Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 489 - 489 490 On the Way Here_1

Chapter 489: Chapter 490 On the Way Here_1 Chapter 489: Chapter 490 On the Way Here_1 “The child will be born soon, and then it will be easier. Always carrying such a big belly while working is tiring,” Muniang sighed.

Dabao’s Mother’s expression was somewhat sad, “If the child can be safely born, of course that would be the best. I’m anxiously looking forward to it.”

For Dabao’s Mother, this child was not just a small life, but also evidence of her innocence. Over the past many months, she had frequently encountered the cold stares of the villagers. What’s crucial is that the timing of this child was really inopportune. Everyone harbored doubts about her. Naturally, her mother-in-law was no exception, wishing the child would just die on the spot.

In the eyes of others, she had become a tainted object, but she clearly wasn’t. How could she bear it?

“It’s only you who bothers with me. When others see me, if they don’t speak to me with cold words, they avoid me as much as possible, as if they are afraid of being associated with me,” Dabao’s Mother said with a bitter smile.

Muniang also felt that Dabao’s Mother was pitiable. It clearly wasn’t her fault, yet she had to bear the brunt of the consequences. Muniang herself also came from an agricultural science background and wasn’t versed in medicine, so naturally, she could not think of any method more reliable than a blood test to prove parentage. Although she sympathized with Dabao’s Mother, she knew the randomness of blood tests, and she could only hope for good luck for her.

“You don’t have to think too much. It wasn’t your fault in the beginning. How could it be blamed on you? Moreover, your husband isn’t unreasonable. Even if your mother-in-law is harsh, after all, your man stands on your side, doesn’t he?”

Upon hearing this, Dabao’s Mother indeed became somewhat happier, a trace of joy appearing on her face. “My husband truly treats me well. No matter how my mother-in-law slanders me, he trusts me. Otherwise, this child wouldn’t have survived until now. What matters is to live a good life after the child is born.”

Muniang smiled as well. Dabao’s Mother and Xu Family’s man were famously known as the model couple in the village. In all these years, they had never quarreled. Which man in the village, when provoked, didn’t lay a hand on his wife? Yet, this couple treated each other with respect, and their life together was especially harmonious. Who in the village didn’t know this? It was just that Xu Family’s man often worked in the prefectural city, and could only return once every ten days or half a month. Dabao’s Mother often had to deal with her mother-in-law instead, which made her situation rather miserable.

Ever since Muniang became pregnant, she cherished little lives all the more. Regardless of whether Dabao’s Mother’s child was clean or not, she wished it could be born safely and soundly.

When Muniang returned that day, she mentioned this matter to Yu Ze, “Is that Imperial Physician you talked about really skilled? Does he have any way to discern the parent-child relationship?”

Yu Ze frowned, “I’m not sure about that. Isn’t there the blood test?”

Muniang shook her head, “That’s unreliable. If Dabao’s Mother’s child has to rely on that method, it definitely won’t work. Is there any other way?”

Yu Ze wasn’t surprised that Muniang thought that method was unreliable. His wife’s mind had always been full of various things, and he had grown accustomed to it through their time together, never asking too much.

“I don’t know if there’s another method. However, the medical skills of that Imperial Physician are very impressive. Perhaps if we ask him, he might have a way.”

“Then when can he come? I really want him to find a reliable method to prove the innocence of Dabao’s Mother. It’s not easy for Dabao’s Mother to carry this child. If she’s really unlucky and the child’s blood type doesn’t match, wouldn’t she be wronged to death?”

Yu Ze pondered for a moment before saying, “Don’t worry, when we sent the message last time, we already asked him to hurry over as quickly as possible. Given that it’s been over a month, he shouldn’t take much longer.”

“Didn’t you say he was an old man, racing his horse as fast as possible? Can he endure such a journey?” Muniang exclaimed in astonishment.

“Back when you thought you couldn’t conceive, you were so distressed, how could I let you wait three months? As soon as I sent word back home, he rushed over. By the time we found out you were pregnant, he was already on his way, and without a courier on the road, he wouldn’t have known the news. So naturally, he had to hurry here. Don’t worry, though his old bones are nearly worn out, he once traveled far and wide. A little jolting won’t bring him apart; he won’t fall to pieces.”

Muniang’s lips twitched. This old man was quite unlucky, but from the tone of Yu Ze’s words, it seemed they had a good relationship. Muniang thus felt relieved, only hoping that the old man would arrive quickly.

These days, Muniang often went to the embroidery room to chat with Dabao’s Mother, mainly to keep her from feeling lonely. As a woman from the 21st century, she naturally didn’t adhere to the so-called virtues of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor that others spoke of—the idea that a woman should be deemed dirty after being raped held no credibility with her. With Muniang for company, Dabao’s Mother too felt happier, and it was better than being alone, wasn’t it?

Early one morning, Muniang got ready and took her basket to the embroidery room to learn. But upon arriving, she found everyone gossiping. Women always enjoyed idle talk, and Muniang couldn’t be bothered to listen. However, she searched and couldn’t see any sign of Dabao’s Mother, which was strange.

“Hasn’t Dabao’s Mother come today?”

Those women immediately became as excited as if they’d been injected with chicken blood and said, “How could she come? Haven’t you heard? She went into labor this morning. The expected day was supposed to be seven days from now, but it came early. The midwife has already rushed over; we don’t know whether she has given birth yet.”

Muniang was shocked. “That soon?”

“Isn’t it? This is Dabao’s Mother’s second child, so it should go smoothly. It won’t take long for the baby to come out. The real issue is whose seed the child is—that’s what really matters!” The woman clucked her tongue. “Lots of people from the village have gone to watch the excitement. If it weren’t for the fear of delaying the work here, I’d have gone too. Later, I’ll have my husband tell me all about it.”

Muniang thought it over and decided to go have a look.

There were already many people gathered around the Xu Family’s house, all talking. It was unusual to see so many people concerned about someone giving birth, but they were all eagerly awaiting to see who the child really belonged to. It seemed like the villagers, having nothing better to do, couldn’t pass up such entertaining drama.

Just as Muniang arrived, she heard a sharp female voice piercing through the air, “I’ll strangle you, you shameless whore! How dare you deceive me, claiming it was the Xu Family’s seed. Could the Xu Family bear such a bastard!?”

Muniang’s heart skipped a beat; as expected, the situation was dire.

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd burst into uproar as if a pot had exploded.

“Hey, so it’s really not the Xu Family’s seed? This daughter-in-law of the Xu Family is too bold, isn’t she? She asserted so confidently that she had not been violated, and now it turns out she was deceiving us!”

“She promised so earnestly, looking so pitiable—I actually believed her. And now, look, a bastard is born, and she has truly lost all the Xu Family’s face!”