Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 136: Comprehensive Coverage_1

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Comprehensive Coverage_1

Zhulan instructed her daughter-in-law on household necessities such as food and drink, while Zhou Shuren taught Zhou the eldest how to properly care for the home.

Not only was Lady Li nurtured by Zhulan over the month, but Zhou Shuren also spent every day with Zhou the eldest by his side. The happiest moments for the couple that month were when they slept, and the results were evident. With Zhou Shuren away, Zhou the eldest could manage things on his own, and with the help of the second son, there was nothing much to worry about at home.

Zhou Shuren also left each of his sons some silver coin. The two sons who had established their own families received two hundred coins each, the two younger sons received one hundred coins each, and Rongchuan also got one hundred coins. This was a test Zhou Shuren set up, verbally claiming it was spending money for a little over a month. He wanted to see how those who had never had silver coin in their hands would spend it when suddenly given some, deepening his understanding of his sons through their use of the money.

The couple had finished giving all their instructions. The luggage had been checked as well. This time Zhulan didn’t bring much silver, only a total of one hundred taels of silver and about ten taels in broken silver. However, she did bring along her hidden bracelets and hairpins, planning to pawn them all without reservation.

The carriage arrived, and Zhulan’s prepared luggage consisted of three large trunks, with clothes and blankets taking up the most space.

From the clan, two others were going to the examination: Ming Qing from the Clan Leader’s family and Zhou Shumo from within the clan. Both rented a carriage.

The cost of renting a carriage from the county to Pingzhou was one tael of silver per person. Children aged five to under ten counted as half a person. The travel expenses alone were significant, not to mention the costs for lodging, food, and drink, plus the return trip. Taking the examination for Scholar cost at least ten taels of silver, to say nothing of the expenses for the imperial examination.

This time, staying at Zhulan’s place in Pingzhou meant saving on lodging expenses, and they needed only to bring money for meals. Zhou Shuren and the Clan Leader agreed on twenty coins a day. For a little over a month of food and drink, it would cost less than one tael of silver, saving a significant sum. Usually, the expenses would be at least ten taels, but this time, five taels of silver would suffice.

Having experienced traveling before, Zhulan adapted quite a bit on her second journey. At the very least, she wasn’t as uncomfortable as before. Ming Teng and Yushuang were brimming with energy. After all, they were children and found the journey fresh and interesting, whereas Xue Han was unusually quiet. Since she started studying with Zhulan and not just limiting herself to the Three Character Classic and Hundred Family Surnames, Xue Han had increasingly become like a young lady of a good family. After the new year, at eight years old, she rarely went out to play and developed a bit of a scholarly aura.

Upon arriving in Pingzhou, the carriage continued forward. Ming Teng leaned by the window, looking at the bustling streets with a hint of timidity, "Grandma, where will we be staying?"

Zhulan, holding the soft and fragrant Yushuang, replied, "We’re going to stay at our house."

Ming Teng turned his head, looking confused, "Grandma, we don’t have a home here."

He wasn’t foolish, just young!

Zhulan, feeling a bit choked up by Ming Teng’s expression, thought to herself how she could be confused at her age, the injuries of being a grandmother were hard to bear, "We have a residence in Pingzhou, of course, we’ll stay at our own place."

Ming Teng’s eyes widened with astonishment. Since entering the city, he had been staring outside. The largest place he had been to was the county town, but this was Prefecture City. He had heard from his mother how expensive houses could be in the county, and the Prefecture City must be even more expensive, his eyes round with wonder, "Grandma, does our family have a lot of silver?"

Zhulan chuckled lightly, "You seem to understand quite a bit for someone so little."

Ming Teng puffed up with pride, "I heard it from my mother. She counts the silver every night. At first, I didn’t understand what it could all buy until my mother told me, then I knew."

Xue Han teased Ming Teng, "Tell your aunt, why does your mother count the silver every night?"

Ming Teng replied quickly, "Because Mother said counting money is the only joy she has left in life, and she also said it would be even better if Grandma forgot about her."

Xue Han, "....."

My second nephew truly is a child who can vex his parents. He couldn’t help but turn his head to look at his smiling mother and laughed. His mother must know everything.

Zhou Shuren was coming to Pingzhou and had sent word to Zhao Bo early on. The carriage arrived, and Zhao Bo was already standing at the gate waiting. As soon as the carriage stopped, Zhao Bo went to greet them.

Zhou Shuren got out of the carriage, "Thank you Brother Zhao for arranging everything."

Zhao Bo replied, "Brother Zhou, you’re too courteous. With our relationship, there’s no need for thanks. The house has been freshly cleaned, firewood has been fully stocked, and provisions like rice and other grains have been purchased. The kitchen maid you asked for has also been found, and the food is already being prepared, just waiting for your arrival."

Zhou Shuren thanked him again, "You’ve gone to great trouble, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Bo, "No need for such courtesy, I’m here to help with the luggage."

Zhou Shuren busily interjected, "You’ve already been enough of a bother, Brother Zhao; we can handle these small matters ourselves."

Zhao Bo was quite pleased. He wasn’t one to exert himself for just anyone. Brother Zhou was open-hearted and not the least bit stingy. Helping him out would oblige Zhou to return the favor and bring him plenty of benefits; he was, in fact, eager to assist Zhou more. Zhou’s genuine gratitude made all the meticulous effort worthwhile.

Zhulan had already taken the children into the house. Because there were guests around, Ming Teng behaved very properly. Xue Han held one child in each hand while Zhulan entered the main room carrying a bundle with Silver Coins.

Zhao Bo didn’t intend to inspect every room since the only one that could be seen was the main room. In the north, people rarely slept on beds; they mostly used heated brick beds called ’kang’. The ’kang’ in the main room was covered with newly bought mats, and on top of it sat two large chests with newly made bedding. A kang table was set on the ’kang’, and on the table was a teapot and teacups. Zhulan reached out to feel, and there was warm water in the teapot; it wasn’t very hot and had been sitting for a while.

After putting down the bundle, she said to Xue Han, "It must be cold after sitting in the carriage all day; the ’kang’ is nice and warm. Take the two with you onto it to warm up."

Xue Han responded and poured a cup of hot water for her mother, "Mother, you should also have some hot water to warm up."

Zhulan accepted it, sipping while taking stock of the room. There were two empty cabinets on the floor for storing cloth and clothing. She touched the cabinets, which had been cleaned thoroughly. Zhao Bo was indeed a careful man, handling even the smallest of details with great appropriateness.

The chests they had brought with them were moved to the main room by Zhou Shuren with Ming Qing’s help. Zhou Shuren said, "We’re going to have dinner at the front of the house; a table will be sent here shortly for you to dine with the children."

Zhulan, "Alright."

It was necessary to hire a kitchen maid; Zhulan’s cooking wasn’t tasty, and they couldn’t expect Xue Han to cook for the men of the Chang family. It was more convenient to hire a kitchen maid for four hundred coins a month. Actually, just cooking would have cost three hundred coins, but the kitchen maid hired by Zhulan didn’t only cook. She was also in charge of washing dishes, tidying up the kitchen, and boiling hot water, so with the additional tasks, they added a hundred coins.

Zhulan wasn’t in a hurry to unpack the chests. Zhou Shuren was dining with Zhao Bo in the front yard, giving her an opportunity to look around. She went to the side room next to the main room first, which was Xue Han’s room. It wasn’t small, and there were not only cabinets on the floor but also a dressing table and a Bronze Mirror. The ’kang’ was also heated up, and the bedding was just as new. Xue Han could move in with Yushuang and Ming Teng directly; it wasn’t a problem for Ming Teng, who was only turning four at the new year, to stay together with them.