Shen Niannian stepped forward with a smile and took the things from his hands.
“Father!”
Gu Zhenhua looked at his new daughter-in-law—obedient, sensible, and polite—and felt a surge of warmth.
“I bought some grapes and autumn pears. Go wash them quickly and let’s all have some!”
Seeing how many grapes he had brought, Tian Yuefang chided him gently.
“Why did you buy grapes? The Wangs next door have a vine absolutely heavy with fruit—they told me just the other day to come over and pick all I want!”
Gu Zhenhua shook his head, smiling.
“Ah, you don’t understand! Their grapes are so sour they make your teeth ache. These—try these—are wonderfully sweet!”
He plucked one, wiped it casually on his sleeve, and popped it straight into Tian Yuefang’s mouth.
Tian Yuefang chewed, laughing and swatting playfully at his arm. “You didn’t even wash it!”
Gu Zhenhua winked at her cheekily. “A little dirt never hurt anyone!”
The whole room burst out laughing.
Shen Niannian could hardly believe her eyes. Was this really the Gu family Shen Youyou had always spoken so poorly of? A gentle, kind mother-in-law; a sweet, straightforward sister-in-law; two adorable little children; and a husband who was not only handsome but thoughtful and caring? This was a family any woman would count herself lucky to marry into!
And yet… when she remembered how every single one of them had fared in her past life, her smile faded slowly away. In this lifetime, perhaps there was still time. Perhaps she could change their fate. Most of all—she would keep Gu Yanzhi safe.
Just then, the tinkle of a bicycle bell sounded from outside. All heads turned to see the eldest brother, Gu Yanping, riding into the yard. Tian Yuefang glanced at the bags hanging from his handlebars—exactly as he had carried them out, exactly as he had brought them back—and knew at once he had failed again.
Gu Zhenhua sighed sadly. “Yanping… still no luck finding work?”
Gu Yanping nodded, his shoulders slumped. “Nothing at all.”
He set the bicycle down and only then noticed Shen Niannian standing beside Gu Yanzhi. He smacked his forehead in sudden realization—of course! His younger brother had been married yesterday! This must be his new sister-in-law!
He hurried over with an apologetic smile. “Ah—Sister-in-law! You’ve arrived! Forgive me, my mind has been all over the place lately!”
Shen Niannian smiled warmly and called out, “Eldest Brother.”
Gu Yanping was not quite as striking in appearance as his two younger siblings. Yanzhi and Yanzhen both took after Tian Yuefang, soft and fine-featured; Yanping, by contrast, bore a strong resemblance to Gu Zhenhua—square-jawed, high-bridged nose, thick dark eyebrows, and wire-rimmed glasses. Dressed in a neat Zhongshan suit, he looked every bit the earnest, old-fashioned scholar.
As if remembering something, he gestured toward the east room. “Is… is your sister-in-law still abed?”
Gu Yanzhen rolled her eyes. “Since coming back to the city, has she once risen before noon?”
Her sister-in-law had been married to her brother two or three years now. They had met while working together on a state farm as sent-down youth, and visits home had always been brief. But every single time she came, she made the house miserable.
Gu Yanping knew his wife was often unreasonable, yet the thought that she was carrying his child softened his heart instantly. He gave Gu Yanzhi and Shen Niannian an awkward, apologetic smile.
“She… she is with child, you know. It makes one terribly drowsy. Let her rest a little longer.”
He looked away, flushing with embarrassment, and hurried into the house—leaving Gu Yanzhen to roll her eyes so far back they nearly disappeared.
“Pregnant or not, she never rose before noon! She is simply lazy! Why must everyone pretend otherwise?”
She had not kept her voice low. Shen Niannian did not know whether the woman inside had heard—but she herself certainly had.
Shen Niannian frowned thoughtfully. She remembered something Shen Youyou had once said about this very eldest brother’s marriage: that the child Sun Meiling carried might not be his at all. In her past life, after the baby was born, a routine blood test had revealed a type completely incompatible with the Gu family. The revelation had torn the household apart in scandal and shame. Shen Youyou had watched the whole affair unfold with undisguised delight.
Could this be the very same child?
Shen Niannian bit her lip. She could not possibly speak of such a thing. If she were wrong, the entire family would turn against her. And besides—she had only just married into the Gu family. She was a stranger to them all. No one would believe her.
She took a deep breath and told herself silently: Better to leave ten temples standing than to shatter a single marriage. For now, she would keep her suspicions to herself.
Sun Meiling slept until the sun hung high overhead. By the time she finally dragged herself out of bed, Shen Niannian had already helped Tian Yuefang prepare the entire midday meal. Even brushing her teeth and washing her face required Gu Yanping to wait on her hand and foot—and everyone seemed to treat it as perfectly normal.
Shen Niannian reflected that the Gu family was, at heart, unfailingly kind to their daughters-in-law. She only hoped Sun Meiling would prove worthy of such affection.
When Sun Meiling finally emerged and saw Shen Niannian, she paused, looking her up and down with obvious jealousy—though she quickly smoothed her expression over.
“Ah—Sister-in-law has arrived,” she called out lazily.
Shen Niannian nodded politely. “Greetings, Eldest Sister-in-law.”
Sun Meiling sat down heavily on a stool, running a hand over her still-flat stomach and sighing dramatically.
“Being with child, you see—one feels so dreadfully tired all the time. And the doctor says the first three months are most delicate; one simply must not exert oneself. So I allowed myself a little extra rest. I hope you will not think poorly of me, Sister-in-law.”
Shen Niannian gave a neutral, polite nod. “Not at all. The first three months do require extra care.”
In any case, she and Gu Yanzhi would be moving to the old house today. She would not have to live with this woman day after day. And truth be told—Sun Meiling was far more bearable than the two sisters-in-law she had endured in her past life with Wang Jiangang.
Tian Yuefang, though plainly unimpressed by Sun Meiling’s affectations, forced a gracious smile and gestured for everyone to sit.
“Niannian—come, sit, eat.”
Gu Zhenhua picked up his chopsticks and nodded warmly. “Yes, this is family—no need for formality. Niannian, help yourself!”
Gu Yanzhen beamed and brought out several glass bottles of soda she had bought specially. She opened one and set it before Shen Niannian.
“Second Sister-in-law! I bought these at the supply shop just for you—they are wonderfully refreshing!”
She handed one to Gu Yanzhi and one to Gu Yanping, kept one for herself—and pointedly handed none to Sun Meiling.
Sun Meiling flushed with anger. “Yanzhen! Where is mine?”
Gu Yanzhen shot her a withering glance. “You are pregnant. Soda is bad for the baby.”
Sun Meiling’s eyes narrowed. “And why, exactly, should a pregnant woman not drink soda?”
Gu Yanzhen turned her head away. “I have asked. It contains something… carbon… something or other… that harms the child.”
Shen Niannian spoke instinctively. “Carbonic acid.”
Gu Yanzhen nodded vigorously. “Yes! That exactly! Carbonic acid! It is bad for the baby inside you!”
Sun Meiling looked from Gu Yanzhen to Shen Niannian—who sat quietly eating—and turned pale with fury. She gave a sharp, indignant huff and turned her head away.
Tian Yuefang hurried to smooth things over. “Ah—carbonic acid! That sounds dreadfully unnatural! Carbon indeed—who would put such things in one’s body? Meiling, for the baby’s sake, perhaps it is best to avoid it. Here—have some fish instead. Fish is excellent for you!”
She placed a generous portion of fish directly into Sun Meiling’s bowl.