Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 315 Three Senses_1

Chapter 315: Chapter 315 Three Senses_1

This time, Zhulan wasn’t in a hurry, and she finally had the chance to truly appreciate nature. The autumn scenery in Dongbei was truly beautiful. The leaves were changing colors, and the forest was ablaze with hues, especially the red maple leaves, which were stunningly vibrant. Zhulan collected quite a few.

Picking many untouched leaves, Zhulan pressed them between sheets of paper and stored them away. She had made specimens as a child, and even with the limited conditions of ancient times, she wanted to give it a try. When she arrived at the capital, she thought about making her own maple leaf collection.

Zhulan found herself a pastime: every time the caravan stopped in the wilderness, she would take Lady Li and a few others to collect leaves, and not only maple leaves; they gathered every type of attractive leaf they could find.

Zhou Shuren was happy that Zhulan had found an interest, and sometimes he would help her collect them.

Zhou Laoda was used to it—whatever Mother did, Father always supported. Zhou Shuren’s actions also let the newly hired maids know how high Zhulan’s status as the mistress of the house was.

At times, Zhulan would also paint some drawings, and she didn’t feel tired at all on the journey to the capital.

With good rest every day and something to do, Zhulan hardly felt the passage of time, and before she knew it, they had completed a large portion of the journey.

The weather had been great for most of the journey, but this morning it started to rain, and by the afternoon, the rain had grown heavier. Since the road ahead was mountainous, the escort guard, wary of risks due to his experience, decided to seek shelter from the rain in a nearby village.

The escort guard, being a regular traveler, was familiar with the villages. This one was a large village nearby with around fifty households, mostly hunters, given the surrounding mountains and forests.

The caravan entered the village, and the escort guard, having stayed here before, knew which family would likely have spare rooms.

After hearing the escort guard’s suggestion, Zhulan’s party didn’t choose to stay at the Lizheng’s house but picked a hunter’s family instead, as Zhulan was curious about the quality of their pelts.

Zhao Bo and Wu Ming chose a household that was simple in terms of the number of family members.

When Zhulan’s hired coach arrived at the door of the house where they were to seek temporary residence, the family warmly opened the door and welcomed them in. The lady of the house said, "We’ve just had a wedding in the family, and we’ve built some new rooms that happen to be vacant now. Please come this way."

Holding her umbrella, Zhulan observed this family: the Lius were well-off in the village, indeed the house had several newly built rooms with green-tiled roofs!

Zhulan courteously said, "We are imposing by staying at your residence."

Lady Lauzhang felt that people from big households always had refined manners, "Just call me Lady Lauzhang. There are four vacant rooms in total, all stocked with firewood and everything. Madam, if you need anything, just let me know."

Zhulan smiled, "Thank you."

The four rooms were sufficient: Zhulan and Zhou Shuren took one, Lady Li stayed with the girls, the eldest son took the men, and the last room was given to the coachman.

As for the escort guards, Zhulan didn’t have to worry; they would find their own places to stay.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren entered their room, which was newly built and empty, perfect for setting up their own belongings without having to move anything out.

Lady Li and Xing Hua were busy for a while setting up the kang mats and covers, which got a little wet due to the heavy rain outside.

After arranging the pots and the condiments, Lady Li entered the room and said, "Madam, you and Master sit for a while. I’ll go borrow an iron pot to boil some water, so we can wash all the dirty clothes."

Zhulan took out two pieces of silver, as it was customary to pay for accommodation—one hundred coins a day was the rate for unrestricted use of firewood and water; other things required payment.

Zhulan handed the silver to Lady Li, "Give this silver to Lady Lauzhang."

Lady Li took the Silver Coin, "Mother, you rest first."

Zhulan waited until Lady Li left before saying to Zhou Shuren, "It’s great to be the mother-in-law; I haven’t had to lift a finger on this trip."

Zhou Shuren, holding a handkerchief, said, "Look, your hair is all wet; let me dry it for you."

Zhulan sat down, feeling delighted. She indeed enjoyed the journey, with Lady Li taking care of the meals and Zhou Shuren looking after the rest, leaving her only responsible for sightseeing and amusement!

Lady Li ran back quickly, "Mother, mother."

She rushed into the room, only to see father-in-law with a solemn expression, and then noticed he was combing his mother-in-law’s hair, leaving Lady Li dumbfounded.

Zhulan fell silent. Seeing Lady Li’s dazed look, she felt annoyed. The couple was indeed more annoying than Zhou Shuren said, like lightbulbs; what a good atmosphere it had been just now. "What happened?"

Lady Li, not daring to watch the eunuch continue combing mother-in-law’s hair and shrinking her neck, said, "Mother, I saw Zhang Sanni, she’s the new third daughter-in-law married into this family."

Zhulan blinked, "You’re sure you didn’t see wrong?"

Lady Li said, "I could never mistake her; as I was leaving Lady Lauzhang’s room, I ran straight into Zhang Sanni. She was dressed just like a new bride!"

Zhulan thought to herself that at most Lady Li was surprised, but Zhang Sanni must have been shocked. However, the girl was impressive; she had managed to get married and chosen a good family to marry into. "Understood. If she doesn’t bring it up, pretend you don’t recognize her."

Lady Li wanted to slip away. She had not expected that the father-in-law would comb the mother-in-law’s hair in private. Watching his practiced movements, it must not have been his first time. She said with her head lowered, "Mother, I’ll leave now, and, I didn’t see anything just now."

After speaking, she hurriedly left. Once outside, Lady Li patted her chest; she had seen something she shouldn’t have. No wonder the head of the family had warned her to always knock on the door when entering!

Lady Li felt a bit sour. Having been married for so many years, the head of the family had never combed her hair. Just like the old man, the second son was the most like him – they both doted on their wives. The more Lady Li thought about how the head of the family only bullied her, the more discontented she felt, pursing her lips unhappily.

Inside the room, Zhulan put up her hair. It was raining outside, making the room quite dim. Zhulan then lit two candles, brightening the room somewhat.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren changed out of their wet clothes. Zhulan reminded Zhou Shuren to watch the heated brick bed and not to forget to flip the wet blankets. She took the dirty clothes and went out to prepare for laundry.

Even with Xing Hua at home, Zhulan insisted on doing the laundry herself. Lady Li wanted Xing Hua to do the laundry, but with Zhulan not utilizing her, Lady Li did not dare to either.

The water in the pot didn’t need to be boiled, just warm. There was very little clothing belonging to Zhulan and Zhou Shuren; they also didn’t bring much with them, and since the clothes weren’t dirty, they were easy to wash – done in no time.

Hearing about Zhang Sanni, Zhulan didn’t really give it much thought. Instead, Zhang Sanni in the opposite room was the one with a restless heart.

All because after Zhang Sanni changed her contract, her fate was both good and bad. Bad because when she and Wang Xin tried to exchange the contracts, they needed Silver to do so smoothly. After taking Silver out, the contracts were exchanged, but then they became marked by others.

She didn’t dare to stay in the capital; taking the contract, she left Wang Xin behind and hastily fled. She wasn’t foolish; she knew she was much more attractive than Wang Xin, who, without makeup, was hardly appealing to anyone. Zhang Sanni on the other hand was a different story. Fortuitously, she ran into her now husband, who was going to the city to buy game.

He helped her, and since she didn’t dare to travel alone anymore, after several tests, her husband realized she was by herself and didn’t have any ulterior motives. Then she concocted a backstory; she didn’t want to return to Zhou’s village anymore. She followed him back to his village.

She successfully found an old childless woman to become her godmother and managed to get married smoothly. She never expected that she would encounter people from the Zhou family again.