Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 410: Young Master_1

Chapter 410: Chapter 410: Young Master_1

In ancient times, matchmaking paid great attention to one’s "Birthday," and even if Zhulan raised Wu Ning exceptionally well, few families would choose Wu Ning as a daughter-in-law.

Zhulan was not in a hurry, though. Wu Ning was still young this year, and she mainly wanted Wu Ning to adapt first and then slowly have Wu Ning manage the household with Xue Han.

In fact, before Wu Ning arrived, Zhulan had already sent a letter to her sister-in-law, inquiring whether her youngest nephew, Wu Hai, had been betrothed and casually mentioning Wu Ning’s situation. Although she didn’t make it explicit, her sister-in-law, being the smart person she was, understood and subtly rejected the proposal after seeing the girl.

For the Yang family, being a military general’s household, they particularly avoided matches that might bring bad luck, not to mention the situation with Wu Dong and the serious injuries Wu He had suffered. Zhulan wasn’t surprised by her sister-in-law’s rejection.

Zhulan knew quite a bit about Wu Ning. Wu Ning was somewhat gentle, and a suitable match for her would surely need a decisive man, preferably a strong one who could provide a sense of security. Additionally, he shouldn’t disdain Wu Ning’s reputation or bully her. Finding a match for Wu Ning was indeed very difficult.

Time flew by, and soon it was the Mid-Autumn Festival. The second eldest couple from Chuanzhou Province had also returned.

Zhou Shuren had been keeping a low profile in Chuanzhou Province, focusing all his energy on the orchard and even planting plenty of sweet melons. He sent back loads of fruit and melons throughout the summer. With the couple being so well-behaved, Zhulan let them come back for the festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was a time for family reunion, and Zhou Shuren rarely took a break, and this year, there were crabs.

These crabs had been purchased at Zhulan’s request, some sent to the Yang residence, leaving plenty more behind.

Zhou Shuren and Zhou Shuren had long craved crabs after their previous experiences.

Today, each household sat at a separate table without distinction between men and women’s tables. Zhulan was teaching Wu Ning and Xue Han how to eat crabs when she heard Zhou Shuren laughing heartily at the next table.

Zhulan turned around to see and couldn’t help but laugh as well—Ming Teng didn’t know how to eat and had simply chomped down. Given he was teething, it happened that one of his front teeth fell out.

Lady Li was angry and glared at the head of the household, who had deliberately not told them how to eat, just to watch his wife and children make a fool of themselves. Lady Li, in a fit of anger, placed the crabs from her son’s and her own hands in front of the head of the household, "We, mother and children, are clumsy with our hands and mouths, not knowing how to eat; we can only wait to be served ready-to-eat food."

Zhou Shuren, "...."

The daughter also placed her own crabs in front of him, and glancing at her elder brother, he went a step further, even putting the plate of crabs in front of his father.

Zhou Shuren’s mouth twitched—he had only intended to tease Lady Li and Ming Teng, not expecting to trap himself!

How long would he have to peel crabs now? Fine, forget about eating crab meat today; he was to serve his wife and children now.

Zhulan was about to look away when she heard a retching sound. She hadn’t even touched her crab, and the sound immediately made her feel sick. When she turned back around, Zhao’s wife had already run out.

Zhulan felt her stomach churn, and with the sight of the delicious crabs before her, she had lost all appetite. Struggling against the nausea, she put down her chopsticks and said to Liu Ya, "Go to the doctor’s house and ask Doctor Zhang to come over."

Zhou Shuren stood up, "Mother, there’s no need for a doctor, Zhao’s wife is two months pregnant."

Zhou Shuren had not intended to tell his mother at this moment. It wasn’t advisable to travel in a carriage during the first three months of pregnancy, and even though the roads had improved considerably, they were still rough. His parents had finally allowed them to come home for the festival, and they didn’t want to miss it just because of the pregnancy.

But what he didn’t expect was that Zhao’s wife, who had shown no signs of discomfort, reacted so strongly to fish today.

Zhulan guessed the couple had been working hard at it. She could speculate a little about their little secrets. Losing her appetite, she said, "Go and check on Zhao’s wife, if she’s not feeling well, then call the doctor to have a look."

Zhou Shuren felt his father’s piercing gaze and hurriedly agreed before dashing out.

After a while, Zhao’s wife was fine, just without an appetite. Zhulan had Liu Ya look after her so Zhou Shuren could come back to celebrate the festival.

Zhou Shuren peeled a lot of crab meat for Zhulan, and after a moment, her nausea subsided, and she felt somewhat hungry, but she still didn’t eat much.

After the festival, Zhou Shuren also realized he had once again incurred his father’s disfavor, so as soon as he confirmed Zhao’s wife was well the next morning, he took her back to Chuanzhou Province.

Zhou Shuren had just left when Lady Fang arrived.

Lady Fang came on her own, "Mother-in-law, I heard that your children had come back, so I came to visit."

Zhulan said indifferently, "Unfortunately, they were in a hurry to go back to Chuanzhou Province and left just a short while ago."

She knew perfectly well why Lady Fang had come—it was to use the presence of Zhou Shuren and Zhao’s wife to broach the topic of the Academy.

Lady Fang’s smile stiffened. Over the past few months, she had not stopped sending letters to her daughter, hoping her daughter would speak well of her son to enroll him in a good Academy. Out of ten letters, she received just one in reply, and all advised her to find a good private school instead.

She thought she could corner them today, but they stayed only one day before leaving. She felt that Zhou Shuren was avoiding her. Clutching her handkerchief, Lady Fang realized sons-in-law were unreliable; she had to rely on her son.

Zhulan watched as Lady Fang’s expression changed, "Mother-in-law, is there anything else?"

Lady Fang knew clearly that the mother-in-law was becoming increasingly cold towards her. A few times she had visited, the mother-in-law’s face wore a smile, but her eyes were chilly. If it weren’t for her son, she would not dare to come uninvited, "No, there’s nothing more; I shall take my leave then."

Zhulan gestured for Liu Ya to see out the guest. Liu Ya returned quickly, "Mistress, there’s a gentleman from the capital at the door. This is his letter; he said you would understand once you’ve read it."

Zhulan carefully recalled—gentlemen from the capital? Scholar Deng hardly qualified as a gentleman, having children that weren’t so young anymore. Who else could it be from the capital?