Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1163: Magnificent Air

Chang Zhong reminisced what he had learned, smiling, "We must take the best from what’s available, absorb the good stuff, and address our own deficiencies."

Zhulan took out the glass cup she had bought, "What do you think about this?"

Chang Zhong knew this was a product from the imperial court’s shop and that the glass was produced locally. He looked up at his mother and recalled the price of glass in the foreigner’s shops, "Is competition what leads to progress?"

Zhulan laughed, "Yes, in the past, we only had colored glaze. With the opening of maritime trade, foreigners brought glass, which was expensive, and forced us to progress. The quality of the foreigners’ glass had many flaws two years ago, including issues with transparency, but look at it now?"

Chang Zhong felt like he had understood a lot, but also felt that he didn’t fully grasp it. Zhulan didn’t continue, her son was still young, "You’ll understand in time." The carriage passed by Zhang Jinghong’s house, which was draped in white. Zhulan froze, signaling the coachman to stop and sent a young servant to inquire. The young servant quickly returned, and upon hearing the news, Zhulan signaled the coachman to leave.

Chang Zhong asked, "Mother, are you not happy?"

Zhulan replied, "Mother is not unhappy, just somewhat sentimental."

A mother’s heart is so immense, some mothers’ love is so great they can abandon anything for the sake of their children.

Mother and son returned home and saw Steward Ding beaming with joy, "Madam, you’ve returned. The son-in-law sent a self-ringing clock as a gift."

Zhulan, "...."

She had forgotten her son-in-law was a magnate; the gift he sent must have been no small expense.

Chang Zhong laughed, "My sister’s husband is really loaded with silver."

Zhulan tapped her son’s forehead and quickly made her way to the main courtyard, where the several members of the Zhao family were gathered around, interested.

Zhulan took one look and fell in love with it, while Su Xuan, enamored, touched it, "I want to buy one for myself too."

Zhulan, "...."

That’s right, she had a magnate in her own family.

She had to clutch her chest. One could only imagine how much silver the foreigners made off with this time.

In Zhou family Village, Zhou Laoda and others hurried along and finally arrived. Without pausing, Ming Qing headed straight for home, using the Zhou family’s carriages this time.

Zhou Laoda suggested, "Let’s go and check it out."

Lady Li agreed, "Sure, let’s go."

Ming Shan and others were not in a hurry to return home either and took the carriage to the Clan Leader’s house.

When they arrived, Ming Qing was kneeling before the ancestral tablet, crying bitterly. Ming Qing’s parents were also wiping away tears.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Laoda realized that the Clan Leader’s family had already been divided; only Ming Qing’s branch was left in this courtyard. Zhou Laoda paid his respects to the Clan Leader and asked Ming Qing’s father, "Did the Clan Leader not leave any last words?"

Ming Qing’s father shook his head, "My father passed away peacefully in his sleep and left no last words. He had no regrets."

The documents for dividing the family property had been prepared long ago, simply waiting for Ming Qing’s return to finalize the division, but he did not arrive in time.

Ming Qing seemed on the verge of fainting from crying. Lady Li realized this wouldn’t do, "Quickly help Ming Qing up; the child hasn’t had a proper rest since receiving the news."

Ming Qing’s father, distressed for his son, hurriedly helped him up and then escorted him to rest. Upon returning, he said, "You’ve all had a tiring journey back. Rest first before we talk. Go rest."

Zhou Laoda nodded, "Alright, we’ll go rest first and talk tomorrow."

Zhou Laoda and Lady Li stayed in a newly constructed residence. The young servants who had arrived earlier had already tidied up the place. After Zhou Laoda and Lady Li had bathed and changed clothes, they chatted while eating.

Zhou Laoda proposed, "You return home tomorrow; I will pay respects to the Clan Leader. You can settle in at Li Family Village first, and once I finish here, I’ll come to get you."

Lady Li, missing her parents and pleased with the head of the family’s arrangement, replied, "Alright, I’ll follow your lead."

The Zhou family Village was bustling today; knowing Zhou Laoda was tired from his journey, no one came to disturb him, but Ming Shan’s household was lively. Ming Shan had announced that Zhou Shuren was now nobility with a title and even mentioned a relation to the royal family.

The news exploded throughout the already lively Zhou family Village. Zhou Shuren’s branch was impressive before, but now, even more so, they had become Earls.

Ming Qing, after resting for a while, also shared the tidbit. When he had first learned of it, his reaction was just like his father’s: stunned.

The village gossip spread incredibly fast, and the villagers understood why the Prince had come to the Zhou family Village – it was because of Zhou Shuren’s branch.

The next morning, Lady Li headed back to Li Family Village with gifts, while Zhou Laoda went to the Clan Leader’s house, answering various questions from people along the way – he answered what he could and for the rest, he admitted ignorance.

The news spread rapidly to the surrounding areas, and by the time Zhou Laoda had paid his respects to the Clan Leader, both the Dong family and Li family had learned of it.

The Li family took the news better, having no grand ambitions and joyfully content with Lady Li living a good life.

However, the Dong family had many thoughts. Those with ambitions considered going to the capital, even Mr. Dong considered it momentarily before squashing the inappropriate desires – his little girl wasn’t in the capital, and at his old age, he couldn’t manage the difficulties of such a move.

At the Jiang family, even having received a token of agreement, Dong Yiyi was fraught with anxiety. Xue Mei and Jiang Sheng were content with their lot, but Zhou’s family was ascending step by step. Previously, Xue Mei was merely a daughter married off from the Zhou family, with her husband being a Graduate, which didn’t draw much attention.

But now, as a daughter of the Earl’s household, related to royalty, her status had changed again, and more people were interested in Xue Mei’s family. Dong Yiyi was anxious.

In the capital, Rong Enqing had become Mr. Hou; having a direct kinship with the Zhou family made their dealings more open and justified.

At the Zhou family, Zhulan asked, "Is your wife’s pregnancy coming along steadily?"

En Qing replied, "She needs to stay in bed for half a month more before she can get up."

Zhulan looked at Rong Enqing, his complexion good. Becoming Marquis had brought about a transformation, his demeanor matching that of a Marquis more and more, "You’ll have much to attend to for Marquis Rong’s Residence due to recent affairs."

Rong Enqing, smiling, nodded. The recent events were plentiful indeed, visitors calling on him in droves, drawn by his new status, especially those officials who had once looked down upon him due to his background and had made things difficult for him, now came to apologize warily.

He was experiencing the advantages of his changed status, and the Emperor had also spoken to him, promising that once issues with the Yao clan and the Zhang clan were resolved, he could focus solely on his duties as Marquis.

Chang Yi came in, slightly embarrassed, "I couldn’t find the Jade Pendant and have waited for a while."

Rong Enqing, "I’ve only just arrived myself not too long ago."

Chang Yi, addressing his mother, "Mother, we’ll be heading out then."

"Mm, be careful on the road."

"Your son will remember."

Today, Rong Enqing was taking Chang Yi to see his trading caravan. Chang Yi was interested, and Rong Enqing wished to strengthen ties with the Zhou family, initially hoping to pique the interest of Zhou’s uncle, but unfortunately, when he suggested it, the uncle showed no interest at all.

Of the Zhou family’s sons, Zhou Changlian was not in the capital, Zhou Changzhi had a well-to-do wife, leaving only Chang Yi interested.

As for Rongchuan, with whom relations had once been good, his commodities still failed to move Rongchuan.