Wang Xiangxiang became more and more convinced that this mother-in-law looked just like the beggar who had appeared at the entrance of Cloth Shop earlier. She couldn’t help but voice her thoughts aloud.
As soon as she spoke, the room fell instantly silent. Wang Xiangxiang looked at the few people around her, noticing something off about their facial expressions.
It was over, she feared she had spoken out of turn. Even if that person was her mother-in-law, she shouldn’t have publicly embarrassed her.
She had to think of a way to smooth things over and, with a smile, she said, "Mother, I just mistook someone else for you, I’m sorry."
"You didn’t mistake her. It’s her," Mr. Chu interjected at that moment, feeling that his wife’s behavior was indeed inappropriate.
Mrs. Chu’s face bore a hint of embarrassment, but as someone who had weathered many storms, this was nothing. Besides, she did owe up to her own mistake.
She began, "Xiangxiang, back then your mother was simply too curious about the girl her son had taken a liking to. And not wanting to reveal my identity, I resorted to such a petty trick."
"Pfft." Wang Xiangxiang couldn’t help but laugh, then took Mrs. Chu’s hand, chuckling, "Mother, you’re so amazing, you really had me fooled."
"Sister-in-law, don’t mind her, she does this kind of thing often," Chu Huan chimed in, undermining his own mother.
Wang Xiangxiang had not expected Chu Lian’s family to be so easy to get along with. The mother-in-law even had such adorable quirks. Smiling, she continued, "Hehe, actually, that trick wasn’t mean at all. If mother had pretended to be some formidable guest giving me trouble, I probably wouldn’t have been able to withstand it."
Wang Xiangxiang really broke out in a cold sweat internally. If that were the case, her short temper might have led to a confrontation with her mother-in-law, ruining all her image.
"Xiangxiang, that’s not a bad idea. Next time I have the chance, I’ll try out that act," Mrs. Chu remarked.
"..." She had only said it offhandedly. This mother-in-law was just too playful.
"Mother, maybe you should just forget about it and stay quietly at home," Chu Huan finally voiced his fear of his mother’s unpredictable antics.
Chu Lian, watching Xiangxiang getting along so well with the family, was especially happy. He couldn’t help but remind everyone, "Alright, stop chatting. My wife and I haven’t had breakfast yet."
"Oh, right, right, let’s hurry to the dining hall," Mrs. Chu said, pulling Wang Xiangxiang by the hand toward it.
Chu Lian, left behind, felt as if he’d been slighted.
Chu Huan trailed them, glanced at his brother with a curl of his lip. He thought to himself that he was the one who’d been pushed aside, alright.
The family then proceeded to the dining hall, where the meal was already prepared.
Once everyone was seated, Mr. Chu said, "Alright, let’s eat."
They began their meal, and Chu Lian was particularly attentive to Wang Xiangxiang, offering her this and that, leaving her somewhat embarrassed. She whispered, "I can do it myself."
"Xiangxiang, don’t be shy. Eat up. Now that you’re pregnant, you need to eat more to help the baby grow strong and healthy," her mother-in-law encouraged.
"Yes, mother, I know," Wang Xiangxiang replied, no longer reserved and began to eat heartily. She was, indeed, quite hungry.
Amidst the meal, a house servant came to report, "My lord, madam."
"There’s a young master at the door asking for our young master."
Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang’s heart skipped a beat. Had Han Yongsheng come so quickly?
Nervously clutching Chu Lian’s arm, Wang Xiangxiang listened as Chu Lian reassured her, "Don’t be afraid. What’s inevitable will come. I’ll go out and meet him right now."