Sun Shi didn’t think that far ahead. She was simply happy to know she was carrying another child. Whether it was a boy or a girl, it was still her child.
Still, a boy would be even better.
After all, her two daughters needed a younger brother of their own. A real brother could support and protect them.
When their parents were gone someday, only women with brothers would still have a natal family to rely on.
She obediently drank the brown sugar egg water and felt warmth gradually spread through her body.
During this time, Madam Yang explained how Ye Manshu had beaten Third Brother and forbidden him from continuing his studies, meaning Er Ya would no longer be sold.
Sun Shi’s mood instantly brightened, and even her body felt much better.
She stood up and started walking outside.
Even though medicine had been applied to her injuries, her body still ached terribly.
“Second Sister-in-law, don’t move around! Mother told you to rest!”
Madam Yang quickly moved to support her, afraid something might happen.
“I want to thank Mother.”
Sun Shi stubbornly insisted on going to see Ye Manshu.
Thank her?
Thank her for not selling your child?
How stupid.
Madam Yang thought to herself that if this had happened to her, forget thanking anyone—she would have fought desperately.
Other things could be endured. In most families, harmonious relations between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were rare anyway. But if someone tried to sell her child just to support Third Brother’s studies, she would resist even if it earned her the reputation of being unfilial.
Still, since the blows hadn’t landed on her, and not selling the child benefited both her and Cheng Yuan, she had no desire to interfere.
But since Sun Shi wanted to thank her, then let her thank her.
Madam Yang helped Sun Shi outside.
When Sun Shi saw Cheng Qian tied up and kneeling in the middle of the courtyard, she felt a little sorry for him.
“The sun is so harsh. What if Little Brother gets heatstroke?”
Madam Yang snorted.
“He won’t. We work under the sun in the fields all day without issue. He’s a grown man—he’ll be fine.”
Seeing Sun Shi come out, Cheng Qian quickly pleaded,
“Second Sister-in-law, please beg Mother to let me go.”
Sun Shi hesitated.
“Mother may not listen to me…”
Cheng Qian immediately put on a pitiful expression.
“Second Sister-in-law, please. You’re carrying the Cheng family’s grandson now. Mother will definitely agree for the child’s sake.”
“Alright… I’ll try asking.”
Madam Yang was speechless.
Still, perhaps Sun Shi’s personality wasn’t entirely bad.
At least if something ever happened to her, Sun Shi would probably help too.
When they reached the entrance to the eastern main room, Sun Shi gently spoke through the curtain.
“Mother, it’s me. May I come in?”
Ye Manshu lay sprawled on the bed, practically wishing she could stick out her tongue to cool off.
Damn it, it was hot.
No electric fan, no air conditioner.
This lingering late-summer heat really could roast a person alive.
She had already checked her own pulse. The original owner’s body wasn’t seriously ill—she had only hit her head, lost some blood, and felt slightly dizzy.
“Come in.”
When Ye Manshu saw Sun Shi pale-faced and thanking her, she almost wanted to pry open the woman’s skull to see how her brain worked.
Birds of a feather really flock together.
This second daughter-in-law was also foolishly obedient. If the threat of selling her child hadn’t stabbed directly into her heart, she probably wouldn’t even have resisted.
See? The moment she heard the child wouldn’t be sold anymore, she became endlessly grateful.
“Take care of your pregnancy properly. Whether Second Son has an heir depends entirely on you. Don’t lose my grandson.”
Afraid that speaking kindly might scare her daughter-in-law, Ye Manshu deliberately imitated the original owner’s harsh tone.
“Yes, Mother.”
Sun Shi obediently agreed. She also wanted to protect this child.
“Mother…”
She carefully considered how to plead on Cheng Qian’s behalf.
“What now?”
Ye Manshu wanted some peace and quiet. She had only just transmigrated here and still hadn’t fully sorted through the original owner’s memories or understood this era.
Seeing the slight impatience on Ye Manshu’s face, Sun Shi immediately shrank back timidly again.
“Um… um… Little Brother… don’t let him get overheated…”
Before she could finish, Ye Manshu waved her hand dismissively.
“That’s none of your concern. Just worry about the child in your belly. Boss’s wife, go cook. We’ve been busy handling all this and it’s almost noon already.”
Madam Yang obediently went to prepare lunch.
She didn’t dare disobey. Their mother-in-law was furious today. All three sons had been beaten, and the youngest son had received the worst of it.
“You go back too. Rest and focus on your pregnancy. Don’t work again unless I tell you to.”
Ye Manshu dismissed Sun Shi. Her condition wasn’t too serious, and the pregnancy was stable. She was already nearly four months along.
Since she hadn’t miscarried before now, she probably wouldn’t.
She was just somewhat malnourished. Better nutrition later would solve that.
Sun Shi herself was rather absent-minded. Since her stomach hadn’t noticeably swollen and her monthly cycle had always been irregular, she had never realized she was pregnant.
The room became quiet.
Outside, nobody dared make loud noises either.
Cheng Kang went back to the fields, while Cheng Yuan headed to the academy.
There, he questioned both the teacher and the students before returning home angrily with Cheng Qian’s belongings.
Meanwhile, Ye Manshu had finally sorted through the original owner’s memories.
Sigh.
She had transmigrated into the role of the villainous family matriarch—and that villain was herself.
Fortunately, after transmigrating, she had become the highest authority in the household, sitting at the top of the family hierarchy. No parents-in-law above her to serve, and plenty of children and grandchildren below her to control.
She had already decided how she wanted to live from now on: she would thoroughly discipline this household. She intended to live comfortably, and anyone who made her uncomfortable would be dealt with.
After Cheng Yuan returned and saw Cheng Qian still kneeling in the courtyard, he snorted coldly.
“Third Brother, you really are something. If I hadn’t gone to the academy to ask around, I’d never have known you were famous there as the ‘Money-Scattering Boy.’”
Cheng Qian’s face instantly turned pale.
“Big Brother, don’t listen to their nonsense.”
“Nonsense? You can explain it to Mother yourself later.”
Cheng Yuan threw Cheng Qian’s belongings into his room before going to find Ye Manshu.
“Mother, you have no idea how outrageous Third Brother has been at the academy. He spends money like water. No wonder he needs two taels a month and constantly asks you for large sums, claiming it’s for guidance from famous tutors. Every time he asks for three or four taels. But there are no famous tutors at all—he’s just drinking and eating meat with his classmates.”
Ye Manshu had already suspected Cheng Qian was wasting money, so she wasn’t surprised. Cheng Yuan had merely confirmed it.
The original owner’s memories indeed included excuses about hiring famous tutors and buying previous imperial examination papers.
“Bring Third Brother in.”
Cheng Yuan called Cheng Kang, who had just returned home, and together they dragged Cheng Qian inside.
“Third Brother, how much money do you still have on you? Hand it over.”
Ye Manshu was deliberately bluffing him.
The moment she saw Cheng Qian’s expression change, she knew he still had money hidden away.
But Cheng Qian protested loudly,
“Mother, I don’t have any!”
Ye Manshu jerked her chin.
“Boss. Second Son. Search him.”
No matter how Cheng Qian struggled, they eventually found two hundred and fifty copper coins on him.
“So it really is two hundred and fifty coins. Looks like merely making you kneel this morning was already merciful of me. I thought maybe you wouldn’t truly deceive your own family, but now it’s confirmed. If you weren’t my son, I’d have thrown you out already. This afternoon, you’ll go work in the fields with your two brothers. Second Son, keep an eye on him. If he dares slack off, beat him.”
“Yes, Mother!”
Cheng Kang agreed instantly without hesitation.
Cheng Yuan also agreed immediately. Third Brother had completely offended Mother now and lost all favor. He wasn’t even allowed to study anymore, so there was no hope of passing the imperial exams.
Since they would never benefit from him now, he ought to repay all the advantages he had taken over the years by working hard.
Cheng Qian’s face turned white as he quickly begged,
“Mother, please spare me!”
“Spare you? Then who’s going to spare me?” Ye Manshu snapped. “Enough whining. From now on, if you don’t work, you don’t eat! And if you dare disobey me, I’ll have the clan leader expel you from the family!”