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

Chapter 564: Chapter 564 Really Drawing_1

Clan Leader Zhou laughed, ”After drinking, it still can’t provide a cure.”

In the end, he was old; most of his body was already in the ground, and who knew how many years he had left. These years had been peaceful, thanks in large part to Zhou Shuren. The clan school had a stable income, which not only covered the teachers’ salaries but also provided help for the clan’s poor scholars. He seldom worried now.

Clan Leader Zhou took a puff of his pipe, feeling pride swell within him. The Zhou clan was on the rise for miles around, just waiting for the younger generations to exert their strength. Thinking of this and looking at his talented grandson, he felt that as soon as his grandson passed the Graduate examination, he would have no regrets and could face his ancestors with pride.

In Jinzhou Province, after lunch and the new year’s visits, this year’s focus was on Ming Hui and Chang Zhong.

Ming Hui was adept at new year’s greetings, and Zhulan found it especially amusing to watch her own little doppelganger pay respects to her. The little fellow wasn’t big, but he already knew to hold onto his new year’s money and not hand it over to his parents.

Lady Li glared fiercely at Ming Teng; it must have been that boy who taught him.

Ming Teng felt very wronged; this time, it really wasn’t him—the kid had learned it from Ming Rui.

Chang Zhong could only shout ”Daddy,” missing the new year’s greetings. He couldn’t kneel smoothly, and in the end, he sat to offer his greetings.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren felt their hearts swell. Both felt that everything was worth it for their son, and no matter how hard it was, it no longer felt hard.

After the masters of the Zhou residence had offered their greetings, it was the servants’ turn. There seemed to be more with each passing year. By the time it was all over, Zhulan felt a bit tired.

Everyone returned to their respective courtyards to rest, saving their energy for the evening’s reunion dinner.

In the main house, Lady Li sat in frustration, chiding her husband, ”Look at how you spoil Ming Teng. Now Ming Hui won’t even hand over his new year’s money.”

She had seen it, ten taels of silver.

Zhou the eldest wasn’t having it, ”Ming Teng is spoiled? It’s clearly because the boy himself is thick-skinned. No needle can pierce it, nor can a beating subdue him.”

He truly hadn’t spared the rod on his second son, but the boy was genuinely resilient, bouncing around maddeningly the day after a serious beating!

Lady Li choked up, irritably massaging her face, ”Tell me, who does our son from the main house resemble?”

Zhou the eldest replied without courtesy, ”You.”

Lady Li glared, ”How is he like me?”

Zhou the eldest laughed, ”All our children, they have your thick skin!”

This was his carefully observed conclusion. Including Mingyun and Yu Lu, they were no less thick-skinned than Ming Teng when it mattered!

In the second wife’s quarters, Zhao held her daughter, who was growing well, though still far behind her little uncle, who could already talk and walk when supported. Her daughter had just become adept at crawling—the one consolation being that her daughter had put on a good deal of weight.

Zhao put down her yawning little girl, signaling Yushuang to look after her, then stepped out to see her husband sipping tea to sober up and conveniently sat beside him, ”I really didn’t expect the fourth wife would give mother jewelry.”

When the Magistrate had taken it out, she was startled. The second wife had access to silver, and her own collection of jewelry wasn’t small. With an eye for value, she quickly estimated the worth of the jewelry to be over a hundred taels of silver.

Zhou the second said, ”Normal. The fourth wife’s girls and servants came from the Magistrate, which reduced the household expenses. Given the Magistrate’s character, she’s sure to pay back mother in other ways.”

Zhao envied the Magistrate’s dowry, then thought about her own, which her husband was managing. But it wasn’t growing quickly; by her reckoning, her elder sister-in-law’s funds were about to surpass hers.

Zhou the second hummed a tune cheerfully; year after year was getting better. The only regret was that the second wife had only one son. He envied his older brother’s trio of boys.

In the third wife’s quarters, Chang Lian watched his wife without blinking, ”Oh, be careful there.”

Lady Dong replied, ”It’s you who’s too careful. Though the delivery day is approaching, I don’t feel anything yet. Don’t worry.”

Chang Lian’s face was wooden, ”Mother and the second wife both gave birth prematurely.”

He was truly worried. As the birth grew near, his fears mounted. Lately, he had been plagued by nightmares. His affection for Lady Dong had built up gradually—from a stranger to a familiar face, and finally, she crept little by little into his heart. With each passing day spent together, he saw her shadow everywhere.

He couldn’t imagine the scene of Lady Dong struggling in labor, nor could he bear the thought of her leaving his life.

In the fourth room, Su Xuan looked at Chang Zhi, who seemed a bit listless, and thought to herself that it served him right. Ever since their father ended the punishment, Shi Qing had left, and their father wasn’t as busy as before, leaving the husband to replace Shi Qing and learn from their father.

Their father’s punishment was real. If he was unsatisfied, he would whip their hands with a ruler. At first, she truly felt for him, but as time went on, she grew accustomed to the heartache and stopped thinking about it. Instead, she felt irritated that her husband just wouldn’t learn his lesson. If he had a bit more spirit, he wouldn’t be beaten!

Chang Zhi lay on the table, his hand still throbbing with pain. Just yesterday, on the twenty-ninth, father didn’t spare him, ”Wife.”

Su Xuan smiled sweetly, ”My husband, you must be the first one that father has beaten, right?”

Chang Zhi fell silent and no longer sought comfort. Feeling suffocated, he endured the mockery from his older brothers, which depressed him. He had been studying up until now, and just as he was about to become a father, it felt like he was starting all over again. Sobbing, he thought to himself that his father hadn’t really taught him anything. He was only made to analyze anecdotes. As soon as his analysis was incorrect, he was truly beaten.

With a sigh, Chang Zhi said, ”Why won’t father discuss literature and ancient texts with me?”

Su Xuan was silent for a moment. It seemed their father had indeed been lenient. She was sure that if Chang Zhi really suggested it, their father would trade the ruler for a stick. Fortunately, Chang Zhi didn’t have the courage to suggest it.

That evening, at the Zhou family’s reunion dinner, Zhou Shuren’s place was taken by Mingyun, his eldest grandson, who even at his tender age, was already able to drink alcohol.

Zhou’s second son was envious. Now, everyone outside only knew of the Zhou family’s eldest grandson, and of course, the troublemaker Ming Teng. No one seemed to care about his own son. Holding up his wine glass, he said, ”Mingyun, come and drink with your second uncle.”

Mingyun raised his glass, ”Second Uncle, your nephew toasts to you.”

Zhou’s second son heartily drank the wine in his cup, unable to contain his envy. In front of his father, he dared not act out.

Chang Lian did not envy them. On the contrary, he felt the better Mingyun performed, the better it was, for his own child would have an elder brother’s protection upon birth, ”Eldest nephew, have a drink with your third uncle too.”

Mingyun replied with a smile, ”Third Uncle, please.”

Zhou’s eldest son was anxious. He hadn’t let his son drink at noon, but now he couldn’t stop him. He couldn’t help but glance at his father, who was smiling amiably, so he had to swallow any words of protest. He felt slightly dazed—was his son already at this stage?

Zhou’s eldest son watched his eldest son sitting properly, his heart brimming with pride. This was his son!

Unfortunately, before he could bask in pride for long, commotion arose from the neighboring table. Ming Teng started causing trouble, and Ming Hui egged him on with boisterous shouts. It was indeed disruptive.

Zhulan looked at Lady Li, who was gritting her teeth, and said with a smile, ”It’s the New Year, no scolding allowed.”

Lady Li felt aggrieved. She realized, ”Mother, you are the one who spoils Ming Teng the most.”

Zhulan felt guilty; it seemed to be true. Whenever Ming Teng caused mischief, he would run straight to the main house. Cough, cough, later on, Ming Rui became wiser too. With two troublemaking children, Zhulan adored them both, ”Stop chatting and hurry up and eat.”

Lady Li looked at her mother-in-law with an inscrutable expression, ”Mother, are you feeling guilty?”

Zhulan glared, ”....Not at all, eat your food.”

Lady Li was silent for a moment, moderating her tone—so, her mother-in-law was indeed feeling guilty!

Right then, Lady Dong suddenly cried out, and Zhulan no longer needed to avoid Lady Li’s probing gaze as her heart leaped, ”What’s wrong?”

Lady Dong looked on the verge of tears, ”Mother, I think it’s time. I’m going into labor.”