Tian Jing's mind cleared. "I don't know, mine is very inaccurate. Besides feeling sleepy recently, I thought it was just spring fatigue. I haven't felt anything else."
Did her improved marital relations with Zheng Ge count as a symptom?
Thinking of this, she started to worry. She and Zheng Ge had been too wild recently. What if something went wrong?
But then, she suddenly froze. It was possible for an ability user's pregnancy to affect their abilities, causing them to weaken or malfunction. But she hadn't experienced any such issues.
Was she pregnant or not?
"Sister-in-law Niu, what brings you here?"
"Oh, Zhengguo and Rongguo are carrying long, straight lumber to your second uncle's house. They said they're returning it to Uncle Li Er, as per the condition for borrowing his lumber."
Facing Sister-in-law Niu's piercing gaze, Tian Jing nodded. "Yes, when Second Cousin sent it, he said his father wanted to build a five-meter-and-a-half main hall. Zhengguo needed it urgently, so we decided to borrow all the lumber."
"It would be too troublesome to borrow from others. This way, we help both Uncle's family and Eldest Cousin's family. Going into the mountains is easy for us."
Tian Jing's innocent, bewildered look made Sister-in-law Niu confused. Did Tian Jing really not know, or was she pretending? Had pregnancy made her foolish?
Mother Li lowered her head, concealing her smile. She was happy that her son and daughter-in-law were avenging their eldest son.
After seeing off Sister-in-law Niu, Tian Jing went into the house, grabbed a few ginseng seeds, entered the east side room, and warned everyone in the family not to come near.
She transplanted a box of seedlings and planted the ginseng seeds, using her ability to accelerate their growth. Her ability showed no change.
Was she really not pregnant?
She directly consumed the extracted essence, then evenly sprinkled the dust from the ginseng skin onto several boxes. After replanting the original seedlings in the wooden boxes, Tian Jing finally exited the east side room.
"Tiantian..."
Li Zhengguo, his face beaming with joy, saw the disappointment on Tian Jing's face and anxiously grasped her hand. "Tiantian, what's wrong?"
"I'm fine, I want to sleep."
"Then go to sleep."
Li Zhengguo bent down and swept her into a princess carry. "Let's go to the room to sleep."
Mother Li grabbed her daughter, who was about to follow. "Don't bother."
"But sister-in-law seems unhappy."
"Your elder brother will comfort her. What are you going to do?"
"Oh."
Damai tugged at her mother's sleeve. "Mom, Cousin-in-law is different, so Cousin is also different. Dad treats you very well, better than most men treat their wives. You can't change, otherwise, it would be better if you stayed at Grandma's and never came out. Back then, our family of four was so united."
Zhao Xiaofang was startled and looked down at her eldest daughter. "You think I've changed?"
"Yes, you envy Cousin-in-law. You always jokingly complain that Dad isn't as good as Cousin. Mom, the more you say it, the more your Dad becomes insecure. The more you say it, the more you'll genuinely believe it."
"Mom, Cousin-in-law is a woman everyone envies and is jealous of, but who has her abilities? A woman without abilities has no right to be jealous of a woman with abilities, just like Zhang Fangcao." Su Dan Novel Network.
Since her eldest daughter had brought up Zhang Fangcao, Zhao Xiaofang quickly made her stance clear.
"Your cousin-in-law is my savior. I only envy her, I'm not jealous."
"I hope Mom always remembers that."
Damai didn't fully believe her mother's words, but she had to warn her. Her mother was changing, and changing fast.
"Mom, you're physically able to do things now. Go help at our family's homestead. Participate in our family's construction yourself. Xiaomai and I have already started moving stones."
"But Mom's health, your cousin-in-law said..."
"Mom!" Damai was displeased. "Before, you didn't have a moment's rest. But now? What do you really want? Don't make me regret this..."
Damai turned and walked out of the courtyard. Zhao Xiaofang was stunned for a moment, then turned and went back into the inner kitchen.
Mother Li sighed softly. No wonder Tiantian was wary. When women suddenly start comparing, jealousy is inevitable. She had to be careful not to slip up. She didn't like this kind of daughter-in-law.
...
Looking at the person who had fallen asleep in his arms, Li Zhengguo felt uneasy. This situation was abnormal.
She had felt a bit sleepy a few days ago, but not to the point of falling asleep instantly.
He gently placed her on the bed and then found his mother. "Mom, go keep an eye on Tiantian. I'll go find Doctor Yang to examine her."
"Alright."
Mother Li sat by the bed, looking at her daughter-in-law, who was sleeping soundly, and felt a pang of worry.
"Third Aunt."
Mother Li looked up in surprise. "Xiaofang."
Zhao Xiaofang at the doorway looked a bit flustered. "I, I came to see my cousin-in-law. Is she alright?"
"She's fine, just a bit sleepy. She might be pregnant. You..."
"Oh, congratulations, Third Aunt."
Seeing Zhao Xiaofang, who had already entered, Mother Li frowned. She was usually so mindful of propriety. What was happening today?
A woman in confinement and a pregnant woman should not meet. Didn't she understand that? Was it deliberate, or...?
"Mom, Doctor Yang is here... Huh? Eldest Cousin-in-law, why are you coming in?"
Li Zhengguo anxiously pulled Doctor Yang into the room and saw Zhao Xiaofang peeking towards the bed.
"Oh, well, I came to see my cousin-in-law."
"She's fine. Eldest Cousin-in-law, please go out first. Tiantian doesn't like others entering her room casually."
"Ah? Oh, then I'll go out."
Zhao Xiaofang, flustered and panicked, walked out of the west room. Li Zhengguo looked at his mother. "Is this how you watch Tiantian?"
"I..."
"Mom, you should go out too."
Li Zhengguo pulled Doctor Yang to the bedside. "Quickly, see what's wrong with Tiantian."
His son's dissatisfaction and disregard made Mother Li feel hurt, but now was not the time to argue. She got up and made space.
"A stool? Should I take her pulse while sitting on the ground?"
"Wait." Li Zhengguo turned and exited the west room, only to encounter Zhao Xiaofang carrying a stool, intending to enter the west room. "Eldest Cousin-in-law?"
"Cousin, I just thought your room didn't have a stool, and it would be inconvenient for Doctor Yang to examine her."
Hearing the voices outside, Mother Li hurried out. "Xiaofang, you don't need to help here. Didn't Damai ask you to go look at the new house?"
"Oh, I, I'll go now."
She handed the stool in her hand to Li Zhengguo.
Li Zhengguo turned sideways, fetched another stool, entered the west room, and closed the door.
Tears welled up in Zhao Xiaofang's eyes. "Third Aunt, I, I just wanted to help."
Mother Li took the stool from her hand and placed it by the table. "It's alright. Zhengguo's temper is like that. He even kicked Zhang Fangcao. You should stay away from him."
"I'm sorry, it's my fault." Zhao Xiaofang lowered her head and started to cry.
Mother Li's brows furrowed even deeper. What was she trying to do?
"It's fine, come on, let's go outside."
Mother Li pulled Zhao Xiaofang, who was reluctant to leave.
In the west room, Doctor Yang joked with Li Zhengguo, "Are you specifically attracting married women?"
Li Zhengguo, however, was taken aback. If Zhao Xiaofang was trying to get close to him, and considering Fang Qiuhong in his previous life, it seemed Doctor Yang was right.
Doctor Yang looked surprised. "Your expression... there's something wrong."
"Doctor Yang, if it's true, where did it go wrong?"
"How should I know? But if I were to guess, it's probably because your devotion to your wife has been compared to others, and your heart has wavered."
Li Zhengguo sneered. "Once the heart wavers, what can one do? What can one achieve? It's just wishful thinking, embarking on a path that makes people disgusted and repulsed. It's truly sickening."
Thinking of Zhang Fangcao's actions made Li Zhengguo want to vomit. If Zhao Xiaofang... that would truly make one spit blood.