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

Chapter 129: Chapter 129 Quite a Pitfall_1

Zhulan had packed everything thoroughly. The county exam could consist of four or five rounds, decided by the county officials. Therefore, Zhou Shuren had to stay for at least five nights. He must bring a thick quilt and at least three sets of clothing, as well as sturdy shoes.

The exams in the north were truly unforgiving. In the second lunar month, the weather was still bitterly cold. The dedicated examination hall in the county was not indoors. Although it didn’t have the pigeon cage traps of the village examinations, it wasn’t much better. The hall was arranged with the seats facing north, with Dragon Gate to the north and the residence for signalling names to the rear. The corridor was in the middle, with the examiners in the western room, the roll call in the eastern room, and the simple and side-by-side seating in the north—just a shabby exam shed. This was where the candidates had to sit.

Therefore, it was very draughty. They also had to maintain clean scripts with neat handwriting, which was no easy feat. The south had an advantage there, suffering less from the cold, allowing candidates a bit more peace during exams.

Zhulan had truly gained a lot of knowledge and silently prayed that there wouldn’t be any wind during these days!

After breakfast, Zhulan checked the luggage again. Zhou Shuren was responsible for his own writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. After confirming that he had brought his purse with silver coins, he waited for the Clan Leader’s ox cart to arrive. Grasping Zhulan’s hand firmly before leaving, he said, ”Wait for my good news.”

As the exam approached, Zhulan felt a sense of relief. ”Don’t be too hard on yourself. Go out and eat whatever you want. I’ve brought you twenty taels, so don’t hesitate to spend.”

Zhou Shuren replied, ”Alright, I won’t be home, so you should also sleep early.”

Seeing the Clan Leader’s grandson’s wide-eyed curiosity, Zhou’s sons thought to themselves how it’s rare but not unusual for the father to care so fiercely for the mother.

Zhulan did not accompany him to the county. The ox cart was not only transporting Zhou Shuren but two other candidates as well, making it quite cramped. Once everyone had left, Zhulan went back indoors.

Zhou’s second son tugged at his wife’s sleeve, who understood with a nod and turned back to the main room carrying her son.

Zhou’s eldest son saw everything clearly. Educated through his father’s tough love, he had learned not to judge merely by appearances. Though not able to see and hear everything, he paid attention to important details. To his surprise, his seemingly weak younger sister-in-law also had her wits about her, causing him quite a choke of envy, as he and his wife were not as sharp-witted as the others in the Zhou family!

Zhulan, taking the child from Lady Zhao, saw that the infant grandson, Ming Rui, now over two months old, was healthy, with arms as plump as sections of lotus root. The baby grasped her finger, and she played with him for a bit. Addressing Lady Zhao, who was sewing, she said, ”His hundred-day celebration is approaching, but father and I think it’s best not to have one.”

Although Zhou Shuren would also discuss this with Chang Yi, it did not really matter whether Zhulan spoke to Lady Zhao about it or not. Yet, being a woman, Zhulan understood women better and thought it best to tell her directly to avoid any hard feelings.

Lady Zhao nearly pricked her hand with the needle. For the baby’s third-day bathing ceremony, only the grandmother’s family came because the grandfather, the eunuch, wasn’t home. The full moon celebration coincided with the coldest time of the Lunar New Year and was not celebrated either. Now not celebrating the hundred-day milestone could make one feel neglected. However, seeing that the parents-in-law did not seem to be disregarding them, and considering that other poor families in the village rarely held such events except for the third-day and full-moon ones, she couldn’t help but feel upset but lowered her head and said, ”I’ll listen to Mother.”

Knowing Lady Zhao would respond like this and hearing her reluctant tone, Zhulan explained, ”Not celebrating the hundred days is unfair to Ming Rui, but right now, with your father attending the imperial examinations, it’s not suitable to draw attention. We plan to have a good meal at home with just the family. When the child turns one, we can have a grand celebration for his first birthday.”

Lady Zhao, moved by this, thought of the confidence they had in her father-in-law passing the examinations. More guests would come if the grandfather became a Scholar, and it would be grand for Ming Rui since he would be the first grandson to celebrate the first birthday after the grandfather attained the rank of Scholar. More attention would benefit Ming Rui, especially if he grasped something with favorable symbolism during the birthday celebration, potentially strengthening his position in the grandparents’ hearts. ”Mother, Ming Rui won’t feel wronged; we have no objections,” she affirmed.

She had to be strategic; the older sons of the eldest brother were adored by the grandparents. Her own son was much younger, at a disadvantage. She refused to accept that her son was merely the youngest grandson, considering that Chang Lian and Chang Zhi were not yet married. Her hope was for her son to be as cherished by the grandparents as her daughter.

Lady Li came back from a stroll outside, visibly thrilled, ”Mother, Old Wang’s family had dirty water thrown at their doorstep!”