Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 738: Testing_1

Hanlin Academy, Rongchuan wasn’t too busy these days and was meticulously editing historical texts. This was a job requiring attention to detail, and Rongchuan had the tenacity to immerse himself without finding it tedious.

"Rongchuan, Scholar Shen Yang is looking for you."

Rongchuan put down his pen and looked towards the doorway, where Shen Yang was standing. He rose to his feet and thanked another editor.

Rongchuan frowned slightly as he left the room, "What do you need from me?"

Shen Yang felt a strong urge to turn back, but remembering his nearly empty purse, he said, "I heard you want to buy a house, and it so happens I’m selling one. Would you like to take a look?"

Rongchuan wasn’t interested in buying a house anymore, "No, thank you."

With that, Rongchuan turned and went back to his room. He truly disliked Shen Yang; there was an aversion from the first sight, and their long association at the Hanlin Academy did nothing to improve his feelings, in fact, they only deepened his distaste.

Shen Yang clutched his purse. He didn’t want to approach Zhang Rongchuan, but amongst the people he knew, those who were capable no longer paid him any attention, and most couldn’t afford to buy his house. He had envied Zhang Rongchuan when he learned he could afford a house, jealous that even a boy raised by his maternal grandparents had more silver than him, and he regretted not seizing the opportunity to save Duke Ning.

With furrowed brows, Shen Yang thought about his house which was quite decent, and yet no one was interested in buying it. It had been on the market for so long without anyone even coming to see it, and there were hardly a few silver taels left in his purse, making life increasingly difficult.

Inside the Palace, as soon as Shen Yang approached Rongchuan, the Emperor was informed. Shen Yang’s attempts to sell his house hadn’t involved the Emperor at all; in fact, the Emperor was eager to see who would buy it.

The house was in a good location and had a nice layout, but it inexplicably remained unsold despite the time that had passed.

The Emperor realized his indirect approach wasn’t working anymore. Moreover, the person behind the scenes was using the house sale to probe his stance towards Shen Yang, and his noncommittal attitude had begun to raise suspicion.

At Zhou residence, the eldest son Zhou went to see his father and saw him lying on a rocking chair with his eyes closed. Thinking his father was asleep, he was about to leave when he heard, "Eldest son, come in."

Zhou eldest son entered the room, which was pleasantly cool. His gaze fell on the ice basin; the ice inside made him envious, "Father."

The supply of ice for each branch of the family was counted; the main branch had many children, and their physiques were, more or less, like his own and his wife’s. Even Yu Lu was getting plumper, and the main branch dreaded the summer heat, wishing for ice basins all day long—the main branch used the most ice, while the main courtyard was the most frugal. His mother couldn’t stand the cold, and his younger brother was too young for it; father spent his days at the government office, so the main courtyard used the least amount of ice.

This was one of the luxuries they had grown accustomed to over the years. Back in the countryside, summers never felt this unbearable, but once accustomed to extravagance, frugality became difficult.

Zhou Shuren looked at his eldest son, "You didn’t come just to enjoy the cool, did you?"

Zhou eldest son shook his head, "No."

Zhou Shuren, "Well, what is it then?"

Zhou eldest son said, "Father, your promotion and move to the capital is a great celebration for our family. We were busy with moving house before, and now that the whole family has arrived in the capital, shouldn’t we go back to the countryside for ancestral worship?"

The father could not return, but he, the eldest son, certainly could. When it came to ancestral worship, it seemed he had always been the one to go, and he was extremely familiar with the process.

Zhou Shuren had already considered this, "We were busy moving to the capital before. Now that we are here, I was thinking we’d settle for a few days before discussing it with you. This time, I still cannot return, and I need you, the eldest son, to go perform the ancestral worship."

The eldest son felt he was being meddlesome, wondering how his father could forget something as significant as ancestral worship, "Father, forgive my presumption."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "Eldest son, I don’t think you’re being presumptuous. This is very good of you, you’re truly playing the role of the head of the family. Have some more confidence in yourself. Today, it’s just us, and I’ve seen all the hard work and changes you’ve made over the years, and you’ve done well. In the future, you should take charge without hesitation; your father will always back you up."

The eldest son still lacked confidence!

Deep down, Zhou eldest son always feared his father. Since his father changed, his fear had never lessened, but today’s words from his father finally quelled that fear. This was his own father, his real father, "Father, I won’t let you down."

Zhou Shuren sat up and patted the shoulder of his eldest son, "Mm, this time you and Chang Zhi will go back together."

The eldest Zhou was stunned. "Dad, are you going to leave Chang Zhi in our hometown?"

"No, he has to come back; the capital is the ultimate place that forges a person’s character. He hasn’t gone back for a few years, and it’s time for him to see the changes in the family. He wants to work hard to address his shortcomings, and the ancestral worship gives him the perfect opportunity to personally experience this honor."

Only by experiencing it oneself can one truly guard this honor from the bottom of the heart!

The eldest Zhou was deeply moved. This is just like dad, striving for the Zhou family externally and worrying about his sons internally, "Dad, you have worked hard these years."

Diligence in farming and studying has not been easy for dad until today.

Zhou Shuren couldn’t help but say, "Look at you, nearly old enough to be a grandfather, and still, your tears are too readily shed."

No sooner had they spoken a few words than his eyes reddened. Then Zhou Shuren fell silent. Ah, Mingyun wasn’t young anymore; his marriage was arranged, and in a few years, would the eldest Zhou become a grandfather, and he himself a great-grandfather?

This thought left Zhou Shuren speechless. How old was he!

The eldest Zhou felt embarrassed, "Dad, your son is just concerned about you, your white hairs have increased quite a lot over these two years."

Zhou Shuren glanced coolly at the eldest Zhou and pointed towards the door, then closed his eyes.

The eldest Zhou suddenly no longer felt warmth. Dad’s look just now was filled with particular disdain for him. Such a quick change—had he said something wrong again?

During dinner, Zhou Shuren spoke about the ancestral worship and along the way, he praised the eldest. This boosted the eldest’s confidence quite a bit.

In the fourth household, Chang Zhi was very surprised. "Dad is actually letting me go back for the ancestral worship."

Su Xuan was not surprised, "You probably haven’t seen your teacher in a long time; it’s a good opportunity to go back and visit."

Chang Zhi was at a loss for words, "The teacher has been traveling everywhere these past few years. Even if I go back, I might not be able to see him. I received a letter a while ago, he was still contemplating the beauty of our country!"

Su Xuan laughed, "Since the teacher passed on the academy, he has been free of burdens and seems to be living a carefree life."

Chang Zhi, thinking about some articles that came with a letter said, "With the change in mindset, the articles written by the teacher have greatly improved."

Su Xuan, "I will pack your luggage for you, in two days you and your elder brother will set off."

Chang Zhi reached out to tease his son and daughter, "Speaking of which, it’s been a long time since I’ve been back home. I don’t know how much it has changed."

Su Xuan, touching their son and daughter, "If not for the two children being too young, I would really want to go back with you. I want to see what kind of a remarkable place the Zhou family village is, to have produced such an incredible person like your father."

Chang Zhi smiled, "Wait two more years. When the children are older, I will be going back for the provincial examination; you can come back with me then."

Su Xuan was indeed looking forward to visiting the Zhou family village, "Alright."

Time passed quickly, and soon Zhou Shuren bid farewell to the eldest Zhou and Chang Zhi. Shen Xing also went with them this time.

Zhulan felt as if the house was missing several people without her two eldest sons.

Zhou Shuren and Zhulan sent off their sons on the carriage, and after the carriage had gone far, Zhou Shuren too boarded a carriage to the Wang residence, as today Wang Daren had his day of rest.