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

Chapter 1301: Chapter 1301 Must Have Spent a Lot of Silver

The next day, Zhou Shuren woke up to the sounds of training, and after a moment of confusion upon opening his eyes, he realized he was in the military camp.

He got up, changed his clothes, and as soon as he stepped outside, he caught the faint smell of the sea, squinting his eyes, noting that the wind was picking up today.

Jinyan was waiting nearby, ”Sir, you are awake.”

Zhou Shuren hummed a response, his gaze fixed on the distant sounds of running and drills, ”You got up very early?”

”Yes, the Navy starts training early, and I got up then. The Navy’s training is very strict.”

Discipline is strong, General Hou has really put all his heart into the Navy.

Yesterday, Zhou Shuren made some estimates; though there were some discrepancies with the allocated Silver Coin, those discrepancies were within his and the Emperor’s tolerance limit, but the need to cut costs where necessary has nothing to do with him.

After washing up, Zhou Shuren ran into General Hou, no, it should be said that General Hou was specifically waiting for him.

Zhou Shuren, ”General Hou, good morning.”

General Hou was taken aback, obviously not used to this manner of greeting, ”Good, good morning.”

Zhou Shuren, ”I presume the General was waiting for me?”

Upon knowing the names accompanying him, General Hou placed Zhou Shuren on high alert—the Ministry of Revenue, after all, was the place that allocated silver to them each year.

General Hou has been very worried these past two years, striving to train an army the Emperor needs, using all his heart, which has evidently aged him faster, as can be seen from the graying at his temples, ”Yesterday, sir seemed curious about the camp, it’s still early now, I could show you around.”

Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes, ”This is a military camp, would it be inappropriate for the General to show me around everywhere?”

General Hou, ”It’s fine, please.”

Zhou Shuren and General Hou were not acquainted, and this forthrightness clearly had some motives; following General Hou, Zhou Shuren sensed some subtle scrutinizing gazes and understood.

In the capital, Zhulan looked at the sky; today’s good weather was rare, and the temperature wasn’t too high, indeed perfect for going out, and she thought how fortunate the Lao family was.

Zhulan had already changed her clothes; the Lao family had invited her to go offer incense at Huguo Temple. The Lao family were devout Buddhists who would visit temples even during the height of summer.

Zhulan did not bring her daughter-in-law but only Yu Lu; Lady Li copied a lot of Buddhist scriptures, and Yu Lu also studied these texts. Among all the granddaughters, only Yu Lu took the initiative to go.

When the carriage arrived at the foot of the mountain where Huguo Temple was located, there was a small market where many villagers and local people depended on the temple market to make their living.

Zhulan stepped off the carriage, saying to Mrs. Lao, ”There are quite a few people coming to offer incense today.”

Mrs. Lao moved her legs a bit, ”Let’s go, we’ll talk once we reach to the top of the mountain after a steady walk.”

Zhulan, ”Okay.”

By the time they reached the top, Zhulan felt discomfort in her chest and rested a while before standing up; after staying with Mrs. Lao for a bit, she went to cool herself in the garden behind Huguo Temple.

The scenery of Huguo Temple was famous, especially after autumn, undoubtedly one of the capital’s sights.

Yu Lu whispered, ”Grandma, do foreigners also believe in Buddha?”

Zhulan naturally also saw the foreigners paying respects to Buddha, ”Some believe, some don’t, and others are just curious.”

Sitting in the pavilion, enjoying the breeze passing through and looking at the scenery among the distant mountains and forests, this is a kind of enjoyment.

At this moment, Zhulan heard footsteps, turned her head, and saw Qing Xue and others blocking the visitor, Zhulan was surprised, ”Yao, General Yao.”

The visitor was Yao Zheyu, Yao Zheyu was in his usual attire, holding Buddha Beads, staring at her.

Yao Zheyu clenched the Buddha Beads tightly, exhaled, and extended his hand in greeting, ”I’ve seen the old madam, I have come uninvited to disturb you.”

Zhulan gestured for Qing Xue to step aside, ”General Yao didn’t just want to see me for something simple, is there something you needed?”

Yao Zheyu had a distant look, but still stepped closer, and finally sat down, ”I am just a bit confused, as if stuck in a dream and cannot awaken. Today, upon seeing you, I suddenly realized something. Dreams are just dreams; they are always unreal.”

Zhulan’s back broke into a sweat, so what did Yao Zheyu dream about? It must be a dream vastly different from reality; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to the Huguo Temple, ”I don’t understand what you mean, but I believe you might find your answers from the Master of the Huguo Temple.”

Yao Zheyu’s gaze was intense, looking at the old Madame Yang. This was not the woman he had seen in his dreams, the straightforward woman in his memory was blurred, but the lady in front of him was real.

Although he had not met the old madame many times, he knew well that the old madame was a person with deep schemes, and then he thought of Zhou Shuren, a pillar of talent, deeply calculating, completely different from the person in his dream.

Yao Zheyu took a sip of tea, truly tormented by inner demons, for his dream was too real, though life had its twists, it was nonetheless perfect.

Yao Zheyu felt the green tea even more bitter at this moment, just as the Master had said, dreams are profound cravings, that bring about demons.

Zhulan had no extra motions, but thought to herself, Yao Zheyu must have dreams because there remains great discontent in his heart, hence thoughts by day and dreams by night, even though outwardly calm, inwardly, there is still discontent.

Yao Zheyu came back to reality, stood up, ”I have disturbed the old madame today.”

With a profound demeanor, Zhulan said, ”It seems General Yao has figured things out, congratulations.”

Yao Zheyu slightly bowed, ”Indeed, I have figured it out and will no longer disturb you now.”

Zhulan watched Yao Zheyu intently; earlier, she could feel that Yao Zheyu was suppressing something, now he seemed much clearer, she nodded slightly and after Yao Zheyu left, Zhulan’s hand holding the tea cup paused, Yao Zheyu had been addressing her as the old madame!

And she had responded by calling herself the ’old body’.

At the time Mrs. Tao came looking, Zhulan had already strolled around once more and also spotted the brother of Yao Yao, his monk name was something Yao Yao had told her, these two siblings somewhat resembled each other, so they were easier to recognize.

Zhulan observed for a while longer, the life of Yao Yao’s brother after becoming a monk seemed well, always with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, clearly enjoying his current life.

In Pinggang, Zhou Shuren followed the Emperor to the Shipbuilding Department, they hadn’t arrived yet when Zhou Shuren could already see the skeleton of the ships in the distance.

Upon arrival, Zhou Shuren followed behind the Emperor into the Shipbuilding Department, as officials briefed them, Zhou Shuren looked at the bustling craftsmen, feeling a surge of pride, look, their technology now is advanced, it represents power.

The Emperor was very pleased with the Shipbuilding Department, how could he be not pleased, the decommissioned ships were sold for Silver, and then Zhou Shuren was fortunate to see the plans that were still being refined.

Zhou Shuren, an outsider, looking at the complex plans, could feel the hard effort spent on them, couldn’t help but reach out to touch.

The Emperor noticed, ”Shuren, what are your thoughts?”

Zhou Shuren, ”Building them must cost a lot of Silver.”

Emperor, ”....”