Chapter 205 Concealment
After seeing Li Sanniang off, Guo Wuniang did not immediately return to her own courtyard. Instead, she stood under the eaves for a while, gazing at the flowers and plants there in a daze.
"Greetings, Second Aunt. I hope you are well."
"I hope my second aunt is well."
"I hope my second aunt is well."
Three greetings in different tones brought Guo Wuniang back to her senses. When she looked up, she saw that it was the two sons of the eldest branch of the Jiang family and the eldest son of the third branch of the Jiang family who had returned together.
Although Guo Wuniang looked down on the Jiang family's third branch for being born out of wedlock, she didn't show it to the children.
Guo Wuniang greeted her three nephews and nieces, then asked Jiang Dalang with a smile, "Why are you back at this hour?"
"Second Aunt, it's because tomorrow is the Emperor's birthday. The teacher assigned homework, so we were given a day off. We don't need to go to the academy this afternoon."
Guo Wuniang nodded, watched the three people bow and then leave.
Watching the three young men leave, Guo Wuniang raised her hand and touched her lower abdomen. The old woman beside her felt sorry for Guo Wuniang, but still said, "Madam, we should go back. It's almost lunchtime."
"Oh, look at me, I should have asked Dr. Li to stay for lunch before he left."
...
The main courtyard of the Jiang family residence.
After hearing the servant's report, Jiang Erlang's mother, Granny Jiang, washed her hands and sat down.
Adhering to the rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping, the meal was eaten quietly.
After the servants served tea, Granny Jiang waved for the maids serving in the room to leave. Then she said to the old man, the father of Jiang Erlang, who had just finished his meal and was still eating roasted broad beans, "Alright, stop eating."
Old Man Jiang listened to the advice, pursed his lips, stopped eating broad beans, wiped his fingers with a handkerchief, and looked at Old Woman Jiang with a face that said, "Say what you have to say quickly."
"It seems that Fifth Sister has consulted a doctor outside, and perhaps she already knows that Second Brother is infertile."
Upon hearing this, Grandpa Jiang changed his carefree demeanor and sat up straight: "I told you from the beginning not to find a daughter-in-law from such a high-ranking family, but you wouldn't listen!"
It's already quite an achievement that they managed to keep it a secret for so many years.
What if Wu Niang and her family find out that we concealed the truth first?
"My eldest son has served long enough. What will he do if his uncle, Guo Wuniang, who works in the Ministry of Personnel, makes a move?"
When Granny Jiang heard Granny Jiang's complaints, she felt a little regretful. She had only thought about how Guo Wu Niang's family was well-off, with many members serving as officials in the court and being very wealthy, with a large dowry.
That's when he started thinking about asking her to marry him.
Although they knew that Jiang Erlang's semen was abnormal, they still didn't say it outright. The entire Jiang family, except for Granny Jiang, Grandpa Jiang, and an old servant woman from back then, were kept in the dark from the other members of the Jiang family, including Jiang Erlang himself.
"Hmph, if the eldest son's wife had been more sensible earlier and had agreed to let their fourth son be adopted, this mess wouldn't have happened."
Jiang Aweng guiltily looked away. Back when Madam Jiang was making a big fuss, it was Jiang Aweng who found it annoying and promised Madam Jiang that he would never give up the eldest son's family line, and only then did Madam Jiang stop.
...
The Jiang family's house, east courtyard, main room.
After receiving the greetings from Jiang Dalang, Jiang Erlang, and Jiang Sanlang (the eldest sons of the third branch of the Jiang family), Madam Jiang asked them to wash their hands and come to eat some snacks.
“Mother, on the way back just now, I saw Second Aunt looking at flowers under the eaves.”
Jiang Erlang is a chatterbox. He doesn't like to talk in front of outsiders, but he's very talkative with his family.
Madam Jiang now hates Guo Wu Niang the most in the entire Jiang family!
If it weren't for her trusted confidant finding out that Guo Wu Niang wanted to adopt the young man from her branch of the family, Madam Jiang would have remained completely in the dark.
At that moment, Madam Jiang was like an enraged female beast, full of fighting spirit.
Although Madam Jiang's family is not as powerful as Madam Guo's, no one can take away the son she gave birth to after ten months of pregnancy!
At that time, Madam Jiang took the marriage certificate and went straight to the main courtyard. As soon as she entered, she knelt down in front of Granny Jiang and Grandpa Jiang, saying, "If you want my son to be adopted out, you must make Jiang Dalang write a divorce agreement with me, otherwise I will never agree!"
It was because of Madam Jiang's outburst that Grandpa Jiang finally relented and agreed that he would never allow the eldest son's son to be adopted into the second son's family.
...
The Jiang family's house, west courtyard, second room.
Jiang Erlang sat listlessly in his chair, looking at the drawing left by Li Sanniang. Thinking about his own situation, he felt that he should be the culprit who couldn't have children.
Jiang Erlang vividly remembered the story Li Sanniang told him about having mumps when he was young. He got it on the way back to his hometown with his father and elder brother to pay respects to their ancestors. His cheeks were swollen and the pain was unbearable.
Due to inconvenience during the journey, it took three days to reach a larger town where a doctor could treat him.
Li San Niang also mentioned the size of his **bag**. Although he had never observed others, based on the size Li San Niang drew on the paper, it was clear that his own had a problem.
Therefore, it's probably not Guo Wuniang who's sick, but him!
...
After getting off the Jiang family's carriage, it was lunchtime, so Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang went to a soup noodle shop and ordered two bowls of soup noodles, specifically asking for extra pepper.
Qiu Xiang carefully placed the two pots of freshly dug flowers under the table to prevent them from being accidentally kicked or bumped.
While waiting for the soup dumplings to be served, Li San Niang overheard a burly man with a thick beard chatting with his friend at the next table.
"Hey, listen to me, just go sell on Suzaku Street, it'll definitely work."
The thin man opposite the burly man, with a large mole on his brow, still hesitated: "Brother Li, do you think that place will work?"
"Of course! The sage will definitely meet the people in this square on that day. Even if you don't see the sage, it will be good to see the ceremony of all nations paying homage."
There must be a lot of people going. As long as there are customers, you're bound to make money.
If you go to the yamen runners early to register and secure a good spot, you won't have to worry about not being able to sell it.
I think you might not even bring enough to sell.
The man with the mole lowered his head, frowned, and thought for a while before looking up at the big man and saying, "Okay, good brother, you help me find the constable to get the token, and I'll give you half of the money I make afterwards."
"No need. According to the rules of the underworld, I'll introduce you to someone. If it works out, I'll give you half a percent."
Li San Niang was curious: what was this man with the mole selling?
Li San Niang looked curiously toward the big man. The big man, with his keen senses, looked back and saw that it was a young woman, so he didn't pay any attention to her.
Li San Niang became even more curious, so she asked, "May I ask what you wish to sell, brother?"
Li San Niang's initiative to speak surprised the burly man and the thin man next door. After all, it was not something an ordinary young woman would dare to do to talk to a man on the street, especially a burly man with a fierce look.
Seeing that she had attracted their attention, Li San Niang smiled and said, "I'm sorry, please excuse my poor appearance."
I overheard your conversation by chance, and being very curious, I decided to ask you a question.
"It was my rashness. If the two gentlemen meant no harm, it is understandable. I was rude."
As she spoke, Li San Niang stood up and bowed to the two of them.
This made the two of them a little embarrassed.
The burly man scratched his head and grinned: "It's alright, it's alright. My name is Li Kui, and this is my little brother Wang Gui. Greetings, madam."
“My surname is Li, and I am the third child in my family. My two older brothers call me Third Mother.”
Then, while eating her soup dumplings, Li San Niang listened to the two people at the next table talking about what they were going to sell.
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