Chapter 384: Chapter 377: I’m Just Obsessed With Looks 19 (Bonus Chapter for October Monthly Tickets)
When the festive season came around, Anning found some time to visit the Xu Family.
She brought along the New Year’s gifts as well.
After presenting the gifts and seeing Mrs. Xu, Anning noticed that Mrs. Xu had gained some weight, and her cheerful demeanor suggested that there was some joyous occurrence in the family.
Anning inquired, and Mrs. Xu, pulling her along with great delight, said:
"Our family is going to hold a celebration. As it happens, Xinsheng and Baobao took a liking to each other, and both are keen on getting married. I even asked Xinsheng, but he couldn’t remember his origins, perhaps he’ll never recall in this lifetime, so he is willing to marry into our family. He also mentioned that even if he were to recall his past one day, he would still adopt a child into the Xu Family. Your uncle is overjoyed about this."
Anning thought to herself that her words had had an effect.
Xu Pengju must have believed that Xu Xingsheng was without family, hence he agreed to the marriage with Xu Bao’er.
Anning congratulated them and then went to find Xu Bao’er to chat. The sisters hid away in a room and chattered at length.
On her way back, Anning encountered a household moving out bridal dowry, seemingly airing it in the sun.
Glancing outside, Qing Xing also noticed and laughed: "What a coincidence, the Yue Family, who were previously matched with Miss Baobao, are about to hold a wedding too, marrying Miss Wang from the Wang family."
Anning thought and then remembered who this Miss Wang was.
The Wang family was a major household, unlike the Xu and He Families, having numerous relatives. Although there were several brothers in the Wang family, it was after a few generations that this girl was born, and she was doted on immensely by the family.
However, this girl was only passably attractive, bearing resemblance to her robust brothers, strong and sturdy in build. The Wang family had indeed put in much effort for her marriage.
This time it was likely due to Yue Zhong being a Scholar and having high prospects of passing the imperial examinations, which led them to agree to the marriage.
The Wang family were grain merchants with several stores in Qingyuan City and in Prefecture City, including grain and oil shops. Their wealth was quite substantial, and the Yue Family was probably attracted by Miss Wang’s substantial dowry.
Thinking of Miss Wang’s sturdy and robust brothers, Anning couldn’t help but smile.
This time, the Miss Wang that Yue Zhong was marrying had a significant family backing, and Anning was curious whether Yue Zhong would dare to take a concubine or not.
Upon returning home, Anning went to pay respect to Mrs. Xiao and found Xiao Susu in Mrs. Xiao’s room, the mother and daughter seemingly discussing something.
Seeing Anning’s return, Mrs. Xiao immediately smiled, "We were just mentioning you. How did you come back so quickly?"
Anning approached and paid her respects, then greeted Xiao Susu: "My aunt was quite busy as well, lots to do for the New Year. I stayed a while and then came back. Oh right, there’s also a piece of good news today."
Mrs. Xiao eagerly asked what it was.
Anning then shared the news of Xu Bao’er getting married.
"Your uncle and aunt are very happy, planning to hold the wedding after New Year."
Mrs. Xiao laughed upon hearing this: "Isn’t it a wonderful occasion?"
Turning to speak with Xiao Susu, Anning noticed that Xiao Susu looked somewhat pale and seemed a bit under the weather.
"Sister, what’s wrong with you? Why have you lost so much weight?"
Xiao Susu sighed.
Mrs. Xiao explained: "It’s all because she got worn out by her sister-in-law’s affairs."
Xiao Susu was married into The Wus. The Wus had more family members than the Xiao home, including two brothers of Xiao Susu’s husband Wu Baifu, as well as an older and a younger sister. The sister-in-law Mrs. Xiao referred to was Wu Baifu’s younger sister, Wu Erniang.
"What happened? I heard that Erniang’s in-laws were quite decent."
Anning hurriedly asked a question.
Xiao Susu sighed again. "What’s not wrong with that place? It may look good on the surface, but it’s a mess inside. Erniang’s husband is no good, either. He won’t leave a single serving girl in the house alone, not to mention his frolicking outside. If Erniang so much as advises him, he’ll flare up at her, and for just that, she endured quite a beating."
Upon hearing this, Anning became angry: "What are you talking about? I remember Erniang has always been good-natured. If her husband hadn’t done anything wrong, she surely wouldn’t have quarreled. By the way, when Erniang was beaten, what did her in-laws say?"
Speaking of this, Xiao Susu also grew angry: "What could they say? Her father-in-law hid away like a shrunken turtle inside his shell, while her mother-in-law did give Erniang a talking-to once, insinuating with her words that their son has a bad temper and urging Erniang to bear with it more, not to argue with him over anything, and to give him his way in all things. That sort of ’advice’ might as well not be given at all."
This truly is an exceptional family.
Anning couldn’t help but frown: "It’s come to this, and Erniang can still tolerate it?"
"What else can she do? Surely she can’t just divorce him over this."
Xiao Susu was angry, but she was also helpless.
Anning thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered something.
She tugged at Xiao Susu, asking her to lean closer, and whispered, "Sister, I have something to tell you. You must have a good talk with Erniang when you return, or discuss it with your mother-in-law if needed. This matter is related to Erniang’s life; bear that in mind."
Her tone was serious, and Xiao Susu also became concerned: "What is it? You must tell me quickly."
Mrs. Xiao was also listening intently.
Anning whispered, "Didn’t my husband go out the other day? When he came back, he was so scared he turned pale. It turns out he had a friend who was a frequent visitor to those types of establishments. This time, one of the girls in that place contracted a venereal disease, and it happened to be his friend’s former close companion. When his friend found out, he rushed to see a doctor, and it turned out that he had caught the disease too. My husband went to see him once and told me his friend is probably not going to make it."
"Why are you mentioning this?"
Mrs. Xiao did not want to listen to such things.
Anning glanced at her, then at Xiao Susu: "Isn’t it because Sister mentioned that Erniang’s husband likes to frequent those places? I’m worried he might have caught the venereal disease too, and if Erniang shares a bed with him then Erniang..."
Anning didn’t finish her sentence before Xiao Susu’s face turned a ghastly pale.
She couldn’t sit still any longer and stood up to leave immediately: "Mother, sister-in-law, I must go. I will definitely have a serious talk with my mother-in-law. If it really is as you say, then we must urge Erniang to seek a divorce as soon as possible."
Anning stood up to see her off.
After Xiao Susu had left, when looking at Mrs. Xiao again, her face also looked extremely upset.
She held Anning’s hand and exhorted, "You better keep an eye on your husband these next few days, don’t let him fool around outside."
Anning smiled, "It’s okay, my husband knows what he’s doing, and besides, he’s now focused on his studies, where would he have time to play around? He only went to see his sick friend."
Mrs. Xiao was still somewhat worried: "No matter what, you mustn’t let him make trouble. Our family is clean and honest—should such a thing happen, it would be the death of our reputation."
Anning nodded in agreement.
However, Xiao Susu hurried back home. She didn’t even change her clothes before going straight to the main house to greet Mrs. Wu.
These past few days, Mrs. Wu had been distressed over Wu Erniang’s matter. When Xiao Susu arrived, Mrs. Wu appeared listless, with reddened eyes as if she had just cried.
Xiao Susu paid her respects, and the weary Mrs. Wu said, "No need for formalities. Sit down quickly."
Xiao Susu sat down next to Mrs. Wu and relayed Anning’s yousse to her in a low voice, "My sister-in-law told me this out of good intention, urging our family to be more vigilant so as not to be involved. If it comes down to it, how could our Erniang go on living?"
Mrs. Wu’s face darkened upon hearing this.
"I knew that family was no good, but your father wouldn’t listen, and now Erniang has been pushed into a pit of fire. No, I must send someone to bring Erniang back right away; she can no longer stay at the Zheng family’s."