Chapter 606: Chapter 224: Conception Dream

"Is twenty-one considered old? I still think it’s too early to get pregnant at this age," Xu Suying scolded. "A girl’s body needs to fully mature before she can bear children; that minimizes the toll on the mother. You don’t care about your own biological daughter at all. Her in-laws haven’t even rushed them, yet here you are, pushing for it."

"I was just muttering about it in front of you," Chen Song said sheepishly. "I didn’t rush them. She’s my daughter, how could I not care? I was just... well, seeing as Li’an is already a father, I was worried Jing might be getting anxious. He is an outstanding talent with exceptional literary grace and looks. If he achieves further success in the Imperial Examination and the Palace Examination, someone might get ideas and try to snatch him up as a son-in-law right under the exam results bulletin..."

"Snatch my foot! Do they think I’m made of clay?" Xu Suying snapped. "Even if the young couple isn’t in a hurry for children—heck, even if my daughter truly couldn’t give birth—if Zhao Jing ever dared to have a child behind her back, just watch me have someone chop off his wretched root..."

Chen Song’s skin tightened, his scalp tingling with dread. He thought to himself, "Is she going to chop off our son-in-law’s manhood, or is she actually threatening to chop off mine? What did I even do? Didn’t I just say a couple of extra words?" Deciding he couldn’t afford to provoke her further, Chen Song feigned sleep to escape.

SNORE. SNORE. The sound echoed through the room like a starting tractor, annoying Xu Suying to no end. She kicked him. "You’re faking it. A real snore doesn’t sound like that. You usually snore like a grunting pig, so hurry up and switch your tune..."

Chen Song was speechless. He thought, "I absolutely can’t live like this anymore!"

Chen Bai and Li’an stayed in the Prefecture for two days before preparing to return home.

Their purpose for coming had already been achieved. Coupled with their concern for matters back home, they insisted on leaving despite Chen Song and Xu Suying’s earnest efforts to make them stay. Seeing this, Chen Song simply stopped trying to persuade them. He still had matters to attend to at the government office, and he had delayed quite a bit of work over the past two days because of their visit.

Chen Song and Xu Suying purchased many local souvenirs together. They also prepared health supplements for the two elders, gifts for the upcoming third-day washing and one-month celebrations for the child in Chunyue’s belly, and presents for Yuzhu’s coming-of-age hair-pinning and engagement ceremonies. It wasn’t until they had packed a horse-drawn carriage completely full that they finally sent the two on their way.

That day also happened to be the day the dart masters from Qingshui County were returning home.

If not for these traveling companions, Chen Song and Xu Suying wouldn’t have dared to prepare so many goods for them. Although the water bandits entrenched between Qingshui County and the Prefecture had been wiped out—which in turn dampened the arrogance of the bandits on land—these mountain bandits were actually just local commoners living along the routes. Whenever times got tough, they would come out to rob. However, they never killed anyone and knew exactly when to stop. Since they committed crimes collectively as entire villages sharing the same surname, they kept their mouths tightly shut. Even when government troops arrived, the soldiers were completely helpless against them.

However, these bandits were also perceptive. When they encountered a large, powerful group and knew they couldn’t win, they would simply let them pass. Because of this, Chen Song wasn’t worried that the vast amount of goods he prepared for his brother and nephew would be lost or robbed on the road.

Zhao Jing and Chen Wanqing also came in person to see them off, taking the opportunity to add their own batch of gifts. Furthermore, Mr. Sheng’s household specially sent Wen Shu over to deliver ten to twenty bolts of fabric, along with some medicinal pills for various ailments. While there weren’t many items, they were extremely precious, making Chen Bai and Li’an feel as though they were holding hot coals.

Xu Shiling had already returned to Liangchun Prefecture. However, before he left, he heard about the arrival of Chen Song’s brother and nephew, so he purposefully had someone prepare and deliver local specialties from Liangchun Prefecture. Assorted and piecemeal as they were, the gifts astonishingly filled up yet another carriage.

The two had arrived carrying only two small bundles, but they were leaving with two full carriages of goods. It made them look like impoverished relatives who had come begging for handouts. Not being thick-skinned by nature, their faces flushed an unbelievable shade of red.

"Look at how this turned out," Chen Bai said. "We came in such a rush and didn’t even prepare anything for you. Chen Song, we’ll visit again at the end of the year and bring a cartful of your favorite foods from our hometown."

Chen Song quickly waved his hand. "Please don’t. We might not be in the Prefecture for New Year’s this year."

"Huh?"

Chen Song pointed at Xu Suying. She took the cue to reveal, "My maiden home is in the Capital City, and we need to make a trip there soon. If things go smoothly, we probably won’t be back before the end of the year."

Chen Bai suddenly understood and quickly said, "Then I’ll wish you a smooth journey in advance, Suying."

Xu Suying nodded with restraint. "Make sure you take good care of the old man when you get back. Under no circumstances can anything happen to him at this critical juncture."

Chen Bai revealed a knowing expression and patted his chest. "Rest assured, Suying, I won’t let our father cause any trouble for you."

Li’an also chimed in, "I will find time to go over and look after Grandfather and Grandmother as well."

"Don’t bother going over," Xu Suying told him. "Chunyue is in the late stages of her pregnancy and shouldn’t be agitated. Just behave yourself and take good care of her. As for the old estate, leave it to Uncle Bai. He can ask Uncle Long to hire two clan members. Uncle Bai can just pop in to take a look when he has free time; you don’t need to go."

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