Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1059: Virtuous Wife and Beautiful Concubines

Chapter 1059: Chapter 1059: Virtuous Wife and Beautiful Concubines

Ministry of Revenue, during lunchtime, Zhou Shuren went out to eat with Ran Zheng. "It’s been a while, how come you seem much younger?"

Ran Zheng raised his hand to touch his own beard, and then his face. "My youngest son’s trip to the capital went smoothly, so I have no worries on my mind. Feeling relieved, I naturally appear younger. On the contrary, you look much older."

Zhou Shuren, "....so you came today just to take a jab at me?"

Ran Zheng took a drink, "Haha, just kidding. Brother Zhou looks in good spirits."

Zhou Shuren huffed, "You’re now staying cooped up at home, rarely going out, let alone coming to see me. Tell me, what’s the occasion for inviting me to lunch today?"

He didn’t believe it was because the Crown Prince’s position was secure and Ran Zheng had no reservations. With the Crown Prince not having ascended the throne, Ran Zheng wouldn’t make any moves.

Ran Zheng touched his nose, finding it hard to speak, "As you know, about my Ran Xun."

Zhou Shuren knew that Ran Xun and Ming Teng, even in modern times, were close friends who constantly teased each other. If there was any trouble, Ran Xun would undoubtedly be the first to help. "Did Ran Xun cause some trouble?"

Aside from this, he couldn’t think of any other reason. The boy was a troublemaker, albeit quite low-key lately.

Ran Zheng wanted to grab his grandson and give him a thrashing, looking at how Zhou Shuren perceived his grandson, he coughed, "The child hasn’t caused any trouble. The lad is no longer young. Ming Teng from your family is already betrothed. You see, we tried to arrange a marriage for him, but he adamantly disagreed and even sabotaged the marriage that was nearly settled."

Zhou Shuren understood, "Are you asking me to help find a marriage arrangement? Then you’ve approached the wrong person. You should have your wife talk to my wife, as I’m too busy every day."

Ran Zheng dared not let his daughter-in-law approach Lady Su, fearing a slap in the face, so he’d rather test the waters himself. "Well, your granddaughter isn’t getting any younger either, right? Time to start worrying about her betrothal, eh?"

Zhou Shuren, "...heh."

So this was his angle, coming full circle to eye his granddaughter. He had an itching desire to break Ran Xun’s legs, wondering why Ran Xun kept visiting his house only to find Ming Teng; apparently, there were ulterior motives.

Ran Zheng’s heart skipped a beat at that cold laugh. He gave a dry laugh, "Ran Xun has progressed a lot."

Zhou Shuren didn’t even lift his eyelids, "I only have one granddaughter."

Currently, only one. He genuinely liked Jiang Miu. The child was sharp in her studies, and who said a girl couldn’t match a boy? Every way he looked at her, he admired her. Sometimes when buying books, he’d pick up one for his granddaughter too. No way, he felt an itching urge to sort out Ming Teng first; all this was his doing!

Ran Zheng knew full well; thickening his skin, he said: "Look, our family owes your family a great favor. Both our families know each other well. It would be good for us to strengthen ties through marriage."

Zhou Shuren scoffed, "Do you really not understand your grandson? I’m busy as is, and yet even I know about your grandson’s boasts of a ’virtuous wife and beautiful concubines!’"

Ran Zheng, "...."

He really didn’t know; the boy had never mentioned such things at home. Now, he dared not continue, his face already swelling as if slapped. Who didn’t know the Zhou family’s reputation? He could only awkwardly sip his drink, as if the previous conversation was an illusion.

Zhou Shuren grimaced. First, Ran Xun truly wasn’t the type of son-in-law he envisioned for his granddaughter. Secondly, with the Crown Prince’s eventual ascension, the Ran family’s influence would undoubtedly rise. If Concubine Ran didn’t bear a child, it was still manageable, but what if she bore a Prince? He didn’t wish to involve himself deeper, as strengthening ties through marriage wasn’t beneficial.

Ultimately, Ran Zheng also had his calculations. Despite Ran Xun not being the eldest son from the main branch of the Ran family, he was still legitimate, and the Jiang family was out of their league, even with the backing of the Zhou family.

Zhou Shuren sipped his drink, Ran Zheng naturally felt relieved, the Crown Prince was secure, and couldn’t Ran Zheng imagine Concubine Ran bearing a Prince? Such was human nature!

At Zhou family village, Chang Zhi first went to the clan school to interact with several scholars who would participate in the provincial examination this year, before finally heading home.

Steward Ding was an old hand at the Zhou residence and knew the family masters quite well. "Master Four, are you pleased?"

Chang Zhi played with his fan, "Pleased, you’ve seen it too, not to mention the children of the Zhou clan, the scholars participating in the provincial examination this year are quite commendable."

With several graduates in the Zhou family, it was no longer just the father holding up the family.

Steward Ding remarked, "A sign of the Zhou clan’s prosperity."

Chang Zhi walked home briskly, only to see his wife standing at the door, "How come you’re out?"

Su Xuan rubbed her shoulders, "I came out to send off the clan elders."

Ever since returning to her hometown, she had met with clan members daily, which restrained her to staying at home, without having a chance to wander around.

Chang Zhi supported his wife’s hand, "You are the Magistrate, everyone wants to come and see you. My lady, you’ve worked hard."

Su Xuan smiled, "It’s not too tiring. It’s just that home isn’t like the capital; some words are rather blunt, and I’m still adjusting. By the way, the clan members who returned later brought quite a lot of gifts to recognize the family, and I’ve returned most of them. We don’t lack these things."

From childhood, though lacking parental love, she had never wanted for wealth and had seen too many fine things; these didn’t catch her eye.

Chang Zhi sighed, "When a family grows large, there will be those with ulterior motives, especially the clan members who returned later, they’ve seen much and demand more."

"It’s only natural; everyone has their little schemes. Our family is like gold, and everyone is watching us!"

Chang Zhi nodded, "So we can’t start this precedent, just as you said. We don’t lack these gifts, and we can’t let our clan members look down on us."

Su Xuan smirked, "I’m better at handling these situations than you."

She had been through it all since childhood, seen every situation. It wasn’t just her parents’ home that didn’t lack these things; she wouldn’t let herself be demeaned by the clan for the sake of some gifts.

While Chang Zhi and his wife discussed their clan members, those who had returned to the clan later were also discussing them.

The gifts returned by Su Xuan were neither advantageous nor too lavish, which earned her high regard from the clan. The branch of the family Zhou Shuren belonged to already had absolute authority, and now it was even more so.

In the capital, Chang Xhong looked out the carriage window on a rainy day. A child, drenched, still stood outside a small private school, listening to the reading inside and silently mouthing the words along.

After watching for a while, Chang Xhong let down the carriage curtain and asked the coachman to send an umbrella over.

Zhulan stopped him, "Umbrellas are expensive, have you considered whether such a young child can keep it safe?"

Chang Xhong pursed his lips, "Mother, it’s just an umbrella, isn’t it?"

Zhulan took an umbrella from the carriage, "Because I like umbrellas, the umbrellas in our house aren’t ordinary. The materials used are of the highest quality, and you can’t buy this kind of umbrella outside."

She had always liked ancient umbrellas; now with a significant status and financial stability, she enjoyed tinkering around. The family’s umbrellas were all custom-made, from the frame to the waterproof fabric to the embroidered patterns done by top embroiderers. Finally, the jade ornaments hanging from them were of good quality.

Their family’s umbrellas could no longer be just called umbrellas but were art pieces, luxury goods of ancient custom.