Chapter 13 Little Tricks_1

Zhulan got startled and hastily straightened up, imitating her predecessor's angry demeanor, "What are you yelling for, it's not like I can't hear."

Lady Li hurriedly bowed her head, but she was thinking to herself how truly affectionate the elderly couple was. Just moments ago they were nearly face-to-face, and her cheeks flushed with an uncontrollable flush, inwardly nagging endlessly, but she softly said, "Mother, I was wrong."

Zhulan, "..."

As if she hadn't seen those flickering eyes! As if she didn't know how she was being schemed against in their minds!

Zhou Shuren coughed, "Are the eldest and the others back yet?"

Lady Li, surprised, looked up. The eunuch was intervening for the first time, he never used to speak with them before, she grew somewhat uneasy, "Husband and the others just, just got back."

Zhou Shuren, being ill, wasn't as vigilant as before; he inadvertently spoke up to smooth over the situation but realized his mistake as soon as he began to speak. Typically, his original persona was more reserved and taciturn and rarely spoke with his daughters-in-law, he closed his eyes, "Hmm."

Lady Li grew increasingly uneasy, wondering if he needed to speak to her husband about something. Why had he lain down and stopped talking? She hurried to look after her mother-in-law.

Zhulan had gotten off the bed, regaining the original body's sensations, and neatly tucked Zhou Shuren's blanket, saying to him, "You've taken your medicine and eaten some porridge, you should sleep for a while, I'll come back after I've eaten."

Zhou Shuren understood, she was telling him to rest now, and they could talk about everything later in the evening, "Alright."

With a stern face, Zhulan held a bowl, "Aren't you going to set out the food? What are you standing around for?"

Hearing the familiar tone, Lady Li smiled; it seemed everything was alright, "Yes."

Without closing the door, the air circulated well in the room. As she reached the hall, her two sons who were studying in the neighboring village had just returned. Zhulan found it hard to mimic the original's enthusiasm, but still asked, "Was studying tough today?"

The fourth son, Zhou Changlian, the shrewdest one in the house, asked anxiously, "Mother, what did the doctor say about Father's illness? Is he alright?"

Even the shrewdest was frightened by his father's illness; he hadn't become a Scholar nor married yet. If his father passed, how could he continue studying? His elder brother had already started his own Chang family—would he be willing to support him? Even if they hadn't divided the family property, it would be tough for his mother to manage the household. As soon as he had heard the news upon entering the village, his concern was genuine.

Zhulan was silent; she could see the anxiety in her two sons just from their breathing. They had run home the moment they entered the village. However, having experienced the workplace, she was adept at understanding people, and while she didn't wish to speculate maliciously, Changlian's concern was only for himself. As for Changzhi, the younger and less thoughtful, he was genuinely worried for their father.

Changlian glared, his heart skipping a beat, "Mother, why aren't you saying anything!"

Changzhi's expression relaxed as he carefully surveyed the house, "Brother, Father's going to be fine."

Changlian was taken aback, "How do you know? We came back together."

Changzhi lifted his chin with a hint of pride, "If Father were truly ill, there wouldn't be meat cooking in the house and Mother wouldn't be so calm."

He had smelled the scent of meat and couldn't help but swallow.

Zhulan took another look at her younger son. He was indeed clever, "Alright, your father is fine. He's taken his medicine and gone to sleep. You both should wash your hands and eat."

Changlian's face lit up with a smile; it was good that all was well, "It's good that all is well."

Changzhi said, "I'll go see Father first."

Changlian paused then changed his expression, inwardly cursing that Changzhi was sly, "Mother, I won't be at ease until I see with my own eyes. I'll wash my hands and eat after I've seen him."

Inside, Zhulan rolled her eyes; if she had been the original, she might have been fooled, but alas, she wasn't, and such trifling tricks were not enough to impress her. She waved them off nonchalantly, "Go on."

As the two sons entered the room, Zhulan fell silent. Changlian was fourteen, an age where one could start a family in ancient times, and considering everyone's different abilities, Changlian's situation was not unlike the second son's. Had it not been for Changlian's cunning strategies for his own benefit, he would likely have had as little presence in the household as Changzhi.