Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 193: Powerful Heritage_1

Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Powerful Heritage_1

Lady Li wasn’t in the courtyard, and when Zhulan spotted the Li family members standing there, she realized it was the son of Lady Li’s eldest brother, dressed in mourning clothes with tear stains on his face. Clearly, there had been a death in the family. Zhulan headed for the main room and as she entered, Lady Li had just changed into her mourning attire.

Upon seeing her mother-in-law, Lady Li felt she was more reliable than her husband. Finding someone to lean on, she couldn’t help but burst into louder sobs, "Mother, sob sob, Grandma has passed away."

Zhulan had always admired the sensible Lady Li, the Li family matriarch; it pained her to learn that she had passed away. She patted Lady Li’s back, "Don’t cry now, your nephew is still waiting outside. You and your husband should hurry over!"

Lady Li released her mother-in-law. She had become so thin. Zhulan resolved to treat her mother-in-law even better in the future, "Mother, we’re going over now."

Zhulan gestured for the eldest son to support Lady Li and cautioned him, "Be careful on the road."

Zhou Shuren’s eldest son also felt unsettled, as his wife’s grandmother had treated him well. "Mm."

Zhulan, holding Yu Lu, returned to the room. Zhou Shuren was already aware of the death. Patting the frightened Yu Lu, Zhulan told him, "The Li house must be in chaos today. Tomorrow morning, let’s go and pay our respects to the old lady."

Zhou Shuren was surprised, "I thought you would be scared!"

It was after all a death. He hadn’t expected Zhulan to take the initiative to go over.

Zhulan had experience with funerals, "I haven’t done anything to feel guilty about, why should I be scared?"

Aside from her fear of snakes, she had always been very brave, unafraid even at the funeral parlor.

The eldest son and his wife stayed at the Li family home that night. Early the next morning, Zhulan went with Mingyun and Ming Teng, leaving Yu Lu, who was too young, at home under the care of Lady Zhao. Zhou Shuren’s second son drove the borrowed ox cart. Approaching the Li residence from a distance, they could already see the white tent erected and hear the family crying and mourning at the crack of dawn.

The Li family members had loud voices, and their crying spread throughout the village. Getting off the ox cart, Zhulan saw the Li family members all kneeling and crying mournfully on the ground. Indeed, they were heartbroken; the old lady had been the pillar of the Li household. Without her, the family was not only grieving but also lost.

Li Cong greeted Zhulan and Zhou Shuren, "The funeral procession will begin shortly."

Zhou Shuren inquired, "Aren’t you going to wait a few days?"

Li Cong choked up, "After calculation, today is the auspicious day for burial. Moreover, it’s the heat of summer, and keeping the body would just be suffering. It’s better to bury her early for peace."

With his mother gone, even a happy funeral left him sorrowful. Remembering his mother’s lucid moments before her death when she had instructed him, he wiped away tears. His mother had endured a hard life; his father had passed early, and she had raised her sons all by herself. Regrettably, all her sons turned out slow despite their intelligent-sounding names. They never truly lived up to those names. When the family finally had some money and could afford land for a better life, she passed away.

Zhou Shuren had never felt parental love and could not comprehend it. Even as a stepfather, he had not invested much emotion. The only love he had tasted was romantic love. Seeing his in-law crying so heartbreakingly, his attempt at consolation sounded dry, "Mourn with restraint and accept the change; the old lady has gone to a better place."

Zhulan, "....."

It might have been better had Zhou Shuren not tried to comfort at all. Saying the old lady had gone to enjoy herself in death, as if she had suffered while alive. Although the old lady had indeed lived a toilsome life, Zhou Shuren should not have voiced it out loud, especially when it made Li Cong, who had just managed to stop crying, burst into tears again.

Filled with remorse, Li Cong said, "You’re right, brother-in-law. It’s all because I’m useless. If I were capable, Mother wouldn’t have worried herself to death. I’m unfilial!"

Zhulan glanced at Zhou Shuren, who was pursing his lips in thought, looking as if he was about to speak. She hurriedly interjected, "Brother-in-law, the old lady would surely want you to pull yourself together. You mustn’t let her down. She is listening from the beyond!"

Li Cong dried his tears, "Mother-in-law speaks the truth. From now on, as head of the family, I need to be strong. Please have a seat, brother-in-law, mother-in-law; I must go arrange the funeral procession."

Zhou Shuren offered, "Brother-in-law, let me know if there’s anything I can help with."

Looking at his small-framed in-law, Li Cong thought Zhou Shuren, being a Scholar, was not suited for carrying the coffin. Although having him help would bring great honor to the Li family and glory to the deceased, Li Cong feared harming his in-law’s health. He could not bear that responsibility. His mother, before dying, had told him three times to follow his in-law’s lead in the future, "It’s not necessary. Your presence to offer incense is enough to please Mother."

Zhou Shuren, "...."

The men of the Li family had simple minds, unable to hide their thoughts. He saw the disdain in their eyes!

Seeing Lady Lixu, Zhulan watched as she hurried over. Upon seeing Zhulan and Zhou Shuren not looking displeased, she exhaled relievedly and shooed her husband away like chasing away a pest, "They are waiting for you at the front; hurry over."

Li Cong hurried to the front courtyard. There was a heap of arrangements to be made!

After her husband had left, Lady Lixu chuckled awkwardly, "The head of the family isn’t very good with words. Now that Mother has passed away, if anything he said was wrong, please be patient with us."

Before, she had not wanted her silly daughter to keep bringing things home, only wishing for a good life. Initially, she thought her silly daughter would be a burden but to her surprise, she married into the Zhou family and brought great benefits to her own family. Look at how her daughter lives now; even she, as a mother, was envious and even regretful. There’s truth to the saying that simpletons have simple luck. Her mother-in-law had said that her daughter would surely have great fortune in the future and that they should get along well with the in-laws. She remembered this firmly.

Zhulan felt Lady Lixu’s enthusiasm. After a year of interaction with the Li family, their brains seemed to have moved onto the daughters-in-law they had married. She lamented the old lady’s strategizing for her sons and grandsons and marveled at the powerful Li family genes. Even with clever daughters-in-law, the genes of the Li family hadn’t changed. The descendants were still simple and straightforward.