Heavenly Blessed Baby: Fleeing Famine, Busy to Prosper!-Chapter 260: Betrothal Discussed

"What’s got you so wound up?"

Mrs. Qi had her suspicions, but she kept a poker face.

After all, since it involved a young woman’s reputation, she needed to be particularly cautious.

Liu Qinghe was feeling quite anxious at the moment too.

Even though he had rehearsed his words on the way over, facing Mrs. Qi Sr., it was like something glued his mouth shut.

Not only could he not speak, but even opening his mouth was a struggle.

Mrs. Qi watched him try several times to say something, but not a word came out. She was getting really anxious, and finally couldn’t hold it in anymore: "Qinghe, say something already, what does your mother want you to ask me? Seeing you stammer like this is just going to worry an old lady to death!"

"Auntie, I, I..."

Liu Qinghe took a deep breath, finally summoning the courage to dive right in, and said softly, "My mother wanted me to ask if you would mind a daughter-in-law who has been engaged before?"

"What?"

Mrs. Qi felt her mind go blank, the whole world seemed to spin around her.

What did she just hear?

A girl who has been engaged?

Who?

Who was engaged?

Liu Family’s little sister?

The spirited Mrs. Qi suddenly felt utterly exhausted.

Such a lovely and charming girl, how could she have been engaged before?

Not that Mrs. Qi looked down on girls who had been engaged, but it just felt unsettling.

Liu Qinghe had delivered his mother’s message in one breath and was now watching Mrs. Qi intently, afraid to miss any change in her expression.

Seeing Mrs. Qi Sr. sitting there dazed, even swaying a bit, Liu Qinghe got worried and quickly said, "Auntie? Auntie? Please don’t get upset, just pretend I never said anything, nothing happened."

Although his little sister’s marriage was important, he couldn’t risk angering Brother Quanjin’s dear mother either.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be making a match, but making an enemy!

Mrs. Qi snapped out of it, noticing Liu Qinghe’s frustrated and self-reproaching look.

"What did you just say?"

Mrs. Qi blinked a few times: "I’m an old woman, spaced out there for a moment, didn’t catch that."

The words slipped out as Mrs. Qi tried to ease the awkwardness.

Liu Qinghe wasn’t a fool and understood she cared about this matter, so he forced a smile and shook his head, "Nothing really, my mother was just asking when you’ll be making pickled vegetables so she can join you."

Mrs. Qi let out an "ah," sounding distracted, "No rush, no rush, we have to wait until the cabbage grows."

"Alright, I’ll be off to work now, I’ll let my mother know later."

With that, Liu Qinghe turned and walked out.

Watching his back, Mrs. Qi opened her mouth but didn’t say anything to make him stay.

She didn’t feel up to any chores either, wasn’t even interested in the bag on the table, and got up to head to the backyard.

Her mind was a tangled mess; she just wanted to find someone to talk to.

The men were off working in the village, and the daughters-in-law were busy too, leaving only the youngest daughter-in-law, Yi Meng, to talk to.

Mrs. Qi’s feet seemed to have a mind of their own and led her right to Yi Meng’s door.

The weather was good today, with a gentle breeze blowing, Yi Meng had opened the window to let in some fresh air. She sat on the heated bed wearing a hat and scarf her mother-in-law had made, folding dry diapers.

"Meng Niang!"

Her mother-in-law’s voice came from outside, Yi Meng paused her movements and called out, "Mom, what’s up?"

Hearing her voice, knowing she wasn’t asleep, Mrs. Qi entered.

As soon as Yi Meng saw the old lady, she noticed her face didn’t look good, drawn and listless, as if she were ill.

It startled Yi Meng, she forgot all about the diapers and urged her onto the bed, "Mom, what’s wrong? Your face looks terrible. Are you feeling unwell?"

"No, no, I’m fine, stay off your feet."

Mrs. Qi stepped quickly to stop Yi Meng from getting up.

Seeing her daughter-in-law folding diapers, Mrs. Qi sat down to help her, but didn’t mention what just happened.

Yi Meng realized the old lady was troubled.

Since she came to see her, she probably wanted someone to talk to.

But the old lady didn’t bring it up, so Yi Meng didn’t ask.

They sat quietly folding diapers until it was all done. Mrs. Qi pushed the diapers to Yi Meng and sighed, "Meng Niang, what did Liu Family’s little sister talk to you about yesterday?"

"Oh, just some small talk, nothing much. Mom, did something happen?"

Yi Meng lifted the teapot from the table and poured the old lady a cup of tea, handing it to her.

Mrs. Qi held the cup but didn’t drink, letting out a long sigh, then said in a small voice, "I mentioned before that I wanted to consider Liu Family’s little sister for our little one. Qinghe just came over and said his mother asked him to ask me something, and I, just..."

Thinking of that, Mrs. Qi couldn’t help but sigh.

How could she have been engaged?

Yi Meng was confused, recalling Liu Meiniang had mentioned something to her the night before, her heart skipped a beat.

Could it be the Liu Family directly mentioned Liu Meiniang’s past affairs?

Yet, Yi Meng was puzzled.

With her mother-in-law’s open-minded nature, she shouldn’t be influenced by something like this.

So Yi Meng tenderly asked, "Mom, do you think Liu Family’s little sister isn’t a good match, that’s why you don’t want this marriage?"

"No way!"

Mrs. Qi immediately refuted, "That Liu girl is such a beauty, and I hear from her mother that she’s been lots of help at home over the years. Takes care of elders, looks after nephews and nieces, she’s great at housework."

"Then what are you upset about, Mom?"

Yi Meng was even more perplexed.

If she’s so great, why all the sighing?

Could it be that the Liu Family isn’t interested?

Yi Meng could only think of that as the reason.

But Mrs. Qi said, "You don’t understand, Liu Family’s little sister, she’s been engaged before."

"..."

Yi Meng was taken aback.

She thought she knew her mother-in-law well, but suddenly realized she might have underestimated her.

Her mother-in-law actually minded that!

"Mom, what does ’engaged before’ mean?"

Yi Meng didn’t dare reveal she already knew the details.

She had to keep her promise to Liu Family’s little sister.

Mrs. Qi sighed, "What else could it mean, just that she was engaged before!"

"No, Mom, being engaged before and getting engaged aren’t the same! Liu Family’s little sister is only sixteen, isn’t it normal to discuss marriage at this age? If she was engaged before, it didn’t go through, that’s why!"

Yi Meng had a good impression of Liu Meiniang, and it was clear her mother-in-law liked her too. Yi Meng didn’t want a misunderstanding to ruin a good match.

Her attempts at persuasion, however, only earned a roll of the eyes from Mrs. Qi.