Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 195: Not Leaving Anymore_1

Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Not Leaving Anymore_1

Chang Zhi didn’t know what earth-shattering thing he had done. Ever since his eldest sister-in-law picked up the writing materials, she had no longer looked at him the same way. Every time his parents looked at him, they seemed to have countless unsaid words, and as for his brothers, there was no need to mention them—his third brother didn’t even hide his disdain anymore, playing the role of the good brother. Even his nephews avoided him.

Every time he wanted to ask his younger sister, she would sigh, pat his shoulder, and say with deep meaning, "Little brother, ignorance can be bliss."

Xue Han felt that her little brother was beyond saving. After little brother made a mess of things with his sister-in-law, she was especially glad that Ms. Dong hadn’t chosen him, or what a miserable life she would have had. She even began to sympathize with her future fourth sister-in-law on a daily basis and felt sorry for her.

Chang Zhi pursed his lips. He didn’t feel he had done anything. Chang Zhi had a large heart and got over his troubles after just two days, then went back to studying hard.

After the seventh day mourning period for the Li family matriarch had passed, Lady Li regained her energy but held a deep grudge against Chang Zhi. Whenever she saw Chang Zhi, she reminded herself she needed to transcribe scriptures. Not copying them was like being unfilial to her grandmother, which brought her extra pain.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren were the elders, and in front of their sons and daughters-in-law, they always kept their composure. But as soon as they returned to their room and were alone, the two would burst out laughing together. Sometimes they couldn’t contain their laughter, and it could be heard throughout the courtyard.

Then it became a chain reaction, triggering a wave of laughter.

Lady Li had almost driven herself mad with the scripture copying, knowing it was all her fault. Just looking at the head of the household laughing so hard that he was rolling on the kang, she knew how much joy she brought to her family.

Grinding her teeth, Lady Li lamented with frustration, "Oh, what a nuisance the little brother-in-law is."

Time flew, and before they knew it, it was mid-August, the hottest days of summer. Lady Li, the mistress of the house, was so reluctant to go outside due to the heat.

Zhulan was utterly irritable. In ancient times, there was no air conditioning, though ice would be stored in the winter, a luxury only large wealthy families could afford. As a science student—cough—she had forgotten the chemical principles of making ice. In high school, it was all about exams, and after many years since the college entrance examination, since it was not something used in daily life, she had long returned that knowledge back to her teachers.

Zhulan was so overheated she began to question her existence. Xue Mei brought her children over, and Zhulan, listlessly fanning herself, said, "You haven’t come over in a long time. What brings you over in such hot weather?"

Ever since her daughter-in-law’s mother-in-law arrived, Xue Mei’s visits had become less frequent. The last time she came was over a week ago!

Xue Mei glanced at her son and daughter. Her son was older and understood what he could and couldn’t mimic, while her daughter was at an age where she loved to talk and might easily pick up and repeat things heard here. Bending down, Xue Mei said to her son, "Take your sister to find your aunt to play with."

Jiang Zhu took his sister’s hand, knowing his mother had things to discuss with grandma, "Grandma, I’ll take my sister out to play."

Zhulan said, "Go on, let your aunt give you some candy and biscuits to eat."

The weather was too hot, and they had stopped buying cakes at home. Unlike biscuits, cakes didn’t keep well. Nowadays, snacks at home were mainly biscuits, which she occasionally indulged in herself—unpolluted food was always the tastiest.

After her son had left, Xue Mei vented with a bit of frustration, "Mother, when is my mother-in-law going to go back? She’s been staying for quite a while now, and I get the feeling she has no intention of leaving."

Zhulan counted the days, acknowledging that indeed, her daughter had begun to feel the sweetness of not having a mother-in-law around, which meant she must be at her limit. Lady Jiangwang, even reformed as she might be, was still a mother-in-law and couldn’t help meddling, which explained her daughter’s infrequent visits, "What does Jiang Sheng say?"

Xue Mei said helplessly, "Jiang Sheng also wants his parents to go back, but he can’t bring himself to say it."

Zhulan grew curious, "What have your in-laws done to push Jiang Sheng to his limits?"

With a face full of distress, Xue Mei said, "At first, when my in-laws came over, they were helpful around the house and lightened the load for Jiang Sheng and me. But that didn’t last long. The eunuch couldn’t help but constantly nag my husband about studying. My mother-in-law, rather than nagging my husband, targeted me, insisting I encourage him to study more, and that it’s important. Jiang Sheng and I thought they wouldn’t stay for long, so we just endured it, but these days, we couldn’t stand it anymore. When they saw we were not complying, they started to intervene even more."

Xue Mei’s mother-in-law had come to help her, and everyone in Zhou family village knew it. She was well-favored and got along with the women of Zhou family village very well. Xue Mei felt genuinely wronged, but fortunately, her mother-in-law was considerate enough not to provoke her own mother, even if discontent, she dared not spread rumors in the village.