Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 271 Pregnant_1

Chapter 271: Chapter 271 Pregnant_1

Zhulan had nothing to hide and nodded, "Yes, I am very fond of goose. It’s a pity that there are so few raised in the north. I’ve only had it in restaurants; I’ve never come across a farmer selling geese at the market."

Lady Fang chuckled, "There are quite a few goose farmers in Qian Family Village. In the past, when the Yun family was still in Pingzhou, the geese they ate were all raised in Qian Family Village. Later, when the Yun family left, the geese were sold to restaurants. If you like them, I will bring a few back for you. Big geese are not only delicious, they also do well guarding houses. They can be quite formidable."

Zhulan responded, "Then I won’t be polite, thank you, mother-in-law."

"This is nothing, no need for thanks."

After the meal, Lady Fang stepped out for a while, and when Zhulan and Zhou Shuren returned to the city, the trunk was filled with three live geese and a sizable amount of roe deer meat.

Lady Fang also prepared a lot of things for Zhou Shuren’s younger brother, edible and useful alike. Since the second wife had married into the family and they were a wealthy one, the Qian family had brought many things on both visits to the second wife, and this time was no exception, filling her home with goods, meaning the second wife was no longer the one to make do with the least Silver Coin.

Back home, Zhulan was curious about the box Zhou Shuren carried. Once they were in their room, she asked, "What sort of compensation? Qian Shengbao seemed to be in real pain over it."

During the farewell, Qian Shengbao’s smile was exceptionally stiff!

Zhou Shuren opened the box, "This is an authentic piece of calligraphy by Mr. Xi Heng, although only a fragment of the second half, it’s genuine."

Zhulan exclaimed, "Quick, call Chang Zhi over to have a look; he’s seen the real calligraphy before."

"Let’s call him later, there’s no rush. I really didn’t expect Qian Shengbao to have quite a collection of paintings and calligraphy, what a pity he only let me see Mr. Xi Heng’s work."

Zhulan rolled her eyes inwardly, "If he showed you other paintings and calligraphy, could you have identified the genuine from the fake?"

"Don’t expose me like that. I’m indeed not strong with paintings and calligraphy, and even though I fortified myself with materials from a fictional dynasty since I came here, it’s still a weak point for me."

As he said this, he sighed. With other antiques and porcelain, he had a foundation and had brushed up on materials post-transmigration, so appraisal wasn’t an issue. But with paintings and calligraphy, he truly lacked talent.

Zhulan went out to the front yard to find Chang Zhi, and as soon as she spoke, Chang Zhi bolted without waiting for Zhulan to join him.

When Zhulan returned to the room, Chang Zhi was excitedly saying, "Dad, dad, it really is genuine, haha! So the second half has been here all along."

Zhou Shuren laughed at the coincidence, "Are you sure the piece you saw was the first half?"

Chang Zhi nodded, "Yes, the piece in Chang An’s possession is definitely the first half. Dad, now we can make it whole. Let’s swap for the piece Chang An has!"

Zhulan, "...."

He wasn’t foolish; he knew to swap rather than just ask for it from Chang An.

Zhou Shuren tapped his eldest son’s head, "Clear your head. You think it’s something you can just swap? This is an authentic piece. We don’t even have anything of equal value to offer."

Chang Zhi let out a sound of realization, "Although I don’t care about money, it would matter if it were books. I wouldn’t swap it either if it were me. A complete calligraphy piece means something different. Dad, what do we do now?"

Zhou Shuren waved his hand, "You’re asking me? Who should I ask?"

"Aren’t you my dad? I can only ask you!"

Zhou Shuren, "....."

He reaffirmed his decision to leave Chang Zhi to Chang Lian in the future. The boy could be quite a handful at times, with his single-track mind. Well, he’d broached the subject now, so there’d be no peace in the future.

Zhou Shuren gestured, "Didn’t you want to see the calligraphy? Go on then, ah no, wait a minute. The government exam is coming up. After you’re done with that, you can look at it. Give it to me now."

Carefully cradling the piece, Chang Zhi said, "Dad, I’ll go and have another look now, and bring it back to you tomorrow."

With that said, he no longer dwelled on the completeness of the calligraphy and ran off quickly.

Zhulan giggled, Zhou Shuren was afraid Chang Zhi would keep rambling on about it!

Zhou Shuren huffed, "You’re laughing now? I said to wait, and you just turned around and went off to find the boy."

"You can’t blame me for that, who could have guessed it would be such a coincidence?"

"I feel like those stepsons of yours are becoming more and more important in your heart. It pains me. If you would just rub my back, maybe I would feel better."

Zhulan rolled her eyes internally and reached out her hand, "Alright, I’ll rub it for you."

Zhou Shuren felt a chill down his spine, "No need, I’m fine now, completely fine."

Zhulan blinked her eyes, thinking it was a pity.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, April had arrived, and Xue Mei’s family had come to Pingzhou along with the clan members taking part in the government exam.

Zhulan hadn’t seen Xue Mei for a long time and was quite eager, "Come, let mom have a good look at you, hmm, you’ve gained weight."

Xue Mei’s face reddened, "Mom, I’m not fat."

Zhulan took a closer look. Indeed, she had gained weight, especially around her waist. She had touched it just now, and it felt fleshy and had become much rounder, "Not fat?"

Lady Li was the first one to react, "How many months are you?"

Xue Mei smiled, "Almost four months now. I found out on the day mom left."

Zhulan, inexperienced as she was, had knowledge from her original body, but it wasn’t hers, and she had never been pregnant. It took her a moment to realize, and she said with concern, "You’re pregnant, how could you still take a carriage here?"

They had to travel for a whole day, the roads were uneven, and she feared what a bumpy ride might do, potentially causing a miscarriage; the thought alone was frightening.

Xue Mei chuckled, "Mom, if I hadn’t passed the three-month mark, I don’t think Jiang Sheng would have let me. Now that I’m almost four months along, we specifically went to see the doctor. The baby’s growing steadily, and it’s okay to travel cautiously on the road."

Lady Li understood, "I see, it’s much warmer in April, but why would you have more blankets than when we came to Pingzhou? It’s because you were worried about the bumps affecting my younger sister. My brother-in-law is really thoughtful."

Lady Li was incredibly envious. The second brother was tender towards his wife, and Chang Lian was also good to Lady Dong. Not to count Chang Zhi, but now even Jiang Sheng was so considerate. Hmm, why was it that only the head of the family mistreated her, claiming mistreatment was a sign of affection? What nonsense, she had been too gentle last time!

Lady Li couldn’t help but touch her stomach; she’d been trying hard for ages - why hadn’t she conceived?

Zhulan counted; Xue Mei’s child would be the first new life since she had arrived in this time, not counting Ming Rui, who had been in Lady Li’s womb for six or seven months when Zhulan had come.

Zhulan asked with concern, "Do you get sick? Is there anything you can’t eat? Tell me if there’s anything you want to eat."

Xue Mei shook her head, "Mom, I don’t vomit. This child is a blessing; there’s been no trouble at all. I just have a good appetite; I want to eat everything."

Zhulan smiled, "It’s good that you can eat."

With Xue Mei’s family here, two more children were added to the house, making it livelier, and with more kids at home, there were giggles and laughter every day.

The next day brought the government examinations, and for Lady Dong, it was her first time accompanying someone to an exam. It was different from before she got married, and Zhulan didn’t object. Lady Dong, not fearing the hardship, sent Chang Lian off in the morning and picked him up in the evening.

For the exams, they hired two carriages—oh, and Lady Dong didn’t forget Chang Zhi and the clan relatives.

Chang Lian was pleased; having a wife or not truly made a difference.

Once the exams were over, Lady Dong didn’t accompany him to see the results, afraid that if Chang Lian didn’t do well, her presence would make it awkward for him. She thought it better to wait at home, "Mom, my husband has worked so hard; he’s sure to have done well."

Zhulan, "...."

Ever since Chang Lian had left, Lady Dong kept repeating that phrase, hoping Zhulan would affirm it, which she did, but Lady Dong kept on asking.

Lady Li, always impulsive, was getting annoyed, "Sister-in-law..."

Zhulan hastily interrupted, "Lady Dong, Chang Lian should be back by now. Go check at the front."

The moment Lady Dong heard this, she promptly got up, "Mom, I’ll head to the front."

Once Lady Dong had left, Zhulan gave Lady Li a stern look - how infuriating; if she hadn’t intervened, Li wouldn’t have known how she might have offended Lady Dong!