USWHC -Chapter 57 The Big White Jade Radish (Part 7)

Old Madam Ji stared at the shards on the floor, both heartbroken and furious, and shouted, “My plate! My plate! You reckless girl! If you didn’t want to do it, just say so—don’t take it out on my plate!”

Zhu Jie forced back her nausea, leaning weakly against the door as she murmured, “Mother… I’ll do it. I really will.” She staggered forward, her hands and feet trembling.

This time, Old Madam Ji didn’t dare let her touch anything. As Zhu Jie approached, she was unceremoniously shoved aside, with Old Madam Ji snapping, “Enough! Stop showing off like this!”

“Mother… I… I really feel sick!” Zhu Jie said, looking pitiful, her voice quivering with soft sobs.

Luckily, Ji Yi stepped forward and gently supported the swaying Zhu Jie, frowning at Old Madam Ji as he said, “Mother, she really isn’t feeling well. Why don’t we let her help my sister-in-law tomorrow instead?”

Seeing him protect his wife like that, Sister-in-Law You felt a pang of irritation. She snorted coldly, glaring at Ji Yi with sarcasm: “Excited about eating, but sick when it comes to work? Who would believe that?”

“Sister-in-law, I really feel unwell. Maybe it’s because I’ve been eating sweet potatoes all these days, which upset my stomach. That last one was a bit… I just couldn’t hold it,” Zhu Jie’s voice grew softer, her embarrassment clear. She looked so delicate and pitiful that even Old Master Ji and Elder Brother Ji couldn’t help but speak up in fairness: “Forget it. It’s just one day; let her rest!”

Hearing this, Ji Yi immediately said, “Thank you, Father and Brother, for understanding!” and helped Zhu Jie back to her room.

Sister-in-Law You and Old Madam Ji watched in dismay as their men spoke up for Zhu Jie. You could hear Sister-in-Law You sarcastically comment, “Look at her! She vomits over a sweet potato. What if she ever gets pregnant—would she throw up her intestines?”

Though she only spoke casually, Old Madam Ji immediately grew anxious: “Could it be… that she’s really pregnant?!”

“How is that possible? It’s only been a few days! Even if Erhan is… strong, she couldn’t get pregnant instantly. And even if she did, she wouldn’t be vomiting this soon!” Sister-in-Law You’s eyes widened. She had been married for years without getting pregnant—this Zhu Jie, just arriving, and she’s pregnant? Impossible!

Still, Old Madam Ji stood up, hopping anxiously as she watched Zhu Jie stagger along the path back to her room, visibly nauseated. She frowned, muttering, “It better not be Erhan’s child! No matter how poor we are, we can’t let that happen!”

“Yes! I said it! A good girl from a respectable family wouldn’t go out alone. Must be someone’s child she’s carrying,” Ji Mei added bitterly. She had never liked Zhu Jie, and seeing her more attractive than herself only made her jealousy worse.

Suddenly, the room went silent. Not even a chewing sound could be heard—just wide-eyed shock.

“Could… could she really be pregnant?” several people asked at once. Though no one answered, the look of shock on everyone’s face said it all.

Ji Yi had just helped Zhu Jie into her room when a chaotic chorus of shouting erupted outside, calling his name over and over as if their lives depended on it. It seemed this time, it wasn’t just Old Madam Ji—it was the whole family gathered.

Ji Yi had no choice but to step outside again, only to be immediately surrounded. Old Madam Ji glanced mischievously into the room before dragging Ji Yi toward the main house.

“Erhan! What do you think of your wife?” Old Madam Ji demanded as soon as they entered.

Ji Yi replied diplomatically, “She’s fine. Mother, aren’t you satisfied?”

“It’s not about satisfaction. I’m just telling you—your wife might not be suitable for you anymore!” Old Madam Ji frowned deeply, her expression full of resentment.

Ji Yi was stunned, not understanding why. Then Old Master Ji sighed and said, “Yi… your wife might really be unsuitable. Prepare yourself mentally!”

Ji Yi couldn’t believe it—even Old Master Ji was saying this. What had Zhu Jie done wrong?

“Father, did she do something wrong?” Ji Yi frowned as he saw the scene, earnestly asking Old Master Ji.

Old Master Ji just kept sighing. He opened his mouth, but no words came out; his face turned red first, and after a long pause, he shook his head repeatedly—a perfect picture of someone wanting to speak but holding back.

Seeing Old Master Ji at a loss for words, Ji Yi naturally turned his gaze to Old Madam Ji. Her personality was always straightforward and outspoken, but this time, even she sighed, deliberately looking away and seemingly seeking help from Elder Brother Ji.

Elder Brother Ji caught his mother’s pleading look and let out a chuckle, as if he’d been waiting for this moment. He took a few steps, deliberately pulling Ji Yi slightly aside, and whispered with a sly grin, “Er Han, your wife… is, uh, right?”

He raised a crafty eyebrow at Ji Yi. For some reason, Ji Yi felt his smile was particularly lewd, as if it hinted at something.

Ji Yi shook his head in confusion, looking at Elder Brother Ji, unsure what he meant.

At this moment, everyone in the Ji household was listening in. Seeing Ji Yi shake his head, they all misinterpreted the gesture. Ji Mei quickly blurted out, “See! I told you! It’s definitely not second brother’s child!”

“Exactly! There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Turns out, it’s just a worn-out shoe!” Sister-in-law You chimed in loudly.

Old Master Ji sighed even more deeply, his face all wrinkled like a chrysanthemum. “Heaven is unjust! Yi, don’t be sad. Your father will find you a good wife—definitely better than her! At least a proper, virtuous girl!”

Old Madam Ji angrily added, “What a waste of my sweet potatoes!”

Listening to everyone argue, Ji Yi felt increasingly stifled. He glanced here and there, seeing the solemn faces of everyone around him. “Father, Mother, what are you talking about?”

“We’re talking about your wife’s child!” Old Madam Ji patted Ji Yi on the shoulder, her expression mixed with pity, as if she were looking at a man wearing a big green hat.

Ji Yi jumped in shock. “She’s pregnant? Impossible!”

They… haven’t even… how could she be pregnant? He shook his head repeatedly, this time even more firmly than before.

“I know you don’t believe it—you’ve only been together a short time! There’s no way she’s pregnant so soon!” Old Madam Ji misunderstood his meaning. Sighing again, she said, “That child isn’t yours!”

Ji Yi was genuinely stunned. No way… He turned his head toward his room in disbelief. That girl… pregnant?

But everyone, seeing his shocked expression, assumed he was horrified at the thought of being cuckolded. Elder Brother Ji stepped forward, lowering his voice, pretending to be the caring older brother, and said, “Don’t be too upset. A woman like that, you never know what’s normal!” Yet his eyes sparkled with amusement, clearly hiding a laugh.

“Exactly! We can’t keep a woman like that. I’ll kick her out immediately!” Old Madam Ji called out, hands on her hips. Her voice was loud, clearly meant for Zhu Jie in the other house to hear.

“Yes, a woman like that cannot stay!” Ji Mei nodded in agreement.

“We can’t accept this cheap luck. Kick her out! What a thing!” Sister-in-law You declared, full of righteous indignation.

Listening to their stern voices, Ji Yi’s mind was in turmoil.

So she was pregnant? But whose child was it? Thinking of this made his chest feel tight and heavy.

She said her family wanted to marry her off to an old man… If they knew she was pregnant, would they still do that? If they did, wouldn’t it be sending her to her death?

But since she was already pregnant, where was the father? Why hadn’t he come to save her? Had she been deceived, abandoned?

“What a waste of so many of my sweet potatoes. Just thinking about it makes my heart ache!” Old Madam Ji continued nagging. “A woman like her, what a disgrace… how did she survive the cold?”

“Exactly! If she had frozen to death, we could’ve eaten the meat!” Ji Mei added with a touch of lament.

The snow outside still hadn’t melted, and the cold wind howled in spirals, making the courtyard gate rattle. Ji Yi’s gaze drifted to the outside—it was really cold out there.