Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 218: Envy to the Point of Wanting to Destroy_1

Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Envy to the Point of Wanting to Destroy_1

Wang Ru took a deep breath; the fifty taels had barely made a splash. Feeling a surge of frustration, she knew she couldn’t stay put as the Zhou family was already sending her away. Shi Qing had sent a young servant, and she didn’t want to arouse his suspicions. Looking at Zhou Xuehan, her eyes flickered, "In the past, in the village, you were the only one I shared a handkerchief friendship with. After I leave for Pingzhou, if you ever have the chance to come there, you can look for me."

She always wanted to know why Zhou Xuehan had appeared in the capital, no longer looking like a village girl. Unfortunately, caught in a difficult position, she couldn’t investigate further. However, in this life, she could try a different approach, to befriend Zhou Xuehan and take the opportunity to discover the fortunes Zhou Xuehan carried with her.

Xuehan, ".....you hurt your forehead, not your brain. When did we ever have a handkerchief friendship? We haven’t kept in touch for a long time. I’m a decent girl and I hope you won’t talk nonsense."

She was very angry; Wang Ru’s reputation had sunk so low, and yet, she still tried to cling to her on her way out. Wang Ru’s intentions were truly malicious.

Wang Ru, "...."

Right, she had forgotten that she ruined her own reputation. Twisting her mouth into a grimace, she had dug her own grave. Then her face darkened a bit as she realized that Zhou Xuehan’s words were truly venomous, barely stopping short of calling her outright crazy.

Xuehan, unhappy, purse her lips and continued, "I hope you live honestly and uprightly from now on; don’t always look for a higher mountain to climb. Take good care of yourself."

Having said that, Xuehan felt better. Wang Ru disgusted her, and she disgusted Wang Ru in turn. She deliberately spoke in front of Shi Qing’s young servant, and when he went back and gossiped, she didn’t believe Wang Ru would dare to act up. After all, no man would want his woman to be unfaithful.

Wang Ru regulated her breathing, her head spinning again. The memory of Zhou Xuehan was blurring, replaced with the current image of her in her mind. This person was not easy to deal with; not a single word she said was wasted. Thinking of Shi Qing’s young servant, she pursed her lips. If she stayed any longer, all her efforts over these days would be wasted. It was true—the Zhou family had cursed her!

Wang Ru stood up, holding her forehead, "I feel a bit dizzy, let’s go."

Zhang Sanni bowed her head, the corners of her mouth twitching, seeking her own humiliation. At the same time, she envied Zhou Xuehan. Who in Zhou’s village didn’t?

Before Wang Ru had even left through the main gate, Lady Li cheerfully said, "Finally, the troublemaker is leaving. Mother, let’s have something nice to eat today, shall we?"

Zhulan teased, "Did you hear what your eldest sister-in-law said? Everybody pick a dish, and she will pay with her Silver Coins."

Lady Li panicked; last time her mother-in-law had tricked her out of half a Silver Coin, and it had hurt for a long time. "Mother, don’t just pick on me!"

Chang Lian caressed his thin wallet, "Who else but the eldest sister-in-law has the most Silver in the house?"

Lady Li’s face darkened; she knew Chang Lian was reluctant to give her all the Silver. Panic made her blurt out, "My mother has the most Silver in the family."

Zhou Shuren smiled amiably, "So the eldest sister-in-law means to bully Mother?"

Lady Li glared. Just great, they were all ganging up on her. Clutching her money tightly, "That’s not what I meant, mother. My affection for you can be seen as clearly as the sun and the moon."

With that said, Lady Li quickly got up and, grabbing Zhou Shuren, ran off.

Chang Lian, "....."

Zhou Shuren, "....."

Oh my, the eldest sister-in-law is getting crafty, probably taking the chance to run off!

Zhulan could no longer suppress her smile, her lips curling, "All right, stop teasing your eldest sister-in-law. Your mother will spend Silver to prepare a good meal today."

Zhou Shuren, "...."

Chang Lian, Chang Zhi, "...."

Lady, don’t you feel guilty saying that? It was clearly you who started it and you who bullied the most harshly.

Xue Han laughed heartily, followed by the laughter of several grandchildren. With one collective cheer, the entire main hall brightened with mirth.

Wang Ru stood outside the Zhou family’s main gate, listening to the laughter inside, feeling as if she was in a different world. Inside the courtyard was the affection she had always craved but never received. Her jealousy changed her face, and the warmth made her want to destroy everything.

Zhang Sanni’s arm hurt from being grabbed, and she couldn’t help but hiss in pain, which brought Wang Ru back to her senses. Slowly, she said, "Let’s go back."

Zhang Sanni hung her head to hide the resentment in her eyes. Wang Ru was still Wang Ru; her pretense of frailty these past days hadn’t changed her true nature, especially since she was ruthless enough to trick her own sister into signing an indenture. Zhang Sanni knew well from her parents, who had been servants, that the life of a servant was worse than a dog’s, and the life of someone under an indenture was worse than that of a pig or dog. She hated that her own indenture had been deceitfully taken by Wang Ru from Young Master Shi, binding her to Wang Ru.

After adding fifty silver taels to the accounts, Zhulan went back to her room after dinner, holding the Silver Coin, "This month, we’ve saved quite a bit of silver ingots in the house. Look for a time to exchange them for gold."

Zhou Shuren complied, "Alright, I’ll go to the county moneychanger tomorrow to exchange them for gold."

Zhulan put away the Silver, took out three five-tael Silver Ingots and two-qian worth of broken silver, and handed the Silver Ingots to her second son, "You’re the most familiar with the neighboring villages. Go buy three sheep to bring back. We’ll slaughter them for food when it gets into winter, to avoid the high sheep prices and the difficulty of purchasing them later on."

Zhou’s second son inhaled sharply, "Mother, isn’t three too many?"

He estimated that the family had been making a good income recently, but three sheep seemed too extravagant.

Zhulan explained, "Our family doesn’t give gifts! Not to mention distant relations, your grandfather has always subsidized our family. Last year’s mutton was given by your grandfather. This year, we must send him some too. Also, we should give a couple of pounds to the Clan Leader and a few elders, and even the County magistrate’s house should receive some. Once we divide two sheep, our own family won’t have much left."

Zhou’s second son said, "Mother, aren’t we buying three?"

"We’ll keep one to raise. Next year, during Chang Lian’s wedding banquet, it will serve as a prestigious dish. This year we’ll prepare more fodder and feed the sheep well so that they are fat for the wedding next year, lest we can’t get a good sheep at that time."

Zhou’s second son smiled, "Mother always thinks ahead."

Zhulan, "One must be meticulous; after all, it’s for the County magistrate’s daughter’s wedding banquet. We can’t be careless."

Zhou’s second son took the Silver, "Mother, I’ll definitely bring back three good sheep."

"Hmm, I’m at ease when you handle things."

Zhou’s second son was the only one who tricked others, and no one ever managed to trick him. She was especially at ease with him.

Zhulan gave the two qian of Silver to Lady Li, stating that today’s meal expenses weren’t on the books—she was treating. Two silver taels were enough to prepare two tables of fine dishes. Now that Wang Ru had finally moved away from the neighboring house and out of sight, it truly was a cause for celebration.

Lady Li took the Silver Coin, knowing that her mother-in-law was the best; she didn’t mistreat her like others did, "Mother is indeed the best."

Zhulan, "...."

She seemed to have forgotten that it was she who had started bullying today. She chuckled softly to herself; Lady Li was just fine this way—quick to anger but also quick to forget, and she bore no grudges!