Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 438 Sincere Intentions_1

Chapter 438: Chapter 438 Sincere Intentions_1

Rongchuan was warming the wine and saw that Shi Qing had drunk, "Young Master Shi, let me pour you some wine."

Shi Qing shook his head, "I can do it myself, there’s no need for you all to fuss over me. I’ve eaten at the Zhou house more than a few times and know how things work."

Rongchuan was attentive, not because he was worried that Shi Qing wouldn’t know the customs, but because he feared he would feel out of place. On New Year’s Eve, when families are supposed to be together, having an outsider, right, and this year Chang Zhi was also spending New Year’s away from home. Rongchuan grew silent, knowing Chang Zhi wouldn’t feel uncomfortable either.

Shi Qing, with a sidelong glance, noticed Rongchuan’s thoughtful behavior. He considered the child to be both unlucky and lucky and wanted to smile internally. Zhou indeed was an unconventional man, to have found a boy raised by his maternal grandparents for his own daughter, never considering leveraging his daughter’s marriage for alliances. Shi Qing fell silent, thus Zhou was indeed a rare good father.

After lunch, nobody had drunk much.

The table was cleared, and each branch of the family was preparing to pay respects for the New Year. Zhulan asked Liu Ya and Madame Song to bring over the red envelopes.

Lady Li looked at the tray covered with red cloth, which didn’t seem to be holding silver at all. As the mat was laid out, she hastily went forward to give her New Year’s greetings with her husband, "Father, Mother, happy New Year. May you both live a long and prosperous life together."

Her words were pleasant to Zhou Shuren’s ears, showing Lady Li had her own wisdom.

Zhulan smiled, "Stand up."

As she spoke, Zhulan lifted the red cloth and took out the bracelet she had specifically ordered for Lady Li, pulling Lady Li’s hand through it, "Mother promised you, and now it can be slipped on."

Lady Li beamed with joy, loving it very much. She had thought her mother-in-law had forgotten about it, but to her surprise, it had been prepared early. Looking at the quality, it was the best among all her bracelets and must have cost quite a few Silver Coins, "Mother."

Had it not been inappropriate to cry on New Year’s Eve, she would have been moved to tears. Her mother was right; indeed, her mother-in-law had raised her as her own daughter.

Zhao felt a pang of jealousy but quickly regained her composure, knowing this was something her mother-in-law had promised her older sister-in-law.

Lady Dong had already set her mind at ease; whether her mother-in-law gave something or not, she felt no envy.

Shi Qing narrowed his eyes and lowered his head, sensing Lady Li’s genuine emotion. This was the result of treating people with sincerity, something he had never possessed.

There was no novelty in the red envelopes given by the eldest branch; they were as always, filled with Silver.

When the second wife came forward, Zhulan also gave Zhao a pair of bracelets, "Mother doesn’t play favorites, you all have your share."

Zhao felt the bracelets on her hands and knew that indeed, her mother-in-law was not biased. In the past, she had always been fair, only leaning towards her older sister-in-law because she was genuine towards her mother-in-law. It was her own fault things had become the way they were, "Thank you, Mother."

Zhou, looking at his wife, noticed a considerable change in Zhao since his return. He had thought that upon his return, Zhao would share with him the troubles she held inside. But instead, Zhao said nothing and reflected on how she could improve herself.

Zhao’s introspection pierced his heart when he realized that even though his father had educated him, he hadn’t changed much, and these past few days, he had been reflecting too.

The third wife came forward to give her New Year’s greetings, and Lady Dong also received a bracelet. Zhulan looked at the young couple, thinking that now, on New Year’s, it was time for them to consummate the marriage and pick a good day.

Chang Zhi was not home, so he was skipped directly, saving the silver.

Then came Xue Han, and Zhulan gave her a red envelope—this girl had saved quite a lot of Silver Coin.

After Xue Han, it was Rongchuan’s turn. Zhulan looked at Rongchuan with satisfaction, thinking that, indeed, the boy had grown quite handsome.

Wu Ning then offered her New Year greetings, thinking to herself how fortunate it was that Xue Han had advised her to prepare more elaborate greetings, "Uncle and Aunt, happy New Year. I wish you both a harmonious and perfect union."

Zhulan pulled Wu Ning up, smiling and said, "Good."

Then she gave Wu Ning a red envelope, which was rather light, and uncovered the last tray with a red cloth, "Ning Ning, it’s your first New Year with the family. This is from your aunt."

Wu Ning was stunned, holding the red envelope in confusion, "This?"

Zhou Shuren spoke up, "One portion is from your aunt, and the other is from me."

Zhulan smiled, "Keep them both."

Wu Ning stared blankly as the old nanny took away the jewelry. This set of jewelry was too precious; having sharpened her judgment in the Zhou household, she knew it was worth at least a hundred taels—and considering the exquisite craftsmanship, perhaps up to one hundred and fifty taels.

Wu Ning’s eyes were tinged with red, her uncles and aunts had accepted her brother’s silver, yet it had somehow returned to her. The red envelope in her hand felt very thin, it must contain a silver note—she guessed it was definitely a gift from her eldest brother to her aunt.

Xue Han whispered into Wu Ning’s ear with a lowered voice, "Dad and Mom see you as their own daughter."

Wu Ning’s voice was nasal and heavy, "Mm."

Shi Qing glanced sideways and stepped forward to offer New Year greetings, and Zhulan gave a red envelope.

For Shi Qing, receiving a red envelope was a first; passing by Miss Wu, he too was touched, pitying that the strict father and kind mother belonged to someone else’s home.

Zhulan waited for the servants to pay their New Year’s respects, feeling quite exhausted; the crowd was large, and she had been sitting for too long, causing her back to feel a bit sore.

As Zhulan and Zhou Shuren left, Ming Teng pulled Ming Rui along and ran off. From a distance, Zhulan could still hear Lady Li shouting, "Ming Teng, get back here to your mother, what does a child need with five taels of silver?"

Zhulan smiled, "This year, Ming Teng wants to rebel."

Zhou Shuren remarked, "This boy’s temperament really is incorrigible."

Such a handful; of all the grandsons and sons in the family, only this boy was truly mischievous, and he never remembered the consequences of a scolding.

Zhulan said, "It’s good for a boy to be lively."

"Don’t you feel guilty at all that he’s just a bit mischievous?"

If you gave Ming Teng a ladder, he’d climb to the sky—his parents couldn’t control him at all; if it wasn’t for their fear of him, this boy would dare to do anything.

Zhulan, "....."

Indeed, she felt guilty.

Back in their room, Zhulan asked Zhou Shuren to rub her back, and he hardly dared to use any force. These days, watching Zhulan’s stomach grow, he was constantly on edge.

Zhulan felt much better, "I’m going to take a nap, how about you?"

Zhou Shuren took off his shoes, "I’ll nap with you."

Zhulan lay down, still able to hear the sound of firecrackers from the courtyard. She fell asleep shortly, lulled by the noise—she truly was tired today.

Zhou Shuren carefully embraced Zhulan, and said to the baby in her belly, "You must be obedient, and don’t trouble your mother when you are born."

Zhulan’s belly moved slightly, and Zhou Shuren blinked, not mistaken—he felt quite pleased, "Good child."

Zhou Shuren knew it was just the baby’s movement; the child couldn’t understand, but for him, it was a psychological comfort.

In Xue Han’s courtyard, Wu Ning held the silver note and said to the old nanny, "I guessed right."

The old nanny was quite comfortable in the Zhou mansion, enjoying good food and decent clothing, devoid of back-stabbing—the Zhou residence was truly pleasant. She sighed regretfully that she was not one of the Zhou household’s servants, "Miss, you should be happy on New Year’s Eve. The magistrate and the lady of the house have treated you as their own daughter."

The old nanny had witnessed the young lady’s transformation; the previous timidity was gone, and the current Miss Wu was open and proper. She had learned the skills of a steward, and these talents and demeanor would surely be admired when she got married.

She was truly grateful to the lady of the house; whatever Lady Zhou taught her own daughter, she taught Miss Wu without holding anything back.

Four hours later, Zhulan awoke, opened her eyes, and saw Zhou Shuren had already changed and was sitting, reading a book.

Zhulan asked, "On New Year’s, you’re still reading?"