Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 360 - 196: Pregnant

"Don’t let sister-in-law get too busy, I’ll sit for a bit and then leave. I still need to go to Third Brother’s place!"

Gu Chengyu hurriedly tried to stop them. His fourth sister-in-law usually helped with processing herbs in the backyard, and sometimes she would prepare medicine for distant patients, which was not easy work.

Gu Chengyu heard a light sound of footsteps as Mrs. Zhao entered the outer room, lifting the curtain with a tray in hand.

"Fourth Sister-in-law!" Gu Chengyu quickly stood up to greet her.

"Oh! Little Uncle! You’re back from the Capital? Please sit down."

Mrs. Zhao’s habit of blushing had improved considerably, possibly because she met more people daily now.

Nonetheless, she still seemed like the gentle and softspoken woman she always was.

Gu Chengyu sat down again, "Fourth Sister-in-law, no need to trouble yourself. I still have to go to Third Brother’s, and I drank a lot of tea this morning, so I really can’t take any more right now."

Mrs. Zhao smiled gently but still poured a cup of tea for Gu Chengyu.

"How about having lunch here! Then I’ll go buy some groceries, and you, dear, take care of Little Uncle."

Mrs. Zhao noticed the time and wanted to invite Gu Chengyu to stay for lunch.

Gu Chengyu politely declined, "Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t go through the trouble. Mother wants to invite you and brother to have dinner at home tonight. It’s been a while since our last gathering. Let’s wait until everyone is here tonight and have a get-together then!"

Gu Chengchi heard this and didn’t insist. They were brothers and had no need for formalities.

"Then let’s follow Xiao Bao’s suggestion and gather tonight. You should avoid overexertion now; it’s better to rest more." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Gu Chengyu was a little puzzled, "Is Fourth Sister-in-law not well?"

Gu Chengchi laughed heartily, "Your fourth sister-in-law is expecting."

His face was full of joy, as he would soon become a father in a few months.

"That’s wonderful news, congratulations to Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law. How come Mother hasn’t mentioned it?"

Mrs. Zhao blushed down to her neck and glanced at Gu Chengchi, speaking almost inaudibly, "It’s not yet three months, so we didn’t tell Mother."

In Shangling Village, it’s best not to tell too many people before three months. In ancient times, many children did not survive, and many pregnancies were lost.

Before three months, it’s considered unstable, so it’s naturally not something to be announced.

"When my nephew is born, I must prepare a gift. Fourth Brother, be sure to write to me."

Gu Chengyu was also very happy about having another little relative. He found babies to be soft and adorable, which was very interesting.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but think of Little Yue, and he wanted to discuss the matter of debts with Fourth Brother before going to see Little Yue at Third Brother’s place.

"Fourth Brother, does your shop often grant credit?"

"Only to those who really can’t spare even a copper coin. We can only give them credit; they’re all pitiful people."

Hearing this, even Mrs. Zhao had her reservations.

"We don’t know if those people are really poor. You should stop always giving credit. If it becomes a habit, it won’t be good. People who have paid will surely follow suit if they find out."

Mrs. Zhao was worried too, if it weren’t for the profit from New Year soap sales, their clinic wouldn’t have lasted.

In town, several small clinics made fun of them behind their backs, saying they were doing business at a loss for the sake of reputation.

"We’ve lost a lot in the months since opening the clinic. Some say they have no money and keep getting credited without repaying. Although they’re from this area, it’s hard to just go and demand payment!"

"Fourth Sister-in-law is right. Fourth Brother, this habit can’t continue. Families without money can come up with alternatives; there will always be something to use as payment. If they truly don’t have anything, they could help at the shop or work on your land to pay off the debt. As long as the price is agreed upon, it will work."

"The shop need not earn lots of money, but at the very least, there must be a balance of basic expenses."

Gu Chengyu believed some people were actually poor, but there was no guarantee they would repay once they had money—especially since his Fourth Brother didn’t even have them sign an IOU.

"Is that so? What you’ve said makes sense. I’ve been thinking of finding a way to solve this too. Xiao Bao’s suggestion is good; I’ll handle it sensitively."

Gu Chengchi wasn’t foolish; initially, it was fine without children, but now that he was about to be a father, he needed to save some money.

Seeing that Gu Chengchi understood, Gu Chengyu didn’t say much more.

"I’ll head to Third Brother’s place now. Fourth Brother, come home early this afternoon. Mother will be thrilled to know about Fourth Sister-in-law’s pregnancy."

"Alright!" Since Gu Chengyu knew, Gu Chengchi didn’t stop him from telling their parents, after all, it was already over two months along and just a few days from three months.

Ming Mo and Ming Yan paid their respects to Gu Chengchi earlier and went to wait by the carriage.

Gu Chenglian’s blacksmith shop was about a street away from the clinic, and taking the carriage was quicker.

Gu Chenglian’s shop was on another street, an area mainly for selling sundries.

When Gu Chengyu first visited, he thought the location was quite good, certainly due to Third Sister-in-law’s efforts. His Third Brother was stubborn and would never think of such things!

The wagon wheels rolled on the clean bluestone road, making a rumbling sound.

This area was close to the south side. Gu Chenglian usually worked on small iron tools like scissors, kitchen knives, and farming implements.

Speaking of the blacksmith shop, when Gu Chenglian was an apprentice, the shop owner’s wife tried to cheat him when he opened his business. But what kind of person was Third Sister-in-law? Clever and calculating, Mrs. Yu Daitie was just a brutish woman. Compared to Yu Daitie, she was simpler—how could she possibly outsmart Third Sister-in-law?

The carriage stopped at the entrance to the blacksmith shop, where Gu Chenglian was busy working. There were fewer farming tools in the shop, so he had to forge more of them.

Upon hearing the sound of the carriage, thinking business had arrived, he quickly looked up, only to see Ming Mo and Ming Yan in the carriage.

"Is Little Bao back?" Gu Chenglian shouted, the flames from the forge illuminating his bare chest, covered in sweat.

Gu Chengyu quickly got off the carriage, "Third Brother!"

"You’re back? Go inside; I’ll be finished soon." He couldn’t stop since he was almost done with the tool in hand.

"Got it!"

"Third Young Master!" Ming Mo and Ming Yan called out and followed Gu Chengyu, preparing to head to the backyard where it wasn’t so hot with the forge.

Gu Chengyu first went to the inner courtyard, where his Third Sister-in-law should be at this time, taking care of Little Yue since Gu Chenglian was busy during the day.

From the front, the sound of Gu Chenglian’s blacksmithing could be heard, as Gu Chengyu imagined his slender yet powerful brother focusing on the iron in his hands.

Although his Third Brother was thin, he had plenty of strength; many said he didn’t look like a blacksmith.

The noise was much quieter in the inner courtyard.

Since it was too noisy and full of flying sparks at the forge, it wasn’t a place for people to linger. Gu Chengyu was still young and being a close brother, going into the inner courtyard wasn’t a big deal.

Since Third Sister-in-law was a woman, there might be some inconvenience, so when Gu Chengyu really needed to go in, he would shout a few times at the courtyard door and only enter after getting a response.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard several sharp female voices, "I told you to empty the water from the basin; look at you, spilling it everywhere, can’t even do a simple task properly."

Gu Chengyu recognized the voice as his Third Sister-in-law’s. Who was she scolding? Could it be Little Yue?