Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1173: The Abandoned

Zhou Shuren remained silent, not making a sound. Zhulan looked at the startled couple, the only ones in the family who were unaware of Yu Dang’s intention.

Yu Dang said amiably, "It’s not valuable."

Lady Li looked at her mother-in-law, "Mother, this item is too valuable. We can’t accept it."

A tray full of gemstones and jade pendants—was this commonplace in the capital now, after just one trip to her old home?

Zhulan saw her fourth uncle looking at her and said, "Accept it."

The old Zhou couple exchanged glances. Something felt off. Although straightforward, they were not foolish, and they could tell there was no small matter at stake here. Zhou, shaking, accepted the gift, "Thank you, Uncle."

From the corner of his eye, Chang Yi watched his grandnephew, Mingyun, knowing that he would speak of this when he went back. If it hadn’t been for the lack of sons, earning a title wouldn’t be so easy, not to mention the significant future resources at stake.

In the senior branch of the family, the old Zhou couple were stunned upon hearing their eldest son’s words. Zhou stood dumbfounded, "Adopt Ming Teng?"

Mingyun nodded, "Yes, there have been signs of this for a while."

He had been oblivious before, not knowing Yu Dang’s true identity. Since it had been revealed, he understood.

Lady Li became agitated, "No, that is my son, my son!"

Zhou was also slow to grasp the concept of adopting out his son. He had never considered giving his son in adoption, even if he had many. "I, I need to speak to father."

Mingyun held him back, "Father, please calm down first."

He had been observing for many days, and it was clear that Grandfather agreed. The fact that the fourth great uncle lived in the Zhou residence was proof, and in recent days, it was he who had been educating Ming Teng. Mingyun had been watching; Ming Teng’s temperament had become much steadier.

Zhou’s head was in a whirl, looking at his eldest son, "I, I can’t calm down."

Lady Li, in a fit of irritation, slapped the table, "I, I’m going to find Mother."

Lady Li was a woman of action, truly unwilling to calm down and wait. Mingyun watched helplessly as his mother left. At that time, what else could he do but follow? "Father, let’s go too."

In the main courtyard, Zhulan hadn’t even changed her clothes and was sipping tea, occasionally glancing at the doorway. Hearing the noise, she said to Zhou Shuren, "I won."

She had bet that the old couple would come, and Zhou Shuren, who had doubted they would, assuming Mingyun would prevent it, was proven wrong.

As soon as Lady Li came in and met her mother-in-law’s eyes, she deflated, meekly saying, "Mother, were you waiting for us?"

Zhulan was surprised that Lady Li came in first, followed by old Zhou and Mingyun. She gestured, "Everyone, please sit."

Zhou called out softly to his father. Zhou Shuren twitched his mouth and moved his beard, grunting in response.

Zhou’s plump hand couldn’t help but grasp his son’s sleeve, inexplicably finding solace.

Mingyun, "...."

His parents, who had been so strongly reactive in the courtyard, actually softened upon reaching the door of the main courtyard. Especially his mother, who had circled the courtyard entrance countless times, until finally gathering the courage to enter only when he and his father arrived.

He was now too intimidated to utter an extra word.

Zhou Laoda felt the old man’s gaze on him and shrank, then realizing something was off—after all, he hadn’t done anything wrong—he suddenly lifted his head to meet the old man’s eyes and then quickly lowered it again, his bravado deflating, he weakly said, "Dad, I heard that Uncle Four..."

Zhou Shuren ran out of patience, "Am I that terrifying?"

Zhou Laoda shook his head, which wouldn’t stop shaking, "No, not terrifying."

Zhulan couldn’t help but laugh, giving Zhou Shuren a stern look, "Tone down that air of authority you carry in the government office, this is home, not the office. I think you’ve been an official for too long, your face is getting sterner by the day."

Zhou Shuren hurriedly smiled, "Then I’ll talk with a smile."

Lady Li, "..."

Zhou Laoda, "..."

It wasn’t like that; actually, they preferred when the old man didn’t smile!

Zhou Laoda gestured to his son as a cue for him to speak, Mingyun, "....Grandpa, are you really planning to adopt Ming Teng?"

So it still fell on him to speak up; after all, he was the one who could bear the weight of the family.

Zhou Shuren frowned at Zhou Laoda, his cowardly antics vexing him. With a smile reserved for his eldest grandson, he said, "Yes, it is also good for Ming Teng. From the perspective of your branch, adopting Ming Teng means he stands to inherit a title and wealth in the future and can learn many skills. Ming Teng needs specialized guidance, which I lack the time and energy for, and Mingyun is not suited to instruct Ming Teng."

Mingyun didn’t need to ask his grandfather; he had already considered the benefits of adopting Ming Teng, and as his grandfather said, he needed guidance himself. Lacking the extensive experience to guide Ming Teng, helping him to succeed would take a great deal of effort.

Seeing Zhou Laoda and Lady Li’s eyes light up, Zhou Shuren didn’t regard it as a problem. The couple was just straightforward and reacted strongly at first, but they calmed down once they understood the benefits. They weren’t fools; many people had achieved much but couldn’t exchange it for a title, not to mention a sizeable inheritance. Of course, the most important thing was inheriting the connections. Yu Dang had lived for many years; connections were something he had.

He didn’t think Ming Teng was a bad kid. On the contrary, the kid was quite good. But, like all families, resources are limited. Even if he scraped everything he could into the family coffers, the resources wouldn’t stretch far—his sons had already consumed too much of his effort. There’s only so much to give; his last efforts were all on his eldest grandson.

There were too many grandsons in the family, which wasn’t a problem for the younger ones; they could wait a few years, gradually relying on their fathers to build up their own resources.

But it was different for the eldest branch; with many sons, and Mingyun and Ming Teng being close in age, the attention he dedicated to Mingyun naturally meant less for Ming Teng. When he had first arrived in the capital, he had some time to guide Ming Teng and Ming Rui.

But now, he had no time at all and had not taught the two children for a long time. This incident with Ming Teng being beaten only reinforced his decision to adopt him—Ming Teng had grown up and needed proper education.

These past days, he had observed how his thrifty brother-in-law had devoted his entire effort to Ming Teng, trying various methods just to guide him. That was the kind of attention he couldn’t afford to give.

Lost in thought, Zhou Shuren continued, "From another perspective, because Mr. Hou’s children bear the Yao family’s bloodline, Mr. Hou’s lineage can endure, but Uncle Four cannot. Although both are legitimate lines, there’s no blood relation between the two families, so only my lineage is suitable. The family legacy must not be broken, not just for the sake of inheriting titles and wealth."

In the end, Zhou Shuren said, "The Emperor also does not wish for this branch to break the lineage."

Otherwise, the Emperor wouldn’t have inquired about when his eldest son and daughter-in-law were returning. Clearly, the Emperor was well aware of the adoption matter and very much hoped for it to happen, which would tighten the bond between the Zhou and Rong families.

But it also indicated that the Emperor had given up on Rong Enqing’s branch, who could only enjoy wealth and status.

Mingyun, who had been raised by his grandfather since he was little, knew his grandfather would make time to guide him despite the busyness. The last time, his grandfather had explained to him why the Crown Prince publicly addressed him as grandfather. Now, hearing his grandfather’s words, he mused, "Do you intend to bind the Zhou family and the Rong family together for good?"

If Ming Teng were adopted, wouldn’t that forge a permanent bond? It meant tying down the grandfather too!

Zhou Shuren’s eyes were filled with amusement; this was the boy he had raised, "You’re absolutely right."