Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 321 Protecting Mother-in-law_1

Chapter 321: Chapter 321 Protecting Mother-in-law_1

Zhulan followed Zhou Shuren’s gaze but the returning army marched so swiftly that all she saw was the rising dust, ending up with a mouthful of it.

Zhou Shuren let down the carriage curtain, "Just now, I thought I saw Zheng’s eldest grandson, Zheng Hong, and Wu Chun."

Zhulan became excited, "Zheng Yang’s brother, Zheng Hong? And Wu Chun? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?"

Although she wasn’t their biological aunt, these past two years her nephews had shown her genuine filial piety, especially Wu Chun. Every time he went out on escort missions, he’d bring some local specialties back for her, his adoptive aunt. Even though the Zhou family no longer needed financial support, the boy never stopped bringing gifts home. No matter what he brought back, it was always the thoughtfulness of Wu Chun.

Out of the three nephews, ahem, she had spent the most time with Wu Chun, and it was him that she, his adoptive aunt, truly missed the most. As for the other two, she only felt a bit worried that they were so young and already off fighting.

Now hearing that it might be Wu Chun, her anxious heart soothed, only to sink again soon after, "Wu Chun doesn’t know we’re in the capital. We won’t be able to find him either!"

Zhulan felt gloomy. Communication in ancient times really was primitive - if there were telephones, one call would let them exchange all the information!

Zhou Shuren smiled, "Aren’t you curious why Wu Chun is returning to the capital with the army?"

Zhulan was happy for the Yang family and Wu Chun, "Is that even a question? Wu Chun, serving under the Zheng family as a military general, was supposed to continue guarding the border. His return to the capital must mean he’s been honored for his achievements."

This time, they had captured a leader of the foreign clans and achieved a great victory. The news had already spread throughout the capital: the Northwest’s foreign clans had submitted.

Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand and said somberly, "Being able to return to the capital means he’s been recognized for significant merits indeed!"

Who would have thought, he sought opportunities for the Yang family, and they had truly seized them well. He felt delighted in his heart; Wu Chun had made them proud!

The carriage halted for half an hour before they continued on their way. The entire caravan was excited upon seeing the returning army; the newly-founded dynasty was still washing away the bloodshed, yet the people’s spirit remained strong. The dynasty’s first major battle had subdued the fierce Northwest foreign clans, which was uplifting and solidified the dynasty’s unity even more.

By the time they reached the capital, they saw no more of the returning army, which had presumably gone to nearby military camps to rest and would enter the capital the next day.

Zhulan thought that was good; tomorrow they could watch from the streets, and perhaps Wu Chun would spot them!

It was already dark by the time they arrived in the capital. When they returned to the residence, night had fallen. Zhulan and Zhou Shuren had bought plenty of food in Pinggang, a port bustling with merchants who typically stayed in inns, where bartering was common.

Zhou Shuren and Zhulan had once dined there and inquired tentatively if they could buy some food. Thanks to his status as a Graduate, they indeed sold him some in recognition.

Winter had just begun, and the first snowfall had yet to come. Goods from the South were still being transported North, and lots of fruits were still visible.

Zhulan, feeling generous and willing to spend Silver, bought a basket each of apples and pears, as well as persimmons. The capital had many persimmon trees, a fruit unfamiliar to Zhulan in Pingzhou City. Persimmons could withstand the cold, so she purchased two baskets, and even bought a basket of tangerines. It wasn’t that Zhulan didn’t want to buy more; it’s just that the merchant wouldn’t sell more, as they were holding out for higher profits in the North.

Zhulan also bought fresh chili peppers, relatively resilient to transport, though many had spoiled. Unfortunately, they didn’t allow customers to pick and choose and only sold by the basket, so she bought one.

Other fruits like jujubes were nothing special; you could find them in the shops of the capital, so Zhulan didn’t buy any.

Because they purchased a lot of things, they hired an additional horse carriage.

Lady Li stood at the entrance, watching the baskets being carried in, each covered with straw mats. Her curiosity was piqued, "Mother, what did you buy?"

As Zhulan headed to the backyard, she replied, "Just some fruit. Wash some up in a while, and we’ll eat them after dinner."

Lady Li then remembered that they hadn’t known whether her parents would be home today, so she hadn’t prepared their portions for dinner. While the winter weather prevented the food from spoiling, she still cooked fixed amounts for each meal because she had noticed that ever since the Zhou family’s meals improved, well, no one wanted to eat leftovers anymore.

Lady Li said, "Mother, you go change and rest, I’ll go and fry a couple more dishes."

Zhulan was craving stir-fried eggs with chili peppers and stir-fried meat with chili peppers, "Right, I brought back a basket of fresh chili peppers, let’s make stir-fried meat with chili peppers and stir-fried eggs with chili peppers!"

Lady Li was overjoyed, "Mother, there are fresh chili peppers?"

When she had first come to the capital, she could still see fresh chili peppers in the market, but now they were no longer available.

Zhulan nodded, "Quite a few must have spoiled, so let Xing Hua sift through them and pick out the good ones tonight."

"I understand."

Zhulan returned to the room, which was a bit chilly. Lady Li must not have known they were coming back, Zhulan thought to herself. Lady Li’s attentiveness still wasn’t up to scratch. If it had been Zhao or Lady Dong, whether she and Zhou Shuren were coming back or not, they would have made sure the kang was warm.

Zhulan sat and waited for a while. Zhou Laoda had the kang lit and also got the charcoal brazier in the room going. After another short wait for the room to heat up, Zhulan finally changed her clothes.

Zhou Shuren waited for Zhulan to finish changing and then cracked open a window. "It’s too dangerous to burn charcoal in the house."

Zhulan was worried too. "But we don’t have much choice. Renovating now is too troublesome, and we’re going to sell the house sooner or later anyway."

Zhulan longed for air conditioning and big brick beds warmed by a fire!

Zhou Shuren was changing his clothes too. He didn’t have any better ideas, just had to be more careful.

After dinner, Ming Teng was overjoyed. He got to have apples in winter, something unthinkable in Pingzhou and his hometown.

Zhulan noticed that Lady Li had only washed apples and pears. "What about the tangerines and persimmons?"

Lady Li let out a surprised noise. "So those are tangerines and persimmons!"

Zhulan fell silent. Right, she had forgotten. Not to mention Lady Li, even herself, having been in the capital for almost three years, only saw tangerines for the first time this year. For common folk in Dongbei, such fruits were unheard of, let alone seen.

Zhulan said, "Right, go fetch some tangerines and persimmons."

Lady Li stood up, beaming with joy. She really was living a life of luxury, following her mother-in-law. Ah, so this is the tangerine the neighbors spoke of. Humph, let the neighbors’ daughters-in-law show off all they want—she’d gotten to eat them too!

Lady Li didn’t dare to take too many, just five tangerines and five persimmons because four sounded inauspicious.

Lady Li thought to herself, one tangerine each for mom and dad, one each for her and the head of the family, one for her younger sister, one each for the two kids, and now with an extra one, she wouldn’t have to share with the head of the family.

Zhulan saw that there were indeed five tangerines and persimmons, just as Lady Li had divided them, with both Lady Li and the eldest getting one of each.

Lady Li grinned, feeling increasingly smart for being able to guess her mother-in-law’s thoughts.

Just as Zhulan was about to explain how to eat a tangerine, Lady Li bit straight into one. Zhulan, "......"

Lady Li spat it out, "Mother, tangerines taste awful. The neighbor’s daughter-in-law tricked me. She said tangerines are sweet and sour!"

Zhulan, ".....She didn’t trick you."

Due to the variety available in ancient times and the lack of modern sweeteners, the taste was indeed a mix of sweet and sour. Of course, there were also good varieties that weren’t available on the market and were supplied only to the palace.

Zhulan demonstrated how to eat a tangerine, "First, peel it."

Lady Li, "....."

She had embarrassed herself again, and in front of the adults.

Ming Teng laughed unabashedly at his own mother. Zhou Laoda couldn’t help but laugh too. "That’s what you get for being hasty."

Lady Li, "....."

Now even her son was making fun of her!

The next morning, Zhulan took Lady Li and a few others to the market early. Zhulan had arrived early enough, but the street was still packed with people. She really wanted to visit the restaurants on both sides of the street, but unfortunately, they were almost all booked by the powerful and wealthy!

Lady Li felt downcast. It was the first time she saw her mother-in-law so excited. Ah, squeezing through the crowd, seeing her father-in-law’s frail appearance, it was clear he couldn’t protect her mother-in-law. It was up to her now, "Make way, please, make way."