Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 290 Attitude_1

Chapter 290: Chapter 290 Attitude_1

Zhou Shuren had just checked the weather and it indicated rain was on its way, "You go back to the room first, I’ll move the bath tub back."

Zhulan rubbed her lower back, she didn’t like others touching her bath tub, not even her daughters-in-law, and had only allowed Zhou Shuren to use it. It hadn’t been used for a long time and was very dirty, "I’ll leave it to you."

Zhou Shuren moved the bath tub back to the room, then went back and forth carrying hot water several times, "You wash first, once you’re done, call me and I’ll boil two more pots of hot water."

Zhulan took off her coat, "Put on an extra piece of clothing, I hear it’s raining outside, don’t catch a cold."

"Okay."

Zhou Shuren put on an extra piece of clothing and went out to check the sky. The rain had been light just before, but now it was pouring. Zhulan had not instructed when to unlock the main gate. He thought to himself that when women become ruthless, they can be much more merciless than men. The worst he could think of was kneeling as a punishment, not knowing if Chang Lian and Lady Dong were waiting outside or had found an inn to stay in.

If they dared to seek an inn, well, he would be as heartless as Zhulan.

In the first wife’s room, the eldest Zhou had yet to go to the front yard. He just wanted to spend some time with his wife. As the noise outside ceased, he lay on his wife’s legs, "I thought you would complain to mother about your grievances!"

Today had truly taken him by surprise.

Lady Li played with the Jade Bracelet on her wrist. She had lost weight, and now the bracelet could fit. It indeed looked beautiful on her. Casting another look at the hairpin her mother-in-law had given her, she snorted. "Lady Zhao is also waiting for me to bring it up, but I simply won’t mention it. Mother favors me deep down. They say a simple person is lovable, and now I’ve seen it clearly. The more I keep silent, the more mother worries about me. She knows everything."

Her mother-in-law had just been cold towards the second wife, and she had seen it clearly. Her mother-in-law was dissatisfied with the second wife. She had seen it all. With mother around, Lady Zhao and Lady Dong acted like loving sisters, but without her, their affection wasn’t strong at all.

The eldest Zhou held his wife’s hand, wishing she was a bit more astute, "Now that mother is back, you can regain the weight you’ve lost."

Lady Li glowered, "Pah, let me tell you, I don’t want to get fat again."

Although she had suffered to lose weight, she could now wear the Jade Bracelet, which was an unexpected joy. She felt more beautiful recently!

The eldest Zhou was full of regret. He preferred his wife when she was plumper. He got up, "I’m heading to the front yard."

Lady Li had been too preoccupied with her joy to remember they now had two carriages at home. It would make traveling more comfortable. It would be nice when her parents returned, "Don’t fall asleep tonight, okay? You must keep an eye on the horses and the carriage, you can’t lose them."

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

Alright, his wife was back to her old self. But still, curling the corner of his mouth, he found her carefree nature endearing.

In the second wife’s room, the second eldest Zhou and Lady Zhao sat facing each other in silence. The second eldest Zhou was full of regret, alas, father was still disappointed, and regret was useless.

Lady Zhao had even greater regrets. Now that the eunuch and her husband had said such words, it was no wonder that mother had been indifferent towards her when she returned. She clutched the handkerchief tightly. Mother was disappointed in her, and panic set in, "What should we do now, husband?"

The second eldest Zhou patted his wife’s hand reassuringly, "Since father has spoken, father and mother will not dwell on it."

He still had that much confidence; father was willing to give him pointers, indicating he hadn’t completely lost hope. His greatest fear was for them to say nothing at all.

Relief washed over Lady Zhao, "Tomorrow, I will apologize to the eldest sister-in-law."

"You should."

Zhou Shuren had boiled two large pots of water, and as the rain got heavier outside, he held an umbrella while standing at the main room’s door, "Do you need more hot water?"

Zhulan, who was enjoying her bath, replied, "No need."

The eldest Zhou came from the front yard with his umbrella, and seeing his father at the door, knew his mother was bathing. His heart pounded furiously; he had not expected that his mother was the most determined, having locked the main gate, "Father, Chang Lian and Lady Dong have returned, they’re at the gate now."

Zhou Shuren spoke indifferently, "Oh, still know it’s not easy to come back."

Zhou eldest, "....."

How could he also feel relieved? It seemed that father and mother were most angry with Chang Lian!

Zhou Shuren saw that the eldest was still standing there, "What are you still standing there for?"

Zhou eldest hesitated to look into father’s eyes and after a moment of hesitation, he lowered his head and said, "Father, I’m the eldest, I didn’t take good care of my younger brother, I am also responsible. Father, Chang Lian is outside the front door, and it’s raining now; please let them in."

Zhou Shuren found it interesting. He should take Zhulan out more often to see and learn; Zhou eldest had grown quite a bit. This time he took his words to heart. Hmm, not bad, he’s starting to act like a big brother, "Go to the front yard!"

Your mother has not spoken, and I dare not let anyone in without her consent, let alone I was not the one who locked the front door.

Zhou eldest said what needed to be said, having done his best as a brother, "Yes."

Outside the front door, Chang Lian and Lady Dong were waiting under an umbrella. When they dismounted from the carriage and saw two other carriages at the threshold of their home, a chill went down their spines. They truly did not expect that father and mother would return earlier than anticipated.

When no one responded to their knocks on the front door, the previously pampered and muddled mind of Chang Lian cleared completely. Father was angry, and furiously so.

Lady Dong also felt extremely uneasy. Her past behavior, which she hadn’t thought excessive, now seemed quite out of line in retrospect. She had seen too much of the official families with her elder sister, forgetting mother’s admonishments. She wondered how her older sister-in-law and the second wife would have complained, "Darling, are father and mother angry with us?"

Chang Lian’s lips tightened, "Definitely angry."

Disrespecting his elder brother, not taking his brother seriously, staying out all night—each fault alone was enough for father to deal with him. And in addition, he had taken Lady Dong out with him. Lady Dong was young and foolish, but what about him?

Lady Dong’s skirt was getting wet from the rain, and now she was genuinely scared. Even if she explained her deeds to her sister, her sister wouldn’t help her.

Inside the front door, Zhou eldest returned with an umbrella, "Chang Lian, I spoke with father; he didn’t agree to open the door. Look at the heavy rain outside; you and your sister-in-law shouldn’t stand there any longer. The family carriage is outside; get in and shelter from the rain for a bit!"

Zhou Changlian gripped the umbrella tightly. What did father mean? Was he not planning to acknowledge him anymore? He asked anxiously, "Eldest brother, did father order the front door to be locked?"

Zhou eldest, ".....it wasn’t father, mother instructed to lock it."

Chang Lian, "......"

He had never imagined that mother would be the most ruthless one, locking them out in the pouring rain.

Chang Lian felt even more frightened. Father always listened to mother—she must be furious, "Eldest brother, Lady Dong and I will kneel out here. Please tell mother, we’ll wait for her to calm down."

Zhou eldest didn’t expect that such a clever man as Chang Lian would have such a foolish moment, "I advise you not to kneel, especially not at the front door—it looks like you’re threatening our parents."

His intuition told him that father and mother were not people who succumbed to threats. If Chang Lian really knelt, the eight parts of their anger would become complete.

Chang Lian paused in his move to kneel as if he realized his eldest brother might be right, "Then we’ll wait at the door—eldest brother, please tell mother, Lady Dong is young, it was all my idea, let her go inside first."

Otherwise, it would be bad for Lady Dong’s reputation. But mother was truly harsh, correctly guessing it would rain and knowing the streets would be deserted on such a dark, rainy night, she deliberately locked the door as a lesson for them.

Lady Dong looked at her husband, touched, biting the corner of her lip, "Darling, I’ll be with you. I indeed made many mistakes."

Chang Lian held Lady Dong’s hand. If it really came down to it, his attitude was the key influence on Lady Dong. She was so young, and he was much older; it was his fault, after all!