Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 216: Visiting_1

Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Visiting_1

The next day, Xue Mei came with her two children, her face beaming with joy. As soon as she entered, she shared her happiness, "Mom, my in-laws have gone back. They left just this morning."

Zhulan, disdaining the actions of the old Jiang couple, said, "They didn’t leave because they thought your dad was in trouble and Jiang Sheng lost his job, worried that Jiang Sheng had offended someone, did they?"

Xue Mei nodded, "Mom, you guessed it right. When we returned yesterday and said there was no issue, my in-laws wouldn’t believe it. They pondered all night and rushed off without even having breakfast. Jiang Sheng’s face was as black as ink, saying that if they left like this, they better not come back."

With Zhulan’s family free of the elderly couple, the Jiang’s parents began reaching out even more, especially as they were accustomed to managing everything and wanted to regain control over Jiang Sheng. Jiang Sheng was already feeling impatient inside, and now that his parents had left him in fear of trouble, even the deepest parental grace couldn’t withstand such depletion.

Zhulan coughed, "It’s fine to be happy in your heart, but don’t show it in front of your son-in-law."

Xue Mei blinked, "Mom, I’m your daughter, I know what’s what."

She came not only to share the good news with her mother but also to avoid her husband, who must be feeling especially embarrassed right now. It was not a good time to approach him; better to let him cool down by himself. Once he had calmed down, he would surely appreciate that she understood him!

Lady Li, who had received twenty taels of silver the day before, was again showing off, "Older sister has come."

Xue Mei looked at her sister-in-law, who was dressed up with care, "Sister-in-law, are you going out?"

Lady Li, in a great mood and all smiles, said, "Ah, isn’t the Mid-Autumn Festival coming up? Your older brother and I are going to have a look around the county. Oh, Jiang Miu is getting prettier by the day. We will buy you something delicious when your great aunt returns."

Zhulan watched Lady Li flaunt and thought to herself that in recent days she had forgotten her own surname; without a reminder, she felt uneasy, "Miumiu, it’s rare for your great aunt to be so generous. How about we ask her to buy you the biggest cake from Ruyi Shop?"

Jiang Miu had eaten cake before, bought by her father, but they were so small that there was never enough to go around, "Grandma, how big is the biggest cake? I can’t eat it all by myself. My brother and cousins need some, too."

Zhulan held her granddaughter, "Miumiu is such a good child. The biggest cake made by Ruyi Shop is the size of a washbowl. When your aunt buys it, you all can share."

Xue Mei watched her sister-in-law turn from a crowing rooster to a frostbitten eggplant, her sister-in-law never learned her lesson, and was chastised by mom again.

Jiang Miu clapped her hands, "Oh, big cake, thank you, great aunt."

She was a considerate child; if her great aunt was buying her a cake, she should say thank you.

Lady Li’s face turned the color of earth, casting a resentful look at her mother-in-law. Just a few days ago, she was her mother-in-law’s most favored daughter-in-law, but today her mother-in-law was pinching her pocket for silver. The largest cake from Ruyi Shop cost half a tael of silver! She clearly felt her mother-in-law’s fondness, thinking she had gotten the hang of her mother-in-law’s preferences, yet reality showed her otherwise. She couldn’t read her mother-in-law’s heart anymore. Alas, the family head had warned her not to overdo it as extreme joy turns to sorrow. Rightly so, she had become sorrowful; the family head was a jinx!

Zhou Shuren helped his foolish wife onto the ox cart. He had warned her already—her failure to listen wasn’t his fault. His mom had been looking at his wife with disapproval since last night, and his wife, only watching out for Chang Lian, hadn’t caught on at all. The foolish wife still needed his care; she couldn’t do without him!

An hour later, Xue Mei went back home briefly and soon returned, asking, "Mom, is the house next door up for sale?"

"Where did you hear that from?"

Xue Mei said, "I’ve seen several families go next door to ask about the price. Mother, is Wang Ru really going to move?"

Zhulan thought to herself that Shi Qing was cutting off Wang Ru’s retreat thoroughly by even selling the house. "Yes, once Wang Ru is able to move, she’ll leave."

Xue Mei actually quite liked the house next door, but alas, she had no silver. "I don’t know how much silver they’re selling it for. The house has been newly renovated."

Zhulan was not paying attention to her daughter’s expression, and while folding clothes, she casually said, "Originally, the Zheng family had swindled Wang Ru. After Wang Ru put efforts into renovating it, next door won’t sell for less than fifty taels."

Xue Mei completely lost hope, it was too expensive. She had wanted to borrow less from her family. Even though she could live in her parents’ house next year, she still wished to have her own home. "Aren’t they in a hurry to leave? This price is too high."

Zhulan finally noticed that her eldest daughter had been circling around the topic of the house. "You want to buy it?"

"I’m interested, but I can’t afford it. Even if you lend me the silver, I wouldn’t be able to repay it."

The amount of silver was too much, a burden for their family. Her husband needed to study, her son needed to study, all requiring silver. If it were a small amount, it could slowly be repaid, but too much would put great pressure on the family. She had never considered not repaying her parents’ silver.

Zhulan was very satisfied with Xue Mei’s attitude. Her elder daughter had always been sensible. "Next door, you only saw the cost, but not the value. Wang Ru used quality materials for the renovations, and the furniture that can’t be taken away will surely be left behind. Wang Ru is willing to spend money, and it truly adds value. It’s not the house that has value, and someone will buy it."

Xue Mei thought to herself, it’s no wonder Wang Ru is known in the village as a money tree, she really has the silver. However, with a frown, she said, "Mother, is Wang Ru really leaving with Young Master Shi without any formal status? No dowry, no go-between, not even a proper concubine."

Zhulan pondered over Wang Ru’s unusual behavior, pitying that she had no way of seeing Wang Ru anymore since she was being closely watched. She said pensively, "It’s not even certain that she’s a concubine!"

Shi Qing never intended to take Wang Ru into his inner courtyard!

Xue Mei, who had become someone’s wife, looked down on Wang Ru from the bottom of her heart due to the upbringing she had received. "It’s her own fault," she said.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, seven days had passed. The house next door was sold to someone within the Zhou Clan for fifty-five taels of silver, with an agreement to move out in eight days.

Shi Qing was truly uneasy about Wang Ru. He never left her side, except for necessary trips into town, he never left the courtyard next door.

Just one more day, and Wang Ru would move out.

Zhulan thought she would no longer have the chance to observe Wang Ru’s unusual behavior. But unexpectedly, Wang Ru came to her door to deliver the opportunity herself, under the pretext of saying goodbye and thanks, although Shi Qing had thanked them on her behalf. Wang Ru insisted on visiting in person.

That evening, Zhulan asked Zhou Shuren, "Why do you think Wang Ru insists on visiting? She left without even considering saying farewell to Old Wang Four, so why does she specifically want to thank us?"

Zhou Shuren said, "There’s only one possibility. Wang Ru might not be the same Wang Ru we once knew. Have you noticed? According to the Wang Ru we know, she would definitely not resign herself to being completely controlled, not without a fight, no matter how cautious she was. Yet, it’s been almost ten days since she regained consciousness, and not only has she not caused any trouble, she’s been especially cooperative about leaving. From when the house went up for sale, I’ve noticed that it’s not just Shi Qing who is eager to leave; Wang Ru is too."

Upon reflection, Zhulan found that Zhou Shuren was right. Wang Ru had regained consciousness a few times, deliberately not causing any disturbances nor seeking her male partner, but instead settled accounts with Wang Xin. Following that, she quietly recuperated, all in preparation for leaving as soon as possible.

Zhulan hissed, "Which possibility do you think it is?"