Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 188: Pulling the Firewood from Under the Pot_1

Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Pulling the Firewood from Under the Pot_1

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "I’ve just laid out the finances of our household clearly, how much silver Coin we used to buy the residence, how much Silver we spent on the shop, what the annual rent of the shop is, how much cash we currently have on hand, how much Silver we’re preparing for the dowry, and explained why we’re offering two hundred taels as a dowry. I didn’t say anything else, and definitely did not speak to him alone."

Zhulan, "....."

Hehe, what you’ve done is scarier than speaking to him alone. No wonder he was so shaken. Zhou Shuren’s cut was deep this time, and Chang Lian doesn’t need to show off anymore. Two hundred taels of dowry isn’t much compared to the family assets. Zhou Shuren’s strategy was slick; not only will the eldest and second sons not feel any resentment, but he also made Chang Lian realize that the family could do without him!

Zhou Shuren saw Zhulan’s speechless expression and felt an itching in his heart, but it was a pity it wasn’t night yet—there were too many eyes around.

The eldest Zhou son and the second Zhou son were quite shocked as well. When they left the main hall, they saw their father and mother talking. The brothers exchanged glances; their father would always be their father—his move was ruthless. They couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Chang Lian, who was squashed before he could flourish, poor guy.

The eldest Zhou tried hard to adjust his mentality, but in his heart, he kept mulling over the family’s wealth. Seeing his father glance over, he felt a chill down his spine—his father could read even the County magistrate, so he’d better play the fool, the safe role. With an ingratiating silly smile, he said, "Father."

Zhou Shuren frowned, "Didn’t you see your mother?"

The eldest Zhou, "....Mother."

It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen his mother; it was just that his fear of his father was a conditioned reflex, automatically calling out to his father first.

Zhulan tugged at Zhou Shuren’s sleeve, signaling him not to scare the eldest son anymore. She felt sorry for him, "Eldest, harness the horse to the cart. Take me and your father to the county town."

The eldest Zhou glanced at his father’s softened expression and silently reminded himself to always greet his mother first whenever his parents were together. His mother was the only one who could restrain his father, "I’ll do it right now."

The second Zhou couldn’t help but feel grateful that his mother hadn’t given birth to him as the eldest!

Once in the county town, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren first went to buy gifts for the visit, but it was Zhulan who alone went to request the matchmaker’s services. Without needing to inquire whether the matchmaker was at home, as the Dong family’s way of doing things was to notify the matchmaker once they had taken a liking to Chang Lian and verbally agreed with Zhou Shuren, Zhulan was certain of it the moment she was welcomed inside.

Just look at the matchmaker’s enthusiasm without even glancing at the gifts; the Dong family must have given the matchmaker some extra benefits.

Zhulan said, "Then we’ll trouble you, Auntie. We’ll wait at home for your good news."

The matchmaker, confident of success and having received benefits from both sides, beamed with radiance, "You can rest easy. I’ll make sure everything looks perfect."

Zhulan left the gifts and the payment there before leaving the matchmaker’s house.

Zhulan got onto the oxcart and directed, "Find your father at the tea house, eldest."

The eldest Zhou, "Okay!"

At the tea house, Zhou Shuren had already bought the tea leaves. Tea is an essential part of the dowry, serving for the Tea Ceremony, and it was crucial to prepare quality tea leaves. Zhulan waited for Zhou Shuren and asked, "Do we have good tea at the shop?"

Zhou Shuren, "Our county is a transportation hub; the tea in the tea shop is quite good."

Zhulan asked in a low voice, "How much Silver did it cost?"

Zhou Shuren, begrudgingly, "Twenty taels for half a pound, and I bought six tael and six of tea."

Zhulan clutched her chest, "That’s expensive," she took a moment to recover, "Let’s go. Time to buy the fabric."

They needed at least six bolts of fabric, and a complete set of jewelry. All these required Silver.

After the Zhulan couple had prepared the betrothal gifts, they spent over eighty taels of Silver, and with the money given to the matchmaker, Chang Lian’s betrothal gift totaled almost three hundred taels.

Heading back to the village, Zhulan didn’t want the villagers to see what they had bought. They had brought plenty of straw mats to cover their purchases. Many people saw them when they entered the village, assuming Zhulan had gone to the county to buy grain.

Once home, as soon as the door closed, there was no need for Zhulan to say anything, the eldest Zhou, understanding from his father’s look, called out for Lady Li to move the things.

Lady Li came out to see the fabric on the cart. Knowing it was for Chang Lian’s dowry, she had mixed feelings. When she married, her dowry consisted of Five taels of silver, one bolt of fabric, Two silver taels worth of tea, and some grain. Looking at Chang Lian’s gifts, even the tea was not just two taels.

The moment the eldest Zhou saw Lady Li’s reaction, he knew what she was thinking. He glared at the second son; in his rush, he hadn’t mentioned the family assets to Lady Li, he didn’t believe the second son didn’t inform Zhao’s wife, and Lady Li’s reaction made it clear she didn’t know the family’s wealth.

The second Zhou felt wronged; he couldn’t just snatch his sister-in-law to spill the beans to her, could he? He did suggest to his wife to talk with his sister-in-law, but by the time he finished telling his wife, the sister-in-law had left. They just didn’t get their chance!

The eldest Zhou pulled Lady Li aside and whispered low, "I’ll explain it to you back in our room; let’s hurry up and move this stuff."

Lady Li saw the head of the household’s warning. Though she felt bad, she endured and swiftly moved the things.

Zhulan pretended not to have seen anything, knowing that Lady Li would be happy soon enough. She didn’t want to see Lady Li at that moment—out of sight, out of mind—and she returned to her room.

Zhou Shuren came in, took a sip of tea and said, "I’m going over to the Clan Leader’s house for a bit, to inform him in advance about our plans, and also to show our respect for him."

Zhulan waved her hand, "I won’t accompany you this time."

Zhou Shuren checked Zhulan’s forehead, glad she didn’t have a fever, "Then you rest."

Zhulan indeed felt tired, "Hmm."

Once Zhou Shuren closed the door behind him, he saw Lady Li flashing a simple-minded smile. She seemed not even to fear him, and with a giddy grin, she greeted, "Father, are you going out?"

Zhou Shuren, ".....Yes."

Lady Li, upon seeing the eunuch’s stern face, went from elation to sorrow, clamped her mouth shut, bit her tongue, and though it hurt so much that she twisted in pain, she dared not make a sound—suffering under the head of the family’s glare!

The eldest Zhou, "......"

Who had he upset!