Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 369 Anxiety_1

Chapter 369: Chapter 369 Anxiety_1

Fortunately, Zhulan became happy when September arrived, for thanks to effective publicity, everyone knew that Lizhou City had late-ripening watermelons and melons, bringing quite a few fruit merchants to the city.

Zhulan’s family had planted fifty acres of watermelons and muskmelons, but unfortunately, due to the variety’s issues, the yield of ancient watermelons was not high; it was nothing like modern times where one could expect at least 5,000 pounds per acre. Additionally, because of the land quality and the lack of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, a well-tended acre in Zhulan’s farm would yield only about 1,000 pounds. After excluding some that were nibbled on by rabbits and other wildlife, only about 600 pounds could be sold.

Because they were late-ripening watermelons and there were many merchants from foreign clans, the price was a bit higher. The early watermelons sold for twenty coins per pound, and these sold for the same price.

Zhulan’s family had forty acres of watermelons and ten acres of muskmelons. The yield of the melons was even lower with wildlife such as mice and rabbits not sparing them either. Despite the efforts of many hands, it was impossible to defend the crops at night. Even fences proved useless, as the mice could simply burrow through. A single acre of these melons ended up selling only about 300 pounds.

Moreover, out of the forty acres of watermelon, six were completely barren, all because the seedlings contracted a disease and died en masse. To prevent the spread, several acres of seedlings were pulled out to create isolation, narrowly averting a complete loss of Zhulan’s watermelon harvest.

In ancient times, growing watermelons was not easy. Despite their high price, common folk wouldn’t dare to cultivate them, fearing total loss; they preferred the stability of growing grains.

Those who grew watermelons were either the landlords or the estates of officials.

Eventually, Zhulan’s family sold all of their watermelons and muskmelons, and after accounting for the costs, earned three hundred taels of silver.

The Yang family also planted a fair amount, but since they didn’t invest as much labor as Zhulan’s family, their profit was less, at one hundred and twenty taels.

Others who followed suit had mixed outcomes; some made profits while some made losses, and there were even cases of total crop failure. The risks were too great, and many households decided they would not plant melons the following year.

Zhulan also decided against planting melons next year. She planned to cultivate fruit trees instead, leaving the diseased acres vacant for the time being.

After the busy watermelon season, it was time to prepare for the autumn harvest on Zhulan’s farm. This was Zhou Shuren’s responsibility; Zhulan didn’t need to worry about it.

At night, after calculating the finances, Zhulan spoke to Zhou Shuren, "After selling the apples, once the second brother arrives, I’d like to take him to the south to buy an estate."

She had long had her eye on the estate, only waiting for the capital to be returned so she could make the purchase.

Zhou Shuren stroked his belly, which had gained quite a bit of fat, holding Zhulan’s hand, "I cannot leave Lizhou."

Zhulan, "Don’t worry, it’ll be fine with the second brother and the others there."

Zhou Shuren held Zhulan close. He didn’t want to be separated from her, but he couldn’t give her a surprise if she didn’t leave. He had everything planned out, just waiting for the right moment to act, "One round trip will take at least a month and a half."

Zhulan grasped Zhou Shuren’s hand, "Look, you’ve already taken a trip alone; it’s only fair that I should take one too. Once the second young master can handle affairs on his own, I won’t go anywhere else."

Zhulan had not yet visited Jiangnan since arriving in the ancient era. If she waited for Zhou Shuren to take her, who knew when that would be? Thinking of Jiangnan, Zhulan longed to see it for herself, the only regret being that Zhou Shuren couldn’t accompany her.

Zhou Shuren hummed in his heart, not missing the excitement in Zhulan’s eyes. However, it was indeed difficult for him to take Zhulan to Jiangnan unless he was reassigned there as an official, a hope that seemed faint. According to his understanding of the Emperor, once Lizhou City was on the right track, the Emperor would definitely not waste his time there.

As for where to go, Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes thoughtfully; he already had an idea. But every time he thought of the Emperor’s response to his Zhezi, a pain clenched his heart—at the nerve of asking him about this year’s tax estimates for Lizhou City!!!

Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand over his heart, cursing the Emperor as heartless, always ready to milk you dry. The government office had barely managed to retrieve the tax from the chickens, the fruit still on the trees, and yet the Emperor had set his greedy eyes on them!

Zhulan waited for Zhou Shuren to reply, "Say something, will you?"

Zhou Shuren, "Okay, but I’ll rest easy only if both the eldest and second brothers come along."

Zhulan kissed Zhou Shuren, "Alright, your wish is my command."

The next morning, shortly after Zhou Shuren had left, Zhulan received an invitation from Zheng Hong’s estate. Zheng Hong had been very cautious; in the half-year since Zhulan’s family had arrived, he hadn’t sent a single invitation.

Zhulan inquired of Steward Ding, "Did the steward delivering the invitation say anything else?"

Steward Ding replied, "The steward from the Zheng estate said the old master has arrived."

Zhulan, "...."

Elder Zheng has arrived, then it all makes sense. Logically, they should be the ones visiting us, but given Zheng Hong’s sensitive position, and the Yang family ties, it wouldn’t be proper for Zhou Shuren to visit in person. It seems that Elder Zheng will be the one to pay a visit.

Zhulan flipped through the visitor’s log to see the date, and without even calculating, she knew it was Zhou Shuren’s day off. "Prepare some dishes for the old man on that date, and make sure the food is on the saltier side."

Steward Ding took note, "My lady, for how many people should the kitchen prepare meals?"

Zhulan knew that Zheng Hong and his family wouldn’t be coming, guessing that only the elder and his grandson would visit, "One table will suffice."

Steward Ding said, "I will go and make the arrangements."

That evening, Zhou Shuren had his young servant send word that he wouldn’t be returning for dinner. After eating, Lady Li kept Zhulan company, but Zhulan noticed that Lady Li was distracted, "What’s on your mind?"

Touching her arm, Lady Li felt that she had lost weight and couldn’t be sure if it was due to her pregnancy or if the anxiety over the arrival of her younger siblings-in-law was causing it, "Mother, have I lost a lot of weight?"

Zhulan looked at Lady Li carefully. After coming to Lizhou City, Lady Li had always been busy, and recently she hadn’t had a break. It had been a while since Zhulan had paid attention to her, but Lady Li did indeed seem to have lost a lot of weight, and her once plump, round face had thinned quite a bit. Zhulan gestured for Lady Li to stand up, "You have indeed lost quite a bit, have you been on a diet?"

That wasn’t right, Lady Li had always been one to gain weight rather than lose it!

Tears welled up in Lady Li’s eyes as the day of her younger siblings-in-law’s arrival drew near, fuelling her anxiety, "Mother, I haven’t been able to rest well for several days."

She dreamt every night that they had arrived, that her mother-in-law no longer liked her, that she wasn’t as smart as them, and every time she went out with her mother-in-law, people would mock her. Surely, Mother preferred taking her younger siblings-in-law out with her.

Zhulan thought Lady Li was ill and called for Liu Ya, "Go fetch the doctor."

Seeing Lady Li look so pitiable, Zhulan’s heart raced, already worrying about all sorts of serious illnesses in her mind.

Feeling a heavy pressure in her heart and not quite catching what her mother-in-law had said, Lady Li was desperate to vent and began wiping away tears with a handkerchief, "Mother, I know people laugh at me outside, mocking me for my lack of experience, saying I’m coarse. Mother, do you dislike me now?"

Zhulan was well aware of all this. Even though she tried to teach Lady Li, other than cooking, Lady Li still didn’t understand much else, and her loud voice led to her being isolated at several gatherings. It pained Zhulan, for she loved Lady Li’s simple-mindedness. After being invited again, she never went.

Not only did she not attend anymore, but she also made her reasons clear. Her simple-minded Lady Li was only for her to tease. Ever since she started protecting Lady Li, nobody dared to insult her to her face, and Lady Li had become the object of envy instead. Which other mother-in-law would protect her daughter-in-law like this!

Zhulan’s lips twitched, feeling that Lady Li’s tears were a bit excessive, and her mood swings too severe. Lady Li’s crying was so loud that it hurt Zhulan’s ears.

Zhou’s eldest had been terrified even before entering the room, and upon come in, he knelt with a thud, "Mother, if Lady Li has done something wrong, it’s all my fault. If you must blame someone, blame me, please!"

Lady Li’s crying ceased, and she looked at the head of the household, "You’re the one who’s made a mistake now."

She had always been the one who listened to her mother-in-law the most; how could she have done anything wrong?

Zhou’s eldest was puzzled, "I’ve made a mistake? I haven’t, have I?"

Lady Li furrowed her brows, "Could it be that I am the one who has done something wrong?"

Zhulan, "...."

These two were truly a perfect match, their thought processes were exactly the same; look at them both trying to recall if they had done anything wrong!

Zhulan closed her eyes, deciding not to watch the eldest couple’s foolishness anymore; she had realized that Lady Li wasn’t sick after all!

The doctor arrived promptly, and when he did, Zhulan finally opened her eyes. She had a hunch about what was wrong with Lady Li and gestured for the doctor to examine her.

Lady Li and the eldest had calmed down by then, embarrassed by the big fuss they had caused and were now sitting quietly like quails!

Upon seeing the doctor, Lady Li said, "I’m not ill."

Zhulan glared at Lady Li, who obediently closed her mouth, sensing that her mother-in-law was angry!