Xu Bao’er fell ill with a high fever that night due to the solution Anning had given her.
Xu Pengju and Mrs. Xu were extremely worried, constantly summoning the doctor and taking care of Xu Bao’er.
Even Anning went over to Xu Bao’er’s place to take care of her and comfort Mrs. Xu.
Mrs. Xu cried as if she were made of tears, "Ningning, my Baobao, you say nothing will happen to her, right?" Google seaʀᴄh NovelHub(.)net
Anning quickly responded, "Aunt, sister Bao’er will definitely be alright. Think about it, she woke up after being in a coma for several days before, and probably just hasn’t fully recovered yet. Taking some medicine and resting should make things right."
Mrs. Xu trusted Anning greatly. Hearing Anning say Xu Bao’er would be fine, she stopped crying, "Good child, I am so grateful to you. What would I have done without you?"
Anning called a maid over to fetch a towel, wiped the sweat from Xu Bao’er’s brow, and whispered softly, "It pains me to see sister Bao’er . Aunt, forgive my blunt words, but sister Bao’er has always been healthy. Over the years, she never had any significant illnesses. Why has this illness struck her so severely? Could we have offended something?"
Mrs. Xu was quite superstitious, and upon hearing this, she couldn’t help but ponder deeply.
Xu Pengju scolded with a stern face: "Stop talking nonsense, how could we have possibly offended anything?"
Ignoring Xu Pengju, Anning whispered to Mrs. Xu, "Aunt, I heard that Mr. Yue lost his father right after he was born. I think he might be rather ill-fated— otherwise, why would sister Bao’er fall ill just as they are about to get married?"
If Anning hadn’t mentioned it, she would not have thought in that direction, but now Anning’s words made her worry more and more.
Indeed, it’s said that when Yue Zhong was born, his father rushed home on horseback, startled the horse mid-way and fell to his death. It shows he really might have a harsh fate.
If that’s really the case, then if Baobao marries into the Yue family, she might also...
The more Mrs. Xu thought about it, the more frightened she became. Baobao was her only daughter. If anything happened to her, wouldn’t it be the end of her?
After struggling through the night, Baobao’s fever subsided, and opening her eyes, she saw Xu Pengju and Mrs. Xu, and then Anning, who gave her a knowing look. She realized things had partially succeeded.
She coughed a few times, and Xu Pengju and Mrs. Xu hurriedly leaned in to ask, "Baobao, how do you feel? What’s uncomfortable?"
Baobao looked at Xu Pengju, tears unrestrainedly flowing down her face.
She was already pale, becoming thinner after lying ill these few days and looking extremely frail. Her crying threw Xu Pengju into a panic.
"Baobao, don’t cry. Whatever you want, dad will get it for you. Let’s not cry."
Baobao gazed steadily at Xu Pengju, "Dad, I want to call off the engagement. I don’t want to marry into the Yue family. I don’t want to marry..."
Xu Pengju was taken aback by her words.
He was initially shocked and tried to scold her, but seeing Baobao crying so pitifully, he couldn’t bring himself to utter the harsh words.
Baobao continued to cry, and Xu Pengju’s heart softened, "Ah, Baobao, your marriage was arranged when you were just a child. How can you just call it off like that? If you break off the engagement, your reputation will be ruined..."
Baobao sobbed, "It’s not that your daughter despises poverty and seeks wealth without regard for our family’s reputation. It’s really because I was so ill, and when I woke up, seeing mom and dad anxious and heartbroken, and having aged so much because of it, it grieved me. We only have one child in our family, and if I marry off and leave you alone... how could I live in peace?"
At her words, Xu Pengju was overwhelmed with heartache, while Mrs. Xu burst into tears.
Anning, wiping her tears at the side, murmured to herself, "I miss my father..."
Xu Pengju thought of his good friend, too, tears streaming down his face.
He only has Xu Bao’er as a daughter, just like He Juren who only had Anning. Both of them capable, obtained the title of scholar when young, later accumulating a considerable amount of family wealth. However, having such wealth but no descendants to pass it on to, remains a regret.
Thinking of how He Juren was so worried about Anning when he was dying, always thinking ahead for her.
He looked at his daughter again, and it felt like his heart was being stabbed.
"Dear Baobao, how could your mother bear to let you leave..."
Madam Xu sobbed uncontrollably while embracing Xu Bao’er.
Xu Pengju wiped his tears and said, "Baobao, tell dad, have you taken a fancy to any young gentleman?"
Xu Bao’er shook her head, her face embodying pure innocence, "What are you talking about, dad? I hardly ever leave the house, how could I take a fancy to anyone? I just... I heard that in a family like ours, I could seek a husband to come live with us. I thought about not marrying out but bringing a son-in-law into our home to respect you and mother, and later have more children, so as not to end the Xu family’s lineage."
Xu Pengju was taken aback.
He and Yue Zhong’s father were also good friends. When Madam Xu was pregnant with Xu Bao’er, they went drinking, and while drunk, mentioned becoming in-laws or something. After sobering up, they didn’t backtrack and had settled the marriage arrangement.
For all these years, because of this marriage arrangement, Xu Pengju never had other ideas.
He had never thought that he could arrange for Xu Bao’er to invite a son-in-law to live with them.
Yes, why hadn’t he thought of it?
He was a scholar, his home was not short of money, and Xu Bao’er was his only child; he could wholly bring in a son-in-law.
Never mind those who don’t wish to become live-in sons-in-law.
Those are from families of equal social standing, those with several sons who are so poor they can barely eat, willing to do anything for their sons’ livelihood.
Besides, there are many families in the countryside who can’t find wives, finding a young man who is honest, decent, and good-looking to take home and teach about life’s principles, and after a few years marrying him to Baobao would be a perfect solution.
This way, he wouldn’t have to worry about Baobao being mistreated by another family.
Furthermore, Baobao’s children would carry the Xu family name, preventing the family line from ending—it’s such a good outcome.
As Xu Pengju pondered, his heart was genuinely moved.
As for the marriage arrangement with the Yue Family.
Ha, Xu Pengju was never fond of Xu Bao’er’s arranged marriage with Yue Zhong.
Xu Bao’er is too simple and soft, lacking cunning and quite frail, whereas Yue Zhong is deep and rather sinister; indeed, they are not a suitable match.
Xu Pengju looked at Mrs. Xu.
Clearly, Mrs. Xu was also moved by this proposal.
Tears brimming her eyes, she looked at Xu Pengju and said, "My lord, I think Baobao is right."
Xu Pengju rubbed his forehead, "Let me think about it thoroughly."
Anning secretly gestured to Xu Bao’er, who sighed in relief, then she grabbed her head and said, "Dad, mom, my head really hurts, I, I want to sleep now, you can leave first, let Sister Ning stay with me."
Both Xu Pengju and Mrs. Xu wanted to discuss the matter of accepting a son-in-law for Xu Bao’er, so they didn’t stay much longer and left together.
As soon as they left, Xu Bao’er smiled and gestured Anning to lie down on the bed with her.
"Sister, your plan is really good, I see both my parents were somewhat moved."
Anning laughed lightly, "It’s not just being moved, I see that uncle is very likely to agree to this."
Xu Bao’er laughed joyfully, "If we can seek a husband that would move in, I’m willing, as I don’t want to leave home. I just want to live comfortably at home with my parents."
Isn’t that true, living freely at one’s own home is the most comfortable way.