Chapter 7 Jade Pendant

Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Jade Pendant

"Don’t leave yet, stay and let’s talk," Mrs. Lv called Mrs. Fang back in. "Mother, I’m coming in now." Mrs. Fang lifted the curtain and came in timidly. Reaching the inner room, she cautiously asked, "Mother, is there something?"

"Eldest daughter-in-law, you’ve worked hard these past few days out in the fields. You’re good, unlike your sly sister-in-law. These days I’ve asked the second daughter-in-law to handle the household chores, so you should take a good rest."

"Mother, it’s not tiring at all, it’s my duty," Mrs. Fang, possibly rare to hear her mother-in-law praise her, felt overwhelmed with favor. Being not good with words, she kept waving her hand continuously.

Mrs. Gu frowned slightly; this eldest daughter-in-law was like a gourd with its mouth sawn off, mud that couldn’t hold the wall together. Even after being praised, she wouldn’t catch on and keep the conversation going, leaving her mother-in-law with no words to follow up.

"Eldest daughter-in-law, let the second one cook these days, and you should assist by her side, watch over her and don’t let her sneak any food. If we let her eat all she wants, she’d end up consuming all our food! Also, don’t let her slack off; we really need to keep a good eye on her, she’s getting lazier by the day."

"This...how’s that possible? Mother, don’t worry, I doubt the sister-in-law would dare." Mrs. Fang couldn’t even imagine how the second sister-in-law could have such audacity. As for whether she was slacking off or not, she couldn’t control that.

"What wouldn’t she dare? Whether you believe it or not, just keep an eye on her. Every day, you will be responsible for scooping up the flour from the outer room, as much as I say, that’s how much you scoop. This grain needs to be consumed sparingly; the sorghum and wheat have just been planted and will take months to harvest!" Mrs. Gu, seeing that Mrs. Fang hadn’t caught on, also grew somewhat impatient.

"Yes, Mother, understood. This morning Father told me to kill a chicken for you to nourish yourself. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go kill the chicken now."

"Kill a chicken?" The family only had five chickens; four were laying hens and one was a rooster. The rooster couldn’t be killed; it had to be kept as breeding stock. Killing a hen meant having one less. Mrs. Lv hesitated but realized that she was older now, and if she didn’t eat, she wouldn’t have milk, and she couldn’t let her precious starve.

"Go ahead, personally brew the chicken soup, and watch the fire closely, don’t let it burn." Mrs. Lv cast a sidelong glance at the eldest daughter-in-law; she couldn’t let that lazy Mrs. He sneak food again.

"Sure!" Mrs. Lv watched Mrs. Fang leave the inner room. Mrs. Fang, though a bit dull, was obedient at least.

"Oh, my darling son, Mother is killing a chicken just for you, and it’s a laying hen. You will surely be fed plump and round." Saying so, she kissed her son.

Gu Chengyu was somewhat moved. In his past life, he hadn’t felt familial love, but in this life, he had a mother who loved him and a father who cherished him. He could feel their love, and when he grew older, he would find a way to improve the family’s life so they could live well.

Gu Chengyu was basking in the feeling of strong maternal love when Mr. Gu lifted the curtain and came in.

"Mother of the child, let’s consider the second daughter-in-law’s lesson learned this time and leave it at that. If she dares to treat you the same way again, I will surely send her back!" Mr. Gu said as he sat on the edge of the bed, playing with Gu Chengyu in Mrs. Gu’s arms. Since Gu Chengyu couldn’t see things clearly yet, he only saw a vague shadow when he looked up.

"I told you from the start she didn’t seem good, but you insisted on letting her into the family. See, now it’s coming to light, isn’t it?"

"Heh, wasn’t it because we didn’t have the funds for a decent bride price back then? At least she was related, and they demanded less for the dowry. Sigh! We really lost out marrying the second daughter-in-law. But luckily, though the second son isn’t the sharpest, he’s obedient enough, as long as he watches over her, there’s nothing much to worry about." Mr. Gu hadn’t taken Mrs. He seriously at all; women depended on their husbands, and as long as he was watching, she wouldn’t cause too much trouble.

"Was the marriage to Mrs. He really for that reason?" Mrs. Lv eyed Mr. Gu skeptically. Mr. Gu was taken aback. "If not, then what reason could it be?"

"Hmph!"

Gu Chengyu, overhearing this, thought there might be more to the story.

"Oh, by the way, when you were giving birth yesterday, a monk came by, asking for a bowl of water. I even told the second daughter-in-law to give him two buns. Guess what? " Mr. Gu spoke mysteriously to Mrs. Lv but continued without letting her actually guess.

"Before the child was even born, he said that you were giving birth to a boy and that he’d bring honor to the family name in the future! Said something about becoming a marquis or minister, I don’t really get it. Regardless, our son is good, and in the future, we will surely enjoy his fortune!"

Originally, Mr. Gu intended to change the subject but reminisced about what the monk said yesterday. Suddenly, excitedly gesticulating, he spit as he talked.

"Really? Why didn’t you tell me yesterday? Is this true? Could it be because of the buns?" Mrs. Lv was immediately suspicious.

"No, he didn’t even take the buns! Just as you were giving birth, he suddenly disappeared, so I doubt he was here for alms. Oh, and he gave us a piece of jade too!" Just remembering the jade, he quickly pulled out the jade pendant from his bosom. Last night, he didn’t want to take it out from his inner garment even when he went to bed, and with all the matters at hand, he almost forgot.

"How come he gave us jade?" Mrs. Lv took the jade cautiously and saw it was only half a piece, shaped like a lotus, and though the jade was not bad, there were several cracks on it.

"No wonder he gave it to us. I thought it was such a good thing, but it’s cracked and only half a piece, so it has no value."

"Ah? Regardless of its worth, he said this jade originally belonged to our child." Mr. Gu was equally puzzled.

"It’s just a newborn, how could it be the child’s?"

Originally, Gu Chengyu, drowsy in Mrs. Lv’s arms, was instantly revitalized hearing about the half-missing cracked jade. How could this jade so resemble the half piece she bought at the street stall? Her half had already fused with her, could this half be the other half of the space?

Thinking of the instability of the space before crossing over, Gu Chengyu was more certain there must be a connection.

"Ah," "Ah," Gu Chengyu vigorously stretched out his little hands, trying to grasp the jade, only seeing the hazy image of Mrs. Lv’s arm.

"Look, our son wants that piece of jade! Could it be he understands what we’re saying?" Mr. Gu laughed heartily.

Mrs. Lv laughed too, cuddling Gu Chengyu. "My son’s so clever!" As she spoke, she placed the jade pendant in Gu Chengyu’s hand.

"You shouldn’t let him hold it. What if we lose it? This morning, the second daughter-in-law was eyeing this jade!" Mr. Gu said, trying to stop her.

"What? She dared to eye my son’s belongings? Does she deserve it? I always knew she was heartless and no good. Let him play with it for a while, and we’ll put it away later. Maybe someday, this jade will have great use, it’s best to keep it." Mrs. Lv dismissed Mr. Gu’s opposition and placed the jade in her son’s hand. Mr. Gu felt a bit awkward hearing this. The second daughter-in-law was someone he had personally approved, and looking at it now, she indeed seemed less than ideal.