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

Chapter 191: Chapter 191 Temporary Impulse_1

The third son of the Zhou family formally became engaged to the daughter of the county magistrate, and after Zhulan’s family had breakfast, visitors started pouring into their home nonstop. There were women from within the clan as well as others from different families in the village. Zhulan, once the least favored, had suddenly become the most popular figure in the village. Whoever says ancient people were simple-minded and single-minded, she would argue with them. Over the course of more than a year, she had come to believe that ancient people understood how to go with the flow and avoid harm even better than modern people do.

Since the morning, Zhulan hadn’t had a moment’s peace from all the flattery. This time, nobody dared utter anything sour, instead going out of their way to shower her with excessive compliments, causing her face to nearly stiffen from smiling all day long.

On the other hand, Lady Li had been talking nonstop the whole day, and when everyone had left, she still seemed not to have had her fill, clearly relishing in the feeling of being envied.

Zhulan was speechless. ”You’ve been talking all day, aren’t you exhausted?”

While she barely spoke and her lips were dry and her throat sore from all the smiling, Lady Li had been the one speaking the most without even a change in her voice.

Lady Li still felt she hadn’t boasted enough. ”Mother, you have no idea. Behind my back, they’ve been spreading little rumors about me, thinking I wouldn’t find out. Today, they had to flatter me with jealousy written all over their faces, which finally let me vent my irritation.”

Zhulan couldn’t help but laugh. Lady Li was endearing because she always knew exactly where she stood. When Zhulan saw Zhou Shuren pushing the door open, she said to Lady Li, ”Go and cook.”

Intimidated by her father-in-law, Lady Li called out, ”Dad,” and scurried out the door.

Zhou Shuren, witnessing Lady Li wishing she had a couple more legs to run faster, twitched the corner of his mouth, ”I brought back two roasted chickens for dinner tonight.”

The thing Lady Li feared the most was her father-in-law speaking up, but luckily it was for something good. She acknowledged and hurried away.

Zhulan asked, ”Why did you buy roasted chicken today?”

Zhou Shuren sat down and began changing his shoes. ”I ran into Shi Qing at the county office today. To avoid him on the way home, I made an excuse to buy some roasted chicken, but I still couldn’t shake him off. He said he was also returning to the village, so we ended up walking back together, and I had no choice but to buy roasted chickens to bring home.”

Zhulan took Zhou Shuren’s coat and paused, ”Shi Qing isn’t living next door now, is he?”

Zhou Shuren took a clean set of clothes, ”Yes, he’s moved in next door.”

Zhulan thought for a moment and said, ”Shi Qing knows about our family’s engagement with the county magistrate’s family, and with the connection to the Dong family’s son-in-law, Jiang Ming, so he’s taking an interest in you?”

Otherwise, a scholar like him wouldn’t be worth Shi Qing’s schemes.

Zhou Shuren, now dressed in clean clothes and feeling much more comfortable, leaned against the heated wall and fanned himself, ”On my way back today while avoiding Shi Qing, the county magistrate didn’t make his position explicit, but he conveyed his meaning. He and Jiang Ming won’t get involved in any affairs and advised me to be aware and not to be played.”

Zhulan, listening, was pleased. ”Mr. Dong is a wise man.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Mr. Dong wouldn’t be the local county magistrate if he weren’t savvy, even though it’s not explicitly forbidden by the imperial court, it’s rare for someone to be the official in their hometown.”

Zhulan loved having a strong ally. If it weren’t for having an ally like that, Zhou Shuren wouldn’t have bothered to form a close relationship with the Dong family. She exclaimed, ”Chang Lian indeed has good fortune, having such a good father-in-law.”

Apart from a few daughters-in-law who looked down on the Zhou family due to class differences, the rest of the Dong family was good.

As for Shi Qing’s attention, Zhulan wasn’t worried about Zhou Shuren being outwitted. If anyone was at risk of being trapped, it was Shi Qing when compared to Zhou Shuren.

During dinner, the little ones enjoyed the delicious roasted chicken. Ming Teng gnawed on a chicken wing while mumbling, ”It’s great that big brother goes to the school.”

Zhulan immediately understood the youngster’s thoughts. ”You’re the one with all the cunning ideas.”

Ming Teng giggled heartily. Ever since his big brother joined their father for meals, with one less person at the table, there was more to go around for him.

Yushuang swallowed the chicken in her mouth, ”It will be even better when second brother also goes to the academy.”

Ming Teng became unhappy, at dad’s table there were only adults, not like eating with grandma, where there were many children, and he got a bigger share. The thought of eating at the next table made him turn his sadness into appetite.

Mrs. Zhao tapped her daughter’s forehead, ”As long as you understand in your heart, that’s enough.”

Yushuang giggled nonstop; she liked teasing her second brother, just as mom liked to occasionally watch Auntie’s daily commotions.

Zhulan really adored Ming Teng, the little happy-go-lucky. She pinched Ming Teng’s chubby cheeks, which felt especially nice to touch; the little guy seemed to be getting chubbier.

The next day, as Zhou Shuren didn’t have to go to the county, after a meal, Zhulan brought out the family’s good tea leaves to brew tea.

Lady Li brewed tea and came into the room to ask, ”Mother, do we have visitors today?”

The family’s tea was also graded. The cheaper tea leaves were for everyday guests, slightly better for the elders like the Clan Leader, and the best was for important visitors to the house.

Zhulan, ”Yes.”

As soon as Zhulan spoke, Zhou Jr. led people into the main hall. Zhulan heard Shi Qing addressing Zhou Shuren, ”I hope my impromptu visit isn’t too disturbing.”

Zhou Shuren was already waiting in the main hall, ”Scholar Shi, you’re too courteous, please take a seat.”

Lady Li heard the noise and lowered her voice, ”Mother, the guest you mentioned is Scholar Shi? Doesn’t he have a connection with Wang Ru? Why would he come to our house?”

Zhulan didn’t plan on explaining to Lady Li, who loved to overthink things. She truly feared Lady Li’s overactive imagination could lead to panicking and might make things worse, ”Perhaps it’s because Wang Ru is staying next-door now, so he is visiting on behalf of Wang Ru, I guess!”

Lady Li, ”So that’s it. But Scholar Shi didn’t stay next-door last night, did he? My goodness, next-door is full of girls, and their reputation isn’t that good as it is. Now they’re letting an outsider man stay, the sisters’ reputation will be completely ruined.”

Fortunately, Lady Li knew there were people outside and kept her voice low while talking.

Mrs. Zhao chimed in, ”When the head of the household was closing the doors last night, he saw Wang Rong carrying her bundle back to Wang Elder’s home.”

Zhulan wasn’t surprised that second daughter Wang Rong left; rather, she was surprised, ”Just Wang Rong by herself?”

Mrs. Zhao nodded, ”Only her.”

Lady Li had a strange expression. Under the pressure of a family of shrewd people, she had also become much smarter, ”I knew it! Wang Xin and her mother are no good. That girl must have thought since she’s older and Wang Ru is younger, she’d have her own plans!”

Zhulan signaled, ”Alright, let’s stop talking about it.”

She didn’t want to hear about the neighbors; besides, with Shi Qing outside, she was truly worried that Lady Li wouldn’t be able to control her volume, and they would be overheard.

Lady Li closed her mouth, smiled appeasingly, looked down, and continued to help her mother-in-law sort threads.

Shi Qing didn’t stay long before leaving. Lady Li and Mrs. Zhao were very tactful; hearing the guest had left, they knew that father-in-law would surely return to the main house, so they went back to their own rooms.

When Zhou Shuren entered the room, he saw only Zhulan and became increasingly pleased with his daughters-in-law, who were becoming more perceptive.

Zhulan put down her needlework and asked, ”What did Shi Qing come for?”