Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 326 Pressure_1

Chapter 326: Chapter 326 Pressure_1

Zhulan hugged the hand stove, and it had been a long time since she heard Lady Li make any fuss. It startled her; she was just thinking about something, "Why are you shouting?"

Lady Li, seeing that her mother-in-law’s complexion wasn’t good, was too excited and forgot that her mother-in-law disliked loudness, "Mother, Elder Uncle has arrived."

Zhulan quickly stood up, "Are you sure you saw right?"

Lady Li, "Mother, the head of the household has already welcomed him in, how could I be mistaken."

It was a coincidence for her and the head of the household as they were just about to head out. The meat shop they always frequented had beef yesterday, and she had the shopkeeper save her some. She was about to go pick it up when she saw Elder Uncle about to knock on the door!

Zhulan said, "Go and ask Er Yue to go to Zhao’s residence to bring your father back."

Lady Li, "Alright, I’ll go now."

Zhulan, wearing a cape, left the courtyard and after waiting a while and not seeing Elder Uncle come to the back courtyard, she quickly went to the front courtyard. There she saw Elder Uncle and Li Chun moving trunks, with two horse-drawn carriages outside the door, both laden with luggage.

Elder Brother Yang Zhumu was looking on from the side. Zhulan’s heart ached when she saw his hair, which had turned significantly grayer, and he had become much thinner, "Elder Brother."

Yang Zhumu turned around and barely recognized his younger sister; his memory of her was becoming hazier. But seeing her doing well filled him, as her elder brother, with joy, "Why have you come to the front courtyard? It’s so cold outside."

"I saw that Elder Uncle didn’t take you to the back courtyard for a long time, and I couldn’t restrain myself from coming out to check. Elder Brother, what brings you to the capital?"

Yang Zhumu watched the luggage without blinking until it was all moved. Then he signaled for his sister to wait a moment, gave some silver to the coachman, and finally said, "Let’s talk in the house."

Zhulan, "Alright."

Yang Zhumu surveyed the courtyard, "The capital really is different, eh? The residences are all so refined!"

Zhulan, "It’s a merchant’s residence we bought, so it’s a bit more elegant. Elder Brother, Wu Chun’s residence in the capital is truly exquisite."

Yang Zhumu laughed, "That youngster mentioned it."

Zhulan knew Elder Brother had suffered a lot on the journey. The kettle in the house was kept boiling, and Zhulan poured some hot water, "Elder Brother, have some hot water to warm yourself."

Yang Zhumu took the hot water. The snow and wind on the road had indeed been harsh, "Wu Chun’s letter arrived first, and father had me pack up luggage. Once everything was ready, your letter and the things to be sent back arrived. After discussing with father, he said for me to come settle in the capital first, and wait for the snow to melt next year before mother and father come over and we will leave together."

Zhulan became anxious, "Are father and mother’s health alright?"

Seeing her elder brother’s state only made her worry more about her parents.

Yang Zhumu, holding the teacup, "Father’s health has gotten a bit better. Mother had a serious illness, but she was longing to see Wu Chun and Wu He, and managed to pull through. By the time I left, she was already able to walk around."

Zhulan fell silent for a while. Mother’s serious illness had taken a lot out of her spirit and life expectancy.

Yang Zhumu put down the water cup, "Your sister-in-law also stepped out, she packed all the household goods. This time, we came in a hurry and didn’t bring anything for you."

It was mainly because the whole family wasn’t in the mood, and upon thinking that you, as the youngest daughter, didn’t lack anything, they didn’t bring anything.

"Elder Brother, I lack nothing. By the way, has our family’s land been dealt with?"

Yang Zhumu said, "After I left, your second elder brother took care of it."

Yang Zhumu smiled and said, "Look at me, I forgot to give you the letters. Chang Yi and Chang Lian asked me to bring these."

Zhulan had received a letter from Zhou’s second brother the other day, mentioning news about Wu Dong. Taking the letters, Zhulan first read Zhou’s second brother’s.

The letter mentioned some family matters, with most parts expressing concern for Zhulan and Zhou Shuren, nothing of significant news.

Chang Lian’s news, however, was plentiful, mainly about Chang Zhi. Someone had inquired about Chang Zhi, asking if he was betrothed yet.

Zhulan quickly read through the letters, and other than that, there was no more information.

Lady Li came in, "Mother, the room has been cleaned out."

Zhulan said to her eldest brother, "Big brother, you’ve had a hard journey, please go back and rest awhile."

Indeed, Yang Zhumu had nothing much he wanted to discuss; he didn’t wish to mention family affairs and worry his sister, "Alright."

There was no need to ask about Wu Chun either; his sister’s letters were very detailed, and he already knew how much pain his eldest son was in—he didn’t want to pierce his own heart again.

Zhou Shuren returned and went to see Yang Zhumu first, but unfortunately, his uncle had fallen asleep from exhaustion. He went to his room and said, "He’s asleep."

Zhulan spoke faintly, "Big brother has aged a lot."

"Wu Dong is the older son, the flesh of his heart. How could removing one’s heart not age a person?"

Zhulan asked, "What did Zhao Bo want with you?"

You should know, having been in the capital for so long, the two hadn’t seen each other much, both working hard to prepare for next year’s imperial examinations!

Zhou Shuren warmed his hands, "He came to me to inquire about Wu Ming’s news, to ask how Wu Ming’s preparations were going."

Zhulan thought of Wu Ming; since coming to the capital, Wu Ming hadn’t stepped out the door once, spending every day reading in his room, putting quite the pressure on Zhou Shuren, "Did you tell Zhao Bo?"

Zhou Shuren, "I had to tell him, of course. I can’t be the only one under pressure."

Zhou Shuren had already given up the possibility of vying for the first place. The more he interacted with Wu Ming, the more defeated he felt. With his eyes from a later era and Wu Ming a pure man of ancient times, they discussed the development after the war, and, um, Wu Ming’s views were not bad either; there were many he hadn’t thought of himself.

Zhulan chuckled, "It seems that Zhao Bo wants to compete!"

"Big family scions have resources that make others envious, naturally they have the confidence to compete."

He could guess the topics of next year’s imperial examination; how could these great families not? Next year’s imperial examinations would be interesting!

According to his study of the Emperor, the more the topics were guessed by the majority, the more they would come out; the Emperor of this dynasty was a practical man, in need of useful people.

In the afternoon, Yang Zhumu finally woke up, changed his clothes, and said apologetically, "I slept all day, brother-in-law must have been waiting a long time."

Zhou Shuren said, "We are all family, big brother, there’s no need for formalities between you and me. Please, big brother, have a seat."

Indeed, Yang Zhumu was exhausted. He knew his brother-in-law would come back to talk to him. He had tried to stay up, but fell asleep unknowingly. It was hunger that awakened him. He looked at the dishes on the table, his stomach rumbling loud enough to be heard, "How embarrassing."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "Big brother, let’s eat first."

Yang Zhumu waved his hand, "No need, let’s wait to eat together."

Zhou Shuren said, "There’s just one last dish, the mutton soup, and it will be ready shortly."

"Alright!"

A quarter of an hour later, Zhulan came in with the mutton soup, "Big brother, you’ve woken up. I was about to call you. Just in time, let’s start the meal."

Yang Zhumu had just counted a dozen dishes on the table, including beef, and was inwardly amazed; his sister’s living was truly good, "You should sit too, stop fussing."

Zhulan, "Alright!"

At dinner, Yang Zhumu drank quite a bit. A man does not easily shed tears—it’s only when he reaches the point of heartache. Zhou Shuren could drink well, and Yang Zhumu also drank a lot, getting somewhat drunk in the end. Zhulan listened to her big brother crying.

After crying, Zhulan noticed that her big brother’s spirit had improved significantly. Yang Zhumu’s visit coincided with the upcoming New Year, and after visiting Wu Chun’s residence, he continued to stay with Zhulan, being alone in the capital.

This year’s New Year was not complete without the whole family together, and with the death of Wu Dong, it was not very lively. After the New Year, time seemed to accelerate.

It was as if a day passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was the time for Graduates from all over to enter the capital for the examinations.

The inns in the capital were full of people. Zhou Shuren didn’t go out anywhere anymore and holed up at home reading every day.

With the spring examinations approaching, Zhulan truly felt Zhou Shuren’s tension. Zhulan’s family also received a letter from Wu Chun.