When Mu Yi'an woke up, it was already broad daylight. Thinking about yesterday's events, she felt weak all over, but also quite comfortable.
I did a few stretching exercises in bed, then got out of bed, changed my clothes, and opened the window to let the air circulate in the room.
"Second sister-in-law, get up! Go wash up and have breakfast."
"Okay, Shao Ming has gone to school. What about Shao Yun and Chu Yue?"
Mu Yi'an didn't see the two little ones; it was time for them to get up.
"My second brother is playing with the two children in the study. He said he was tired from reading and wanted to take a break."
Jiang Qi was surprised to find that her second brother had also changed, becoming willing to put down his books and get closer to the children.
"Okay, that's good. It's a good balance between work and rest, and it can also help strengthen your bond with your child. Jiang Qi, what do you like to do?"
Mu Yi'an looked at her quiet sister-in-law. She couldn't help her with housework and childcare all day long; that would be disgraceful.
"What do you like to do?"
Jiang Qi was momentarily stunned. What did she like to do? Before she got married, she was busy helping her parents take care of her younger sister and doing housework. After getting married, although the Fan family didn't require her to do anything, she was constantly in front of her mother-in-law, observing the rules, and didn't have much time for herself.
"Yes, things you like and want to do. Like learning to read, embroidery, cooking..."
Mu Yi'an thought for a long time. Women in ancient times were restricted too much and there were really not many things they could do.
"Second sister-in-law, I want to learn more characters and medical books. I really enjoy making some medicinal dishes."
When Jiang Qi was living in the Fan family, Fan Wenshan's mother liked to eat medicinal cuisine. There was an old woman in the family who knew how to make medicinal cuisine, which Jiang Qi found quite amazing.
"That's good too. I have a comprehensive herbal medicine book. You can take a look at it when you have time to learn about the medicinal effects and functions of various Chinese herbs. Later, I'll ask your second brother to help you find some related books so you can study them yourself."
Mu Yi'an thought it was good. Medicinal cuisine is still popular thousands of years later. Wealthy and powerful families would regularly supplement their diet with it.
"Okay, Second Sister-in-law, go wash up quickly, I'll go set the table for you."
Jiang Qi left with a light heart. She felt it was so good to be back at her parents' home, or rather, it was so good to live with her second brother and sister-in-law.
Jiang Shuyun was in the study taking care of her child. Chuyue, who was almost nine months old, was already crawling very fast, and could occasionally stand for a while while holding onto something. Shao Yun was brandishing a peach wood sword; the child had a lot of energy, and his little arms were swinging very powerfully.
The father and his two sons sat on the floor of the study, playing without any regard for appearances; their clothes were all wrinkled.
After dinner, Mu Yi'an brought the child out so that Jiang Shuyun could continue reading.
"Yi'an, are you alright? Is anything bothering you?"
"No, it's fine. You should read your book."
Mu Yi'an felt a little embarrassed. She didn't know why, even though it was still the same person, the atmosphere between them was different.
"I know, my wife, you've worked hard!"
Jiang Shuyun also noticed Mu Yi'an's shyness. It was wonderful that they had found a compatible partner in this unfamiliar dynasty.
Mu Yi'an placed Chu Yue in her crib and let her play by herself. Shao Yun continued to brandish his peach wood sword, glancing at his little sister in the crib every now and then.
Mu Yi'an and Jiang Qi pulled up the withered vegetable seedlings in the yard and prepared to replant them. They also planned to buy a few chicks, as the livestock shed in the backyard was large enough to raise them. After all, they didn't have any cows or horses at home right now, only two sheep.
"Second sister-in-law, are we going back to our parents' house for the New Year?"
“We have to go back. Now that you mention it, I suddenly realize that there’s not much time left until the New Year. I need to start thinking about New Year’s gifts.”
Mu Yi'an calculated that it was already the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, less than a month away from the New Year. This year, the family was splitting up, and New Year's gifts needed to be prepared for the old house, the eldest uncle's family, the great-grandfather's family, the third grandfather's family, the Mu family, the bookstore owner He, and the county school teacher.
If I count on my fingers, it's quite a lot; it's time to get started.
Mu Yi'an and Jiang Qi discussed the New Year's gifts for each family. Jiang Qi knew a little about it. Although she couldn't get involved in such matters in the Fan family, she had learned a bit from what she saw and heard.
While Mu Yi'an was busy preparing New Year's gifts, the Jiang family's old residence welcomed matchmakers; the Zhou family had officially come to the Jiang family to propose marriage.
This matter has already been discussed, and there were no major setbacks. We took their birth dates and times to compare them, and the result was excellent; they were a match made in heaven.
Mu Yi'an and her companions did not participate in the steps of betrothal, asking the name, and accepting the auspicious gift. By the time they found out, the betrothal ceremony had already been carried out, which is the so-called betrothal gift exchange.
The time was set, and Jiang Shuyun and Mu Yi'an, as the elder brother and sister-in-law, naturally had to attend.
Jiang Qi did not attend; her divorced status meant she had to avoid suspicion in many situations. It was perfect for her to stay home and take care of the children.
The day the Zhou family came to deliver the betrothal gifts happened to be a day when the school was closed, and the Jiang family had been busy preparing since yesterday.
Brother Jiang and Jiang Shuyun helped Jiang's father tidy up the yard and also bought some meat and vegetables to entertain the Zhou family who came to propose marriage.
This time, instead of preparing the feast herself, Jiang's mother hired chefs from the town to take charge.
Shuwen and his wife returned with Shao Kun; this was a major family event, and they couldn't be absent.
"Second sister-in-law, eldest sister-in-law is pregnant again! I never expected this!"
Li Qiuniang stayed at her parents' home for many days and missed many things.
"She's not very old, so it's normal for her to get pregnant."
Mu Yi'an knew that contraception was basically non-existent in this era, and if you got pregnant, you would give birth, but the survival rate of the children was not as high as in her previous life.
"That's right, I'm also planning to have another one. Shao Kun will be three years old after the New Year."
Mu Yi'an didn't say anything. She didn't plan to have any more children; three children were enough. However, she wasn't entirely confident, since contraception wasn't reliable at this time.
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