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

Chapter 120: Chapter 120 Mind_1

Zhulan guessed correctly; Wang Ru, already resentful to death for being slapped due to Lady Sun’s premature birth, became livid with jealousy every time she heard her stepfather’s laughter upon the birth of a son. She wished she could burn down the entire courtyard in her fury, and if it hadn’t been for her greater understanding of the ancient world after a trip outside, she would have seriously considered assuming a new identity.

Unfortunately, that was not feasible. She couldn’t kill the members of the Wang family or the people of Zhou village; her background wouldn’t remain clean. Besides, she didn’t trust Shi Qing. If he really did help her obtain a new identity, she didn’t know anyone in the government to verify if the household registration was genuine or fake. The more Shi Qing needed her, the more she feared losing her household registration, which would put her life and death directly into his hands.

Her eldest sister also had a new name, Wang Xin. She was somewhat afraid of her younger sister and dared not look at her slightly fierce face, but she had no choice but to advise, ”Little sister, stop being stubborn and apologize to father. He’s in high spirits, and all will be forgiven.”

Wang Xin was pleased to have a younger brother, as it proved their mother could bear sons, which could improve her reputation. She would no longer be subject to the whispers behind her back, accusing her and her mother of being capable of only birthing daughters. If it hadn’t been for her little sister’s ability to earn money, even matchmakers wouldn’t have come to their door. Moreover, having a brother meant they had someone to rely on; someone to stand up for them in case they were bullied.

Second daughter Wang Rong looked at her little sister’s twisted expression and sneered to herself, holding on to a secret that she hadn’t shared with anyone. She knew her youngest sister was responsible for their mother’s previous miscarriage, but she hadn’t snitched. She too didn’t wish for a brother, as she already felt invisible being the second child, and the birth of a brother only diminished her presence further. All she could focus on now was looking out for herself, ”Eldest sister, it’s natural for little sister to be upset — after all, it was mother who shouldn’t have taken little sister’s jewelry, and yet it was little sister who got the blame. The silver from the family earnings is all thanks to little sister; you must be clear about that, sister.”

Wang Ru felt better knowing there was someone at home who understood the situation. She took out one silver angle from her purse, ”Second sister, mother knows I’ve been secretly giving you silver and skimming from your earnings. Before, when there was no brother at home, mother could consider us. Now that there’s a brother, don’t let mother deceive you anymore. Keeping the silver in your own hands is the only way to be at ease.”

Wang Rong joyfully accepted the silver, wise enough not to be foolish. She only gave half whenever her mother demanded money, knowing well that she wasn’t favored in her mother’s eyes, nor did she expect to gain her little sister’s affection. Only her eldest sister was naive enough to give all, ”Thank you for the reminder, sister. I’ll remember that.”

Wang Xin, seeing that her little sister hadn’t given her anything, knew she had upset her and kept her head down in silence.

Wang Ru hummed with satisfaction upon observing this; she wanted obedient people!

Zhulan was not aware of the Wang family’s lawsuit and did not care to know. She was busy preparing the six ceremonial gifts for the school entrance of her eldest grandson and Rongchuan, which in ancient times mostly took place in January or winter, avoiding the busy farming seasons of spring planting and autumn harvesting.

The clan school was no different. Zhulan made a point of learning that among the twenty children enrolled this year, ten bore the Zhou surname; the remaining ten included five from the village and five from outside, all of whom had been pre-tested and passed for admission.

Even with the presence of Zhou Shuren, Mingyun and Rongchuan still needed to go through their trials. Great families provided lands for the support of clan schools, which otherwise did not require tuition fees. Unfortunately, the Zhou clan lacked someone who could dedicate land specifically for the costs of the clan school, so even clan members had to present ceremonial gifts upon enrollment.

In ancient times, the first enrollment in school was taken very seriously. Zhou Shuren had educated her on the tradition where wealthy families from large areas would prepare six ceremonial gifts with auspicious meanings: longan, lotus seeds, red dates, red beans, dried meat strips, and celery.

Each item carried a symbolic wish: celery for diligence, lotus seeds for painstaking education, red beans for good fortune, red dates for early success in examinations, longan for completion of virtue, and dried meat strips representing the student’s dedication. Of course, there were alternatives, but these were the most commonly used.

In smaller places like Zhou village, where most farmers were poor, school entry gifts were subject to individual means, and most brought items like dried meat strips.

Zhulan asked Zhou Shuren, ”For the children’s first school entry gifts, shall we send the usual ten strips of meat like in past years?”

Zhou Shuren replied, ”Let’s still send ten strips of meat.”

Zhulan nodded, ”Alright, I’ll buy the meat tomorrow.”

The next day was the day of school entry, a significant event for the children, who all wore new clothes, looking energetic and ready as they stood in the courtyard waiting to go to the clan school.

Zhulan was also excited, but after waiting a while, her face turned grim, ”Lady Li, are you coming or not? What are you dawdling for?”