SGEIRS -Chapter 423 Filial Piety to Her Mother-in-Law

Meng Chengzhang smiled and said, “Father is in a bad mood these days because his official career hasn’t been going well.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao laughed helplessly. “When has his career ever gone smoothly? After so many years, he still can’t accept his own mediocrity and incompetence?”

Meng Chengzhang slowly recounted what had happened the night before.

“Yesterday was the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the family banquet in the evening, Father drank a bit too much and started complaining to Grandmother. He blamed you for not being close to your natal family, saying that even after marrying into a good household, you didn’t help support our family, causing him to miss out on a real post.”

“Then he blamed Uncle as well, saying that his current wife’s younger brother took another position that should have been his. He said that even though Aunt has passed away, he is still her biological younger brother and the maternal uncle of Uncle’s eldest son, yet Uncle didn’t help him at all.”

“He also complained that you didn’t ask Eldest Brother-in-law to support him. That position required connections. Without Eldest Brother-in-law’s help, he had no choice but to go for another post that could be obtained with money. He said that although our future Second Brother-in-law has money, someone still got there first. In the end, he claimed that Uncle favored his current wife’s brother, which was why Father’s career kept failing.”

Meng Jinyao was stunned. “He actually said all that?”

Meng Chengzhang nodded. “Last night he even told me to persuade you. Elder Sister, he said you shouldn’t go back to the natal home if you don’t have to. Father is quite difficult now. If I come back, I’ll come visit you.”

“Don’t worry,” Meng Jinyao replied. “Unless it’s necessary, I won’t go back.”

She smiled again. “If I remember correctly, Uncle’s current wife comes from a merchant family, and her younger brother is pursuing the imperial examinations. If he needed money, her family certainly had it. Since her family handled it, how is that favoritism on Uncle’s part?”

“But Father insists it’s someone else’s fault,” Meng Chengzhang said. “He says both are brothers-in-law, yet Uncle favors the other one.”

Meng Jinyao sighed. “He simply lacks ability. Otherwise, how could he be over thirty and still hold only a nominal post? Even if he were given a good position, he wouldn’t be able to handle it. If he made mistakes, he’d be punished lightly—or lose his head at worst, dragging the whole family down with him.”

“That’s true,” Meng Chengzhang agreed. “Father just can’t see himself clearly.”

Speaking gently, Meng Jinyao said, “Second Brother, just let him be. Our stepmother is smart. She’ll rein him in and won’t let him cause trouble that implicates the family.”

Hearing this, Meng Chengzhang couldn’t help but feel sorry for Madam Dong. “She’s not only smart, but also kind-hearted. Father really doesn’t deserve her.”

Meng Jinyao nodded in agreement. Her father truly didn’t deserve such a refined and sensible woman.

After a while, she asked, “By the way, did Cousin Luo come to visit Grandmother?”

“Yes,” Meng Chengzhang replied. “Cousin Yong’an and his wife brought Zheng’er this morning. He’s Grandmother’s biological grandson, so she treats him well. But Father tried to sow discord between him and Uncle, and also between him and his stepmother. He kept implying that having a stepmother meant having a stepfather too, telling him to be cautious and not be fooled. But Cousin can tell right from wrong. He just let it go in one ear and out the other.”

“I’ve seen how well Cousin gets along with Madam Luo,” Meng Jinyao said. “His wife is close to her too. That shows she never mistreated him. Father just said those things to vent his frustration.”

Then Meng Chengzhang added, “Elder Sister, I met our future Second Brother-in-law yesterday.”

Meng Jinyao grew curious. “How is Young Master Deng?”

“He’s twenty this year, with proper features and a sharp mind,” Meng Chengzhang replied. “If Second Sister marries him, she’ll be completely under his control.”

She nodded. “Has the wedding date been set?”

“It’s scheduled for the second day of the tenth lunar month.”

She nodded again, then suddenly asked, “Since Father was drunk and complaining at the banquet, did Young Master Deng hear it? How did he react?”

“He didn’t,” Meng Chengzhang shook his head. “He visited in the morning. He wasn’t there in the evening. If outsiders had been present, Grandmother wouldn’t have let Father talk like that—she wouldn’t want others to look down on us.”

Meng Jinyao pursed her lips in mockery.

Selling one’s daughter to a merchant family in exchange for money was already something people looked down on.

Autumn winds swept through, and yellow leaves fell in the breeze.

Meng Jinyao sat sewing patterns onto a garment. The fabric was blue silk, embroidered with motifs symbolizing good fortune and longevity. At a glance, it was clear the clothes were meant for an elderly person.

She had made them for her mother-in-law, Old Madam Gu.

Previously, to pass the time, she had made clothes for her husband and their unborn child. Then she thought of making a set for her mother-in-law as well, to show her filial respect. She had asked Qingqiu to inquire with the household seamstresses about the proper measurements.

Her mother-in-law lived quietly, reciting scriptures and eating vegetarian food. She had few desires and almost no hobbies. Her only interest seemed to be related to Buddhism.

Apart from rare scriptures or prayer beads, it was hard to find gifts that suited her tastes.

She liked vegetarian dishes, but making light, low-salt, low-oil food that was truly delicious required great skill. Meng Jinyao didn’t even dare eat her own cooking, so she didn’t want to burden her mother-in-law with it.

Giving her clothes was the safest choice.

After tying off the final stitch, the garment was finished.

She inspected it carefully, folded it neatly, and went to Shou’an Hall to present it.

Old Madam Gu was pleasantly surprised. Seeing the fine, dense stitches, she knew her daughter-in-law had put great effort into it. She felt delighted, yet said,

“A-Yao, you’re too thoughtful. But you’re pregnant—how can you work so hard? In the future, leave these things to the servants. Don’t tire yourself.”

Smiling gently, Meng Jinyao replied, “Mother, I’m not tired. I’m idle at home anyway. Doing some work helps pass the time.”

Old Madam Gu smiled and asked, “A-Yao, are you missing Yaoling?”

How could she possibly answer that?

Blushing, Meng Jinyao lowered her head, tacitly admitting it.

Seeing this, Old Madam Gu smiled even more. “In the past, when Yaoling went on official business, he usually returned within half a year. This time in Hangzhou, he should be back by late autumn or early winter. If you miss him, you can write letters.”

Meng Jinyao nodded shyly.

After chatting for a while, Old Madam Gu let her return for dinner. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to eat with her, but she was observing a vegetarian fast. The food wouldn’t suit a pregnant woman, and eating too plainly wasn’t good for her health.

After Meng Jinyao left, Nanny Feng looked at the clothes and said, “Old Madam, Madam’s embroidery is truly excellent. It’s no worse than the household seamstresses—perhaps even better.”

Old Madam Gu nodded with a smile. “It really is good. This child is thoughtful. I’ve arranged to go to the temple with my old sisters tomorrow to pray for blessings. I’ll wear this set then.”