The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 448: Chapter 439: I Am the Vicious Eldest Aunt (26)

Huang Zhongren’s youngest son, Huang Xu, has been married for several years now, and the couple has a good relationship, yet they have no children.

Over the past two years, Huang Xu’s wife has tried many methods and consumed numerous medicines, but to no avail—there’s been no movement in her belly.

Madam Huang became so anxious she even considered taking a concubine for Huang Xu.

However, Huang Xu and his wife have a strong relationship and are reluctant to take a concubine. They mentioned that if they continue to be childless, they would rather adopt children from his brother’s family, as that would be preferable to taking a concubine.

Madam Huang isn’t one to harshly impose on her daughter-in-law, so since Huang Xu didn’t want a concubine, she let it be, but she kept inviting doctors over the years.

Last year, a retired Imperial Physician returned to his hometown, and Huang Zhongren specifically invited this physician to diagnose Huang Xu’s wife.

After the examination, the Imperial Physician said that Huang Xu’s wife was in perfect health and didn’t need any medication.

Then, the Imperial Physician suggested checking Huang Xu’s pulse.

The diagnosis revealed that Huang Xu had a deficiency in vital essence, making it difficult for him to impregnate a woman.

This made Huang Zhongren and Madam Huang even more anxious. They wanted to get medication for their son but feared that he would overthink things. Yet doing nothing wasn’t an option either as having no children was problematic.

Old Mrs. Huang also learned about this and felt very sorry for Huang Xu.

Ever since she acquired the Guanyin Embroidery, she started praying for Huang Xu and his wife to have a child.

Later on, Old Mrs. Huang even brought the couple to the small Buddha hall to worship Guanyin.

Huang Xu and his wife weren’t believers in this, but they couldn’t bear to disregard the elder’s kindness, so they followed Old Mrs. Huang in fasting and chanting scriptures, staying in the small Buddha hall for several days.

Unexpectedly, not long after they worshipped Guanyin, Huang Xu’s wife became pregnant.

Old Mrs. Huang asked Huang Xu a few questions, confirming his wife’s pregnancy. It was just over a month, and she thought the couple must have conceived after worshipping Guanyin. Old Mrs. Huang became even more convinced of the spiritual power of the Guanyin.

”I must go and offer incense at the small Buddha hall immediately.”

Positively influenced by the previous events of Huang Zhongyi being saved from drowning and now Huang Xu’s wife’s pregnancy, even Huang Zhongren believed in the spiritual energy of the embroidery.

He too took Huang Xu to the small Buddha hall to offer incense to the Guanyin statue.

For some unknown reason, after offering the incense, Huang Zhongren felt that the Guanyin in the embroidery smiled at him briefly.

He stepped back in shock and later told Old Mrs. Huang, ”Mother, we must preserve this embroidery well; it will be our family heirloom from now on.”

”Indeed, indeed.”

Old Mrs. Huang tightly gripped Huang Zhongren’s hand, ”Eldest, the embroidery was indeed sold to us too cheaply; we cannot take advantage of this fortune, we must give proper thanks.”

Old Mrs. Huang became more convinced that the individual who sold the Guanyin embroidery was no ordinary mortal.

Huang Zhongren nodded repeatedly, ”Mother is right, we must sincerely thank them.”

A couple of days later, Huang Zhongren sought Scholar Lu, got the address of Anning’s house, and sent his eldest son Huang Tao with gifts to Xiao Guan Village to express their gratitude to Anning.

In Prefecture City, where people talk a lot, it was impossible to keep the Huang family’s affairs secret.

Not many days after Huang Xu’s wife got pregnant, the relatively well-off families in Prefecture City and others got wind of it, including the affairs of Huang Zhongyi and Huang Xi.

Thus, interest in the Guanyin Embroidery increased among these families.

Those who had attended Old Mrs. Huang’s birthday banquet and seen the Guanyin Embroidery were occasionally asked about it.

People started to recall carefully and then exaggerate the features of the embroidery.

Some said that when the embroidery was unveiled, a beam of golden light shone as if Guanyin herself had descended.

Some claimed that the Guanyin on the embroidery came to life and even spoke.

Others mentioned how compassionate Guanyin’s gaze was, and that the lotus throne she was sitting on could rotate and such.

In short, the more miraculous the claim, the better it was spoken of.

Consequently, the major noble families of Prefecture City and from the nearby cities were all seeking Anning, hoping that she could embroider a Guanyin Embroidery for them as well.

At the time when Huang Tao arrived at Xiao Guan Village with the gifts, those noble families from Prefecture City and its surroundings were all rushing towards Xiao Guan Village.

This day, Anning was thinking that winter was just around the corner, and it was time to prepare the cotton clothes.

She calculated that this winter would be longer and colder than previous years and wanted to stock up on some food and prepare extra cotton clothes and quilts. Moreover, Anning also wanted to renovate the house.

She didn’t want to burn wood charcoal. No matter how good the charcoal was, it would produce carbon monoxide when burned, and in a tightly closed room, it could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Even if she bought the kind that was smokeless and odorless, she couldn’t guarantee there would be no risk of gas poisoning.

Anning thought about hiring craftsmen to install coal stoves or perhaps furnace systems with a heating kang.

She had Liu Bao’s wife buy a good amount of cotton cloth and cotton, asking Liu Bao’s wife to take Liu Chunmei and make as many cotton clothes and quilts as possible.

Additionally, after some consideration, Anning decided to have several fire walls installed.

She asked the old master to help find some good craftsmen. The old master waved his hand: ”Why look for craftsmen? I have the skills, and your second brother and third brother can also help. I heard that your second brother can get out of bed now, and his leg is about to heal. Let him and the third brother help out, the three of us can manage it.”

Later, Liu Bao also told Anning that Liu Laifu and Liu Laiqing could lend a hand.

Anning thought it was feasible.

Xu Zhiyong was honest, but his hands were truly skilled. This kind of work was really a piece of cake for him.

However, she had already discussed with the old master in advance: ”It’s fine if the second and third brothers come to work, but since we’ve already divided the family property, I can’t take advantage of them. If they come, I’ll provide meals and pay them wages.”

The old master originally thought of just providing meals and no wages, but considering that the eldest daughter-in-law now had some money and the other two sons were not living well, he said: ”Alright, you decide on the payments.”

The old master personally went to Xu Zhiyong and Xu Zhiqin to talk about the work, and the two agreed very readily.

Just as Anning was preparing for winter, Huang Tao came with a caravan.

Early in the morning, the people of Xiao Guan Village saw a convoy entering the village, led by a young man dressed in brocade, clearly from a wealthy family.

This young man also asked them where Xu Zhiwen’s house was located.

The villagers were frightened and didn’t know what this person came for, but later someone suggested that he might be an old classmate or friend of Xu Zhiwen’s.

So, someone led the way, taking Huang Tao to Xu Family’s home.

Liu Baocai had just opened the courtyard gate, directing his two sons to sweep up the fallen leaves when he saw Huang Tao and his entourage.

He quickly told Liu Laifu to inform the old master.

Anning had just finished washing up when Old Madam called her over.

When she saw Huang Tao, she knew what was going on.

Huang Tao himself was taken aback when he saw Anning.

In his mind, an embroidery woman capable of creating a Guanyin Embroidery must be older, but to his surprise, Anning looked like a young lady of seventeen or eighteen, both young and beautiful.

But once he glimpsed Anning’s demeanor more closely, he understood; this lady was indeed shrewd.

Huang Tao stepped forward to thank Anning: ”Previously, I did not know you. Buying your embroidery for 2,000 taels really put our family at an advantage. My grandmother has felt uneasy about this, so I was specifically sent to express our thanks.”

He then had his entourage present the gift list.

Anning did not decline and accepted it: ”You are too courteous. Originally, it was out of financial hardship that I considered selling my embroidery piece. The silver your family offered was very generous.”

”That matter with the embroidery... you know about it?”

Huang Tao cautiously asked.

Anning nodded: ”I do know. If it weren’t for that, how could I dare sell it for 2,000 taels?”

Huang Tao was then certain, this woman had great abilities.

”That piece of embroidery saved several members of my family, something that no amount of silver could replace. These gifts are indeed modest, and I hope you won’t find them too paltry.”

Huang Tao, true to his noble upbringing, showed great respect and decorum in his conduct and speech.

Anning smiled: ”It’s truly because the Huang family accumulates good deeds that Guanyin manifested. If it was a family committing evils, I fear the Bodhisattva would not have blessed.”

Huang Tao felt even more astounded, treating Anning with increased respect.