These words were extremely grating to Sister-in-law Huang's ears; she felt they were implying something.
She forced a smile and explained, "Mother, it's not that your daughter-in-law is unfilial, it's just that I don't have the ability to hire servants like my sister-in-law."
She felt she had been filial enough to her in-laws, yet she couldn't provide them with a life of luxury.
Given the conditions in a farming family, there's really nothing that can be done.
If the parents-in-law do no work at all and leave all the burden on the couple, they really can't bear it.
Old Mrs. Huang really didn't mean anything by it; she just wanted her former daughter-in-law to know that she was doing better after leaving home.
Hearing this, she gently comforted him, "It's not your fault. Every family is like this. You've already done enough."
Other families would hide away good things, but this daughter-in-law wouldn't. She always made sure that the two of them ate them, and even Qin Shi couldn't be presumptuous.
Therefore, Old Mrs. Huang felt heartbroken towards her son, but had no complaints about her daughter-in-law.
She, a woman, didn't understand what the men were going to do, let alone know whether she should stop them or not.
She herself hasn't done it, so she certainly won't criticize others for it.
"That's good."
Sister-in-law Huang breathed a slight sigh of relief, but also felt a little inferior, as if she had lost face.
He immediately decided to buy two servants, even if he didn't use them, just to keep them at home to make a show of things.
He used to think he couldn't stand out and attract envy, but now that his nephew has become a marquis, he might be looked down upon if he doesn't have servants.
"Since you're here, why not stay for a simple meal? The steward just caught a bucket of fish from the field; you can have some too."
"Grandma, where's Second Aunt? I haven't seen her."
"She's so busy every day that she doesn't even have time to eat. I've already asked someone to call her. She'll definitely come over when she has time."
These words made Sister-in-law Huang feel sour again.
She never imagined that one day, she would have to see her younger brother and sister-in-law to make sure they had time to meet.
"Mother, what is my sister-in-law busy with? She used to enjoy tending the crops, but what about now?"
“It’s no different now,” Grandma Huang said with a smile. “She spends most of her time in the backyard and won’t listen to anything I say.”
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something, "Yingying, go and get a watermelon, so your aunt can have some too."
"good."
Jin smiled at the two of them and quickly walked out of the side hall.
She felt something was off, but couldn't quite put her finger on it, and didn't really want to stay by her side.
"Watermelons are already available? The ones in the village aren't ripe yet..."
As she spoke, Sister-in-law Huang thought of Jiang Nuan and immediately fell silent.
The melons in the village are already as big as bowls, and they will be ready to sell in a little over a month. This is just following the instructions of my younger brother and sister-in-law.
She must have a better way.
Grandma Huang didn't reply, but instead carefully examined her grandson.
He couldn't help but frown immediately.
"Dashan, what have you been up to lately?"
"It's nothing," he replied shyly. "I practice calligraphy and meditation, but I haven't made much progress."
"Really?" Old Mrs. Huang asked suspiciously.
“Of course it’s true,” Sister-in-law Huang said quickly. “Dashan has been working very hard lately, practicing calligraphy in his room every day, and he’s lost weight.”
"Didn't you go to work in the fields?"
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Huang stammered and replied, "Dashan needs to recuperate from his injuries, and there's not much work to do in the fields."
This explanation made Sister-in-law Huang feel extremely guilty, as she always felt that her mother-in-law would be dissatisfied with her son.
"Recovering from injuries?" Jiang Nuan arrived just in time to hear this. "Da Shan's injuries haven't healed yet?"
It's been almost two months, hasn't it?
“It’s almost done,” Sister-in-law Huang explained awkwardly, “I’m just a little worried.”
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Jiang Nuan.
His expression immediately changed drastically.
She looked much older than she had in just a few days, while her sister-in-law, who was only a few years younger than her, was as beautiful and charming as an unmarried girl.
Her off-white dress, her plain white jade hairpin, and her unadorned face, though not elaborately made up, still made her captivating.
"Ya Ya, is it really you?"
"Of course," Jiang Nuan shrugged. "After not seeing you for a few days, doesn't your sister-in-law recognize me?"
"Don't you think Ya Ya has changed a lot?" Grandma Huang explained, "The mountains and rivers here are good for people. Not only her, but I've also become much younger."
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Huang realized that the old lady with a full head of silver hair now had black hair, the wrinkles on her face had become lighter, and her skin had become radiant.
Subconsciously touching her face, her heart sank, and she murmured unconsciously, "You are all blessed."
"Yes, I should cherish what I have!"
“The key is to have good fortune,” Huang Shan replied. “Like Xiao Chuan, he was fortunate enough to become a marquis, but I am still nothing.”
When Huang Shan said this, there was some emotion in his voice, but it wasn't obvious.
"It all depends on one's own fate," Old Mrs. Huang said with a smile, giving her grandson a pep talk. "If you don't live up to your potential, you won't be able to hold down a marquis position, let alone an emperor."
Huang Shan was very dissatisfied with this statement.
He couldn't understand at all what made his cousin better than him. He was as quiet and reserved as a gourd, only knowing how to work silently and completely lacking in social skills...
“That’s exactly right,” Sister-in-law Huang said, though she felt uncomfortable, she continued, “Dashan is just a useless boy. If no one had helped him, his life might have ended like this. Fortunately, he has a good…”
Upon hearing this, before Sister-in-law Huang could finish speaking, Old Lady Huang interrupted her directly, "Huang Shi's wife, it's still early before dinner. I'll have someone take you two around, or you can go to the mountains for a stroll."
"mother…"
"Call her aunt."
“Mother, Dashan is your own grandson,” Sister-in-law Huang stubbornly refused to change her mind, “Yaya is also your own nephew.”
“Dividing into two clans means becoming two families, not having any close grandchildren or nephews,” seeing that Sister-in-law Huang was still stubborn, Old Lady Huang became less polite, “If you’ve come to visit relatives, I’ll treat you well. If you have other plans, leave now.”
"Grandma, do you really dislike your grandson that much?"
"What do you have that I could possibly like? Do you have to spell it out?" Old Mrs. Huang's eyes sharpened. "You used to be so devoted to the Qin family, but now that you've only been gone a few days, you've already exhausted yourself. Are you trying to fool this old woman like a fool?"
"No, don't talk nonsense!"
"Her body was hollowed out?" Sister-in-law Huang didn't believe it either. "Mother, don't talk nonsense."
"I'm talking nonsense?" Old Mrs. Huang sneered. "Fine, you can deny it to the death. Doctor Gu is right here at our residence. Let him come and examine you."
When Jiang Nuan came over, she noticed that her nephew's health was not as good as before, but she didn't think about it.
Upon hearing this, he was immediately stunned. "Dashan has already gotten married?"
“Of course not,” Sister Huang explained, “Dashan is just not fully healed yet, he still has bruises.”
"Yes, I'm just still recovering from my injury."
Huang Shan panicked; he was afraid the doctor would actually come.
Although I don't feel completely drained, I've been feeling much worse lately than before, and I need to drink nourishing soup every time.
"Your injury hasn't healed? How dare you say that?" Old Mrs. Huang laughed angrily. "It's just a minor scratch, it'll only last a month at most, and you're treating it like a magic sword?"
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