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

Chapter 212: Chapter 212 Can’t Touch a Fleece_1

Lv Lingzhi swallowed the baozi in her mouth, ”The fever subsided after midnight, but I’m afraid it might recur, so I will go check on it later.”

In her heart, she thought that it was lucky they had encountered her father who truly had skill. If it were any other doctor in the county, they would have given up treatment by now. But the earnings were also impressive, just the consultation fee was fifty taels, not to mention the remaining half of a two hundred-year-old ginseng. The ginseng was provided by Scholar Shi, intended to be used in a prescription for nourishing the body. Her father only used half, hiding the rest. Cough cough, otherwise her father really wouldn’t have tried his best, was it not for fear that the hidden ginseng would disappear!

After the meal, Zhou Shuren unusually stayed at home and, not in a hurry to study, followed the other scholars to the clan school and then went to visit the Clan Leader’s house.

Zhou Shuren had just left when Lady Zhou arrived. Zhulan greeted her, ”Are you here to inquire about the situation next door?”

Lady Zhou harbored a bellyful of resentment towards Wang Ru, ”I heard that the doctor moved into your house. Your uncle has been concerned and sent me over to ask.”

Zhulan said, ”If you had come a little later, you wouldn’t have needed to make a special trip.”

Lady Zhou was puzzled, ”What do you mean by that?”

”The head of the household took the children to the clan school and took the opportunity to have a chat with the Clan Leader. It seems you and the head of the household missed each other.”

Lady Zhou said, ”If Shuren had gone, I would have also come over to chat with you.”

Zhulan pondered for a moment and understood, ”What do you want to talk about?”

Lady Zhou said directly, ”I’m not going to beat around the bush with you. We all know there’s something unusual about Wang Ru. I don’t care whether Scholar Shi’s life-saving grace is true or false. All I know is that Scholar Shi came for Wang Ru. Mr. Hou of the Hou Residence is like someone from heaven, and he has been frequently roaming around the village recently. My husband and I don’t think there’s anything in Zhou village that deserves such attention. After thinking it over carefully the last time we went back home, we guessed that he probably came for Wang Ru. I know you and your husband have your schemes, but I just want to know if this will involve the entire Zhou family.”

Especially since Wang Ru had an incident, Scholar Shi immediately came, and so did Zhang Wu and Zhang Sanni, who clearly were no ordinary people. She and the old man didn’t sleep all night yesterday. Now, to be able to sit down properly, they were just forcing themselves.

Zhulan wasn’t surprised at all that Lady Zhou had guessed a part of it. Clan Leader Zhou wasn’t a simple man, and he was a very responsible Clan Leader. Because of his responsibility, he tended to overthink. The Clan Leader worried about the entire Zhou clan and was afraid that being involved with the powerful could bring trouble to the whole Zhou family, especially since Wang Ru appeared in Zhou village. The Clan Leader fretted that the entire village might suffer misfortune because of her.

Yao Zheyu certainly hadn’t expected that someone in Zhou village would guess his purpose. Sometimes the lower class are sharper and their intuition more accurate.

Zhulan looked at the blue under Lady Zhou’s eyes, which indicated she had been frightened. She spoke up, ”My husband and I have guessed similar to what the Clan Leader thinks. The head of the household has speculated some things too. He said that if Scholar Shi came for Wang Ru in such a hurry, he definitely wouldn’t want any accidents to happen. He speculated that once Wang Ru gets through this, Scholar Shi will take the person away. As for why Mr. Hou came, that will be for Scholar Shi to worry about in the future.”

Lady Zhou was anxious and in need of comfort. Although she didn’t know for sure if Zhou Shuren was aware of Mr. Hou’s purpose, Lady Li’s comments eased her taut nerves and she felt much more at ease, ”Don’t laugh at me. I’m just a countrywoman who has never left the village; I get frightened easily and can’t handle stress. Your husband said your family has a long road ahead, so I won’t say much, just offer some trivial experience. I’ve realized in my life that one must be grounded and take one step at a time for a longer journey.”

Her husband would have said the same to Zhou Shuren, but coming from a woman, especially one who Zhou Shuren held in high regard, Lady Li’s words might be more memorable to him. They both spoke separately for peace of mind.

Zhulan understood that Lady Zhou was afraid their family would catch the eye of the powerful in the Hou Residence, foolishly grasp at high branches, get involved in Mr. Hou’s affairs, and possibly bring disaster upon themselves. Lady Zhou weren’t just speaking kind words out of duty; she cared enough to give advice.

Zhulan also laid her cards on the table with Lady Zhou, ”The head of the household has no dealings with Mr. Hou, and from today he will be studying at home in earnest!”

Lady Zhou’s heart skipped a beat, no connections with Mr. Hou yet he visited Zhou Shuren’s home, truly for Wang Ru, and then heard that Zhou Shuren won’t be going to the county to study anymore, she repeatedly remarked that it was good, ”Next year is the provincial examination, studying well and earning one’s own achievements is the true way.”

In the past, I only admired Zhou Shuren for his abilities and the wide circle of people he knew, seeing only the benefits he brought, but I failed to notice the lurking dangers. Now I think about it, it’s better to be down-to-earth, at least one can avoid constant anxiety.

Zhulan knew that the Clan Leader and his wife were genuinely terrified, ”I see the dark circles under your eyes are from lack of rest. Should Dr. Lv check your pulse and prescribe some calming herbal medicines?”

Lady Wang shook her head, ”This is a heart sickness, it will get better when the neighbor is gone.”

She then murmured under her breath, it would be even better if they died.

Zhulan, ”.....”

The Clan Leader and his wife truly wished that Wang Ru would just die and eliminate future troubles—hm, it seems everyone wished the same!

Unfortunately for them, Wang Ru was incredibly resilient. Her high fever subsided without recurrence, and although she hadn’t regained consciousness, her condition had stabilized.

Thanks to the help of the senior Dr. Lv, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren received firsthand information.

Wang Ru pulled through, much to the disappointment of Lady Wang and the Clan Leader. When Zhulan visited their house, Lady Wang was no longer murmuring complaints, but openly calling it a disaster that would last a thousand years.

After two days in a coma, Wang Ru finally woke up, and Dr. Lv also packed up his belongings, taking his fee, and returned to the county.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren saw off Dr. Lv. When it was just Zhulan and Zhou Shuren, she said in a light tone, ”Once Wang Ru’s health is a bit better, Shi Qing should take her away. We’re finally going to have some peace.”

Zhou Shuren said regretfully, ”I had already figured out how to benefit from our young master, but then Wang Ru caused such a commotion. Once she’s gone, there won’t be any more chances to profit from him. I was originally counting on him to earn enough Silver Coin to buy a villa!”

However, Zhulan was quite satisfied, ”We’ve already received quite a bit these past few times. I’m content.”

Zhou Shuren inwardly sighed over the missed opportunity. In the future, even if such an opportunity arose, it would no longer have the perfect convergence of time, place, and people as it had now. It wouldn’t be possible to get Silver Coin from the young master anymore.

Zhou Shuren nibbled on the mooncakes made by Lady Li, ”Tomorrow Chang Lian is taking leave to deliver mooncakes. I hope the lad can tolerate the sarcasm he’ll face.”

From her experience with mooncakes, Zhulan had to admit that Lady Li’s were indeed exceptional; the recipe truly had value. However, with Zhou Shuren having just been troubled, and since there were no secrets in the county office, Zhou Shuren’s absence from the county and Chang Lian not having actually married Dong Chuchu could lead to uncertainties. Chang Lian was just a son of a Scholar, and it was inevitable that he would face difficulties, ”The child is quite proud, and I don’t know if he can handle it, especially since he’s been flattered by his schoolmates at the clan school recently; naturally, he might be a bit complacent. When he goes to the county tomorrow, he won’t hear any praise.”

Zhou Shuren said, ”I actually hope he goes out and suffers some hardships, so he realizes how difficult it is for his father out there, instead of thinking it’s all so simple. A little setback isn’t harmful.”

Zhulan replied, ”As long as you know what you’re doing.”

She, who had been giving motherly love, found her heart growing softer; she genuinely worried that Chang Lian would be too deeply hurt. The lad spoke as if failing to deliver the gifts wouldn’t matter, but he surely hoped it would succeed. With Chang Lian’s timing coinciding with Zhou Shuren returning home, she hoped the boy wouldn’t be hit too hard by disappointment.

Seeing Zhulan pick up needle and thread to mend clothes, Zhou Shuren felt a pang of jealousy. Zhulan increasingly treated the Zhou children as if they were her own. She used to make clothes only for him, but now there were several more ”brats” to care for. Squinting his eyes, he thought his sons had it too