Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 194 Unprovokable_1

Chapter 194: Chapter 194 Unprovokable_1

Zhulan enjoyed interacting with the people from the Li family, feeling at ease, she smiled and said, "In-law, you’re too heartbroken to spend much time talking with us, and besides, we are kin. There’s no need to hold back, as there should be no separation in speech between family members."

Lady Lixu seldom associated with Lady Yang previously, and it was only in the past year that they had interacted more. Knowing that Lady Yang was formidable, she agreed, "Mother-in-law speaks the truth; we are one family and should not speak as if we are strangers."

Zhulan asked, "We’ve been here for a while now; how come I haven’t seen Lady Li?"

Lady Lixu explained, "Ever since she was little, she’s been closest to her grandmother. Having cried all night yesterday and then made breakfast in the morning, I told her to get some rest. If Mother-in-law wishes to see her, I’ll go call her."

Zhulan hurriedly stopped Lady Lixu, who was about to get up, "Let her rest. I’m just concerned about her. She’s straightforward and was so heartbroken yesterday that I can’t help but worry."

Lady Lixu pondered her words carefully, her smile grew broader, as her daughter never brought troubles but only good news. Lady Yang indeed treated her daughter well, "She’s foolishly blessed. That lass finding a mother-in-law like you is the fortune of several lifetimes."

Her daughter would be fortunate to follow her. She had also found a good mother-in-law, and upon thinking this, she realized her daughter didn’t entirely take after the Li family.

After Zhulan arrived in the ancient past, although it was her first time being a mother-in-law, she could stand upright with pride, for she truly was a rare and kind mother-in-law.

Soon, the appointed hour arrived, and Zhulan, along with the others and Lady Lixu, went to the front courtyard. Here in Li Family Village, the Li surname was most common. Lady Li’s grandmother had four sons; had Lady Li’s grandfather lived longer, there would have been more than three uncles. With the Li sons bearing grandsons, and those grandsons producing great-grandsons, the male members of the household alone were considerable, not to mention the relatives within the fifth degree of kinship. The courtyard was too small to accommodate all the helpers for the funeral procession; outsiders didn’t even have the chance to carry the coffin.

Women generally didn’t attend funerals and stayed behind. It was Zhulan’s first time witnessing an ancient funeral procession, far more elaborate than modern ones. A grand funeral was important for the elderly, and a large number of descendants made for a spectacular procession. No wonder people in ancient times feared the extinction of their family lineage — it wasn’t just about having no one to turn the mourning bowl over after death but also about failing to honor one’s ancestors.

The Li family prepared a meal the day before and had to make another one today for the people returning from the funeral. Zhulan offered to help, but Lady Lixu declined, "We have plenty of people at home; you just relax."

Zhulan fell silent for a moment. The Li family was not only straightforward but also prolific. Lady Li alone had six brothers and not counting two sisters who had married out. Counting the sons of several uncles and daughters-in-law, there were indeed many of them.

Thinking about it, Li Family Village was a large and well-known village, not to be trifled with, for they had many sons. Hence, the daughters of Li Family Village were highly sought after. The original owner of Zhulan’s body had chosen Lady Li also for this reason; every family favored a daughter-in-law who could bear sons.

After the funeral procession returned, everyone had a meal. Neither Zhulan nor Zhou Shuren came empty-handed; they brought money, one tael of silver.

The Li family spent a lot, but they also received quite a bit.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren should have left after the meal, but the Li family was dividing their inheritance. Indeed, the Li family had never split their household before. Although the old lady passed away suddenly, she made the divisions clear before her death, so the division was only a formality.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren were asked by Lady Lixu to stay — this was to support the main branch of the family. The Li family had always been united under the old lady’s authority. After her death, the wives from each branch were quite astute, naturally vying for their interests. Fortunately, the old lady’s influence remained strong, and no one dared to cause trouble so soon after her passing.

The division of the family was prompt. The Li family had gained silver due to Lady Li’s influence. The old lady had left only twenty taels of silver, plus four taels from their family savings, totaling twenty-four taels. Having planned to split the household, the rest of the money was used to purchase five acres of land and three housing foundations. With many sons to make adobe bricks and chop wood, the Li family built their houses without spending much. The housing foundations were up, and aside from Lady Li’s father, the eldest, who maintained the ancestral home, the other brothers had their own places to go.

The Li family had a total of thirty-two acres of land. The old lady had bought five more acres to facilitate a fair division—eight acres per household. With six taels of silver each and other assets divided out fairly, the eldest still had the advantage of the ancestral home with many rooms!

Zhulan witnessed the division of the Li family and admired the old lady even more for the hardships she endured. Providing dowries in silver for her sons to marry wives and grandsons to take brides was no easy feat.

Reflecting on herself, Zhulan considered her luck to have been quite good. She had crossed over to the Zhou family, whose wealth was rare in a rural setting, providing her and Zhou Shuren a strong foundation to start their own household.

Since returning from the Li family, Lady Li was listless, which the Zhou family found unusual. They were accustomed to her being cheerful every day.

Zhulan made a special request to Zhou Changlian to buy pig trotters, Lady Li’s favorite, from the county town. Despite feeling the pinch, Zhao gave Lady Li a handkerchief she was fond of.

Zhou Changlian, who held the least regard for his sister-in-law, even uttered a dry word of condolence.

Lady Li felt the warmth of her in-laws and was finally ready to move on.

As it turned out, Zhou Chang Zhi, the slowest to react in the Zhou family, presented her with writing materials, "Big sister, I know you’re in pain. So, copy some scripture, and when it’s time for Grandma Li’s seventy-seventh-day rite, we’ll burn it for her. If you still feel sad, you can keep copying for a year, and if a year isn’t enough, then for three years. Big sister, I believe you can do it."

Lady Li, "......"

She was grieving, but copying scripture could be the death of her. Listening to her youngest brother-in-law’s suggestion, it felt to her like she might be doomed to copy for a lifetime. This was not quite the kind of warmth she wanted.

Zhulan, "....."

Zhou Shuren, "...."

Lady Li finally came back to life, albeit with an expression that was hard to describe!

The other three sons of the Zhou family were stunned; so this was what their brother Chang Zhi was like. Unbearable, simply unbearable!