Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 401 Daughter-in-law’s filial piety_1

Chapter 401: Chapter 401 Daughter-in-law’s filial piety_1

Zhulan, upon noticing her relatives heading to the eldest brother’s courtyard, hurriedly rose to her feet and, accompanied by Liu Ya, made her way to the kitchen. As she walked, she chatted with Xue Han: "We haven’t stewed the goose we bought yesterday, and midday would be the perfect time to do it. No, I must go and check what the kitchen has purchased today."

Ever since Zhou Shuren decided to send Lady Zhao and Zhou’s second son to Chuanzhou, Zhulan has taken back control of the kitchen, which she entrusted to Xue Han.

Xue Han calculated the time and said, "The purchases should have returned by now."

Zhulan said, "Your eldest sister-in-law’s parents came overnight."

If they had rested at night, they should have arrived in Lizhou City at night instead of in the morning. This couple did not travel with the caravan – to save silver coins, they came directly with their four grandsons, spending only on renting a carriage and lodging along the way.

Zhulan, together with Xue Han, reached the kitchen where the purchases had been made. The border city benefited Lizhou with mutton that was never in short supply. Today, they bought half a sheep, along with chickens, ducks, fish, and more. Zhulan counted eighteen dishes, then instructed the kitchen staff, "The dishes should be savory, make sure the stewed ones are extra tender. Oh, and the main dish for midday is steamed buns. What desserts have been bought today?"

Eldest daughter-in-law, Li Xia, of Steward Ding spoke, "Madame, today’s desserts were bought from Ruyi Shop."

Upon hearing of Ruyi Shop, Zhulan thought of Shi Qing and wondered if Shi Qing had been successful in becoming a Scholar this year.

Indeed, last year, Lizhou City did not have a Ruyi Shop. Having just opened this year, Zhulan said, "Leave a plate each for the second wife, the third wife, and the young lady’s courtyard, and send the rest to the eldest wife’s place."

Xue Han asked, "Mother, won’t you and father eat any?"

Zhulan, "....I won’t have any today."

Could she admit that she was a bit tired of them?

Inside Zhulan’s family’s ice cellar, there were pears still frozen. She asked Liu Ya to take some to the eldest wife’s courtyard – surely Lady Li’s parents hadn’t eaten breakfast yet.

In the eldest wife’s courtyard, Lady Lixu watched her daughter show off all sorts of finery, even digging out a cape now that winter had passed.

Lady Li draped them one by one, "Mother, don’t these look good?"

Lady Lixu did not dare to touch, "They are beautiful."

Lady Li smiled, "These were given to me by Mother-in-law. Just one cape costs fifty taels, Mother!"

Lady Lixu quickly withdrew her hand, her voice unusually loud, "What, just for a cape?"

That’s not just a cape; that is several mu of rice fields!

Lady Li continued with a smile, "Yes, Mother, so don’t ask me anymore whether I’m living well or not. Just look at this cape and at my jewelry, and you’ll know how good my life is. And Mother, let me tell you, Mother-in-law prepared my dowry, and I own a piece of the shop too."

Lady Lixu was aware her daughter had earned some silver coins, all from the recipes she had developed in the Zhou family. Without the support of her mother-in-law, the daughter couldn’t have created anything. That the daughter had offered silver coins to her mother-in-law was reasonable, but now, to hear her daughter tell it, the mother-in-law hadn’t asked for a single coin and had recorded it all in her daughter’s name. Lady Lixu sighed, "Your mother-in-law truly treats you well."

Smiling, she added, "Mother, my mother-in-law is kind to everyone."

As long as one doesn’t cross her bottom line, Mother-in-law is actually quite easy to talk to.

At midday, Lady Lixu did not change into the ready-made clothes bought by Zhou’s eldest son. With her family’s situation being what it was, she did not believe that changing clothes would thicken her family’s wallet. She kept the clothes away, planning to wear them when returning home, where she could generously say they were a token of respect from her son-in-law.

Lady Lixu, feasting her eyes on the sumptuous meal, couldn’t contain her joy, and politely remarked, "Mother-in-law, you are too kind. We country folks are fine with anything."

The spread before her dazzled her eyes.

Zhulan took Lady Lixu by the hand and seated her, "We’re family now, and you’re honored guests – how could we be careless? Please, taste and see if it suits your palate."

At the men’s table, Rongchuan and Mingyun were at the Academy, Chang Lian was at Graduate Meng’s place – only Zhou’s eldest son was there to entertain his father-in-law.

Zhulan truly did not know what Lady Lixu liked to eat, for the Li family’s circumstances never allowed for such preferences. In any case, meat was the right choice; out of the eighteen dishes, only two were vegetarian.

Knowing her mother felt awkward, Lady Li personally served her plates, "Mother, please eat more."

Zhulan smiled, "Mother-in-law, please make yourself at home here, and don’t be polite with me."

Lady Lixu didn’t even know what to choose, "It’s alright, it’s alright."

While Zhulan’s side was merry, Lady Zhao lost her appetite. The mother-in-law’s treatment towards her own relatives was starkly different. Her mother did not personally visit the kitchen when she came. The thought of what her mother had done made Lady Zhao’s face flush red as she suddenly realized she might be as unwelcome as her mother.

Now that her younger brother and eldest sister-in-law were getting along, the younger sister had not visited the second wife’s courtyard for a long time. Lady Zhao thought about what her daughter had said and ate her meal in silence, thankful for the opportunity her mother-in-law had given her.

By midday, not even a steamed bun or a dish remained at the men’s table – the four lads could eat a great deal. Accustomed to having empty stomachs year-round, their capacity was huge.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Lady Lixu glared at her grandsons, but Zhulan cheerfully said, "A good appetite is a blessing."

In the afternoon, Lady Li’s parents rested until evening when Zhou Shuren returned and had the cook prepare roast whole lamb for the night.

Zhou Shuren enthusiastically said, "This time you must stay for a few more days. When I have a break, I’ll take you around Lizhou City for a good tour."

Li Cong’s heart was aflutter – to him, even the County magistrate was a high-ranking official, and seeing his son-in-law return in official attire had left him astonished. Still dazed, he could only agree somewhat confusedly.

Zhou Shuren, like Zhulan, had a fondness for the Li family members. Seeing the Li family’s four strapping grandsons pleased him – truly they had inherited the Li family genes, all good-natured and trusting, which put him and Zhulan at ease.

After receiving Zhou family’s warm hospitality, Lady Lixu felt completely at ease.

The next morning, Zhulan did not rush to discuss affairs with the Li family. Instead, she personally took the mother-in-law out of town for a stroll through the orchard.

In the capital, the list of candidates who passed the Scholar exams from various regions also arrived. Every year, the Emperor would not glance at it, but this year, he perused the list from all regions, keen to see, under Zhou Shuren’s subsidy policy, how many people from Lizhou had participated in the exams and how many had passed.