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

Chapter 331: Chapter 331 Trapped by Lady Li - Part 1

Zhou Shuren coughed once, signaling Er Yue to stop the carriage, and said to Er Yue, ”Go tell young master to look for Zhao Bo’s name under the list.”

Er Yue replied, ”Aye.”

Er Yue got off the carriage, and the carriage driven by Li Chun behind them stopped as well; soon after, Er Yue came back, ”Master, young master has gotten off the carriage to go check the list.”

Zhou Shuren nodded in approval, ”Let’s head back!”

Er Yue started driving the carriage again, and though the wind outside was piercingly cold, Er Yue’s heart was ablaze; master had become a candidate, and with some luck in the palace examination, master could secure an official position. When the head of the family held an official rank, all the servants would be regarded more highly by others.

When they returned home, the harbinger of good news had already visited; what is South City most abundant with? Merchants, abound.

With Zhou family having produced a top scholar and a candidate, this was indeed a tremendous cause for celebration; Zhulan and Zhou Shuren had yet to return, and people came continuously to offer their wishes.

Zhulan pulled back the curtain of the carriage, looked out, and couldn’t help but laugh, ”I never anticipated that buying this estate would turn out to be such a windfall, no, two windfalls. Our estate has good feng shui, watch, the estate originally worth six hundred taels could now double in value!”

Zhou Shuren chuckled, ”Now we nearly have enough for Wu Ming to buy an estate.”

Zhulan thought indeed, and with a smile said, ”This time as a top scholar, and there will be another opportunity after the palace examination, that will certainly be enough!”

This time it was not about becoming a graduate, but receiving gifts at the door which must be presentable, or else it would be embarrassing.

Zhulan’s heart warmed with excitement; South City had its own advantages. Touching her chin, Zhulan resolved that after the palace examination, she would definitely sell the estate. Hmm, this profit was considerable; she would need to find a good place for a new estate. Truth be told, she preferred estates awarded by the imperial grant—well-placed and spacious; it was just too bad that those were but a dream.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren alighted from the carriage, and this time, gifts were mainly from neighbors. Zhou Shuren and Wu Ming were in the front yard expressing their gratitude, while Zhulan returned to the back yard.

Today’s visitors had been mostly men; the female family members did not come over. Lady Li approached her with joy, ”Mother.”

Zhulan looked at Lady Li, ”Keep your mouth a bit more closed; I can see all the way down your throat.”

Lady Li quickly covered her mouth, then realized, ”Mother, no matter how wide I open my mouth, you can’t see my throat!”

Zhulan removed her cloak, ”Oh.”

Lady Li looked at her mother-in-law, still confused.

Xue Han whispered, ”Mother means we should be modest.”

Lady Li covered her mouth to show she understood, but she really wanted to laugh; oh my, she had sneaked several glances already—there were so many presents! Dad had received quite a few for becoming a graduate, and now as a candidate, wouldn’t there be even more?

Lady Li touched the cloak she wore, heh, she was someone with a cloak now!

Zhulan sat by the fire, warming up. Even a trip out in the carriage had chilled her to the bone, making her entire body shiver.

Xue Han poured some ginger tea, ”Mother, drink some tea to warm up your body.”

Zhulan did not accept, ”I’ve already drunk quite a bit in the carriage, now I don’t want to drink anything.”

Her stomach was full of liquid, making her feel quite uncomfortable.

Xue Han set the ginger tea down and asked curiously, ”Mother, were there people catching husbands under the list today?”

Zhulan heard and laughed; everyone was quite curious about that, ”No.”

Lady Li exclaimed, ”So the plays are all deceiving us!”

Zhulan said with a smile, ”Plays aren’t necessarily deceiving. It did happen in the past, but not anymore. However, Wu Ming has had several people wanting to take him home as their son-in-law!”

Lady Li said wistfully, ”If only my daughter wasn’t so young; if Yu Lu were ten years old, I’d also like to secure Wu Ming for her!”

The tone conveyed how regretful she felt.

Zhulan, ”.....”

Lady Li’s ambitions are grand indeed, aiming to be the mother-in-law of a top scholar!

Zhulan waved her hand, ”Alright then, when the eldest comes back, you two go buy some venison. Today, our family will also indulge a little.”

Lady Li swallowed hard, her eyes lingering on the venison every time she visited the butcher’s shop, having coveted it for half a year, ”Mother, are we really going to buy venison to eat?”

”Yes, today mother is happy.”

She was indeed joyful. The value of their house had doubled—a hefty sum of silver—it had been an unending streak of good days!

Lady Li went out happily to wait for the head of the household.

Xue Han couldn’t help but chuckle, ”Mother, eldest sister-in-law is always so happy!”

”That’s right. In fact, she’s the one who lives with the most clarity. By the way, why haven’t I seen your uncle?”

Xue Han, ”Uncle went to big cousin’s house after the messenger bearing good news left. He should be back soon.”

Zhulan picked up Yu Lu, who was like a little ball of meat. Children tend to gain weight easily. Since arriving in the capital, Yu Lu’s weight had shot up, making her especially comfortable to hold.

That afternoon, no visitors came. The Zhou family had only recently arrived in the capital, so those who came bearing gifts did so and left without needing to be entertained.

Zhulan counted the gifts that were brought. The capital’s merchants were generous indeed, presenting fine items—though they were all for Zhou Shuren’s use, mostly inkstones or brushes and ink.

Zhulan remarked, ”Our family won’t need to buy brushes and ink for several years.”

Zhou Shuren felt the same way, ”Even if they are all quite nice, none are truly precious. Wu Ming also received quite a few. Let’s keep some of the better ones and dispose of the rest!”

Zhulan, ”You have an eye for these things, so you keep what you want. Leave the disposing to the eldest. We only brought him and his wife to the capital, and in half a year, he’s become capable of holding his own.”

The environment really does forge a person. In Pingzhou, it was only Prefecture City, and the places where the Zhou family lived were all occupied by ordinary people; the eldest had never been put to the test.

After arriving in the capital, where all the neighbors were merchants, the eldest had started to speak with cunning. Coupled with his honestly simple nature, those who were shrewd actually liked to deal with someone like him.

In just half a year, the eldest had truly made quite a few acquaintances. Every time he stepped outside, people would call out to him as ’Eldest Zhou’!

Zhou Shuren, ”Alright.”

Zhulan added, ”The date for the imperial court’s final examination has been set, the tenth of next month. Do you need to prepare anything?”

Zhou Shuren shook his head, ”I’ve made all necessary preparations, there’s nothing more to do.”

After all, he knew that becoming the top scorer was out of reach. Hmm, even Tanhua was a stretch. His original appearance truly wasn’t handsome—just slightly better than ordinary. He missed his former looks!

Zhou Shuren felt a bit stifled as he looked at Zhulan. Growing a beard made him look even older, while Zhulan, who had been taking good care of herself, especially since the family’s finances had improved, was really willing to spend silver on her face!

Zhulan felt uncomfortable under his gaze, ”Why are you staring straight at me like that?”

Zhou Shuren’s mouth curved into a teasing smile, ”Because you’re beautiful!”

Zhulan was speechless; her original appearance was indeed passable, but she couldn’t be considered beautiful.

Zhou Shuren laughed heartily, ”Let’s go, dinner should be ready. Speaking of which, since you were willing to buy venison, why didn’t you let Lady Li buy more?”

Zhulan, ”......”

She hadn’t expected Lady Li to be so frugal as to buy only a pound; true, she hadn’t specified an amount, but considering Lady Li usually started at five pounds whenever she bought meat, Zhulan had assumed at least that much would be bought. Who would have thought Lady Li would only get one pound!

A pound of venison was gone in a flash, leaving Lady Li barely able to savor the taste, ”Mother, when can we buy venison again?”

Zhulan pursed her lips and walked away. She had been duped by Lady Li again today. With only a pound of venison, anyone unaware would think she had instructed it to be so, looking at how even her brother seemed to bite his tongue, as if thinking her ungenerous!