The Noblewoman's Carp

Chapter 4

With Grandma Xu gone, the room was left with only Cheng Jinyue and the two children.

Bending down to gaze earnestly at the two children sleeping soundly beside her, Cheng Jinyue felt a sense of novelty. She was the last child of the end times and had never seen children younger than her being born. Yet now, she had seen two in a row, both born from her own belly, which truly exceeded Cheng Jinyue's understanding.

Although the original owner did not have high expectations for these two children, Cheng Jinyue liked them! The two children clearly inherited their parents' strengths, with chubby faces showing hints of handsome features to come. At least in Cheng Jinyue's eyes, these two children were the cutest and most beautiful babies in the world.

As Cheng Jinyue joyfully watched her two babies, she heard a commotion at the door. Soon after, Aunt Cheng entered carrying a bamboo basket.

Seeing Aunt Cheng enter the room, Cheng Jinyue smiled. Although the original owner was not close to this aunt, Cheng Jinyue herself liked this elder who had always been so considerate of the original owner: "Aunt, please sit."

Aunt Cheng did not sit immediately. Setting down the bamboo basket with a stern face, she first looked at the two children, then glared disapprovingly at Cheng Jinyue. "What's wrong with you, girl? You begged me to marry Xu Lao Si back then. Now you're causing trouble for everyone. What's the meaning of this?"

"Aunt, I didn't..." Caught off guard by Aunt Cheng's reprimand, Cheng Jinyue instinctively tried to explain herself.

"What do you mean you didn't? You nearly caused trouble with the children in your belly. What do you mean you didn't? Cheng Jinyue, this is my final warning to you. If you dare to act recklessly again, don't blame me, your aunt, for not showing mercy!" Aunt Cheng regretted getting involved in arranging this marriage.

She had thought that in Xu Village, only Xu Mingzhi, this scholar, was worthy, and none of the other girls in the village were a match for him. But her niece was different. Cheng Jinyue was raised in a scholarly family, literate, understanding, and the perfect match for Xu Mingzhi. That's why she wholeheartedly facilitated their relationship.

But what was the result? Cheng Jinyue was truly unbearable, lacking the good manners of a scholar's daughter, not even comparable to the girls from ordinary farming families. If she had known about Cheng Jinyue's behavior, she wouldn't have sent this troublemaker to the Xu family.

Now it was a mess. She not only harmed the most promising scholar in the entire Xu family but also offended Xu Grandma, the cousin-in-law. Every time she heard that Cheng Jinyue had caused trouble in the Xu family again, Aunt Cheng felt embarrassed and didn't want to show her face in public.

"Aunt, I'm sorry!" Cheng Jinyue could understand Aunt Cheng's anger towards the original owner. Since the original owner married into the Xu family, Aunt Cheng had supported her, often advising her not to misbehave. However, the original owner not only ignored her advice but also treated Aunt Cheng as a villain, mistaking her good intentions.

Cheng Jinyue didn't want to dwell on the original owner's ingratitude. Seeing Aunt Cheng's frustration, she quickly raised her voice and sincerely apologized to Aunt Cheng.

The raging anger instantly dissipated, and Aunt Cheng looked at Cheng Jinyue in disbelief, almost thinking she was hearing things. Was Yue apologizing to her? Was it real?

"Aunt, I was immature before, but I know I was wrong." Seeing that Aunt Cheng, like Xu Grandma, didn't quite believe her apology, Cheng Jinyue felt helpless. She continued to assure, "Aunt, I almost died today. After going through this dangerous experience, I truly repent. I will mend my ways and behave properly, not causing any trouble for you and the Xu family."

"Phooey! Why talk about death on such a joyous day? Spit it out!" Aunt Cheng, who believed in Buddhism, immediately slapped Cheng Jinyue around with her hand, unable to stop muttering, "Children are ignorant, speaking without thinking. Don't blame them."

This was Cheng Jinyue's first encounter with superstition from a different era. Although Aunt Cheng's actions were somewhat funny and had no scientific basis, Cheng Jinyue still felt Aunt Cheng's deep care.

With a smile on her lips, Cheng Jinyue gently tugged at Aunt Cheng's sleeve, boasting affectionately, "Aunt, look, I gave birth to two babies!"

"Didn't I already see them when I came in?" Although Aunt Cheng pretended to be disgusted, her gaze immediately focused on the two children, continuing to scold, "You're lucky this time, both mother and children are safe. If there's a next time, see if the heavens will still watch over you, you negligent person. You almost scared the whole family."

"I know I was wrong, I won't do it again." Knowing that Aunt Cheng was tough on the outside but kind-hearted inside, Cheng Jinyue didn't hesitate to admit her mistake.

"If you truly repent, that's good." As her niece, Aunt Cheng pointed at Cheng Jinyue's forehead, not unkindly, then nodded towards the bamboo basket Cheng brought, "The doctor said you won't give birth for at least another half month, so I wasn't in a rush. I just collected forty eggs for you. Eat two a day. When I gather the rest twenty, I'll bring them to you."

Aunt Cheng calculated based on the number of days Cheng Jinyue would sit for a full month. Two eggs a day for thirty days equals sixty eggs. Usually, not every daughter-in-law in their village would sit for a full month, but Cheng Jinyue was different. With weak health to begin with, even if Xu Grandma didn't agree to let Cheng Jinyue sit for a full month, Aunt Cheng would make sure she sat for the appropriate number of days.

And with Cheng Jinyue having twins, Aunt Cheng was even more worried, making sure to take good care of her and prevent any long-term health issues. Otherwise, a hundred years later, she would have no face to meet her deceased elder sister.

As for Xu Grandma, Aunt Cheng didn't have high hopes. It's not that Xu Grandma didn't value Cheng Jinyue's twin sons; on the contrary, she was probably the happiest. A precious pair of grandsons—who wouldn't cherish them?

However, the Xu family was too poor, having to support Xu Mingzhi, the scholar, for his imperial exams. Without saying much, Aunt Cheng could guess the current predicament of the Xu family.

With these thoughts in mind, Aunt Cheng repeatedly reminded Cheng Jinyue, "Take good care of yourself during the postpartum period. Even if you don't like it, force yourself to eat. I know you're picky and not used to the coarse food in our rural area. I've already told your uncle, we'll buy some fine rice in town for you to make porridge."

Afraid that Cheng Jinyue would cause trouble with the Xu family again, Aunt Cheng suddenly changed her tone and added, "If necessary, I'll swallow my pride and make a scene at your natal home. I don't believe that your scholar father, who cares about his reputation, wouldn't do something after his daughter had twins.”

Aunt Cheng was indeed bold and thoughtful. Despite her own modest circumstances, she did her best to help her niece, even though she scolded Cheng Jinyue for being insensitive.

After listening to Aunt Cheng's instructions and arrangements, Cheng Jinyue felt warm in her heart. Despite Aunt Cheng's initial declaration of not intervening anymore, she had already planned everything for the future. Such an aunt was truly deserving of sincere treatment.

"Aunt, you don't need to go through so much trouble. I can manage, really." Knowing that fine rice in this era wasn't cheap for an ordinary farming family, Cheng Jinyue shook her head, smiling brightly. "My mother just told me that my father will go out and catch fish to make soup for me! My mother said, fish soup is nourishing and helps with lactation—it's good stuff."

"Don't you dislike the fishy taste and refuse to drink it?" Aunt Cheng knew that fish soup was good for health. It was Cheng Jinyue who was picky and difficult to serve!

Letting out a sigh, Aunt Cheng sat down by the bed, softened her tone, and looked at Cheng Jinyue, "Yue, Aunt knows that life in Xu Village isn't as refined as what you experienced in town. But now you're a mother and should mature. Reflect on it yourself, where has your in-laws treated you unfairly? Ever since you got pregnant, you've enjoyed all the good things in the house, leaving nothing for Xu Lao Si, not even a bite. And yet, you're still causing trouble with the family! Tell me, do you still want to live like this?"

"I do, I do, I do." Three consecutive "I dos" showed Cheng Jinyue's determination. To reassure Aunt Cheng, Cheng Jinyue recalled a scene from the original owner's memory and raised her right hand, "Aunt, I can swear to the heavens that I will ensure a good relationship with Xu..."

Pausing, Cheng Jinyue, to show her sincerity, omitted Xu Mingzhi's name and fully immersed herself in the role, emphasizing her words, "I swear that I will live harmoniously with my husband in the future, not throwing tantrums or causing trouble. If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and die."

"Good!" The resounding approval didn't come from Aunt Cheng but from Grandma Xu, who was eavesdropping at the door.

Both Cheng Jinyue and Aunt Cheng were stunned and looked over.

Seeing Grandma Xu walk in with a beaming smile, without any embarrassment about eavesdropping, her eyes on Cheng Jinyue were full of satisfaction, "This is what you said, my fourth daughter-in-law! With these words, everything will go your way from now on, guaranteed not to let you suffer even a bit of grievance!"

Reprimands about the word "death" that were about to come out of her mouth were intercepted by Grandma Xu, and Aunt Cheng, not angry, simply nodded along with Grandma Xu's words, "As long as you stop causing trouble, we'll follow your lead."

"Yes, yes, we'll follow your lead." Feeling relieved to solve the biggest problem, Grandma Xu was overjoyed. She turned to Aunt Cheng and whispered, "Sister, we were just talking about the postpartum recovery of our fourth daughter-in-law. I plan to have her sit for a full forty days. One month is too short; how can she recover properly? Giving birth to twins, our fourth daughter-in-law is really working hard, truly a great contributor to our Xu family. We need to buy fine rice, but you won’t need to pay from your own pocket; we will buy it ourselves."

Grandma Xu was well aware of their tight situation, but her stance was clear and sincere, "Even if our whole family goes hungry, we won't eat anything until we ensure our grandson's mother is properly taken care of!"

Hurrying back home, just as he entered the house, Xu Mingzhi's expression darkened upon hearing Grandma Xu's last words.