A Time-Traveling Mishap: I Became an Ancient Nobleman

Chapter 57 He finally proved somewhat useful.

Jiang Mingyun stared blankly at the exchange of glances between Madam Zhou and her son, completely unaware of what it meant.

While she was still in a daze, Madam Zhou stepped forward and took her hand. "Mingyun, have you eaten yet? I recently bought a little maid who is very good at making pastries. Come with me, I'll ask her to make you something fresh."

Jiang Mingyun quickly handed the osmanthus cake in her hand to Madam Zhou, "Auntie, this is the osmanthus cake I brought for you."

"What a coincidence! I was just craving this. Come on, have some."

While holding Jiang Mingyun's hand, Madam Zhou winked at Zhou Hanzhang, saying, "Go do what you need to do quickly. I'll hold this young lady back for you."

Zhou Hanzhang was truly at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry at his mother's behavior.

"Mother, I've come back because I have something to tell you."

"Looking for me? Then Li Bai, take Miss Jiang to the living room and wait for a moment. Have someone bring her some freshly made pastries."

When Madam Zhou heard that Zhou Hanzhang was looking for her, she was somewhat taken aback.

She quickly instructed the maid to take good care of Jiang Mingyun.

Jiang Mingyun initially wanted to follow Zhou Hanzhang, but after thinking about it, she realized that it wouldn't be appropriate for an outsider like herself to follow when Zhou Hanzhang was talking to her mother.

Moreover, Aunt Zhou mentioned that a new cook had arrived, making delicious pastries, and she simply couldn't resist the temptation.

It seems that Madam Zhou has some understanding of Jiang Mingyun's personality.

After Li Bai led Jiang Mingyun downstairs, Madam Zhou looked at Zhou Hanzhang and said, "I thought you would ask your mother to deal with her for you. I don't know which one she took after. She is completely different from the Jiang family couple."

Seeing that his mother was avoiding Jiang Mingyun like the plague, Zhou Hanzhang couldn't help but find it amusing. "Mother, something happened to Mingyun at the academy, and it's a little different from before."

Madam Zhou immediately looked at her with sparkling eyes, "What is it? Did you bully someone?"

"Mother!"

Zhou Hanzhang was speechless, knowing exactly what his mother was thinking. "I'm a girl, what can I do to her?"

"You're right, but why is she acting differently towards you than usual? The way she looks at you now is just like a young girl in the throes of first love."

"Mother!"

"Things aren't what you think."

Zhou Hanzhang was contemplating whether or not to tell his eccentric mother what had happened.

After much deliberation, she decided to keep it a secret, since this was no small matter, and the more people who knew, the greater the risk.

If Jiang Mingyun were captured as a demon, I would be in grave danger.

In this era, there was still considerable reverence for the concept of ghosts and gods.

"Fine, if you say it's not, then it's not," Mrs. Zhou said, her expression saying whatever she wanted.

"So you've come to see me for something else?"

Zhou Hanzhang first told Madam Zhou about Chen Moran's previous statement that he wanted to visit their home. She then told Madam Zhou in detail about some things that Li Xianda had found out.

Although Madam Zhou was happy that her child had made a friend as soon as he entered the academy, and that this friend seemed to treat her child differently.

She had heard of Chen Moran; he was truly an exceptional person.

"Mother, are you even listening to me?" Zhou Hanzhang asked helplessly, looking at his wife who was lost in thought.

"Oh, oh, I'm listening."

Although Madam Zhou said so, Zhou Hanzhang knew that she hadn't taken anything to heart.

She poured her a cup of tea with a sigh, "Then tell me, Mother, what did I just say?"

Madam Zhou choked, "You don't even trust your own mother? Didn't you just say you know that Chen family boy and they want to come and visit?"

"anything else?"

"And...and another thing is, you told me to treat them well?"

Mrs. Zhou thought that since they were classmates, what else could her child say besides that? She couldn't think of anything else.

Zhou Hanzhang: ...

"I mean, if they come to visit, I hope my mother can find a way to refuse them."

Why is that?

Madam Zhou really didn't understand. In her eyes, shouldn't we treat such talented people as royalty when they come to our door?

Are you going to reject me again?

Zhou Hanzhang knew that she must not have paid attention to what he had just said, so he had no choice but to repeat it.

"Xianda, how could he dig up someone's family history for eighteen generations?" Madam Zhou's eyes widened upon hearing this.

"But if he wants to come and see your study, just let him. It's no big deal."

"But I don't have any of the books he wanted."

When facing his mother, Zhou Hanzhang didn't hide anything, saying, "I just made it up to him back then."

"How could you say that? We're all classmates. But those books you mentioned, do they really exist? If they do, it's not impossible to find them with some money..."

"No, I already said I made it up."

"Then why don't you write one yourself?"

"...How could I possibly write that?"

"Then I'll say your father took it to exchange for something?" Mrs. Zhou suggested.

"What if he wants to ask his father where he went?"

Madam Zhou was not worried at all. "Your father won't remember, don't worry."

"Well, that works too."

"Let's put it this way for now. If I can't refuse, I'll push your father forward. Everyone knows your father's temperament; he'd be extremely useful in this situation," Madam Zhou decided directly.

Mr. Zhou, who happened to be returning home, overheard this and was very pleased. "So it turns out I am quite useful in Madam's eyes."

Mrs. Zhou: ...

Zhou Hanzhang: ...

"Father."

When Zhou's father saw Zhou Hanzhang there, he seemed to remember something and paused, "Didn't you go to the academy? Why are you back? I remember Tian'an Academy only has one day off every two weeks..."

"My child is back, so why are you making such a fuss?" Madam Zhou glared at him.

Mr. Zhou shuddered, "I was just showing concern."

"You don't care when you should, but you're very proactive when you shouldn't."

Madam Zhou looked at Zhou Hanzhang, not wanting her to stay any longer. If her perfectly good child was corrupted by Zhou's father, she wouldn't know who to complain to.

"Zhang'er, why don't you go and greet Mingyun first? It's not good to leave her alone for so long."

These words were exactly what Zhou Hanzhang wanted to hear. She didn't know how to get along with her father, so since Madam Zhou had said so, she quickly took her leave.

Mr. Zhou kept his eyes fixed on Zhou Hanzhang's figure until he was completely out of sight before taking small steps to Mrs. Zhou's side.

With a "smack," he kissed Mrs. Zhou's red lips.

"What did you eat today, Madam? It smells so sweet."

He reached out to hug her, but Madam Zhou slapped his hand away, saying, "You're covered in sweat, go take a shower."

"Then, Madam, will you wait for me?"

Madam Zhou blushed, then straightened her expression. "No, I have to go out."

Mr. Zhou suddenly felt aggrieved, "I finally managed to come back..."

Mrs. Zhou sighed and rolled her eyes at him, "What do you mean by 'finally coming back'?"

"My brother just told me to go to another place, and I'm about to leave."