Chu Mansion Front Hall
Chu Lian’s father and mother were waiting for their son and daughter-in-law with smiling faces when suddenly the Little Maid dashed in again, flustered, "Master, Madam, the young master and his wife have returned."
"Master? What’s this..." The wife of Chu Lian was unsettled again, wondering why their son and his wife had turned back halfway.
"Let’s wait a bit longer," said Chu Lian’s father, although he too was calculating in his heart what exactly had happened.
"Dad, Mom, it’s alright, they’ll definitely come. They must have just forgotten something and gone back for it," Chu Huan felt that her sister-in-law marrying into their family was surely a blessing from her previous life, cherished by her brother and their parents, and she was very fond of her sister-in-law as well.
"Yes, Xiaohuan is right, let’s not panic."
After a short while, Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang arrived in the front hall with gifts for the meeting.
Before they could even enter the room, Wang Xiangxiang was so nervous that she stumbled over the threshold of the front hall, exclaiming anxiously, "Ah!"
In the front hall, sitting in the main seats, Chu Lian’s father and mother inhaled sharply out of fear, quickly standing up, worried that their daughter-in-law would have an accident.
Chu Lian, who was by her side, acted swiftly to support Wang Xiangxiang, thus preventing her from taking an embarrassing fall, "Walk slowly, be careful of our son."
"I didn’t want to fall either," retorted Wang Xiangxiang, but realizing the situation was not suitable, she immediately shut her mouth and lowered her head, her face blushing with shame.
Seeing their daughter-in-law was unharmed, Chu Lian’s father and mother breathed a sigh of relief and settled back into their seats.
Chu Lian brought Wang Xiangxiang in front of the two elders, his face lit with joy and satisfaction, "Dad, Mom, this is your daughter-in-law, Xiangxiang."
Chu Lian’s father and mother were nodding continuously upon seeing Wang Xiangxiang, indicating their satisfaction.
"My lady, this is my father, this is my mother," Chu Lian was introducing his wife to his parents.
Raising her head with a hint of shyness, Wang Xiangxiang called out softly, "Father, Mother."
"Ah, yes," the wife of Chu Lian was repeatedly responding with joy, then instructed a servant to serve tea.
Kneeling on a prepared cushion, Wang Xiangxiang received the tea that the Little Maid brought over, "Father, please have some tea."
"Ah," answered Chu Lian’s father, taking the tea.
Wang Xiangxiang then took another teacup, "Mother, please have some tea."
"Good, good," Chu Lian’s mother took the tea with a smile and drank it down, finally having her new daughter-in-law serve tea.
Afterward, Chu Lian’s father and mother each handed over a red envelope; Wang Xiangxiang accepted them with a smile, thanking them, "Thank you, Father, thank you, Mother."
Chu Lian helped Wang Xiangxiang to rise, then introduced his sister, "My lady, this is my sister, Chu Huan."
"Xiaohuan, call your sister-in-law," Chu Lian conveyed through a look to his sister.
"Sister-in-law, hello," called out Chu Huan cheerfully.
Wang Xiangxiang took out the gift she had prepared for the meeting, "Xiaohuan, this is the gift your sister-in-law prepared for you. Your sister-in-law didn’t know she would marry here and didn’t prepare something special for you, so don’t mind it. Whatever you like later on, your sister-in-law will prepare it for you."
Hearing this, Chu Lian’s mother and father nodded repeatedly, fond of the child’s unsophisticated and candid nature.
"Thank you, sister-in-law," responded Chu Huan, receiving the gift with great happiness.
Later, the family sat in the hall chatting idly, mainly about Wang Xiangxiang’s belly. Chu Lian’s mother, with an amiable face, held Wang Xiangxiang’s hand, instructing her to be mindful of this and that.
Wang Xiangxiang nodded and agreed to each point, but as they talked, she started to feel that something was off. Why did her mother-in-law look so familiar?
Suddenly remembering something, her eyes widened, "Auntie, is it you?"