Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua, and Ren Yaoyin sat quietly in the warm room. Summer was approaching, and the air was warming. To ventilate the room, the heavy cotton curtains used in autumn and winter had been removed and replaced with light-colored gauze curtains. This made it easy to hear the mother and daughter's conversation over there.
Old Mrs. Ren didn't think of sending the brother and granddaughter away, so they just listened quietly to the faint conversation coming in from outside with peace of mind.
Ren Shijia asked, "Mom, do you really want to let that Kang come in?"
Old Madam Ren said unhappily, "Why do you care so much? Even if she stays, she'll just be a concubine. It won't matter to anyone!"
Ren Shijia glanced at her mother. She didn't believe that the old lady hadn't cared about these things when she was young. Didn't their family have a concubine?
Mrs. Ren, unaware of her daughter's inner complaints, simply said, "Instead of worrying about other people's business, why not think about your own affairs? How have you considered the candidates you and I have chosen?"
Ren Shijia knew that Old Lady Ren was asking about her choosing a concubine for Lin Kun, and her face fell. Since she was about to give birth, Old Lady Ren hadn't mentioned the matter that upset her. However, she still said sullenly, "I asked you to help me choose. Mother has always had good taste."
Old Lady Ren nodded. "The girl Jinlian beside me is not bad. She is decent-looking but not outstanding, and has a gentle temperament. Her parents are both honest people, and she has a younger brother who works as a clerk in the Tongzhou coal warehouse. In a few years, if you think she is still trustworthy, you can transfer her younger brother back from Tongzhou to Yunyang City as the second steward in your name. Her family's future depends on you. You are like her natal family, so she will naturally obey you. Then there is the older maid named Qingliu, who is fourteen years old this year. When her mother was young, she was a second-class maid in my courtyard, but she died early, and her father remarried. Because her stepmother is a powerful woman, she is closer to her brother and sister-in-law who raised her."
Ren Shijia listened quietly, repeating the same question over and over again: "Which one do you think is better, mother?"
Old Mrs. Ren sighed, "Both are good, but it still depends on whether this baby is a boy or a girl."
Ren Shijia touched her belly and looked up in confusion: "What does this have to do with my child?"
Old Madam Ren glared at her. "How can it not be related? Do you think I spent so much effort to choose a maid for you just to make you upset? I am doing this for you and the baby in your belly! If you give birth to a girl, then choose Jinlian. She is seventeen years old and can get pregnant as soon as she gets married. She can give birth to a boy for you and your brother-in-law as soon as possible, so that you can shut up other people. If you give birth to a boy, then choose Qingliu, who is older, and take care of her by your side for a few years. Don't let her get pregnant for the time being. Wait until your own child is older before letting her give birth. She will be a helper to your son in the future!"
So there are so many twists and turns when choosing a maid? Ren Shijia couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. She also understood the good intentions of Mrs. Ren. Only a biological mother would make such plans for her daughter.
Ren Yaoqi, who heard these words in the inner room, couldn't help but sigh.
Because of what Old Lady Ren and Old Man Ren did in her previous life, she assumed they were solely focused on self-interest, with no regard for their children or grandchildren. But today, after hearing Old Lady Ren's plans for Ren Shijia, she realized that Old Lady Ren might not be completely cold-blooded towards her children. As long as it didn't infringe on the Ren family's interests, she would still do her best to consider her children's well-being.
Outside, Old Lady Ren and Ren Shijia chatted for a few more words, and then seemed to suddenly remember that there were three granddaughters in the warm room, so they stopped talking and called Nanny Gui to come in and bring Ren Yaoqi and the others out.
When Ren Yaoqi and the other two came out, Ren Shijia looked a little embarrassed, but Old Madam Ren remained calm and told Aunt Gui to send them out.
As soon as her niece left, Ren Shijia complained, "Mom, the children are still here. Didn't they hear everything we said?"
Old Madam Ren said calmly, "What children? None of them. The third and fourth girls are about to marry into other families, so it's time for them to learn these things slowly."
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