Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 510 Disclosure_1

Chapter 510: Chapter 510 Disclosure_1

In the morning, the entire household had breakfast together. Su Xuan wanted to stand and attend to Zhulan but was immediately stopped by her, "Sit down and eat. We don’t have so many rules in our family."

With a smile, Su Xuan said, "Thank you, Mother."

Her head was full of the experience instilled by her maternal aunt, who had painfully recalled and shared with her how she served her own mother-in-law, hoping that Su Xuan would make a good impression.

But from the moment she started serving tea, she realized that her aunt’s experience was of no use in the Zhou family. Just look—she guessed it right again; there’s no such thing as serving meals here. The Zhou family doesn’t even have maids around when eating!

After the meal, Zhulan reflected on Su Xuan, who had returned with her, feeling grateful for her martial arts foundation; just look at Su Xuan, not bothered by anything.

Su Xuan took out a register, "Mother, here is the register of the maids and servants that came with my dowry."

Zhulan took it and counted: two matrons, four maids, and four young servants were brought into the Zhou house. The register also listed many other servants who were left on the estate.

Zhulan said, "I will have Steward Ding record this. The monthly wages for the maids and matrons who have entered our house will be paid by the family."

As a Magistrate with Rank, Su Xuan’s maids and matrons all had allowances. She had already figured that the Zhou family had simplified their servants, or there would have been even more. She wasn’t going to be stingy over the monthly allowances.

Su Xuan didn’t argue with her mother-in-law over the monthly allowances, "Thank you, Mother."

She could make up the difference elsewhere. Just prepare more generous New Year’s gifts for her parents!

Zhulan, seeing that Su Xuan wasn’t tired, took the opportunity to discuss the Zhou family, "The Zhou family doesn’t have many rules, but there are a few that must be strictly followed. First, do not scheme against your own family members. Second, regardless of small conflicts among us, we must present a united front. These are the bottom lines."

Su Xuan liked these two rules and responded, "Mother, I’ve noted them."

Zhulan smiled again, "The Zhou family doesn’t permit concubines. Regardless of whether there are sons or not, taking concubines is not allowed."

Joy bloomed in Su Xuan’s heart; admiring that the Zhou family were all original wives, she hadn’t known about this rule. Although she was confident in keeping Chang Zhi’s affection, having her mother-in-law’s clear statement made it even better.

Zhulan continued, "I will also give you some clarity; I will not interfere in any couple’s matters. Issues between you and your husband should be handled by yourselves."

Su Xuan felt she had the best mother-in-law. She had seen too many meddlesome ones; indeed, she was also quite fearful. The value of filial piety was paramount. Now, she finally understood why the Zhou family had such a harmonious mother- and daughter-in-law relationship. With such a mother-in-law, disharmony would defy all reason, "Thank you, Mother."

Zhulan was truly fond of the Magistrate, "You have plenty of things to be busy with, hurry back now!"

Su Xuan did indeed have things to do; her dowry needed to be boxed up for storage, and her daily necessities had to be arranged. She couldn’t help but twist her face, cursing the calligraphy she needed to copy. This morning, the young master got upset in embarrassment. Had it not been for serving tea, who knows how long he would’ve lectured her. In her heart, she scoffed at his pretense of seriousness; after all, he didn’t resist when she held him down last night.

Su Xuan’s face turned red, and regardless of Rongchuan still being young, he was a man, "Mother, I’ll take my leave first."

Zhulan, "...."

She couldn’t shake off the feeling of choking, as if she just saw pink bubbles floating around!

Upon returning to the courtyard, Su Xuan was no stranger to the backyard of the Government Office, having attended many banquets there. Her courtyard was one of the larger ones, and her dowry filled three rooms. After inventorying her dowry, Su Xuan returned to her room to find Chang Zhi had come back.

In silence, Chang Zhi took out an IOU and handed it to Su Xuan, "Eldest brother said that after getting married, I should be upfront with my wife."

He thought his eldest brother was too mean, just because he was resentful of him for not repaying the silver. That must be why he talked about being upfront. However, it was true he shouldn’t have kept it from her.

Taking the IOU from him, Su Xuan glanced at it and fell silent for a moment, "You haven’t repaid a single coin?"

Awkwardly rubbing his nose, Chang Zhi was the only one in the family without a small treasury; his Money Box for silver was always empty, "My monthly allowance isn’t enough."

Grinding her molars, Su Xuan knew how much the head of the Zhou family received as a monthly allowance. In the Zhou household, they didn’t have to give silver to the kitchen like some officials did if they wanted something specific. In Zhou’s house, food and attire for the household heads required no silver and went through a general account. Given the high monthly allowances in Jinzhou City, it was impossible that it wouldn’t be enough!

Su Xuan took the IOU, tore it up, and Chang Zhi felt a chill on his back, "Don’t tear it; I haven’t paid back the silver yet!"

Su Xuan, with a cold expression, stood up and went inside to fetch a Money Box, bringing it out. She had brought three boxes in total, one filled with deeds, another with high-denomination Silver Notes, and the one she was carrying was for expenses.

Chang Zhi’s eyes went wide as he watched his wife open the Money Box, and he thought of his own empty one, shrinking his neck momentarily.

Inside Su Xuan’s Money Box, the smallest denomination was fifty taels. She withdrew some and handed it to Chang Zhi, "Pay back thirty taels to Eldest Brother."

Feeling awkward, Chang Zhi said, "How can I take my wife’s silver? I can pay it back gradually."

He felt a blow to his pride, realizing he might be the only one in the family without an income source. Pouting, he glanced at his wife, feeling downhearted. Maybe he should try his hand at copying paintings?

With a chuckle, Su Xuan said, "Mine is yours. We’re husband and wife, after all. Pay back Eldest Brother first; you can take your time paying me back."

The more he owed her, the better. That detail she’d keep from her young husband.

Chang Zhi’s ears turned a shade redder. They were husband and wife, after all. He glanced at the silver notes, "Then I’ll do as you say, Wife."

Su Xuan, "Good."

As Chang Zhi reached the doorway, he paused and coughed, "You can’t be so bold in the future."

Su Xuan’s face flushed, then she gritted her teeth, thinking that Chang Zhi’s interest on the debt to her definitely needed to be increased substantially!

At noon, Xue Han and Rongchuan returned together; Rongchuan had accompanied Xue Han to buy a guqin. Seeing that they had come back empty-handed, Zhulan asked, "Didn’t you find a suitable guqin?"

Xue Han felt particularly unlucky today, "Mother, there was a suitable one, but someone had already reserved it."

Zhulan, "Aren’t there other guqin shops?"