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

Chapter 170: Chapter 170 Magistrate Dong_1

In the afternoon, Wang Ru came over and expressed her gratitude to Zhulan as soon as she entered, ”I’m lucky Zhou Shuren spoke to us at home today. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have realized the trouble. I know you love honey, so here’s a pound that my daughter-in-law got from her parents’ home.”

Zhulan understood why Wang Ru was being so generous and took what was offered, ”Shuren just made casual conversation, and it was you who thought it had nothing to do with us. We dare not accept your thanks, but I won’t be polite about the honey; I just ran out and need it for my health!”

Wang Ru handed over the basket, ”My daughter-in-law’s family probably still has some. If you want to buy, I’ll ask her to check when she goes back.”

Zhulan had been without honey for a month and indeed needed more, a rare find in the county, so naturally, she wanted to buy, ”That would be great, I’ll be sure to pay a fair price.”

Wang Ru smiled, ”Okay, I’ll talk to her when I get back.”

Zhulan was pleased and had Zhao’s wife take the basket out. She brewed tea and brought out some refreshments to entertain Wang Ru. Once Wang Ru was seated, Zhulan asked, ”Is the matter with Wang Lao Si’s family settled?”

Wang Ru, who adored children, played with a baby and replied, ”It’s settled. I made sure to remind them. Wang Lao Si and his wife Sun were unexpectedly generous, not only giving me half a bolt of fabric but also five taels of silver, insisting I take it even when I refused.”

Wang Ru felt no need to be secretive, speaking openly as Zhou Shuren’s family was well-off and didn’t care about such matters.

She felt fully justified in receiving the gifts, as her reminder not only saved the two girls but also preserved Wang Lao Si’s family’s reputation. Now that Wang Lao Si had a son, it would have been a disgrace if anything happened to the two girls.

She saw clearly that Wang Lao Si’s family had only been making sausages for less than a month, and now that Wang Ru was adopted, Wang Lao Si was putting everything on her. In truth, it was indeed Wang Ru who had been handling the business. Even with the split, Wang Lao Si remained a farmer, hoping his son would pursue education—an ambitious dream indeed!

Once Zhao’s wife brought over the tea, Zhulan personally poured a cup for Wang Ru, ”Please, have some tea.”

Zhulan calculated inwardly: for the adoption, Wang Ru first gave the Qian family forty taels, then fifteen taels to the Clan Leader, and in addition to the two hundred taels to Wang Lao Si. Based on her analysis of Shi Qing’s financial situation, he wouldn’t give Wang Ru much silver. Wang Ru probably didn’t have much left!

Zhulan guessed right. In Wang Ru’s room at the Qian family, she totaled the silver in her hands. Her expenses were high, and this adoption had been costly. She had only five taels of gold left, a bit over twenty taels of solid silver, and a bit over five taels of broken silver. Fortunately, her jewelry was valuable. She could build her house first, and then it’d be fine once Shi Qing’s money arrived.

With a chuckle, Wang Ru put away the silver, not asking for Shi Qing’s help to establish a separate female household because she knew he didn’t want anyone constraining her. She handled it quickly before Shi Qing’s people arrived, looking forward to seeing his reaction upon finding out.

Now the household was hers alone; Shi Qing couldn’t control her. She regretted her past foolishness not to seek adoption sooner. It wasn’t too late, but it was a pity she was too young to go out and also missed the main male character, constrained to stay in Zhou’s village.

At the Zhou’s, after chatting with Wang Ru for a while, Zhulan personally saw her out the door and saw the two Wang sisters carrying bundles toward them.

Wang Ru asked with narrowed eyes, ”Where are you two going with those?”

Wang Xin and her sister Wang Rong looked gratefully at Wang Ru, ”We’re going to find our sister and plan to stay at the Qian family for some days.”

Zhou Wang believed that after receiving her suggestion, Wang Laosi would hire someone to watch over the courtyard, but she didn’t expect them to become so clever, ”It’s getting late, you should hurry on your way!”

Wang Daya Wang Xin said, ”We’ll be leaving first.”

Zhulan saw off Zhou Wang and stood without moving as she watched the two girls. It must have been the second daughter’s idea. That girl is truly clever, not only avoiding the exploitation of Wang Laosi and his spouse and seeking shelter, but also planning to coax Silver Coin out of Wang Ru’s hands. This girl knows her reputation isn’t good, so she’s using Wang Ru as a stepping stone to plot a way out for herself!

Zhulan was in a particularly good mood. Since Wang Ru was ruthless, she couldn’t blame others for planning against her. Actions have consequences.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Zhulan and her daughter dressed themselves up. Today they were going to visit the County Magistrate. This was where Zhou Shuren shone; being a government granary student was one aspect, but Zhou Shuren was also capable. If it had been someone else, the County Magistrate wouldn’t have specifically waited at home to receive visitors.

This time she was only bringing her daughter because the County Magistrate’s household had an unmarried daughter. As for her granddaughter, as Yushuang grew up looking better and better, Zhulan would not allow her to go out to play anymore. Each day was spent either learning women’s work at home or studying characters with Xue Han. In the future, Zhulan wouldn’t take Yushuang out with her; looking too attractive was not a blessing.

Fortunately, despite Yushuang’s youth, she understood quite a bit. Zhao had not spared any effort in instilling a sense of danger in Yushuang. Before her arrival, the girl had always hunched her shoulders and kept her head down, the result of Zhao’s fright tactics. Zhulan must also acknowledge that Zhao was a wise woman and knew very well how to protect herself.

The carriage hired by Zhou Shuren came to pick them up, and upon reaching the entrance of the government office, Zhulan saw the ancient governmental estate for the first time. It didn’t have the grandeur she had seen in television dramas; a steward was already waiting at the gate.

He was there to take Zhulan and Xue Han to the back courtyard, while Zhou Shuren personally went to meet with the County Magistrate.

In the back courtyard of the government office, where the County Magistrate’s family resided, the two-entry residence wasn’t as small as Zhulan’s home. The courtyard was especially large, featuring a rockery and a small pond. Although it was a two-entry yard, it was very exquisite.

Zhulan kept observing her surroundings out of the corner of her eye. There weren’t many maids; indeed, as Zhou Shuren had said, the County Minister was a low-key person.

Upon arriving at the main hall of the back residence, Magistrate Dong’s wife, Lady Donglin, was already waiting. Beside Lady Donglin stood a girl with a pleasing appearance - judging by her age, it must be Magistrate Dong’s youngest daughter, Dong Chuchu.

Zhulan stepped forward to perform a courtesy, ”Madam Yang pays respects to Honored Lady Donglin.”

In the current dynasty, officials from the first to the fifth rank were conferred by imperial decree, while ranks six to nine were conferred by a lesser mandate. Wives were accorded status based on their husbands’ ranks: the wife of a first-rank official was a First Rank Wife, the second rank a Wife, the third rank a Lady, the fourth rank a Madam, the fifth rank Yiren, the sixth rank a member of the An family, and the seventh rank Honored Lady. Since county officials held the seventh rank, Lady Donglin was an Honored Lady.

Ever since she saw the visitors come in, Lady Donglin had sized them up. She was very curious about Zhou Shuren, whom her husband regarded highly, and even more curious about his wife. Now that she had seen them, she understood. No wonder her husband valued Zhou Shuren; his wife was also not simple. From her looks to her demeanor, where did she resemble a rural old lady? She appeared to be around thirty or so. If Lady Donglin hadn’t known she had given birth to six children, and that Madam Yang’s grandchildren were not small, she would not believe Madam Yang was almost forty.

Lady Donglin’s smile became a few degrees more genuine, ”Younger sister indeed looks quite youthful. Had I not seen you in person, I would hardly dare to acknowledge you as my younger sister!”

With that, Lady Donglin rose and took Zhulan by the hand to be seated.

Zhulan thought to herself, ”Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse. When it’s important to be presentable it directly impacts the first impression.”