Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 250 Genealogy_1

Chapter 250: Chapter 250 Genealogy_1

The Zhou family, with Lady Dong and Chang Lian having just returned from their visit back home, Zhulan, accompanied by Lady Li and Lady Zhao, was busy sorting out the wedding gifts they had received, as there had been no time the day before.

In ancient times, unlike today, it was rare for people to give Silver Coins; instead, they would give gifts.

One wedding feast, and the Zhou family’s house was piled up with half a room of gift boxes. Zhulan hadn’t even had the chance to see or check them, but most of the gifts were practical items—decorations, fabrics, spices, and the like.

Zhulan picked out the items intended for the newlyweds’ use, and there were quite a few, mainly because it was customary to give red, festive items for weddings.

Zhulan didn’t like the spices; their scent was too strong for her to bear. She packed them all away and didn’t plan to let her family use them either.

Most of the fabrics were brightly colored and festive, fitting for the newlyweds to use, so Zhulan selected those as well.

Once everything was sorted, Zhulan felt a bit aggrieved. She had paid for the bride price and the wedding feast, but the gifts were mostly given to the newlyweds. Only a small amount of food could be shared amongst the family, and there were some fabric pieces left to make clothes for the children. For future gift reciprocations, she and Zhou Shuren would have to pay, all because they hadn’t split the household!

Zhulan divided the fabric for making children’s clothes between Lady Li and Lady Zhao.

The rest were packed into boxes, which she asked Zhou Eldest to carry to Chang Lian’s courtyard; they were all items the young couple could use.

Lady Li felt envious. When she married into the family, the Zhous had few relatives and weren’t close to their clan relatives—not many people attended, and even fewer gifts were received. Moreover, the dynasty was newly established at that time, and unlike the impressiveness of modern weddings with gifts destined for the couple, people back then were just decent enough to bring food, with only a few pieces of fabric being kept for herself.

Zhulan, "Don’t look anymore; there’s no use. Everything is for the newlyweds."

With her lips pursed, Lady Li was discontented. So many things they couldn’t use—it was better out of sight. "Mother, we’ve finished with the wedding gifts; let’s go back to the main house!"

Otherwise, just looking at the gifts would upset her, potentially spoiling her appetite at lunch. Indeed, the discontent gnawed at her; she couldn’t help but think that if this was the case for the third brother’s wedding, the youngest brother’s wedding would surely be even grander. She clutched at her heart, pained.

Zhulan was too lazy to entertain Lady Li’s thoughts. She, who had funded and worked for everything and who would pay for future reciprocation, did not even feel the need to clutch her chest!

In the afternoon, Chang Lian and Lady Dong returned with Lady Dong’s smile so wide and corners so lifted that it was obvious her visit back home had been pleasant.

Zhulan said, "Go and rest, and by the way, I’ve sent all the gifts you could use from the wedding banquet to your courtyard. Go sort them out yourselves when you get back!"

Chang Lian had drunk quite a bit and said with a bit of a headache, "Mother, we will go to our courtyard first."

"Go ahead."

At dinner, Lady Li was cheerful again, prompting Zhulan to raise an eyebrow. Ming Teng leaned in close to his grandmother and said, "Auntie gave mother a good amount of fabric and a pair of vases as decoration, so mother is happy now."

Ming Teng’s words weren’t whispered, and everyone at the table heard.

Lady Li, "....."

Tearing down her parents’ prestige!

Smiling, Lady Dong said, "Mother, the guests came for you and father. We received the lion’s share of the gifts, and Chang Lian and I felt a bit embarrassed, so I kept what was meant for us and exchanged it with some things from my dowry I couldn’t use to give to my sisters-in-law. They worked hard during the wedding, running around non-stop; this is what they deserve."

As for why she didn’t give anything to her mother-in-law, well, her mother-in-law had already given to them, and giving back would be like a slap in her face—as if the house lacked her contributions. Dividing gifts between her sisters-in-law fostered harmony among the daughters-in-law, which was something mother would like to see as well.

Zhulan reflected internally on the different perspectives that come with distinct social statuses and educations; Lady Dong handled matters thoroughly, "You’re considerate."

With a smile, Lady Dong replied, "It’s what I should do."

Chang Lian felt proud; having such a generous wife was a credit to him. He saw that she had chosen quality items from her dowry, not skimping with inferior ones to appease her sisters-in-law, and this helped him straighten his back with dignity.

Zhou Eldest listened to his brother’s wife and then looked at his own; he still found his wife’s way better. Although she might occasionally do foolish things, life with her was lively, and he liked it that way—unburdened and straightforward.

Zhou Laodi felt that his younger sister-in-law Zhulan understood reason very well and would not bully her daughter-in-law in the future, considering that his own wife was all alone in the world.

Xue Han thought that her sister-in-law had personally taught her how to be a good daughter-in-law, and she had learned quite a bit.

The next day, Lady Li’s father brought the three brothers over, and the plots of land belonging to Zhulan’s family weren’t few—as each of Lady Li’s three uncles’ households had several youngsters, helping to till ten acres for Zhulan’s family was easily done. Having heard Zhou Laoda’s offer regarding Lady Dong’s land, this year he brought his brothers to the door as well.

Fifty acres in total, with each of Lady Li’s three uncles’ households taking ten acres to cultivate, left twenty acres. This favor was given to the Lizheng’s family, who, with the Lizheng involved and being the land owned by the County magistrate’s daughter, no one dared to act dishonestly.

Lady Lixu came along as well, and Zhulan invited her to dinner the next day, also serving as a witness.

In the afternoon, Zhulan asked Zhou Laodi to go back to Zhou Village and inform the Clan Leader’s family, setting the time for tomorrow. Zhou Laoda went to the Yang family, as they were all coming over tomorrow.

Lady Li was preparing the vegetables needed for the next day with Lady Dong; there was still some lamb left in Zhulan’s household, and plenty of pork—enough to prepare several tables of dishes.

Since the local area had been ravaged by wolves and the New Year had passed, the nearby villages had few poultry left. The chickens needed for the next day were all wild chickens, all bought from the hunter’s family. Wild chickens were rather tricky to clean, so Lady Li and Lady Dong had to hurry to get them ready.

During Chang Lian’s wedding, a lot of dried vegetables from Zhulan’s house were used. What remained was just enough for the next day’s meals, and fortunately, with spring approaching, wild greens were starting to sprout.

In the afternoon, not only did Zhou Laodi come back, but Xue Mei’s entire family came along as well.

Zhulan held Jiang Miu in her arms. The little girl took after Xue Mei in looks, with only her brows and eyes resembling Jiang Sheng. The little girl’s hair grew fast, her eyes wide, and she became more and more adorable—the second most beautiful little girl in the family after Yu Lu from the eldest’s household took the last place.

Speaking of Yu Lu, the girl’s temperament was not like Lady Li’s; she was introverted and not very willing to speak, taking after the eldest’s nature. She enjoyed staying with Zhulan the most, sitting still despite her young age, but she had one bad habit—perhaps having watched Lady Li do so much, she learned to hide things. Whatever food and toys were given to her, she liked to stash them away, sometimes forgetting their location and getting so anxious she’d run around in circles, amusing both Zhulan and Zhou Shuren to no end. The little girls had completely different natures, yet all were sensible children.

Xue Mei sent her daughter and son out to play and took out a wrapped package from her bosom, "Mother, this is what I’m going to give to my second sister-in-law tomorrow."

Zhulan saw it was a pair of silver earrings, "You are thoughtful."

Xue Mei smiled, "The second sister-in-law has also helped me a lot; it’s only right."

Early the next morning, the Yang family arrived first, followed by Lady Li’s parents, and last to arrive were the Clan Leader and his wife, who brought the family genealogy.

Zhulan only learned during Ming Rui’s first birthday when he was to be entered into the genealogy that Zhao Shi had no wedding contract and no matchmaker involved, so she had not been entered into the genealogy—Zhao Shi’s name was not on it. So the purpose of writing the wedding contract and matching the birthdays was not only to legitimate her status, but also to be included in the genealogy.

Zhao Shi had been flustered and excited since she got up in the morning.

Zhou Wangshi did not like Zhao Shi, even after Zhao Shi had stopped crying so often, she still disliked her, feeling irritated just by looking down at her. Zhou Wangshi wasn’t surprised that Yang Shi legitimated Zhao Shi’s status, as over the past year, she had found Yang Shi to be a rare and good mother-in-law, a kind-hearted person.

As for why she hadn’t legitimized her status earlier, Zhou Wangshi assumed that Yang Shi had done it to temper Zhao Shi—look, now Zhao Shi didn’t cry anymore.

The birthday horoscope was calculated by Zhulan spending silver coins; they found a reasonably well-known fortune teller for a good match, a beautiful marriage indeed.

The wedding contract was written by Zhou Shuren, and the Clan Leader signed his name. After the contract was written, the Clan Leader took out the thick genealogy and added Zhao Shi’s name to it. From then on, no one would question Zhao Shi’s legitimacy.

Zhao Shi struggled not to shed tears; she couldn’t cry, today was a day of great joy, she couldn’t cry.

Zhou Laodi took Zhao Shi to thank the elders, and Zhou Wangshi patted her hand, "You have a good mother-in-law. Live your life well from now on, and be filial to your parents-in-law."

Sun Shi didn’t say much, just patted Zhao Shi quietly in comfort.

Zhulan let Zhao Shi and Zhou Laodi go out. Lady Li and the others went out too, and Zhulan was actually very curious about what Lady Li had given to Zhao Shi but would have to wait until tomorrow to find out.

After dinner in the afternoon, the invited guests left, and Xue Mei’s family also returned home in the Clan Leader’s ox cart.

After dinner, Zhulan took out a wrapped package and handed it to Zhao Shi, "Take this back with you, look at it when you’re back home. This is a gift from your mother."