Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 674: Called off the Engagement_1

Lady Li didn’t wait for Su Xuan to ask and explained the use for the Silver Coin, "We are thinking of contributing more, as Yu Lu’s engagement requires accumulating more dowries, and Mingyun also needs to save up for the betrothal gifts. Your elder brother and I aren’t very capable, and opportunities like this are rare, so that’s why we borrowed Silver. Your brother said we would pay interest; even among close brothers, accounts must be clear, and paying interest is a must."

Su Xuan had already gestured for the old servant to bring the silver note, "Sister-in-law, here are two thousand taels. As for the interest, give it based on the lowest rate, and you can pay me whenever you have it."

Su Xuan had no intention of getting involved in the business of buying shops; she didn’t like the long wait.

Lady Li happily took the Silver, "I’ll bring over the IOU later; you know my handwriting isn’t pretty."

Su Xuan blushed—her handwriting wasn’t pretty either.

Lady Li returned to the courtyard. "You’re back quicker than me. What did the second and third brothers say?"

Zhou Shuren, the eldest, said, "The second brother feels that the wait is a bit long; he wants to buy property instead. The third brother doesn’t have that much Silver on hand; by the end of the year, he has already spent nearly all his Silver, so he’s not getting involved."

Lady Li counted on her fingers, "I chatted with my second brother’s wife a while ago, and she gave away a little about their family finances. The second brother’s family is more than thrice as wealthy as our main household, and the second brother has already bought shops in the capital, while we still don’t even have a shadow of a shop here!"

Lady Li paused and continued, "In the future, the third brother will hold office; the third household’s finances aren’t too shabby, and their children are young, with only one daughter who can slowly accumulate wealth. As for the fourth household, there’s no need to mention them—now it seems, only our main household is strapped for cash."

Zhou Shuren bent over slightly, "We’ll continue to save up Silver."

The main household now couldn’t even compare to the youngest sister, whose dowry was quite substantial!

The next day, over a dozen carriages left the Zhou estate, because of the dowries, the Zhou family had hired two pairs of escort guards for protection.

Just after Zhou Shuren left for a while, Wu Ning and He Shu arrived at the estate. Zhulan joyfully took Wu Ning’s hand, "Let me have a look at you—ah, you’ve gained quite a bit of weight, seems like you’re living well, and Auntie can finally rest at ease."

Wu Ning, having lived a comfortable life after getting married and eating more, had indeed gained weight, "Auntie and Uncle have been good to me, and I get along well with my sisters-in-law. At home, I have time to teach my nieces and cousins to read and play the piano. Auntie, I’m doing very well."

Xue Han teased, "Sister, you’re omitting how well your husband treats you!"

Wu Ning blushed, her husband truly treated her exceptionally well, chatting with her every day when he returned, teaching her to copy calligraphy, taking her for walks when resting, and even drawing her eyebrows for her.

Zhulan playfully swatted her daughter, "Your Sister Wu Ning has just returned, and you’re teasing her already."

With the heat leaving Wu Ning’s face, she said, "Sister, congratulations are in order for you; Rongchuan is a Tanhua after all!"

Xue Han stood up, "I’ll go check the kitchen."

Wu Ning said, "Escaping already? I haven’t finished what I had to say!"

Zhulan laughed, "She’s been teased quite a bit these days; she’s genuinely scared. Have you been back to the Wu residence?"

Wu Ning replied, "We arrived in Jinzhou Province yesterday afternoon and first went to the Wu residence. We came here from there this morning. Auntie, I’m actually here to ask you to help my second brother find a match."

"I remember Wu Yong was engaged; why is he still looking for a match?"

Wu Ning grew angry mentioning this, "Just got the letter, the girl’s family has moved to the south, so they’ve called off the engagement."

Zhulan was genuinely unaware, "A few days ago, when I saw Wu Yong, he said nothing, and I even joked that he’ll soon be wed. That kid even agreed with me then."

Wu Ning felt sympathetic for her second brother, "My second brother has always been like this, keeping everything to himself."

Zhulan commented, "Wu Yong’s temperament really resembles yours."

Wu Ning, reflecting on her past self, felt a bit embarrassed indeed; she, too, used to keep everything inside, "My second brother also doesn’t want to trouble you with his worries."

Because the Wu family already owed Lord Zhou’s estate a lot, Zhulan did want to introduce her second brother, but as a younger sister, such matters still required the presence of an elder, and without any elders in the Wu family, they could only continue to owe the Zhou estate.

Zhulan kept Wu Yong’s situation in mind; the boy was of gentle nature and needed a wife who could manage household affairs.

Wu Ning stayed in Jinzhou Province for three days, two at the Zhou residence and one at the Wu estate.

Since He Shu had to return to his teaching, Wu Ning, though reluctant, had to leave; after getting married, she wasn’t as free anymore.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, almost a month had gone by, the tree leaves had all unfurled, and the scent of spring was everywhere.

Zhulan had long since received the second letter from Xue Mei and knew about the disappearance of Zhang Datie and his family. She and Zhou Shuren had discussed it and concluded that they must have been captured and put under surveillance.

Zhulan, holding a small trowel, was digging for wild vegetables in the garden, and in a short while, she had dug up nearly a basketful. She wouldn’t have been squatting there digging for wild vegetables if it weren’t for accompanying her son, "That’s enough to eat, no need to dig anymore."

Chang Zhong’s hands were all muddy, "Mother, I want to play a bit longer."

Zhulan couldn’t squat any longer, "Then you play by yourself, Mother is going back first."

Chang Zhong waved his chubby hand, "Okay."

Zhulan rubbed her back and then picked up a handkerchief to wipe her hands, saying as she walked back, "Counting the days, eldest son should be arriving at Zhou family village by now."

"He should have arrived."

Zhulan added, "Just like that, more than a month has flashed by, and soon Rongchuan and Chang Lian will be heading for the capital."

Nanny Song hesitated to speak, and Zhulan looked at her, "Do you want to say something?"

Nanny Song said, "Mistress, aren’t you worried about the origins of Master Rongchuan going to the capital?"

Zhulan wasn’t worried, the Emperor had his reasons for not acknowledging her now, "I’m not concerned. What is meant to come will always come, and hiding is useless. Just let nature take its course."

Nanny Song thought to herself that the mistress had a really good attitude.

In Zhou family village, the Zhou family’s caravan entered the village. The long procession had the villagers trailing behind them from the village entrance, all the way to the Jiang family home.

Xue Mei, hearing the commotion, hurried out and saw her big brother and second brother alighting from the horse carriage, "Big brother, second brother, you’re back."

Zhou eldest brother sized up his younger sister who had grown plumper and more prosperous looking, "We’re back to commemorate our ancestors with father and mother."

Xue Mei, seeing no one else getting off the carriage, said, "Chang Lian and Rongchuan didn’t come back!"

Zhou eldest brother replied, "Ah, they didn’t come back. Let’s go, we’ll talk inside."

Zhou second brother gestured for the young servants to look after unloading the chests before following his big brother and sister inside.

Xue Mei poured water for her brothers, then slapped her forehead, "Look at me, so happy I forgot to let Jiang Sheng know."

Zhou second brother quickly grabbed his sister’s sleeve, "The noise of us entering the village was quite big; the clan school should have heard the news. You don’t need to notify him; Jiang Sheng will come back on his own in a while." frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Xue Mei then sat down, "Big brother, why did you bring back so many chests?"

At this moment, the elders of the Jiang family also came in, and old Master Jiang said respectfully, "Jiang Zhu, and second uncle have returned."

Zhou eldest brother politely greeted, "Uncle, it’s been a long time, how are the two elders?"