Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 591 Suppressed Hatred_1

Zhou Laodi saw everyone looking at him and stepped forward with a tray, on which a jade carving of an elder symbolizing longevity rested, "Dad, your son wishes you health and longevity."

Zhulan saw that Chang Zhong’s jade horse and the elder were made of the same material. Laodi really went all out—this gift mustn’t have been cheap.

Zhou Shuren was quite happy on his birthday, pleased with his sons, "You are thoughtful."

Zhou Laodi, seeing his dad pleased, felt relieved, his effort in selecting a gift hadn’t been in vain.

Chang Lian’s gift was a painting and calligraphy, depicting a pine tree with a poem he wrote inscribed on the side; Zhou Shuren read the poem and gave it high praise.

The gift from the fourth wife was prepared by Su Xuan, a rare volume, and it was rare to see Chang Zhi without a pained expression on his face.

Zhou Shuren was already wearing Xue Han’s gift, and Chang Zhong, having no gift to present, recited a blessing.

Then came the grandchildren’s gifts. The Zhou family children were not ones to squander Silver Coin; each had their own small treasury. However, the gift prepared collectively by Mingyun and his siblings carried no sense of competition, demonstrating the love among brothers.

Zhou Shuren, stroking his beard, addressed Mingyun, "Well done."

Mingyun remembered his grandfather’s teachings well, that the Zhou descendants should be united at home, and any scheming should be directed at outsiders. He puffed out his chest, proud that the idea was his, and that he deserved his grandfather’s praise.

Zhou Laoda grinned foolishly; proud indeed was the head of the household with many sons, especially since his son was the eldest grandson. Despite not excelling at his studies, Laoda’s ability to produce sons was commendable, and look, his son had just been praised by their father.

Zhou Laoda looked at his other two sons, not allowing his smile to fade. Although a bit cheeky, such a sight was comforting. Four grandsons stood in a row, the big room accounting for three!

Zhou Laodi eyed Mingyun enviously, then shifted his gaze to Ming Rui. Thank goodness his own son wasn’t too shabby, or he’d feel even more sour. Yuguang glanced at Chang Lian—the second wife had at least one son; the third wife’s fate, however, seemed destined for daughters!

Chang Lian, sensing his second brother’s gaze, thought, ’What’s this supposed to mean?’ It stung. He just couldn’t believe it; he’d show his second brother wrong once the third wife bore a son and smacked that smug look off his face.

Chang Zhi’s attention turned to his wife. It had been nearly a year since their wedding. They had been trying, and it was about time for a child to come. He was still considering how he had heeded his father’s advice to curb his ambitions and not take the imperial examinations, staying honest at home for three years preparing to have a couple of kids!

Su Xuan secretly pinched Chang Zhi, who was staring fixedly at her, catching the attention of the eldest sister-in-law.

Chang Zhi hissed in pain and dutifully averted his gaze.

The Zhou family’s granddaughters also prepared their gifts together, copied scriptures.

Then came Wu Ning’s turn, though the gift couldn’t exactly be said to have been prepared by him. It was delivered by Wu Ming, so it should be considered a gift from the Wu family, which included a gift from Rongchuan as well. Rongchuan’s gift was a copied painting and calligraphy; Wu Ming’s was an antique vase.

With the family members’ gifts given, guests gradually started arriving. Zhou Shuren regretfully had to wait until evening to see Zhulan’s gift, so he rose and took his sons to the front courtyard.

On Zhulan’s side, she was receiving the ladies. Thankfully, they hadn’t brought any daughters or granddaughters, or else the back courtyard would have been too crowded. Today was Zhou Shuren’s birthday; the younger generation had returned to their respective yards.

Lady Tao sat beside Zhulan, "So it’s true that Lady Liu is seriously ill."

Zhulan, "What do you mean by that?" freёnovelkiss.com

Lady Ran chimed in, "If she weren’t seriously ill, Lady Liu would certainly have attended this event."

Zhulan fell silent; so these two had always thought Lady Liu was faking her illness.

Lady Tao said with a smile, "I’ll be able to enjoy a peaceful meal today."

Lady Ranqi fanned herself, "It’s quiet without her as well."

Zhulan smiled. Lady Ranqi and Mrs. Liu’s struggle had ended with Lady Ranqi as the winner. She had heard from Zhou Shuren that the Third Prince had warmed to Mr. Ran again, and the Ran family was now prospering.

Zhulan looked at Lady Ranqi. Lady Ranqi indeed had a good temperament, and not to mention Mr. Ran, who was even better. She had also heard from Mingyun about the grandchildren of the Ran family, who were outstanding. Zhulan picked up her teacup to drink, but her mind was busy thinking. The Ran family still had ties with the Crown Prince. If Miss Ran had only princesses and no princes, the grandsons of the Ran family would be rare and excellent sons-in-law.

Unfortunately, Zhou Shuren’s official rank was not as high as Mr. Ran’s, and his eldest and second sons were commoners. It was hard on the granddaughters of a prestigious family to marry into such a household, for they would be subject to slighting.

Madam Tao was very well-informed and whispered, "The fifth Prince is getting married. The whole residence is decorated with lanterns and streamers. The wedding is quite grand."

Lady Ranqi covered the corner of her mouth with her fan, "It’s all for one’s own face."

Otherwise, marrying an illegitimate daughter, why would the fifth Prince care so much? It’s all to save face for himself.

Zhulan thought to herself, everyone saw it very clearly, but recently, the fifth Prince had been highly favored by the Emperor.

In the Marquis of Yao’s residence, Yao Yao was sitting in her mother’s room and casually picked up the dowry list of Yao Xin. "Mother, isn’t this too much? After all, she’s marrying the fifth Prince as the main wife."

The dowry list lacked valuable items. It was filled with flashy but insubstantial things, giving the impression that the Yao Marquis’s household had fallen on hard times and lacked silver.

Lady Bai took the dowry list, "The dowry for Yao Xin will be provided by the Hou residence. This list was given to me by your father, and it’s laughable that it has to pass through my hands."

Over the years, she had shouldered too many burdens for the master, becoming increasingly tired.

With narrowed eyes, Yao Yao said, "Father used to be so close to the fifth Prince. Treating Yao Xin like this now is tantamount to distaste for the fifth Prince. If he looks down on the fifth Prince so much, why use me as a pawn?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Bai clenched her fists. To the master, she and her three daughters were just pawns. A surge of suppressed resentment welled up in her eyes, but she quickly pushed it down.

In the afternoon, after the Zhou family’s banquet had dispersed, Zhou Shuren, who had been plied with drink, was exceptionally open and unsuspecting of being taken advantage of. He had drunk a lot.

At Zhulan’s place, after seeing off the officials and their families, she checked the gifts that had come in. Many were from Jinzhou merchants; the gifts arrived, but the people could not enter.

A whole half of the room was filled. After inspecting the gifts, Zhulan said, "One could start a business on one’s birthday."

Once sold, these items could fetch an income that nearly matched half a year’s revenue for the Zhou residence.

Madam Song said, "But we still have to return them."

"True, it’s just money changing hands."

Madam Song thought to herself that this was just the gift exchange among officials. Once entering the capital, the homes of the powerful and wealthy were abundant, and refusing an invitation would be seen as a snub. Accepting an invitation meant having to offer gifts, and for some families that had prospered from war, their possessions were too numerous, and ordinary gifts simply wouldn’t suffice.

Zhulan categorized and logged the gifts as the sky darkened. She stood up and rubbed her arms, feeling old. It hadn’t been long, and her arms were already aching.

When she returned to her room, Zhou Shuren was washing his face. Zhulan asked, "Why didn’t you rest a bit longer?"

Zhou Shuren’s voice was hoarse. After drinking several cups of water, he said, "I was thinking about your gifts."

Zhulan laughed lightly, "I will bring them out now."

Zhou Shuren pressed his brow and sat waiting in the chair. He had smiled so brilliantly today, but to no avail, as they had forcefully fed him drink, and now his head ached.

Zhulan took out the painting and showed it to Zhou Shuren one by one, "These are the gifts, and from now on, every year on your birthday, I will paint one for you."