and him..."