Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 391 Timing is Wrong_1

Chapter 391: Chapter 391 Timing is Wrong_1

Zhulan wondered for a moment who the Qi Clan was. "The daughter-in-law of the Xu family who used to be our neighbors in the capital?"

Lady Li nodded repeatedly, "Yes, that’s her. Mother, I thought she had forgotten all about me."

It had been almost a year; they hadn’t been in touch, and she had felt regret that her rare friendship had come to an end!

Zhulan, puzzled, asked, "Why are you bringing her letter to me?"

Lady Li was overjoyed, "Mother, mother, haven’t I made flavors of sausage that aren’t found in the market? The Qi Clan wants to do business in this area, specifically targeting overseas. She asks whether I want to sell the recipe or share profits from it. She suggested profit sharing. Mother, what do you think?"

Zhulan inquired, "Can I take a look at your correspondence?"

Lady Li felt there was nothing to hide from her mother-in-law; in fact, she’d feel more at ease if her mother-in-law saw it. "Here you are, mother."

Zhulan took the letter. It was only two pages long and contained little content, with no wasted words. It began with a few pleasantries about the New Year’s gifts for Lady Li, then mentioned the matter of the sausage recipe.

Lady Li had never sold her recipe after she had come up with it. She had planned to sell it after passing the imperial examination, but that was when she and Zhou Shuren went to the capital, and they were too occupied ever since. When they returned to the capital and Zhou was busy with his studies, it got postponed, followed by their hurried move to Lizhou City.

Lizhou City kept them busy as well, and Zhulan had forgotten about the recipe; likely, Lady Li herself had too.

Lady Li’s sausages were indeed excellent, and this year Zhulan had included them among the New Year’s gifts for Mr. Chen and the others in the household. The Qi Clan’s letter to Lady Li wasn’t just their idea; selling overseas would definitely require the consent of her husband’s family, the Xu family.

Essentially, this letter was intended for Zhou Shuren. The Xu family wanted to use Lady Li’s recipe to buy shares as a way to test the waters with the Zhou family. If the Zhou family agreed, the Xu family would seek to further bond with the Zhou family—put plainly, the Xu family had high hopes for Zhou Shuren and wished to rely on the Zhou family in the future.

Zhulan kept the letter, "I will discuss it with your father tonight and tell you afterwards."

She herself didn’t think that contacting the Xu family was a good idea!

Lady Li had become much smarter and knew that the letter from the Qi Clan was not simple. "Mother, what about the New Year’s gifts from the Qi Clan? Look at me, my head’s all muddled; I only brought the letter and forgot to bring the gift list."

Zhulan smiled, "What did the Qi Clan send?"

Lady Li had a clear memory when it came to food, "She sent all kinds of edible goods, some cured meats, ham, and oh, some frozen persimmons and pears too. She said she wanted to send fresh fruits, but they’d spoil on the long journey, so she sent frozen ones instead."

Zhulan had seen it in the letter, "These New Year’s gifts are specially for you; you can decide what to do with them yourself."

Lady Li asked, "Mother, should I send a return gift?"

Zhulan replied, "Of course, you should send a return gift. Start preparing it."

Lady Li sighed with a nod, now pondering what to give in return. Lamb and beef were good choices, and as the Lizhou City had meat shops run by foreign clans, the lamb there was much cheaper than in the inland. She planned to buy more than usual and then send some glass noodles as a sufficient return gift.

After deciding on the return gifts and how to distribute the New Year’s gifts, Lady Li knew she must honor her parents-in-law. As for the other branches of the family, apart from her fourth brother, she didn’t want to give anything to the other two branches.

Her two sisters-in-law had lost all favor in her eyes after the experiences in Pingzhou City and the way Zhao’s arrival in Lizhou had prickled her heart. She might not hold grudges, but she had her limits. Still, for the sake of her second and third brothers, she would have to share some with them.

In the afternoon, Zhulan received the respectful gifts from Lady Li, who brought over all the meats, "Mother, the cured meat and ham go well together, and you and father like the frozen pears and persimmons, so I brought half of them."

Zhulan looked at Lady Li’s cheerful appearance, with the meat brought over, she understood that without a small kitchen to cook, offering half of the frozen persimmons and pears was a bit much, "Won’t you keep some more for yourself?"

Touching her belly, Lady Li wanted to keep more, but the babe in her womb didn’t allow it. Yushuang was still young and couldn’t eat too much cold food, Ming Teng and Mingyun could, but they didn’t live in the yard, so they would take it to share elsewhere too. She thought it over and decided it would be better to honor her mother-in-law instead!

Lady Li shook her head, "The other half I kept, half of that is enough."

Zhulan looked at the amount Lady Li had brought over and couldn’t help but smile. Even amiable Hanhan was angry, as Zhao Clan and Lady Dong had hurt Lady Li, "I appreciate your filial piety."

That evening, after dinner, Zhulan defrosted some pears and sat on the heated brick bed with Zhou Shuren, peeling pine nuts and discussing the Xu family. Zhulan asked, "I’ve said everything I should, what do you think?"

Zhou Shuren placed the peeled pine nuts in front of Zhulan, "If Pinggang weren’t a battlefield of various forces, the Xu family could easily come into favor, but now I am barely considered the Emperor’s confidant. Who knows how many powers are watching me? I dare not act rashly, especially not in the most chaotic place like Pinggang."

Zhulan smiled, "So, Lady Li and the Qi Clan should interact, but the formula can’t be shared as equity, it can only be sold."

Zhou Shuren’s corners of his mouth curled up, "Hmm."

Early the next morning, Zhulan announced her decision, "Selling the formula is also worry-free, but the price is for the other party to decide."

Lady Li was obedient; her mind wasn’t as smart as her in-laws’. If her mother-in-law said to sell it, then she would sell, and having the other side set the price was also a form of compensation for her, as her mother-in-law knew the Qi Clan wouldn’t offer a low price.

Lady Li grinned, "Hmm."

Zhulan gestured for Lady Li to sit down. Soon Lady Hua, wife of Mr. Chen, and Lady Miao, wife of Mr. He, arrived, having arranged to come together.

Lady Hua and Lady Miao arrived one after the other. Ever since she had tested the waters with Zhulan, Lady Hua had not picked any more quarrels. Sitting down, she said directly, "We’ve both been waiting for your return."

Lady Miao added, "We were waiting to see the jewelry Zhou Shuren carved for our sister-in-law. We came uninvited today, sister-in-law, could you bring them out for us to feast our eyes on?"

Zhulan was already prepared, and Liu Ya, following instructions, brought them over. Zhulan smiled and said, "They’re all here!"

With plenty of silver in her family, Lady Hua had seen many fine things and owned quite a few high-quality jade stones herself. She regretted coming once she saw the items, feeling even more upset. Naturally, the Emperor’s rewards were the finest and none of the jade stones she owned could compare. Lady Hua lamented quietly, "Sister-in-law, I truly envy you. Zhou Shuren carved jewelry for you that could have been heirlooms."

Lady Miao thought despairingly that even if she pushed her husband to buy jewelry, he could not afford such expensive pieces, "Sister-in-law is indeed fortunate."

Zhulan also had her vanities, especially when it showed everyone how much Zhou Shuren cherished her. Sipping her tea, she felt delighted, "It’s not all for me; he also carved some for himself."

Lady Hua asked, "We really haven’t heard about that, sister-in-law, would you mind telling us?"

Thinking of the thick stack of invitations at home, Zhulan narrowed her eyes, "Not at all. He made good use of the leftover material from carving bracelets and carved quite a few jade pendants and hairpins to match my jewelry."

Lady Hua, "...."

Lady Miao, "...."

Both women were sipping their tea to cut through the greasiness, but listening to Zhulan made their hearts feel cloyed.

Lady Hua thought to herself that her husband disapproved of Zhou Shuren, often criticizing him at home. She finally understood her husband’s feelings; the Yang Clan was now more hateful than before.