Chapter 166

After bidding farewell to Song San, Wang Yuan’er returned to her small courtyard happily, her beaming smile making everyone curious.

Song San agreed to let her join the dividend-sharing plan for the fermented tofu business. This was partly due to their personal relationship, essentially lending Wang Yuan’er the money in advance—a significant favor.

“Well, Yuan girl, did you just strike gold? Look at you smiling like a flower about to bloom,” Madam Zhang said teasingly as she stepped out of the west room and saw Wang Yuan’er smiling as she walked in. “We’re all family here. If there’s something good, remember to lend your second uncle and aunt a hand!”

Wang Yuan’er’s smile faded slightly, and she replied, “Second Aunt, you don’t need my help. With Min’er marrying an ideal husband, you’ll enjoy life soon enough!”

Madam Zhang puffed up her chest and said, “That’s right. For women, showing your face in public is always a bit unseemly. Marrying the right man is what really matters. Your cousin Min’er…”

“Second Aunt, it’s getting late. I’ll go check if Chun’er and the others have finished preparing dinner,” Wang Yuan’er said, not intending to prolong the conversation, and quickly slipped away.

Although Song San had agreed to let her invest, many of the details were still being finalized, so Wang Yuan’er hadn’t mentioned it to her sisters, planning to wait until everything was settled.

After Wang Min’er was taken to the Tang family, she wasn’t officially a concubine, so there was no ceremonial homecoming. However, she managed to persuade Tang Xiuping to accompany her on a visit back to her family.

Wang Yuan’er observed her arrival with large bundles, various gifts, and new clothes. She was accompanied by an older maid and a young servant girl. To outsiders, it might seem like she was returning as a proper lady of the house. The older maid, known as Nanny Jin, was the one who had pulled the golden hairpin from her head when she left, while the servant girl, named Xi Zhi, seemed quiet and meticulous.

“It seems you haven’t suffered any grievances during your stay at the Tang family,” Wang Yuan’er remarked, looking at Min’er, who sat before her, dressed brightly in red and green, her face full of joy.

Her complexion was glowing, and her face had become fuller, perhaps due to marriage. Her attire was also more refined, giving her a more alluring appearance than when she was a maiden.

“I’m carrying their precious grandchild in my belly. How could they let me suffer?” Min’er said proudly, placing a hand on her stomach. “They even assigned two people to serve me.”

“Your days are still manageable with the main wife not yet in the household. However, even if you’re pregnant, you must not become complacent, nor should you become arrogant and stir up trouble…” Wang Yuan’er couldn’t help but advise her again.

Min’er waved her hand impatiently and interrupted, “Oh, you’ve said this so many times already. Stop nagging. I’m not a child.”

Wang Yuan’er stared at her for a long time. Min’er finally realized she had misspoken and, pouting slightly, said, “Alright, alright, I get it.”

Glancing at Wang Yuan’er again, she pursed her lips and said, “This time, I barely managed to get the Third Young Master to accompany me on this trip back. Time is limited, so I’ll get straight to the point. What do you think—should I not go to the estate in Dongshan?”

“Not going to Dongshan?” Wang Yuan’er widened her eyes in surprise. Wang Min’er pouted, fiddling with the gold bracelet in her hand, and said, “What’s so good about the Dongshan estate? It’s so far away, away from the Tang family. What’s the point? The Third Young Master can’t possibly accompany me there every day. Besides, once I’m there, who would even remember someone like me?”

During her days at the Tang family, she had truly experienced what wealth and luxury felt like. A prestigious household was indeed different—even the mouthwash was infused with mint. If it weren’t for her pregnancy, she would have used that mint water after every meal. And the food, the items—weren’t they all of the finest quality?

If she went to the estate, would she still have access to such luxuries?

Most importantly, if she went to the estate, she wouldn’t be able to see her Tang brother. What if some other vixen managed to steal him away from her?

She had longed to marry her Tang brother, and now that her wish had come true, she was determined to hold on tightly. As long as her Tang brother loved and cherished her, what mattered if she was just a concubine?

So, she didn’t want to go to the estate.

Wang Yuan’er’s face darkened. Truly, it’s easier to change rivers and mountains than a person’s nature. After just a few days at the Tang family, enjoying their luxuries and receiving some favor, had she already become so full of herself?

“Do you even understand what you’re saying? Not going to the estate? Do you think you can decide that? Will the Tang family listen to you?” Wang Yuan’er’s anger flared up. All those heartfelt words she had said earlier had been in vain—it seemed this girl let them go in one ear and out the other.

“My Tang brother promised me that he would discuss it with the Third Madam and the Old Madam,” Wang Min’er replied, her face flushing red.

Wang Yuan’er watched her closely, her heart sinking. She tentatively asked, “Wait, in these past few days, did you allow him to get close to you?”

After all, she was an unmarried maiden. As soon as she said those words, Wang Yuan’er’s face burned with embarrassment.

Seeing Wang Min’er nod, she almost jumped out of her chair. “Are you out of your mind? You’re not even three months along yet, and you’ve already behaved so recklessly?” She paused, her face stern, and asked, “You may not know better, but didn’t anyone in the Tang family warn you?”

Wang Min’er shook her head, her face full of confusion. “What’s there to remind me about? I just married my Tang brother, and we’re in the honeymoon phase.”

Wang Yuan’er rolled her eyes, feeling an urge to grab a knife and cut open her brain to see how it worked—how could she be so foolish?

Still, it wasn’t just Wang Min’er and the Third Young Master who were being reckless. In such a large household, with so many servants and masters, no one had thought to warn them.

Wang Yuan’er felt a chill in her heart. It was clear that the Tang family was turning a blind eye, showing that they didn’t value the child in Wang Min’er’s belly. And why would they? A child conceived under such circumstances—who would respect it?

Her heart grew heavy with sadness, and she began to worry for the unborn child. If it was already being disregarded in the womb, what kind of life would it have in the future?

She sighed. This wasn’t something she should address herself. She decided to mention it to Grandma and Second Aunt later.

“You say you won’t go to Dongshan. In another month or two, your pregnancy will start to show. What will people think of you then?” Wang Yuan’er said. “Also, that Miss Rong is set to marry into the Tang family next February. How will you deal with that when the time comes?”

“Then I’ll wait a few more months before going—it won’t be too late,” Wang Min’er replied without much thought.

“What difference does it make whether you go early or late? Are you planning to stir up some drama in these next few months?” Wang Yuan’er urged earnestly. “The Tang family is about to welcome a new wife. The household will surely be bustling inside and out. If anything happens that offends or inconveniences you, what will you do? Even if you don’t think about yourself, you should at least think about the child.”

Wang Min’er pressed her lips together and remained silent. Wang Yuan’er, realizing that she wouldn’t listen, said, “Suit yourself. Whether or not you take my advice is entirely up to you.”

She felt a deep sense of disappointment in Wang Min’er.

Wang Min’er opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately said nothing and left, sulking.

Wang Yuan’er sighed and later found an opportunity to share Wang Min’er’s thoughts and current predicament with Grandma Wang.

Grandma Wang paused for a long time before letting out a self-deprecating laugh. “A child born out of wedlock—how much value can you expect them to place on it? If she messes things up herself, they’d probably clap their hands in delight. Just wait and see.”

If Wang Min’er were to lose the child due to her own recklessness, the Tang family would completely absolve themselves of responsibility. After all, who could blame them? She brought it upon herself by indulging in pleasure. As for the talk of raising her status to a concubine after the child is born, that would naturally be forgotten.

Understanding the logic was one thing, but it was hard not to feel disheartened. The cold and indifferent nature of people made even the wealthiest places feel like icy caverns.

Grandma Wang didn’t ignore the matter entirely. She called Wang Min’er and Madam Zhang together and gave them a stern talking-to. “This child is your only bargaining chip to secure a position in the Tang family. If you don’t listen and keep causing trouble, it’s on you.”

Wang Min’er agreed verbally, but before leaving, she shot Wang Yuan’er a glare, clearly implying that she thought she was meddling unnecessarily. Wang Yuan’er could only laugh bitterly at the situation.

“Elder Sister, that Tang San is truly despicable. Did you know he was harassing Second Sister in the vegetable garden?” Wang Qing’er complained angrily as soon as Wang Min’er and the others left.

“What’s going on?” Wang Yuan’er immediately turned to Wang Chun’er, her face filled with concern.

No wonder she had noticed something off about Wang Chun’er’s expression—she hadn’t expected such an incident to have occurred.

Wang Chun’er’s face turned bright red as she glared at Wang Qing’er. “I told you not to talk nonsense, but you wouldn’t listen. It’s not a big deal.”

“You’re going to drive me crazy! What exactly happened?” Wang Yuan’er, on the verge of tears, pressed Wang Qing’er. “You tell me.”

“When Min’er came back, Grandma asked us to help prepare the meal. Second Sister went to the vegetable garden to pick greens, and that Third Young Master of the Tang family stopped her on his way to the outhouse. He said things like how her face was like a peach blossom, her brows like willow leaves, her lips like a cherry, and how her cheeks blushed shyly before she even spoke. He even commented on her petite figure, saying it was as tender as lotus roots,” Wang Qing’er recounted, frowning as she recalled the scene she had witnessed. Then she asked, “Elder Sister, what does all that mean? I’m sure it wasn’t anything good. That Third Young Master’s eyes were practically glued to Second Sister.”

Wang Yuan’er felt faint. What good intentions could those words possibly have? They were clearly lewd and indecent poetry. That Third Young Master was utterly shameless!

Wang Yuan’er glanced at her second sister, who was only seven months younger than Wang Min’er. Now that she had come of age, her figure had matured. Coupled with her gentle and quiet demeanor, she was naturally endearing—yet a scoundrel had harassed her.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this at the time?” Wang Yuan’er was furious, spreading her arms like an angry hawk.

“Elder Sister, I thought it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Besides, I wasn’t really harmed, so I let it go. I didn’t want Second Aunt to say unpleasant things,” Wang Chun’er said softly.

When Wang Min’er brought Tang Xiuping back, Madam Zhang, in her petty-mindedness, had shooed the sisters into the east room, forbidding them from lingering near Tang Xiuping as if afraid they might attract his attention. It was laughable.

That was why Wang Chun’er hadn’t mentioned the incident.

Thinking of Tang Xiuping’s sleazy demeanor, Wang Yuan’er gritted her teeth in anger. “From now on, if you see him, take a detour. That shameless scoundrel—eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot—disgusting.”

Wang Chun’er and the others obediently nodded and said no more.