Chapter 471 Assertive Refusal
Ms. Dong gently stroked her flat stomach and asked incredulously, "Doctor, are you sure I'm really pregnant?"
The physician from the Ling family replied with certainty, "Madam, although I cannot claim to be a highly skilled doctor, I am certain that your diagnosis is correct. You are indeed more than a month pregnant."
Upon receiving the doctor's confident reply, Madam Dong couldn't help but smile, a surge of indescribable joy welling up within her. She had already resigned herself to the question of whether she could have her own child, but unexpectedly, heaven had taken pity on her and allowed her to have a child of her own.
After the physician from the Ling family discussed some precautions for early pregnancy with Madam Dong, Old Madam Meng rewarded the physician, as she was in high spirits about to have a grandson or granddaughter.
Looking at his wife's belly, Meng Dongyuan's mouth was almost stretched to his ears. He wasn't this happy when Sun was pregnant, let alone when Zhou was pregnant. He didn't like Zhou. Now that Dong was pregnant, even though it wasn't his first time being a father, he felt the joy of becoming a father for the first time.
Meng Dongyuan took the initiative to say to his mother, "Mother, Huiyun is pregnant now, and the doctor said that it is not advisable to overwork in the early stages of pregnancy. Perhaps we can skip the morning and evening greetings?"
Although Madam Meng disliked Dong, she knew that Dong was carrying her grandson, so she nodded and said, "No need, just come to pay your respects on the first and fifteenth of each month."
Madam Dong said softly, "Thank you for your understanding, Mother."
Seeing the undisguised weariness on his wife's face, Meng Dongyuan immediately felt sorry for her and said, "Mother, I think Huiyun should skip staying up tonight. She's pregnant and shouldn't stay up all night."
Upon hearing this, Madam Meng frowned almost imperceptibly. Even Madam Sun had never been able to get her son to treat her so considerately, but Madam Dong, who was past her prime, had managed to do so, which showed how skillful Madam Dong was.
Dong was very good at reading people's expressions and naturally knew that her mother-in-law did not like her husband's gentleness and consideration towards her. However, she was really tired, so she did not take the initiative to say that it was not necessary. She just waited for her mother-in-law to tell her to go back and rest. She did not believe that her mother-in-law would make her continue to stay up all night under such circumstances.
Old Madam Meng glanced at Madam Dong and noticed that she looked tired. For the sake of her unborn grandson, she didn't press the matter and said, "Huiyun, you don't look very energetic. Go back and rest first."
Madam Dong nodded gently: "Mother, then your daughter-in-law will go back to rest first."
She stood up, preparing to leave, when Meng Dongyuan's voice rang out: "Mother, I'll take Huiyun back home, and then I'll come back to keep you company for the New Year later."
Madam Meng was displeased, inwardly cursing her son for forgetting his mother after getting married, but on the surface she did not show the slightest displeasure, and said in a gentle tone: "Go ahead, it doesn't matter if you don't come back later, Chengxing and Chengzhang are there to keep me company."
Upon hearing this, Meng Dongyuan immediately said, "Thank you for your consideration, Mother. Then I won't come over later. I'll have Chengzhang and his brother accompany you."
Madam Meng: "..."
She hadn't expected her son to actually not come to celebrate the New Year with her. She wanted to say something more, but her son had already helped his wife away. Her face darkened slightly. She was just pregnant; why did she need to be so delicate? She needed help even to walk a few steps. When she was pregnant, she didn't know she was pregnant and could climb mountains without any problems.
Seeing the subtle expression on his grandmother's face, Meng Chengzhang knew that his grandmother was definitely dissatisfied with his stepmother. Over time, he figured it out. It was certain that his grandmother was dissatisfied with his stepmother, but if his father treated his stepmother well, his grandmother would be even more unhappy. However, if his father and stepmother had a small argument, his grandmother would immediately try to mediate if she was present.
The three of them—grandfather, grandfather, and grandson—were present, but neither Meng Chengzhang nor Meng Chengxing spoke, creating a somewhat cold atmosphere.
Meng Chengxing was the first to bring up the topic: "Second brother, you haven't spoken to me since you came back. Is it because you passed the exam for Lingshan Academy and became a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) that you look down on your younger brother?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Chengzhang suddenly turned to look at him: "Third brother is joking. I have always been a man of few words."
Madam Meng's gaze lingered between her two grandsons. She knew that Chengzhang and that brat Ayao were cut from the same cloth. At present, Chengzhang was more outstanding than Chengxing, but Chengzhang was a year older than Chengxing, had studied for an extra year, and was taught by famous teachers from Lingshan Academy. It would not be surprising if he passed the imperial examination. If Chengxing had gone to Lingshan Academy, he would not have failed the examination.
She said gently, "Chengzhang, Chengxing, there aren't many brothers and sisters in the family to begin with. You are brothers, so you should get along well and support each other in the future."
Meng Chengxing and Meng Chengzhang nodded in agreement.
Madam Meng continued, "Chengzhang, Chengxing is your younger brother. If you are successful, you should help your brother. When your brother grows up, you brothers can work together to bring the Meng family back to its former glory."
Meng Chengzhang casually replied, "Grandson understands."
Madam Meng was satisfied with his attitude, so she continued, "I heard that Lingshan Academy is preparing to recruit students again. Chengzhang, you have a good relationship with your eldest sister. Find some time to mention it to her and ask her to talk to your brother-in-law and pull some strings so that Chengxing can also enter Lingshan Academy. Lingshan Academy has many famous teachers, which will be helpful to Chengxing's studies. In addition, you brothers can keep each other company."
Upon hearing this, Meng Chengxing subconsciously looked at Meng Chengzhang, a hint of anticipation in his heart.
However, Meng Chengzhang refused without hesitation: "Grandmother, my brother-in-law is fair and upright, how could he do such a thing? If my third brother wants to study at Lingshan Academy, he still has time. He can study hard and try to pass the exam. If you really want my third brother to take a shortcut without working hard, you can talk to my brother-in-law yourself."
Madam Meng's face immediately darkened, and she said in an unhappy tone, "Chengzhang, no matter how fair your brother-in-law is, he still helped you get into Lingshan Academy through connections. You benefited from it, so you can't stand to see your brother doing well?"
Meng Chengzhang was slightly taken aback, then said, "Grandmother, I was admitted to Lingshan Academy through my own ability and by passing the examination. I did not ask my elder sister to speak to my husband or ask him to help me."
Madam Meng scoffed: "When you entered Lingshan Academy, you were only thirteen. What ability did you rely on to get in?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Chengzhang also got angry and immediately retorted: "That time, the students recruited were all between ten and fifteen years old. According to my grandmother, all of them got in through connections. After all, they were too young to pass the test."
Madam Meng was speechless for a moment. That wasn't what she meant. She just felt that if Chengxing, who had been carefully nurtured by the family since childhood, couldn't pass the test, how could Chengzhang possibly pass it on his own? This child lies without even thinking.
Meng Chengxing interjected at the opportune moment: "Grandmother, since Second Brother is unwilling, then let it be. I don't necessarily have to go to Lingshan Academy to study. Staying in the capital is fine too, so I can come home every day and see you often."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com