Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 12008

This message contained information about Da'an's progress in Changhuaizhou. News was sent back daily. Luo Fengtang had been playing chess with Tuantuan in the study when the carrier pigeon arrived. He immediately got up to look for Yang Ruoqing. He didn't even have time to read the contents of the note, wanting to let Qing'er read it as soon as possible.

"Let me see." Yang Ruoqing took the note, looked around, and then went to the corridor next to her. She read the contents of the note by the light of the lantern overhead.

It's still just a few sentences, no more than fifty words, but today's content is much richer.

"Qing'er, what did the note say?" Luo Fengtang asked.

Yang Ruoqing said, "Da'an went to Ruan Xiaowei's place yesterday, bringing a doctor and two women who looked like midwives."

“Your guards are quite clever. By asking the doctor and the midwife, they found out that after taking Ruan Xiaowei’s pulse, the doctor must have prescribed medicine to prevent miscarriage. This explains why the midwife was brought along,” Yang Ruoqing continued to analyze.

Ruan Xiaowei is very far along in her pregnancy, only two or three months along, so it's unlikely she would give birth if she brought a midwife with her.

However, if the baby is to be expelled after taking medication to induce miscarriage, someone with extensive experience in this area must be present...

"It seems that Da'an has kept his word and is indeed handling this matter," Luo Fengtang said.

Yang Ruoqing nodded. Although she knew that Ruan Xiaowei was going to miscarry and that Da'an would return to his family, she still felt a little guilty and ashamed when she thought that it was a life after all, and that the baby would be as cute as Feng'er or Fuwa and call her aunt. Although she was not the direct executioner, she was an accomplice.

If this happened in another wealthy family, it would simply be a matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks. They were just illegitimate children; which wealthy family didn't have that?

Unfortunately, this is the Yang family, and Xiao Hua's status as the legal wife is different from that of other families' legal wives. Yang Huazhong and Sun Shi were able to painfully give up the unborn grandson or granddaughter that Ruan Xiaowei was carrying.

As a collateral aunt, Yang Ruoqing had no other choice.

"I'll go to the Taoist temple later to light an everlasting lamp for that child who died young, and ask Master Yuan to perform a ritual for his soul!" Yang Ruoqing sighed softly.

Luo Fengtang nodded: "I'll go with you then."

Yang Ruoqing thought for a moment, "Let's go to the Taoist temple after the New Year and after the 'New Year's Eve' celebration."

"Shang Nian Tou" refers to the period after the seventh day of the first lunar month. After that, Taoist temples become less busy. The period before the end of the year and before Shang Nian Tou is the peak season for Taoist temples and temples of all sizes in various places.

Because they were busy, Yang Huaming and Yang Yongzhi took leave to attend the wedding preparations for the second wife's daughter's wedding and her homecoming two days ago.

On the day of their wedding, they both took the whole day off, while on the day of their return visit, they each took half a day off. After the midday banquet, they hurried back to the Taoist temple to get busy.

These past two days, I've been going to the Taoist temple to work before dawn and not returning until it's completely dark.

“Okay, whenever you say when to go, we’ll go.” Luo Fengtang was very easy to talk to.

“Okay, keep an eye on Changhuaizhou and report progress every day,” Yang Ruoqing said.

"it is good."

"I wonder if Da'an will be able to come back for the New Year?" she asked again.

Luo Fengtang shook his head, "I don't know. If things can be resolved in the next two or three days, I can still make it back for New Year's Eve dinner before the new year."

When Da'an returned from Changhuaizhou, he was a man without his wife and children. He sat in the carriage, sleeping when he was tired and eating when he was hungry. He could return to the village steadily in a day and a night, depending on how well he handled the matters at hand.

Because Ruan Xiaowei must have had a medical abortion, and medical abortion is different from surgery in later generations. Medical abortion is very slow and intermittent.

Based on Yang Ruoqing's understanding of Da'an, he is not a ruthless person. For Ruan Xiaowei's safety, he might continue to stay in Changhuaizhou until Ruan Xiaowei's life is safe.

Second room.

Since both of his daughters were married, when they ate dinner at night, Yang Yongjin, Cao Bamei, Xiao Sanzi, and Yongxiao each occupied one side of a square table.

The four of them felt really lonely and empty. The table wasn't even full. Especially when they thought about how Yongxiao would be going to the Wang family after the New Year, leaving only the three of them at home, Cao Bamei's motivation to cook was greatly diminished.

Yang Yongjin patted her back to comfort her: "Our daughter will eventually grow up and get married. In a couple of years, we'll have a few grandchildren, and by then, our little Sanzi will be all grown up, married, and have kids. Our family will be so lively and fun!"

Cao Bamei forced a smile: "Yes, it will be lively then. I'm a little unaccustomed to it right now because my daughters are getting married, but I'll get used to it."

Yang Yongjin then used Yang Huazhong's family as an example: "Look at Uncle and Aunt, they had two sons and three daughters a few years ago, how lively their family was!"

"Later, some got married and others got married. Although they had two sons, Da'an and Xiao'an never stayed at home all year round."

"At most, Qing'er is the only daughter who runs around with us. Uncle and Aunt are usually quite lonely, but they're used to it. Once you get used to it, it's fine. Look, it's the New Year, and the house is full of children and grandchildren. Isn't it lively again?"

After some comforting, the couple felt a bit better. Cao Bamei looked out towards the village and couldn't help but mutter to Yang Yongjin, "Sixi's mother isn't smart. The new bride has only just entered the house, and that old hag is already eager to give her a hard time."

"I wonder if that old hag caused any more trouble for Er Yatou after she went back that night!"

Yang Yongjin was also very troubled by this matter, but now that they were in-laws, it was not appropriate for him to just rush over and shout for a fight.

"When you go to the pond at the village entrance to wash clothes tomorrow, if you meet the girl, just call her home and ask her."

"Yes, I definitely will ask."

"Don't worry too much. Trust our second daughter. She's not weak or indecisive."

At this moment, in the old house of Sixi family.

Earlier, Xiu Hong and Sixi returned to the courtyard together and found it very quiet. Several children were playing at the gate, and the lamp was lit in Sixi's mother's room.

The other men in the family were all in the main room, seemingly discussing making tofu and boiling maltose for tomorrow.

There was a burlap sack at their feet, filled with wheat grains and soybeans. Da Xi and San Xi would occasionally take out a scale and weigh the grains, while Er Xi would take notes, and Si Xi's father would make plans...

Smoke was rising from the kitchen, where Da Xi's wife and San happy were busy at work.

Seeing how busy and well-organized everyone in the house was, Xiu Hong and Sixi said to Xiu Hong, "Hong, why don't you go back to your room and rest? I'll go to the main room and see if there's anything I can help with."

Xiu Hong said, "Everyone is busy, and I can't just sit idly by. I'll go to the kitchen and lend a hand to my sisters-in-law."

Si Xi nodded: "Don't tire yourself out. You're the new bride, just pretend." "I know, keep your voice down, or people will talk about us again." Although Xiu Hong scolded Si Xi softly, the sweetness in her eyes and brows was overflowing.

The young couple temporarily parted ways and went into separate rooms.

Inside the kitchen, smoke filled the air. Sanxi's wife was tending the fire in the stove, while Daxi's wife was cooking on the other side of the stove.

When she saw Xiu Hong enter the kitchen, Sanxi's wife looked up, her face showing surprise, followed by delight.

"Fourth sister-in-law, are you here to help us cook?" Sanxi's wife asked.

Xiu Hong smiled and nodded, "Yes, Third Sister-in-law, please assign me some chores."

Just as Sanxi's wife was about to speak, Daxi's wife spoke up: "Fourth sister-in-law, this is how you should act. As daughters-in-law, we should find things to do ourselves. That's how we women should be."

Xiu Hong turned her head and glanced at Da Xi's wife with a strange look in her eyes. She wanted to retort with a few words, but seeing how busy Da Xi's wife was, as if she wished she had three heads and six arms, Xiu Hong swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

"Fourth sister-in-law, come over here and peel some garlic." Sanxi's wife pulled up a small stool and beckoned Xiuhong over.

Xiu Hong nodded, then sat down on the small stool by the stove and began peeling garlic.

Over at the stove, Da Xi's wife continued cooking, talking as she went.

"Fourth sister-in-law, you've come at the perfect time. I was just talking to your third sister-in-law about it," Da Xi's wife said, glancing at Xiu Hong as she spoke.

Xiu Hong looked up and glanced at the other person.

“I’m telling you, that’s just how our mother is. You haven’t been married long enough to understand her yet,” said Da Xi’s wife.

Xiu Hong pursed her lips, remaining silent and letting the other person continue speaking.

"As time goes on, you'll find that our mother is actually kind-hearted despite her sharp tongue; she wholeheartedly wants things to be good for our family!"

Xiu Hong remained silent.

Da Xi's wife continued, "Our mother has a quick temper and speaks her mind, but she has a really good heart. Fourth sister-in-law, don't take it to heart."

“I didn’t mind, sister-in-law, you’re overthinking it,” Xiu Hong said.

Da Xi's wife nodded repeatedly: "That's good. We daughters-in-law are all the same. There are no elders who are wrong in the world. Even if the mother-in-law is really wrong, we, as the younger generation, should not argue with her. We should give our husbands face, not just for ourselves."

“Even if we don’t do it for the man, we have to do it for our own son. Our son is watching. When he gets married and we become mothers-in-law, what if our daughters-in-law follow suit and argue with us like that, getting all red in the face? Wouldn’t that be shooting ourselves in the foot? Don’t you agree with me?”

Xiu Hong looked up at Da Xi's wife with a strange expression: "Sister-in-law, are you telling me about your experiences? Or are you lecturing me on how to be a person?"

Da Xi's wife was taken aback for a moment, "I'm the eldest sister-in-law, of course I'll tell you about my experiences, so we can learn together how to be a person and a daughter-in-law."

Xiu Hong shook her head: "Sister-in-law, I have my own way of doing things, and I don't need you to teach me. As for your experience as a daughter-in-law, it's useful to you but not to me, so you should keep it."

Sanxi's wife, who was standing nearby, suppressed a laugh, lowered her head, and stared at the fire in the stove, pretending not to hear.

Da Xi's wife's smile was a little awkward. She put the pot lid on and continued to say to Xiu Hong, "Fourth sister-in-law, I know you are young and vigorous. You and Sixi have just gotten married and are very much in love."

“Right now, if you have a conflict with your mother-in-law, Sixi will stand by your side, support you, and give you confidence.”

"But as time goes on, a man's initial excitement will fade. When he stops supporting you, and you've offended your mother-in-law, life will be tough!"

"Sister-in-law, how do you know that Sixi and I won't always be all lovey-dovey?" Xiuhong didn't respond to Daxi's wife's suggestion, but instead asked her.

Da Xi's wife was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "How could that be? Men are all greedy and tired of the old. Back when your older brother and I got married, we were even more inseparable than you two!"

"And your second brother and sister-in-law, your third brother and sister-in-law, who didn't start out being lovey-dovey? Look at them now..."

"What's wrong now?" Xiu Hong asked when she saw that she had stopped talking. "Now, does my elder brother not care about you anymore? Does he despise you?"

Before Da Xi's wife could speak, San happy's wife burst out laughing.

After laughing twice, she realized it was inappropriate and quickly covered her mouth: "It's okay, it's okay, I was just thinking about something else. You guys chat, I'll start the fire."

Da Xi's wife's gaze shifted from San happy's wife back to Xiu Hong, and the smile on her face had long since vanished.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Your older brother doesn't dislike me, and he wouldn't dare. If he did, Mom would beat him to death!"

"What? Sister-in-law, your confidence comes from Mother? Not from the bond between you and your brother?" Xiu Hong asked again.

"Of course we have a bond. We're cousins, we grew up together, and we used to play together during holidays when we were kids."

“Childhood is childhood, and adulthood is adulthood. The two kinds of feelings are different. When your sister-in-law married your brother, was it because of your own feelings or the wishes of both sets of elders?”

"Marriage is a major life event, so I have to listen to my elders. I'm a woman who knows the rules..."

Wait a minute, Da Xi's wife suddenly realized something.

Wasn't I originally lecturing my fourth brother's wife? How did it turn into my fourth brother's wife asking questions and me answering them?
Moreover, why do I feel guilty as I answer these questions?

"Fourth sister-in-law, don't bother asking about my affairs with your eldest brother, and don't worry about it. You should worry about yourself instead," said Da Xi's wife.

"You and your fourth brother are newlyweds, all lovey-dovey. He does everything for you and listens to you. But you can't take this for granted and think it will last forever. You're wrong. A man's sweetness will fade. What will you do then?"

Xiu Hong's smile vanished, and she looked at Da Xi's wife: "Sister-in-law, people are different. You wouldn't understand the relationship between Si Xi and me."

“Furthermore,” Xiu Hong stood up and placed the peeled garlic on the stove, “my confidence as Yang Xiu Hong has never come from men, but from myself.”

Sanxi's wife stared blankly at Xiuhong's profile, feeling that her fourth sister-in-law was really domineering when she said those words!

She possessed an indescribable charm that even she, a woman, couldn't help but be captivated by.

Just then, Sixi entered the kitchen from outside.