Ugly girl only wants to farm

Chapter 273 The Calm Lake (13)

Zhang Rongrong: "I guess I'm overthinking it. They were probably just discussing schoolwork. The three of them are often together."

After the ointment was applied to her forehead, the three of them sat together. There weren't many customers at the moment. Xu Chaoyan was chopping some vegetables, planning to pickle more. Lately, these students have been making her pickles so well. They call her "boss lady" so affectionately.

Who could blame her for making such authentic, sour, spicy, and crunchy pickled vegetables? They're perfect with rice and cut through the greasiness.

Zhang Rongrong was helping her pick the vegetable leaves, and the group chatted casually when Xu Chaoyan suddenly looked up and asked a question.

"What did you two argue about this time? This can't go on forever. We need to find a solution. Does your husband just let you and your mother-in-law argue without stopping you?"

“Sigh, I get angry just thinking about this. My mother-in-law always picks the time when my husband isn’t home, or when they’re about to move in. Then she throws a tantrum, makes a scene, and threatens suicide, as if I’m the one bullying her every time. This time she went too far, but the injury on my head wasn’t caused by her. That old woman doesn’t have the guts. I accidentally bumped into the door frame when I turned around in anger.”

Xu Chaoyan looked on with a skeptical expression: "Don't try to hide it. If you two fight, so be it. We won't laugh at you."

Zhang Rongrong looked anxious and then explained again: "This time there really wasn't a big fight, just some nasty words. What she did this time was really too much. I don't know where she got some random herbs and made me drink them, saying that it would help improve fertility."

Upon hearing this, Xu Chaoyan quickly dissuaded her, saying, "Don't drink that unknown folk remedy indiscriminately. Don't make yourself sick. Her son is so careless; he can just marry anyone else. What if he ruins your life?"

Zhang Rongrong handed over the selected leafy greens: "I know how serious this matter is, which is why I refused. Besides, the medicine is thick and dark and smells really bad. I can't drink it at all. Just smelling it makes me want to vomit."

In ancient times, women generally did not bear children, and their mothers-in-law would often urge them to have children. Some of their maternal relatives would even help them find folk remedies, but frankly, no one knew whether these remedies were effective. If a perfectly healthy woman were to develop health problems from drinking them, she might not be able to conceive in the future.

"Have you two seen a doctor? Is there a problem? If there is any minor ailment, you can take some medicine to treat it, and we should have good news soon."

Zhang Rongrong, with a long face and a helpless expression, said, "I've seen almost every famous doctor in the city. At first, I was patient and just drank some medicine to regulate my body. But the doctors said there was nothing wrong with us and that we should just let nature take its course. My mother-in-law, I don't know where she heard those rumors. She said I have a small frame, a thin body, and a small bottom. Who wouldn't be angry if they heard that?"

“If my husband hadn’t treated me fairly well when we first got married, I would have wanted to leave this house long ago. But then again, if I were really divorced, how could I face going back? So this is the fate of us women.”

Zhang Yueniang comforted me, saying, "Don't be discouraged. Having a child is a matter for both of you. It depends on whether the child is meant to be with you. When I first got married, I didn't conceive for more than half a year. My mother-in-law's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. She believed in all sorts of folk remedies and wanted me to drink them. I outwardly complied with her, but secretly I poured them all out. Fortunately, after I gave birth to Yaya, she started picking a fight again. She said I ruined their family by not giving them a son. These things can't be rushed."

Xu Chaoyan suddenly covered her mouth and laughed: "If she really wanted a grandson, would you dare to accept a grandson you gave birth to for no reason?"

Zhang Rongrong tapped her forehead: "You, always so clever, you dare to say anything. By the way, you two have been married for quite a while now, haven't you? Aren't you worried about anything happening?"

Xu Chaoyan said calmly, "What's the rush? We're just deliberately not wanting to have children yet. After all, we're still young, and having children too early is bad for our health. In my opinion, you're not that old either. Wait a couple of years until your body is fully developed. It will be better for you in the future. My husband and I are already struggling to make ends meet. What would happen if we had a little one too?"

The three of them were chatting casually when Zhang Rongrong suddenly slapped her forehead: "I've been so busy that I forgot something. I have some fabric in my shop, I'll bring it over to you in a couple of days, and you can make a few clothes. Oh, and don't be so quick to refuse, just consider it a gift from us when we first met. Consider it a thank you for all the tofu and bean curd my family has eaten from you, and for my brother-in-law's lunch."

Xu Chaoyan didn't stand on ceremony with her; she was planning to make a few clothes for her sister-in-law anyway. After spring arrived, the little girl started to grow taller, and all her previous clothes were too short.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony with you. Pick some bright colors that young girls like and make a few outfits for your sister-in-law. Also, pick some colors that young girls like for Yaya. Make them happy."

Meng Jiu and Shen Siheng rushed to the teahouse, only to be told by the waiter that Shen Siheng and his group had just left. They said they were going to the countryside to enjoy the spring flowers.

Zhang Xuyang was so angry he wanted to jump up and down: "What's wrong with Shen Siheng? He's completely unreliable when we need to find him. The temperature has been rising these past few days, and the sun is quite strong, yet he still has the leisure to go flower viewing and spring outing. Brother Meng, let's hurry over and stop him. Judging from the waiter's tone, he probably hasn't gone too far, so we should still make it in time."

The two hired a donkey cart. The driver raised his whip and instructed, "Both of you, hold on tight. With this whip, it'll go really fast. I guarantee you'll catch up with the person you're looking for."

Fortunately, the group of young masters were taking their time, and Meng Jiu and the other two managed to catch up with them within three miles.

Shen Siheng looked at them with a surprised expression: "Gentlemen, what brings you to the countryside for a spring outing today? I invited you two to come along before, but you disappeared like rabbits in no time. Since we've run into each other today, I thought I'd introduce you to some of my friends?"

As he was about to get off the carriage, Zhang Xuyang, being rather hasty, jumped off the donkey cart and grabbed Shen Siheng, intending to turn back.

Feeling embarrassed as Zhang Xuyang grabbed her collar, Shen Siheng blushed and said, "Zhang Xuyang, I haven't offended you. What do you want? Let's talk this out. Are you jealous that my test scores were better than yours? Are you trying to kill me?"

Meng Jiu apologized to his friends, saying he had urgent business to attend to and had to return to the city, and hoped they would understand.

Zhang Xuyang grabbed him and threw him onto the donkey cart, explaining, "Hurry back with us. Something terrible has happened to Qi Yu. He's already in the county jail. Do you know anyone who can give us some inside information? We're not very familiar with this area, and we only know you, you spoiled brat."

Shen Siheng slapped his hand away and slowly straightened her clothes, saying somewhat irritably, "Just talk, why are you grabbing my collar? What do you mean I'm a spoiled brat? I'm a proper scholar, okay? Don't slander me and ruin my reputation."

Seeing him slowly and deliberately straightening the wrinkles in his clothes, Zhang Xuyang frowned and said, "What are you doing, a man, dawdling like this? This is a matter of life and death, and you still have the mood to dawdle here."

Shen Siheng shrugged: "Even if we need to go back to the city to ask around, we have to take it slow, right? This can't be rushed. Look, did you see those people? Some of them know the magistrate's son. I was just about to talk to them, and maybe they could have helped me. It's all your fault for offending everyone."

Seeing that Zhang Xuyang was about to explode again, Meng Jiuhe quickly stopped him: "You two, stop arguing here. We were indeed reckless today. Um, why don't you go and investigate again?"

Shen Siheng watched the carriage gradually disappear into the distance and sighed helplessly, "Forget it, let's go back to the city first and then make plans. These people probably don't have the time to deal with these trivial matters right now."

After the three returned to the city, Shen Siheng hurriedly left, telling them to go home and wait for news. A whole night passed, and the two didn't sleep well, so they went to wait for him at the Shen family's gate early in the morning.

Shen Siheng lazily yawned as he came out of the house, only to be startled by the two door gods and retreat repeatedly.

"Could you two have given me a heads-up? Standing here like door gods is giving me the creeps."

Zhang Xuyang: "So much time has passed, have you heard any news?"

Shen Siheng covered his mouth and yawned while rubbing his stomach: "I was busy for a long time yesterday, and I haven't even had breakfast yet. Let's go get something to eat first, it's on me."

Zhang Xuyang didn't say anything to him, but simply took the steamed bun and stuffed it into his hand: "These are steamed buns that my mother made this morning. They're sweet and fluffy, have some first. Any progress yesterday?"

Shen Siheng reluctantly took a bite of the steamed bun before speaking: "I was busy all night last night and only managed to eat for a little while."

Zhang Xuyang patiently asked, "What was the result?"

Shen Siheng rolled her eyes at him: "Are you in such a hurry to be reborn? Can't you catch your breath?"

Meng Jiuhe quickly tried to smooth things over: "Eat slowly, we can talk as we walk."

Shen Siheng muttered to himself, "This is really troublesome."

Zhang Xuyang listened patiently again: "Make it short."

Shen Siheng: "We took the opportunity to go and see what was going on when the jailers were changing in the evening. Yesterday, I asked someone to pull strings and send some money to smooth things over. How did I do this time?"