Chapter 221: Chapter 221

From the county town to the village, it’s only about fifty miles.

A round trip by carriage takes just half a day, is it really so urgent?

Second Master Chai and Second Madam Chai were filled with doubt.

The steward shook his head, "I don’t know. Old Mrs. Chai just said to ask Second Master and Second Madam to return as soon as possible to discuss matters concerning Miss Chai."

Second Madam Chai frowned, "The feast hasn’t even started..."

She was just Second Master Chai’s second wife, Eldest Miss Chai and Second Miss Chai were the daughters of her cousin, not her own.

Because they weren’t her own, she wasn’t very concerned.

Second Master Chai thought for a moment and said to Second Madam Chai, "I’ll go back, you stay here for the feast."

It could only be this way.

The family hosting the feast was the cousin of the County Magistrate’s father-in-law!

Second Master Chai was eager to make connections with the County Magistrate and almost attended every banquet where he could meet him.

Although the cousin of the County Magistrate’s father-in-law was somewhat distant from him, it was the closest connection Second Master Chai could find.

He wanted to take a gamble.

But there was trouble at home again...

Second Master Chai was very troubled, and had no choice but to leave his wife at the feast, while he followed the steward back home earlier.

This was the second afternoon after Li Yuzhu left the Chai Family.

As soon as Second Master Chai saw Old Mrs. Chai, he immediately asked about the urgent reason for his return.

Old Mrs. Chai dismissed the nanny in the room, then quickly said, "There’s big news! Er Ni didn’t conceive."

Second Master Chai was shocked.

He looked at Old Mrs. Chai incredulously, "Er Ni isn’t pregnant? Is this... is this true? Didn’t she say she was pregnant?"

If she’s not pregnant, how can we curry favor with the Luo Family?

"She’s young and may have misunderstood, and the Luo Family’s doctor also misdiagnosed her. I took her to five doctors, even sought out the Buddhist nun expert in women’s illnesses at the monastery, they all said she’s not pregnant," Old Mrs. Chai said worriedly.

Second Master Chai frowned, "Does the Luo Family know?"

Old Mrs. Chai said, "The Luo Family doesn’t know, but—" she said with a cold expression, "San Ni caused a fuss at home, suddenly shouting that Er Ni wasn’t pregnant, when a nanny from the Luo Family was present. Considering San Ni’s temperament, she wouldn’t shout such things without a reason, so I called a doctor for Er Ni, and indeed, she’s not pregnant."

"Did the doctors know it was Er Ni they were examining?" Second Master Chai asked further.

"No, I just said it was a servant sneaking food, secretly checking if pregnant," Old Mrs. Chai said.

Second Master Chai pinched the end of his beard, narrowing his eyes, "With Luo Family’s eldest son away for business, not returning until the end of the year, if Er Ni were pregnant, by then the child would be about eight months old."

Old Mrs. Chai blinked, "Old Two, you mean..."

"Let Er Ni pretend to be pregnant, then find a baby to substitute when she gives birth, bring her back to her family for delivery," Second Master Chai said solemnly, "This marriage with the Luo Family cannot be severed, we have to use this method!"

Old Mrs. Chai, experienced with age, came up with a plan as soon as Second Master Chai reminded her.

"Fine, let’s do it. I will arrange for someone to discreetly inquire about women pregnant with child’s womb, buy ahead of time," Old Mrs. Chai said.

Having agreed, Old Mrs. Chai summoned Second Miss Chai and informed her of the decision.

"You needn’t worry. Just focus on being Young Madam Luo. No matter what, this connection with the Luo Family cannot be severed, remember that firmly," Old Mrs. Chai said.

Second Miss Chai’s eyes brightened.

Indeed, wisdom comes with age.

Father and grandmother quickly came up with a countermeasure.

"Grandmother, I know of a person pregnant, with timing similar to mine," Second Miss Chai thought of Liu Da Niu.

Old Mrs. Chai hurriedly asked, "Oh? Who is it?"

"A woman from Taohua River Village. Chai E Ying knows her, yesterday, while on the street, that woman even dared to mimic me!" Second Miss Chai sneered.

Old Mrs. Chai nodded, "That’s easy. I’ll get your elder brother to find the family, offer them money, and buy the child."

After some thought, Second Miss Chai said, "Grandmother, what if they refuse to sell?" This text is hosted at novelꞁire.net

"Villagers are so poor they can’t afford to eat, keeping the child means starving too! Don’t worry about this, I’ll take care of it," Old Mrs. Chai said.

Second Miss Chai smirked gently, "Yes, grandmother."

Miss Chai stirred up trouble, shouting that Second Miss Chai wasn’t pregnant in front of Luo Family’s nanny, which startled the Chai Family, but it didn’t cause any major commotion in the Luo Family.

Second Miss Chai came up with a way to intimidate the Luo Family’s nanny.

The nanny dared not utter a word to the Luo Family.

And so the matter was suppressed.

However, because Miss Chai stirred up trouble again, Old Mrs. Chai was very displeased and sent for Eldest Young Master Chai from the county town, urging him to arrange a marriage for his sister.

Eldest Young Master Chai thought of his sister’s illness and said with a frown, "Grandmother, her condition has just improved slightly, arranging her marriage so soon, what if the illness flares up again? It might not be suitable to hastily marry her off."

Old Mrs. Chai sneered, "If she doesn’t marry, then she brings disgrace to the family?"

Eldest Young Master Chai suppressed his anger, "Grandmother, although Third Sister is impulsive, she has never done anything to let the Chai Family down; how does this disgrace claim come about?"

"Humph, how does it come about? You go to Taohua River Village to find out; see what she’s been up to now!" Old Mrs. Chai said angrily.

Eldest Young Master Chai said, "I arranged where she stayed."

"Staying with those refugee families, going in and out with their men, you arranged that too?" Old Mrs. Chai said angrily.

Eldest Young Master Chai couldn’t hold his temper, "Grandmother, E Ying is your granddaughter, saying such things tarnishes her reputation! She and the girls from the Li Family are close friends, not associating with any men closely!"

Old Mrs. Chai’s face turned livid with anger, "The day before yesterday, when she came home, there were two men waiting at the door for her! And still saying no association with men? Protecting her will only ruin her!"

Eldest Young Master Chai had already learned about his sister’s return from the household servants.

He said calmly, "Grandmother, those two men were Miss Li’s brothers; they were waiting for Miss Li, not my sister. She is not familiar with them!"

"Living in one house and still not familiar? That talk only deceives yourself!" Old Mrs. Chai sneered, "Bring her out of there immediately! Send her here; I’ll discipline her myself!"

Eldest Young Master Chai glanced at her, "I will make arrangements for Third Sister. Grandmother need not worry."

After speaking, he turned and left.

Old Mrs. Chai angrily slapped her thigh, "See that, without a mother’s supervision, there’s no respect at all!"

Although Eldest Young Master Chai confronted Old Mrs. Chai, he still went to the Li Family to find Miss Chai.