Chapter 121: Coming to Discuss

Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Coming to Discuss

Second Sister-in-law Su couldn’t help but recall how Mother Su hadn’t gone to work that afternoon and had stayed in her room the whole time.

Father Su had also gone out. She didn’t know what he was doing, but he returned quietly a short while later. Upon his return, he went straight to his and Mother Su’s room. She hadn’t gotten close enough to hear what they were saying.

It was only now that she learned something so major had happened.

Being pregnant herself, her eyes welled up when she heard the details of Su Wan’s twin pregnancy. She grabbed Second Brother Su’s hand and said, "Ah Zhen, we agree. The babies must be saved. They’re children of the Su family."

"Yes, yes, of course. We’ll save them, we’ll save them. Don’t worry." Su Zhen quickly helped Second Sister-in-law Su, worried her agitation might harm her pregnancy.

Second Sister-in-law Su sat down as he soothed her.

Eldest Sister-in-law Su looked at her emotional sister-in-law, then glanced at her in-laws, who were obviously very worried about Su Wan. She gritted her teeth and said, "Mom, Dad, you go take care of Wanwan. With me here, I’ll look after Second Sister-in-law when she gives birth and during her confinement. I promise to care for her as I would for myself."

"Eldest Sister-in-law, I can take care of myself. I don’t want to be a bother," Second Sister-in-law Su said, feeling a little embarrassed.

Eldest Sister-in-law Su just smiled. When she had been pregnant with An’an, Second Sister-in-law Su had often helped look after Qianqian. She had not forgotten these kindnesses.

"Good, then your father and I will go to the Capital. Eldest Brother, Second Brother, you two keep learning how to drive. One of you has to get that job in the city. No matter which of you it is, it will lighten the family’s burden. I can only rest easy when you are all living well yourselves."

Eldest Brother Su, Su Yuan, immediately answered, "Mom, don’t worry. We know what we’re doing. We’ll take good care of everything at home. You and Dad can go without worry."

"Rest assured, no matter which of you ends up staying home to farm, I’ll find a way to get you a job later. I won’t let either of you farm forever."

Mother Su made the promise, afraid her two sons might harbor resentment.

Su Yuan said in a carefree manner, "Mom, taking care of Wanwan is the most important thing right now."

Mother Su and Father Su began to pack their bags, preparing to set off for the Capital.

Before she left, she followed Su Jue’s advice and left a sum of money for her two sons and daughters-in-law to use. It was meant for Second Sister-in-law Su’s childbirth expenses.

Perhaps out of guilt toward Second Sister-in-law Su, Mother Su steeled herself and went to the county town to buy malted milk and brown sugar.

"Don’t drink too much of this now. Wait until after the baby is born to build up your strength," Mother Su said, lightly patting the back of Second Sister-in-law Su’s hand.

Second Sister-in-law Su heard this and did not misunderstand.

"Mom, don’t worry, I’ll watch what I eat in the meantime. I know it’s hard to give birth if the baby is too big."

"Good girl."

Mother Su was relieved. At least the younger generation in the family was sensible.

Once Mother Su and Father Su’s train tickets were booked, the news could no longer be kept secret. Many people from the village came to ask about it.

"Old Su, why are you going to the Capital?"

"Going to the Capital to enjoy the good life, are you?"

"Wanwan and Su Jue are so capable, to be able to bring you all to the Capital to enjoy life so soon."

"If you ask me, it’s because Wanwan married well. That kid Lu Zhengchuan, I’ve watched him grow up, I always knew he’d be successful."

Mother Su just smiled, not telling the villagers the real reason. ’Could she let people know the truth, only for them to ridicule her daughter?’

Amid the envious gazes of the crowd, Mother Su spoke up, "I’m just going for a visit and to help Wanwan when she gives birth."

"I’ll probably be back by the New Year."

"We’re all country folks. Hiring help isn’t realistic. It’s better to be taken care of by family."

Her words made sense to the envious villagers.

If Mother Su was just going to act as a caregiver, they weren’t so envious anymore. After all, what kind of married daughter asks her own mother to take care of her during postpartum confinement?

When the news reached Aunt Zhang’s ears, someone deliberately asked her.

"Sister-in-law Zhang, your nephew’s wife is giving birth, aren’t you going to help with her confinement?"

"She’s called her own mother to go now, so she must have asked you as well, right?"

"If you ask me, she should have asked you, not someone from her own family."

Aunt Zhang was displeased by these words, but she forced a smile and retorted, "Now, Sister Liu, that’s not right. Whether it’s me or Sister Su who goes to care for Wanwan during her confinement, it’s all perfectly appropriate."

"It’s just that Wanwan considered that I still have to take care of my children at home, so she didn’t ask me to go. She’s being considerate of me."

"Our two families... we’re not as complicated as you think. We don’t believe that ’a daughter married out is like water splashed out.’ Our two families have become one."

Aunt Zhang’s words made the gossiping women’s faces turn all sorts of colors.

As soon as she walked away, the women spat in disgust.

They were still muttering under their breath.

"I don’t believe for a second she doesn’t mind."

"It’s such a slap in the face. I can’t imagine how the Su family could do something like this."

"The Su family and the Zhang family are bound to have a falling-out over this."

Aunt Zhang couldn’t be bothered with outsiders’ gossip. The closer she got to home, the more upset she felt. She wasn’t angry with Su Wan; after all, she had wronged her in the past. Now, whenever something happened, she subconsciously felt that Su Wan must have her reasons and was surely in the right.

Besides, Su Wan had even helped her daughter earn money—a whole forty yuan!

But she wasn’t angry with Su Wan; she was angry with the Su family elders.

’How could Mother Su not tell me that Wanwan needed help with her confinement? She could have at least mentioned it beforehand.’

Aunt Zhang was stewing. After a moment’s thought, she couldn’t hold back any longer and turned around to find Mother Su.

When she found Mother Su, Mother Su had just returned from the county town.

She had just sold the some of the remaining cured meat from home.

The fresh chickens and ducks were left for her daughters-in-law for their childbirth and recovery. Cured meat wasn’t very good for women in postpartum confinement, so it was better to sell it for some extra cash.

Seeing Aunt Zhang, Mother Su stopped.

"Sister, I heard Wanwan asked you and your husband to go to the Capital?" Aunt Zhang, having little patience, stepped forward and asked impatiently.

Mother Su nodded and hummed in agreement. "That’s right. Old Su and I had planned to leave quietly, but I guess the train tickets made that impossible. Now everyone knows."

Aunt Zhang knew she was just making an excuse. ’How could something like this possibly be kept secret?’

"How is Wanwan in the Capital? Actually, I should have been the one to go take care of her." In truth, Aunt Zhang didn’t really want to go to the Capital to take care of Su Wan.

Her relationship with Lu Zhengchuan was respectful, but not close.

Living in the same village, helping each other out was one thing. But traveling so far for her nephew’s wife made her a bit anxious. She was also afraid she couldn’t afford such a trip.

"Zheng Chuan’s aunt, I’ll tell you the truth, but you must not spread it around," Mother Su said, her expression grave.

Her serious demeanor made Aunt Zhang uneasy. She asked apprehensively, "Wh-what is it?"

"Wanwan is pregnant with twins. The pregnancy isn’t stable. She needs medicine and someone to look after her. That’s why Old Su and I are going."

"What!" Aunt Zhang hadn’t expected to hear such bad news.

She wished she were just hearing things.

’Why is it so difficult for our family to have children?’ Thinking of her own sister-in-law, who had also died in childbirth, Aunt Zhang’s face went white.