Chapter 148

Madam Zhang, having given birth to four children, knew the symptoms of pregnancy all too well. When Wang Yuan’er mentioned the menstrual and Min’er’s vomiting over the past few days, it all became clear.

When was Min’er’s last period? Madam Zhang’s face turned pale as she counted the days. Her face quickly lost color, but she still didn’t want to believe it, couldn’t believe it.

Her Min’er was still an unmarried maiden. How could she be pregnant? It was impossible!

Her eyes shot daggers at Wang Yuan’er, and she screamed, “You’re talking nonsense! You want to ruin Min’er’s reputation, you little wretch! You can’t stand to see her doing well. I’ll tear your filthy mouth apart!”

Madam Zhang lunged at Wang Yuan’er, wanting to tear her to pieces in her fury.

Grandma Wang was furious, trembling as she scolded, “Stop it! Do you want this to get out? Is that what you want?”

“Mother, this can’t be true. Min’er is your good granddaughter. How could this happen?” Madam Zhang cried.

Losing one’s virginity before marriage was already a disgrace, but being pregnant out of wedlock was a crime punishable by death.

“Good granddaughter? Ha! If you hadn’t spoiled her, would she dare to act so recklessly? I’m furious!” Grandma Wang panted heavily.

Wang Yuan’er patted her back and said, “Grandmother, now is not the time to argue. We need to find out who the man is and deal with this. We also need to get Min’er checked by a doctor. Maybe we’re wrong.”

With so many symptoms, how could they be wrong? Wang Yuan’er was just trying to comfort her.

“Yes, yes, it must be false,” Madam Zhang added.

Grandma Wang sneered, “You’re a mother of several children. Do you really believe it’s false?”

Madam Zhang was crestfallen.

“Let’s see which scoundrel is responsible,” Grandma Wang struggled to get up and headed to the west room.

Wang Min’er was having a sweet dream. Her cousin Tang was smiling at her under the red candlelight, and the apple tree outside was full of apples.

Wang Min’er smiled sweetly in her dream, puckering her lips as if to kiss. This sight made Grandma Wang and the others furious.

Grandma Wang yanked the quilt off Wang Min’er, waking her up with a start. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and saw who it was, her face full of displeasure. “Grandmother? What are you doing in my room?”

“Doing what?” Grandma Wang’s sharp eyes glared at her stomach as if trying to see through it to find out if there was a bastard child inside.

Wang Min’er had never seen Grandma Wang so fierce before. She felt inexplicably scared and couldn’t help but shrink back into the bed, her eyes helplessly looking at Madam Zhang for help.

Madam Zhang wanted to help her, but now she couldn’t. She looked at her daughter, feeling a dull pain in her heart, and considering Wang Yuan’er was still there, she said, “Yuan’er, you all go back first.”

Wang Yuan’er didn’t move. At this point, what was the use of hiding anything?

“Why bother hiding it?” Grandma Wang glared at her and sneered, “She did such a disgraceful thing. Is she afraid of people knowing?”

Madam Zhang had no choice but to endure the pain and stepped forward to ask, “Min’er, let me ask you, last month when you went to offer incense with your aunt, who did you meet?”

Wang Min’er was stunned, then her face turned red, quickly changing from red to white. Could it be that her mother and grandmother knew about that incident?

Seeing her expression, everyone present understood.

“You, you fool, who is it? Who is that scoundrel?” Grandma Wang pointed at her, trembling, and asked, “Who bewitched you so that you lost your mind and gave yourself to him? Tell me!”

“Mother…” Wang Min’er was terrified.

Madam Zhang was already stunned. Seeing her daughter crawl over, she slapped her, “Are you stupid? Have you lost your mind? Do you know what you’ve done? You fool.”

Wang Min’er covered her face, looking dazed and confused.

Wang Yuan’er, seeing her like this, asked angrily, “Min’er, did your period not come this month?”

Wang Min’er was taken aback, then slowly nodded. Soon, she began to understand. Could it be?

She looked down at her abdomen, stunned. Could she be pregnant? Could she be carrying Brother Tang’s child?

Wang Min’er suddenly smiled, “I, I’m pregnant!”

Her carefree attitude made Grandma Wang so angry that she pointed at her, unable to speak, and fainted!

The west room was in chaos, and everyone from the main room rushed over.

Grandma Wang was unconscious for a good quarter of an hour. When she opened her eyes, the room was full of people, including Wang Er and his wife and Grandpa Wang, all frowning and smoking.

Grandma Wang sat up suddenly, feeling dizzy again.

“Take it easy,” Grandpa Wang supported her and sighed deeply.

Clearly, they all knew about Wang Min’er’s situation.

Grandma Wang suddenly started crying, pointing at Wang Er and his wife, scolding them for not raising their daughter properly and bringing disgrace to the family.

Wang Er didn’t dare make a sound while Madam Zhang cried and wailed.

Wang Er, feeling furious, slapped her, “You still have the face to cry? How did you raise your daughter? What kind of mother are you?”

“Blame me? I wasn’t with her every day,” Madam Zhang cried, covering her face, “I don’t want to live anymore. Just kill me and my daughter.”

“Don’t worry, if this gets out, you won’t need Wang Er to kill you. Min’er won’t escape death!” Grandma Wang said through gritted teeth.

Madam Zhang’s crying stopped, and she knelt in front of Grandma Wang, hugging her legs, “Mother, you have to save Min’er. You’ve watched her grow up, and you love her the most, don’t you?”

Grandma Wang, tears streaming down her face, pushed her away, but Madam Zhang clung to her, and they cried together.

“Unfortunate family, unfortunate family!” Grandpa Wang shook his head and sighed.

“For now, we need to find that man,” Grandma Wang composed herself and then thought of Wang Min’er’s pregnancy, “And we need to find a reliable doctor.”

At this moment, Wang Chun’er walked in, and Wang Yuan’er looked at her, “Did she say?”

Grandma Wang had fainted, and everyone was busy, so Wang Yuan’er asked Wang Chun’er to find out who the man was. It was crucial.

Wang Chun’er nodded but looked troubled, “It’s the third young master of the Tang family.”

“Who?” Madam Zhang looked over.

“The third young master raised by Min’er’s aunt.”

“Him!” Madam Zhang stood up, clapping her hands, “This is good. The Tang family is a big household. They won’t deny their own blood and won’t let their bloodline be exposed.”

The Tang family, it was the Tang family! This meant Min’er had a chance to marry into the Tang family as a young mistress?

Madam Zhang suddenly felt relieved, thinking of future wealth and prosperity. A big family valued bloodlines, and now that Min’er was carrying their child, they wouldn’t let it be exposed.

Wang Yuan’er saw Madam Zhang’s expression and knew what she was thinking. She sneered inwardly. If things were that simple, everything would be fine. But it wasn’t easy to marry into a big family.

As far as she knew, big families were even more cautious about bloodlines. Only children born from legitimate marriages were recognized and valued.

What was Min’er? Neither a wife nor a concubine. To put it bluntly, she was an outside woman, and her child would be illegitimate.

What would happen to an illegitimate child? They would be looked down upon and despised for life. Even if the Tang family acknowledged the child, what good would it do?

And most importantly, would the Tang family even acknowledge the child as their bloodline?

So, Madam Zhang was happy too soon!

Madam Wang also thought of this and poured cold water on Madam Zhang, “You’re too naive. What kind of family is the Tang family? Will they acknowledge you? If they don’t, what then? That third young master deceived a good family’s daughter without any formal engagement. What kind of person is he? What do you think will happen to Min’er if he doesn’t acknowledge it?”

Madam Zhang was stunned, “This…”

“An illicit relationship, Madam Zhang, no big family would accept such a reputation,” Wang Yuan’er said calmly.

Madam Zhang was furious, “You just can’t stand to see Min’er doing well!”

Wang Yuan’er shook her head, saying nothing more. You can’t wake someone pretending to be asleep.

“It’s too early to say. If the Tang family acknowledges it, that’s good. If not, should we drown her or have her abort the child and marry her off far away? We need to think it through,” Grandma Wang didn’t want to argue with Madam Zhang anymore and directly stated the worst-case scenario.

Madam Zhang’s face turned pale, and she mumbled, unable to say anything.

“Grandmother, the doctor…” Wang Yuan’er suggested, “Should we find a reliable one in the county?”

Scandals spread quickly. Changle Town wasn’t big, and if the doctor couldn’t keep a secret, Wang Min’er would be ruined, and her sisters wouldn’t be able to hold their heads up.

“Go to the capital tomorrow. You and Wang Er’s wife will accompany her,” Grandpa Wang said.

Grandma Wang pursed her lips. The capital was far, but it was distant from Changle Town, so she nodded.

Madam Zhang protested, “Mother, the capital is too far. Min’er just got pregnant. What if she can’t handle it?”

The journey was long, and the carriage ride was bumpy. What if she miscarried?

Grandma Wang trembled with anger, “It would be better if she miscarried! Far, I wish it were farther. It’s better than being disgraced. You don’t care about face, but I do. The Wang family’s daughters still want to get married!”

“Listen to Mother. Why are you interrupting?” Wang Er scolded, and Madam Zhang reluctantly agreed.