Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 168 Cannon Fodder_1

Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Cannon Fodder_1

Zhulan thought to herself, Shi Qing was using Wang Ru, but Wang Ru was too dumb. Shi Qing didn’t dare to keep her close for fear that the pig teammate might bring him down. As for Wang Ru, she had her own schemes in mind, still fixating on the male lead!

Lady Zhou stayed until dinner time and had to leave for home only then.

With nothing else to do, Zhulan’s curiosity got the better of her and she wanted to know what Wang Ru would do next.

That night, just as Zhulan was dozing off to sleep, she found out exactly what Wang Ru’s plan was. She was about to fall into a deep sleep when a piercing scream shattered the quiet night, exceptionally clear. The cries for help about a murder grew louder and louder. Initially groggy, Zhulan was jolted awake, her eyes snapping open in shock as a cold sweat broke out on her back, dampening her hair as her heart thudded wildly.

Zhou Shuren was startled too, but he regained his composure after a short while. Feeling the sweat on Zhulan’s hand, Zhou Shuren had a dark expression on his face, angry at Wang Ru, but he gently soothed Zhulan, "It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t be afraid. If you touch the fur, you won’t be startled, and if you touch the ears, the scare will soon pass. You’ll come back to your senses."

Zhulan was just calming down from her scare when she heard this and burst out laughing, "You can also summon spirits?"

This was something her grandmother often said when she got scared as a child.

Seeing Zhulan feeling much better, Zhou Shuren called out a few more times before replying, "I had to take care of myself in the orphanage. When I got scared, I’d call out to myself. It might seem silly, but it actually works quite well."

Zhulan’s sweat receded, and her body felt much more comfortable. With a smile in her eyes, she reached out and touched Zhou Shuren’s head, "Touch the fur, and you won’t be spooked. Touch the ears, and you’ll be scared for just a moment. Shuren is back, he’s back, there’s nothing to fear."

Zhou Shuren bowed his head. In the pitch darkness of the room, he felt as if he could see Zhulan’s bright eyes. This was the first time someone had performed this comforting ritual for him. Following the direction of her breathing, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, which were suppressing laughter.

Regrettably, the pleasant atmosphere couldn’t continue. Outside, the shouts about a murder persisted, along with the barking of dogs and the sounds of neighbors getting up, creating a chaotic din. Even Chang Lian, the eldest brother, got up and stood by the window, calling out, "Father, should we go and have a look?"

Zhou Shuren’s face was so dark it could have been used as ink, and he replied irritably, "Go back to bed and sleep."

Chang Lian, "..."

He silently thanked his stars he wasn’t the eldest!

Chang Zhi, "...."

Brother, don’t think just because the moonlight is dim, I can’t see your face. It’s too obvious; you’re going to lose your dear elder brother!

Zhou Shuren’s voice was loud enough that Chang Lian’s and Chang Zhi’s rooms, which had lights on, immediately went dark!

Chang Lian clutched his chest; could he resign from being the eldest?

Zhulan waited until the footsteps of her two sons faded before laughing out loud. This was the first time she heard Zhou Shuren swear at someone. Well, he certainly had quite the presence!

Anyway, neither of them had any intention of going out to see what was happening; they knew clearly that Wang Ru was making a fuss over an adoption matter.

After giving it some thought, Zhulan guessed the gist, "Wang Ru has become smart. She’s definitely going to be adopted tomorrow."

Zhou Shuren snorted coldly. He was still too weak, and Wang Ru was Shi Qing’s lifeline, someone he had to watch over. He didn’t have the strength yet, otherwise, he would have found a way to get rid of Wang Ru long ago—just looking at her annoyed him!

Zhou Shuren waited for Zhulan’s sweat to dry, then pulled her into his embrace, "Let’s sleep."

After the alarm and the subsequent quieting of the noise outside, Zhulan quickly grew sleepy and soon drifted off to sleep.

Zhou Shuren couldn’t sleep, but he was thinking about the possibility of moving earlier, how to change the plan. He couldn’t leave Zhou Family Village yet, because the County Minister has become the new County Magistrate; the appointment had been made and he had already taken up his post. The County Minister had been busy recently, but now that the dust has settled, it was time for him to personally visit to offer his congratulations. His roots were in Zhou Family Village, and the County Magistrate was very important. Besides, the County Minister was quite admirable, and he was very inclined to deepen their friendship.

Moreover, the County Minister was a Graduate, who could be of immense help to him. He couldn’t compare with Wu Ming, who had famous teachers; he could only search on his own.

Zhou Shuren sighed. He couldn’t leave, but if Wang Ru acted up again, if he couldn’t send Wang Ru away, he would give her a grand gift instead, making her stay put!

After breakfast in the morning, Lady Li could no longer suppress her overwhelming curiosity. If it weren’t for the eunuch’s outburst yesterday, she would have gone out to watch the excitement long ago. Seeing that her mother wasn’t stopping her, Lady Li felt reassured. It was like she had the Imperial Sword in her possession; she wasn’t afraid of the eunuch getting angry and went out to gather news.

Zhou Shuren took his eldest with him to the county to send visiting cards and, by the way, to buy gifts for his visit. The Zhou family’s foundation was still weak; there were too few presentable items, so the purchases could only seek respectability.

An hour later, Lady Li hurried back, her feet barely touching the ground. As soon as she entered the yard, she shouted, "Mother, mother, Wang Ru has been adopted by another family, and they are moving her things to the Qian family’s house right now!"

Zhulan put her grandson down, "What happened last night?"

Lady Li was stunned after inquiring, as ghosts and spirits were taboo in ancient times. She looked around before whispering, "Last night, Wang Ru was possessed by the Qian family’s married-off daughter. It was because Wang Lao Si didn’t agree to the adoption. In the middle of the night, Wang Ru took a kitchen knife and threatened to chop Wang Lao Si’s precious son. Sun’s wife ran out of the courtyard holding the child, and Wang Ru kept following her, making a big ruckus."

Zhulan, "....."

Wang Ru has really grown shrewd, learning to strategize.

Zhao’s wife was smart but also feared ghosts and spirits, "No wonder the adoption went through."

Zhulan looked at her two daughters-in-law. They’re still so inexperienced. If it had been Zhou Wang’s wife, she definitely wouldn’t have said that. She felt it was time to educate them so as not to get tricked and harm Zhou Family members when they meet more people in the future. "Wang Ru was faking."

Lady Li exclaimed, "Faking?"

Zhulan frowned, "Stop being so noisy."

Lady Li quickly shut her mouth and asked softly, "Mother, was Wang Ru really faking it?"

That’s too scary, if it’s not possession, she was really trying to chop someone!

Zhulan ignored the simple-minded Lady Li, who looked agitated. Instead, she asked Zhao’s wife, "You tell me."

Zhao’s wife had come to a realization, "Wang Ru and the Qian family must have colluded, all for the purpose of getting Wang Ru adopted out. Wang Ru mentioned establishing her own household before and quieted down for a while after that, probably realizing it’s not easy to establish her own household. That’s why she thought of adoption. The Qian family’s daughter’s marriage left no descendants for the Wang family, so when Wang Ru moves there, she can establish her own household."

In Zhulan’s eyes, there was approval. Looking at Lady Li, who had just come to understand, these two women are in a domestic struggle. Lady Li would be extinguished immediately if she entered the fray. In the future, let Zhao’s wife lead her more.

Lady Li patted her chest, "How could Wang Ru be so scheming? People with deep schemes are all cruel at heart!"

Zhulan, "...."

Seeing the color of her mother’s face was not right, Lady Li felt like crying. Her mother had seen through Wang Ru, but that wasn’t to say her mother was more cunning. Her will to survive was exceptionally strong, "Mother, I didn’t mean that. What I mean is, there are good and bad motives; Mother’s motives are the good kind."

Zhulan looked at Lady Li coolly; Lady Li had been too idle lately. She remembered that. Withdrawing her gaze, she asked, "Wang Lao Si wouldn’t have agreed so easily. What conditions did he set?"