Chapter 4: Harmony in the Family Brings Prosperity to All Matters

Liang Ping saw that her sister-in-law was sincere about the gift of meat, so she smiled and accepted it.

"Good, good, good. I know your cured meat is the most delicious. I’ll make cured meat rice for the children as soon as I get back, so they’ll know how good their aunt is."

The relationship between Mrs. Wu and Liang Ping was quite good, so she smiled and walked them to the door.

Liang Ping was thoughtful and concerned for her, "You’ve just finished your confinement, don't catch a cold. Go back inside quickly and take care of yourself."

Liang Jin felt the same way and hurriedly told Xiao Hong, "Escort the young mistress back; don't let her catch a cold."

Seeing him doting on his wife like this, Old Mrs. Liang couldn't help but roll her eyes with her wrinkled face.

"Hmph, look at you."

Seeing her mother act this way, Liang Ping whispered to persuade her, "Harmony brings prosperity to everything. Don't always go against your daughter-in-law; the whole family relies on her."

Although Mrs. Wu wasn't a scholar, she was at least a dab hand at managing the household.

Not only was her cooking top-notch, but her needlework was also excellent.

Any craft a young lady should know, she did with great refinement—the kind that could sell for a good price. Where else would you find such a good daughter-in-law? It was only her mother who couldn't see it clearly.

Old Mrs. Liang didn't like being lectured by her daughter and immediately retorted, "Go, go, go, go back to your husband's house. You're too long-winded."

Liang Ping laughed at her grumpy attitude, "Alright, alright, I'm leaving then. I'll come back to see you on the second day of the Lunar New Year."

Old Mrs. Liang was still fond of her daughter after all, so she agreed, "You all come then. I'll have all the good food prepared for you, and you must stay the night."

Liang Ping was also filial, so she smiled and agreed before heading back with her husband.

After seeing Liang Ping off, the Wu family was also ready to leave.

Liang Jin personally saw his parents-in-law out and even brought them many local specialties from the town.

Although the Wu family didn't lack food or clothing, Mr. Wu and Mrs. Wu were still very happy that their son-in-law had such a thoughtful heart.

And so, the family happily boarded the carriage and headed home.

Once the guests had left, Liang Jin sent Old Mrs. Liang back to her room and then hurried back to see his wife.

Mrs. Wu was currently changing their daughter's diaper. Seeing her husband enter, she smiled and wrapped the baby up.

"You're back?"

Liang Jin nodded with a smile, "Yes. Has Ying-jie slept?"

Mrs. Wu gave a soft hum, "Just fell asleep. She wet herself earlier, so I'm changing her diaper now so she can sleep a bit longer tonight."

Liang Jin looked at his daughter, who smelled of milk, and smiled like a silly father.

"My daughter is so well-behaved."

Ying-jie, who was being praised even while sleeping:...

She inexplicably felt a wave of fatherly love.

That night, the couple chatted in bed, "I have to continue attending the teacher's lectures tomorrow. I'll leave the house to you."

Mrs. Wu nodded and said okay, "You focus on your studies; I'll handle things at home."

Although Old Mrs. Liang was the head of the Liang household, many matters required Mrs. Wu's assistance, so whenever Liang Jin went out, he left the household affairs to his wife.

He had to go to the old scholar in the neighboring town to study during the day, striving to pass the scholar exam next year, so he wasn't home during the day.

Mrs. Wu was already used to him being away during the day and let him study with peace of mind, telling him not to worry about the house.

She also sincerely hoped that her husband could pass the scholar exam.

After all, not everyone could be a scholar's wife, especially in a small place like theirs.

Plus, scholars were exempt from land taxes, and the family had a large amount of land waiting to be registered under Liang Jin's name, so Mrs. Wu also hoped her husband would pass the exam soon.

A portion of the Liang family's land was registered under the eldest son-in-law's name, while the rest had to pay land taxes themselves.

The Wu family also had a lot of land, and the taxes paid every year were not insignificant.

Therefore, the Wu family was also supporting the fourth Wu son in his studies.

The fourth Wu son, whose formal name was Wu Zheng, was a student like Liang Jin and also held the status of a *tongsheng* (child student).

Now, the whole family was hoping that both of them would pass the scholar exam next year.

After the couple finished their chatter, they went to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Ying-jie woke up hungry again and began to fuss, looking for her mother.

Mrs. Wu knew she was hungry just by hearing her whimpers.

So, with her eyes closed, she skillfully opened her clothes to feed her.

While feeding, she felt the diaper; seeing it was wet, she got up to change it for a clean one and took the opportunity to wash her with warm water.

The stove in the room kept a kettle of water warm. Once Mrs. Wu had cleaned her daughter up, she drank some warm water and lay back down to continue feeding.

As she fed her, she gently patted her daughter's back, whispering to coax her to sleep.

Ying-jie, in her infant body, was soothed by her mother's patting and fell back asleep after a few moments.

When she woke up the next day.

Her parents were no longer on the bed.

Seeing no one on the bed, Ying-jie let out a few "woo-wah" sounds, as if saying, "Did you both go out to play? How could you forget me?"

She wanted to go out and play too.

Hearing the commotion, Xiao Hong came over to pick her up.

"Ying-jie is awake? Are you hungry? Your mother is taking a bath right now; I'll take you to see her."

A bath? A bath in the middle of the day?

Xiao Hong saw her infant brows furrow and laughed, "You're still small, you don't understand the bitterness of confinement. The young mistress hasn't bathed for a whole month; she's all smelly. Now that she's out of confinement, she has to wash up properly."

Plus, the sun was bright today, so bathing and washing her hair now wouldn't make her catch a cold.

Xiao Hong carried Ying-jie over and called out inside, "Mistress, Ying-jie is awake and looking for you."

Mrs. Wu had just finished washing and came out with her hair wrapped.

"Did my little darling miss Mommy?"

She smiled and took her daughter, opening her clothes to start feeding.

Xiao Hong walked behind her to dry her hair.

Ying-jie smelled the fragrant scent on her mother, which was indeed much better than the past two days.

Seeing her bury her face in her chest, Mrs. Wu laughed, "I told you, not washing for a month makes one smell. Look at this, Ying-jie is burrowing into my chest. Hahaha~"

Xiao Hong laughed at the sight. Both mistress and servant had cheerful personalities and joked as they spoke.

Just as they were talking, Nanny Xu came to knock on the door.

"Young Mistress, are you in the room?"

Mrs. Wu and Xiao Hong exchanged a look, wondering why Nanny Xu was there. Still, she replied, "I'm here."

Xiao Hong went to open the door, and Nanny Xu walked in with a smile.

"The mistress says that the Spring Plowing Festival is coming up soon, so she wants you to buy some offerings for the Earth God. Especially for the young master, you need to prepare some festival gifts to send to the scholar."

Mrs. Wu suddenly realized, "Is that it? Alright, I'll go over to Mother's place to discuss it once I've coaxed the child to sleep."

Nanny Xu smiled and said okay, telling her to eat first, as her health was important.

Almost everyone in the family favored Mrs. Wu, even Nanny Xu, who was by Old Mrs. Liang's side.

Mrs. Wu smiled and said, "Alright, I'll eat something and head over shortly."

Xiao Hong took the opportunity to bring over the meat broth heated in the kitchen, along with a bag of warm pastries.

"Mistress, eat while it's hot. These are lotus seed paste buns; they're very fragrant."

Mrs. Wu smiled and took a bite, "Mmm, it is indeed fragrant and sweet. You have one too, but don't let anyone outside see. Eat quickly."

Xiao Hong glanced at the door, and seeing no one, quickly ate a bun.

Mrs. Wu ate the pastry and drank a bowl of meat broth, feeling full.

She let Xiao Hong watch Ying-jie while she got up to go to Old Mrs. Liang's room.

Seeing her about to leave, Ying-jie let out two "woo-wahs," clearly wanting to follow.

Heaven knows she had been cooped up in the room every day and had long wanted to go out and play.