Chapter 64: Pregnant

A knife naturally had its uses, but Du Ruo was too lazy to explain. Jiang Cheng was a bit of a simpleton, and if he leaked everything, it wouldn't work.

Du Ruo walked in front with high spirits. Looking at her, Jiang Cheng felt very uneasy.

He always felt that Sister-in-law didn't look like she was going to apologize, but rather like she was going to collect a debt.

Never mind, listening to Sister-in-law was definitely right.

Jiang Cheng's heart settled a bit, and he hurriedly followed.

Doctor Gu lived at the west end of the village. Going there required passing by the Clear Water Pond, where several women were squatting by the pond washing clothes, talking lively. Seeing Du Ruo coming, they stopped talking one after another and greeted her.

"Yo, Jiang Li's wife, what are you doing going there, walking so fast?"

Times were different now; the Second Branch of the Jiang family was rising, and Jiang Li had become a Bu Tou, someone who worked under the county magistrate, which was very prestigious.

The Jiang family was no longer short of money. Look at the last time, to find the person who splashed the kerosene, they took out two taels of silver, very generous.

It was said that they even bought the Li family's youngest daughter to use as a maid, and there was a carriage at home. Although there was no land and the house was rented, the life they lived was truly comfortable!

"Nothing much, just strolling around." Du Ruo responded with a smile.

After she walked further away, the women started gossiping again.

"Strolling around what? Have you ever seen a wife going out for a stroll with her brother-in-law? She just doesn't want to tell us."

"How big is your face that you still want her to tell you? She is a Bu Tou's wife now, it's already good that she answered you, what are you dreaming about!"

"Hey you, did you forget to rinse your mouth when you went out today? I was just saying, why care what she's doing, it has nothing to do with me..."

There was one observant one who joked: "It might not be that she doesn't want to say, maybe she really is just strolling around. I see her smiling, and she's holding her belly with one hand, could it be that she's pregnant?"

If she had a seed in her belly, then naturally she had to stroll, otherwise it wouldn't be easy to give birth when the time came.

Several people looked at each other, and the more they thought about it, the more they felt it was possible.

It had been a while since the Du clan married into the Second Branch of the Jiang family, and Jiang Li's build looked like he was good at plowing fields. It wasn't strange that the Du clan got pregnant so quickly.

"It seems that the Du clan is really prosperous for her husband; the Second Branch of the Jiang family's life is getting more and more hopeful..."

Auntie Lin, who was at the very edge, hadn't said a word. At this moment, she swung her club *thwack-thwack* against the clothes, almost breaking them, and said sourly: "Hmph, it's not certain whose seed it is. Didn't you all see last time, she was doing those filthy things with an outside man under the Bodhisattva's eyelids, water-like and flower-like, not keeping the woman's way. Maybe Jiang Li's forehead has long been covered with a green hat!"

The women nearby all knew about the conflict between the Lin family and the Second Branch of the Jiang family. If it had been in the past, they would have followed along and echoed a few words.

But now, Jiang Li was working in the Ya Men. Who knew if there would be a day when they would need to ask him for something?

Several people exchanged glances and then smiled: "It's not that serious, just talking a few words, and in broad daylight, what could they do that was out of line? Not to that extent..."

"That's right, not to mention anything else, just look at how the Du clan looks, any man would be scared away for three miles, how could there be any secret affair."

Auntie Lin didn't think so: "You all just don't turn your brains, only knowing about that little bit of trouble between men and women, but never thought that her father is a government official! She is ugly, but her father has plenty of ability. Maybe that man came for her father?"

This was getting further and further away.

The women didn't want to offend her, so they just perfunctorily said a few words and then turned to other topics.

Lin Qingshuang suddenly straightened her waist: "Mother, my stomach is a bit uncomfortable, I'm going back first."

Auntie Lin agreed and pulled the foot basin toward herself, complaining: "Look at you, I told you last night not to eat that cool yam skin, but you wouldn't listen. Now you have a stomachache, go back and rest, I'll wash the clothes."

Amidst her mother's nagging, Lin Qingshuang had already run away holding her stomach.

She first returned home, but didn't go in, instead taking a small path to follow Du Ruo and Jiang Cheng, following them from afar.

Until she saw the two enter Doctor Gu's courtyard, Lin Qingshuang's heart sank sharply.

Jiang Cheng going in was normal because he was Doctor Gu's apprentice, but Du Ruo? Why did she go in too? And before entering, she deliberately supported her belly, as if it contained some rare treasure.

Could it be that she really...

Thinking of this possibility, Lin Qingshuang's nails almost dug into her flesh.

She originally thought Jiang Li wouldn't touch Du Ruo. Du Ruo was ugly and fat, and it was a marriage forced upon them. Jiang Li wasn't even at home when they got married, so he couldn't possibly have any feelings for Du Ruo.

But on second thought, Jiang Li was a good man with a sense of responsibility. It was precisely because of his sense of responsibility that he would rather give up the opportunity to marry into the Lin family than abandon his younger brother and sister.

So now, for him to fulfill his duty as a husband and consummate the marriage with Du Ruo was not impossible.

Lin Qingshuang's mind was full of images of Jiang Li and Du Ruo hugging and rolling on the bed. She was burning with jealousy, wishing she could rush over and beat that ugly monster to death with sticks.

Just then, her stomach suddenly cramped, and a familiar hot stream surged down from between her legs.

Lin Qingshuang's period had come.

Heh, the Du clan should not have her little days for ten months...

She ran home with a dark face and threw herself onto the bed, sobbing in a low voice.

Auntie Lin carried the two foot basins home and saw her daughter lying on the bed, looking very painful, so she hurriedly went over to check.

"Shuang'er, does it hurt very badly? Why don't I take you to Doctor Gu to take a look, what if you hurt your stomach!"

Saying this, she was about to go get money.

Without money, even if a fairy came, Doctor Gu wouldn't see her.

Lin Qingshuang sat up and held her mother back: "Mother, I'm fine, I'm just feeling unhappy."

Feeling unhappy? Auntie Lin looked at her daughter's swollen eyes from crying, her thoughts turning rapidly, and suddenly her eyes widened: "You wouldn't be because of the Du clan's pregnancy, right?"

Seeing her daughter turn her face away and not speak, obviously tacitly admitting it, Auntie Lin stood up suddenly.

"You, what do you want me to say about you!"

She wanted to scold her daughter awake, but couldn't bear to be too harsh, so she could only pace back and forth in the room like a trapped beast: "No matter how much you like Jiang Li, he is already someone else's husband. Now that his wife is even pregnant, you two are even more impossible, so why torture yourself like this? You are like this, Mother, Mother is truly heartbroken..."

A sense of powerlessness surged into her heart, and Auntie Lin shed tears and beat her own chest: "What kind of sin have I committed? If I had known it would be like this, I would rather he hadn't saved you, and let you drown in the pond, saving you from making me so angry like this!"

Lin Qingshuang also cried, even louder than her mother.

"Yes, why save me? Just to let me live and watch him be loving with that woman, with children and grandchildren? Then I might as well be dead!"

As the words fell, Lin Qingshuang bumped her head against the bedpost. Her mother screamed, unable to stop her at all. Only a *bang* sound was heard, and a bump instantly rose on that smooth forehead.

Auntie Lin couldn't care about being angry with her daughter anymore, and hurriedly brought hot water and used a hot towel to apply it.

Applying it while shedding tears: "You silly child, for the sake of a man, you don't even want your life, and you don't want your father and mother anymore, right? How did I give birth to such a monster like you, sob sob sob."

Lin Qingshuang's eyes were empty: "Mother, I really like Jiang Li, without him, I don't want to live either..."

Auntie Lin had never seen her daughter like this.

It was a despair of having no desire to live, a complete hopelessness. This despair made Auntie Lin afraid; she was afraid that her daughter would suffer like this for a lifetime, and even think of taking a dead end.

It was all that Jiang Li and the Du clan who harmed her daughter!

"Shuang'er, live well." Auntie Lin wiped away her tears and coaxed in a gentle tone: "Whatever you want, Mother will find a way to get it for you."

Including Jiang Li.

Du Ruo supported the kitchen knife in her bosom, determined it wouldn't fall, and then stepped into Doctor Gu's courtyard.

Doctor Gu and Song Shi were sitting on stools at the door waiting.

Doctor Gu spread his stance: "Jiang Li's wife, since you've come, tell me, how do you plan to handle this matter?"

Jiang Cheng shrank his neck and didn't dare to make a sound.

Du Ruo kicked him to the front: "Handle it however it should be handled. The brat is young but bold, actually doing such a stupid thing that is worse than a pig or dog. I, as the sister-in-law, will never shield him!"

She waved her little hand and said righteously: "Doctor Gu, report it to the officials!"

Doctor Gu and Song Shi looked at each other: "............"

This woman is a bit fierce, how could she ask to report to the officials as soon as she came, so anxious to let her brother-in-law go to prison? Not afraid her husband will come back and shave her.

They originally intended to use this report to threaten the Jiang family, but didn't expect this Du clan member to not play by the rules, proposing it herself, which made it hard for them to act.

"It doesn't have to go to that extent." Doctor Gu cleared his throat, having to take a step back himself. After all, he couldn't really report to the officials, right?

"Third Young Master is my apprentice after all, and has always been honest and obedient. This time he only caused trouble because he was drunk. I think, let's skip reporting to the officials."

Song Shi also said: "Yes, making a big scene is not good for both children. As long as Third Young Master is willing to marry Zhuniang, this matter will be considered over."

What a good calculation.

Du Ruo sneered secretly. When she came, she had already asked the system to test it. Jiang Cheng had been drugged with sleeping pills, which was why he passed out after only two cups.

For the Gu family to marry off their foolish niece, they really spent a lot of effort.

She pretended to be embarrassed: "It's not that I'm unwilling to agree, but the matter of my third brother's marriage should be decided by my husband. I, as a sister-in-law..."

Song Shi's eyes rolled, interrupting her: "As the saying goes, an elder brother is like a father, an elder sister-in-law is like a mother. Your father-in-law and mother-in-law left early, and Jiang Li is too busy to get away. Third Young Master's lifelong event should naturally be decided by you, the eldest sister-in-law. Don't look at Zhuniang being a few years older than Third Young Master, but she looks good and has a simple personality. After entering the door, she will never threaten your status as the eldest daughter-in-law. Just raise her like a little cat or dog."

A fool, of course, is simple.

Jiang Cheng was afraid Du Ruo would agree, so he hurriedly said: "Sister-in-law, I..."

"You what you?" Du Ruo glared at him: "Look at yourself, face black, mouth clumsy, brain like a donkey, stupid to death. With you like this, which girl will be willing to marry you in the future? It just so happens that it's rare that your master and mistress don't dislike you, not only passing on their medical skills to you but also wanting to marry their niece to you as a wife. This is a blessing you've cultivated for several lifetimes. Could it be that you are still unhappy?"

Saying this, Du Ruo turned to the Gu couple and smiled: "Since that's the case, then this marriage is settled."

The two were overjoyed, and Song Shi clapped her hands: "Oh my, this is too good. From now on, our two families can be considered relatives upon relatives!"

Du Ruo added another sentence: "However, I want to see the future third sister-in-law first."

Doctor Gu's poisonous mouth couldn't help but act up again: "What's there to see, anyway, it won't be uglier than you."

Du Ruo: "..."

Song Shi hurriedly made up for it: "It should be, it should be, I'll let her come out to meet people right now."

Saying this, she turned and went into the house, soon leading a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl out.

The girl looked quite fair, her hair and clothes were all combed neatly, but her behavior was a bit wrong, silly and dull, giggling when she saw people.

Song Shi said: "This is Zhuniang, my sister's youngest daughter."

Du Ruo sized up the girl, feeling a bit suspicious: "Could it be that her family is no longer around? Otherwise, why would it be you, her aunt, who handles her lifelong event?"

Song Shi's expression was flustered for a moment, but soon returned to normal: "That's not it, it's just that my sister has many children and can't take care of them all, so I'm helping to arrange it. Don't worry, I can decide this matter."

Du Ruo didn't continue to ask, instead walking over and holding Zhuniang's hand: "She does look quite good."

In her mind, the system had finished testing: "Just like your third brother, there are residual sleeping pills in her body."

Sure enough, as expected. Fools are hard to control, so they simply drugged both of them, then put them together to create the illusion that Jiang Cheng had bullied Zhuniang.

"Then she should still be a virgin, right?"

As long as this point was confirmed, Doctor Gu's conspiracy could be overturned, and then she could naturally refuse this marriage, and by the way, expose Doctor Gu's filthy thoughts to the public, making him lose his reputation.

The system paused: "She has indeed lost her virginity."

Du Ruo was surprised: "How could that be?"

Jiang Cheng wasn't drunk, but drugged with sleeping pills. In this situation, even if he were killed, he wouldn't have any reaction; how could he possibly have taken the girl's virginity?

"It's impossible." The system continued: "Not only has she lost her virginity, but she is also pregnant, already more than a month."

Du Ruo: "..." She had a swear word she didn't know whether to say or not.

So the Gu family went to such lengths to scheme against Jiang Cheng, not only to find a husband for their foolish niece, but also to find a ready-made father for the child in her belly?

And who was the child's biological father? ===== CHAPTER 65 =====