Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 248: Too Fat to Fit_1

Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Too Fat to Fit_1

Zhulan coughed, and Lady Li’s heart trembled, feeling even more wronged. Her mother didn’t like her anymore. She said dryly, "Sister-in-law doesn’t have much silver, this is a token of my heart, don’t disdain it."

Lady Dong did not disdain; she had not expected anything, so to receive a meeting gift was already an unexpected joy. The box was open, a hair ornament from the jeweler in town, from the south, worth two qian of silver. For Lady Li as Lady Dong knew her, it was indeed a rare meeting gift.

Lady Dong smiled as she accepted it, "I really like it. This is what I have for my elder sister-in-law, I also don’t know what elder sister-in-law likes, please don’t disdain it."

Lady Li truly hadn’t expected a return gift, and only then did she notice that on the tray Lady Dong brought, there were several small boxes and embroidered pouches. She happily took them, saying, "I do not disdain, do not disdain," as long as she didn’t lose out.

Upon opening one, she saw a silver hairpin and laughed even more naively.

Chang Lian knew it would be like this and took Lady Dong to meet his second brother and sister-in-law.

Zhao’s gift was a fan, "Sister-in-law, I am somewhat better at embroidery, this is a fan I made myself, don’t disdain it, sister-in-law."

Lady Dong also had quite a few fans from Jiangnan and knew Zhao’s embroidery was not bad, but hadn’t expected it to be this good. She smiled and said, "I really like it, I like women’s needlework too, I will have to trouble my second sister-in-law more in the future."

Zhao looked down and said, "You’re welcome at any time."

Lady Dong returned the courtesy and also gifted a silver hairpin.

Then she proceeded to greet everyone in turn, giving deep friend Xue Han a pair of jade earrings, Yushuang and Yu Lu each a pair of silver earrings, and Mingyun, Ming Teng, and Ming Rui each an embroidered pouch containing two qian of silver.

After the introductions were over, everyone dispersed.

Zhulan called Lady Li and Zhao, "You two wait a moment."

Lady Dong looked back, and Zhulan said, "Lady Dong, please stay as well!"

Zhulan got up and went into the house, quickly returning with two red cloth wraps. She opened one and gestured for Lady Li to come forward. Zhulan reached out and grabbed Lady Li’s hand, then paused; the wrist was too plump to fit through the bracelet. Zhulan silently let go of Lady Li’s hand and handed her the red cloth wrap, "When the new dynasty was established, mother didn’t dare to be flashy and never gave you anything nice. This is to make it up to you, only... you seem unable to wear it."

Lady Li, "....."

The surge of excitement and emotion instantly extinguished. Mother could have left out that last sentence.

Lady Dong suppressed a smile, the mother-in-law really hit her sister-in-law’s sore spot.

Zhulan ignored Lady Li’s ’mother is bullying me again’ look, opened the other wrap and put it on Zhao, "When you first entered our family, there was no dowry, no matchmaker; it was indeed unfair to you. Whatever your sister-in-law and siblings-in-law have, you’ll have too. Mother has picked a date to match your and second brother’s birthdays and write a marriage certificate, three days from now, two days after you return from your bridal visit."

Zhulan finished speaking and said to Lady Li, "In a while, check how much meat we have left in the house, see if it’s enough to prepare a few good dishes. If not, use silver to buy it."

It was the first time Lady Li saw Zhao not covering her face to cry, but lifting her head to cry. She didn’t find the beauty in tears attractive; she just felt that her sister-in-law had it hard. To protect herself, she had swapped herself in as a bride; her sister-in-law’s life was too bitter. "Mother, leave the cooking to me, I will definitely bring out the family’s best to celebrate for my sister-in-law."

Zhao couldn’t hold back anymore and threw herself into her mother-in-law’s arms, crying. As a woman, who wouldn’t want a proper marriage, to hold a marriage certificate and a matched birthday to be recognized by her husband’s family.

She had no choice, fleeing the famine while protecting herself, she traded herself for food, and at that time, she lost her status.

The Zhou family was generous; her husband protected her. Otherwise, a wife obtained in exchange was, to put it nicely, a wife or, to put it badly, a serf bought in trade—who would care even if you were sold.

In Zhou’s village, there were other wives who had been exchanged for food, constantly beaten and scolded by their mothers-in-law and husbands, working hard with little to eat. Lacking the support of their natal families was one aspect; the other was the absence of a matchmaker, no marriage certificate, making the in-laws look down on them.

She had already borne two children, and both her mother-in-law and husband treated her well. She was even in charge of the household’s monthly expenses, living in a large house, wearing clothes without patches, receiving new clothes every season, wearing jewelry, and able to save Silver Coin every month. She was truly content and satisfied.

She had never expected that her mother-in-law would arrange for her to have a supplementary marriage certificate and match her Birthday; after her own mother and husband, her mother-in-law was the third person to be so kind to her.

Zhulan’s heart soured as she listened to Lady Zhao’s cries, which were different from her previous tearful sobs. It was the first time Lady Zhao had wailed so loudly. Lady Zhao had it tough, learning to protect herself at such a young age, enduring her family selling her mother away, bereft of the mother who had protected her, surviving on her own without wanting to be sold to a dirty brothel, constantly enduring in fear, always guarding against anyone, bottling it up inside without daring to vent, and even in front of Chang Yi, she had always acted strong.

Today, Zhulan’s actions touched the softest part of Lady Zhao’s heart.

Zhulan stroked Lady Zhao’s hair, "Cry, it’ll be better once you let it out."

Lady Dong snapped back from staring at Lady Zhao’s face, shocked. She had seen beauties before—the county had beauties, many pretty young ladies from merchant families, but she had never seen anyone as beautiful as Sister-in-law Zhao. No wonder Sister-in-law Zhao had always kept her head down, not daring to make eye contact.

Lady Li wiped away her tears and, seeing Lady Dong gaze at Lady Zhao and considering Lady Dong’s background, she blocked her view, narrowing her eyes, "This is a family secret. Now that you’re part of our family, you must not speak of it, or I will be furious with you."

Lady Dong paused for a moment; she had just heard the eldest sister-in-law complaining about Sister-in-law Zhao at dinner, and now she was defending her. Although she didn’t understand the eldest sister-in-law’s thoughts, she felt moved, a softness in her eyes, "Eldest sister-in-law, I won’t tell anyone."

Lady Li, still not reassured, said, "Not even to your parents."

Lady Dong laughed lightly, understanding the situation well, knowing what should and should not be said. Sister-in-law Zhao’s matter certainly fell into the latter category. Her mother had already told her that a daughter-in-law should not share everything with her natal family. Moreover, with her upbringing more insightful than that of the eldest sister-in-law, she knew she couldn’t discuss Sister-in-law Zhao’s affairs—it could bring disaster, especially with no protection from the eunuch’s family, "I won’t tell them."

Lady Zhao had stopped crying upon hearing this and tearfully looked at the eldest sister-in-law, never imagining she would be so protective. Although the eldest sister-in-law occasionally scammed her, she was a good person, and Lady Zhao could forgive her.

Lady Li clutched her chest, "Sister-in-law, don’t look at me like that. Even I, a woman, am about to be overwhelmed. Mother, I’m going to check how much meat we have left."

Zhulan, "...."

What was a deeply touching moment was instantly ruined by Lady Li’s comment.

Lady Zhao stopped crying, and Zhulan decided not to give her the second gift she had prepared. Instead, she planned to give it to Lady Zhao on the evening three days later; if Lady Zhao needed to cry a second time, she could go back to her own courtyard.

Lady Zhao and Lady Dong left together, and Zhulan went back to her room to change clothes. Lady Zhao was indeed a big cryer; her clothes were all wet.

Zhou Shuren lay on his side, watching with a raised corner of his mouth as Zhulan changed her clothes, tenderness in his eyes. Zhulan’s heart was kind and soft; she held the entire family in her heart, remembering every family member’s birthday. Even though Zhulan’s heart was divided among the children of the Zhou family, what he liked was kindhearted Zhulan; his taste was really good!

It’s a pity he couldn’t return to modern times. If he could, without the Zhou family’s irritating presence, that would be even better. He still thought there were too many annoyances.

Zhulan changed her clothes and was about to sew when there was a knock on the door, "Mother, I need to speak with you."