Shen Zhihuan cast a fleeting glance at old lady Qian and her daughter, then looped her arm through Li Qiuhua’s and headed into the kitchen.

Li Qiuhua frowned as she glanced at the pair laughing in the courtyard, lowering her voice to ask, “Why did you…”

Following her mother’s gaze, Shen Zhihuan smirked mischievously and shook her head.

If they wanted to earn a hundred yuan a month, they’d have to see if they were capable enough.

Seeing her daughter was confident, Li Qiuhua relaxed and turned back to chopping potatoes. Meanwhile, Shen Zhihuan focused on stoking the fire, ignoring the mother and daughter duo outside, whose looks weren’t much, but their ambitions ran high.

Old lady Qian cautiously tucked the envelope into the secret pocket of her pants. Still feeling insecure, she patted it repeatedly and tied the pocket’s red string tightly.

Qian Zhizhi, observing her mother’s actions, couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

It’s just an empty envelope—what’s the big deal?

“Mom, when are you going to send a matchmaker to the He family?” Qian Zhizhi glanced at the kitchen and lowered her voice, though she couldn’t suppress her excitement.

When she started earning over a hundred yuan a month, He Chunsheng’s mother would have no choice but to treat her like royalty. And that arrogant sister-in-law of his…

Thinking about it, Qian Zhizhi’s smile grew even brighter.

Old lady Qian’s hand, still pressing on her secret pocket, froze.

Send a matchmaker to the He family… to propose marriage?

Old lady Qian’s anger surged.

How could she, Chen Ah He, sharp as a tack, raise such a foolish child?

“When are you going to find the matchmaker, Mom?” Qian Zhizhi subconsciously placed her hand on her flat belly.

It’s almost three months.… She could wait, but her child couldn’t.

If He Chunsheng’s mother knew she was pregnant, who knows what she would think of her!
And then there’s this snobbish sister-in-law..

Old lady Qian’s eyes caught Qian Zhizhi’s hand on her abdomen, and she inhaled deeply to suppress her growing rage.

“A marriage proposal? Have you ever seen a match arranged where the woman’s family sends the matchmaker?” old lady Qian lowered her voice, speaking through gritted teeth.

Panic flashed across Qian Zhizhi’s face.

He Chunsheng’s mother never liked her, and Chunsheng was utterly afraid of his mother.

If he’d had the guts to talk to her about it, would things have dragged on this long?

“Mom, as long as the matchmaker doesn’t tell, who would know it was us?” Qian Zhizhi bit her lip, weighing her options.

Old lady Qian’s fury boiled over.

“He Chunsheng isn’t dead, is he? If he has the guts to get you pregnant, he should have the guts to find a matchmaker!” old lady Qian hissed, her tone dripping with disdain.

The thought of He Chunsheng’s arrogant mother made old lady Qian’s blood boil. She could hardly resist the urge to slap the foolish girl in front of her.

“Mom, you know Chunsheng’s mother is domineering…” Qian Zhizhi twisted the hem of her clothes, her voice wavering.

Old lady Qian’s temper flared again.

Domineering?

If she knew He Chunsheng’s mother was domineering, why had she crawled into his bed?

Just then, Shen Zhimei walked in, carrying a tray with three pounds of fatty pork and some bones. Seeing Aunt Qian glaring daggers at her daughter, she instinctively lowered her head, not daring to look further.

Shen Zhihuan suppressed a laugh.

She’d noticed Qian Zhizhi holding her stomach while stepping over the threshold earlier. So, she was pregnant…

Impressive!

In an era where holding hands or hugging could spark public outrage, she’d managed to get pregnant out of wedlock.

Kudos!

“What’s so funny?” Li Qiuhua turned back from chopping meat and noticed her daughter grinning.

Shen Zhihuan nodded toward the courtyard gate.

Following her gaze, Li Qiuhua saw Aunt Qian and Qian Zhizhi lingering near the gate, acting all sneaky.

“What’s going on?” Li Qiuhua, curious about her daughter’s sly expression, leaned in with a smile.

“I think Qian Zhizhi’s pregnant,” Shen Zhihuan whispered into her mother’s ear.

Li Qiuhua froze, staring at her daughter in disbelief. “Who told you that?”

“If you don’t believe me, watch her cross the threshold later,” Shen Zhihuan replied playfully, winking at her mother.

“Stop spreading nonsense. That girl doesn’t even have a fiancé!” Li Qiuhua gave her daughter a warning glare.

“She doesn’t? Then was it a dog she was kissing in the woods the other day?” Shen Zhihuan teased, flashing a grin.

Li Qiuhua raised her hand as if to swat her mischievous daughter.

Kissing? Was that something a proper girl should talk about?

Shen Zhihuan dodged nimbly, a cheeky, defensive look on her face.

“Keep it up, and I’ll deal with you properly,” Li Qiuhua said, trying not to laugh.

Washing vegetables at the well, Shen Zhimei rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

“Mom, she’s still young and frail. If she’s done something wrong, talk to her gently. Don’t hit her,” Shen Zhimei pleaded softly.

“You’re old enough to know better! What’s appropriate to say or do, you still don’t understand?” Li Qiuhua snapped, her smile fading.

It was lucky she hadn’t told her eldest daughter about selling ginseng; otherwise, the whole family might’ve ended up in jail.

Shen Zhimei lowered her head, tears forming in her eyes, unsure how to explain herself.

After revealing Shen Zhihuan’s income, she had immediately regretted it.

Her sister had only told her to ease her worries, and she’d gone and blabbed like a fool.

Tears spilled from Shen Zhimei’s eyes as she bit her lip.

Shen Zhihuan tugged lightly at her mother’s sleeve.

Li Qiuhua shot Shen Zhimei a sharp look before turning back to check the pot.

The aroma of braised meat wafted out, instantly filling the courtyard.

Shen Zhihuan prepared to light the fire while Shen Zhimei returned to washing vegetables.

Before long, Li Qiuhua served four dishes and a soup.

The table, laden with meat, left old Qian and Qian Zhizhi wide-eyed.

They hadn’t seen this much meat, even during the New Year.

Wasting no time, old lady Qian picked up her chopsticks and dove straight for the braised meat.

Qian Zhizhi followed suit but barely got a bite before gagging, her stomach heaving violently.

“Urgh…”

Covering her mouth, she bolted outside.

Li Qiuhua glanced at Shen Zhihuan, her expression unreadable.