Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 424: The Richest Person in the Zhou Residence_1

Chapter 424: Chapter 424: The Richest Person in the Zhou Residence_1

In the evening, Zhou Shuren saw Zhulan still looking at the small clothes with a furrowed brow and snatched them away, "Stop looking."

Zhulan couldn’t help but laugh. She knew Zhou Shuren was upset. They were hoping for a son, and Zhao’s gift of girl’s clothes had struck Zhou Shuren’s heart, "I was just marveling at how much Zhao’s embroidery skills have improved."

Zhou Shuren didn’t believe her. Zhulan’s appetite had been smaller tonight, and she seemed rather down, "It’s just us in the house, stop pretending."

Zhulan sighed, "Alright, I’ll stop pretending. I’m not that depressed, I just can’t help but wonder, what if it turns out to be a daughter? Shouldn’t we prepare for that possibility in advance?"

Zhou Shuren stared at the small clothes and pursed his lips, "Should we be thanking Zhao for reminding us then?"

Zhulan, "No need to thank her, but she indeed reminded us. These days we’ve been so focused on having a son that we’ve brainwashed ourselves. We’ve been taking everything for granted, but what if it’s a daughter? So, it is indeed better to be prepared."

Zhou Shuren’s eyes sparkled, "If it’s a daughter, we can raise a boy raised by his maternal grandparents and treat him like our son, indoctrinating him."

Zhulan laughed out loud, that indeed sounded like something Zhou Shuren would do. She touched her belly, "It’s getting late, you should go and wash up."

These days, after dinner, Zhou Shuren would always go to teach Shi Qing. Zhulan had already washed up and was just waiting for Zhou Shuren.

Zhou Shuren stood up, "Alright, I’ll be back soon."

Zhou Shuren returned in a quarter of an hour, having taken a quick bath. Zhulan took a towel and started drying Zhou Shuren’s hair, "Today, Zhou Er brought back quite a few things for us."

Zhou Shuren grimaced, "He’s scared. I think he and his wife should just stay in Chuanzhou Province for a few good years."

If he hasn’t raised them well, don’t even think about returning to the Zhou family.

Zhulan was just reflecting on how Zhou Er, an adult, could hardly change even with drastic measures. When she announced her pregnancy, the couple showed no reaction, but now they brought gifts upon returning home.

When Zhou Shuren heard Zhulan sigh, "Stop thinking about Zhou Er and his wife."

Zhulan hummed in agreement, and once Zhou Shuren’s hair had dried, she put down the towel and picked up a comb to brush Zhou Shuren’s hair, "Your hair has thinned quite a bit."

Zhou Shuren became depressed. Fortunately, it was thinning evenly and not just from the top of his head; otherwise, he would genuinely cry, "I’ve been taking medicine prescribed by Doctor Zhang, but I don’t know if it’s effective. Master Lü is more reliable, indeed."

Zhulan’s good health was testimony to that, her well-being was greatly owing to the old master’s efforts.

Zhou Shuren thought of Master Lü. If the old master could be there for Zhulan’s childbirth, he would feel more at ease. However, considering the old master’s age, traveling far seemed unlikely.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Zhulan called for Zhou Er and handed him a list, "Here is the shopping list for the return trip, keep it safe."

Zhou Er took the list, "Mother, is there anything else you want to instruct?"

Zhulan took out the deeds for the two shops in Jingzhou, "Sell these two shops, then use the silver from the sale and the collected rent to buy a house in the West City of Jingzhou. Don’t settle for a small one, it should at least be a two-courtyard house. Bring back all the silver from the sale of the grain from the two estates."

Zhou La’er couldn’t help but glance at the deed of the shop, bearing the name of their father. He couldn’t help but ask, "Mother, is the name on the deed of the house we bought yours or father’s?"

Zhulan, though not in the best of spirits due to her pregnancy, was not slow-witted. She noticed Zhou La’er’s gaze, "It’s in my name."

Zhou La’er, with his head lowered, despite not wishing for a division of the family, knew what his father had said: it wasn’t that they couldn’t split the family assets now, but that it might happen later. The properties under father’s name were to be divided equally among the brothers, whereas those under mother’s name were subject to her preferences. So in this family, it was still mother who had the most Silver, "Mother, I’ll remember that."

Zhulan originally had a few more things to explain, but the words died on her lips. The nature of Zhou La’er was ingrained in his bones—he was not one to disregard reality unless he had no other choice. She dismissed Zhou La’er, "Steward Ding has packed the luggage already. You should pack as well. We set off tomorrow."

Zhou La’er, still with his head down, said, "Yes."

Once Zhou La’er stepped outside, standing on the steps, he wondered how long he had been away from home. He felt like a guest; upon his return yesterday, Chang Lian had shouted that second brother was back. He stomped his foot because he noticed, after not seeing him for so many days, that Chang Lian had changed. Chang Lian had become more reserved. As sons of the Zhou family, he and his older brother—the gap between him and Chang Lian had only widened.

Even though Zhou La’er had earned Silver, he did not feel happy. He just wanted to return home as soon as possible. The only comfort was that his son and daughter had been well-educated by his parents; his daughter increasingly resembled his younger sister in her actions, and his son didn’t even need mention—reciting his studies impressively.

Thinking of his son gave Zhou La’er strength. His son was the hope of the second wife; he did not aspire for his son to surpass the eldest grandson, Mingyun, but to exceed Ming Teng would be enough.

The next day, Zhou La’er left with Steward Ding, and Lady Zhao came to the main courtyard.

Lady Zhao, looking at her mother-in-law, said, "Mother, you’ve worked hard educating Yushuang and Ming Rui."

Zhulan, thinking of her grandchildren, smiled. Yushuang needed no mention, but as for Ming Rui, now that he had learned to be polite and composed, she felt a great sense of achievement, "They are my grandchildren. It’s not hard work."

Lady Zhao had hesitated on whether to visit her mother or not. With her husband not at home, she stepped out to seek her mother-in-law’s advice. She didn’t want to visit her own family. Her mother’s letters had become frequent recently, always about her brother’s education and how he would stand up for her once he made a name for himself. But as for her brother, she didn’t have much affection for him.

She had been moved back in Chuanzhou Province, but after seeing her son and daughter, she had withdrawn her affections. Her reliance had always been, from the beginning to the end, on her son and daughter. It was just a pity she couldn’t change enough to resemble her sister-in-law; had she been able to gain her mother-in-law’s favor like her sister-in-law, her mother-in-law would have been her support.

Zhulan noticed Lady Zhao’s distraction, "Is there something on your mind?"

Lady Zhao replied with a shallow smile, "Mother, I was just wondering whether I should visit my family. You know my mother has been writing to me a lot, but it would seem wrong not to go now that I’m back."

Zhulan was pleased to hear Lady Zhao speak straightforwardly rather than keep her guessing, "You don’t have to go. If she doesn’t come today, she will come tomorrow. However, when she does come, just take the gifts you’ve prepared for her back with you."

Lady Zhao blushed, feeling estranged from the mother she knew now, "Mother, how has my mother changed? Never mind, you should rest. I’ll go back first."

With her face flushed, Lady Zhao wondered why she had blurted out what was on her mind. She truly couldn’t understand how her mother had changed.

Zhulan, hearing this, thought to herself that Lady Fang had long been oppressed, and after such prolonged suppression, she had sprung back like a released spring once there was no one above her.

Not long after Lady Zhao left, Lady Fang arrived. For the sake of the quietness needed for the child in her belly and considering her grandchild in Lady Zhao’s womb, Zhulan didn’t intend to drag things out.

Lady Fang had brought gifts. There were only two people in the Fang family, Lady Fang and Qian Keqi. With little annual expenditure, Lady Fang had some Silver in hand, and the gifts she had brought were also valuable. Zhulan, looking at the furs, thought that probably everyone knew she liked furs by now.