Chapter 152 There's Good News!
This time, Madam Chen didn't argue with Madam Zhang. Instead, she comforted her, saying, "Sister-in-law, don't worry too much. Xiuyuan's wife has always been in good health, so there shouldn't be any problems. I heard that Madam Jiang was ill, and Xiuyuan's wife went back to visit her. Perhaps she was too tired from taking care of Madam Jiang these past few days, which is why she fainted."
Zhang felt that Chen was being insincere, paused in her steps, glanced at Chen, and then continued walking. In the end, she held back and did not continue arguing with her, after all, her daughter-in-law was the most important thing.
When Chen met Zhang's gaze, she knew what that look meant, and she was immediately furious. She cursed inwardly: "You're judging a gentleman by your own petty standards!"
The three sisters-in-law arrived at the courtyard of Madam Jiang and Gu Xiuyuan.
At this moment, the physician also rushed over with his medicine box. Upon seeing the three of them, he was about to bow to them.
Madam Zhang waved her hand and said, "Alright, let's skip the formalities. Go and see the eldest young mistress."
Upon hearing Zhang's words, the physician immediately responded and hurriedly carried his medicine box inside to treat Jiang.
The three sisters-in-law followed them in and saw that Madam Jiang was lying peacefully on the bed with her eyes closed. Although she looked tired, which was probably due to taking care of her sick mother, they could not see any other problems.
The physician reached out and placed his index, middle, and ring fingers on Jiang's pulse to take her pulse.
Seeing the physician holding his breath, Madam Zhang assumed her daughter-in-law's condition was not good, and a worried look appeared on her face. Her son and daughter-in-law had a good relationship, and her daughter-in-law was so young. If something happened to her, her son would become a widower at the age of eighteen. Moreover, it would be such a pity if her daughter-in-law, who was so young, passed away before her.
Meng Jinyao glanced at Zhang Shi. Although Zhang Shi wasn't a very good person, she was said to be strict with her daughter-in-law. She was genuinely worried about her daughter-in-law's accident. Such a person couldn't be too bad, just that she was clueless, materialistic, and vain. But everyone has flaws, as long as her nature isn't bad.
During the time she had been married into the Gu family, she had carefully observed the members of the first and second branches of the family. So far, she hadn't found anyone inherently wicked. Among the younger generation, Gu Xiuyuan seemed fine, as was Gu Xiuhong. Gu Xuanling was timid, and Gu Xiuwen was simple-minded and warm-hearted. Only Gu Xuanyi was arrogant and domineering, and loved to bully Gu Xuanling. However, none of them were as wicked as Gu Xiuming from the third branch.
After a moment, the physician withdrew his hand, looked at Madam Zhang with a smile, stood up, bowed, and said, "Congratulations, Madam, the eldest young mistress is pregnant."
Upon hearing this, Zhang looked at her daughter-in-law lying on the bed and was overjoyed, a smile spreading across her face: "You mean Xiuyuan's wife is pregnant?"
The physician nodded: "Yes, Madam, the eldest young mistress is more than a month pregnant."
Zhang's smile deepened, but looking at her daughter-in-law who was still unconscious, she couldn't help but feel a little worried and asked, "How could someone who was perfectly fine suddenly faint?"
The physician replied, "The young mistress fainted due to exhaustion. She should take two doses of medicine to prevent miscarriage and rest well for a few days."
Zhang was relieved: "Thank you for your help, doctor."
Afterwards, the physician went to write the prescription.
Meng Jinyao said gently, "Congratulations, sister-in-law! Next year, our family will have four generations living together."
Chen also said, "Congratulations, sister-in-law."
As a soon-to-be grandmother, Zhang was in high spirits. She put aside the worry about arranging for her daughter to be introduced to the heir of the Marquis of Wu'an and looked at Chen with a bright smile and gentle tone: "Second sister-in-law, Xiu Hong is seventeen this year. It's time for him to get engaged and marry. I hope he can give you a big, healthy grandson soon. Otherwise, by then, your two younger sisters, Xuan Yi and Xuan Ling, will be married, and Xiu Hong will still be single."
Seeing Zhang's smug look, Chen felt annoyed. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have come along. Now she had to listen to Zhang's boasting.
She had recently tried to find suitable girls for Xiu Hong, but the girls' mothers wouldn't budge. They were probably influenced by that scoundrel Gu Xiuming, who took a concubine before marrying a wife and even let the concubine live in the main house, showing her all kinds of affection. It was a clear sign of spoiling the concubine and neglecting the wife.
As the elder brother, Xiu Hong's reputation was also affected. Families with daughters might fear that Xiu Hong was also that kind of person. This was truly an undeserved disaster. They could only wait until things calmed down before arranging a marriage for Xiu Hong.
Seeing that she didn't reply, Zhang finally turned the tables and said, "Don't blame your sister-in-law for being nosy. I just think that Xiu Hong is not young anymore and his marriage should be on the agenda. As the saying goes, once you start a family, you will have responsibilities and you will study much more diligently."
Madam Chen said calmly, "There's no need for you to worry about that, sister-in-law. Xiu Hong has always been diligent in his studies, and my second master and I have never had to worry about him. There's no rush for his marriage; we can wait until he passes the imperial examinations. As for Xuan Ling, she's a young lady, so we should be more concerned. We can arrange Xiu Hong's marriage after she gets married."
Zhang's expression froze, and her smile faded: "That's true. A girl's marriage can't wait. It's hard to find a husband when she's older, unlike men, who can marry a sixteen-year-old girl even when they're sixty."
Seeing that they were about to start fighting again, and since it was almost noon, Meng Jinyao wanted to go back for lunch and didn't want to watch the show anymore. She said gently, "Sister-in-law, Xiuyuan's wife needs to rest, so we'll go back first."
Upon hearing this, Zhang glanced at her daughter-in-law, who was still unconscious, and nodded, saying, "Hey, you two go back first. I'll stay and check on her. Xiuyuan's wife is pregnant for the first time, and I have some things to tell her when she wakes up."
Meng Jinyao nodded gently: "Sister-in-law, then my second sister-in-law and I will be leaving now."
Zhang nodded with a smile.
Once outside the courtyard, Madam Chen invited, "Third sister-in-law, it's almost noon. Why don't you come to my place for lunch? Xuanling said last night that she would cook some of her signature dishes for me. You should try them."
"Xuanling can cook?"
Meng Jinyao was quite surprised. Even as an unfavored girl, she didn't need to cook herself, so she didn't know how to cook or make desserts.
Mrs. Chen nodded with a smile: "Yes, I can. I can also make some snacks."
Seeing the doubt in Meng Jinyao's eyes, Madam Chen explained, "This child sometimes goes to the kitchen to experiment. I noticed she was interested in these things, so I simply added a small kitchen for her in her yard and had a cook teach her, so she wouldn't have to figure out some strange dishes by herself. Knowing these things will also benefit her in the future. They say that if you want to win a man's heart, you have to win his stomach. Occasionally cooking for your husband will also enhance your relationship."
What she said made sense, and Meng Jinyao agreed in her heart, saying, "Second sister-in-law has taught her daughter well. Xuanling is capable in both the living room and the kitchen."
Hearing this, Madam Chen felt comforted and humbly said, "Third sister-in-law, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise. In fact, I didn't teach her much. She has been very sensible since she was a child and never caused trouble."
The two sisters-in-law chatted and laughed, and soon arrived at Chen's courtyard.
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