Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 235 Purpose_1

Chapter 235: Chapter 235 Purpose_1

Zhang Datie’s family was particularly conspicuous among the remaining guests.

Zhou Shuren and Zhulan exchanged a look, and neither asked any questions. If the Zhang family truly had something to say, they would definitely wait until all the guests had left.

Now that Lady Li didn’t need to help entertain the guests, she went to help clean the tables and dishes.

Zhulan had to entertain the female relatives, and Mrs. Zhu just sat in a corner. Seeing Zhulan glance over, Mrs. Zhu was not at all flustered. She didn’t join in the conversation, but her hands were busy, continuously eating pastries, as if she hadn’t had her fill at the table earlier.

Zhulan ignored Mrs. Zhu and smiled as she exchanged pleasantries with Lady Zhou, her parents-in-law, and the others.

Lady Zhou also noticed Mrs. Zhu, but as a guest, it wasn’t her place to ask on behalf of the Yang family. Since the Yang family hadn’t spoken up, she turned her attention away from Mrs. Zhu and said, "Now that we won’t be in the same village, it will be difficult for me to come over for a chat."

Zhulan smiled, "I’ll often come back to the village to chat with you as well."

Her daughter was still in Zhou’s village. The two villages were not far apart, so it was quite convenient to travel back and forth.

Lady Zhou particularly enjoyed talking with Yang. Yang spoke in a soothing manner, "I’ll hold you to that now. If you don’t come, I’ll have to come to your door for a good talk."

"Don’t worry, my word is my bond. I’ll definitely come back and chat with you. However, once I go to Pingzhou, I’m afraid It will be difficult for me to return, so don’t blame me if I break my promise."

Lady Zhou thought to herself that a year ago, she never expected Zhou Shuren’s family to have such a day. They were incomparable. Look at the guests who came today, nearly all prestigious people from the county, just the gifts alone filled a table, truly enviable, "When the time comes, I won’t blame you, but remember, when I visit Pingzhou, you must host me."

"Of course."

In the main hall, Zhou Shuren was also keeping the conversation going. The Zhou clan relatives were happy with Zhou Shuren’s progress. The better Zhou Shuren did, the more they could benefit in the future. The arrival of today’s guests had already brought enough glory to them.

Zhou Shuren didn’t get many chances to speak, spending most of the time watching others chat, silently sympathizing with Lady Li’s natal family who were almost wrapped around the Zhou family’s cunning fingers in no time. Just look how kindly the Zhous were eyeing the Li family—smart people always like the simple-minded ones!

The Yang brothers served as the backdrop. Exchanging glances, they both agreed that it would be better to keep their distance from the Zhou family in the future. These people were too shrewd.

Zhang Datie sipped his tea with a twitching mouth corner. The Zhou family members were tricky, even their Clan Leader was afraid of the Zhou Clan Leader, often preferring to take a detour than meet face to face.

Zhang Datie thought to himself that the Zhou clan was all brains. If they hadn’t been so preoccupied with scheming, they could have focused on education, and the Zhou clan would have become a major family long ago. But now it seemed that the Zhou clan was on the rise.

In the main hall, Rongchuan’s feelings were very complicated. He had noticed his parents’ arrival early on, and at first, he was tense, afraid that they might cause a scene and spoil today’s feast. Unexpectedly, they didn’t seem to want to make a fuss at all. Not only did they bring gifts, but they also kept his younger brother from making a scene and ate their meal quietly.

However, they showed no signs of leaving, and he kept an eye on his father without being able to read anything from his expression. Yet intuition told him that his father’s visit could signify something big was about to happen.

Chang Lian felt exhausted for Rongchuan, who was visibly tense and on guard the whole time. Initially, Chang Lian resented Rongchuan for fear he would use up the family’s resources. Later, his father used Rongchuan to temper Chang Lian’s personality. Over time, feelings grew, as Rongchuan had shown sincere concern for him, and as Chang Lian’s perspective changed, he began to act more like a big brother.

He now felt somewhat sorry for his hard-pressed brother-in-law. It was no easy feat to stay alive at such a young age. After nearly a year in the family, Rongchuan hadn’t grown much. Seeing Rongchuan so tense, Chang Lian patted his back, "Relax, whatever happens, you don’t need to worry. Dad’s here!"

Rongchuan blushed. He was engaged to Xue Han, but he had always called him uncle. Though he really wanted to call him father, hearing Chang Lian say this made him happy that Chang Lian had accepted him, and he blushed with embarrassment.

Chang Lian belatedly realized what he had said, his tooth ached. Accepting Rongchuan, who hadn’t married his sister yet, really made him aware that his mouth had no filter; he still needed practice.

Seeing that it was getting late, the table was cleared, the dishes were all washed, and the kitchen was tidied up swiftly.

Zhou Shuren stood up, curiously taking his clan relatives for a tour around, with Zhulan also leading people and following behind.

After making the rounds, everyone’s eyes were opened, and the Zhou clan members left satisfied. The Li family also headed home.

Today, Lady Li’s brothers had come, as well as the Lizheng family from Li Family Village, all of whom were involved with mutual interests; they had arrived bearing significant gifts.

At the Yangs’, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren personally saw them out. Zhulan gave most of the day’s unused pork to her elder and second brothers to take home, and also handed the received cloth from the gifts to her sisters-in-law. For the nieces-in-law, Zhulan distributed enough cloth to each to make a set of clothes in thanks.

The grandson generation of the Yangs didn’t want to leave. Although Zhulan tried to keep them, it was in vain; they were forcibly lifted onto the ox carts by their mothers. Zhulan watched the ox carts disappearing into the distance, still able to hear the wailing of her great-nephews, surely they had been slapped.

Zhou Shuren exhaled deeply, "Finally, some peace. Today has been noisy all day long. My head is throbbing."

Zhulan supported Zhou Shuren, "Your back and waist must hurt more, sitting for almost the entire day. It’s really tough that you’ve held up."

She truly admired Zhou Shuren; the man was tough on himself. Zhou Shuren’s success wasn’t an accident, it was all due to the effort he put in bit by bit.

Zhou Shuren, unconcerned with appearances now, admitted he couldn’t bear it anymore, taking in a breath, "Stop talking, the more you say, the more my lower back hurts. It looks like I will have to apply medicine, and I won’t be able to get up tomorrow."

Zhulan said with heartache, "Let me take you back; leave the matter with Zhang Datie and his family to me."

Zhou Shuren waved his hand, "Zhang Datie won’t say anything if he doesn’t see me; I’m okay and can still endure a bit longer."

Zhou eldest wanted to step forward and help his mother support his father, admiring his father because he hadn’t noticed a single sign of discomfort from him all day.

Zhou second quickly grabbed his elder brother and lowered his voice, "Do you believe that if you step up now, father will keep a mental tally on you?"

Zhou eldest withdrew his extended hand, "Thanks, brother."

Zhou second didn’t make a sound. It wasn’t that he wanted to help his elder brother; he just didn’t want his father to tally against him as well. Suddenly, he realized that their father liked to punish them together now, no longer singling out the eldest. This realization pained him; glaring at his elder brother, he felt the latter was too weak. How could he let their father give up on him? If the eldest had persisted, their father wouldn’t have started indiscriminate punishments.

Zhou eldest, "....."

Don’t think he hadn’t seen the disdain; his eyes weren’t blind. Younger brothers really were the most annoying.

Chang Lian was eager to learn more and felt that today he had once again learnt from his father. His heart swelled with excitement; his father was truly the most formidable.

Zhulan led Zhou Shuren back to the main courtyard, and upon reaching the entrance, Zhou Shuren no longer needed Zhulan’s assistance. Zhang Datie’s family was sitting in the main hall, just waiting for Zhulan and Zhou Shuren!