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Chapter 248: The Solution (2)
Chapter 248: The Solution (2)
Chapter 248: The Solution (2)
Translator: Iris
Next day in the morning, the couple went to Sheng’s mansion in a coach.
First, they entered the Hall of Peaceful Ages to meet Old Madam Sheng. Wang shi also sat there upright with a smile. Hai shi stood behind Wang shi with her head lowered. Minglan and Gu Tingye, as honored guests to the Sheng’s family, were offered seats right away after they had given their obeisances. Minglan was a bit bashful seeing Hai shi standing there. Then she said, “Sister-in-law, please sit down, we are all families.”
Hai shi who always stuck to the etiquette was not wiling to sit and only turned around to prepare for tea and the wet handkerchiefs. After that, Hai shi brought the fruits, osmanthus green bean cakes which had been sent from her parents’ family in south to treat the guests.
“Why didn’t you tell us you would come?” Old Madam Sheng asked with a worried look in her eyes, “Has something happened? You two came here so suddenly.”
Wang shi was afraid that Gu Tingye would be unhappy to hear that and said in a hurry, “Mother, what are you talking about? Our lady and her husband can come to visit us at any time!” Then she turned her head and said to Gu Tingye, “My son-in-law, don’t take it personally. Old Madam always talks like that.”
Gu Tingye said smilingly, “Never mind.”
Minglan chuckled while glancing at the women in Sheng’s family.
Wang shi hadn’t changed at all. Ever since she had grandson and granddaughter, she gained lots of weight and looked more and more like the wife of a landlord. Hai shi had basically overcome the postpartum obesity and gradually recovered her good shape. Today Hai shi was wearing a sky-blue gauze coat embroidered with plum blossoms on folded branches. The Suet Jade bracelet on her chubby wrist made her look quite graceful.
Minglan lowered her head, thinking, “Poor Hualan, she doesn’t even get any fatter after her pregnancy. Ever since she gave birth to the baby, she only has skin and bones. I should find some highly nutritious food in the storeroom and send to her.’
Old Madam Sheng was the only one who surprised Minglan. After a long while Minglan hadn’t seen Old Madam Sheng, the latter didn’t get aged at all, but was actually full of energy with a louder voice than before. Minglan then fixed her eyes on Quan who was standing there with his wet nurse.
This chubby boy was almost two years old. He was lively, cheerful and extremely adorable. His round little arms and legs seemed very strong. Suddenly, he shook off the hands of the maids who wanted to help him and walked with heavy steps. He wasn’t afraid of Gu Tingye at all and gave obeisance to the latter gracefully. In the meantime, Quan also opened his bright and round eyes wide to size up the tall and strong man in front of him curiously.
Gu Tingye, as tough as he was, also got softened. As Gu Tingye touched the chubby boy’s head, Quan grabbed Gu Tingye’s wrist while grinning with all of his small white teeth exposed and a dimple showing on his face. Gu Tingye smiled and then took off a dark green jade ring and gave it to Quan.
The women in Sheng’s family knew how precious that ring was. Hai shi said right away, “How can we accept this? That’s too expensive!”
Gu Tingye didn’t say anything. Minglan then chuckled and helped him reply, “Sister-in-law, just take it. I heard this jade could bring good fortune. Let Quan wear it as a blessing of his safety and health.”
Old Madam Sheng took the ring and observed it carefully. Then she said bluntly, “Fine, this is great.”
Wang shi was quite joyful while staring at Gu Tingye with a complicated look. Hai shi gave her obeisance and thanked Gu Tingye. Then she asked a servant to thread the ring with a silk ribbon to let Quan hang it around his neck.
Seeing the atmosphere getting better, Minglan then mentioned what she had seen in the estates a few days ago smilingly. She picked the interesting things specially to tell them, “... Then we lived for a few more days in the mountain. The vegetables and fruits we have sent here were all freshly picked in the mountain. Among those vegetables there are some excellent bamboos which are best for making soup or fried dishes!”
Hai shi covered her mouth and chuckled, “Old Madam and Madam should rest assured now. Sixth sister hasn’t changed at all, always in high spirits when she talks about dishes. Ever since Quan could speak a few words, he always cries for all kinds of food. It turns out he’s just like his Sixth Aunt!”
Minglan slightly blushed and muttered, “Sister-in-law, just call me a foodie.”
Gu Tingye didn’t speak too much the whole time and only watched those women chatting with each other. However, seeing Minglan being a bit embarrassed, he couldn’t help saying, “Loving to eat is a good thing.”
After he had said that, the women in the hall couldn’t help but laugh. Wang shi rubbed her eyes and said to Old Madam Sheng with a beaming smile, “See? Old Madam, you’ve seen how protective my son-in-law is towards his wife.”
Old Madam Sheng gradually stopped frowning and looked at the couple smilingly. Also, the look in her eyes also became gentle when she looked at Gu Tingye.
While the women kept chatting, Gu Tingye stared at Quan the whole time. The boy didn’t make any noise and only walked among those adults with his two short legs. Sometimes he dragged the hemline of Wang shi’s dress; sometimes he pulled Hai shi’s fingers; sometimes he walked toward Gu Tingye and raised his head to look at this man. After a while, Quan seemed to remember Minglan. This boy found his Sixth Aunt quite gentle and amiable, so he climbed on her knees and gave a big kiss on her face. Then he covered his mouth and ran away to hide behind Old Madam Sheng.
His behaviors made the whole room burst into laughter. Gu Tingye also couldn’t help but smile while looking at Minglan with a meaningful look.
Minglan held the chubby boy in her arms and praised Quan complacently, “How adorable my nephew is!”
Hearing that, Gu Tingye put on a slightly angry expression in his black eyes and turned his head. It seemed he was complaining to Minglan of her lacking a sense of romance.
After they talked for a while, Gu Tingye stood up and dismissed himself to see Sheng Hong. After he had left, the women talked more freely.
However, Wang shi sighed slightly because she felt a bit jealous seeing Gu Tingye, the man who had an imposing appearance, treat Minglan so well.
Hai shi was a sensible woman. After she saw Wang shi sighing toward Gu Tingye’s back with a sad look, she walked to Wang shi and said with a smile, “In fact, the ladies in our family are all very lucky. A few days ago, Fifth Brother-in-law accompanied Rulan back home. I remembered how sweet that couple was... Oh my, they are so attached to each other!”
Hearing that, Wang shi beamed with delight right away and gave a genuine smile, “Your Fifth Brother-in-law is an honest man. He cares for Rulan a lot. They haven’t been married for a long time, but Rulan already gained lots of weight!” On these words, Wang shi glanced at Minglan, finding the latter still very slim with a pointed chin. Wang shi also detected the tiredness on Minglan’s face. Then she assumed that Minglan must have lots of things to worry about now that Gu’s family had been through a lot lately. Thinking of that, Wang shi felt a lot more comfortable.
Old Madam Sheng was also staring at Minglan with her eyebrows slightly knitted. Then she said, “You have come just in time. We don’t need to send you the message. Rulan is pregnant.”