The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife

"He’s upset we didn’t take him out," Yang Chuxia said with a laugh.

"Wife..."

"Hmm?"

Seeing that he didn’t speak, Yang Chuxia curiously raised an eyebrow.

"If I become a big fatso, would you despise me?" Ye Zi’an struggled with the thought, deeply troubled about his image.

He didn’t know how he had gained weight, and what if he kept getting fatter?

Seeing his face full of turmoil, Yang Chuxia wordlessly twitched the corner of her mouth, wondering why men cared so much about weight, just as many women do.

Seeing that she didn’t respond, Ye Zi’an grew deeply sorrowful, "Wife, you wouldn’t, right? One mustn’t be so superficial. After all, we’ve been married for many years, and our child is already so big. If you scorn me, it will disrupt our family harmony and make the child unhappy."

Hearing him talk more and more nonsensically, Yang Chuxia rolled her eyes helplessly, "Shut your mouth, will you? What are you even saying? Didn’t you say we were going to the town? Let’s hurry up and leave."

But Ye Zi’an, not having received a satisfactory answer, would not easily give up.

As soon as they got on the carriage, he asked again, "Wife? Would you really despise me? Don’t!"

Hearing this, Yang Chuxia let out a chuckle, "Whether I’d despise you, I really don’t know. After all, you haven’t turned into a pig yet. However, there’s one person who would definitely be very, very sad to hear you’ve gained weight."

"Who?" Ye Zi’an was somewhat confused at the time.

"Your eldest son!" Thinking of Lele who should still be on the road, Yang Chuxia chuckled, "Lele would be worried thinking, during the days he’s not at home, his father didn’t miss him and lose weight, but instead fattened himself up. He will surely be concerned that you don’t value him enough to eat well and sleep soundly."

On hearing this, Ye Zi’an’s face instantly fell.

"If you don’t tell him, the son won’t know," Ye Zi’an sighed, thinking of his eldest son, "Ah, I wonder how the boy’s doing. When we get back from town, I need to send him a letter."

"You also need to send some banknotes along," Yang Chuxia reminded him, "Although he’s in the palace and doesn’t need to pay for food and drink, those people in the palace are good at buttering up and putting down. If you don’t bribe them with some money, even with the Emperor there, they wouldn’t hesitate to deceive and bully our son."

"Hmm, that is necessary. Also, I’ll send some of our pearl and coral jewels. In case something happens, we’ll have something impressive to offer."

The people in the Capital City are the most tiresome. At the slightest occasion, they love to throw a feast and invite people over. Today it’s someone’s birthday, tomorrow another’s. They don’t care about age; even three- or four-year-olds like to hold parties, inviting their close friends over. If someone invites you, you must bring a gift, and if you don’t go, they say you’re disrespectful.

I recall the palace is full of princes and grandsons. The Emperor is unpredictable regarding when he’ll send my son back. If the stay becomes prolonged, how could one not run into such events?

"Remember this and make sure to send it when it’s time," Yang Chuxia instructed again.

Thus, one day Baili Yan received a package full of gold and silver. At first, he thought Brother An had finally wised up, realizing he’d been a bit poor this year, and decided to show some filial piety. But upon closer inspection, it turned out it was for someone’s son, and he felt utterly drained.

The carriage traveled rather slowly, and by the time they reached the town, the sun was high in the sky.

"Let’s go to the store first and park the carriage. Then we can come out."