Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1354: Delivering Fruits

Chapter 1354: Chapter 1354: Delivering Fruits

Chang Zhong’s eyes sparkled as he spoke; his father had always said he would consider it and then did not respond for days, but today he had finally agreed, "Really?"

Zhou Shuren looked at his son and felt exceptionally happy, smiling, "Really, when has dad ever lied to you?"

Chang Zhong pointed at his own head, "Dad, I have a good memory, you used to fool me a lot when I was little."

Zhou Shuren smiled half-jokingly, "You’d better watch what you say."

Chang Zhong froze, "Indeed, dad has never lied to me."

Zhou Shuren nodded satisfied, "That’s a good boy."

Chang Zhong grumbled in his heart that dad was teasing him, but his face was excited, "Dad, can I really go out of the capital with brother-in-law next year?"

Zhou Shuren, "Hmm, dad will talk to your brother-in-law later."

Rongchuan looked at Chang Zhong, feeling relieved; he had never wanted to keep his son tied to his side, although young, he supported his son’s desire to venture out.

Chang Zhong was overjoyed, "Then, I can go find big brother Wu Ming."

"Your big brother Wu Ming also misses you very much, he will definitely test you then."

Chang Zhong was not afraid, lifting his head, "I won’t disappoint brother Wu Ming."

Zhou Shuren hummed affirmation; Wu Ming had left the capital for several years, and in a year or two, he should return. Stroking his son’s soft hair, Wu Ming had indeed been impressive, managing to unify the scattered Xinzhou Province in just a few years. This person truly belongs to the top-tier class.

In recent years, the Emperor had highly valued Wu Ming, and over the past two years, he heard the Emperor bring up Wu Ming more and more frequently, which was a good thing for Wu Ming and also beneficial for the Zhou family.

The next day, as the Crown Prince’s convoy passed by the residence, Zhou Shuren boarded the carriage, departing the capital with the Crown Prince, with Jingyan and Shen Xing accompanying them.

The Crown Prince left the capital low-key; few in the capital were aware, and aside from Zhou Shuren accompanying him, there was also the Crown Prince’s new tutor, Mr. Yan.

The three of them left the capital discreetly, sitting in a spacious horse carriage which didn’t feel crowded despite accommodating them.

Zhou Shuren was the most noticeable among them, draped in a thick cloak, holding a hand stove, and carrying a wooden box that could be lifted.

The Crown Prince was curious about the box, "What’s inside?"

Zhou Shuren, with his gloved hand carefully touching the box, his smile growing warmer, "These are delicacies my wife packed worrying about my wellness and eating well."

The Crown Prince, wanting to take a look but too shy to ask, especially with Tutor Yan watching him closely, had to suppress his curiosity.

Yesterday, the government office responsible for the capital’s roads, due to insufficient manpower, asked many civilians to clean the roads; even outside the capital, one could still see civilians shoveling snow.

Tutor Yan looked through the glass window, "How much silver are they paid for a day?"

Zhou Shuren didn’t really know; seeing Tutor Yan looking towards the Crown Prince, he resigned, realizing the question was aimed at the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince responded, "Twenty wen per day without food provided."

Tutor Yan hummed, "It’s good that the Crown Prince pays attention to such minor details."

The Crown Prince thought to himself, ’You trained me to be this way.’ Tutor Yan, as strict as his name suggests, being very meticulous in everything, disliking vaguely unprecise answers and often deliberately inquiring about things he might not notice. Gradually, he had developed the habit to listen attentively and remember more.

Zhou Shuren hugged the hand stove and leaned against the window without interfering. He personally very much appreciated Mr. Yan’s educational methods, which the Emperor had carefully chosen for the Crown Prince.

The capital’s merchant caravans often had transactions that could not be delayed. Yesterday, without waiting for the Imperial court to act, some caravans started clearing the snow on the roads themselves while moving. Now, although the carriages move slowly, they do not get blocked.

At the Zhou family, ever since Zhou Shuren left, Zhulan lost her motivation in doing anything. This journey was not with the Emperor but with the Crown Prince, with the Emperor she needn’t worry about anything, but following the Crown Prince made her worry at every turn.

Lady Li walked in and saw her mother-in-law dispirited, "Mother, are you worried about father?"

Zhulan, "A bit, you are wearing so much, are you going out?"

Lady Li’s voice was full of concern, "Yu Lu has been vomiting since she became pregnant. The pickles I made are not working, and recently she likes eating fruits. Just a few days ago, the Xu family sent over some fruits along with Silver Coin. Due to the heavy snowfall, it was delayed. Today the snow is lighter, I’m going to personally deliver the fruits to see Yu Lu."

Zhulan had also tasted the fruits sent by the Xu family. They were not apples or oranges, but fruits rarely seen in winter, "I have quite a lot here, take some more to Yu Lu."

Lady Li hurriedly waved her hands. She and her husband could save up for their daughter but not from their mother-in-law, "Mother, it’s already enough."

Zhulan received a lot of filial tributes and the winter fruits were rare, but she indeed did not lack fruits to eat. She wanted to call Qing Xue over, but Lady Li had already run off.

Zhulan chuckled, this hardly seemed like someone who had become a grandmother.

Lady Li ran out of the main courtyard, patted her chest to catch her breath, and then slowly walked out. Her plump face was a bit wrinkled. Since her son established his family, she realized that what used to be enough before was no longer sufficient. She had to think of her daughter-in-law and granddaughter in addition to thinking about her daughter. It didn’t feel like much when she was a mother, but being a grandmother, she felt it wasn’t easy.

At the Wong residence, the Wong family didn’t lack Silver. But the fruits they bought every winter were limited—this was a rule. If you wanted more, you had to buy them yourself; extra portions wouldn’t be provided to each household.

The affairs in a large household were many, and Yu Lu being of a younger generation had many elders above her. She didn’t want to cause trouble and even refused the fruits her grandmother wanted to give her.

She feared that just after receiving the fruits, rumors would spread about her inappropriateness. She now ate whatever was available.

Even so, looking at the fruit platter on the table, Yu Lu sincerely thought that the entire winter’s portion of the Wong family wasn’t as much as one month’s portion at her parental home.

Wong Wei asked, "My lady, why are you only looking and not eating?"

Yu Lu didn’t want to flaunt the life she led at her parental home. Just as she picked up a fruit, she heard the maid’s voice by the curtains and quickly stood up, "Mother."

Lady Li glared, "You stay right there. I’m chilled to the bone; let me warm up a bit."

Seeing the basket that was brought in afterward, Yu Lu said, "Mother."

Her eyes welled up with tears, these must be the fruits from her mother and father. Mother wouldn’t touch her elder brother’s portion, nor her younger brothers’, so it must be what her parents saved up.

Lady Li opened her cloak to warm up a bit before coming over, holding her daughter’s hand and lifting the cotton quilt covering the basket, "I heard you wanted to eat fruits, so I wanted to bring you some. Fortunately, the heavy snow from yesterday made the roads impassable, but today the snow lessened, so I specially brought them for you. There are enough fruits here for you to eat for some days."

Yu Lu, "Mother, I have fruits here, and even if here isn’t enough, your son-in-law would buy me some."

This wasn’t a lie; her husband had indeed said so. Grandma had already secretly given money to her husband to buy fruits.

Lady Li waved her hand, "We have enough at home, why waste any Silver Coin."

Wong Wei felt embarrassed. There were a lot of fruits in this basket, and considering the snow blocking the roads, the fruits would be priced higher. He bowed, "Mother, it’s my fault."

Lady Li, "You can’t say that. You take care of your wife, and my love for my daughter doesn’t conflict with that. I have only one daughter, naturally, I think about her everywhere."

Wong Wei quite liked his mother-in-law’s straightforward temper. Guessing and second-guessing was exhausting, "Mother is right."

Yet, he thought to himself that he would go buy some fruits tomorrow to send to his father-in-law and mother-in-law. As a junior, he couldn’t let his elders save fruits for his sake.