Yang Chuxia followed behind, dripping with cold sweat, thinking to herself whether she was really just two months along or about to give birth. She needed support just to walk, and yet her mother managed to be even more dramatic?
And what she didn’t know at that moment was that there was, indeed, something more dramatic waiting in the wings.
So, after staying at the Yang Family home for two days, she couldn’t stand it any longer and insisted on going back to her own apartment to sleep.
The thing she couldn’t bear was having someone nattering on from dawn to dusk saying, "Don’t do this, don’t do that," and then it was, "Drink this soup, now drink that soup." Soup was fine; it’s just that after drinking so much, she constantly needed the bathroom. And Ms.Wang wouldn’t let her go to the outhouse alone; she always had to have someone accompany her.
Was she even pregnant, or was this like monitoring a prisoner?
If it were just that, Chuxia could have endured it, but why was her mother staring at her belly all day long as if that would make any difference? Did she think by staring more, the belly would inflate like a balloon?
Oh Lord, she’d only lived there for five days, and already there were too many annoyances. She didn’t want to think about it any longer. Now that she was back home, things could hopefully relax a bit.
"Xiu’er, quickly take my things up to the apartment," she commanded.
"Mingcui, Ming Liu, later you take Yanzhu to the house to check if anyone is home. If there is, return the child, if not, bring her back again," Yang Chuxia leaned back in the chair, finally catching her breath. Seeing Yanzhu happily playing outside, she continued, "The child’s parents really aren’t worried, are they? Their kid is fussing for mom and yet, even though they live in the same village, they don’t stop by to check on her. We take her back and there’s still no one at the house."
"Madam, your cousin trusts you," one of the servants offered.
"Stop that, who knows what that couple is busy with these days." Yang Chuxia took another sip of water, feeling much more refreshed. It was no longer like before, when asking for water would result in being handed soup—at times too much of a good thing. Now at her own home, she could finally escape the nagging. Even though her mother lived close by, she wouldn’t come over every waking hour.
After sitting for a while, Chuxia said, "Xiu’er, go tell Sister-in-law Li to make some vegetarian dishes for lunch. Things like radishes and greens would be good. I’ve had so many pork rib soups these past few days I’m practically drowning in them, and make the soup a vegetable broth, too."
Xiu’er found it amusing to hear this. The pork rib soup was excellent; why didn’t the madam like it? So many people longed for a taste but couldn’t get it.
After going to the kitchen and coming back, Yang Chuxia thought for a moment and then said, "Go and tell Sister-in-law Li that when she goes to the market tomorrow, to remember to buy some fruits. Whatever is available."
"Yes, I’ll hurry on it," Xiu’er acknowledged and then, giving it a thought, she asked, "Madam, would you like some sour plums, or possibly something else?"
"No, those are too tart and the pickled ones aren’t tasty either." Yang Chuxia rubbed her chin, considering. Then it seemed the numbing and spicy chicken from Jule Tower sounded good to her. She turned to Xiu’er and said, "I’m in the mood for Jule Tower’s spicy chicken, and the numbing and spicy duck from that shop in the north of the town, as well as their neighbor’s spicy radish cubes."
"Madam, please choose something else," Xiu’er said, breaking into a sweat just from hearing the request. These were all things the mistress of the Yang Family had forbidden her from eating, believing that spicy foods could be harmful to the baby’s skin.
Yang Chuxia, exasperated, glared at her and said, "Wasn’t it you who asked if I wanted something different? But when I choose what I want, you tell me to pick something else. Are you playing a trick on me?"
"Madam, you really shouldn’t eat those," Xiu’er said, nearly in tears. Could someone please tell her why her mistress had suddenly become so childish?