Chapter 463 - 464: The Know-It-All

Chapter 463: Chapter 464: The Know-It-All

Jin Qianqian understood immediately. Her mother was worried about the two children.

However, this served as a reminder to her. ’Looks like I need to speed things up. If it comes to it, I’ll just go to the Prefecture City and stay there for a while.’

It wasn’t that she wanted to coddle the two children, but with the journey coming up, she didn’t want any unexpected complications.

"Child, I’m talking to you. Are you even listening?" Li Cuicui didn’t get a response from Jin Qianqian and quickly reached out to tug on her.

Jin Qianqian said, "Mom, I’m listening.

I’ve already had people asking around about an escort team these past few days. Unfortunately, there aren’t many escort teams heading to Lu City right now. If it really comes to it, I plan to travel part of the way first and then find a different escort agency."

"Is that a good idea? You have two children with you. How about I have your Eldest Brother and the others accompany you for the trip?" Li Cuicui grew even more worried hearing this. Things wouldn’t be as convenient in an unfamiliar place.

Jin Qianqian replied, "Don’t worry. I’ll be taking Lin Dapeng and the others. Besides, we’ll be traveling on the main roads the whole way. There won’t be any problems."

Li Cuicui complained, "Just look at this. Being an official, and having to go so far away. It won’t be easy to come back for a visit in the future.

You two must take care of each other out there. Don’t worry about things at home; Mom will look after everything for you..."

Jin Qianqian listened to Li Cuicui’s rambling the whole way. Far from being annoyed, she found it incredibly heartwarming.

After seeing Li Cuicui off to wash up, Liu Liu came over holding out some melon seeds. Jin Qianqian casually took a handful. "Why haven’t I seen First Sister-in-law and the others?"

Liu Liu said, "The wife from Le Di’s family announced some happy news today. She’s probably over there fussing over Mrs. Xie right now."

Jin Qianqian commented, "Well, that is happy news. I’ll have someone prepare a gift later."

"It’s happy news for us, but not for our First Sister-in-law," Liu Liu said, leaning in mysteriously and lowering her voice so only they could hear. "I ran into her on the road earlier. You should have seen her face—it was all twisted up. It was actually a little scary."

Jin Qianqian had never had a good impression of Song Xiuyang. "Since you know what kind of person she is, you should avoid provoking her in the future. But you should also remind her to watch herself and not cause any trouble."

Jin Qianqian’s warning wasn’t exactly subtle, and Liu Liu understood instantly. "It wouldn’t go that far, would it?"

Jin Qianqian gave a slight shrug, not wanting to linger on the topic. "What about Second Sister-in-law and the others? Is everyone that busy?"

Liu Liu said, "Second Sister-in-law wishes she could be idle, but Second Brother won’t allow it. A couple of days ago, he took her to live at that small estate, saying she has to supervise the hired hands as they clear the land.

Third Sister-in-law is busy redecorating her side rooms. She’s planning to turn them into a study for each of her two children.

And don’t even get me started on Hong Daya. She’s got that big belly now and is acting all crazy, insisting she’s carrying a ’double-yolked egg’."

Jin Qianqian asked, "Hasn’t she seen a doctor yet?"

’She was diagnosed as pregnant back when we were holed up for the winter. Her belly must be showing by now, right?’

"She has. The doctor said it’s still too early to be sure and told her to relax.

Even I could read between the lines, but she’s the only one insisting she’s got a ’double-yolked egg’ in there. She hardly even leaves her room now, saying she needs to properly nurture the pregnancy."

Jin Qianqian’s brows furrowed. "It’s not like she’s never given birth before. Doesn’t she know she needs a moderate amount of exercise? And what about Le Shun?"

The thought of that sweet little boy made Jin Qianqian’s heart ache, not wanting him to be mistreated.

"Fifth Brother is the one looking after him. When he’s not at the private school, Le Shun just hangs around the workshop with him.

You have no idea how obsessed Hong Daya is. She even pushes Le Shun away when he gets close, claiming he’ll disturb the baby in her belly!

She’s this precious with the baby before it’s even born. In the future, she’ll probably treat Le Shun like a weed.

He’s her own flesh and blood, yet she’s already showing such favoritism. It’s really going too far.

Even Mom, who usually doesn’t meddle, went and gave her a talking-to. But while she agreed to her face, I don’t think she’s changed one bit."

"She couldn’t have just become like this for no reason, could she?" Jin Qianqian was still puzzled. The change in her was just too drastic.

Liu Liu gave her a mysterious look and said, "You’ve asked the right person. And I happen to know the answer."

Jin Qianqian blinked at her. "Wow, Fourth Sister-in-law, you’re becoming the one who knows everything."

"’The one who knows everything’... I like that title," Liu Liu said, seeing it as an affirmation of how well-informed she was. She repeated it to herself a few times to commit it to memory before continuing in a conspiratorial tone.

"Ever since the family’s fortunes improved, she’s been going to temples to pray to all the gods and buddhas.

She’s prayed at every single temple, big or small, in the area, even to Guanyin, the giver of sons.

But just before the new year, she apparently went to a local earth god shrine. The witch there gave her a packet of ash and even told her that as long as she and her husband drank it, she would get pregnant before the year was out.

And she told her a secret: if she conceived a boy before the new year, he was destined to become a top scholar. A girl would become unspeakably noble.

I don’t know if Hong Daya misheard or what, but as soon as she was diagnosed as pregnant, she started insisting she was carrying a ’double-yolked egg’."

Jin Qianqian said, "She wants to have her cake and eat it too."

Liu Liu slapped her thigh. "Why didn’t I think of that? You could be right.

She wants a son and a daughter, to get all the good fortune for herself."

Seeing her slap her own leg with such force, Jin Qianqian almost felt the sting for her. "You believe all that, Fourth Sister-in-law?"

Liu Liu pursed her lips. "Wouldn’t it be completely foolish to bet all your hopes on a few words from some witch?

I may be greedy, but I know my own limits. The most our Le Kai will ever do is learn to read a few characters; I wouldn’t even dare to dream of him becoming a child student.

And let’s not even talk about our Le Hua. She’s a pretty girl, but I really don’t want her to suffer. When the time comes, I’ll prepare a bigger dowry for her so she can marry an ordinary man. That way, her father and I can still keep an eye on her."

Jin Qianqian was a bit curious to hear this. "Everyone talks about marrying their daughters into high-status families. If you find an ordinary son-in-law for her, will Le Hua be willing?"

Liu Liu shot Jin Qianqian a look. "You think I’m that foolish?

Even if she’s not happy about it, her father and I won’t let her have her way.

Back in the day, with my looks, I could have easily found someone much better than your Fourth Brother. A minor landlord even came to my family to propose marriage, but I refused them all.

I was just the daughter of a common farming family. I knew exactly what kind of life I could expect.

Besides, your Fourth Brother isn’t bad-looking, just a bit poor. But I knew he would be good to me."

Jin Qianqian hadn’t expected to hear such a self-analysis from Liu Liu.

Liu Liu continued, "Before, when the brothers found a way to make money thanks to you, I was honestly on edge all the time.

Your Fourth Brother is handsome and a good earner—I was afraid he’d get a wandering eye. Speaking of which, I really have you all to thank."