Just as Yuan Huiniang and her two daughters remained silent, Du Ruxiu came in and reported, "Young Madam, Madam and Eldest Miss have arrived."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Huiniang stood up with a smile, while Yuan's mother and Yuan Huicong seemed a little nervous. They both knew that the Li family's business was built by Yan Qingqing. Although they remembered Yan Qingqing as timid and weak, how could someone who had achieved what they had today be timid and weak?
Yan Qingqing asked Yuan Huiniang with concern, "How are you? Are you feeling better today? Are you still vomiting a lot?"
Yuan Huiniang smiled and said, "I'm much better these past few days. Aunt He's pickled cucumbers are especially good with rice."
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "That's good. Just tell the kitchen what you want to eat."
Yuan Huiniang nodded obediently. Seeing her daughter being so affectionate with her mother-in-law, but having nothing to say to her own mother, Yuan's mother couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
Moreover, looking at Yan Qingqing's attire and overall demeanor, and then at herself, she felt like a widow in comparison. A hint of jealousy flashed in Yuan's mother's eyes, but she quickly concealed it.
Yan Qingqing then looked at Yuan's mother and Yuan Huicong and said with a smile, "I heard from my family that my in-laws have arrived, so I rushed over here."
"Did you come all this way to see Hui Niang because you heard she's pregnant? Don't worry, she's always been a filial and sensible child; I'll take good care of her."
Mother Yuan hesitated for a moment, unable to speak. If she had come to see her daughter because she was pregnant, she had come empty-handed. How could she come to see her pregnant daughter empty-handed?
Ever since Yuan Huicong saw Li Xinniang, his eyes seemed glued to her. Perhaps his gaze was too rude, because Li Xinniang looked displeased.
But then she remembered that he was her sister-in-law's younger brother, and she always respected her sister-in-law. She couldn't embarrass her sister-in-law in public, so she could only endure it.
Yan Qingqing sensed the change in her daughter's emotions, glanced at Yuan Huicong indifferently, and kept her expression unchanged.
Yuan Huicong kept giving his mother meaningful glances, but she opened her mouth several times without saying a word.
Yuan Huiniang also noticed the subtle interaction between her mother and younger brother. Suddenly, she remembered that Yuan Huicong had mentioned having a girl he had his eye on. Could that person be Xinniang?
Yuan Huiniang immediately shook her head and rejected the idea.
In the past, Yuan Huiniang might have agreed that her sister-in-law marrying her brother from her own family would be a good thing, as it would strengthen family ties.
However, Yuan Huiniang now feels that the two are not a good match at all. Not to mention that her family background is not good enough for her husband's family, Li Xinniang herself has become very outstanding in the past year.
She was hardworking and ambitious, and her mother-in-law was willing to teach her. She was able to handle both the embroidery workshop and the home with ease. She even went to the prefectural city with her mother-in-law to discuss business. Her embroidery workshop had 4,000 dolls, which Xinniang negotiated herself. Even her mother-in-law had to admire her.
Besides, even Wu Shaodong's mother-in-law doesn't approve of such a handsome man, so how could she possibly be interested in a younger brother who is illiterate and has no proper business?
After Yuan Huicong gave his mother another meaningful look, Yuan's mother looked at Li Xinniang and gritted her teeth, about to speak, when Yan Qingqing interrupted her, saying, "Xinniang, your sister-in-law's mother and brother have come all this way. Go to the kitchen and tell them to make something delicious so we can treat them well."
Li Xinniang knew her mother was watching her because she felt uncomfortable, so she nodded and left with Rumei. Even after Li Xinniang had gone quite a distance, Yuan Huicong was still craning his neck to look. Even a fool could see what he meant.
Yan Qingqing's expression darkened as she saw the mother and son repeatedly challenging her bottom line.
Seeing this, Yuan Huiniang quickly smoothed things over, saying, "My younger sister is truly capable. She has to manage the household affairs and also take care of the embroidery workshop. I wonder what kind of person will be worthy of her in the future."
Yan Qingqing's expression softened a bit; she had to save face for her daughter-in-law.
But not everyone is perceptive. Seeing that Li Xin's mother had left, Yuan Huicong said anxiously, "Mother, she's gone. Tell me quickly!"
Yan Qingqing gave an "oh" and raised an eyebrow, asking, "I wonder what my dear mother wants to say to me?"
Yuan Huiniang was also very anxious, and she wanted to remind her mother and brother not to talk nonsense. But Yan Qingqing stopped her with a look.
Yuan Huiniang immediately fell silent. She could only hope that her mother and brother were reasonable people and wouldn't say anything outrageous.
Seeing that things had come to this point, Mother Yuan gritted her teeth and said, "Then I'll be frank. My Cong'er has taken a fancy to your Xin's mother."
Over the years, my daughter has been dutiful to her parents-in-law and harmonious with her siblings since marrying into your family. She has also managed your household very well.
She's now in charge of the whole family.
We don't ask for anything else. Since my daughter has married into your family, your daughter should also marry into our family. This is called an exchange marriage.
Yan Qingqing laughed in anger upon hearing this, and said, "Is that so? Who agreed to your request for a marriage exchange? I remember that when our family married Hui Niang, we gave her a dowry."
Yuan Huicong curled his lip and said disdainfully, "You have the nerve to complain about a dowry of only one tael of silver."
Yuan Huiniang glared at Yuan Huicong and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Back then, the Li family was poor, and one tael of silver was already a lot of money."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Huicong retorted with a stiff neck, "We didn't look down on them when they were so poor, but now that I've taken a liking to that little brat Xinniang, you're all rich and you're looking down on us."
It's not like the time when your old lady sold her to the lame man.
You're saying that her reputation is ruined because she was betrothed to someone and then dumped? Apart from me being kind enough to give you some face, who else would dare to marry her?
I heard that the leper came to your door when no one was home. I wonder if he's still clean now.
You should be grateful that I'm willing to marry her. Give her a generous dowry, lest she be stuck with someone who can't get married later.
Yan Qingqing was furious upon hearing this. She had never been bullied like this in her two lifetimes.
Insulting her daughter is unacceptable, even if she is Yuan Huiniang's own brother.
So he stood up, walked up to Yuan Huicong, and slapped him across the face, causing Yuan Huicong's face to swell up immediately and blood to seep from the corner of his mouth, showing how strong the force was.
Upon seeing this, Yuan's mother screamed and ran to Yuan Huicong's side, tenderly cupping his face and looking at him.
He then glared angrily at Yan Qingqing and roared, "What right do you have to hit my son?"
Yan Qingqing replied with icy eyes, "If someone dares to spew filth at my daughter in my own home, a slap in the face would be the least of their worries."
You should be glad Xinniang isn't here right now, so she won't hear these filthy words, otherwise it wouldn't have been as simple as just a slap.
When Yuan's mother saw Yan Qingqing's cold gaze, she was so frightened that her back went cold and she dared not meet her eyes again.
Turning her head, she looked at Yuan Huiniang and scolded, "Are you just going to let your mother-in-law bully your brother like this? He's your own brother, and we've always treated you well since you were little."
Yuan Huiniang closed her eyes, suppressing her inner turmoil. When she opened them again, her eyes were clear. She knew that she had to make a choice today when Yuan Huicong said those words.
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