Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 267 Tricking People_1

Chapter 267: Chapter 267 Tricking People_1

Zhou Shuren had quite a bit to drink today, and it was the first time he felt a bit woozy, lying askew on the heated brick bed, "Right, I want to go study at the Academy, was it the Qian family steward who called himself Qian Shengbao?"

Zhulan, "He didn’t tell you?"

Zhou Shuren shook his head, "He didn’t introduce his own name, just introduced his eldest son Qian Laishun and his grandson Qian Cheng."

Zhulan, "....Besides the grandson, the Qian family’s names really live up to their surname."

Zhou Shuren heard this and chuckled, then laughed twice before his head started to ache, "The Qians really can drink. They saw I was just playing it cool and not agreeing, so they thought they’d get me to agree over the dinner table. Our boys aren’t up to snuff either; they boast about their drinking but in the end, all four combined couldn’t outdrink Qian Laishun, who floored them. In the end, it was all up to dear old me."

Zhulan, "...."

The man really had drunk too much. She hadn’t prepared that much wine, thinking a moderate amount would be enough. She hadn’t anticipated that most of the gifts the Qian family brought over today would be wine, and potent ones at that.

The Qian family had come doubly prepared. If he agreed, the wine would be a gift; if not, then it was to be drunk. The Qians were quite impressive indeed, having even figured out that Zhou Shuren could hold his liquor.

Zhou Shuren was still complaining about Zhou elder’s few good-for-nothings and murmuring when he started to snore.

Zhulan took off Zhou Shuren’s shoes for him and moved him to the inside of the heated brick bed. It was fortunate that she had ample strength; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to move Zhou Shuren. She took off his outer clothes before going down to the kitchen to heat water.

The moment she entered the kitchen, there they were: a few daughters-in-law, all of the Zhou household’s men had drunk too much today.

Lady Zhao bowed her head, "Mother, it was all because of me today."

Had she not refused kinship, there wouldn’t have been this connection with the Qian family, and the eunuch wouldn’t have been drunk today. She feared that mother and father-in-law would hold it against her, especially since she had vaguely overheard the eunuch’s voice earlier, not knowing whether it was to complain.

Zhulan thought, the problem with Lady Zhao was that she overthought and worried too much, "If it wasn’t the Qian family, there would’ve been others later on. Don’t overthink it."

Lady Zhao had considered all possibilities and truly feared that mother no longer liked her. Not only would life be difficult, but her heart would ache too. She felt reassured by her mother’s words, "Alright."

Lady Li passed the basin filled with hot water to mother-in-law. With father-in-law resting in the main room, it wasn’t appropriate for her to help mother carry it in, she cautioned, "Mother, the water is a bit hot. Please be careful."

Zhulan smiled, "Sure."

Among the three daughters-in-law, Lady Li was the best. As the eldest, her husband was the first to be overwhelmed by the drink, and of the four sons, he drank the most. Yet, Lady Li was neither upset nor gloomy; she happily heated the water without a hint of Lady Zhao’s complaints, even taking the time to please her!

Even though Lady Dong didn’t show it, her young eyes betrayed her thoughts. She resented the situation in her heart.

Zhulan really couldn’t do much about it. Lady Dong’s background and upbringing meant she inherently looked down on the Qian family, no matter how wealthy they were.

All Zhulan could do was offer an explanation, which was meant more for Lady Dong than for Lady Zhao.

Zhulan carried the hot water back to the room. Zhou Shuren, having drunk too much, was in a deep sleep, hugging a pillow in his embrace. Zhulan’s eyes softened; Zhou Shuren was indeed easy to deal with. Even when drunk, he just slept, causing no trouble or commotion. Ah, and somewhat adorable too!

Of course, it would be even better without the beard!

Zhulan wiped Zhou Shuren’s face and body and changed his inner garment, allowing him to sleep comfortably.

It was now probably around three o’clock, and she wasn’t tired nor did she want to rest yet, so she took Zhou Shuren’s clothes out to wash.

As she washed the clothes, Zhulan thought about how rigid some of the ancient boundaries were. So what if the Qian family was wealthy? Even with the grandson, Qian Cheng, having talent and studying, he still wouldn’t be admitted to the Academy. The Academy’s admissions did not just involve examinations, it also considered one’s ancestry for three generations. Even if the Qian family became peasants, their past as merchants and slaves couldn’t be erased. The Academy wouldn’t admit them and the students inside would be resistant to it.

The Qian family really held Zhou Shuren in high regard, thinking perhaps too highly of the influence he possessed!

After washing the clothes, Zhulan came back to the room to look at the gifts from the Qian family. This time, there was no trace of mercantile air in the gifts; apart from the purposefully brought wine, there were tea, paper, and ink.

Honestly, Zhulan never thought gifting silver and gold was tacky, she actually liked tacky things. The tackier, the better, like getting smashed with silver bars—gold would be even better.

Thinking of this, Zhulan looked at Zhou Shuren, who hadn’t agreed yet but also hadn’t outright refused. He must have his sights set on the Qian family now. She thought that when meat was delivered to one’s door, how could Zhou Shuren let it slip away? She herself was itching for it!

They barely ate dinner and rested in a hurry, sleeping right away. As for the Zhou family’s tolerance for liquor, only Chang Zhi was like Zhou Shuren. The other three, Zhulan had to laugh—nothing but wine babbles, never quiet for a moment, angering Lady Li into shouting several times.

The next morning, both Zhulan and Zhou Shuren looked chipper, while Lady Li and the daughters-in-law appeared rather the worse for wear.

Zhou Shuren also harbored grievances, looking at his four sons, "Heh, can’t handle your drink this time?"

The eldest Zhou son hung his head; he hadn’t expected the Qian family to drink so heavily. Now even the thought made his stomach lurch.

Zhou Shuren cocked his head to the side, "Yo, what happened to your eyes, eldest? Did you bump into something?"

The eldest son, "...."

His father’s grudge was huge, and he didn’t dare say it was Lady Li who hit him, as it concerned a man’s pride!

When Lady Li heard the eunuch asking questions, she shrank her neck while slurping her porridge—woe is me, head of the household, you must stand firm. She didn’t know if she was going to be dismissed, but she really had reached her limit!

Zhulan stared at Lady Li, wanting to laugh inside. Lady Li actually had this trick up her sleeve!

Zhou Shuren had no intention of digging deeper, merely mocking a bit, and looked toward the second Zhou son, "How come you’re not talking?"

The second son’s voice was hoarse, he had spoken too much the night before. Thinking of his wife, well, she hadn’t hit him but later ignored him completely, going to sleep with the daughter instead, "Dad, I will definitely improve my drinking capacity in the future."

Zhou Shuren snorted and looked at Chang Lian, frowning at the smell of alcohol, "What, didn’t drink enough yesterday? Started again this morning?"

Chang Lian, "...."

He really hadn’t drunk anything; he had just worn his clothes to bed because he had drunk too much the night before, and his wife was too weak to undress him. Hence the smell of alcohol. Now that his father was angry, he knew silence was golden.

Chang Zhi didn’t wait for their father to speak, hastily saying, "Dad, my brothers drank too much and made such a racket. I woke up in the middle of the night to relieve myself and could still hear hellish wails and howls from the back courtyard. Luckily, your son here is brave; otherwise, I’d have been scared sick. Dad, in the future, not only should I improve my drinking capacity, but my brothers should also not be allowed to wail drunk. It would disturb mom’s rest, which wouldn’t be good."

Zhou Shuren stroked his chin, "You’re right."

Chang Zhi went on, "See, I’m the most like you, Dad! When I drink too much, I just go to sleep!"

The eldest Zhou son, "......"

The second Zhou son, "......"

Chang Lian, "......"

This kid either doesn’t care to make a peep or manage to bore you to death when he does!

Zhulan felt it was time for her to wrap things up, "If we don’t eat now, the meal will get cold. Let’s hurry up and eat."

The second Zhou son, "....."

Mom, you’re playing favorites, siding with Chang Zhi to set us up and not even giving us a chance to rebut!

Zhou Shuren’s mood improved, "Alright, let’s eat."

After a lively breakfast, those who should study went off to the Academy, while those who needed to catch up on sleep did so. Zhulan wanted to go out for a stroll when Lady Li, still swiping at tears, came over.