SGEIRS -Chapter 525 You’ve Improved

Meng Jinyu replied, “At first, I wasn’t used to it, but with my husband around, I gradually got accustomed. Big Sister, you’ve been worrying about me.”

Meng Jinyao lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on Jinyu’s small belly, and asked in a calm voice, “Second Sister, your belly… it should be about four months along by now, right?”

“It’s already five months.” Meng Jinyu instinctively touched her belly, then added, “I just don’t show much. Even at five months, it doesn’t look very big.”

Meng Jinyao nodded lightly and offered her congratulations: “Congratulations, Second Sister. You’re about to become a mother.”

Meng Jinyu smiled in response. “Thank you, Big Sister. For Wanwan’s full month celebration, I had planned to return to the capital to attend, but I had just found out I was pregnant at the time and it wasn’t suitable to travel. So I only sent a gift for Wanwan.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao was surprised—she hadn’t expected Meng Jinyu to even inquire about her son’s nickname. She didn’t know what Meng Jinyu was up to but responded calmly: “You should take care during the first three months.”

Meng Jinyu then said, “Grandmother was just talking about Big Sister. Should I accompany you to pay my respects to her first?”

Meng Jinyao nodded and agreed, going with Meng Jinyu to see Old Madam Meng. In her heart, she still wondered what Meng Jinyu was scheming—she had changed her nature, and yet treated her so kindly. It was unclear what she had in mind.

Meng Jinyu, however, was very clear about her intentions. In the past, she hadn’t paid Meng Jinyao any attention, but ever since moving to Yangzhou with her husband, she gradually understood her situation. Even though she was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis family and her husband’s family were merchants, being married far away in Yangzhou meant that calling for help from her natal family in the capital was useless.

At first, she held herself aloof, thinking her husband’s family would value her for her noble origin, but they didn’t. Perhaps because her family was so far away, they only treated her as an ordinary daughter-in-law, just like the second son’s wife, setting rules and boundaries.

As for her husband, she had always looked down on him—a businessman who smelled of money. Yet he knew she disliked him and still treated her respectfully, never cutting corners on her needs. When he learned that her mother-in-law had caused her grievances, he even sent her gifts that young women liked, claiming it was to make up for the unfairness, and asking her to endure the in-laws a little.

Gradually, she realized this husband was tolerable—at least he could provide her with a life of luxury, and he knew how to please her. As long as she didn’t return to the capital, she would still hold a respected position in Yangzhou.

To ensure her in-laws treated her better, she had to lower her pride. Even if she didn’t particularly like her husband, she had to show love and affection, occasionally mentioning her elder sister Meng Jinyao, and even forging letters from her sister in the capital expressing concern, so that her in-laws would believe they had a close sisterly bond.

It worked. Her mother-in-law indeed became more cautious and respectful, fearing her elder sister’s status as a marquis’s wife in the capital. Her husband’s attitude remained consistent, teaching her how to handle guests and conversation skills. Gradually, she realized her husband was competent; if she had married a scholar, she might not have lived as well as she did now.

Now that she returned to her natal home, no matter how much Meng Jinyao disliked her, she would still behave politely. Seeing Meng Jinyu get along well with Meng Jinyao, her sister-in-law in Yangzhou would know how to behave with her mother-in-law and sister-in-laws when they returned.

She accepted her fate. She could never surpass Meng Jinyao, and could not fight her. To maintain her luxurious life, she had to pretend to have a decent relationship with Meng Jinyao. She also knew about her younger brothers—her third brother was probably unreliable, and if anyone could succeed, it would be the second brother.

Unfortunately, she had long offended the second brother; now, she could only maintain a superficial sibling relationship, just like she had with Meng Jinyao.

When Meng Jinyao and Meng Jinyu paid respects to Old Madam Meng, it wasn’t until they met people from Jinyu’s husband’s family that she understood the situation.

A young girl of about fourteen or fifteen appeared. She was delicate and cute, walking briskly to Meng Jinyu and calling out, “Sister-in-law.” She glanced at Meng Jinyao, noticing her stunning appearance and dignified bearing, and curiously asked, “Sister-in-law, who is this madam?”

Meng Jinyu smiled faintly. “Jiao Jiao, this is my elder sister, the Lady of Changxing Marquis.”

The young girl immediately bowed. “Greetings, Madam Gu.”

Meng Jinyao said softly, “Miss Deng, no need for formalities.”

Fearing that Meng Jinyao might see through her intentions and not give her face, Meng Jinyu said, “Jiao Jiao, go play with girls your age. I haven’t seen Big Sister in a long time and have much to talk about. I’ll come back to you later.”

The young girl had wanted to get close to Meng Jinyao, but at her sister-in-law’s instruction, she had no choice but to leave.

Meng Jinyao glanced at the girl’s retreating figure and lightly smiled. “Second Sister, long time no see. You’ve improved quite a bit.”

Having been tested in her in-laws’ home, Meng Jinyu now knew how to yield. She replied, “Big Sister, I was childish before. Don’t hold it against me. I genuinely want to reconcile with you.”

But Meng Jinyao was not pleased. “Spare me. We’ve never been on good terms, so what reconciliation? Second Sister, if you don’t want to embarrass yourself, and I refuse to give you face in front of guests, then stay away from me.”

“If Big Sister doesn’t want to see me, then I’ll leave.” Meng Jinyu’s voice was tinged with grievance. She sighed softly and continued, “It’s my fault for being childish before. We are after all blood sisters… never mind. I know whatever I say, Big Sister won’t listen. But please remember, we are sisters. If you ever need help, I will never refuse.”

Meng Jinyao didn’t believe a word. She scoffed and called her by name. “Meng Jinyu, in the past, even without Madam Sun’s protection, you would still be arrogant towards me. Now that you’ve learned to yield, I see that you’ve suffered in Yangzhou. But tell me—should I praise your cleverness, or your stupidity?”

Meng Jinyu frowned. “What do you mean?”

Meng Jinyao lowered her voice, speaking slowly and deliberately: “You’re pretending to have a close sisterly bond with me in front of your in-laws. Suppose something happens in your husband’s family and they have to ask me for help, and I refuse. When your family sees that our relationship is only superficial, how do you think you’ll be treated?”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyu’s pupils constricted. She hadn’t considered this angle.

Meng Jinyao glanced at her and said calmly, “You’ve changed a lot—that’s the smoothness after being worn down. But compared to your mother, you still have a long way to go. Alright, I don’t want to see you. Today, you’d better stay out of my sight.”

With that, Meng Jinyao walked away without looking back.

Meng Jinyu was both angry and resentful but dared not lose her temper. She swallowed her grievances and forced a smile as she went on to talk with the other guests.