Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 421: Confusion_1

Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Confusion_1

Zhulan accepted the warm water Zhou Shuren offered her, "It’s just a pity that though I could see the baby crawling everywhere, I couldn’t tell if it was a boy or a girl."

Her dream exhausted her; she couldn’t catch up no matter how hard she tried.

Zhou Shuren sat beside Zhulan, "Would you like more to drink?"

Zhulan shook her head, "No more for me."

Zhou Shuren put down the cup, "Do you hope for a boy or a girl?"

Zhulan curved her lips, "I quite like girls, but it’s a pity that in ancient times, boys have it better. They can go wherever they like without restrictions, but girls can’t. Honestly, if I had a daughter and she got married, I really wouldn’t bear to part with her. A boy, on the other hand, would marry into the family."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "I also think boys are better."

He was very fond of daughters and hoped for one like Zhulan, but the constraints on girls in ancient times were too much. Once they were married, even returning to their natal homes was hard. If his daughter was bullied, both he and Zhulan would be heartbroken.

Zhulan played with Zhou Shuren’s hand, "You’ve been teaching Shi Qing for a while now, how do you feel about it?"

Zhou Shuren, "What Shi Qing lacks is vision and a sense of the bigger picture. I teach him a little every day, and he learns quickly. Why do you suddenly ask about him?"

"I saw him today and felt that he has changed quite a bit, so I just wanted to ask."

Zhou Shuren looked at the time, "Let’s take a walk in the garden."

"Indeed, I should clear my head, let’s go!"

Zhou Shuren, fearing Zhulan might get cold, took a cloak for her. The two of them headed to the garden, and after a while, he said, "It seems like I haven’t seen Lady Li sticking to you for a long time."

In the past, even on days when he had time off, Lady Li dared to get close to Zhulan.

Zhulan laughed, "Ever since she found out I was pregnant, your gazes alone could kill. How could Lady Li dare to come around?"

Zhou Shuren hummed, "She wasn’t afraid before. She just fears that if she harms you, she won’t be able to take responsibility, so she doesn’t dare to come."

Zhulan’s lips curved, "I’m now the protected one in the family. Forget Lady Li, even the children don’t dare to come near."

Zhou Shuren fell silent for a moment, "Do you find it boring?"

Zhulan shook her head, "Not at all. I’m low on energy anyway, so having no one to keep me company while I sleep is quite nice."

"That’s good then."

He was actually worried that Zhulan might be bored. Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand. He regretted not agreeing when Mr. Chen suggested yielding the Government Office.

That way, he could have spent more time with Zhulan.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren chatted as they walked. Realizing it was getting late, Zhou Shuren helped Zhulan back to their courtyard through the main gate of the garden.

Chang Lian led Shi Qing out of his own yard and saw the backs of his father supporting his mother. A smile crept onto his lips; his parents’ affection for each other was so genuine. The thought of having another brother or sister, however, gave him a feeling of discomfort in his stomach – they were so little.

Chang Lian looked back and saw Shi Qing, standing there stunned, looking towards his parents, "Snap out of it. Surprised by my father’s gentle side? You’ll get used to it after more visits to our house."

Shi Qing, watching the backs of Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou, felt puzzled. He had heard of Mr. Zhou’s vows, yet the more he came into contact with him, the more he felt Mr. Zhou was extremely calculating, increasingly doubting the sincerity of the emotions that Mr. Zhou spoke of in his marriage. He didn’t believe there was any love between Mr. and Mrs. Zhou, but after what he had just witnessed, Shi Qing realized he was wrong.

Mr. Zhou truly cherished his wife. He had never seen Mr. Zhou smile so tenderly, his heart and eyes full of Mrs. Zhou. Was this what love was?

He had never believed in love. His father taught him that everything could be used so long as it had value, and he understood from an early age that nothing trumped interest. His father favored his mother for her beauty alone. When his mother was killed by his stepmother, his father, who knew it, said nothing because his mother could not compare to the advantages brought by the stepmother.

When he was mistreated as a child, his father didn’t intervene. All the better - he managed to plot the death of his legitimate brother, and his father didn’t say a word, recognizing his capabilities instead.

He had met many officials and their families, seen many husband and wife pairs, but never had he witnessed love; they were all just connections of family interests.

But today, he had seen love, and it left him bewildered. Was there really love between husband and wife, not just mutual benefits?

Chang Lian took a few steps and looked back to see Shi Qing still there, "What are you thinking about? Come back to reality."

Shi Qing quickly caught up, "Is Mr. Zhou always like this at home when not working?"

Chang Lian couldn’t help but chuckle, seeing that his student was frightened by his father, "Yes, when my father is off duty and at home, no one comes to visit, because everyone knows he’ll be with my mother. Also, we, his sons and daughters, are like picked up strays. We’re used to not seeing our father’s smiles, but whenever we do, it’s a guarantee we’re in for misfortune. However, in recent years, my father no longer torments us."

Chang Lian eyed Shi Qing. This son of a merchant, he didn’t want to know how Shi Qing managed to gain favor and become a Scholar. What he really wondered was why his father took Shi Qing in. He considered him a rival and felt discomfort in his heart whenever he remembered the mentor’s appraisal. Was he really that bad?

Chang Lian turned away from Shi Qing and walked forward a couple steps, then said, "But back to the topic, my father really made an exception for you today. Instead of staying with my mother on his day off, he took you to meet my mentor,"

Chang Lian paused, his tone very casual, "My father didn’t ask you to address him as master, like he did with Meng Jie, only as Scholar. I’m puzzled, why does he teach you?"

Now his father was quite famous. Not to mention being the second-place scholar with genuine talent, the reputation he had built over the past two years had attracted many who wished to study under him. Every once in a while, people would come to visit – individuals of good family, of noble lineage, and some highly talented; his father rejected them all. Why take in the son of a merchant?

Shi Qing felt the shock was not small. Was the Mr. Zhou of Chang Lian’s words the same one he knew? Reflecting on Mr. Zhou’s teachings, Shi Qing couldn’t resist rubbing his sore wrist; his hand was practically going to fail from all the copying.