However, she knew this was not a long-term solution.
A thought quickly flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help but tentatively ask, "Parents, I heard that adopting a child can bring good luck. Why don't we buy someone with a good character to be a younger brother?"
She quickly explained, "I will have Doctor Liu properly condition Mother's body. You two are still young and good people, so I don't believe I won't have a younger brother. This matter cannot be rushed."
Mother Xu, who had been very sad, was amused by her words. "You silly girl, saying such nonsense. If people heard, they would surely laugh at you. Don't say things like this in front of outsiders again."
"Husband, I think Ning'er's suggestion has merit. Why don't we adopt one? As long as the child has a good character, it doesn't matter if they aren't biologically ours."
Father Xu frowned and sighed helplessly.
"Let me think about it some more. Come on, let's go eat Steamed Buns. We've been busy all day, and we must be hungry. We still have to set up the stall tomorrow, and there are many things to prepare."
Xu Jianing knew clearly that her father did not actually agree with her idea. He was just saving face and didn't want to make her mother feel worse.
She needed to ask Doctor Liu another day about her mother's actual condition.
It was just that they didn't know, after Old Master Xu returned, the First Branch of the Xu Family almost had a huge fight over the adoption for inheritance matter.
When Old Master Xu told the people of the First Branch exactly what had happened at the Second Branch, Madam Wang knew her wishful thinking had gone wrong again.
She cursed with dissatisfaction, "Pah! They wish! My son's money going to fill their bottomless pit? Don't even think about it. If anyone brings this up to me again in the future, I'll argue with them."
"Mother, you were the one who brought this up first. You came back saying Second Uncle and the others struck it rich and bought many good things, suggesting that Second Child and I should be adopted for inheritance, and they would help with the betrothal gifts in the future."
"I told you long ago this trick wouldn't work and told you to stop dreaming, but you didn't believe me. Now you believe it, right? If there's nothing else, I'm going to sleep. I'm exhausted."
With that statement, the eldest son of the First Branch, Xu Linhao, left.
Madam Wang relentlessly continued, "Now you're blaming me. I only came up with this desperate measure for the good of the family. Your wife requires fifteen Silver as betrothal gifts. Second Uncle's wife requires ten."
"This is all money. Where are we supposed to get so much? The Second Branch has no sons, that's why I came up with this idea."
The second son, Xu Linmu, who had been silent, sneered, "Mother, don't you think what you're doing is excessive? You don't plan on us actually raising Second Uncle and Second Aunt, yet you expect others to pay for your sons' expenses. Are people that foolish?"
With both sons criticizing her in succession, Madam Wang felt particularly uncomfortable.
She cried aggrievedly, "You two ungrateful wretches, you're siding with outsiders! Now you're saying it's all my fault. I might as well not live anymore!"
Xu Dongwang, sitting by the door, was agitated by his wife's shouting. "Enough! Are we going to keep living like this? Look at you, you don't act like an elder at all. Aren't you afraid people will laugh if this gets out?"
"Stop thinking about the Second Branch in the future. Whether they live well or not has nothing to do with our family. Didn't you understand what the Second Branch meant? You even made Father say those shameless things. Aren't you embarrassed?"
Madam Wang recalled what she had inquired about today and deliberately exclaimed, "The Second Branch is rich now; they bought dozens of Rice just today. That's Rice! How many times a year do we get to eat that?"
"What? You said Rice? The Second Branch can really afford Rice?"
Old Mrs. Xu, who was hiding in the room, immediately jumped out upon hearing the mention of Rice.
"Grandmother, I saw it with my own eyes. Second Uncle and the others didn't just buy Rice; they bought white flour too. They spent several Silver!"
Xu Lanhua knew what her grandmother cared about.
She deliberately played along with her mother, and sure enough, the Old Madam's expression changed, and she rushed out, lifting the heel of her shoe.
"Mother, what are you doing? You wicked girl, stop saying nonsense with your mother! Hurry up and go chase after your Grandmother."
Xu Lanhua pouted, "I'm not going. If you want to go, you go. I didn't say anything wrong. If you don't believe me, go ask yourself. My mother spent..."
Seeing the situation was turning bad, Madam Wang slapped her hard before she could finish speaking. "I told you to stop talking so much! Go to sleep now."
Xu Lanhua then remembered that her mother had instructed her not to reveal the news she had found out after spending only two Copper Coins.
Luckily, her mother stopped her in time, otherwise she almost forgot and blurted it out.
Sticking her tongue out at them, Xu Lanhua quickly ran back to her room and shut the door.
She didn't sleep but waited for news from her Grandmother. She knew that with her Grandmother taking action, the Second Branch would definitely have to lose some money.
But she forgot that the Second Branch had long since changed. Getting anything from them wouldn't be so easy now.
When Old Mrs. Xu arrived at the Second Branch door, panting heavily, she found the main door tightly shut. No matter how hard she pounded, the people inside wouldn't open it.
She sat down by the door and started making a scene. "What kind of misfortune is this! My own son ignores me and won't even open the door for me. How can there be such heartless descendants?"
Her crying and making a scene quickly attracted quite a few onlookers.
Someone who couldn't stand it said, "Auntie, why are you causing trouble again? Is it because you didn't have meat to eat this time? Or no food at all? Does the Village Chief still not manage you?"
"Go away, go away! What do you know? You're the one who has no one to manage you. My Dongwang treats me so well. Unlike some people who, once they get rich, don't even bother with me."
The Old Madam continued to grumble for a long time, and seeing there was no point, the crowd lost interest in watching the spectacle.
Soon, they all dispersed voluntarily, leaving only the Old Madam sitting by the door, waiting.
Unexpectedly, she waited until very late.
Just as Old Mrs. Xu was about to fall asleep, Father Xu and the others returned from the Mountains.
Sharp-eyed Xu Jianing spotted Old Mrs. Xu waiting by the main gate from a long distance away.
Fearing she would discover the contents of their baskets, Xu Jianing asked her Mother and Eldest Sister to stay there while she accompanied Father Xu back to deal with the Old Madam.
Hearing the movement, the Old Madam sprang up from the ground. Upon clearly seeing who had arrived, she spoke with an unfriendly tone, "Oh, your airs are getting bigger now. It's hard to even get a chance to see you."
"Why are you here again?"
"What's wrong? You don't even want to call me Mother anymore? I'm asking you, what your father said—do you agree or not? We are doing this for your own good."
"Are you crazy! That would cost so much money. We are all family, let's not talk about money; it hurts feelings."
Father Xu snorted coldly. Family? When feelings are gone, what is there to talk about if not money?