Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 374 Not a Granny_1

Chapter 374: Chapter 374 Not a Granny_1

Zhulan held a hand warmer. "They shouldn’t have been delayed, since it’s already snowed near Lizhou Province."

Zhulan had already made inquiries; she was worried someone might have gotten sick on the way.

Liu Ya came in joyfully, "Mistress, Dong Zhi, who was on watch at the city gate, has returned to report that the Second Master and his entourage have entered the city."

Zhulan thought to herself that one really cannot resist worrying. Ah, how she truly missed Yushuang and Ming Rui. "Hurry and boil some hot water. Right, stoke the fires in both courtyards a bit more, and the kitchen too. Have the kitchen start cooking right away."

It was past lunchtime by now, and the Second Master’s group surely hadn’t eaten yet.

Liu Ya remembered all that was said and hurried out to relay the message. Although knowing that the Second and Third Masters would arrive soon and that the kang beds in both courtyards had been constantly heated, they hadn’t been kept roaring and the rooms were not very warm. The fires in both courtyards definitely needed to be stoked first.

After Liu Ya left, Zhulan clapped her hands, anticipating that once the meal was ready, the children must be famished. Cooking was too troublesome, so addressing Yuguang’s senior maid, Liu Li, she said, "Go tell the kitchen there’s no need to simmer the soup for too long. A clear broth will do. Bring over more slices of meat, and steam some egg custard for the children."

Liu Li responded, "Understood."

Zhulan then instructed Liu Jin, "Go find your father Er Yue and get some apples and raisins. After washing the apples, bring them here."

Liu Jin was delighted at heart; she could see her little brother again. Although she couldn’t see their grandparents, with her little brother’s arrival, it would still feel like a family reunion. "Okay!"

After delegating tasks, Zhulan couldn’t help but smile as she sat down. The family was finally reuniting, and they would enjoy a warm and festive reunion this New Year.

Lady Li had been in low spirits since her sisters-in-law arrived but later joyously anticipated seeing her eldest son. She had not seen her eldest son in a year.

Xue Han too was elated. She liked it when the entire family was together. The house, as large as it was, still felt eerily quiet.

Zhulan did not send anyone to inform Zhou Shuren, as he was not at the government office that day. He and Mr. Chen, along with a few other officials, had gone to the pond. They were taking advantage of the pond water not yet fully freezing over, watching the villagers catching fish in a hurry. Zhou Shuren and the others were overseeing the fish merchants buying fish and, incidentally, collecting the silver that the tenants paid for leasing the ponds. Prefecture City had dug quite a few ponds, so the earnings from leasing them added a fair amount of silver to the government office’s accounts.

Calculating the time, Zhulan figured it would take about half an hour to go from the city gate to their home. By her estimation, they should be arriving soon.

Before long, sitting in the house, Zhulan heard the sound of voices and footsteps. The Zhou family of four, Chang Lian’s couple, along with Mingyun and Rongchuan, all entered the house one after another.

As soon as he entered, Zhou Shuren, the Second Master, knelt down and kowtowed, "Mother, your son has failed to be filial in your and father’s presence, I have been unfilial."

Zhulan, "....."

She was but a step slow to speak, and now there lay a field of kneeling figures.

Zhou Shuren, the Eldest, stood behind with an expression of speechlessness as he looked skyward. To kneel or not to kneel? If you’re going to kneel, give a heads up. Look at how in sync the Second and Chang Lian were, setting him up the moment they returned!

Zhou Shuren, the Eldest, coughed, thinking his brothers must have forgotten who he used to be. Dear foolish brothers. "Second Brother, Chang Lian, get up quickly. Mother is heartbroken for you!

Chang Yi was truly envious of his eldest brother. He had a careful look several times upon reaching the doorway to confirm it was indeed his brother. This was not the brother he remembered; anyone ignorant of the fact would think him a nobleman. Then, looking at the stewards and young servants behind the Eldest, um, such envy!

Recalling his brother’s words, Chang Yi was frustrated. If it were the past, he and Chang Lian would’ve had to wait for a response from the Eldest. Now, he couldn’t even display filial piety with his children.

Zhou Shuren, the Second, Chang Yi, stood up with a smile, "Mother, your son got too emotional upon seeing you."

Zhulan inwardly scoffed. Emotional indeed. It wasn’t like they were cut off from communication; the Li family almost received a letter every fortnight. Zhou Shuren, the Second, just seized the opportunity to show off his filial piety to the max. "Now that everyone’s home, I can rest easy. Mingyun, Yushuang, Ming Rui, come to Grandma."

Zhulan, who preferred her straightforward grandchildren to her scheming sons, beckoned them closer.

Zhao Shi tugged at her daughter’s clothes. Yushuang, holding her brother’s hand, stepped forward. She truly missed her grandmother. "Grandma"

Ming Rui hesitated, struggling to recall what Grandma looked like. Blinking, he whispered, "Sister, this isn’t Grandma."

Zhao Shi grew anxious, "Ming Rui, this is Grandma."

Zhulan watched the little one with a smile, "Why not grandmother?"

Ming Rui sniffed his nose and couldn’t hold back a sneeze. Lady Zhao hurried to clean him up with a handkerchief.

After feeling more comfortable, Ming Rui tilted his head and said, "Grandmother is too young, she should be like Grandma Li!"

Lady Zhao breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and quickly explained, "The Grandma Li Ming Rui mentioned is big sister’s mother."

Big sister’s mother did indeed look old. Within a year’s time, she seemed to have aged several years. Even though the Li family’s life improved, Auntie Li’s worries still aged her rapidly.

Zhulan embraced Ming Rui, who seemed a bit cold, sniffling again. As a neat person, Lady Zhao always kept the child’s face clean. Zhulan then addressed Liu Ya, who was standing outside, "Go call the doctor over."

Liu Ya responded, "Yes."

Zhulan then turned to Ming Rui, "I am your grandmother. Your Grandma Li is much older, which is why she looks older. Grandmother is younger and seems youthful."

As she said this, Zhulan felt a twinge in her heart. She wasn’t even forty yet, and that was even counting by the traditional method!

Sometimes bloodlines cannot lie. Even if the child wasn’t her own flesh and blood, the lineage was real. Ming Rui sat quietly in Zhulan’s arms, well-behaved.

The little one tilted his head, finding this quite reasonable. Besides, if dad calls her mother, then she is grandmother, "Grandma."

Zhulan responded and then put Ming Rui down. It had been a long time since she last held a child, and this little guy was rather heavy, making her legs uncomfortable. Watching Yushuang, who she hadn’t seen in over a year, the six-year-old girl had grown prettier. It was still best to keep her hidden. Holding Yushuang’s cold little hand, she said, "Quick, take Ming Rui to warm up on the bed. Come down for dinner when the pot is ready."

Yushuang was obedient. She knew grandma wanted to talk to her parents, so she pulled Ming Rui to the kang with cousin and sat down quietly.

Zhulan added, "Don’t eat too many apples and raisins. You shouldn’t eat too many apples on an empty stomach; it can make your tummy hurt."

Xue Han said, "Mother, I’ll watch over them."

Zhulan felt relieved this time and didn’t plan on dealing with her second son and Chang Lian. She beckoned to Mingyun, whom she hadn’t seen in over a year. Her eldest grandson had grown taller, "Living at the Academy is not as good as home. Look how you and Rongchuan have both lost weight."

After all, Mingyun was still an eight-year-old child, his eyes rimmed with red, "Grandma, we are growing taller, so we haven’t put on weight."

Zhulan stroked her eldest grandson’s hand, thin as it was. Zhou Shuren had great hopes for Mingyun. Despite being small, his responsibilities were heavy. Seeing him stubbornly hold back tears tugged at her heartstrings, "You’re home now. Grandmother will make sure to nourish you properly."

Mingyun nodded vigorously, "Mmm."

Lady Li let go of her son and motioned him over. As her eldest son approached, Lady Li continually wiped away tears, "Let mother have a good look at you."

Mingyun’s eyes reddened, but he held back the tears. He remembered he was the eldest grandson. The journey had been tough, but he hadn’t uttered a word of complaint, "Mother."

Zhulan then turned to inspect Rongchuan, her little grandson who was now thirteen. His height barely matched his peers, and he still had a frail frame, "You need to be nourished as well."

Rongchuan grinned, "Mmm."

This was his home. He had arrived home, and his floating heart had finally settled.

Zhulan asked Rongchuan to warm himself by the brazier and then looked over at her second son, Zhou Shuren, and Chang Lian, the two brothers standing obediently. Neither Lady Zhao nor Lady Dong dared to make a move.

Without a word from Zhulan, they continued to stand. Having not seen them for over a year, it was good to let Zhou Shuren, who had managed the household for more than a year, cool his heels for a while.

Zhou Shuren kept his head down. He had imagined various scenes of meeting his mother, but had not expected her to ignore them. From the corner of his eye, he felt somewhat reassured seeing his children sitting on the kang, eating apples. He stood properly, not daring to move.

Yushuang and Ming Rui wanted to speak up, but Xue Han held back the two little ones and shook her head. Their mother was disciplining their second and third uncles; it wasn’t the time for children to cause trouble.

Yushuang was a smart child. She withdrew her gaze and steadied her younger brother.