Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 904: Not to be Messed With

Chapter 904: Chapter 904: Not to be Messed With

Xiao Qing gestured for Zhou Shuren to sit down, "Try the freshly brewed tea."

Zhou Shuren was indeed cold, so he sat down, poured himself some tea, and sniffed it, hmm, good tea, "Does the gentleman have any instructions?"

Xiao Qing really had no specific instructions. At the end of last year, Zhou Shuren had made a number of improvements. Previously messy areas had become much neater. He began, "At the start of the year, there’s nothing of great importance. Currently, the most significant matter is salary distribution."

Zhou Shuren counted the days, and indeed, it was time for salary distribution again. With the start of the new year, there were promotions and demotions, "Then your subordinate should head back."

Xiao Qing hummed in acknowledgment, and waiting for Zhou Shuren to leave, stared at the doorway, lost in thought. The Emperor’s aging was visibly apparent. His reluctance to attend court sessions wasn’t just because he had a competent subordinate, but also because he wished to avoid being present. During the grand court assembly, he stayed in the palace, sensing the Emperor’s tension. The stronger your capabilities at this time, the more you were to be feared, hence his willingness to delegate more authority.

Zhou Shuren returned to his room where Qiu Yan said, "Happy New Year."

Zhou Shuren responded, "Happy New Year."

They worked at the same level and the two families had not interacted during the festival.

In the Academy, Liufeng and Mingyun were chatting, "I’ve acquired quite a substantial estate, you know about it, don’t you?"

Mingyun was surprised. He really didn’t know, "I haven’t heard about it."

Liufeng figured it must be because Mr. Zhou didn’t mention it. After briefly explaining the source of the estate, he said, "I had my uncle deal with some antiques and exchanged them for a significant amount of silver. My mother’s idea is to exchange it for a larger residence and then buy more land."

Mingyun was genuinely happy inside. The more assets Liufeng had, the better his sisters’ futures would be. As for Liufeng’s paternal uncle, Mingyun wasn’t worried; after all, there was still the grandfather to rely on, "What about the cottages and land in Xinxian County?"

Liufeng replied, "My mother’s intention is to sell them all. She doesn’t like Xinxian County, but my opinion is to keep them. What do you think?"

Mingyun was startled. He hadn’t expected Liufeng to discuss this with him instead of discussing it with Mr. Hu. "I think your approach is right. As long as you retain the land and cottages in Xinxian County, you and your paternal uncle can live securely."

Otherwise, the Gu family would certainly start to overthink things. Once they did, they would likely move to the capital, and for now, it seemed best to have fewer contacts with them.

Liufeng was very pleased, "That’s what I thought too. Every year, selling the grain from Xinxian County helps, and my paternal uncle will handle it. Owning land in Xinxian County doesn’t affect me."

Mingyun noticed Lau Qi looking at him, and reached out to take out the Jade Pendant, "After school today, you come with me to exchange this Jade Pendant."

Liufeng picked up the Jade Pendant, "This Jade Pendant is rare. Why do you want to exchange it?"

Mingyun smirked, "It’s not suitable for me to wear."

Clenching his teeth, Lau Qi realized Zhou Mingyun was saying this on purpose. He too was reluctant to part with the Jade Pendant. Resigned, he decided to secretly follow him after school and buy it back.

In the afternoon, Zhulan listened to the gossip Su Xuan brought back. Su Xuan was not only the fourth daughter-in-law of the Zhou family but also a Magistrate. Due to the Zhou family’s connections, Su Xuan had to attend quite a few social gatherings, and after the New Year, she had already been to several banquets.

Zhulan listened to the news, "Are you sure about the accuracy of the information?"

Su Xuan nodded, "Mother, this news can’t be wrong. Several heads of the Du family got into trouble at the start of the year, and some were directly stripped of their official positions."

Zhulan blinked, "The Duke Residence has taken a harsh stance."

Su Xuan disliked the Du family. Relying on the Duke Ning, the Du family didn’t refrain from speaking ill of her own family, "Yesterday, it was quite lively. The Du family matriarch was crying, making a scene, even threatening to hang herself. I heard she fell sick, and the Princely Heir’s wife has not returned to the Duke’s Residence from the Du family’s house!"

Zhulan had not been aware of this information as she didn’t pay much attention to the Du family, "Did you hear if the Duke Residence sent anyone there?"

Snorting with derision, Su Xuan said, "Today’s banquet centered around this topic. It’s said that the Duke Residence’s doors were not opened at all; they wouldn’t allow anyone from the Du family to enter."

Stroke her chin, Zhulan mused, "If the Du family doesn’t continue acting out, there remains some sentiment, but if they persist in making a fuss, even that last bit of goodwill will be ground away."

"Who says it isn’t, the Du family has offended quite a few people. Today at the banquet there were people from the Yu family, and my daughter-in-law didn’t dare to utter a word in front of them."

Zhulan thought that the Duke Residence had killed two birds with one stone, and this was also a hefty blow to the Yu family.

By the end of the lessons at the Academy, Mingyun and Liufeng headed to Class Yi first. Mingyun looked at Ming Teng, who wanted to go, and said with a cold face, "You take Jiang Zhu and the others home."

Ming Teng wilted, "Big brother."

"No."

After speaking, Mingyun left with Liufeng. He certainly wouldn’t bring Ming Teng and the others; with Ming Teng there, there would definitely be trouble.

The Academy was quite far from the jewelry shop; it took the carriage about the time of two cups of tea to arrive. Liufeng alighted from the carriage and saw Lau Qi’s carriage following, "Why has he followed as well?"

Mingyun lowered his voice and explained how the Jade Pendant came about. Liufeng felt that in the future, he must never offend Zhou Mingyun!

The shopkeeper of the jewelry shop welcomed them, "Please come inside, young masters. Are you looking for Jade Pendants or hairpins?"

Mingyun took out the Jade Pendant, "Shopkeeper, take a look at this."

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened upon seeing the Jade Pendant, recognizing it as a rare quality. He carefully took it and said, "Fine jade, young master. Are you thinking of selling it?"

Mingyun knew that the shopkeeper wouldn’t dare to fool him, as these shopkeepers knew who to tell the truth to, "Not selling, I want to exchange it for several Jade Pendants."

The shopkeeper chuckled, "Please come inside, young master."

Then he told the shop assistant, "Quick, bring out the best Jade Pendants we have."

Mingyun didn’t ask how many he could exchange for and waited for the Jade Pendants. Soon the shop assistant came over with a tray. Mingyun didn’t hold back and directly chose the two best pieces.

The shopkeeper, holding the Jade Pendant, said, "Young master, you can choose another piece."

Mingyun stood up and looked at the hairpins, choosing a good one without a word and watched the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper felt the sting as the hairpin was the most expensive, "Okay, I’ll wrap this up for you, young master."

Mingyun left with the Jade Pendants and hairpin, coincidentally facing Lau Qi, and smiled, "Please come in, Master Lau."

Lau Qi clutched his purse, "Master Zhou, take care."

Liufeng coughed and changed the subject, "Are we going back now?"

Mingyun felt his purse, "Still need to go to the jewelry store, I want to buy a hairpin for grandmother."

Being able to exchange for an extra hairpin for grandfather today was an unexpected bonus, which saved his Silver. He had planned to exchange Jade Pendants for his parents and to prepare gifts for his grandparents with his own Silver.

Mingyun, along with Liufeng, bought a hairpin and came out only to stop in front of a carriage. Mingyun pulled Liufeng back a step, ensuring the young servant who was following was beside him. He couldn’t help it; grandfather had told him to always be careful when going out, and he always remembered that.

The carriage curtain was pulled back, and Zhang Yang looked at the eldest grandson of the Zhou family, "I just passed by and saw it was a Zhou family carriage; I thought it was Mr. Zhou’s carriage, but it turned out to be Master Zhou."

Mingyun calculated the time; grandfather must have left the government office by now. He quickly greeted, "I’ve seen the Prince."

Zhang Yang, regrettably realizing it wasn’t Mr. Zhou, grunted and let the curtain fall, "Head back soon."

Mingyun did see Shi Qing in the carriage, bowing his head, "Yes."