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

Chapter 980: Chapter 980: The Zhou Royal Family

Zhou Shuren silently drank his wine. It had indeed been hard. If children were born in succession, that would constitute a major financial burden. In ancient times, raising children was not just about bringing them up but, especially in a family like theirs, every child born represented a significant amount of money.

”These noble families really don’t have as many children as your family, which is the benefit of only having a legitimate wife. There’s less struggle in the backyard, and it’s rare for children to suffer accidents at birth,” Ran Zheng remarked gloomily.

Even in the Ran family, there had been no shortage of sons and children meeting with accidents, not to mention those who died in the womb.

Zhou Shuren sighed, ”Anyone with desires, once they’ve had a taste, will want more.”

The legitimate wife protecting the rights of her legitimate sons and daughters was not wrong, after all. In big families, the struggle in the harem was inevitable; concubines wanting more would lead to unavoidable conflicts.

Ran Zheng couldn’t even control himself, let alone his sons and grandsons. He lifted his cup, ”I truly admire you.”

Zhou Shuren had managed his sons and grandsons well, enduring many temptations. His sons had remarkably resisted.

Zhou Shuren thought to himself that it wasn’t that he was exceptionally capable, but because he was an outsider, he had no reservations. At that time, he hadn’t kept his sons in his heart, and his actions were truly merciless. His grandsons had been indoctrinated from a young age, with clear explanations of severe consequences, plus the foundation laid by his sons and their wives had naturally set things in motion.

Ran Zheng looked at Zhou Changzhi, ”Your fourth son has really changed a lot, he’s become mature and steady, more and more like your third son.”

Zhou Shuren felt gratified, ”Children will grow up, and he also pities me.”

Ran Zheng chuckled, ”I remember when we were in Jinzhou Province, your fourth son left quite an impression on me.”

Zhou Shuren pursed his lips, ”Drink.”

Ran Zheng drank the wine and continued, ”Your fourth son, Scholar when he was young, after so many years of reflection, has now matured mentally. Is he going to enter the fray next year?”

”Yes, he’s preparing to enter next year.”

Chang Zhi had been preparing for many years. There was nothing left to prepare in terms of knowledge, and he had also matured mentally. There was nothing for Zhou Shuren to hold him back for, and he had high hopes for Chang Zhi. This lad should be able to reclaim the title of Top Scorer for him!

Ran Zheng offered his congratulations, ”You’ll be able to relax a bit in the future.”

The Zhou family had a deep foundation, and with its descendants prosperous, these were signs of a rising household. Several generations down the line, as long as they didn’t destroy themselves, they would certainly be able to join the ranks of the capital’s noble families. He thought of the Ran family and felt a surge of excitement.

In the afternoon, the Ran family left, and the Zhou family received a letter from their hometown. Zhou Shuren looked at it and handed it to his wife, ”Take a look.”

Zhulan took the letter and read, ”Did Lady Zhou pass away?”

Zhulan read it over carefully again to confirm that Lady Zhou had indeed passed away. Considering Lady Zhou’s age, she was quite old. Zhou Shuren had a high family status, so she had always overlooked Lady Zhou’s age. Counting the years, Lady Zhou had lived longer than her own parents.

Zhou Shuren, ”Birth, aging, sickness, and death, as we get older, we will see more of these. The letter says the Clan Leader is ill.”

Zhulan felt a flurry of emotions but didn’t dwell on it excessively. The Zhou family had left its hometown many years ago, and her impression of Lady Zhou had blurred over time. It was more of reflection and a touch of sadness. ”The letter says she has already been buried.”

Considering the time it took to deliver the letter, if their family sent someone back, they wouldn’t be able to help much.

Zhou Shuren said, ”Let Steward Ding go back for a visit, mainly to check on the Clan Leader. Take the books for Ming Qing back as well, as next year Ming Qing will also enter. Plus, prepare some tonics for his constitution.”

Zhulan, ”Alright, I’ll arrange it now.”

Zhou Shuren then called for Steward Ding, ”There’s no need to rush back when you go. Buy some land in Zhou Village and rebuild the house. This time, don’t build it like the old house; construct it to the scale of a mansion in the capital. Bring more people back with you.”

He paused, then continued, ”This time when you go back, renovate the Zhou family clan hall and the clan school. You can directly give the Silver Coins to the Clan Leader.”

Steward Ding didn’t want to leave the capital; he feared someone would take his place, but this was the master’s trust in him, ”Yes.”

Zhou Shuren calculated in his mind that he couldn’t leave the capital now. It was better to prepare for contingencies early on. The Zheng family’s residence would have to be returned sooner or later. Stroking his beard, Zhou Shuren thought that building such a large residence anew wasn’t really a backup plan; it was just for show. He still needed to choose another place for his real fallback.

Zhulan came back quickly, holding a box in her hand, ”I’ve picked it out. Do you see anything that needs to be added?”

Zhou Shuren opened the box, ”That’s enough.”

Zhulan handed the box to Steward Ding, and Zhou Shuren pulled his wife along, ”The room is stuffy; let’s sit in the yard for a while.”

Under the trees in the courtyard, their favorite spot, two rocking chairs were placed together. Rocking in them was particularly comfortable, revealing hints of how the couple might enjoy their retirement.

Zhou Shuren spoke up, ”Ran Zheng mentioned his grandsons to me.”

Zhulan turned her head, ”What does that mean? Do they want to add another connection? Our family doesn’t have a suitable young lady. The legitimate grandsons of the Ran family are not young, and even the youngest, Ran Xun, is several years older than Yu Die.”

Zhou Shuren’s mouth twitched, ”You’re overthinking it; that’s not what they mean.”

Zhulan coughed, ”You can’t blame me; my first thought was marriage when I heard it. So what does Ran Zheng mean?”

Stroking his beard, Zhou Shuren said, ”Ran Zheng hopes that I could give some guidance to his eldest grandson. Next year, his eldest grandson, Ran Xun, will also enter the arena.”

Zhulan replied, ”Can’t he teach him himself?”

Zhou Shuren spoke with a hint of pride, ”Indeed he could. His own scholarship isn’t bad, but not everyone who learns well can teach. He envies my ability to educate children. Look at Rongchuan and Chang Lian; it’s quite persuasive.”

Zhulan smiled, ”Yes, yes, you’re the most capable.”

”Of course. And we still have Chang Zhi. However, the competition this year is fierce.”

Zhulan felt a heaviness in her heart, ”That’s right, not to mention the several noble families in the capital, there are quite a few from the maternal families of the princes participating this year, especially the Chen family and the Phang family—both are legitimate sons from the main branch. The Qi family clan also has participants.”

Touching his beard, Zhou Shuren added, ”The Phang family may face difficulties next year.”

Zhulan rocked the chair, ”Whether one has talent or not, they’re still influenced by their family. If the family has issues, they cannot escape it.”

Zhou Shuren, with his eyes closed, said, ”I’m thinking about letting Mingyun participate in the Scholar examination next year.”

Zhulan asked, ”Why would you think that?”

”Just thinking, we’re already in people’s sights. It might be better to let Mingyun’s reputation spread further. The more attention, the less likely they will dare to act rashly.”

Zhulan frowned, ”No, don’t you think the target is too big? Mingyun and Chang Zhi both have to return to their hometown for the examination. They are not taking it in the capital.”

Zhou Shuren responded somberly, ”Yes, it’s really troublesome. How great it would be if they could take the exam in the capital, indeed the target is too large for both. Let’s wait; maybe there will be some results in two or three years.”

Zhulan didn’t want to think about matters now; she just wanted to relax. With her eyes closed, feeling the breeze, this sensation was indeed nice. But before she knew it, she heard snores and turned her head to see Zhou Shuren, already asleep, snoring away.