Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1398: Reminiscence

Chapter 1398: Chapter 1398: Reminiscence

The next day, as Zhou Shuren was attending court, he missed the newlyweds Ming Teng and his bride presenting their tea. Zhulan handed over the prepared gift to the couple, who seemed entirely satisfied with it.

After drinking the tea, Zhulan, feeling sorry for Lau Jia who had traveled a great distance early in the morning, said to her: "You don’t need to keep me company; go back and rest."

Lau Jia’s cheeks were flushed red, and she did not know how to respond.

Ming Teng, with his thick-skinned nature, said, "Grandma, then we will return to rest now."

Zhulan waved her hand, "Mhm."

Ming Teng, taking Lau Jia’s hand, left. Lau Jia had been holding back, but once back in their own courtyard, she glared and said, "Leaving so soon makes it seem like we came just for the courtesy gift."

Ming Teng reassured her, "Grandma won’t mind. She knows you were tired yesterday. Don’t worry, she won’t overthink it."

Lau Jia’s face grew even redder, "Wha- what do you mean ’tired’? Why are you even bringing that up?"

Ming Teng’s eyes sparkled as he looked at his feisty bride, "Alright, alright, I won’t say it. Would you like to rest, or would you like to organize things?"

Lau Jia wasn’t angry anymore. Indeed, she had many things to do, and soon added, "I also want to go see my sister-in-law and the children later."

Ming Teng said, "If you don’t feel tired, go for a visit. Actually, my sister-in-law won’t mind."

Lau Jia said, "I’m not tired. You go and do your things.

Ming Teng, being a newlywed, had his own matters to attend to; he couldn’t spend all his time with his new bride. So after staying with her a little while longer, he went off to take care of his affairs.

Lau Jia had a nanny and four maids with her dowry. The servants in the yard were those who had been there previously. Lau Jia had not yet made any adjustments, planning to arrange for her dowry attendants after she became more familiar with the place in a few days.

Lau Jia first instructed the nanny and two of the maids to take inventory of her dowry, while she herself brought gifts for the children to visit her sister-in-law.

Upon seeing Lau Jia, Ran Wan said with a smile, "You must be so busy as a new bride, why did you not rest well before coming to see me?"

Lau Jia replied, "I’ve finished all the busy work, and couldn’t help thinking about my sister-in-law and the children, so I came."

Ran Wan was pleased in her heart. She was still figuring out how to get along with her new sister-in-law. This sister-in-law was different; after all, Ming Teng was adopted out, and nobody would have minded if Lau Jia had not come today. The fact that Lau Jia made the effort showed her respect. "I should’ve been helping you with your wedding, but Zhixuan just couldn’t wait to be born, and I ended up not being able to help much."

Lau Jia shook her head. "Don’t say that, sister-in-law. I heard from Ming Teng that you were the one helping mother with the wedding preparations."

Ran Wan didn’t expect Ming Teng would share such things with Lau Jia and blinked, "The love between you two newlyweds is really wonderful."

Lau Jia’s face turned red again, and Ran Wan’s smile deepened. It was the shyness of a new marriage; given time, it would fade.

In the Palace, Zhou Shuren stayed inside to sample several convenient foods.

The Retired Emperor pointed at the dried noodles, "These need to be boiled and go well with a sauce."

Zhou Shuren blinked. What could he say? It was his first time seeing dried noodles in ancient times. He’d been eating fresh noodles since arriving in ancient times and had almost forgotten about dried noodles. In modern times, he’d eaten them frequently and found the sight of them quite nostalgic now.

The Retired Emperor said with a smile, "I ate it a few times during campaigns back in my day, but fine grains were scarce back then. After I became Emperor, I never ate them again. It was only when you mentioned convenient food that I remembered them."

Zhou Shuren took a small bowl and tasted a bite. It was a familiar feeling; although the flour from ancient times wasn’t as white as modern flour, the taste hadn’t changed much. He really missed the days of eating boiled dried noodles with pickles.

The Retired Emperor, a sharp-minded person, asked, "Shuren, have you eaten this before?"

Zhou Shuren, in his ancient self, had not, as he’d been eating freshly made noodles ever since he had servants at home in ancient times. "No, I remember there were records of them in the Tang Dynasty," he replied.

The Retired Emperor nodded, "Shuren is well-informed; indeed, there were records."

Zhou Shuren put down his chopsticks, "Noodles are delicious and convenient, but not suitable as military rations. They’re fine for occasional consumption, but not as a staple for the army."

The Retired Emperor laughed, "I know."

Although he did not interfere in politics, he was well aware of the country’s food production. High-yield seeds required generations of cultivation, and currently, the results were minimal. Without high-yielding wheat, not to mention military rations, there was scarcely enough for the common people to eat.

Zhou Shuren couldn’t help but think whether he should remind the Retired Emperor and drop some hints, but then he stopped himself. He couldn’t hint at everything; if the Retired Emperor wanted to study it, then let him.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the return visit. The gifts for the return visit were not prepared by Zhulan, but by Rong Yushang himself.

Lady Li, unable to prepare the return visit gifts herself, said with a bit of a bitter taste in her mouth, "Today is the day I truly realize the privilege of being a Ming."

"I thought you had realized that a long time ago."

Ming Teng got married at Rong residence, and on the night of his marriage, he stayed at the Rong residence. Only after meeting with Rong Yushang did the young couple come over.

Lady Li, "...Mother was right, I had realized it a long time ago."

It’s just that she had always neglected it, and today it could no longer be ignored.

Zhulan, "Having regrets?"

Lady Li shook her head, "Mother, I have no regrets. We couldn’t have given Ming Teng a better future. All that Ming Teng has now is because he bears the Ming surname."

"Hmm, your mind is still clear."

Lady Li felt somewhat helpless, "Mother, I understand everything."

After pondering for a while, Zhuluan said, "You don’t need to treat Lau Jia differently. She is after all your daughter-in-law, and you should act as a mother-in-law as you ought to be."

Lady Li had been pondering about it, and now with her mother-in-law’s words, she felt reassured, "Your daughter-in-law understands."

In the Lau family, Lau Jia got off the carriage and her eyes turned a bit red upon seeing her parents.

Madam Ma, seeing her daughter looking well, finally let go of the worry in her heart.

Lau Jing said to Ming Teng, "Let’s go to the study."

The people Ming Teng met with differed because of his status. Even if his father-in-law had a stern face, he was not intimidated, but smiled and said, "Alright."

Lau Jing felt stifled for a moment. It was tough having a son-in-law of higher status; it made it difficult for a father-in-law to stand his ground, leaving him somewhat deflated as he said, "This way."

Madam Ma, on the other hand, took her daughter to the courtyard. Once they were back in the room, she asked, "Has anyone mistreated you?"

Lau Jia, "Mother, rest assured, no one has mistreated me."

Madam Ma thought for a moment and said, "Your husband was adopted out. You should be extra filial to your mother-in-law. Never think that being adopted means you belong to two families."

Lau Jia understood this well; the Retired Emperor had already warned her, "Mother, I am clear about it."

"It’s good that you understand. Are the other branches of the family easy to get along with?"

Lau Jia smiled, "Yes, they are easy to get along with. Both Second Aunt and Fourth Aunt are kind people."

This put Madam Ma’s mind at complete ease, and she sighed, "The Zhou family’s inner courtyard is peaceful; you’re blessed to have married into such a family."

In the study, Ming Teng and his father-in-law sat in silence. Ming Teng felt a bit awkward after a while and said, "Father, is there anything you wish to instruct your son-in-law on?"

Lau Jing originally had a lot to say, but when faced with Ming Teng, he felt that the well-rehearsed words just didn’t sound right. "Take good care of Jia Jia in the future," he said.

Ming Teng fell silent, thinking about what his elder brother had said, how the Ran elder had given many instructions to his brother; it was pointless to inquire his brother for advice, "I will treat my wife well."

Lau Jing’s two sons exchanged glances, sighing over this anticlimactic conversation.