Chapter 146

Regardless of how Madam Zhang treated Wang Yuan’er and the unpleasant words she said, time passed swiftly, and it was soon the Mid-Autumn Festival in August.

Early in the morning, Wang Yuan’er prepared to go out and buy some festive meat and vegetables. Grandma Wang was busy preparing various offerings for worship. Seeing her with a basket, she called out to her.

“Yuan girl, today is the festival for the Moon Goddess. You don’t need to cook tonight; come to the main house and eat with us.”

Holding a bundle of freshly burned incense, Madam Zhang came out and said sarcastically, “Mother, she is a big businesswoman now, eating delicacies from the mountains and seas. Why would she care for our humble family’s radishes and greens? You shouldn’t waste your effort!”

Wang Yuan’er rolled her eyes and said, “If you talk about delicacies, I haven’t tasted them. But Second Aunt, you often eat such things. Why don’t you tell me how they taste? The other day, I saw Min’er and Fuquan gnawing on a big drumstick in their room. Grandma, have you tasted it?”

Grandma Wang’s face darkened, and she shot a cold glance at Madam Zhang.

Madam Zhang shivered. The drumstick had been secretly bought and eaten by their own family without giving any to the two elders. How did this wretched girl know? And she even exposed it.

Feeling the sharp gaze, Madam Zhang quickly composed herself and smiled, “Mother, the drumstick was given to them by Min’er’s aunt because they were craving it. You and Father were complaining about the heat and wanting light food, so I didn’t dare send this greasy thing over!”

Grandma Wang knew it was just an excuse and didn’t bother with Madam Zhang’s tricks. She snorted and said to Wang Yuan’er, “Don’t worry about it. Come to the main house tonight and let’s have a lively family dinner.”

“But Second Aunt…” Wang Yuan’er pretended to hesitate.

“When did this family ever listen to your Second Aunt?” Grandma Wang angrily slammed the tray in her hand, causing the teacups to rattle.

Wasn’t this meant for her to hear? Madam Zhang was startled and quickly smiled, “Yes, if your grandmother says to come, then come.”

If it weren’t for the nearly gritted tone, Wang Yuan’er might have thought it was sincere. What a pity!

Holding back her laughter, she grinned and said, “Then I’ll save a meal’s worth of money today!”

With that, she smiled and returned to her house in the east wing. She saw that Baolai had woken up on the kang and picked him up to play.

“Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and our Baolai should also pray to the Moon Goddess to bless him to grow up quickly, smart and clever!” she said, tickling his face and making him laugh.

She had little to do these days as Jinji’s people were building the new workshop. She would occasionally go to the site to give pointers on how to make the construction more convenient. So now, the sisters focused on making tea eggs and dried tofu snacks. However, this was still a small business, far from making a fortune. Although they had a thirty percent share in the fermented tofu, no one ever complained about having too much money. Continuing to expand was the right path. It was time to think about what they could do to become wealthy, as there were many mouths to feed!

“Hey, Eldest sister, weren’t you going to buy meat? Oh, little brother is awake, too. Let me hold him!” Wang Chun’er lifted the curtain and walked in, seeing her sister lost in thought.

“It’s fine. Let him play on the kang for a while. Grandma said we should all eat at the main house tonight, so there’s no need to buy meat. You can relax a bit, too!” Wang Yuan’er explained with a smile.

Wang Chun’er nodded, pulled over a basket of sewing materials, and started working on her needlework. She hesitated for a moment, recalling something she had just seen.

“Eldest sister!”

“Hmm?” Wang Yuan’er responded absentmindedly.

Wang Chun’er furrowed her brows, thinking carefully, and then said, “Never mind!”

Wang Yuan’er found it strange and looked over, seeing her sister’s puzzled expression. “What’s wrong? We’re sisters; you can tell me anything.”

Wang Chun’er bit her lip and finally said, “Eldest sister, I just went to the outhouse and saw Min’er vomiting badly by the side.”

So that’s what it was. Wang Yuan’er thought it was something serious and said dismissively, “I thought it was something major. If she’s vomiting, she’s probably just overeaten on those chicken legs she sneaked.”

She had seen it clearly that day. Her second aunt sneaked into the west room with a package, looking like a thief. Curious, she followed and saw that her aunt had bought several chicken legs, which the family shared, whispering not to tell Grandma.

It was laughable as if no one had ever eaten chicken legs before. Such pettiness was not worth mentioning.

So when Wang Chun’er mentioned it, she thought Wang Min’er had overeaten. Despite it being the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, the weather was still hot, and eating greasy food was hard to handle.

However, Wang Chuner looked worried and, blushing, said, “But Eldest sister, Min’er hasn’t changed her sanitary cloth this month.”

Hasn’t changed her sanitary cloth?

Wang Yuan’er didn’t understand at first and asked, “What do you mean, hasn’t changed?”

Wang Chun’er rolled her eyes. Her eldest sister was usually so smart, but sometimes she just didn’t get it. She stomped her foot and said shyly, “Eldest sister, I remember Min’er’s period is only a couple of days different from mine, and she usually starts two days before me. It’s already been ten days, and I haven’t seen her change her cloth!”

Girls were shy about such matters, and even though she was talking to her sister, Wang Chun’er blushed deeply.

Wang Yuan’er slowly realized what she meant. They used cloth pads wrapped in fine cotton, which had to be changed and washed. If Wang Min’er hadn’t changed her cloth, what did that mean?

The cloth doll she was playing with Baolai slipped from her hand, rolling to the side, making Baolai grumble in dissatisfaction.

Ignoring him, Wang Yuan’er quickly locked the door and checked outside. Seeing no one, she pulled Wang Chun’er over and asked seriously, “Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?”

“Eldest sister, how could I be wrong?” Wang Chun’er frowned. “We’re only seven months apart, and our periods are usually just a couple of days different. How could I be wrong? Didn’t Second Aunt ask me to help wash her cloth once, and Qing’er even made a fuss about it?”

Hearing this, Wang Yuan’er remembered the incident. She had argued with Madam Zhang about it, and their mother had to intervene to settle it.

Her second sister was always meticulous, so if she said it, it must be true.

No period and vomiting badly!

Thinking about Wang Min’er’s pale and listless appearance these days, wasn’t it just like their mother when she was pregnant with their little brother?

Wang Yuan’er’s face turned pale, and she sat down on the kang, staring blankly. Could it be true? Impossible!

“Is it true, Chun’er? This is important. Are you sure she hasn’t changed her cloth?” Wang Yuaner asked again, unwilling to believe it.

Seeing her sister’s distressed look, Wang Chun’er became anxious and nodded, “I’m sure, Eldest sister. What’s going on?”

Hearing her certainty, Wang Yuan’er felt drained of energy and muttered, “What’s going on? I want to know what that wretched girl has done and who that scoundrel is!”

If her suspicion was correct, when did Wang Min’er get involved with someone, lose her virginity, and get pregnant?

Although shy, Wang Chun’er was old enough to understand. Hearing her sister’s words, she guessed what had happened and turned pale, trembling, “Eldest sister, do you mean Min’er is…?” She gestured to her stomach, and seeing Wang Yuan’er nod, her face turned even paler.

“How could this be? What should we do?” Wang Chun’er was terrified.

Losing virginity before marriage and getting pregnant could ruin Wang Min’er and lead to her being drowned in a pig cage. If this got out, none of the girls in their family would have any hope of marrying well. This was a disaster for everyone!

Wang Chun’er felt like she was in an ice cellar, “What should we do, eldest sister?”

“We’re not sure yet. Maybe she just ate something bad. She hasn’t been out much lately,” Wang Yuan’er said, trying to make sense of it.

But Wang Chun’er suddenly remembered, “Eldest sister, I remember now. When Grandma and I went to Xiangshan to pray in July, didn’t Min’er go with her aunt?”

Wang Yuan’er felt uneasy and looked at her.

“Grandma wanted to listen to the scriptures, so I wandered around Xiangshan. I saw Min’er coming out of the woods alone, her skirt dirty and her hair messy. I thought she had fallen and didn’t pay much attention. Later, I saw a man come out of the woods.”

Wang Chun’er recounted what she had seen, looking fearful and regretful.

Hearing this, Wang Yuan’er understood everything.

“Do you know who that man was?” she asked.

Wang Chun’er shook her head, “He was dressed in fine silk and had a jade crown, definitely not a poor man. But I don’t know which family’s young master he was. Eldest sister, no matter who he is, what should we do about Min’er?”

What to do?

If Wang Chun’er was right and her suspicion was correct, then Wang Min’er had been seduced and gotten pregnant. They had to cover it up before it got out and find that man!

The best outcome would be for him to take responsibility and marry her. The worst would be death.

Wang Yuan’er sat down in despair. That foolish Wang Min’er had caused a huge mess!