"I haven’t heard of anyone getting pregnant recently. Maybe it’s just not the right time of the month yet," Ms. Wang took the opportunity to say to Yang Chuxia. "Daughter, you must remember our customs here. If you do get pregnant, it’s not good to talk about it before the three-month mark. It’s not good for the child."
"Really? Is that a thing?" Yang Chuxia asked doubtfully.
"Of course, it’s a tradition handed down from older generations." Ms. Wang said, then continued to stare at her daughter’s belly intensely.
Yang Chuxia broke out in a cold sweat. Her mother was really too eager for a grandchild.
She thought it would be better to leave now before her mother could bring up the topic again.
Unfortunately, she was a step too late.
"Daughter, did your period come this month?" Ms. Wang asked as soon as Yang Chuxia turned around.
Yang Chuxia looked at her mother helplessly and forced a smile, "Mother, are you my mother or my mother-in-law?"
"Tsk, you naughty girl. How dare you speak like that. I’m just looking out for you," Ms. Wang said.
"Mother, unfortunately, your wish didn’t come true. My period just ended today."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the disappointed look on Ms. Wang’s face as she stared at her belly and muttered, "How can there be no baby?"
With a dark expression on her face, Yang Chuxia quickly turned and left for home, unable to bear her mother’s gaze any longer.
Upon returning home and recalling her mother’s expression, Yang Chuxia sighed helplessly. She never said she didn’t want children – but there was no need to be too eager, right?
Actually, having a child seemed rather nice. A soft and tender baby would be fun to play with.
Everyone says sons resemble their mother, while daughters resemble their father. If they really had a girl who looked as delicate as Brother An, wouldn’t the threshold for suitors be overwhelmed when she grew up?
Or if they had a boy... imagine a shy mini-An, secretly cunning like his father, but also having Yang Chuxia’s big eyes and chubby cheeks. That’d be so adorably soft and cute!
Alright, Yang Chuxia, influenced by her mother’s excitement, began to imagine what their child might look like. When Ye Zi’an returned from the prefecture, he would find himself surrounded by her unparalleled enthusiasm.
At this moment, Yang Chuxia called over Mother Li.
"What does madam need from this old servant?"
Yang Chuxia’s finger tapped lightly on the table, creating a sudden noise in the quiet room that startled Mother Li. Her trembling gaze flicked between Yang Chuxia’s furrowed brow and forced smile.
"Madam, I... I haven’t done anything wrong! I’ve been doing my work diligently these past few days," said Mother Li desperately, though she knew she hadn’t done anything bad. Why would the madam want to see her?
"I know." Yang Chuxia waved her hand to quiet the old woman.
Mother Li remained silent, but her heart was now full of fear. Was the madam planning to send her family away and stop making use of their service?
The more she thought about it, the more Mother Li began to sweat. Her family had already suffered so much by being forced to leave the capital and come here – would they have to return to the slave market? If they were sold again by the main house, most households wouldn’t want them since such slaves were either incompetent or had committed crimes. Why would anyone want dishonest people serving them?
Just as she was about to kneel down and beg for mercy, Yang Chuxia finally spoke. To Mother Li’s ears, the sound was like heavenly music.
"Mother Li, Zi’an once mentioned you are skilled in helping women with their health, is that true?"