Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 434 Good Dad_1

Chapter 434: Chapter 434 Good Dad_1

Shi Qing sipped the wine in his cup, "Because I envy you, I watch you more closely."

Chang Lian was stunned, "You envy me?"

Meng Jie continued the conversation, "Yes, we envy you for having a good father."

Chang Lian, "...."

He knew what his father had done, and he had been agitated for a long time, always hoping that if he couldn’t learn a hundred percent, fifty percent would be enough.

Chang Lian’s mouth twitched, "Don’t tell me you’re envious too?"

Meng Jie laughed heartily, "My dad is also very impressive. What’s there for me to envy? My dad just doesn’t want to be an official. And don’t forget, your dad is my master, and I’m his only disciple."

He thought his own father was incredible too. How amazing his father was to have changed his future with ten years of effort.

Shi Qing took another sip of wine. Both of these men were objects of envy. The more impressive the teacher, the greater his regret. Calculating the time, there was barely more than a year left. Shi Qing looked at the two men laughing and chatting before him, and his heart felt a tinge of sourness.

Shi Qing even thought that if he had a good father like Mr. Zhou, his own path would have been much longer, and he wouldn’t have to calculate everything, with his father supporting him in all things.

Seeing Shi Qing drinking sullenly by himself, Chang Lian and Meng Jie stopped joking and offered a toast to Shi Qing. Shi Qing was only half right. Not only did he have a good father, he also had a good mother, and it was through knowing Shi Qing that he truly realized how lucky he was.

In the afternoon, Zhulan picked up a medical book—yes, a medical book—because Granny Song not only understood medicine but also had decent medical skills. Zhulan was thus moved to learn, and Chinese medicine is so profound that learning it benefits oneself, especially when taught by someone competent.

As she was reading, Chang Lian entered, "Mother."

Zhulan set the book down, "You’ve been drinking."

Chang Lian sniffed, "Mother, I’ve bathed, and the smell is very faint now. How can your nose still detect it?"

Zhulan smiled, "I can smell it. Who did you go drinking with?"

Chang Lian sat beside his mother, "I invited Meng Jie and Shi Qing. We didn’t drink much."

Despite Shi Qing’s constant drinking, he had a high alcohol tolerance and would be fine after sobering up a bit.

Zhulan picked up the book again, "Do you need something, my boy?"

It probably wasn’t for money since he had a monthly allowance and income from the third room in the house. She really couldn’t guess.

Chang Lian dared not lean on his mother, whose belly was already quite large now, "I just wanted to come and keep Mother company."

Zhulan looked up, "Oh?"

Chang Lian smiled, "Mother, your son is very happy."

Zhulan was slightly confused. After scolding Chang Lian a few times, this son of hers was quite afraid of her. Today, however, he surprisingly expressed such a sentimental sentiment, and she laughed, "You indeed have had quite a bit."

Chang Lian, "...."

He really hadn’t drunk much at all. Truly. He swore that what he said was not the talk of a drunk.

Zhulan’s eyes were full of laughter. Whether it was drunken speech or not, she could tell. The best effects always come from comparison. As for why Rongchuan hadn’t had the same effect, it was because Rongchuan had come early and was raised as a son, so the gap was too small.

Now Chang Lian knew how lucky he was. No, it should be said that all the children of the Zhou family were lucky.

Zhulan handed the medical book to Chang Lian, "Since you’re here, check if I have recited these two Chapters correctly."

Only then did Chang Lian notice that the book in his hand was a medical text. He knew his mother had been learning to paint and was already quite good at it. Now she wanted to learn medicine? Chang Lian felt he wasn’t trying hard enough. His mother, at her age, was still working hard to enrich herself while caring for the whole family, "Mother, I want to learn from you."

Zhulan, "Good."

Parents are the lifelong teachers of their children, and the way Zhou Shuren and she conducted themselves always influenced the children of the Zhou family.

Zhulan was pregnant and still had a good memory. She also had her own method of recitation, and she got two passages right after reciting them.

Chang Lian said with a smile, "Mother, you’re truly remarkable."

Zhulan took the book, "It reminds me of when you used to study, you could never recite the articles entirely."

Chang Lian also felt nostalgic. Frankly, he had not been diligent before.

Zhulan felt tired after reciting for a while; sitting in one position did not suit her, "When you have time, spend more time with Lady Dong. Lady Dong married you at a young age and now she can’t go back to her parents’ home. She trusts you the most. Talk to her when you can."

Chang Lian blushed; his relationship with Lady Dong was good, "Mother, don’t worry, we are fine."

Seeing Chang Lian’s ears turn red, Zhulan felt time had passed so quickly. They would consummate their marriage next year; in the blink of an eye, the boy was already eighteen, and would be nineteen after the New Year.

Unable to bear his mother’s gaze, Chang Lian left and went back to his own courtyard.

In the third courtyard, Chang Lian approached the table, "What are you writing so intently about?"

Lady Dong said, "You’re back."

"Hmm."

Lady Dong handed something to Chang Lian, "I’ve calculated the silver we have saved. We both receive a monthly allowance, and our food and clothing expenses don’t consume silver, so the allowance is enough for our spending. I was thinking of using the silver in hand to purchase shops and collect rent. What do you think?"

Seeing that Lady Dong was seriously planning for their small household, Chang Lian’s eyes softened. He held her hand, "I’ll listen to you."

Lady Dong’s face flushed. She felt the temperature in the room was too high, didn’t she?

Some time passed before Zhou Shuren and Steward Ding returned; it was already close to the New Year.

Zhou Shuren had lost some weight. Zhulan asked, "Was the journey not smooth?"

Zhou Shuren warmed his hands, "We encountered a few snowstorms and were delayed for some days."

He felt very unlucky. There had been heavy snow when he left, and he had encountered it again on his return. If it had not been for the fact that returning late meant he didn’t have to go back to Chuanzhou Province right before the New Year, he would have been extremely anxious.

Zhulan flipped through the property deeds, two residences with two entries each. The location of the houses was good, she knew, "How much is the rent for a year?"

Zhou Shuren said, "The annual rent for the two houses is the same, fifteen taels of silver for each house per year."

Zhulan raised an eyebrow; rent in Jiangnan was expensive. In Pingzhou City, ten taels would have been good.

Afterward, Zhulan looked at the silver and the account books that were brought back, "You have worked hard on the journey. Your child and Zhao Shi have been worried about you. Go and rest first."

Zhou Shuren was indeed tired, "Mother, this is the purchase order. This is the produce sent by the tenants of the two estates."

Zhulan nodded, "I’ll look at it in a moment."

After Zhou Shuren left, Zhulan reviewed the order, and Steward Ding arrived, "Mistress, we’ve already checked the fruits and vegetables that were frozen and damaged."

Zhulan took the checked list, "You’ve also worked hard, you should go and rest."

Steward Ding replied, "Yes."

After going through the list, and thanks to the experience from last year, there was not much that was frozen and damaged this year. They managed to buy green bananas as she had listed, and got them all. The tenants of the estates also sent plenty of green vegetables that could be stored well.

Zhulan asked Liu Ya to call Xue Han and Wu Ning. She said to the two maids, "This year’s New Year’s gifts list is your responsibility. Here are the fruits and vegetables that were brought back. Make a list and show it to me."

Xue Han, in charge for the first time, was not timid. She was quite excited, smiling, "Mother, don’t worry, I will handle it well."

Wu Ning felt nervous. She was afraid of making a mistake, "Auntie, I don’t need to be in charge, I’ll help sister Xue Han with the inventory."

Zhulan held Wu Ning’s hand, "Don’t be afraid, your auntie is here to back you up!"