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

Chapter 838: Chapter 838: Generation Gap

Zhou Shuren said, ”Sir, the official has not discovered anything. The official only heard that you were holding back the Ministry of Works’ application for silver in the Zhezi, so I wanted to ask about it.”

Xiao Qing exhaled, with the capital being very tense lately, and he himself on edge, it was good that it was not a serious issue, ”Recently, the Ministry of Works has been applying for silver too frequently, claiming it’s for improving technology, ha. With the Crown Prince having given a nod, I’ve already approved it twice, but there hasn’t been any significant splash. The silver in the Ministry of Revenue has to be used where it’s needed most, and it’s not acceptable for the Ministry of Works to be wasting silver like this.”

Zhou Shuren felt a bit depressed and nearly spat blood. To improve any technology, continuous experimentation is needed, and each experiment costs silver coins. To make progress, silver has to be spent. Although he had been whispering in the Crown Prince’s ear and the Crown Prince was showing quite a bit of interest in the Ministry of Works, he had overlooked Minister Xiao.

Only now did Zhou Shuren deeply realize that what separated him from Minister Xiao was not just a difference in thinking, but also a gap spanning centuries, which was not something he could easily change.

Ever since Minister Xiao took up the post of Minister of Revenue, the Ministry had never been flush with cash. Silver was very important in Minister Xiao’s eyes, and coupled with his inherent bias against the Ministry of Works, it was only for the face of the Crown Prince that he had approved silver twice.

Xiao Qing was resolute in his stance. He knew that Zhou Shuren was favorable towards the Ministry of Works, but there were too many places in the nation that needed silver, and he was genuinely afraid of the days without silver, ”Shuren, I know you value the Ministry of Works, but this official will not approve the silver.”

Anyway, he would not approve it during his tenure. As for the future, that would be Zhou Shuren’s concern.

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Shuren had no intention of wasting his breath trying to convince Minister Xiao, because it was futile. Different departments think differently, ”Then you must be busy, Sir.”

Xiao Qing nodded, ”Hmm.”

That evening, at the Zhou residence, Zhou Shuren came home and saw a glass cup in his wife’s hand, which startled him, ”Where did this come from?”

Zhulan looked at the glass cup with low transparency, which she had been puzzling over, and came back to her senses, ”Didn’t I ask the Xu residence to help buy timber? When the Xu family returned from the sea and delivered the timber, they brought these two cups as well.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t even want to pick it up to look, it was too rough, although it did have a sort of artistic feel, ”This thing isn’t cheap overseas either.”

Zhulan put down the cup, ”It’s much cheaper than what the shops in the capital are selling.”

Zhou Shuren thought of Minister Xiao’s attitude that day and sighed, ”When will our country be able to make its own.”

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren really didn’t value the two cups, expecting two modern people to care about a couple of glass cups, that would be wishful thinking. She gestured for Granny Song to pack them away.

Zhulan then said, ”Zhang Jinghong has returned.”

Zhou Shuren was surprised, ”How did you learn of this news?”

How had he not heard about it?

Zhulan laughed softly, ”Don’t underestimate me. Even though I’m in the back yard, I keep abreast of all the big and small news in the capital. Ever since we came to the capital, I’ve put my mind at ease and have been vigilant about everything happening here.”

She was well aware that sometimes small pieces of news can have a big impact.

Zhou Shuren changed his clothes, ”What else have you found out?”

Zhulan took the clothes, ”Zhang Jinghong was carried out of the palace, it’s said that he was seriously injured.”

Zhou Shuren gave a thumbs up, ”You’re well informed, quite impressive.”

Zhulan, in order to obtain more information, had also put in a lot of effort, selecting clever servants, and likewise those who were loyal. Her efforts had not been in vain.

Actually, these messages are no secret; the movements of the Fifth Prince Residence have been too significant.

Zhulan waited for Zhou Shuren to change his clothes, ”Everyone is waiting to eat, your great-grandson has come, and he hasn’t stopped mentioning you all afternoon.”

Zhou Shuren thought of his great-grandson, his smile deepening. Every time his eldest daughter wrote to him, his great-grandson would add a few strokes. Relationships are built through interactions, and the child’s affection for him could be seen between the lines, ”Good.”

At the dining table, Zhou Shuren patted the seat beside him and said to his shy great-grandson, ”Come sit here.”

Jiang Zhu looked at his eldest cousin, who had made space for him, feeling torn. He was happy that his grandfather liked him, but taking his cousin’s seat made him feel as if he had stolen something, his face turning red.

Mingyun, having returned from school, didn’t interact much with his little cousin, but he understood him well enough. Knowing his cousin’s reservations, he pulled him over with a smile, ”Come on, sit down. There’s no need for formality among family.”

Originally, Jiang Zhu’s seat was Ming Teng’s, just beside Mingyun and very close to Zhou Shuren.

This arrangement was fine, as Mingyun, the eldest grandson, was accepted by all branches of the family, which was why he always sat next to Zhou Shuren.

Once Jiang Zhu sat down and looked at his uncles, all of whom were looking back at him with encouraging eyes, his nervous heart settled, and he relaxed into his chair, though he didn’t know how to start a conversation.

Zhou Shuren had his great-grandson sit beside him, merely to give the boy some confidence and to help him relax at home. However, it seemed to have the opposite effect, making the boy even more reserved, so he could only say to his grandson, ”In the next couple of days, your cousin will get familiar with our home. Then, he’ll be sent off to the academy. At that time, grandfather will be entrusting Jiang Zhu to your care.”

Mingyun smiled, ”Grandfather, I’ll take good care of my cousin. You can rest assured.”

Zhou Shuren was confident in his eldest grandson and then said to his great-grandson, ”This is also your home, you are not a guest here. If there’s anything you’re not used to, just tell your grandparents.”

Jiang Zhu had already begun to relax, feeling the welcome from everyone in his mother’s family, ”Mm.”

He had already received many gifts. His eldest uncle and aunt gave him writing brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone; his second aunt and uncle gave him a purse containing silver notes; his third aunt gave him a Jade Pendant; his fourth aunt gave him a bag of broken silver; and his fourth uncle gave him many calligraphy models.

His third uncle brought him books as an additional gift after returning from the Hanlin Academy.

His eldest cousin and other cousins also brought him gifts upon returning from school; his eldest cousin gave him sorted study notes, while Ming Teng and Ming Rui did the same.

Actually, he felt a bit overwhelmed, or rather, he was startled by his fourth aunt. He had heard from his mother about the substantial wealth his fourth aunt possessed, but he was still shocked by her generosity.

During the meal, Zhou Shuren inquired about his great-grandson’s clan studies—something his grandson was well versed in—making for easy conversation and helping his grandson relax more and more.

After the meal, Zhou Shuren took his great-grandson to the study. Seeing his great-grandson nervously clenching his fists, Zhou Shuren chuckled, ”Don’t be nervous, as if your grandfather is that stern.”

Ming Teng rolled his eyes internally the whole time. It seemed it was the distant fragrance and the nearby stench—grandfather was only this affable with the great-grandson he seldom saw!

Jiang Zhu smiled lightly, feeling less anxious after hearing his grandfather’s words, ”Grandfather, I’m not nervous anymore.”

Zhou Shuren, out of the corner of his eye, spotted Jinghong’s mischief and took mental note. Ever since Ran Xun arrived in the capital, this boy had grown bolder, even daring to critique him in his thoughts—as if he couldn’t tell!

Ming Teng shuddered, stealing glances at his grandfather. Seeing that his grandfather wasn’t looking his way, he felt puzzled. Why was there a sense of foreboding?