Chapter 220: Chapter 221: Gave Birth to What?

Gu Wenheng noticed the sudden change in Jin Qianqian’s expression and guessed what she was thinking. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

He walked over and pulled her into his arms. "She’s just an unimportant person. If you don’t want to hear it, just pretend it’s nothing but hot air."

Jin Qianqian was amused. "Our future scholar is speaking so crudely. But your sixth sister... the things she says are really..."

"Her ideas are completely impossible. First of all, she’d never get past the clan and our family," Gu Wenheng said. If he were just an ordinary farmer’s son, the clan certainly wouldn’t interfere; they might even come out to act as witnesses for them.

But things were different now. There were interests at stake. If he and Jin Qianqian truly didn’t have a child of their own, he estimated there would be another round of squabbling and fighting over it.

Gu Wenheng hugged the woman in his arms tighter. "There is one other way to make those people give up completely, but it will be hard work for you, my dear wife."

"I’m talking about ’what if.’ What if I can’t have children? What would you choose then?" Jin Qianqian cupped his face, meeting his gaze. ’You have to remember, second wives, third wives... they’re all legal here.’

Gu Wenheng held the back of her head, leaned in, and nibbled on her lip. "What do you think?"

Jin Qianqian placed a hand on her stomach. ’This body was so weak before. Even though it’s been nursed back to health, I’m afraid there might be other underlying problems.

We’ve been together for months now, so why hasn’t anything happened?’

Lately, Jin Qianqian couldn’t help but feel a little panicked.

Gu Wenheng tweaked her nose. "This just means I haven’t been working hard enough. How about..."

Gu Wenheng leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Jin Qianqian’s face grew hotter and hotter. She suddenly jumped out of his arms and ran to what she considered a safe distance. "I’m trying to be serious with you..."

"How is this not serious?" Gu Wenheng cleared his throat. "Didn’t we both get checked out before? There were no problems at all. That must mean we haven’t been trying hard enough..."

"Stop," Jin Qianqian quickly raised a hand. "You’re completely sidetracking the conversation. Are you going back home in the next few days?"

Gu Wenheng replied, "I should make a trip back. It’s time to tell the clan elders about the workshop. We don’t need many people, so it’s better to let them decide. It’ll make things easier for us."

Jin Qianqian said, "Then take Granny Song and Luo Gang back with you. With them there to look after Father and Mother, there won’t be as much idle gossip from the villagers."

"You’ve told them about the situation in the village?"

Jin Qianqian nodded. "I’ve explained everything clearly, and they’re willing to stay in the village."

"But I’m worried Father might be difficult. If they really can’t handle it, I’ve promised them I’ll bring them back here."

Gu Wenheng tapped her on the tip of her nose. She was still holding a grudge about Gu Dashishi’s malice toward her during their last visit. "I’ll make it clear to that old man. If he doesn’t want anyone to wait on him, he can just do everything himself from now on."

Jin Qianqian said, "What are these people thinking? Our lives have just started to get a little better, and they’re either scheming about our future children or trying to find you a new wife."

"And that old man of yours is really something else. As a father-in-law, he actually meddles in his son’s private affairs. He’s just short of sticking on a beauty mark, wearing a red jacket, and playing matchmaker himself."

Thinking of Gu Dashishi’s expression that day and pasting this new image over it, Jin Qianqian almost made herself laugh.

Gu Wenheng felt disgusted as well. "Let’s not get angry over such pointless people. Just watch your husband get some payback for you on this trip back."

Gu Wenheng hadn’t expected Gu Dashishi to vent his anger towards him onto Jin Qianqian, all under the guise of being concerned about his son’s lineage. In reality, it was just to cause trouble for the couple.

But Jin Qianqian shook her head. "There’s no need. Mother-in-law already got even for me back then. She tore into him until he was utterly humiliated. You weren’t there, but every word she said hit him right where it hurt."

Gu Wenheng held Jin Qianqian’s hand. "Then are you still coming back with me this time?"

"Of course. Since he’s so determined to get a reaction out of me, how can I not parade in front of him a few more times to give him the chance?"

"..."

＆

Just as Gu Wenheng and Jin Qianqian entered the village, they received the latest news firsthand.

"Seventh! Seventh Wife! You’re back!" their aunt, He Mei, called out, her eyes sparkling as she saw their carriage enter the village and raised a hand to stop them.

"Auntie Dafa, what brings you out here today?" Jin Qianqian revealed her dimples, her smile so sweet it melted He Mei’s heart.

"It’s not autumn harvest yet, so I’m just wandering around the village when I have nothing to do. You two haven’t heard, have you?" He Mei wore a mysterious expression, but she didn’t keep them in suspense. "Your sixth sister has given birth."

"What did she pop out?" Jin Qianqian blurted out, then immediately realized her mistake and cleared her throat. "I mean, was it a boy or a girl?"

Everyone in the village had heard about the trouble Gu Yuanfeng had stirred up before. They all said Gu Yuanfeng was overly ambitious, wanting a child with a different surname to usurp the position of the legitimate firstborn son. In her dreams.

He Mei covered her mouth and chuckled. "It’s a girl. Your sixth sister’s wailing nearly tore the whole village down."

"When was she born?"

He Mei shook her head. "Last night, in the middle of the night. Goodness, that crying... it scared the children in several families into tears. I never knew your sixth sister had such powerful lungs.

Why have you come back at a time like this?"

As He Mei spoke, she glanced at the unfamiliar middle-aged couple with them. ’Looks like this couple has really made it big,’ she thought. ’They bring back different servants every time.’

"Auntie Dafa, has the He Family not come over?" Jin Qianqian had heard before that He Tiping often loitered around the village entrance, and for some reason, Gu Yuanfeng would often come out to meet him, even with her pregnant belly.

"They probably haven’t gotten the news that quickly. After all, the baby was only born last night, and no one from our village went to inform them." He Mei said with some hesitation, "Their family probably won’t want this child. If it were a boy, they’d definitely come and take him away. But a girl... I doubt it."

Jin Qianqian was speechless. ’If it were a boy, they’d be even less likely to take him, since their ambitions are so grand.’

Jin Qianqian slapped her forehead and turned to look at Gu Wenheng. "Do you think all those ideas your sister had before were really her own? Could they have been the He Family’s ideas?"

Gu Wenheng didn’t give a definite answer. "For the sake of profit, it’s possible."

Jin Qianqian shivered. ’And they say common folk are simple and honest?’

He Mei didn’t know what riddle they were speaking in and asked curiously, "What did you two just mean?"

Jin Qianqian smiled. "It’s nothing, Auntie Dafa. Let’s chat again when we have time. We’re going to head home and see how things are."

He Mei smiled and stepped aside. "Then you two go on ahead. Come visit me at my house when you’re free."

Jin Qianqian replied, "We definitely will. I’m still thinking about the salt-cured vegetables you make, Auntie Dafa. You have to remember to teach me next time I visit."

He Mei’s eyes crinkled into lines. "I’ll teach you, I’ll definitely teach you."