Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 95: Chapter 95 Calculating Mutual Benefits_1

After Zhulan entered the inner room, Zhou Shuren finally took out the examination questions from his bosom. He did not conceal his intentions, ”Recently, I accompanied the Armed Escort Agency on a trip to Jiangnan, and I went to great lengths to obtain the examination questions from the past two sessions in Jiangnan. This is the copy I made to give to our Clan, in hopes that it will help the Scholars of our Clan who will participate in the examinations the year after next.”

The Clan Leader Zhou finally became unsettled. He hadn’t heard any news about Zhou Shuren going to Jiangnan. The man had returned without a word and even obtained some valuable materials, which startled him at first. But then, he was pleased that his intuition had not been wrong and hurriedly took the examination questions to look them over. As a former Scholar himself, he knew the importance of these questions all too well and became excited after a few glances.

The Zhou surname had not seen talented individuals or strong marital connections for several generations, and the chaotic times had whittled down the number of capable Clan members further. The Zhou Clan, let alone obtaining examination questions for scholar’s tests, had to pool money within the Clan even for the examination fees. The precious examination paper was handled with care as they marveled, ”Good, good, Shuren, I didn’t misjudge you. I knew you had the capability. On behalf of the younger generation of our Clan, I thank you.”

After saying this, he felt a pang of regret. Zhou Shuren had been the best among his peers in his studies, but unfortunately, he was born at an inopportune time. After the establishment of the dynasty and with young children to raise, Zhou Shuren could only focus his efforts on nurturing his son. Otherwise, with the establishment of the new dynasty, the Zhou surname could have produced a Graduate that would provide protection for the family.

Zhou Shuren always appreciated talking to intelligent people who understood him without everything needing to be spelled out. It wasn’t difficult at all. Zhou Shuren said with a smile, ”This is all my duty. Clan Leader, your thanks are more than I deserve. Speaking of which, I have a favor to ask of you. Next spring, I would like Chang Lian and Chang Zhi to transfer back to the Clan school, and for Mingyun and Rongchuan to enroll in the Clan school.”

Clan Leader Zhou, stroking his beard, felt genuinely pleased. The reintegration of Zhou Shuren’s branch of the family back into the Clan was of great benefit to the whole Clan. His expectations for Zhou Shuren grew, and his gaze fell on the examination paper. These were not only labor-intensive to obtain, but they also must have cost a substantial amount of silver, which suggested to him that Zhou Shuren’s family must be very well-off.

Remembering how his father and grandfather’s generation had eyed Zhou Shuren’s branch, he felt somewhat unnatural. However, considering Zhou Shuren could even provide for Rongchuan’s education, he must really have silver. He thought to himself that it was no wonder there were designs on this branch of the family within the Clan—it was all due to silver.

Clan Leader Zhou thought about how the civil examinations required a lot of silver, and since Zhou Shuren’s family was not lacking in silver, it would be easier for them to produce a Graduate. If the ancestors were to bless them with a degree holder, Zhou Shuren’s family would completely transform their social standing.

As Zhou Shuren’s family was reintegrating back into the Clan and the Clan pooled silver for the imperial exams, Zhou Shuren was not one to be stingy in helping out. His reintegration back into the Clan and his schemes were clearly aimed at mutual benefit, ”Enrolling in the Clan school is not an issue. Chang Lian and Chang Zhi are said to be doing well, they can come directly to study after the New Year. The two newcomers can start with the new batch of students at the beginning of school.”

Zhou Shuren stood up to express his thanks, ”Thank you, Clan Leader.”

Clan Leader Zhou, smiling amiably, said, ”Calling me Clan Leader sounds so distant, just call me ’brother’.”

Inside the house, Zhulan also learned from the conversation that, looking back several generations, their branch indeed had some kinship with the Clan Leader’s family. When the Zhou family initially joined the Clan, for several generations they had intermarried with women from the Zhou family’s kin, and Zhou Shuren’s great-grandmother was one of the Clan Leader’s kinswomen.

Although it had been several generations, there was still a relation after all.

Zhulan was dumbfounded by what she heard; none of this was in her memory, and her mother-in-law had never mentioned it. But then again, since it had been several generations, there wasn’t much significance to mentioning it—those people had long since passed away, and any feelings had faded with time.

If it weren’t for Zhou Shuren’s reintegration into the Clan, the Clan Leader’s family wouldn’t have mentioned it.

At noon, the Clan Leader Zhou’s family prepared all the finest dishes, slaughtered a chicken for stew, and presented eight elaborate courses. Clan Leader Zhou also invited several respected and influential elders from within the Clan to join. From the moment they saw Zhou Shuren and laid eyes on the examination paper, these old sages didn’t need anything spelled out; everything was understood without words.

Zhulan, naturally capable and tactful, endeared herself to all the women in the Clan Leader’s household.

With a smile, Zhulan reflected that previously, without external support and no help from within the Clan, it was easy for her to be undermined with no one to defend her. Now it was different; Mrs. Zhou had already scolded the malicious women in the village and assured that anyone who dared to slander Zhulan would be taught a lesson.

Zhulan was delighted. Mrs. Zhou held a high position in the village, and the wife of the Clan Leader was the Lizheng’s mother. With just a word, anyone who would think of maligning Zhulan in the future would have to think twice.

Zhou Shuren and Zhulan returned home with a bountiful harvest. Elder Brother Zhou had undergone a transformation and gained a deeper understanding of what it meant to be the eldest son and the importance of maintaining face.

In the following days, Zhou Shuren and Zhulan, along with Elder Brother Zhou and the eldest grandson, visited several elder members of the Clan, bringing gifts of cloth sufficient to make a complete set of clothes, dignified enough to wear out. They all accepted Zhou Shuren’s generous offerings.

Zhulan’s diplomatic skills with her husband’s family were also good; even without saying anything, they had at least changed their views about Zhulan.

The couple’s efforts were not in vain; they gradually interacted more with the Clan, and the village’s attitude towards Zhulan immediately changed. Mrs. Zheng, who saw Zhulan, no longer dared to sneer at her, and Zhulan met everyone with politeness and civility.

After a busy week, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren ceased their visits, as even a week of this was exhausting.

Finally, they could nestle at home. Zhulan didn’t want to leave the bedcovers; these few days were the coldest of winter, and she was quite chilled.

Zhou Shuren was in the main hall. None of the grandsons dared to come near. Zhulan, having eaten, nestled in the warm bed and turned to Zhou Shuren, who was reading, ”We have visited all the people we need to visit, and in ten days it will be New Year’s. Look, in two days there’s a good day to handle the matters for Xue Han and Rongchuan, right?”

Zhou Shuren put down his book, ”Alright, tomorrow I’ll have the second eldest take Rongchuan to deliver the New Year’s gifts to my father-in-law’s family, and at the same time let my father-in-law and mother-in-law see Rongchuan. As for the Clan’s affair, I’ll have the eldest make the invitation.”

Seeing Zhou Shuren pick up the book again, Zhulan reminded, ”Have you forgotten someone important that we haven’t notified yet?”