Niu Xiaomei looked somewhat sad, then forced a smile and said, "Who cares? It's better he's not coming! Someone like me is never good enough for him."

"In two years, once you've recovered, your sister-in-law will find you a good family!" Chen Yu said, holding Niu Xiaomei's hand.

Chen Yu stood up and listened carefully for a while. She could vaguely hear someone banging gongs and drums. Thinking that Niu Xiaomei was in a bad mood, Chen Yu said, "It sounds quite lively outside. Let's go take a look! It'll help us relax."

When Chen Yu led Niu Xiaomei to the village entrance, a large group of elderly, weak, women, and children had already gathered there, all chatting amongst themselves.

"Whose wedding is this? What a grand affair!" asked Madam Tan, tugging at Madam Tan's clothes.

Ms. Tan said with some disgust, "I don't know."

Huang, the eldest granddaughter-in-law of the old clan chief, said, “Look, it’s getting closer and closer. Could it be our group? But I haven’t heard of anyone getting married or marrying off a daughter here!”

An old woman said, "I heard that a family in the third group behind has their due date approaching. Could it be her family?"

The elderly and children craned their necks to look outside.

A little boy pointed ahead and said, "That looks like Doctor Xue and his mother. It doesn't look like a wedding; I didn't see a big red sedan chair!"

"So they've come to propose marriage," the old woman said. "I wonder which girl is so lucky!"

Niu Xiaomei's hand suddenly tightened. "Sister-in-law, let's go back!"

A smile appeared on Shen Yu's face as she said, "Okay!"

After the two sisters-in-law returned home, Chen Yu deliberately left the gate open and brewed a cup of tea. Niu Xiaomei asked, "Sister-in-law, why are you brewing tea?"

The Niu family is not used to drinking tea, so they rarely brew tea.

Chen Yu laughed, "You silly child, are you out of your mind? Of course, we're here to welcome guests! I wonder if this tea is any good. If they still don't come, I'll have to go to the county with your older brother in a few days."

The sound of gongs and drums grew closer and closer.

Chen Yu just happened to light the silver charcoal she had bought at home.

It finally stopped at the front gate of the Niu family's house.

People who had come to watch the spectacle also arrived. Since Niu Yinhua and Grandpa Zhuo hadn't gone too far, they mingled in the crowd. Niu Yinhua craned her neck to look inside.

Niu Fangyuan's wife, Yuan, had gone to the county with him some time ago and only returned last night. She was unaware of Niu Xiaomei's divorce or the death of her ex-husband.

"Sister-in-law Xiang, who is this young Doctor Xue going to marry?"

Xiang Jinlan smiled and said, "Of course it's their fourth sister!" Xiang Jinlan then walked away carrying Niu Baolan and Xiao Fubao.

"Didn't Niu Huahua get married?" Yuan asked Xiao Tan in a low voice.

Madam Tan said, "You weren't home, so you don't know, but Hua Hua's ex-husband, Huang Zhigao, abused her because she couldn't give birth to a son. He even stomped on her unborn baby boy, killing him completely. They divorced afterward." "Perhaps heaven couldn't bear it and sent a bolt of lightning to kill him! His two concubines ran off with all the money, and now I hear his parents are begging for food everywhere."

Madam Yuan said, "That's truly retribution."

A dignified and kind-looking woman walked towards them; it was Wen Ning, Xue Huaimin's mother. Wen Ning smiled and said:

"Is this my sister-in-law? My son has mentioned her before."

Lady Wen wore a simple yet luxurious jade hairpin to adorn her coiled bun, with a gold hairpin inserted in her hair, and an exquisite emerald green hair ornament on top of the bun.

Wen ordered his men to open the six boxes that had been brought in. The first box contained a box of copper coins strung with gold thread, the second box contained a box of broken silver, and the third box contained various hairpins, jewelry, and jade hairpins.

The fourth box contained gold thread and silk brocade.

The fifth box contained rice.

The sixth box contained fish.

Xue Huaimin also carried a pair of wild geese, symbolizing loyalty.

Madam Wen took out two pieces of paper and said, "Our family doesn't have any land deeds or anything like that, only two medicinal herb shops in Dan County. These are the contracts for the shops."

Wen Ning, Doctor Xue, and Doctor Xiao Xue were all medical officers in the Imperial Medical Academy. Later, Doctor Xue retired and returned to his hometown. He had a considerable fortune, but the people of Niushan Village did not know that he was so wealthy.

Previously, this Wen family member looked down on her younger sister and kept opposing the marriage between Doctor Xue and her younger sister. Shen Yu was originally a little uncomfortable, but now all that discomfort has been swept away.

Everyone knows that the Xue family has two shops in Niushan County, but few know that they also have four shops in Jiangzhou and Xiangzhou.

Niu Xiaomei was extremely nervous and refused, saying, "Madam, it's not that I look down on Doctor Xue, but I fear that if he marries me, people will gossip and point fingers, and what if I can't carry on the Xue family line..." "Doctor Xue's family background, talent, and age are more than enough to make any good girl worthy of him! I don't want to hold him back."

Wen Ning was indeed somewhat bothered by Niu Xiaomei's previous marriage and two daughters, especially since she had suffered a major setback in childbirth. After all, her son was handsome, had surpassed his father in medical skills, was young, and was an only child.

Although we've met a few times, you can only know a person's face but not their heart.

Looking back now, she seems like a good girl.

"You have no idea, if you don't agree, this kid will lose his life! He went on a hunger strike at home, refusing to eat for more than ten days. I don't know where he got such willpower. He's my only son, how could I bear to do that?" "Besides, what's this about being worthy or not? If my son likes you, then you are worthy!"

Niu Xiaomei looked at Xue Huaimin, who had become much thinner, with some surprise. She couldn't help but feel a little touched. Shen Yu was also a little surprised. Doctor Xue usually seemed very proper, but she never expected that when he was being unconventional, he would be so extraordinary.

Wen Ning knew very well which was more important to her, her son or her grandson.

"That's really strange, someone actually wants a hen that doesn't lay eggs!" Niu Yinhua's shrill voice rang in everyone's ears.

Wen Ning frowned: "Who is that?"

Niu Yinhua squeezed out from the crowd.

Grandpa Zhuo was so angry his face turned red. "Where are you going?"

"I..." Before Niu Yinhua could say anything, Chen Yu rushed up and slapped her hard across the face several times, leaving her stunned. Chen Yu was usually gentle and rarely lost her temper like this.

Despite the cold September weather, Niu Yinhua's face stung with pain. "You, surnamed Chen, you...you're just an outsider. How dare you hit me! Who do you think you are?"

Wen Ning's expression was somewhat displeased. Although his future daughter-in-law was a kind and gentle woman, his sister-in-law was like a shrew. Although people can be all different, having such a relative was not a good thing for the Xue family.

“This third sister probably can’t stand seeing her younger sister doing better than her!” Niu Xiaocao’s mother, Xia, said to Guo.

“I think so. She keeps saying her sister is a barren hen, but she doesn’t even look at herself. I heard from my cousin that her husband is planning to divorce her!” Guo said.