Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1409: A Long Way to Go

Chapter 1409: Chapter 1409: A Long Way to Go

Before one realized, it was already the fifth day, Zhulan gestured for Yao Yao to sit, "Sit down, let me see the twins."

Because of Rong Yushang’s connections, there was no need for Yao Yao to visit Zhou’s residence frequently, as she did not want to displease the old master.

Yao Yao gently pushed the twins’ backs and smiled, "These two girls have been mentioning missing you at home, but they are too shy now that they are here."

Zhulan hugged the twins, cherishing them dearly, and kissed each one saying, "These children have grown and are easier to tell apart."

"Yes, the older one looks like me, the younger one looks like their dad."

Contented by her fondness, Zhulan turned to Yao Yao and suggested, "Some days ago, the old master was reminiscing about the kids. Should I have Qing Xue take the twins to see the old master?"

Yao Yao was naturally willing, "Yes."

Once the children had left, Zhulan inquired, "Is there something you need?"

Yao Yao nodded, "The girls should start learning to read. I am thinking of hiring a tutor for them. You know that I rarely leave the residence, so I have come to you, thick-skinned, to ask for your assistance in introducing a tutor."

In fact, she preferred the tutor from Zhou’s residence, or even to send her daughters to Zhou’s residence, and to receive guidance from the old lady there would be even better, but she didn’t dare ask as they had already received too much help from Zhou family over the years.

Zhulan thought it was some significant matter, finding a tutor was her expertise as she had found all the tutors for her home; she already had someone in mind.

Zhulan pondered, "Tomorrow I will invite the tutor to our residence, come and see if it suits you, and if not, I’ll help you find another."

Yao Yao embarrassedly responded, "You have been troubled by our matters too much over the years."

Zhulan waved off, "It’s no trouble."

Just some minor issues, and Rong Enqing and his wife are not the type to demand endlessly.

In Li Family Village, the Crown Prince led his group out of the village, Ming Rui heard the sound of children reciting the Three Character Classic in the carriage, opened the window, looked back, and saw that almost all the village children had come to see them off with the Three Character Classic.

Ming Rui felt a swelling of emotions, waved his hand, and thought to himself, in these few short days, he and the children had both made progress — the children in learning to read, and he, in his personal growth.

Shangguan Liu did not sit in his own carriage, but joined Ming Rui’s, "I’m touched."

Ming Rui, "Hmm, what might seem trivial to us can be life-changing for these kids."

Shangguan Liu nodded, "Indeed, I’ll never forget the look in the children’s eyes when they learned how to write their names."

His feelings were profound, born to the Shangguan family, with inherent responsibilities, where reading and writing were essential education. And yet, there were so many children worldwide not lacking the talent but simply never having the opportunity; let alone reading and writing, they couldn’t even write their own names.

Inside the Crown Prince’s carriage, Prince Qi, upon hearing the Three Character Classic, looked at the Crown Prince. In the past few days, whenever he had time, he would also attend the classes Zhou Mingrui taught. Zhou Mingrui was earnest in teaching the children literacy and arithmetic, not just superficially, but deeply engaging them with the most commonly used words and sharing his experiences from his journeys, helping the children understand the world’s changes.

Zhou Mingrui, facing the children’s questions, also patiently answered them, impressing everyone on how well the Zhou family educated children.

The Crown Prince was significantly moved; his status commanded a broader perspective, witnessing from these children a reflection of the nation’s plight — it’s hard for those from humble backgrounds to rise!

How many illiterates are there nationwide, no, rather how many literate people are there across the country?

The Crown Prince was lost in thought; currently, the Imperial court’s monthly pamphlets included a few simple words, aiming to provide those wanting to learn how to read with a chance. Although it’s just a few words each month, accumulated over time it wasn’t insignificant. His uncle had said that although the progress was slow, doing nothing would yield no results at all.

Thinking back to the Chief of Staff Zhou teaching him about various provinces’ malpractices, the Crown Prince felt a heavy responsibility as his gaze shifted towards the window, feeling the immense burden and long road ahead.

In Qiizhou Province, Chang Lian stood by the window, frowning as he anxiously gazed outside where the wild wind was rampant, breaking many branches in the courtyard, with soy-sized raindrops mixed in the wind hitting the windows with loud cracking noises, worrying him if the glass might shatter.

Lady Dong held her son, expressing her anxiety, "It’s my first time encountering such a huge storm since moving to Qiizhou Province a few years ago."

The lantern hanging outside had long been blown away to who knows where, Lady Dong listened to the howling wind, her eyes involuntarily raising to look at the roof.

Chang Lian reassuringly patted his wife’s shoulder, and held their son in his arms, the little one was terrified.

Not just the little one, even the servants in the house were scared, trembling with fear.

The wild wind came suddenly and left quickly, in ancient times without warnings, the people in the city who couldn’t take shelter in time, many were struck by tiles lifted by the wind.

Chang Lian stepped out of the house, the exquisite courtyard was a complete mess, some flowers were snapped at the stem, others lost all their petals, and the potted plants were also toppled, fortunately only two servants in the mansion suffered minor injuries.

Lady Dong, with lingering fear, patted her chest, "Frightening."

Chang Lian said, "I will go and see at the government office."

Lady Dong expressed her concern, "Be careful."

Chang Lian nodded, "You go back to the house, it’s still raining, don’t catch a cold."

"Alright."

Chang Lian took a carriage to the government office, observing the situation on the streets, the condition in the city was not too bad, but he was more worried about the nearby villages.

The Ministry of Revenue in the capital, Qiu Yan looked out the window, "The temperature this year is somewhat lower than the same period last year."

Zhou Shuren, "Yes."

Qiu Yan, "You say this year, pah pah, what am I thinking, this year must definitely be a good year with favorable weather."

Zhou Shuren was not as optimistic as Qiu Yan, he remembered there was a Little Ice Age historically, "You did not come just to discuss the weather with me."

Of course, Qiu Yan wasn’t here to talk about the weather, "The Emperor has already constructed four glasshouses this month, I saw in the financial records that silver was expended for two more glasshouses."

Zhou Shuren, "What do you want to ask?"

Qiu Yan wanted to ask what these glasshouses were used for, several glasshouses involved a considerable sum of silver from the Ministry of Revenue, which shows how big each glasshouse was.

Zhou Shuren indeed knew, these glasshouses were requested by the Retired Emperor, used for cultivating superior grain species, now the Retired Emperor is wholly focused on agricultural crops.

Qiu Yan wasn’t out of curiosity, but felt the sting of such a large expenditure, "I just feel it’s a pity."

Zhou Shuren did not feel sorry at all, "Don’t ask anymore, you will know after a while."

Hearing this, the most frugal Grand Master of Writing of the Ministry of Revenue doesn’t feel the pinch, it must be a very good thing.

At the Wang family, Yu Lu’s belly was very big, and soon the child would be born, Yu Lu wanted to go back to her parents’ house for a few days, but she didn’t know how to bring it up.

Being part of a noble family is troublesome, too many concerns, her sister Yushuang could go back to her family’s house for a visit anytime after she got married, but she couldn’t.

Once she returned to her family’s house for a few days, who knew what would be said, whether she was ill-treated in the Wang family and so on.

The Zhou family had too many envious people, they would relish more rumors about the Zhou family.

Yu Lu sighed in frustration, earlier when her sister Yushuang was in the capital, she could still visit her from time to time, now she didn’t even have someone to talk to, as for Wang Hua, she would rather be alone.

Wong Wei entered and saw his wife sighing, "Unhappy?"

Yu Lu shook her head, "I just miss my older sister, I also don’t know whether she is doing well in Zhangzhou Province."