Li Mingwei did not understand her mother-in-law before, and even disliked her a little. But after getting along for a few months, she felt that her mother-in-law was quite pitiful.
Several times, she heard her talking to others and thought someone had come home. When she went out to see, there was nothing. She slowly realized that her mother-in-law had a habit of talking to her deceased father-in-law's memorial tablet. No matter what happened to the chickens or vegetables at home, she would tell everything to her father-in-law.
Although she could not get any response, she persisted.
At first, Li Mingwei did not understand and even felt a little creeped out. It was not until she had to stay at home for a month due to her unstable pregnancy that she realized when there was no one to talk to, she would occasionally talk to herself.
She did not need a reply, she just wanted to express herself simply.
Then she began to understand her mother-in-law. Before she married into the family, her mother-in-law had to go home every day after finishing work, facing this empty old house alone. Perhaps chatting with her deceased father-in-law was her way of getting through those long days when Liu Yizhu was not around.
Whenever she thought of her mother-in-law being alone at home and only able to talk to the memorial tablet, she felt a little sad.
She did not want to take risks with her own body and baby, but could not persuade her mother-in-law. It was really annoying that Liu Yizhu was whispering these things to her here, which was even more annoying.
She pinched Liu Yizhu's waist fiercely and said unhappily, "Then what do you want me to do?"
"Ow!"
Liu Yizhu cried out in pain. His face was twisted from the pain. He covered the pinched spot with his hand and gently rubbed it, but it became even more painful.
He took a deep breath and tried his best to hold in his voice from crying out again. But Li Mingwei soon felt his restlessness in his arms. She reached out and touched the spot she had pinched: "Does it hurt a lot?"
Liu Yizhu pushed her hand away from the wound and squeezed out two words from between his teeth: "It's fine."
Li Mingwei touched her fingernails and realized she had been too harsh just now, immediately losing confidence.
"Is it really okay?"
"It's fine."
It sobered him up in an instant. He felt like he could still get up and write two more articles.
After a while, Liu Yizhu hugged Li Mingwei tightly again. He sighed, "It's my fault for making it difficult for you."
Li Mingwei didn't want to say more. She just yawned, turned her back to him, and closed her eyes: "What's so difficult for me, it's difficult for you. I'm going to sleep."
Hmm, it was quite difficult indeed.
Liu Yizhu hugged her from behind and asked softly, "Mother asked me to accompany you, but you want me to go back and accompany Mother. Should I listen to you or listen to Mother?"
"Mother asked you to accompany me? She is not reluctant to part with you."
Before they left, Old Lady Wang had specifically pulled him aside and talked to him for a long time.
Liu Yizhu smiled, "Do you think Mother would still be reluctant to part with me now?"
What Old Lady Wang cared about more now was her little grandson and granddaughter. Last time when she was sick, the doctor in town had not cured her for several days. Now she did not quite trust his skills anymore. She was fully supportive of Li Mingwei moving to the county seat to nurture the fetus.
The reason she pulled Liu Yizhu aside to talk was just to warn him that he must take good care of Li Mingwei and the child in her belly. If anything happened to them, she would deal with him when he came back.
Even if he went back now, he would still be driven out.
"But Mother is alone..."
"Don't worry. I asked my sister and brother-in-law to go home regularly to check on her, as well as Elder Brother Tong and Sister-in-law Tong next door."
Since he went to study in the county seat, the Tong couple had been helping to keep an eye on Old Lady Wang. They knew what to do now after doing it for two to three years.
As Li Mingwei said, that was why when Mother was sick before, he was able to come back. Someone must have sent him the news.
Liu Yizhu said helplessly, "I know Mother's temper. She would never tell me about any difficulties. I can only find other ways."
He snorted softly and poked Li Mingwei's lower back, "You're just like Mother, not wanting to tell me anything. I only found out from people outside that you had pregnancy complications last time, otherwise I would have known the next day too."
Li Mingwei said insincerely, "You're so capable!"
"Mm," Liu Yizhu murmured, nuzzling the back of her neck, "So can you turn back now?"
"Turn back to do what?"
"Hurry up!"
Li Mingwei turned over to face him. Liu Yizhu groped for and stroked her face, pecking at the corner of her mouth. The words that came to his lips, he hesitated for a long time without speaking. He only said, "It's late, go to sleep."
Not everything could go as they wished in this world. He could not do everything perfectly but would try his best to make proper arrangements to spare her some worries.
In the morning, when Li Mingwei woke up, the person beside her was gone. She called out twice but got no response, knowing it was not early anymore and he must have gone to the academy.
Perhaps hearing her voice, a young maid hurried over from outside and stuck her head in to ask, "Mistress Liu, are you awake?"
"Mm."
"Then I'll go draw water for you." The young maid had just taken two steps when she turned back, "What would you like to eat this morning? I'll have the kitchen prepare it."
"Anything is fine."
Li Mingwei watched her walk away and waited in the room after getting dressed. After washing up and eating breakfast, she asked the time. She instructed the young maid to brew a pot of tea before going to the pavilion in the small garden they were in yesterday.
Not long after, Tang Shan was led over by a servant.
He sat down across from Li Mingwei and reached out to take the tea she poured for him, "I've come at just the right time. The tea is freshly brewed."
"Mm, just brewed. I guessed Senior Brother Tang would come around this time too."
Tang Shan chuckled softly and brought the teacup to his mouth to take a small sip. His gaze swept around the small garden, "How's this residence?"
Li Mingwei nodded, "It's pretty good, thanks for your trouble."
Although it was by the street, their main courtyard was deep inside, so it was not noisy.
"It's only right." Tang Shan put down his teacup and beckoned to a woman standing outside the pavilion. "This is Aunt Qin from my residence. With you pregnant, you can't be strained. Let her manage the miscellaneous affairs in this yard. Just tell her if you need anything done."
Aunt Qin bowed to her, "Mistress Liu."
Li Mingwei waved away her courtesy. Aunt Qin bent slightly at the waist and retreated behind the two of them.
Not bad, this Aunt Qin was quite polite.
Praising Aunt Qin in her heart, Li Mingwei pointed to the young maid who had brought her water and food this morning, "Other than her, take the rest back. I don't need so many people here."
The young maid kneeling on the ground was shocked. What kind of person was this Mistress Liu to make Master so angry?
If she didn't serve her well, what would become of her!
