Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 259 Bad News, Good News_1

Chapter 259: Chapter 259 Bad News, Good News_1

Zhou La’er realized he had been distracted and hurriedly said, "Father, Zhao’s mother was sold in Pingzhou many years ago; all we know is that she was bought by a family with the surname Yun. I’ve made inquiries twice but haven’t found anything, so I was hoping you could help look into it to see if there is a prominent family with the surname Yun in Pingzhou City."

Zhou Shuren asked, "Just the surname?"

Zhou La’er knew the information was too scant, "Just the surname."

Zhou Shuren thought to himself that there weren’t many with the surname Yun, and those who could afford servants must be wealthy households. Although Pingzhou City was not small, the Zhao family was an old clan in Pingzhou, and there was nothing in Pingzhou City that the Zhaos didn’t know about. Asking Zhao Bo should yield some results, "I’ve noted it down. I will have someone look into it. You all wait for the news."

Zhao’s anxious heart settled, and she knelt down in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Father."

Zhulan hurriedly stood up and helped Zhao to her feet, "It’s good that you’ve always kept your mother in your thoughts. Stand up, good child!"

Zhulan knew that Zhao had something on her mind, but she hadn’t expected it to be the search for her mother; it had greatly moved her.

Zhou Shuren flinched at the sound of the kowtowing, and said to Zhou La’er, "Quickly help Zhao back. There’s no need for thanks between family."

Zhou La’er also felt sorry for his wife, whose forehead had reddened, "Father, Mother, we will head back first."

Zhulan urged them, "Go ahead, and by the way, roll a boiled egg over your forehead to prevent swelling."

Seeing Zhao’s state, knowing how forceful her kowtowing had been, Zhulan was thankful she had helped her up quickly.

Zhao’s nose reddened; she was grateful that her parents-in-law were willing to help her search despite her own mother having sold herself into servitude. She must have accumulated a lot of good karma in her past life to have married into the Zhou family.

After Zhulan saw Zhou La’er and his wife out, she said, "Zhao has been married into our family for six years now, and it’s still unclear whether the Yun family that bought her is still in Pingzhou."

Zhou Shuren, lounging lazily again, said, "Officials might be transferred and promoted away. If they are not officials, they are unlikely to leave their hometown without good reason."

Zhulan prayed, "Let’s hope the Yun family hasn’t left."

Zhou Shuren, opening his book to the page where he left off, said, "Even if they are still in Pingzhou, whether Zhao’s mother is still with the Yun family is uncertain. It’s common for people bound by indenture to die in large households, and servants are often sold off. We don’t know if she has been resold; don’t get your hopes up too high and end up disappointed."

Zhulan sighed, "And even if she is found, it’s uncertain whether the master would be willing to release the indenture."

With the silver coins that Zhou La’er and Zhao had saved, it might not be enough. No wonder Zhao, upon arriving in Pingzhou, spent her free time embroidering screens. If it wasn’t for Zhulan forbidding her to stay up late working, Zhao would hate to waste the nighttime hours not embroidering.

Zhulan couldn’t help but sentimentally say, "Although Zhao’s mother has had a hard life, having a daughter who misses her is, in itself, not living in vain."

Zhou Shuren nodded, "Indeed, it’s rare."

The next day, Zhou Shuren paid a visit to Zhao Bo and asked him to gather information. Afterwards, Zhou Shuren was busy plotting against Dong’s brother-in-law. He had no intention of visiting him in person, knowing that taking the initiative to show up would put him at a disadvantage.

He could only approach the situation from a different angle. Jiang Ming’s superior liked antiques, and knowing that Jiang Ming would cater to what he favored, Jiang Ming would surely visit the antique shops from time to time. Zhou Shuren couldn’t afford to stake out himself; there were too many antique shops in Pingzhou. He couldn’t do it alone.

Gathering information wasn’t an option either, as it could easily expose him. He had his own methods, figuring out when Jiang Ming would take a break and then visiting all the antique shops himself, choosing several with high-quality goods and calculating the distance from the Jiang Residence before staking out the one closest to it.

Why the closest one? This thanks to Zhulan, who had cunningly extracted information. From what Lady Dong had let slip, Jiang Ming disliked riding in carriages and would always ride a horse when accompanying Lady Dong’s sister back to Prefecture City. In Pingzhou, Jiang Ming preferred to walk to the government office.

If he walked to the government office, he would walk on his days off too. Zhou Shuren believed staking out the shop nearest to the Jiang Residence would give him the greatest chance of running into Jiang Ming.

After Zhou Shuren spent two days busying himself with the stakeout plan, Zhao Bo sent a reply about the information he had asked for.

Zhao Bo personally delivered the letter, "Brother Zhou, Sister-in-law, my family has been busy lately, and I haven’t paid a visit now that you’re in Pingzhou. I truly apologize for the discourtesy."

Zhulan heard from Zhou Shuren that one of Zhao Bo’s clan elders had retired and returned home, intending to examine the younger generations closely. Zhao Bo was also set to participate in this year’s civil examinations; it was a rare opportunity. He had been busy preparing these past days. Seeing Zhao Bo’s cheerful expression, it was clear he had caught the clan elder’s eye.

Zhou Shuren said, "Dear brother, your words make me feel ashamed. Knowing how busy you are, I still asked you to make inquiries; if anyone is to be called rude, it should be me."

Zhao Bo said indifferently, "Making inquiries is hardly an effort for me; I just move my mouth, Brother Zhou is too formal."

Zhou Shuren invited Zhao Bo to take a seat, "Since you don’t want me to be formal, dear brother, let’s not mention any rudeness. Seeing your radiant face, it must mean that things have gone your way. I congratulate you here and now."

Zhao Bo smiled, "Thank you, Brother Zhou."

This patriarchal grandfather had always been an official in Jiangnan. When he visited Jiangnan, he went to pay his respects but sadly didn’t catch the patriarchal grandfather’s eye. Unexpectedly, now that the patriarchal grandfather had returned home after retirement, he had caught his eye, which was great news for him.

Zhulan stood up, "You two chat, I’ll go make some tea."

Zhao Bo said politely, "Thank you for the trouble, sister-in-law."

"It’s nothing."

Zhulan took out the best tea leaves to brew tea, and after serving it, she stepped out again; she would have to wait until Zhao Bo left before inquiring with Zhou Shuren.

Zhou Shuren’s second son came over and whispered, "Mother, is there news?"

"Yes, there’s news. Let’s wait for the guest to leave, then you can ask your father."

The second Zhou, happy for his wife, said, "I’ll go tell Zhao’s family."

Zhulan held back the second Zhou, "Don’t let Zhao’s family get their hopes too high. If it turns out to be bad news, Zhao’s family might not be able to handle the disappointment if their hopes are dashed."

The second Zhou’s joyful heart sank a little, "Mother, I understand."

Zhao Bo didn’t stay long before saying his farewells. Had it not been for the necessity to pay a visit and deliver a message en route, he wouldn’t have had the time to leave the house today.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren saw the guest out and returned to the back yard where the second Zhou and Zhao’s family were already waiting by the main hall’s doors.

Zhou Shuren said, "Come on in."

Zhao’s family, hearing the eunuch’s tone, felt a thump in their heart and couldn’t help but tighten their grip on their master’s arm.

The second Zhou patted Zhao’s family’s hand, "Let’s go in."

Zhao’s family bit her lip and took a deep breath before stepping inside.

Zhou Shuren, seeing his second son and daughter-in-law enter, didn’t wait to be asked and motioned for them to sit before saying, "I have one piece of good news and one piece of bad news. The good news is that there is indeed a Yun family in Pingzhou, only that they met with business failure two years ago and got swallowed up, and have since fallen on hard times and left Pingzhou to seek refuge with relatives."

The second Zhou interrupted to ask, "Father, what’s the good news?"

Zhou Shuren looked disapprovingly at his son who had interrupted; this boy was still a bit too impatient. The second Zhou, seeing his father’s gaze, shrank his neck a little.

Zhulan pulled on Zhou Shuren’s arm. She was also waiting for the news. Why was he taking his time and scolding their son?

The second Zhou, seeing his mother’s action and his father’s genial response, thought to himself, in his father’s heart, sons were always the ones who owed something.

Zhou Shuren, knowing that Zhulan was also concerned, looked away from his son and continued, "The good news is that the Yun family was compassionate and released all servants from their indenture. Zhao Bo and I specifically discussed your mother-in-law’s situation, and we found a former servant of the Yun family. Your mother-in-law did not enter the Yun residence as a servant; she became part of the household four years ago under the title of steward’s wife."

Zhulan, "......"

The mother-in-law is formidable indeed! Supposedly bound to be sold into servitude, yet she turned around to become the steward’s wife; it seems there’s quite the tale behind this!