Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 196: Biological Parents_1

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Biological Parents_1

Zhulan, fanning herself, thought to herself that once a wound heals, the pain is forgotten, sighing with relief that Lady Jiangwang had a long memory and didn’t dare to bother Xue Mei. Looking at her aggrieved daughter, she said, "Did you come to me wanting a solution, or for me to intervene personally?"

Xue Mei knew her mother’s involvement wouldn’t be good, but she had tried both subtle and direct hints, to no avail; her mother-in-law just wouldn’t take the hint. Not only did she refuse to leave, but she also invited people over every day, preventing her from returning to her maternal home. The only reason she was able to come today was because she sneaked away with her child while her mother-in-law wasn’t paying attention. She had truly come to realize how manipulative her mother-in-law was, and it was suffocating her. "Mother, I’m really out of options. You don’t know how good my mother-in-law’s reputation is in Zhoujiacun. Everyone who sees me says I’m blessed."

Blessed my ass, every time she’d have to stiffen her face, seething with anger inside.

Zhulan genuinely didn’t know; the weather had turned hot, and she felt even less inclined to go out. Except for being invited by Lady Donglin to the county twice, she hadn’t stepped outside at all. Having ended up in ancient times, the term "homebody" was coined specifically for her. Upon hearing her daughter’s words, she said, "In the future, when I look for relatives for marriage, I definitely won’t choose someone like your mother-in-law."

Xue Mei, ".....Mother."

Wasn’t this like a stab in the heart?

Zhulan wasn’t feeling guilty at all; the relatives that had been chosen for her weren’t her choice to begin with and instead, they provided her with a lot of experience. She let out a hollow laugh, "I didn’t recognize people clearly before. It’s all because your mother-in-law’s reputation was so good, huh. Well, she’s hidden her true nature very deeply."

Xue Mei felt her mother’s words were too perfunctory. "Mother, please help me. I really have no other way."

Zhulan had many ideas, but she couldn’t interfere directly. "Daughter, your father and I interfered once before when you and Jiang Sheng truly couldn’t overcome your difficulties. Now things are different. You’ve moved to Zhoujiacun, and Jiang Sheng earns two silver taels a month. If I interfere and drive away your in-laws now, we wouldn’t be justified, and besides, Jiang Sheng hasn’t suggested that you come home and tell me about it, has he?"

Xue Mei paused. Jiang Sheng had grumbled indeed, but he had never asked for help from his in-laws. Puckering her lips, she said, "No."

Zhulan, "You see, in his heart, Jiang Sheng doesn’t want us to interfere. After all, it’s your own family matter, and his parents haven’t done anything terribly wrong. If I step in, what would Jiang Sheng think? Silly girl, it would be bad for your marital relationship. Your mother-in-law may wear a facade, casually making remarks from time to time, but slowly and steadily, it could affect the feelings between you and your husband. In the end, they are his real parents."

And moreover, there’s exaggeration in the daughter’s words. Even if Jiang Sheng is impatient, he isn’t at home during the day, so it’s not as hard for her as she makes it out to be.

Xue Mei deflated since her mother was right; after all, they were Jiang Sheng’s real parents, and the years of kindness his in-laws showed him couldn’t be erased with just one or two incidents. "So I just continue to live like this?"

Zhulan couldn’t intervene, but she could offer advice, "Just cater to them with good food and drink. Autumn harvest is approaching, and your in-laws will surely go back. A year’s worth of food is a big deal. And since your in-laws want you to persuade him to study, just persuade him. Go along with your in-laws. You’re too young, my dear. As long as you have control over the money, let them manage if they want, it’s even easier for you!"

Xue Mei was stunned, then realized her mother, who had tasted more salt than she had ever eaten rice, was so wise. Enlightened by her mother’s words, a smile appeared on her face. "Mother, you really see things clearly."

Zhulan put down her fan, "It’s getting late; you should hurry back. When you leave, take some of the pickles your sister-in-law made with you. They’re pretty good with a meal."

Xue Mei, "Sister-in-law has been pickling again?"

Last time, her sister-in-law had given her some, but since she said she hadn’t made much, Xue Mei didn’t have the heart to take more from her maternal home. She tried to make it herself after learning from her sister-in-law but couldn’t get the same taste, so she eventually gave up trying.

Zhulan said, "Recently the vegetables in the garden have been growing rapidly, and we’ve had more than we can eat. Your sister-in-law has pickled quite a bit, so take more when you leave."

"Then I won’t stand on ceremony."

Zhulan didn’t go out to send off her daughter; she really didn’t want to move. Xue Mei headed home, and the child didn’t follow her back, only returning after having lunch at noon.

In the afternoon, Zhulan couldn’t sleep either, the weather was too hot. It wasn’t until the boys finished their lessons that Zhulan left the house to find a cool place to sit and watch Lady Li and Lady Zhao pick vegetables. With an excess of vegetables, even though Lady Li pickled quite a bit, they still had more than they could eat, so Zhulan decided whatever could be dried should be dried, to be kept for winter consumption.

As Zhulan was enjoying the cool breeze, Chang Lian approached with the look of someone who had something to say, "Something going on?"

It was rare to see Chang Lian hesitant, making her wonder what he had to discuss.