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

Chapter 897: 897 Chapter: Dark History

Before they knew it, three days had passed. The ancestral home of the Gu family clan wasn’t too far from the capital, a fast horse could make a round trip in two days. The first message that arrived was from the branch of Gu Liufeng’s grandfather.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren read the message together, and Zhulan was surprised, ”Liufeng’s grandfather had already passed away.”

Zhou Shuren pointed at the message on the paper, ”The Gu family’s foundation is not small.”

Zhulan glanced over it, ”This person died without ever mentioning it to the Hu family, the Gu family truly doesn’t want Liufeng.”

Zhou Shuren, ”I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. After all, he’s the grandson. Hatred born from love can linger, and the deeper the hatred, the more one tends to dwell on it. As I said before, the Gu family has a substantial foundation, and no one wants Liufeng to return.”

Zhulan narrowed her eyes, ”That’s just your speculation.”

Zhou Shuren spread his hands, indeed, it was just his speculation, ”Too little information has been relayed back, we’ll know once we investigate clearly.”

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren didn’t expect that on the twenty-eighth day of the year, the family of Gu Liufeng’s paternal uncle would enter the capital.

Zhou Shuren had been off duty at home, having just scolded Ming Teng the day before and was in a good mood, when Hu Xia came with the news.

Zhou Shuren looked at Hu Xia, ”They went straight to your residence upon arriving in the capital?”

Hu Xia nodded, surprised as well, ”The Gu family has an old house in the capital. The house isn’t large, but it’s readily available as accommodations. They arrived in the capital last night and sent me an invitation today, hoping to visit after the New Year.”

Zhou Shuren, ”I remember Liufeng’s paternal uncle had joined the Ministry of Rites?”

Hu Xia nodded, ”A principal official of the Ministry.”

Zhou Shuren hummed, he hadn’t relaxed his networking efforts over the past six months, and with a friend at the Ministry of Rites like Mr. Tao, he now had an eye on them.

Zhou Shuren asked, ”What else do you know about the Gu family?”

Hu Xia shook his head, ”I don’t know much.”

Back when his sister’s husband was alive, he didn’t interact much with him, being solely focused on his own advancement and not paying much attention to the Gu family.

Zhou Shuren was originally engrossed in studying chess manuals and playing by himself when he pulled Hu Xia over, ”Join me for a game.”

Hu Xia was internally conflicted; his chess skills were modest, but he had no choice but to sit down and play.

Less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhou Shuren waved his hand, ”You’re not even as good as Ming Teng, let’s not play anymore. Do you plan to keep toiling away in the Ministry of Revenue indefinitely?”

Hu Xia hadn’t thought about climbing the ranks within the Ministry of Revenue; with its abundance of talent, he wouldn’t be able to compete as a pragmatist. Now intrigued, ”I would appreciate any guidance, sir.”

Zhou Shuren was quite satisfied; Hu Xia was indeed clever, ”You need to be more diligent next year and strive for a favorable evaluation in the Ministry of Personnel’s assessment.”

Hu Xia was excited, this was a direct hint, ”I will definitely work hard, sir.”

Zhou Shuren continued, ”As for the Gu family, keep an eye on them.”

Hu Xia took note. Even if his lord hadn’t mentioned it, he would have kept an eye out. It was about the future of his nephew and also his own, so he had to be cautious.

After Hu Xia left, Zhulan emerged from behind the screen, ”The Gu family is still somewhat sensible, not sending us an invitation.”

Zhou Shuren, ”It’s better to have brains than not. By the way, what New Year’s gift did you send Zhang Jinghong in return?”

Zhulan, ”Zhang Jinghong is quite generous, all the New Year’s gifts he sent were top-quality tonics. I responded with some fine furs; you mentioned that Zhang Jinghong cannot withstand the cold, and our family has a surplus of good furs, sending more is also a gesture of goodwill.”

Zhou Shuren hummed, ”Even if Zhang Jinghong has been released, his days are still not easy. Nowadays, if you want to buy quality items, you have to leave the capital to find them, otherwise, you won’t get good stuff.”

”It’s not just because of his background, but also the relationship with Zhang Yang. No one is willing to offend Zhang Yang for Zhang Jinghong’s sake. The tonics Zhang Jinghong sent, Old Lady Song found out, were purchased at a high price in Pinggang.”

Zhou Shuren said, ”Their days would not be much better without Zhang Yang anyway. Everyone fears the Emperor’s whim might change, anxious about being implicated.”

Zhang Jinghong was at the Ministry of Revenue; the only person who could speak up was him, no one else would initiate a conversation with Zhang Jinghong unless it was for official business.

Zhulan smiled, ”You seem to appreciate him more and more.”

”What I appreciate is his temperament and tenacity, who still remains fearless even in the face of difficulties, which is very rare.”

Zhulan said wistfully, ”It’s such a big change, even Yao Xin is the same; Yao Xin came to our residence twice, making sure not to overdo it.”

Zhou Shuren grunted in acknowledgment and suddenly laughed, ”My legitimate apprentice hasn’t been around much for me to mentor, while Meng Jie is still out there enjoying the splendid rivers and mountains, but it turns out that I have taught the one who isn’t my apprentice quite a bit.”

Zhulan also became sentimental and was just about to speak when her youngest son Chang Zhong came in, ”Dad, you promised to make ice lanterns with your son, the ice is ready, we’re just waiting for you.”

Zhou Shuren cheerfully took his youngest son’s hand, ”Has the carving master your older brother invited arrived?”

Chang Zhong nodded, ”He has, he has.”

Zhou Shuren turned to her, ”Aren’t you going?”

Zhulan didn’t want to go; the weather was cold enough, and then she would have to deal with a pile of ice, ”I’d rather not, you pay more attention to the child, and don’t stay outside too long.”

”Understood.”

That evening, the Zhou household lit up the ice lanterns, which even had colors. Once dinner was over, the young ones stayed out playing, because there were many lanterns and even with candles inside, the whole courtyard was brightly lit.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren stood at their house’s door, Zhulan said, ”Tomorrow is the New Year’s Eve, and another new year begins. Do you have any wishes for the new year, Minister Zhou?”

Zhou Shuren watched his sons, grandsons, and granddaughters, with the children’s laughter making his face even softer, ”I wish to better guard the home we’ve built together.”

To protect the children’s laughter, to better shelter this home from the storms.

Zhulan watched the children starting a snowball fight, even Chang Li and a few others joined in. Despite the ceaseless scheming outside, once home, this was the best safe harbor, ”That’s the best wish.”

Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand; the home they had built together with their own hands.

On New Year’s Eve, the Zhou family was full of joy; Zhulan got up early to see the granddaughters Yu Die and Yu Yi arriving hand in hand, the earliest of all.

Zhulan smiled, ”You two arrived really early.”

Yu Die was bundled up thickly, ”Grandma, I woke up the earliest and then went to get Yu Yi.”

Yu Yi yawned, ”Sister woke up too early.”

Zhou Shuren lifted the two little girls, his granddaughters who were very dear to him, ”Come on, Grandpa will take you to wake up your little uncle.”

Yu Die hugged her grandfather’s neck, ”Let’s hurry, Grandpa.”

Zhulan watched her husband carry the two granddaughters out; he was strict with the grandsons but the best grandfather to the granddaughters, no matter how naive their questions, Zhou Shuren would always explain patiently.

Soon, laughter from Yu Die and Yu Yi, and some annoyed sounds from a son resounded in the courtyard.

Chang Zhong wrapped the blanket around him tightly, glaring at his father, ”Dad, I am an uncle.”

He was an uncle, oh no, one day his little nieces would certainly laugh at him.

Zhou Shuren was in high spirits; even if he did not attend court, he hardly had time to interact with the children on a daily basis, so this time off was naturally time for fun, and seeing his son’s frustrated expression filled him with delight—it was his son’s embarrassing history in the making!

Yu Die covered her eyes, ”Little Uncle is shy.”

Yu Yi looked at her little uncle and nodded emphatically, ”Shy.”

Zhou Shuren saw his youngest son’s face turning red and laughed out loud.