She got pregnant after the swap marriage, and the scumbag's family regretted it so much they cr

Lu Huan carefully put away the undergarments she had changed out of the night before and waited for a while before Gao Yan walked in from outside.

His thick, handsome eyebrows were furrowed, and his expression was somewhat strange.

What happened to you? Did you step on something unclean?

Gao Yan unconsciously sniffed: "No, it's just that I ran into someone I don't know well, and they said some strange things."

A premonition immediately arose in Lu Huan's heart. She took a few steps to Gao Yan, her toes almost touching his.

The two were only two fists apart in terms of their eyebrow-eye area.

"Tell me honestly, back in the village, were there any young women or wives who gave you sachets or handkerchiefs?"

Pfft—Hahaha—

Gao Yan laughed so hard he almost lost his balance and involuntarily took two steps back.

Lu Huan took two steps forward, scrutinizing every expression on his face: "Confess honestly!"

“Nobody ever noticed me before! Besides, I was either working in the fields or doing odd jobs with Cheng Yi and the others. Nobody else has ever chosen me so resolutely except for you!”

As he finished speaking, Gao Yan's long eyelashes drooped, and his eyes held an overwhelming sense of sadness.

"That's because they didn't see how good you are!"

Gao Yan's eyelashes trembled slightly: "You don't need to comfort me!"

"Really, you're much more handsome than Gao Zhongbao!"

"He's just good-looking..."

"Of course not! You're taller and bigger than Gao Zhongbao, and you've also participated in militia training, so you're much stronger than him."

Everyone says scholars are useless, but look at Gao Zhongbao, he can't lift a finger or carry anything heavy. If the north were full of scholars like him, how could we possibly resist the remnants of the northern grasslands!

Lu Huan racked her brains to praise Gao Yan, but didn't notice that the corners of the man's mouth had already slightly curled up.

She was about to say something when He Niang's voice came from outside: "Master, Madam is asking why you haven't gone to the backyard yet!"

"Oh dear! It's all your fault!" Lu Huan nudged Gao Yan, and then noticed that the man's previous dejection had been replaced by a faint smile.

She knew perfectly well that she had been tricked by Gao Yan. She glared at him fiercely, but before she could even change her clothes, she turned and walked towards the backyard.

Gao Yan put away his smile and followed behind Lu Huan.

Because she was going back to the Lu family, Lu Huan wore clothes that were much more elaborate than those she usually wore at the Gao family.

Looking at Lu Huan's long dress, with pink lotus flowers embroidered on the hem and ripples like water as she walked, Gao Manting felt her jealousy rising.

She pointed to Lu Huan's skirt and said, "Mother! I want to wear this skirt on my brother's birthday!"

Lu Huan had heard these words countless times in his previous life.

Her smile didn't fade at all: "That's easy. Tomorrow, your mother-in-law will take you to the Rainbow Pavilion. We can also bring the two bolts of cloth I gave you and your father-in-law last time to have them measured."

On your brother-in-law's birthday, you two elders wearing the newly made clothes will surely make him proud!

"Mom! I want some too! I want some too!" Gao Manting clung to Zhou Shi's arm and pleaded.

Little did she know that Zhou's heart was aching with pain.

Zhou could barely afford to have clothes made at the Ni Chang Pavilion, but buying ready-made clothes was a different story.

In particular, the Moon-Colored Brocade Ruqun that Manting had her eye on, which was worn by Lu Huan, cost over a hundred taels of silver per bolt. Adding the cost of embroidery and tailoring, it would probably cost around eighty taels of silver.

Manting is only twelve years old, and she will continue to grow taller and heavier. The clothes we buy for her now may not be suitable for her in a few years.

With that money, it would be better to buy Zhongbao a couple more sets of handkerchiefs and shirts to change into.

Thinking of this, Zhou hardened her heart and refused, saying, "Nonsense! Don't you know what kind of situation we're in? You're still so young, your body hasn't even fully developed yet. If we buy you something now, you won't be able to wear it in two years. That would be a waste!"

"I want it, I want it!" Gao Manting glanced at the beautiful couple standing in the middle of the room and said with dissatisfaction, "Why can she wear it!"

Zhou glared at Gao Manting, annoyed. For the first time, she realized that her daughter was a bit spoiled: "What are her family's conditions? What are yours? She's spending her dowry from her family. Does your father have that kind of money? Blame it on you for not being born into a wealthy family!"

Lu Huan listened to Zhou's veiled insults without feeling the slightest ripple in her heart. She had heard far more hurtful things in her previous life, let alone such innocuous remarks.

Gao Yan was getting impatient. He looked up, about to argue, when he felt a soft little hand pinch his thumb.

He lowered his head again, looking no different from how he used to listen to reprimands. Only his eyes had drifted to the two men's overlapping sleeves.

Lu Huan squeezed his fingers, signaling him to be quiet.

After Zhou finished venting her anger on Gao Manting, she also spoke up to persuade her: "Mother-in-law is absolutely right. Manting is only twelve years old, which is the age when she is growing."

"If we make it now and then can't wear it later, wouldn't that be a waste?"

"After saying all that, you still can't bear to part with it!"

Gao Manting didn't dare to be too tough on Zhou Shi, but she didn't have as many reservations about Lu Huan.

"How could that be! When Manting comes of age, I will definitely give you a dress even better than the Moon-Radiance Brocade!"

"Really? You're not just kidding me, are you?" Gao Manting couldn't believe that Lu Huan would be so generous.

"How could that be! I said those words in front of my mother-in-law, how could I possibly be saying them to comfort you! Manting, your prejudice against me runs too deep!"

After Lu Huan finished speaking, she clutched her chest, looking heartbroken.

She wasn't exactly making empty promises to Gao Manting.

According to the customs of Nanjing, when a younger sister-in-law comes of age, the eldest sister-in-law is expected to provide her with clothes or hairpins. Since this is going to happen anyway, it's better to promise her a marriage sooner rather than later, keeping Gao Manting hanging on.

Gao Yan's palm suddenly felt empty; the soft, delicate hand had been pulled away, leaving him with a sense of emptiness in his heart.

He put his arm around Lu Huan's waist, his tone somewhat cold: "Manting, even if you don't acknowledge me, Huan'er is still your sister-in-law in name. We can tolerate your behavior at home because you're still young. But if you go out and your second brother's teachers or classmates find out, others will question the rules of our Gao family."

Upon hearing Gao Zhongbao's name, Zhou immediately agreed, while subtly nudging Gao Manying: "Ayan is right. Manying, why don't you apologize to your sister-in-law?"

"sorry."

The sound was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz, but the matter was dropped.

At this moment, Zhou also remembered the main purpose of calling Gao Yan and his wife over: "Lu, what did our in-laws say?"

Lu Huan described Lu Chengde's attitude, and Gao Yan added, "Father-in-law said that he would send someone over to clean up later. All the furniture in Zhongbao's room will also be replaced. However, I'm afraid my sister-in-law will have to wait until my second brother's room is all cleaned up before she can come back."