Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1114: Broadening Horizons

Chapter 1114: Chapter 1114: Broadening Horizons

Time flew, and with the end of the drought, it seemed to accelerate, making every day no longer miserable. Harvest season arrived but not with much joy; the country’s grain production was down, and the Imperial court still distributed relief grain.

Grain-buying fleets never stopped, but most of the grain was transported to the south, which suffered heavy flooding. Fortunately, the nationwide deployment of doctors and a sufficient supply of pre-prepared herbal medicines prevented an epidemic from breaking out.

The Zhou family’s grain had been gathered, including fine grains that were water-irrigated—though not much of it—and mostly coarse grains. This year, they even profited from vegetable cultivation, and while there were still losses, they managed to limit them to a third, which was not bad at all.

Zhou Shuren held the account book, which detailed the quantity of coarse grains, "Mother, most of the country planted coarse grains this year, primarily sweet potatoes. Do you think we should raise some chickens and ducks in our estate?"

Zhulan closed the account book, "This is the advantage of having a family member in office, no fear of not being able to sell or being cheated."

Ordinary folk dared not risk such endeavors.

Zhou Shuren was startled, "Our family’s fortunes today are all thanks to father."

Zhulan smiled as she pushed the account book back to Shuren, "You take care of the estate matters. You’ve managed well through the drought this year, and I am very pleased."

Affirmed by his mother, Zhou Shuren’s voice grew louder, "All I am today is thanks to the education from father and mother."

In the past, he dared not even venture into Prefecture City, let alone manage hundreds of people, sometimes stammering when speaking with the shopkeeper.

Zhulan took a sip of tea, "Tomorrow is the provincial exam, I wonder how Chang Zhi is doing."

Zhou Shuren said, "Four days ago, didn’t you receive a letter from him? He has already set off for Pingzhou City, Mother. With his sister-in-law there, I’m sure he’ll be well taken care of. Don’t worry."

Zhulan put down her teacup, "Chang Zhi’s provincial exam is the big event of the year. Alright, you can go busy yourself now!"

Zhou Shuren picked up the account book, "Mother, you should rest."

"Mm."

In Pingzhou, Chang Zhi lay on a rocking chair, his head covered with a book, gently swaying asleep.

Su Xuan arrived, gently nudging him, "Wake up, it’s windy outside. You have the provincial exam tomorrow, you must not catch a cold."

Chang Zhi removed the book from his head, pressing his brow, "You’re back from the Zhao family."

Su Xuan took the book and steadied her husband’s arm, "Yes, if it weren’t for father’s sake, I really wouldn’t want to go."

Chang Zhi patted his wife’s hand, "It must have been tough."

What could Su Xuan do but endure? The Zhao family had no ill intentions; it was just that large families had complicated concerns, and dealing with them was exhausting.

Stretching lazily, Chang Zhi said, "After the results come out, we’ll go back."

Thinking of her daughter and son, Su Xuan replied, "Mm."

In the capital, at the horse-racing track, Mingyun, Ming Teng, Liufeng, and a few from the Ran family—seven people total—came together to ride horses.

Ming Teng loved horse riding the most. There was a competition in the distance he wanted to see, but sadly Mingyun sternly repressed the idea.

Mingyun kept a cool expression, "You behave."

Ming Teng wilted, especially upon hearing the distant cheers. Ran Xun intervened, "Brother Zhou, aren’t you being too cautious?"

Mingyun responded indifferently, "I brought them out, and it’s my responsibility to bring them all back safely."

He had seen it clearly just now, there were quite a few sneaky moves in the competition, some who weren’t good at reading were real bastards, who truly dared to act harshly, the consequences of falling off a horse were unimaginable.

Ran Xun was somewhat intimidated by Zhou Mingyun, who was too serious, he gave Ming Teng a blink, meaning brother couldn’t help anymore.

Ming Rui continued the conversation, "Big brother, we’ve been out for a long time."

Counting the hours, it had indeed been four hours, "Alright, let’s go home."

It was indeed getting late, after leaving the racecourse, Zhou Mingyun and the others parted ways with the Ran family siblings, only taking Liufeng back with them.

The return was by carriage, the racecourse was a bit isolated, it took a while before the area became bustling, and the cries of the vendors were incessant.

Ming Teng touched his money pouch, "Big brother, let’s stop in a bit and buy some flaky pastries that uncle and little brother love."

A smile appeared in Mingyun’s eyes as he agreed. At home, only Ming Teng treated his uncle like a little brother, and the only ones who could get Silver from Ming Teng were his uncle and little brother.

The carriage stopped, Ming Teng lifted the curtain, frowning as he listened to a woman in front blocking the carriage and calling for help, with several thug-like young servants chasing after her.

The woman in a green long skirt looked panic-stricken, truly invoking one’s protective instincts.

Ming Teng watched with relish, languidly lying by the carriage window, his eyes full of sarcasm, Qing Feng and the young servant had already guarded the carriage.

Mingyun didn’t move at all, speaking to a puzzled Liufeng, "Let’s have tea."

Liufeng was startled, picked up the teacup, then looked at Ming Rui who had squeezed past to watch the show too, and whispered, "Aren’t we going to intervene?"

Mingyun raised an eyebrow and said to Ming Rui, "Make room for Liufeng."

Ming Rui smilingly made room for his future brother-in-law, "Come sit here, Brother Liufeng."

Ming Teng, hearing his big brother’s voice, had already grown impatient, and shouted at the thugs, "Hey, are you walking cats? You can’t catch her even this close, let this young master count, four thugs can’t catch a weak woman, interesting, interesting."

Upon hearing this, Liufeng looked carefully, and was completely stunned, indeed, he wasn’t stupid, the woman’s clothes were not disheveled at all, her lips pursed, and her cheeks somewhat harsh.

The thugs clearly didn’t expect such an outcome, and hurriedly urged them to move forward and catch the woman, the crying girl widened her eyes, filled with astonishment.

Ming Rui spoke to Qing Feng, "Catch them all, including that woman. We’re close to the Ministry of Justice, send them all there. Kidnapping a citizen, especially in the capital, they must all be captured."

Qing Feng was the Emperor’s man, who had since stayed by Mingyun’s side. Zhou family had many young servants trained in martial arts. Seeing that the situation was bad, the thugs tried to flee quickly, but to no avail.

The girl in green was completely dumbfounded, obviously not expecting Zhou Young Master to be so cold-hearted, she tried to escape, but was tightly clamped by Qing Feng.

Ming Teng jumped off the carriage, the Ministry of Justice housed his future father-in-law, he wanted to deliver the criminals personally, waving his hand, "Big brother, you guys go ahead, I’ll be back soon."

Mingyun hummed in acknowledgment, disregarding the surrounding murmurs, he instructed the young servant driving the carriage, "Let’s go."

Ming Rui had already sat back to drink tea, smiling as he watched his future brother-in-law, "It’s good to have more experience, my grandma says all these are minor tricks."

Liufeng was somewhat stunned, "The lady speaks of these things?"

Ming Rui nodded, "It’s mainly my dad, my grandma explained these plots to us in detail after my dad encountered several schemes, saying that many beauties have the heart of a scorpion."

Mingyun didn’t take it seriously, but Liufeng was quite struck by it, especially since Ming Rui wanted to expand Liufeng’s horizons by explaining a lot of the beauty’s tricks, to save Liufeng from being schemed against in the future, which was troubling for his big sister.

The next day, Zhou Shuren came back, "Guess the last name of the girl Ming Teng sent yesterday?"