Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 672: Disappearance_1

Zhulan was relieved, she didn’t see any unwillingness in the boy’s eyes. When Yu Lu and Wong Wei met, Zhulan couldn’t help but laugh; these two really did look like husband and wife.

The engagement was formally settled, with the wedding date set for after Yu Lu came of age.

The formal engagement took less than seven days, which was quite speedily done. Now that the two families were connected by marriage, the benefits were clear, and Zhou Shuren’s official duties became even smoother.

It was only after another slip of the tongue by Lady Tao that Zhulan learned why, after their birthdays were found to be compatible, Lady Tao had taken such a special liking to Yu Lu and had been so exceptionally generous, offering two sets of jewelry as a meeting gift.

It turned out that Lady Tao had secretly calculated Yu Lu’s birthday and found that her fate indicated she would have many children and blessings. Just the prospect of many children made the initially reluctant daughter-in-law of the Tao family quite satisfied with Yu Lu.

After Yu Lu’s engagement, eldest brother Zhou and the second brother were also preparing to return to their hometown for the ancestral rites.

In the evening, Zhou Shuren came back from bathing his son, "What are you organizing? Haven’t you finished yet?"

Zhulan put down her pen, "Today, I had someone tally the dowries prepared for Xue Mei and Xue Han in the storeroom. Xue Mei’s dowry is to supplement hers, as it was originally said that what Xue Han has, she would have too, but as you know Rongchuan’s background, we can’t fulfill that promise."

She and Zhou Shuren sold all their possessions but it still wouldn’t be enough for the dowries of two princesses as main wives.

Zhou Shuren took the list Zhulan had written, "So you’re tallying what has been allocated to Xue Mei and calculating it?"

Zhulan nodded, "Yes, I am counting what we have first. We have enough fur and timber stored, but now we’re short on estates and shops. I was thinking of letting the eldest take Xue Mei’s dowry back when he goes for the ancestral rites; what do you think?"

Zhou Shuren put down the list in his hand, "These matters are for you to decide, you don’t need to ask me."

Zhulan took the list, "What I mean is, we don’t need to add to the stored items like furs for now. Give one of the capital’s shops to Xue Mei, one of the estate seats from our hometown to Xue Mei, and also buy her a residence and two more shops in our hometown. Next year, when we have more silver, we’ll buy her a residence in the capital. These are all the dowry I’ve prepared for her,."

Zhou Shuren quickly calculated the silver in his mind, "As a mother, you have prepared quite generously. Although it can’t compare with Xue Han’s, Xue Mei understands."

Zhulan fluttered the list, "Marrying off a daughter really does drain all the family’s resources. Thinking about Xue Han’s dowry is distressingly worrying."

Zhou Shuren took the list, "Stop looking at it, no matter how much you look, it won’t change anything."

Zhulan opened the box, indicating for Zhou Shuren to put the list inside, "Tomorrow we’ll pack it up, and when the eldest sets off, it will all be sent off together."

Zhou Shuren closed the box, feeling utterly stuffed up. The wealth they had worked so hard for over the years would all be handed over with their daughter’s marriage to the royal family. What a toll all their hard work had taken.

That night, Zhulan dreamed, dreaming of gold falling from the sky, quickly forming a mountain, which thrilled her to no end. Just as she reached out to touch it, the mountain of gold turned into a mountain of stones.

In the morning, Zhou Shuren woke up to see Zhulan looking sulky, "What’s the matter?"

"I’m angry about my dream."

Zhou Shuren laughed, "You, at your age, still getting upset over such small matters."

Zhulan glared, "What do you mean ’at my age’? I’m clearly very young, very young."

"Okay, okay, a very young old lady."

Zhulan, "Then you’re an old man with white hair."

Zhou Shuren felt his own hair, "My lady, I think, we can stop hurting each other now."

Zhulan snorted with laughter, "Get up now."

After breakfast, Zhulan began to check the inventory and seal the furs and other items in the boxes. She didn’t hide the fact that she was supplementing Xue Mei’s dowry from the household.

Lady Li and Mrs. Zhou came to take a look. It was Lady Li’s first time in the main courtyard’s storeroom, and her eyes widened in shock, "Mother, when did you save up so many nice things?" freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Zhulan said, "Over the past few years, I’ve received quite a few gifts, and I’ve saved the good ones. Before I knew it, I had accumulated quite a bit."

Lady Li looked at the several boxes that had already been sealed and thought to herself, the parents really are fair to their children, even providing additional dowry for a daughter who is already married. Just looking at the array of items being placed into the boxes evidenced a substantial dowry.

Mrs. Zhou did not dare to touch the ornaments and looked around the storeroom. The second wife had also saved quite a few things, but there were hardly any precious items. She silently calculated how much dowry the sealed boxes could convert to, took a deep breath, and realized that even without including the fields and shops, this was a considerable dowry.

Mrs. Zhou thought of her own eldest daughter, who was also getting older, and when she recalled the second wife’s storeroom, she realized it couldn’t produce much dowry. It seemed she needed to spend more silver to save up.

By the time everything was boxed up, it was already the afternoon.

In Zhou Family Village, the entire village was abuzz. Many villagers had gathered at Zhang Datie’s house. Xue Mei had gone to the clan school to find her husband, and they came back together.

The gates of Zhang Datie’s house were open, as were the doors inside, but Zhang Datie and his family were nowhere to be seen. Nothing in the house was damaged, and no items were missing. The Zhang clan searched and found the Silver Coin, land deeds, and other items were all there, but Zhang Datie’s family had vanished.

Xue Mei and Jiang Sheng were the only ones who knew the truth, but they could not speak of it. In their hearts, they knew that Zhang Datie’s family must have been taken away. As for whether they were alive or dead, that remained unknown.

Xue Mei learned from the discussions that in the morning, the gates to Zhang Datie’s house hadn’t been opened. When someone came to look for them at noon and there was no response, they feared an accident had occurred. Someone jumped into the courtyard, and seeing no one there, they were terrified, which led to the whole village finding out.

The Zhang clan leader approached Xue Mei, "I heard that Zhang Datie came looking for you a few days ago?"

Xue Mei did not hide the fact, "Yes, he was asking about Rongchuan’s situation and was hoping I could write a letter to inquire."

As for the rest, Xue Mei kept silent. Speaking out would only cause unnecessary trouble. Not speaking was better for everyone.

The Clan Leader understood Zhang Datie’s concerns, and seeing that there was nothing to gain from further questioning, waved his hand, "Everyone disperse."

Xue Mei and her husband left first, then ran into Dong Yiyi. Dong Yiyi waited until no one else was around and then whispered, "You and your husband should also be careful."

Xue Mei replied with gratitude, "We will be careful."

When Xue Mei returned home, she said, "It seems Rongchuan’s background is really not simple."

Jiang Sheng expressed his concern, "I just hope it doesn’t affect my father-in-law."

Xue Mei responded, "It shouldn’t affect Father. After all, our Zhou family owes a great deal to Rongchuan."

Jiang Sheng thought about it and agreed, "Still, you and the child should avoid going out recently."

"Yes."

Jiang Sheng said, "I will write to my father-in-law first to inform him of the situation here."

"Alright."

That evening, Zhou Shuren and Zhulan were sorting through the family’s silver notes. They had spent quite a bit on their trip to the capital, and they had also lent some to Zhao Bo. Fortunately, they had a good income last year, and with previous savings, they still had eighteen thousand taels left.

Zhulan took out three thousand taels, "These three thousand taels will be for Xue Mei’s bottom of the chest."