Chapter 1281: Chapter 1278: Zhou Family Chapter 1281: Chapter 1278: Zhou Family “By the way, Mother, Third Brother was on official business leaving the capital a while ago. Nothing serious happened, right?” Before coming over, Chu Lin had been pondering this matter, and although he received a letter saying everything was fine, without seeing for himself, he naturally felt somewhat uneasy.

Madam Liu, recalling that incident, also felt a lingering fear, “Your Third Brother is clever and wasn’t tricked by anyone. He safely returned, and the injuries on his body are almost healed now. He and Third Brother’s Wife have both lost a good deal of weight recently. Lately, the family has been trying every means to make soups to nourish them.”

“Who was it that initially sent you the message?” Madam Liu asked.

Upon hearing this, Chu Lin knew that Third Brother had suffered a great deal. He couldn’t imagine the risks involved, but hearing about the injuries, it was evidently no small matter, “It was Landlord Zhou’s Family that sent the message. At the time, when people in our clan heard the news, the clan leader was even prepared to have me set out for the capital immediately.”

“Fortunately, your letter arrived right after.”

“Landlord Zhou’s Family? The new Zhou Family that came to town?” Madam Liu remembered this, as it was after the Yu family’s misfortune that their shops and lands were divided and bought by others, and the new owner of the Yu family’s store was the Zhou Family.

The Zhou Family was not local gentry, but they were wealthy and influential as one of the noble clans and great families of Jiangnan.

Since the Zhou Family arrived at South Origin Prefecture, their business had grown increasingly large and they even had some economic dealings with the Chu family.

Especially since the Zhou Family ran a restaurant.

The small cookbook shop Chu Lin ran with Madam Zhang was doing well thanks to their great flavors.

“Landlord Zhou?” Ye Muyu didn’t know much about this family, mostly what he had learned through letters, but the fact that they transmitted news from the capital to their hometown so quickly suggested they were not as simple as they seemed on the surface.

“Big Brother, it’s better to have less to do with the Zhou Family in the future,” Ye Muyu saw Chu Lin nod in agreement, but noted his lingering doubts and explained, “The situation in the capital is complex, and many are unhappy with how quickly Ah Heng has been promoted.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Lin was startled and his face turned somewhat pale.

Knowing her son, Madam Liu, seeing his unusual expression, asked directly, “Eldest son, is there something else you haven’t told us?”

Seeing that everyone was looking his way, Chu Lin, somewhat apprehensive, admitted, “Recently, the Zhou Family approached me and Madam Zhang about a collaboration, proposing to expand the restaurant to the north.”

“They said our noodles and various fresh foods were good, and were confident that opening the restaurant there would earn a good deal of silver.”

“The Zhou Family would provide the venue and connections, and we would provide the recipes,” Chu Lin recalled how at the time, the person in charge from the Zhou Family had enthusiastically clinked cups with him and meticulously analyzed the benefits–just from one restaurant, the monthly profits could be over a hundred taels.

This was akin to being handed free silver.

“I was somewhat tempted, but then Third Brother’s Wife’s letter arrived stating she was arranging for grain, and that made me hold back and I didn’t agree,” Chu Lin said uneasily, “These days, rushing to the capital to manage the exams for the children, I didn’t have the time to engage in business, so I didn’t pursue it.”

“There’s no such thing as silver just walking through the door.” Chu Zhiwen felt the Zhou Family’s enthusiasm was excessive, “It’s good you were sensible. When it comes to business and making silver, having enough is sufficient. Discuss this matter with Ah Heng when he returns.”

Chu Lin, exhausted from the journey, talked for a while and then couldn’t hold up any longer.

He ate a quick lunch and went to the guest room to rest and catch up on sleep, waiting for the evening when Chu Heng would return and they could all enjoy a meal together lively.

Mother Liu, not tired, finished lunch and then went to the kitchen to prepare what dishes to make for the evening meal.