A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

The conversation in the main room was in full swing, warm and cozy. Grandma Chen looked up at the sun rising higher and higher outside the window and urged, "Eldest son, eldest son's wife, it's getting late. You should head to the children's maternal grandparents' house."

Now that Xia He and the others are back, you can talk about it again when you get back tonight. Don't let it interfere with important business.

Mr. and Mrs. Chen nodded in agreement and were about to get up to prepare when they noticed a hint of embarrassment on Chen Xiahe's face.

"Grandma, Dad, Mom, Uncle, Aunt," she said softly, a little embarrassed, but with a satisfied blush on her face, "I'm afraid we won't be able to stay at home today."

"Why is that?" Grandma Chen asked with concern. "Is something wrong with your in-laws?"

Chen Xiahe shook her head, her hand unconsciously stroking her still flat belly, her voice even softer: "No, Grandma, it's me. I'm pregnant, not even three months yet. The pregnancy isn't very stable. My mother-in-law and Haobo are very nervous. They originally said they wouldn't come back this year, but I thought that since my sister is back, I have to come back no matter what."

That's why my mother-in-law specifically asked Haobo to borrow a sturdy ox from a family she knew in the neighboring village, so that Haobo could drive me back slowly, just in case I got tired and fell.

As she spoke, she glanced apologetically at her parents and grandmother, "My mother-in-law's point is that with my health, it's not as convenient for me to stay overnight at my parents' house as it is at home, and the old customs aren't quite right either. So, we have to head back this afternoon."

"Oh my, this is wonderful news! You've been married for over a year and haven't gotten pregnant yet. I was even saying I was going to go to the temple to burn incense after the New Year." Grandma Chen's face immediately lit up with a smile, and she said repeatedly:

"It's a good thing you're pregnant, so we should be more careful. Your in-laws are very thoughtful. The oxcart ride is safe. If you don't want to stay overnight, then don't. After lunch, you can go back with Haobo. Don't linger outside. It's not even three months yet, so you're not fully settled."

Mr. and Mrs. Chen quickly offered their congratulations, and Mr. and Mrs. Chen's second uncle and aunt finally showed genuine smiles when they learned that their daughter was pregnant.

Grandma Chen then looked at Sun Haobo and asked, "Haobo, you've come back with Xiahe in this freezing weather. How's everything at home lately? Is everything alright?"

When asked about himself, Sun Haobo quickly replied respectfully, "Grandma, don't worry, it's not hard work, it's what I should do. Everything's been going well at home lately, and our business is doing well too. We're basically never idle."

Their village has little land and not much farmland. The farmland of several villages in their area was acquired by a scholar who was now the county magistrate of Ruyang County.

The land rent was high, and after a year of hard work, there wasn't much left for living expenses after paying the rent. Their village, Sunjia'ao, was small with few households. Later, the elders in the clan discussed it and realized that they couldn't rely solely on renting that little bit of land and had to find another way to make a living.

It just so happens that the soil there is hard, and there were masters in the older generation who knew how to read water veins and dig deep wells, so the skills were passed down.

Now, most of the men in the village spend their off-season digging wells for others, which is better than clinging to their few acres of meager land. His marriage to Xia He was arranged a few years ago when he went to Xiahe Village to dig a well. Grandma Chen thought he was reliable and hardworking, and after inquiring around for a while, they finally...

Grandma Chen nodded and sighed, "It's good that there's business. Although it might be a bit hard, as long as we can earn money, that's all that matters. It's always good to have a skill to rely on and live an honest life. That's better than anything else. You're a good child. We're very relieved to have Xiahe in your care."

Sun Haobo blushed slightly at the praise, unsure what to say, only managing a sheepish smile. Chen Xiahe nestled close to her husband, her face radiant with happiness and anticipation for the future.

Hearing that her daughter would be returning home that afternoon because of her pregnancy and could not stay long, Aunt Chen felt both heartache and joy, and held her daughter's hand, reluctant to let go.

Chen Xiahe grasped her mother's hand in return, then looked up at Grandma Chen at the head of the table and said in a gentle voice, "Grandma, Dad, Mom, I only have time today, I have to head back after noon."

I thought I should use this precious time instead of going to Grandma's. I want to stay home and spend more time talking with Grandma. I'll visit Grandma's with Haobo next time I'm feeling better.

What she said was reasonable and touching, especially the phrase "spend more time with Grandma," which made Grandma Chen beam with joy and feel extremely pleased.

Uncle Chen was already hesitant to go to the Liu family's house, but seeing that his daughter was considerate of her grandmother and took the initiative to say that she wouldn't go, he naturally went along with it: "Yes, yes, Xiahe is right. It's rare for our daughter to come back, and she won't be staying for long, so let's not go on a trip. Let's not go anywhere today and stay home with her."

He felt much more relaxed when he didn't go to the Liu family's house.

When Aunt Chen heard that her daughter was pregnant and had traveled back in this weather, she felt both heartache and joy. She held her daughter's hand tightly, reluctant to let go, and carefully examined her complexion.

She was about to persuade her daughter that the weather was bad, and that her daughter had been married for over a year and was finally pregnant, so she shouldn't go out unnecessarily and that they shouldn't go to her maternal grandparents' house today.

The next second, she heard her daughter say that she had decided not to go to her maternal grandmother's house today, because she wanted to get closer to Grandma Chen and Chen Wanxing. She felt a little uncomfortable, and in the end, she even doubted whether she wanted her daughter to go to her parents' house with her today.

However, no one else knew what she was thinking. Chen's mother had also come to a realization. She looked at her niece Xia He, who had rushed back and was leaving in the afternoon. Her eagerness to take her to her family to meet her relatives during her daughter's first New Year back home was suppressed.

She exchanged a glance with Chen's father and said, "Honey, I think we shouldn't go to the children's maternal grandparents' house today. Xiahe and the others have to leave after noon. It's not easy for Wanxing and Xiahe to see each other, so let them talk for a while. We can go to my parents' house tomorrow, it's the same. Let's have lunch together as a whole family today, consider it another family reunion meal."

Mr. Chen naturally had no objection, nodding in agreement and saying with a smile, "That's fine too."

Since we're not going to Grandma's house today, Chen Yancheng had another idea. "Dad, Mom, my in-laws only have one daughter, Hui Niang. Every year during the New Year, it's very quiet there. Since we're not going to Grandma's house today, I'll take the kids to Hui Niang's house in town to pay our respects for the New Year. We can come back for dinner tonight."

Hearing her husband's thoughtfulness towards her, even considering her parents' well-being, Hui Niang was naturally very happy. She looked at Grandma Chen and her mother expectantly, hoping that her elders, especially her mother, would agree.

"Go on, go on," Chen's mother waved her hand, signaling them to hurry up.

Hui Niang happily agreed, went back to her room to tidy up, and then, with the child and New Year's gifts in hand, the couple went to Hui Niang's house in Ping'an Town.