Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 408 Shelter_1

Chapter 408: Chapter 408 Shelter_1

Zhulan was just about to speak when Liu Ya called from outside the door, "Madame, Miss Wu has arrived."

Zhulan released Zhou Shuren’s face and hurriedly pulled him to sit down, "Please have her come in quickly."

Wu Ning and Xue Han came together, and seeing her daughter blink, Zhulan knew that Xue Han was there to embolden Wu Ning, who had always been a bit afraid of Zhou Shuren back in Pingzhou City.

Wu Ning dared not raise her head and hurriedly greeted, "Uncle, Auntie."

Zhulan tugged at Zhou Shuren, who coughed once, "Rise."

Wu Ning let out a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief and slowly stood up straight, her palms drenched with sweat.

Zhulan said, "Please sit down."

Wu Ning, "Yes."

Zhulan felt helpless, Wu Ning was a bit more relaxed in her presence, but in front of Zhou Shuren, Wu Ning didn’t even dare to breathe heavily.

Zhou Shuren barely spoke even to his own adopted daughter, let alone the sister of his adopted son, he kept a tally of all the favors Wu Ming had requested, and someday Wu Ming would have to repay them.

When Zhou Shuren thought about Wu Ming’s situation, it was indeed grave. If not for his presence as Wu Ming’s godfather, Wu Ming’s life would have been much more difficult. The boy could only depend on him now, and handing over the Zhou family to him in the future was not a mistake.

Zhou Shuren looked at Zhulan and his eyes signaled her to speak.

Zhulan realized she had lost that round, having hoped Zhou Shuren would say a few more words so that Wu Ning could feel more at ease in the Zhou family. But seeing how tense Wu Ning was, it was probably better Zhou Shuren didn’t speak.

Zhulan inquired, "Did you have a comfortable nap this afternoon?"

Wu Ning felt embarrassed; she hadn’t expected to sleep all afternoon. She hadn’t had such good sleep in a long time, and her face reddened slightly, "Thank you for your concern, Auntie. I am quite used to it."

Zhulan also wanted to chat more, but with the Zhou family’s status having changed, the familiarity of old times was gone, and with Wu Ning becoming timid, Zhulan felt tired just looking at her tense demeanor. Seeing that it was getting late, Zhulan got up and said, "Dinner should be ready, let’s go."

With that, Zhou Shuren and Zhulan walked out first.

Xue Han pulled Wu Ning to her feet and whispered to her, "This will be your home in the future, don’t be nervous. My mother is the best."

Wu Ning thought to herself that she was afraid of Zhou Shuren. Every time her brother mentioned Zhou Shuren, he hesitated, and her fear of Zhou Shuren grew.

During dinner, Lady Li kept adding food to Wu Ning’s plate, "Eat a bit more, look how skinny you are."

Wu Ning looked at the full bowl of food. This wasn’t her own home, but she had no choice but to eat up. Once Wu Ning finished a bowl, Lady Li tactfully stopped adding more food.

Wu Ning breathed a sigh of relief. She had been afraid that the Zhou family would be cold to her. She knew her own situation well, having brought misfortune to her parents and elders. Now, overwhelmed by their enthusiasm, she felt too much to handle.

Although her brother shielded the family, she was all too aware of certain things. She feared being nitpicked and grew increasingly reluctant to speak or to interact with others. She concealed it well, and her brother, believing she had simply become more composed with the change of status, never noticed.

It wasn’t until her brother received the Ding You Zhezi and someone came to propose marriage that she glimpsed the reality. The matchmaker proposed a twenty-seven-year-old widower for her—she was only twelve. The matchmaker’s words were harsh, suggesting that it was fortunate someone would even consider her with her ill-fated destiny.

Her brother chased the matchmaker away and came back to smash up the study. It was the first time she saw her brother so furious.

By then, her brother had already written the letter to send her away, lamenting why he hadn’t sent her away with the letter directly.

Wu Ning couldn’t help but glance at Zhou Shuren. She asked her brother if Zhou Shuren, his godfather, had ever sheltered him, now that Zhou Shuren’s name was known throughout the counties and her brother struggled so. Had Zhou Shuren protected him?

Her brother said that Zhou Shuren had protected him. Being able to sit comfortably as the County Magistrate, only enduring verbal sarcasm, was already the greatest shelter.

Wu Ning thought that maybe it was best for her to leave. That way no one could use her to attack her brother, who would then have an easier time. As for her marriage, she had started to lose hope.

After dinner, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren returned to their courtyard. Zhulan, getting ready for bed, said, "Wu Ming didn’t elaborate much in his letter, and Eldest didn’t notice anything amiss either. But Wu Ning’s change is too drastic to be just due to Lady Li’s death. Knowing this, I should have let Chang Lian go with Eldest."

Zhou Shuren, "I also don’t know much. Wu Ming only ever asks me about governance in his letters. He’s never inquired about personal relationships. Even if Wu Ming is quite capable, there are things he can’t attend to. With most of his attention on the people, it’s inevitable that he neglected his sister. The Wu family lacks a matriarch like you, and Wu Ning must have endured much neglect and mockery."

Zhulan sighed, "Such a good child, used to be so outgoing, now so timid and withdrawn. I feel it’s not just mockery she’s suffered."

Zhou Shuren somberly said, "Then it’s her reputation. It’s not just that the girl finds it hard to discuss marriage, even Wu Ming’s marriage prospects are difficult."

Zhulan leaned against Zhou Shuren, sighing inwardly. Zhou Shuren spoke the truth, "Now with Wu Ming and his uncle severing ties, and no elder in the family to make arrangements, it looks like we will need to worry more in the future."

Zhou Shuren, "...If it weren’t for Wu Ming’s prospects, I’d feel like I’d been shortchanged."

They still had Chang Zhi at home without a marriage arrangement, and now they had to worry about Wu Ming’s family too!

However, Wu Ming was currently in the most distressing of times, the harsher the trials, the more stable Wu Ming would be in the future. Zhou Shuren believed that their participation might have softened Wu Ming, but now that necessary harshness was being replenished!