"Dumplings? What kind of filling did your sister-in-law make? Now that you mention it, I suddenly want to eat dumplings."
Sister-in-law Jiang gently stroked her belly, as if there were a golden nugget inside.
"My sister-in-law might be carrying a prodigy this time. She's already showing signs of wanting sweets after just one month. She's sure to achieve great things in the future!"
Mu Yi'an really couldn't be bothered with this person; he was too pretentious. After more than a month, it was still just a fertilized egg the size of a fingernail, yet he kept touching it—it was truly laughable.
Jiang's mother wanted to ignore her eldest daughter-in-law, but then she thought that her daughter-in-law had just had a miscarriage and she couldn't let anything really happen to her, since that was the bloodline of the Jiang family.
"The dumplings are in the kitchen. If you really want to eat them, go and eat them yourself."
"I understand, Mother."
Jiang's sister-in-law wanted to ask her second brother's wife or her eldest sister-in-law to bring it over, but she swallowed her words. Her second brother's wife was quite sharp-tongued these days, and she wouldn't get the better of her. As for her eldest sister-in-law, with her mother-in-law protecting her, she wouldn't dare to go too far.
"Second daughter-in-law, don't worry about it. I know you are filial, and you don't forget your father and me when you cook something delicious. But your sister-in-law fainted before, and the doctor said that she was fatigued and it affected her pregnancy. Please bear with her."
“Mother, you said it yourself, these things are our filial offerings to you and Father, and you can decide how to distribute them. As for my sister-in-law, as long as she doesn’t provoke me, I won’t provoke her either.”
Mu Yi'an didn't want to indulge Jiang's sister-in-law. She was only newly pregnant and still had seven or eight months until delivery. She wouldn't let her catch demons and disturb her life.
"Sister-in-law, I'm back."
No sooner had Mu Yi'an finished speaking than a sound came from the courtyard gate.
"Auntie is back!"
Jiang Qi was the first to react and tugged at her mother.
"Minru is back. Come in and rest for a while."
Jiang's mother got up and greeted Jiang's aunt as she entered.
"aunt!"
Jiang Lan, who had been hiding in the house, heard the commotion in the yard and ran out, excitedly calling out to her aunt.
"Lanlan, you look even more beautiful!"
Aunt Jiang smiled as she looked at her graceful niece, satisfied both in her heart and on her face.
"Aunt, you're making fun of others again. I won't stand for it."
Jiang Lanlan looked shy, perfectly displaying the mindset of a young girl.
Mu Yi'an felt goosebumps rise on her skin; she would never say such a thing, even if you killed her.
If she weren't holding Chuyue in her arms, she would have reached out and touched her arm.
"Aunt, you've come!"
Jiang's sister-in-law, who had been eating alone in the kitchen, also came out and was overjoyed to see her aunt.
"Niece-in-law, why do you look unwell?"
"Thank you for your concern, Aunt. I was a little tired a few days ago, and the doctor said it might have affected the pregnancy."
In front of Aunt Jiang, Sister-in-law Jiang was all obedient, and even her tone of voice was different.
"Congratulations, sister-in-law, your family is about to welcome another new member."
Aunt Jiang was happy; her family was thriving, and she felt proud.
"It's a happy occasion; with more children in the family, it'll be lively."
Seeing the joy on her sister-in-law's face, Jiang's mother guessed what was going on.
"Ta-da..."
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the school term, and Mu Yi'an had an excuse to leave.
"Mother, it's getting late, and Shaoming has finished school. I'll head back now; Shuyun must be hungry at home."
Mu Yi'an had no intention of getting involved in her sister-in-law's marriage, nor did she intend to benefit from her sister-in-law's marriage.
"Alright, let's go back quickly. Shuyun works hard studying. If she finishes her meal early, she can rest for a while."
Jiang's mother knew that her second daughter-in-law didn't like to join in the fun and wasn't familiar with her aunt, so she didn't keep her any longer.
"Mother, then I'll go back with my second sister-in-law."
Jiang Qi didn't want to stay and be disliked, so her aunt hadn't given her a single glance since she came in.
Mu Yi'an and Jiang Qi bowed to their elders and left together.
"Sister-in-law, has the family really split up? Jiang Qi's household registration is now under Shu Yun's name?"
"Yes, the family has separated. Jiang Qi and Shu Yun are living together."
Jiang's mother didn't want to say much more; she'd tried everything, but her youngest daughter wouldn't listen to a word. Since her daughter was determined to marry into a wealthier family, as parents, all they could do was wish her well.
"I only overheard it at the shop, so I don't know the specifics. But since things have come to this, it's time to put Lanlan's matter on the agenda. The Zhou family has come to me again to let me know, showing their sincerity."
"Really, Aunt?"
Jiang's sister-in-law exclaimed in surprise, and Jiang Lan suddenly raised her head, her eyes shining.
They all thought that after so many days without news, there was no hope left. Little did they expect that the Zhou family would still care.
“Sister-in-law, I’ve lived in the county town for so many years and I know the Zhou family’s situation very well. They’re not short of money, they just want to produce a son who can study. Our Jiang family, on the other hand, is a family that combines farming and scholarship. Lanlan is also beautiful, so it’s a perfect match.”
Aunt Jiang's husband's family seemed to be well-off, but compared to the Zhou family, they were still quite a bit worse off.
"We'll have to wait until your older brother comes back to discuss this. I can't make the decision myself."
Looking at her little girl's beaming face, Jiang's mother felt a tightness in her chest.
"Of course. When your older brother comes back, you can discuss it. Lanlan is getting old. If you can settle things this year, you can get married in a couple of years."
The Zhou family said they know our family is a scholarly family, so the dowry and such can be prepared as they see fit, and they won't shortchange Lanlan on the betrothal gifts.
Aunt Jiang was also envious. Her daughter Meimei's father and brothers hadn't passed the imperial examinations to become scholars; otherwise, given her family's circumstances, they would have had better options than the Zhou family. Now, the Zhou family had their eye on Lanlan, while her Meimei was still undecided.
"Minru, you've worked so hard. You're so busy, and you still have to worry about Lanlan. Your brother and I didn't want her to marry into such a high social class. We were thinking of finding someone nearby who would be a good match for her, so that if anything happens, the family can make decisions for her."
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