Putting aside others, Granny He and Shui Ling were quite happy.
When they entered the Li family, everything was perfect for them. They were not mistreated at all, and there was no beating or scolding. It could be said that among all the servants in the world, they were the happiest!
But they often couldn't help feeling anxious, because their masters didn't want to order them around.
Other people's masters would like eight servants to serve them, but the Li family is different. There are several masters, young and old, but only three of them serve them, and they are always half-empty...
The old lady enjoys picking vegetables, doing needlework, and occasionally doing small chores in the fields.
The fourth wife loved to cook, and she always had to personally prepare meals for her family three times a day before she felt at ease.
The eldest and fourth masters were not often at home, so the second master took care of everything himself except for asking them to help wash his clothes.
Even when the young masters are not home, servants help them with chores.
Even the youngest lady had to do everything herself, from washing to eating and drinking.
She even prefers to be alone; once she closes her bedroom door, there's absolutely no sound...
Those servants are truly despicable!
Today, being able to serve their masters on their journey, they finally felt they were of some use.
Mr. Wen was overjoyed to have a son late in life.
I didn't even go to the government office today; I just stayed home with my wife.
Madam Wen found it both sweet and amusing; no matter how much she urged him, it wouldn't work, until the Li family arrived in two carriages...
"Master Aunt, Master Aunt! I'm going to have a junior brother!" Jiayin got out of the car and ran into the courtyard in a flash, reaching out to hug Madam Wen.
Mr. Wen was worried that she might not know her limits, but Jia Yin slowed down her pace four or five steps ahead, showing that she knew how to behave properly.
Madam Wen gently ruffled her hair, her face flushed with a smile. "I haven't seen you in so long, I've missed you terribly. Luckily you came along, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get to the new village for a while."
Mr. Wen patted the chubby girl and said with a smile, "There are delicious snacks at home, I guarantee you'll like them."
At this moment, Old Lady Li and Tao Hongying also came in, followed by Ye Shan, Dongmei, and Granny He, each carrying something in their hands.
Madam Wen blushed even more and said, "Auntie, Hongying, it's good that you're here. Why did you bring so much stuff?"
Grandma Li held her hand and said reproachfully, "Don't be so polite. How could we not come to such a joyous occasion? Since Jia Huan became pregnant, the family has prepared a lot of food, and we've shared some with you now."
"It's nothing rare, just something to whet your appetite, so you can eat and sleep more and have a big, healthy boy."
Mr. Wen quickly thanked her, "Auntie, you've finally come! I was so scared last night I didn't dare to sleep. I've never been a father before, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to take good care of Jinrou..."
"Don't worry, don't worry! We're here now, aren't we?" Old Mrs. Li urged them to hurry up. "You're a grown man, go do what you need to do. We'll take care of Jinrou at home."
Madam Wen quickly said, "Yes, I'm just having a little chat with my aunt, you won't get a word in edgewise, so hurry up and go out. Oh, and remember to go to the Liu family and share the good news."
"Okay, okay, I'll go right away." Mr. Wen now treated his wife's words as imperial edicts, quickly changed his clothes and went out.
Everyone entered the house at once, and the Li family laid out the things they had brought one by one for Madam Wen to see. After Madam Wen took the oranges, she ate two in one go.
The sight made everyone's mouths water.
Sister-in-law Qiong said, "Madam found out she was pregnant yesterday, and then she started having morning sickness... She ate the steamed egg custard that Fourth Madam made last night, and hasn't eaten anything this morning."
“That won’t do. Eating so many sour oranges on an empty stomach will ruin your stomach.” Tao Hongying immediately rolled up her sleeves and called to Sister Qiong, “Call the cooks from your yard. I’ll cook a few dishes so they can learn from me.”
Sister-in-law Qiong was overjoyed and immediately went to make arrangements.
Granny He stayed to serve, and Shui Ling went along to help.
Grandma Li held Madam Wen's hand as they sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and talked, while Jiayin, holding a box of snacks, ate and listened to the lively conversation.
When asked how she discovered she was pregnant, Madam Wen sighed and whispered to Old Lady Li, "Auntie, I owe this all to Wenhao from the Guo family next door. He really saved my life!"
Both Grandma Li and Jiayin were curious, so Grandma Li asked, "What happened?"
Mrs. Wen said, "Yesterday I went for a walk in the fields and saw a lot of mushrooms in the grove by the field, so I asked Sister Qiong to go home and get a basket!"
"As a result, someone was hunting small animals in the forest and set a trap. I stepped on it and one of my legs was pulled into the air, leaving only my head touching the ground."
"I was completely dizzy and couldn't untangle the rope no matter what I did. Just then, Wenhao heard the noise, ran over, cut the rope with his small dagger, and saved me."
"My family called a doctor to examine my injuries and take my pulse, and that's when they discovered I was two months pregnant. Luckily, I was rescued in time, otherwise, both I and the baby might have..."
Madam Wen couldn't continue speaking, her arms wrapped around her stomach, clearly still very frightened.
"That was too dangerous! Which scoundrel went into the woods to set a trap? Isn't that just asking for trouble?" Old Mrs. Li was furious and gently patted Madam Wen's back to comfort her.
Jiayin quickly sat in Madam Wen's lap, wrapped one arm around her neck and used the other to touch Madam Wen's hair and ears, muttering, "Touching her hair won't scare her, touching her ears will scare her for a while!"
Madam Wen was amused and laughed.
Grandma Li also tapped her grandson, laughing and scolding, "That's for little kids, your aunt is an adult!"
Jiayin smiled and continued eating her snacks.
Mrs. Wen continued, "I was terrified at the time and didn't have time to think much about it. I couldn't sleep that night and then I realized that Wenhao still had tear stains on his face, so he must have been bullied."
"Old Master Guo is too old and too ill to manage the affairs of the estate. Wenhao is weak and young, and can't keep order. I heard some gossip before, saying that the servants on their estate are bullying their masters, but when he came to our house to ask for his studies, I asked him a few questions, but he wouldn't say anything."
"Now it seems that it might be true. This child looks thin, but he is too stubborn."
Old Mrs. Li frowned when she thought of Wenhao.
My sons are all incredibly mischievous, tanned like monkeys, yet rarely get sick.
Guo Wenhao, however, is like a clean little bean sprout, easily blown over by the slightest breeze. Now that he has no elders to protect him, he is truly pitiful.
She looked up and saw Madam Wen hesitate, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. Suddenly, she guessed what was going on and smiled helplessly, "Jinrou, you want to help this child, but you're afraid that our family will be unhappy, right?"
Madam Wen said somewhat awkwardly, "Auntie, this child's mother and I studied together and have some acquaintance. Now that we live so close, and she even saved my and my child's lives this time, I'd like to take care of him in the future, but the Guo family's previous actions..."
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