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During lunch, Wen Ruyu didn’t pay attention to Lu Jinnian.
It wasn’t until they were about to leave that a servant from the Lu family whispered to Zhao Shu that Lu Jinnian still hadn’t returned.
Zhao Shu grew suspicious but didn’t dare let the Old Madam know. She simply ordered someone to go find Lu Jinnian quickly.
Just as everyone was getting into the carriage, Lu Jinnian finally strolled back at a leisurely pace.
His grin nearly stretched to the back of his ears—anyone who didn’t know better might’ve thought he’d gone up the mountain to lick honey.
Zhao Shu took it all in but pretended not to notice.
After returning home, she remembered that earlier this year Lu Jinnian had come to her about going to Longxing Temple.
Back then, Zhao Shu was afraid Lu Jinnian was using it as an excuse and wasn’t truly going to the temple. She had even verified the details with the abbot. Everything checked out, so she didn’t think much of it afterward.
Now that she thought about it, perhaps something—or someone—at Longxing Temple had captivated Fourth Master Lu.
Having figured this out, Zhao Shu immediately summoned a servant and instructed, “In the next couple of days, have someone inquire whether there are any especially handsome or well-known monks at Longxing Temple.”
As the New Year approached, Zhao Shu was busy with many matters. With her recent temple visit to fulfill a vow, she’d barely had time to catch her breath.
She truly didn’t want her brother-in-law to stir up any more trouble.
“And also, from now on, no matter which master of the house is going out, the gatekeeper must report it to me. If I can’t find someone, and they’ve slipped out on their own, I’ll hold the gatekeeper on duty accountable.”
The servant acknowledged and quickly went to deliver the message.
After giving her orders, Zhao Shu retrieved the household ledgers. Everything seemed to be in order, but she still needed to show them to Wen Ruyu.
During the New Year period, the entire house had to be thoroughly cleaned. Cash had to be exchanged into gold, silver, and copper coins. Festive goods had to be prepared, and bonuses distributed to the shop staff.
While the fieldwork could now be managed by Lu Bainian, Zhao Shu still needed to reconcile the accounts afterward. The Lu family owned more land now, which meant more work to oversee.
After settling the accounts, it was nearly mealtime, so Zhao Shu personally brought the ledgers to the Old Madam.
Coincidentally, the third daughter-in-law was there as well, and the three women chatted for a while.
As it got late, Wen Ruyu asked them to stay and have dinner together.
That night, a fish dish was served. Normally, Zhao Shu liked fish soup, but just smelling it this time made her nauseous.
Wen Ruyu immediately sent for a doctor. After checking her pulse, it was confirmed—Zhao Shu was pregnant again.
Wen Ruyu was stunned at first, but then realized she should be happy. A smile finally appeared on her face.
In the cold winter, Wen Ruyu usually didn’t dine with her sons, but tonight she happened to have two daughters-in-law around.
So, the message was sent to the eldest son by a servant.
Upon hearing his wife was pregnant again, Lu Songnian rushed over, not even stopping to eat.
Seeing Zhao Shu sitting at the couch, gently touching her belly with a tender expression, the usually serious Lu Songnian grinned like a fool.
Wen Ruyu watched the couple show affection and didn’t want to interrupt them. Instead, she told the third daughter-in-law, “While your elder sister-in-law’s belly isn’t big yet, take over some of her responsibilities. The household can’t be left unmanaged. When she’s further along, help her out more. Sisters-in-law should support each other.”
Lin Xiaoyin was a bit surprised. After all, she was the wife of a concubine-born son. She hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to entrust her with major household duties.
Clearly, Wen Ruyu viewed her as equal to the eldest daughter-in-law.
Gaining greater authority over the household made Lin Xiaoyin genuinely happy and more respectful toward her mother-in-law.
“Yes,” she said, standing up and bowing.
Wen Ruyu finished another bowl of fish soup and had the dishes cleared away.
Not needing attendants nearby, she let her sons and daughters-in-law return to their own quarters.
Zhao Shu wasn’t visibly pregnant yet, but Lu Songnian insisted on helping her walk, afraid she might fall.
Zhao Shu thought to herself, This is my second pregnancy, and even I’m not this careful, yet my husband is still treating me as delicately as if it were my first. Her heart filled with sweetness.
Back in their courtyard, Zhao Shu asked the servants to prepare a foot soak and sat beside Lu Songnian, chatting.
“The Old Madam had said before that since the younger brother and his wife just got married, they should spend time together, and that the sister-in-law shouldn’t manage household matters yet. But in recent months, I’ve often seen her at the Old Madam’s place, sometimes even more often than I visit.”
Lu Songnian didn’t say much at first.
So Zhao Shu continued, “Do you think she still has some resentment over the things the third brother did earlier?”
Lu Songnian replied, “The third brother made mistakes, but it’s not enough to ruin their marriage over a concubine. I think the third sister-in-law is kind, not the jealous type.”
Zhao Shu disagreed. “You don’t get it. This isn’t about jealousy—it’s about your men’s integrity.”
Lu Songnian laughed, “Alright, I don’t get it.”
“But that’s their marital matter. You’re pregnant now, so don’t think too much. Tomorrow, I’ll go ask the second brother for a few books. You should read too. He’s always grinning while reading his old books. If only you could be carefree like him.”
“Don’t talk like that about Bainen,” Zhao Shu said with a chuckle, though the image of the simple-minded second brother did amuse her.
After their foot soak, Lu Songnian chose to stay with his wife that night instead of going to his study. They turned in early.
The next morning after breakfast, Zhao Shu heard that Lady Wang from the neighboring Song family had come over.
Zhao Shu was surprised. With the New Year coming, the women in charge of households should be busy. Why would Lady Wang visit now?
She had the servants invite her in, but before Zhao Shu could ask, Lady Wang explained her reason.
It turned out the Song family’s third son, Song Lin, was getting married in the coming year. The engagement had just been settled.
Lady Wang didn’t come just to deliver the news. She pulled Zhao Shu aside for a little break and went over to Wen Ruyu’s place to play cards.
Upon hearing the news, Wen Ruyu simply congratulated her.
No matter how useless Song Lin was, he was still a member of the Song family. Wen Ruyu had no reason to criticize him in front of Lady Wang.
Several ladies sat down to play. Lin Xiaoyin and Lu Mingzhu, who wasn’t attending classes at the moment, were also called over so neighbors could get better acquainted.
They also shared the news of Zhao Shu’s pregnancy. Lady Wang was genuinely happy and offered multiple congratulations.
As they chatted, conversation drifted to everyday family matters.
Lady Wang, while playing mahjong, continued talking about her family.
“I’ve said all along, they should’ve gotten a wife for the third boy earlier. Someone to guide and manage him so he wouldn’t have gone astray. But no one listened. Only after that scandal in Lihua Alley did they finally agree. He’s turning twenty-five and still a bachelor, hanging around that Zheng Qiao. It’s a miracle he hasn’t turned worse.”
“I heard Zheng Qiao’s wife is pregnant now. Even someone like him, making a living off disgraceful dealings, has a child on the way. Must’ve done some good in his past life.”
“He’s still in that business?” Zhao Shu asked curiously.
Lu Mingzhu, being a proper young lady, simply listened in silence.
She had heard a few things about Zheng Qiao and her older brothers.
Lin Xiaoyin, new to the household but already familiar with the family gossip, knew Zheng Qiao had a bad reputation.
“After such a scandal, how could he continue? Don’t they care about their industry’s reputation?” she asked. Her father often dealt with legal matters, so she was well-versed in local gossip.
Lady Wang chuckled, “That I don’t know.”
“But I heard he recently started a herbal medicine business. Imagine that—from selling paper effigies to medicine. What a leap.”
Lu Mingzhu couldn’t help but ask, “What if it’s fake medicine?”
Lady Wang cracked a grim joke: “If it doesn’t kill you, fine. If it does—well, he sells paper offerings too.”
It was nearing New Year, and Zhao Shu didn’t want to invite bad luck. “I doubt it’s that bad. Probably just ineffective at most.”
“Fake or not, I heard he’s making good money. His house is full of singing and partying, men and women coming and going. That Liu woman really married poorly,” Lady Wang gossiped.
The conversation seemed to be drifting toward Lu Bainen and Lu Jinnian, so Lady Wang decided to stop there and change the topic.
Before she could, Wen Ruyu suddenly commented, “It’s always these lecherous men that cause chaos in their homes.”
The room fell silent.
But the more they thought about it, the more they agreed—over the past few years, all the trouble had come from the men’s lust.
Before they knew it, it was the Lunar New Year.
On New Year’s Eve, the house was filled with joy.
The kitchen was busy preparing dishes on multiple stoves, using plenty of firewood without concern.
There were dishes like lotus leaf steamed pork, fried quail eggs, roasted duck, roast goose, chicken soup, boiled lamb ribs, and braised donkey meat. They even got beef yesterday to stir-fry today—not to mention the various nuts, candied fruits, and assorted pastries.
The smell from the kitchen reached all the way to the third courtyard.
Lu Qing wasn’t attending school lately. Someone had bought him a bunch of firecrackers. After washing up, he immediately went out looking for Tiechui to play.
Tiechui held his daughter, while leading his brother-in-law’s son, Shuanzi, along with a few other children, and set off firecrackers in the front yard.
Each time a firecracker went off, the children cheered—never tiring of it.
The front gates were wide open. Occasionally, someone would enter and cheerfully greet Lu Qing, sometimes picking him up to play with him.
They showed respect, of course, but since he was still a child, the adults mostly found him fun to tease.
Lu Qing was eager to run out the door.
“Be good, young master. If you go out, the kidnappers might take you, and you’ll never come back,” Tiechui warned him with many scary stories until Lu Qing gave up and stopped fussing about going out.