Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 558 Chang Zhi Ah_1

Zhulan looked at the overly quiet room, "I’m fine now, you don’t need to stay with me, go back."

Zhou eldest wanted to cry; now that mother was fine, their troubles had just begun.

Especially Chang Zhi, boo hoo, he’d prematurely revealed his schemes and even caused mother to twist her foot. Father would flay his skin when he returned.

Lady Li, having learned to keep her mouth shut after some lessons, looked worriedly at the Magistrate; the Magistrate had been so kind to her. But the room was full of children from the big house, and her going to comfort them would seem utterly painless from her standing position!

Su Xuan snapped back to reality, feeling disappointed. The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. Fortunately, she hadn’t married into the family long ago—the children would come. However, she had yet to experience the eunuch’s stern face. Looking at her husband, who seemed ready to run away from home, she swallowed and said, "Mother, you must speak well for us!"

Zhulan snorted with laughter, "Alright, alright, go back quickly."

At the Wang Residence in the capital, Mr. Wang sent away Jingyan in a daze and returned to his study to continue the game of chess with his old master.

Old Master Wang held a black piece in his hand, "What did he want from you?"

Mr. Wang paused, "...to borrow one hundred taels of silver from me."

Old Master Wang rubbed his ears, "Say that again?"

"Father, Magistrate Zhou wants to borrow silver from me."

Old Master Wang chuckled, "This Magistrate Zhou is indeed quite interesting. It’s a pity, though, now is not the time to meet him. I really want to see him!"

Mr. Wang looked at his own father, two silver, bah, how could he speak of his own father like that, "Father, I leave tomorrow. Don’t you have anything to say?"

Old Master Wang’s black piece landed on the board, "You’ve lost."

Mr. Wang looked down at the chessboard, "Father, are you sure you didn’t switch pieces when I was about to leave?"

Why did something seem wrong with the chessboard? Hadn’t he been winning?

Old Master Wang dropped the piece and, in a good mood, stood up, hands behind his back, walked towards the door of the study, "I have no instructions for you. Son, it’s time for you to consider your own path."

As Mr. Wang collected the chess pieces, he laughed, "Ah, understood."

At the Zhou residence, Zhou Shuren took the silver and then waited a while for Scholar Deng to return with his child. Zhou Shuren observed the boy beside Scholar Deng, dressed neatly, with little hands red from the cold. The boy, clearly scared of him, still stood his ground without backing down. Zhou Shuren became interested and pressed his imposing demeanor upon the child.

The little boy bit his lip and didn’t move, his legs shaking, but his eyes were still defiant.

Zhou Shuren, seeing the child about to falter, eased his pressure and spoke in a very pleased tone, "What’s your name?"

The little boy tilted his head to look at his father, and upon seeing his father nod, he turned back and crisply said, "Deng Yun, six years old this year. I know the Thousand Character text, the Hundred Family Surnames, and the Three Character Classic."

Zhou Shuren turned to Scholar Deng, "Is this all you’ve taught him?"

Scholar Deng understood the Minister’s implication, "When my parents were alive, they thought the child was too young to learn, so they didn’t teach him. This education has only been from the last two years."

Zhou Shuren nodded, scrutinizing the little fellow, who looked average but frail after nearly a year of difficulties, "Are you afraid to come with me in the future?"

Deng Yun was scared inside. His grandparents had passed away, his mother had left with his sister, and his home had changed. He had always been beaten and scolded; all he could do was not cry. He had to be strong so as not to be bullied. His father hadn’t said it, but he knew this was an opportunity, "Not afraid."

Zhou Shuren was even more pleased, "Good for you."

Deng Yun’s clenched hands relaxed a bit. He had been praised. Tilting his head, he saw encouragement in his father’s eyes and grinned, "Thank you, sir."

Zhou Shuren saw Deng Yun glance at the pastries several times and smiled, "Eat them, but don’t eat too much. You still have to have dinner tonight."

Deng Yun’s face turned red, and he looked at his father nervously. He had embarrassed himself. Maybe he’d upset the Minister.

Scholar Deng sighed. The once spoiled little boy had grown up in less than a year without being crushed by hardships. He felt proud, "Go ahead, eat."

Deng Yun’s face was flushed, "Thank you, my lord."

Zhou Shuren took out a purse and handed it to Scholar Deng, "Today you’ve entered the Zhou residence twice, you’ve already been marked by our family’s house. Stay in the capital, take these silver taels."

Scholar Deng waited for a long time without any follow-up, pinching the purse, so was this a test?

Zhou Shuren was also somewhat tired, "The guest room has been prepared, you can go take a rest later as well."

Scholar Deng felt grateful inside, "Thank you, my lord."

In his predicament, he had asked every friend he could, only to be kicked while he was down; no one offered a helping hand. It was Lord Zhou who gave him an opportunity!

The next morning, Zhou Shuren took the youngster with him to meet Yao Zheyu at the city gates. When Zhou Shuren arrived, Lord Wang and Yao Zheyu were already there.

Once they left the capital, within Zhou Shuren’s carriage, Deng Yun sat motionless.

Zhou Shuren let out a light chuckle, "You were not afraid last night, so why are you nervous today? I won’t eat you, relax a little."

Deng Yun clenched his hands, his fingertips brushing against the clothes on his body, thinking of the Zhou residence. Last night his father had spoken with him for most of the night, and the one thing he remembered from his father’s words was that Lord Zhou was a very formidable man, nervously replying, "Yes."

Zhou Shuren put down his book, speaking of which, they say people hit it off, and this child did just that for him, "Once we’re back home, you must study hard. Should you fall behind in your studies, I’ll have you sent back."

Success, as he saw the youngster’s eyes widen, Zhou Shuren chuckled softly to himself.

Deng Yun didn’t think the lord was teasing him, taking it as the truth, and pursed his lips, "I, I’m not smart."

He really wasn’t smart, not very gifted when it came to academics.

Zhou Shuren tapped the youngster’s head with a book, "Remember, diligence can make up for a lack of intelligence, heaven rewards the hardworking. It’s not enough to have talent and not be diligent, and if you lack talent, redoubling your efforts can lead to success as well. This is the first lesson I am giving you, remember it."

Deng Yun’s eyes widened, somewhat unable to understand yet also seeming to get it, and he shouted loudly, "Yes!"

Zhou Shuren’s eyes curved with a smile, the stubbornness in this child’s eyes really reminded him of himself when he was still a child!

At the Zhou residence, a fast horse had already gone ahead to announce his return, and Zhulan knew that Zhou Shuren was coming back. She smiled at Wu Qiu, "Your uncle will be home soon."

Wu Qiu glanced at his cousin Chang Li, whose face was ashen. So, the uncle was coming back to deal with people?

Elder Brother Zhou glared, "What’s with that look in your eyes?"

Wu Qiu grinned, "The look of someone watching a drama unfold."

Elder Brother Zhou, "...." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Zhulan looked down at her swollen ankle, sighing, unable to go out and welcome him.

By noon, Zhou Shuren arrived home where several sons and his little daughter were all present; the only person he didn’t see was Zhulan. He knew that every time he returned, Zhulan would be at the door waiting for him. They may be an old couple, but had she stopped that treatment?

Zhou Shuren approached the entrance, "Where is your mother?"

Elder Brother Zhou wanted to stay silent, but someone pushed him from behind, he turned back incredulously to see Chang Zhi pretending to be innocent. Stop looking at the sky; it was you behind me!

Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes, "Hiding something from me?"

Elder Brother Zhou shivered, his father’s voice was so low, he swallowed nervously, "Father, mother didn’t come to meet you because the fourth brother twisted his ankle."

Heh, don’t expect me to take the fall for this.

Second Brother Zhou and Chang Lian exchanged glances, Elder Brother said it well!

Zhou Shuren smiled brilliantly, "Chang Zhi ah!"