Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 337 Willful_1

Chapter 337: Chapter 337 Willful_1

Zhou Shuren squinted his eyes at Wu Ming, calculating in his mind. Although talents couldn’t all be from one family, the age difference between them was significant; Wu Ming was seventeen this year, and he was already forty, a gap of twenty-three years.

Because of his and Zhulan’s intervention, Wu Ming had already lost the determination to ascend to greatness. From Wu Ming’s desire to band together, it was clear that he lacked confidence in himself and was instead seeking support.

The Emperor must surely know of Wu Ming’s actions today. Without the resolve to go it alone, Wu Ming had already lost his advantage. If Zhou Shuren were the Emperor, he guessed he would already regret having chosen Wu Ming as the Top scorer. In the future, Wu Ming would be put to the test.

At least as long as the Emperor did not abdicate, Wu Ming wouldn’t rise. Unless he demonstrated great talent—therein lies the importance of first impressions. The Emperor already had a poor impression of Wu Ming.

As Zhou Shuren thought this, he realized that even if he didn’t acknowledge Wu Ming, Wu Ming would still face years of hardship. Zhou Shuren breathed a little easier, "Get up, I have a question for you."

Wu Ming stood up, "Uncle, please ask."

Zhou Shuren looked straight into Wu Ming’s eyes, "Are you sure you have no regrets?"

Wu Ming hesitated for a moment. If his uncle could think of it, he also understood it after calming down. Regrets? He had none. He had many people to protect. He needed to consider his grandparents, his younger brothers and sisters. He had two younger brothers who were still studying. As the eldest brother, he didn’t need to be reckless. What he sought now was stability, "No regrets."

Zhou Shuren’s lips curved into a smile, "Good, today I have gained another son."

Wu Ming smiled, "Son pays his respects to godfather and godmother."

Zhou Shuren’s smile widened. Now that he was protecting Wu Ming, he knew there would be a payback in the future. He believed that a giant would always be a giant. Although Wu Ming would face suppression now, his foundation would be made even stronger. Accumulating slowly for a rapid rise later, Wu Ming’s moment of glory would come. After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and even blood brothers settle accounts, let alone those without blood ties, "Very well, very well."

Zhou Shuren announced to the onlookers, "Today is a day of triple happiness for the Zhou family. I’ve booked a feast at a nearby restaurant, inviting everyone to drink."

Zhulan silently counted the number of onlookers. One restaurant wouldn’t be enough. She called over Li Chun and handed her the Silver Notes, "Hurry and book two nearby restaurants, reserving tables for ten taels each."

"Yes."

Li Chun took the Silver Notes and ran swiftly. It was indeed a celebration. The mistress was really willing to spend Silver. Four one hundred taels of silver notes—that’s forty tables!

Zhulan felt the pinch spending so much, but she knew that those going to the feast would bring gifts. South City was a merchant hub; there certainly wouldn’t be freeloaders. Now that the Zhou family had both the Top scorer and the second-place scholar, the future was bright. No one wanted the reputation of a freeloader. Not only was it shameful, but it would also mean not being able to mix in the capital in the future.

The thought of the gifts made Zhulan forget the sting in her heart!

Zhou Shuren led Wu Ming and others to the restaurant, while Zhulan and Lady Li returned to their courtyard. No female guests would visit today. It wasn’t because Zhulan’s status had changed, but rather there were no families nearby that had close relations with Zhulan’s family. The female relatives would not dare to call upon them rashly.

The eldest son, Zhou, came back a bit late, his clothes wrinkled, with sweat covering his forehead, "Mother, where’s Father?"

Zhulan looked at the copied list of successful candidates and replied, "Your father has gone to the restaurant. You should go too and help entertain the guests."

The eldest son wondered why the restaurants near their home were so crowded, "Alright, I’m on my way."

Zhulan added, "By the way, you have another brother, and he’s a Top scorer."

The eldest son, just stepping through the doorway, lost his balance and fell seated on the ground, "Mother, what did you say?"

Zhulan, "....."

The eldest son’s reaction was extreme; he had really slammed to the ground hard, and she could feel the tremor. That must have hurt a lot!

The eldest son, using the doorway to pull himself up, was in pain!

Zhulan coughed, "You have another brother, and he’s a Top scorer. From now on, Wu Ming is your brother. Are you happy? Surprised?"

The eldest son, "...."

He was shocked, then fell silent. Not only did Mother like to tease Lady Li, she enjoyed teasing him as well!

Zhulan watched somberly as the eldest son left with a wooden face, limping out the door. She thought to herself that the eldest was becoming less and less interesting. Lady Li was so much better.

Zhulan put down the list. The current Emperor really wasn’t playing by the rules this time. This year’s cohort was most special, with the fewest number of candidates—only seven for the second class, seventy for the third class, altogether just eighty candidates!

She thought that by not having a retest, more candidates could be admitted, but she was naive.

However, the gold content of this session’s golden list was even higher, and those admitted had a bright future ahead of them.

Zhulan put away the list of successful candidates, for Zhou Shuren would want to see it when he returned; it was just unfortunate that she did not find Zhao Bo’s name among the second-class scholars. His name was in the third class, just barely missing out on the third class.

The gap was quite significant; Zhao Bo must be feeling pretty dejected now!

In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren and Wu Ming finally returned, both having not drunk too much, for they had to enter the palace to express their gratitude to the Emperor’s grace the next day; they couldn’t bring the smell of alcohol with them, so both of them returned with clear eyes.

Zhou Shuren left Zhou the elder behind, and Zhulan gestured for Lady Li and the others to leave.

Only Zhulan, her husband, Zhou the elder, and Wu Ming, four people in total, remained in the main hall.

Zhou Shuren spoke up, "I’ll ask you once again, do you have any regrets?"

Wu Ming knew it was impossible to say he hadn’t struggled with the decision, but he did not regret it, "I need to care for my grandparents, as well as raise my two younger brothers and a sister. I do not regret it."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "No, you got it wrong."

Wu Ming was puzzled, "Wrong?"

Zhou Shuren called over Zhou the elder and gave him a push, "Since we’re sworn kin, you’re not only responsible for your brothers and sister, but also for taking care of the Zhou family’s two older brothers, two younger brothers, an older sister, and a younger sister. Don’t look at me like that; Chang Lian was born in September, you were born in June, you’re older than Chang Lian."

Wu Ming, "....."

Is it too late for him to express regrets now? He finally realized that what Zhou Shuren, no, what his godfather was asking about regret meant this!

Zhou Shuren had a smile in his eyes; he did some calculations and realized that he wasn’t getting any younger. By the time he retired, Wu Ming would be steadily climbing up the ranks, and this deal would be more profitable than loss-making.

Laughter twinkled in Zhulan’s eyes; this was the first time she saw Wu Ming so stunned.

Zhulan coughed and spoke up, "Don’t forget, your sister has taken Zhao’s wife as her master."

Wu Ming, "....."

He had indeed forgotten, as he hadn’t thought everything through in his eagerness at the time.

Zhou Shuren wouldn’t allow Wu Ming to back out, "That’s easy; Zhao’s wife has always asked Wu Ning to call her sister-in-law, and no outsiders know about it. The initial apprenticeship can just be changed to recognizing her as a god sister."

He was the head of the family, and he had the privilege to be willful.

Zhulan, "....."

Now, it wasn’t Wu Ming who wanted to back out, but Zhou Shuren who wanted to latch on to Wu Ming thoroughly.

Wu Ming, "..."

Zhou the elder was in a daze; well, the father of the house had the final say—no, the second final say because if mother didn’t object, then whatever father said was law. Anyway, Wu Ning’s matter wasn’t a big deal; Wu Ming’s was the real big deal!

Zhou Shuren gestured for the elder to pour tea, then turned to Wu Ming, "Kneel and pay respect."

Wu Ming was quick and efficient; he took the tea cup and knelt down, "Godfather, please drink the tea."

Zhou Shuren took the tea and sipped it, "Your godfather doesn’t have much to give you, but knowing you’re short of Silver Coin, half of the gifts I received today will be yours."

The gifts today were not separated and delivered one by one like last time; this time, they came altogether, and it wasn’t clear whom they were for.

Wu Ming kept a straight face; right, today’s gifts were all sent to the Zhou family.