The Journey Of The Peasant Mother-in-Law

The Journey Of The Peasant Mother-in-law Chapter 107: Ancient Times Are Scary

Zhulan waved her hand, “I’m an elder, where can I wear such bright clothes. These are made for Xuemei.”

Zhou Wang Shi heard that Xuemei and her husband brought their children back to their natal home. She also learned some details from an elderly person yesterday. She couldn’t help but feel moved by the love that Zhou Shuren and his wife showed for their daughter, “A girl is truly blessed to be born in your family.”

Not every father and mother took their daughter seriously and was willing to help out. Think about the job of copying books worth twenty taels that was given to his son-in-law. She marveled at the solid foundation of Zhou Shuren’s family and in her heart, she wanted to became closer Zhulan.

Zhulan said with emotion, “It’s not easy for a woman. Wouldn’t it be more difficult if the parents also stopped caring? Parents are the children’s support, right? After all, when it comes to loving your daughter, don’t be humble. You and your uncle are also the best.”

Zhou Wang Shi thought that she was different from Yang Shi. Her family had only one girl so she was naturally precious. However, she was still happy to receive compliments. Thinking about gossip, she started chatting, “Have you heard about what happened in the Wang family?”

Zhulan took the teapot brought in by her daughter, poured tea for Zhou Wang Shi, and shook her head, “I didn’t hear that. What happened to the Wang family?”

Zhou Wang Shi said in a disgusted tone, “Wang Ru that girl walked alone with the man for ten days. Yesterday she came back in a carriage and brought back several boxes of things, which she said were given by Shi Gongzi1, the businessman. Wang Ru is not young anymore. She went alone without an adult, and Sun Shi also showed off that the jewelry on Wang Ru was given by Shi Gongzi. She didn’t care about the reputation of Wang Ru and the other two daughters at all!”

Zhulan really didn’t expect Wang Ru didn’t show off. Instead, Sun Shi showed off everywhere. Although the reputation of women in the countryside was relatively lenient, it was still not allowed to accept gifts privately. Even ignorant women understood the truth. Sun Shi will not be ignorant. Zhulan furrowed her brow and said, “Could it be that Sun Shi wants to make it seem like Shi Gongzi is interested in Wang Ru?”

Zhou Wang Shi took a sip of tea, “I guessed that too. Sun Shi wants to rely on Shi Gongzi, but it’s really stupid. Shi Gongzi is not a local. Sun Shi’s bragging is only damaging the reputation of her own daughter, and it has no effect on Shi Gongzi. The ancient saying that when marrying a wife, if you can’t marry a virtuous one, at least you must not marry a stupid one to slow you down, is absolutely true.”

Zhou Wang paused. Suddenly embarrassed, “Well, I don’t mean anything else, I’m talking about Sun Shi.”

Zhulan, “…”

She didn’t explain, she really didn’t think much about Li Shi. Explaining this was no different from calling Li Shi by name.

Zhou Wang Shi changed the subject stiffly, “I really don’t know what Wang Ru is doing next. I don’t believe that a rural girl, without any potential to be a beauty, would be noticed so early. Could it be that Wang Ru has come up with some new tricks?”

Zhulan didn’t pay attention to the fact that Wang Ru wasn’t in the village. Their family was indeed very busy. However, Wang Ru wouldn’t follow without any benefit. Trying to recall the details, she realized that she had been skipping ahead and not paying close attention. Moreover, the plot had already deviated, and she had no idea what Wang Ru had brought up.

However, as the little girl said, Shi Gongzi gave a lot of exquisite jewelry, and he really regarded Wang Ru as his own. Then Wang Ru must have brought out more meaningful things. Shi Gongzi finally looked squarely at Wang Ru. She was different, so he made up his mind to coax her.

However, Wang Ru was not like a village girl, and Shi Gongzi will definitely investigate. Wang Ru’s changes cannot be hidden, and Wang’s reasons cannot deceive him. Without the grace of saving lives, Wang Ru was too proactive to prove herself. Her relationship with Shi Gongzi was a mutual calculation. If Wang Ru’s abnormal behavior loses its value, the outcome waiting for her will not be good.

Zhulan had foreseen the far-reaching things and reminded herself that she must keep a low profile. Don’t think that there was no fear in ancient times without the Internet and monitoring. In ancient times, it was even more terrifying. Human life was worthless. If someone was too outrageous, ancient people’s thinking was not strong enough. It will be cheap to kill you by mistake, treat you as a monster every minute, and burn you to death.

Zhou Wang Shi ate two pieces of cake, and before she could reply, she saw Yang Shi was distracted, “Did you think of something?”

Zhulan came back to her senses, “I was thinking that Wang Zhang Shi won’t let the Fourth Wang family off the hook.”

Zhou Wang was not a member of the Wang family in this village, she was from Wangjiacun2. So she didn’t hold the Wang Zhang family in high regard. “There was a commotion yesterday, insisting on staying at Wang Ru’s family’s place. This time, Wang Ru won’t be able to escape without significant consequences. It won’t be a peaceful year for them.”

Zhu Lan couldn’t help but make a sarcastic comment, “Sun Shi is already in her late stages of pregnancy. She’s due in three months. I wonder if Fourth Wang will get what he wants.”

Zhou Wang Shi said, “Who knows, anyway, two people can still have children at the same age. This one is not a continuation. Now that the four families of Wang and Lao are well-off, they can afford it.”

Zhulan thought to herself, Wang Ru did it last time. She didn’t know if she will do it this time, so I echoed, “He can indeed afford it.”

Zhulan and Zhou Wang chatted about the children again, and Patriarch Zhou called for people to go home. Zhulan and Zhou Shuren escorted them personally to the door and waited till they left.

In the evening, Zhulan told Zhou Shuren about Wang Ru’s situation and conjectures, and told Zhou Shuren by the way, “If you really become an official in the future, don’t bring out new modern things. You should not only be wary of Wang Ru but also keep a low profile in line with the ancients.”

Zhou Shuren had really thought about it, “Don’t worry, I have thought about it a long time ago. I will not do anything out of line, I will read more books from previous dynasties, summarize the essence, and will not come up with anything beyond the times. But if Wang Ru took it out, and if it is useful and benefits the people, I won’t be polite then.”

Zhulan was relieved, Zhou Shuren had a plan in his heart, and the drowsiness could no longer be suppressed, “Go to sleep!”

Footnote

Young gentleman or a young master from a rich family.It meant that though both has the surname Wang, she was not from the Wang family in this village. She was from the Wang village. This is why, I think the author to differentiate her, wrote her husband’s name along with her natal family name. Like Zhulan is called Yang shi, where Yang is her maternal family name. Similarly, the patriarch’s wife is from the Wang family and married to the Zhou family, so she is called Zhou Wang Shi. Whereas Wang Ru’s grandmother is called Wang Zhang Shi, which means her maternal family is Zhang and she is married to Wang family. Generally, people with same surname or clan lived in one village. This village was Zhou family village with other surnames in nominal number like the Wang family and Rong Chuan’s family.