Reborn as an Ugly Wife in the Countryside

After they entered the room,

Yang Ming’s father called his sons over, and each of them was carrying something in his hand.

They heard Yang Ming’s father say, "In-laws, in-law madam, I’m really sorry we came in such a hurry and didn’t prepare any proper gifts. These are all just things from our farm household. Please don’t look down on them."

Yang Ming’s father really hadn’t had time to prepare anything; he hadn’t expected things to move this fast.

For the moment he had nothing decent to bring out, and it was his third daughter-in-law who’d said that the Chu Family was such a big household they probably had whatever you could think of, so the gift was just a token of regard anyway.

So they simply brought some produce from their farm, just some ordinary foodstuffs.

Seeing the Yang Family had brought gifts, Master Chu said, "We don’t, we don’t look down on it. It’s already wonderful that you could come; there was no need to bring anything at all."

As he spoke he personally stepped forward to take the things and then found a place to set them down, to show he truly did not look down on them.

This scene took Xiaoxiao a bit by surprise. Normally you’d call a servant over to carry things away, but Master Chu actually went up in person to take them. It really made them feel overly honored.

After that everyone sat down, and the Chu Family’s courtesies were very thorough. The servants poured tea for everyone.

The two families sat together like that and started chatting about home and family.

To make the Yang Family feel at ease, Master Chu and Madam Chu kept to topics about the Yangs—from the eldest son to the youngest, then on to the two daughters in the family, and even the livelihoods these Yang children had taken up. They also talked about the academy that had opened in Yangjia Village.

The Chu Family’s warm hospitality did help the old Yangs loosen up.

Just like that they chatted for an hour, until Madam Chu finally found an opening and said, "Chu Lian, Xiangxiang, you two take the youngsters for a walk around the courtyard, and then go stroll through your own courtyard as well."

Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang understood what their mother meant, so they nodded and stood up.

At this moment they heard Madam Chu speak to Xiaoxiao as well, "You’re called Xiaoxiao, aren’t you? Then I’ll just call you that like Xiangxiang does. Leave the child to the four of us elders to look after, and you go along and have a bit of fun too."

Just then, Wang Xiangxiang also came over to persuade her, "Xiaoxiao, leave the child with my mother and the others. Let’s go over there and we’ll come back later."

Seeing this, Xiaoxiao could only agree. "Then I’ll trouble you, Madam Chu."

Hearing that form of address, Madam Chu quickly said, "What ’Madam’? I’m younger than your father-in-law and mother-in-law; just call us Uncle and Aunt, or Auntie."

"Then thank you, Aunt."

Although she was thanking Madam Chu, Xiaoxiao didn’t hand the child directly to her, but passed him to Yang Ming’s mother. She figured the other side was just being polite—how could she really expect them to look after the child for her.

So the group of youngsters went out like that, leaving only the four elders in the room.

As soon as the others left, Madam Chu immediately scooted over to sit beside Yang Ming’s mother.

"This child is so fair and chubby, such fine features—he’s sure to grow into a handsome young man." As she spoke she didn’t forget to beckon her own husband over to see the child. If she didn’t, he probably wouldn’t know how to find an excuse. "Old Master, look, isn’t he?"

Master Chu had just been worrying about how to make his way over; now, seeing his wife speak up like this, he immediately shot her a grateful look, then leaned over to the child’s side, took a few looks at him, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and said, "Yes, this little fellow looks very good. He’s sure to amount to something when he grows up."

Hearing her child praised like that, Yang Ming’s mother still used the same old line, "We don’t ask for great wealth or high rank, just that he live safe and sound."