Volume 1 Chapter 112 The Cousin Came (2)

  Actually, Ping's wife had this idea, and the maidservants around her knew a lot about it, but she hadn't formally mentioned it to Master Xie yet. In other words, there was no official recognition from the Xie family, just an unofficial oral intention of friendly exchange between sisters-in-law, which did not have legal effect.

  Now that the daughter-in-law is pregnant, it's clear to anyone with eyes that the son loves and dotes on her dearly. The son has never been particularly fond of Wan'er's spoiled and overbearing nature, and now he's even less likely to marry her!

  Mrs. Xie didn't know much about her son in other aspects, but she was quite understanding on this point.

  But the person came, and again with a "congratulatory" flag, she couldn't not entertain them. So, as usual, she smiled and invited her sister-in-law and niece in, speaking warmly and intimately as always.

  Xu Wantong saw Xie's wife becoming more and more affectionate, holding her arm and calling "Auntie, Auntie" nonstop, the smile on her face never fading. She was originally a beautiful and charming young woman, and Xie's wife had always doted on her, so at this moment she couldn't help but feel a great deal of sympathy.

  Mrs. Xu and her daughter didn't mention their family affairs, but only smiled and asked about each other's well-being, discussing topics they were both interested in. After the atmosphere became relaxed and pleasant, they started talking about Yao Cun Jia's pregnancy and then about Yao Cun Jia herself.

  Although Jiang felt a sour heart, she still smiled and congratulated Mrs. Xie, her well-maintained pale face showing no signs of awkwardness or discomfort, only smiling and praising Mrs. Xie's good fortune, the daughter-in-law became pregnant as soon as she entered the door, it can be seen that the gods and ancestors of the Xie family are blessing!

  Mrs. Xie thanked her politely, and seeing that her sister-in-law was so understanding and reasonable, she couldn't help but feel even more uneasy in her heart. To think about it, Xu Wanting is one year older than Yao Cun Jia, but for the sake of a single sentence, she has been guarding an empty room until now. If the Xie family doesn't want her, wouldn't that be too unkind and a waste of someone's youth?

  Thinking of this, Mrs. Xie became even more uneasy.

  Jiang smiled and said, "Speaking of which, I should go visit Big Madam. The other day, I got some high-quality old ginseng, just right to bring it for Big Madam - I know your family doesn't lack such things, but it's just my little intention!"

  "Sister-in-law, you're really making me die of shame! Thank you for remembering!" Mrs. Xie hurriedly said with a smile, and then instructed Fang's mother: "Go take a look if Eldest Sister has woken up from her afternoon nap yet. If she has, please ask her to come over and say that some relatives have arrived, so she can meet them too!"

  Jiang said so, and Mrs. Xie had no choice but to call Yao Cun Jia over immediately. Besides, they would have met sooner or later!

  Mrs. Fang nodded and was about to leave when Xu Wanting smiled and said, "Auntie, I want to go with Mrs. Fang to see my sister-in-law and keep her company on the way back!"

  Mrs. Xie's face stiffened, and Jiang Shi hastily stopped Xu Wantong, staring at her: "No discipline! Not even sitting properly yet! How can you be so reckless? If the eldest lady is not convenient to see, you can't just go without making an appointment first!"

  Xu Wantong's lips moved slightly, and she sat down with a wronged expression.

  "Yes, Wan'er, you just wait here, don't go over there yet!" Mrs. Xie also said with a smile.

  Mother Fang finally went out.

  Yao Cun Jia had just woken up from his noon nap and was surprised to hear that Fang's mother had arrived. He hastily asked someone to invite her in, and with a smile, he asked what brought her here. Fang's mother smiled and explained the situation.

  Yao Cun Jia heard that Xie Furen's sister and niece had arrived, so she naturally should go see them. She smiled and ordered someone to bring a small stool and serve tea, asking Fang Mama to sit down and wait while she changed her clothes and combed her hair. Then she asked Fang Mama how old this cousin was, what she liked, and what gift she should prepare for their meeting.

  Mrs. Fang secretly sighed in her heart, thinking that they were coming to show off their power, and you still thought about the gift for meeting, so she smiled and said: "Madam doesn't have to bother, just prepare something that ordinary girls like, one set will do!"

  Yao Cun Jia thought for a moment, ordered someone to take out a white jade pendant with hollow lotus carved on it, wrapped in a small box lined with bright red velvet, and let Green Lotus carry it, accompanied by servants, following Mrs. Fang's mother to go together.

  "What's to be done now!" Xing'er and Ruofang gazed at the receding figures of Yao Cun'jia and his party, stamping their feet in anxiety. Yao Cun'jia was unaware of what had brought the mother and daughter from the Xu family, but how could Xing'er and Ruofang not know?

  "It's better to quickly call someone to inform Master at the weaving workshop! What if something happens, we can't afford to take responsibility!" Yu Fang hurriedly said.

  "Sister said so, I'll go and pass on the message!" Xing'er was startled and suddenly came back to her senses, hastily rushing towards the second door to find someone to pass on the message.

  As soon as Yao Cun Jia entered the main hall, he saw a middle-aged woman sitting on the guest seat to the right of Mrs. Xie, wearing a stone-green five-color embroidered satin jacket with a high collar and an ivory-colored dark flower crepe skirt with a hundred pleats, her hair styled in a peony chignon, adorned with a floral hairpin, and a pair of crimson gold earrings, her complexion fair and smooth, her features gentle, exuding an air of wealth and nobility.

  Another woman, about the same age as herself, was standing beside Mrs. Xie, whispering and laughing softly with her, gently patting her shoulders, showing a very intimate relationship.

  The woman's appearance was beautiful and elegant, with dark eyes that seemed to flow like water. She wore a light yellow jacket with a subtle pattern of four gentlemen, a white long skirt, and her hair was styled in a low bun adorned with small pearls. A jade pin held her hair in place, and a silver tassel hung from the end of it, with a large pearl at the bottom that swayed gently as she moved, shining brightly and full of life.

  Yao Cun Jia knew that this was a relative of Mrs. Xie's natal family, so he supported Green Leaf's hand and went forward with a smile, slightly bowing to Mrs. Xie and calling out "Mother!"

  "Get up, hurry up, you're heavy, don't be too polite!" Mrs. Xie smiled and raised her hand to introduce them one by one: "Let's meet the relatives first, this is my mother's sister-in-law, your elder aunt, and this is your cousin Wanyu!"

  Yao Cun Jia then went forward to see him.

  The Jiang mother and daughter were also secretly sizing up Yao Cun Jia. Xu Wanting naturally didn't like Yao Cun Jia one bit, but Jiang couldn't help but admit that she indeed had the demeanor of a wealthy family's daughter-in-law. Before she could even make a move to pay her respects, Jiang hastily smiled and raised her hand to call for someone to support her, her eyes unintentionally scanning over her swollen belly as she asked with a hint of sarcasm: "How many months along are you? You're truly blessed!"

  "It's already been four months." Yao Cun Jia subconsciously stroked her abdomen, a warm smile spreading across her face.

  "Sit down quickly, it's easier to talk while seated!" Jiang said with a smile, and Mrs. Xie also said.

  Yao Cun Jia smiled and nodded, carefully sat down, ordered Green Lotus to present the gift for meeting, and said with a smile to Xu Wan Zhu: "A little heart, please accept it, sister-in-law, keep it as a toy!"

  "Thank you, Sister-in-law!" Xǔ Yuàn's eyebrows rose slightly as she gave Yáo Cúnjiā a slight bow and took the small brocade box. She smiled and asked, "Sister-in-law's choice must be something good, can I take a look at what it is?"

  "Of course! I don't know if my cousin likes it or not!" Yao Cun Jia smiled, and instead found Xu Wanzhu's personality to be bright and cheerful, and he developed a bit of a good impression of her.

  "You're getting more and more unruly as you get older!" Jiang frowned.

  "Come on, we're all family here, no need to be so formal!"

  "It's still Auntie who loves me!" Xu Wanting smiled, her eyes intentionally or unintentionally swept over Yao Cun Jia. She opened the brocade box, placed the jade pendant on her palm to take a look, and then let Mrs. Xie see it, smiling at Yao Cun Jia: "It's a very beautiful jade pendant, thank you, Auntie, I really like it!" As she spoke, she added another sentence: "It's much better than what Brother-in-law gave me, after all, Auntie is more loving!"

  Mrs. Xie and Jiang's wife couldn't help but change their expressions at the same time, and their bodies stiffened slightly when they heard Xu Wanting say this.

  Jiang was secretly annoyed at Xu Wantong's impulsiveness, and said this in front of Xie Furen, wasn't she intentionally making things difficult for others? Yao Cun Jia was still the daughter-in-law of the Xie family after all, and a pregnant one at that! Moreover, judging from Xie Furen's attitude towards her, it was clear that she liked her more. Xu Wantong's actions were no different from making people dislike herself.

  Jiang didn't know that Xu Wanting was actually seeing Xie's wife being very kind to Yao Cun Jia, and she couldn't help but feel resentful in her heart. For a moment, she couldn't bear it and intentionally said so. In fact, as soon as the words came out of her mouth, she regretted it!

  Mrs. Xie felt a little uneasy in her heart, just as Jiang had expected, and she was somewhat dissatisfied with Xu Wanting. She did allow Xu to be her equal wife, but Xu should also understand what it means to be an "equal wife". In the future, when their status is equal, they will have to get along peacefully. If one always tries to suppress the other, won't this family become chaotic?

  Yao Cun Jia also slightly stunned, she didn't understand why, but the changes in her mother-in-law and sister-in-law's expressions were secretly noticed. At this time, when she turned back to look at Xu Wanting, she suddenly felt that her cousin's gaze was intentionally or unintentionally sizing her up, seemingly with a hint of hidden hostility.

  "Too polite!" Yao Cun Jia smiled faintly, and his heart secretly became vigilant.

  Jiang smiled and quickly changed the subject, asking Yao Cun Jia about some scenic spots in Beijing. Mrs. Xie also followed up on the topic of conversation, and they managed to cover up Xu Wanzhu's intentional or unintentional words.

  Xu Wanting herself felt out of place and was afraid that Mrs. Xie would have a bad impression of her, so she didn't dare to be presumptuous anymore, put away her sour thoughts, and made an effort to chat and laugh with Yao Cun Jia, showing him friendliness and kindness.

  Mrs. Xie saw her like this, and the little dissatisfaction in her heart gradually dissipated.

  Xie Fu rushed back home in a hurry and as soon as he walked under the corridor, he heard a burst of laughter coming from inside the house. His heart finally relaxed: It's okay, it's okay!

  "Mother!" Xie Fu Yun called out with a smile as soon as he entered, then turned to Jiang Shi and Xu Wan Zhu and said: "Aunt and cousin have arrived!"

  "Big Brother!" Xǔ Wǎnzhú's eyes lit up, and she smiled sweetly: "Big Brother is back so early today!" This not only showed that she was very familiar with his daily life but also implied that he had returned early because of her.

  "Hehe, I heard that my aunt and cousin have arrived. Since nothing seems to be wrong, I might as well return too!" Xie Fu Yun was taken aback, but it wouldn't do to say that he was worried about his wife being bullied so he hurried back. He could only think of a reason that even he didn't quite believe in.

  "We're all family, and Yun'er is being too polite!" Jiang smiled warmly and lovingly, looking at Xie Fu's Yun with the same gaze as if she were looking at her own son. She said, smiling at Mrs. Xie, "Auntie is truly blessed to see that Yun'er has become even more sensible than before!"

  "It's not that, it's just... ah, haha!" Mrs. Xie laughed and said, suddenly realizing it wasn't suitable to say this to Jiang, so she trailed off mid-sentence.

  "Sister, Eldest Cousin has always been steady and sensible, Auntie used to praise him all the time!" Xu Wanting spoke up for the Xie family with a smile.

  Xie Fu Yun couldn't help but smile wryly, his eyes involuntarily glancing at Yao Cun Jia. He met the gaze of his wife, who was staring at him with a complex expression filled with resentment and grievance, although it only lasted for an instant before disappearing. Xie Fu Yun's heart still skipped a beat.