Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent! Chapter 1468: Changes

The Count Residence of Zhou has beco the Hou Residence. The brothers of the Zhou family stood in front of the gate, Zhou Shuren raised his head, "Our family has beco a Hou Residence."

Chang Yi, "Brother, life now truly feels like a dream."

Last night, he dread throughout the night, dreaming of fragnts of life in Zhou Village, where he was still just an ordinary commoner. When he woke up and sat upright, it took him a while to gather himself.

Chang Zhi, hands behind his back, "The Emperor’s calligraphy is majestic."

This was written by the Emperor himself—three characters, Zhou Hou Residence. The Emperor’s handwriting, such favor granted to the Zhou family.

Chang Zhi nudged his eldest brother, but stumbled backward himself instead. He quickly steadied his posture and said, "What are your thoughts as the future Marquis of Zhou?"

Zhou Shuren looked at his younger brother and replied wryly, "My thought is that you’re too weak. You should seriously train yourself."

Chang Zhi scratched his nose. Winter is the season for laziness; he had no intention of moving.

Chang Yi laughed and said, "I’m not talking to you two anymore. The hour has co—I need to head to the Ministry of Rites."

Chang Zhi, "Ah, I need to head to the Hanlin Academy as well."

In the end, Zhou Shuren was left standing alone at the gate. He raised his head for another mont to look at the three characters "Zhou Hou Residence" before slowly andering back into the courtyard.

Zhou Shuren sipped his fruit juice, a luxurious indulgence. In the winters of antiquity, fruit was exorbitantly expensive.

Zhou Shuren entered, and Zhou Shuren gestured for him to sit. "I heard you all stood at the gate for quite a while?"

Zhou Shuren, "Yes, Father—I wanted to take a closer look."

Zhou Shuren, "...If I’m not mistaken, you spent at least a quarter of an hour staring at it yesterday after it was put in place."

"Because, Father, I still feel as though I’m walking on clouds—like my feet cannot touch the ground securely."

Zhou Shuren laughed and scolded, "Impressive—a sentint befitting the future Marquis of Zhou."

The eldest son was poised to inherit the title. Out of all his children, Zhou Shuren had erged an unqualified winner in this regard.

Zhou Shuren’s ears reddened. He was indeed slated to beco the Marquis of Zhou. "Father, I’ve selected an auspicious day three days hence to host a banquet. I’ve drafted the guest list—would you like to review it?"

Zhou Shuren waved his hand. "There’s no need for to review it—it’s in your hands."

Zhou Shuren had helped his mother manage household affairs for many years. He knew exactly who to invite, and was entirely composed about it. "Then I’ll go tend to it, Father."

"Go ahead. Wait—did you not ntion the greenhouse vegetables are flourishing? Our family has built several warm greenhouses. Send so people to pick so and deliver them to our relatives."

Zhou Shuren acknowledged. "I’ll see to it imdiately."

In recent days, with Father’s illness, they’d received quite a few gifts. It was fitting to reciprocate. Sending back sothing too lavish would seem artificial, estranging instead of endearing. Sending vegetables from their own greenhouses during the winter was the ideal gesture.

In their greenhouses, they grew peppers, cucumbers, among other varieties—quite the selection. Eating crisp cucumbers in the winter was exceptionally pleasant; pick a good amount of cucumbers to bring back.

The Jiang family—Xue i stared blankly at the jewelry set gifted by her mother. Her father, elevated to Marquis, elevated her status drastically—from the eldest legitimate daughter of a Count Residence to that of the Hou Residence.

The ruby-adorned jewelry set gifted by her mother yesterday was part of the family’s celebration, intent on spreading joy. This jewelry set could truly serve as an heirloom treasure.

Lady Jiangwang entered and imdiately noticed the jewelry set. As a daughter-in-law returning ho to care for her parental family, she had received quite a number of items. This jewelry was dazzling. "Was this from your mother-in-law last ti?"

Xue i smiled at her mother-in-law. "No, yesterday when I visited ho, my father was nad Marquis. My mother prepared these to share the joyful occasion with ."

Lady Jiangwang felt a sting in her heart. Her daughter-in-law’s status was growing higher and higher. Even if she lacked knowledge about gemstones, she could still perceive the enormous value of the jewelry displayed before her. "I’ve co to discuss what gifts to send to your family. It’s such a grand occasion, with your father being nad Marquis, but I don’t quite know what would be appropriate."

Xue i had already contemplated this. "I discussed this with my husband yesterday. He believes that since we don’t possess treasures of comparable magnitude, the best thing to gift my father would be one of his cherished paintings."

Lady Jiangwang grinned widely. "An excellent idea."

The painting was her son’s work—no need to spend cash to prepare sothing more elaborate.

Xue i also felt this choice was fitting. Her father greatly admired her husband’s artwork, saying his paintings carried significant collectible value, even advising her husband to save paintings he couldn’t bear to part with for safekeeping.

Lady Jiangwang, ever a woman, couldn’t resist another glance at the jewelry set before offering, "This set should be reserved for Jiang Zhu."

Xue i hesitated for a mont, then raised her hand to touch the jewelry. "This set indeed must be kept."

She would decide much later on to whom these would be passed.

Lady Jiangwang sighed at the ntion of Jiang Zhu. "They’ve been married for a year now, yet there’s no movent at all. They married late—it really shouldn’t be this way!"

Xue i herself wasn’t anxious to have grandchildren, but her mother-in-law clearly was. "My mother says that children are a matter of fate. They will co when the ti is right—there’s no use in our hurry."

Lady Jiangwang didn’t know what else to say—after all, her parental family had ascended to the status of Hou Residence.

Zhou Shuren acted swiftly. By the afternoon, the vegetables from the greenhouse had already been harvested, sorted, and distributed to relatives. By evening, they would all have a taste of the greens.

In the Wang family, Tao personally offered a plate of washed cucumbers to her in-laws. Speaking to her mother-in-law, she said, "Look at the vegetables grown in the Zhou Hou Residence’s greenhouse—so fresh and large. Please try them."

Mrs. Wang took a bite of the cucumber. "Hmm, the flavor is nice and full of fragrance."

The old master of the Wang family had already grabbed one and started eating. "Having greenhouses makes a difference—the Zhou family’s vegetables truly are excellent."

Mrs. Wang laughed. "Indeed! Our own greenhouses only produce misshapen and split cucumbers."

Tao thought silently; their estate’s spring was too small—whereas the Zhou estate was situated in pri location, once belonging to the Emperor himself.

The old master Wang lanted, "The Zhou family has been nad Marquis—who could have foreseen this!"

Tao smiled faintly. The better off the Zhou family was, the better it was for the first branch of their family. After all, she was the one who suggested this marriage in the first place.

Yu Lu said nothing; she just teased her son. However, her gaze often flitted around, betraying her shock. Not only had her grandfather beco Marquis, but now her father had too. She herself had beco the eldest daughter of a Hou Residence—it was too much to take in!

The second and third branches of the Wang family were deeply jealous. But jealousy wouldn’t change a thing.

In Zhangzhou Province, Yushuang still didn’t know her grandfather had been nad Marquis. She fretted aloud, "There are already thirty children in the estate—twenty-five girls and five boys."

Liufeng looked at the registered list. "Did you have them investigated?"

Yushuang sighed. "I instructed the steward to send soone to investigate. All the children we’ve taken in are pitiful. These five boys either have stepfathers or stepmothers, or have lost their parents and live with unkind uncles and aunts. They don’t even have enough to eat—they’ve all been left behind. None of these boys were directly abandoned here—they ca seeking help on their own."

Last ti, after sending away so girls, the news had spread. These boys had struggled to find their way to the estate.

Liufeng cautioned, "Your father’s estate can’t save everyone."

"I know. And you understand what I want, so tell —what do you think?"

Liufeng understood his wife’s intentions; she wanted him to take responsibility. If he intended to cultivate dicinal plants on a large scale, he indeed needed to train people in the art of processing dicinal materials. "We can’t simply keep supporting them like this. Have them all sign contracts. I’ll arrange for soone to start teaching them how to process dicinal materials now. In the future, their wages will repay the costs. When they’ve paid it off, the contracts can be dissolved and renegotiated."

"I’ll follow your lead."

Liufeng planned to contact dicine rchants to help him connect with skilled instructors in processing dicinal materials. Such artisans were not easy to find, as they usually passed their skills on to their children and rarely taught outsiders. If that didn’t work, he might have to seek help from his father-in-law to find suitable candidates.