Chapter Six: Relatives from Mother’s Side Are Coming

When Meng Xuan returned to the Meng residence, night had already fallen. After seeing Lin Sanlang off at the shop and tidying up the account books, he carried home pork and wild game. Seeing that the main courtyard was still aglow with candlelight, he recalled his conversation with Lin Sanlang earlier and headed straight for the main house.

When Meng Xuan entered his father's study, Meng Shengze was in the midst of writing, brush moving swiftly across the paper. Meng Xuan sat down, smoothing his robe, and sipped the tea brought by the maid, not in any hurry to speak. He knew well enough that his father would soon grow impatient.

Sure enough—

"..."

"Ahem—so I heard that rascal Lin Sanlang came looking for you today. I wonder what for," Meng Shengze said, not putting down his brush, glancing sideways at Meng Xuan, who was calmly drinking his tea.

He cursed inwardly: this boy...

"It was nothing much. He was merely passing by and came to see his sister's son," Meng Xuan replied, without needing to see his father's expression to know that Meng Shengze was mentally cursing again: this rascal, this rascal...

A vein throbbed on Meng Shengze's temple. He forced himself to be patient: this is my son...this is my son...

Unable to continue writing, he finally asked, "How is your sister? Has she suffered? Is she sleeping well, eating well? Does she wish to come home...?" The moment he opened his mouth, he was already undermining his son-in-law—a true father, indeed.

Meng Xuan was speechless. How much did Father hope that his sister was having a hard time!

But Meng Shengze was doomed to disappointment, for his daughter was not merely doing well—she was thriving. She had given birth to a girl, who was doted on by the whole family. She ate and drank well every day. Meng Xuan relayed what Lin Sanlang had told him, combined with what he himself had heard, passing it all on to his father.

"She's doing quite well, in fact—she’s even put on weight..." Meng Shengze sounded a bit disappointed.

Meng Xuan sighed inwardly. Father was hopeless...

Outside, Madam Meng listened to her husband and son's conversation, feeling both joy and sorrow. She was glad her daughter was living well, cherished by her husband, with a wise mother-in-law and harmonious sisters-in-law, and even had gained weight. Yet she was saddened by her daughter's stubbornness. Years ago, she had threatened that if her daughter dared marry Lin Sanlang, she would no longer be her child, never to return home. Her daughter had left without so much as a backward glance, and two years had passed without her coming back. Madam Meng wiped her tears daily, unable to control her longing for her daughter.

Just as stubborn as Meng Shengze.

Meng Shengze thought, "Is this my fault?"

He had known when his daughter was pregnant; what mother doesn't care for her child? Whatever news Meng Shengze heard, she knew too. When she learned her daughter had given birth to a girl, the thought of the pain of childbirth brought her to tears, and she rushed inside without a second thought.

"Yun'er has had a daughter; I must go and care for her," Madam Meng couldn't hold back any longer, feeling she owed her daughter.

Inside, Meng Xuan and Meng Shengze were taken aback. Hearing Madam Meng’s words, they were stunned: she was actually going to seek out her daughter, offering to care for her.

Meng Shengze knew his wife’s temper best; he could tell she wasn't speaking rashly.

Her nature was resolute and stubborn. Years ago, to marry him, she stayed away from the Bai family for over ten years, simply because the old Bai matriarch had declared that if she married, she should never return. True to her word, she never did. Now, at odds with her daughter, she hadn't seen her for two years, nor asked after her, but secretly shed tears in private, causing Meng Shengze much heartache.

Now she was taking the initiative to care for her daughter—she could hold back no longer. Meng Shengze and Meng Xuan exchanged secret smiles.

Perhaps noticing her husband and son’s sly amusement, Madam Meng’s face flushed with embarrassment. "I am doing this for my granddaughter. Meng Yun’s health is poor and she has no milk. Will my granddaughter have enough to eat? That settles it—I’ll leave early tomorrow. I must go pack." With that, she turned briskly and went off to prepare her luggage.

Meng Shengze and Meng Xuan were left speechless. Couldn’t she wait until tomorrow morning?