I'm dressed up as the timid eldest daughter, and the whole family has to listen to me!

Li Ayu, who was lying inside the house, frowned upon hearing what Granny Liu was saying outside, and muttered:

"Hmph, my own man is willing to cherish me, that's why he empties my chamber pot. You old codger, if no one cherishes you, then mind your own business!"

Su Ye, outside and afraid that Li Ayu might overhear and become suspicious, quickly waved her hand and said:

“Mother, don’t worry about it. I was just doing it on the spur of the moment. Now that Ayu is more pregnant, she’s too heavy to move the bedpan.”

Granny Liu turned around and spat towards Li Ayu's room.

"Pah! When I was pregnant with you, I still had to work in the fields when I was eight or nine months pregnant. Who cared about me? Pregnancy isn't something to be so delicate about. I didn't even know if it was a boy or a girl. You don't need to worry about it like this!"

Upon hearing this, Su Ye quickly put away the chamber pot and went inside.

"Mother, please stop saying those things. Our affairs are none of your concern. Go and do your own thing!"

After saying that, Su Ye went inside and closed the door.

When Li Ayu saw Su Ye enter, she quickly stood up and looked at Su Ye with red eyes.

“Brother Su, it’s my fault. I’ve made you suffer because of me. I’ve been feeling really unwell these past few days. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn’t have had the heart to let you empty my chamber pot.”

Upon hearing this, Su Ye quickly put down the chamber pot, washed her hands, and sat down next to Li Ayu, supporting her waist.

"Ayu, don't overthink it. My mother is all bark and no bite. Just focus on your pregnancy."

Li Ayu leaned against Su Ye's chest and sobbed as she spoke:

"It's all my fault for being so useless. I can't work in the fields like your mother when she was eight or nine months pregnant."

Su Ye sighed helplessly and patted Li Ayu on the shoulder.

"Ayu, don't take it to heart. With me here, you don't need to do any work."

Hearing Su Ye's words, Li Ayu felt slightly comforted. She gently rested her head on Su Ye's shoulder and said softly:

“Brother Su, I know you’re the best to me. You don’t need to help the second wife with the work today. Why don’t you go help Sister Qin in the fields instead? Otherwise, she might start to have a problem with me.”

Su Ye patted Li Ayu on the shoulder.

“Ayu, you are the most understanding. You don’t need to pay attention to Qin Shi. Just focus on your pregnancy. If you don’t need me today, I will go to the fields to check on things so that Qin Shi won’t be clumsy and unable to farm, and there won’t be any food left to eat at the end of the year.”

Li Ayu just wanted to appear well-behaved and sensible in front of Su Ye. She didn't really mean to ask Su Ye to go, but since she had already said it, she could only let him help Qin Shi with the work for a day in order to establish a good image in front of Su Ye. Tomorrow, she could just say that she had an upset stomach, and Su Ye would definitely not go.

Thinking this, Li Ayu wrapped her arms around Su Ye's neck and gently pecked him on the cheek. Su Ye's heart warmed instantly, and he helped Li Ayu lie down.

"Ayu, you rest first. I'll go to the fields early so I can come back to be with you sooner."

Li Ayu nodded reluctantly to Su Ye.

"Brother Su, come back soon..."

Su Ye nodded in agreement and left. Li Ayu was feeling stifled and bored in her room all day. Actually, she didn't think being pregnant was that precious, but in front of Su Ye, she had to show that her pregnancy was not easy.

If she really gives birth to a baby girl, Su Ye will probably consider her relationship with him and keep her here to recover. After recovering, she can leave the child behind, go back to the city, rent a room, and go back to her old trade.

Li Ayu lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) contemplating her future when she suddenly heard a peddler calling out from outside the courtyard:

"Selling sugar cakes! Anyone want to buy sugar cakes? Freshly baked, hot sugar cakes!"

Upon hearing the words "sweet cake," Li Ayu smacked her lips, swallowed hard, and quickly got up, put on her clothes, opened the door, and ran outside.

"Hey, peddler, wait a minute, this sugar cake..."

Before Li Ayu could finish speaking, she looked up and met that familiar handsome face. The man standing opposite her also looked excited.

"Ayu, what are you doing here? I've been looking for you for so long!"

Li Ayu took a few steps back in shock and exclaimed:

"Li Xiang, you, how did you become a peddler?"

Li Xiang was visibly agitated, with tears welling in his eyes.

"It's a long story, and your... your belly is..."

Li Ayu glanced at Li Xiang, smiled, touched her belly, and said softly:

"I got pregnant after you left..."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiang excitedly stepped forward and took Li Ayu's hand.

"Ayu, is this my child?"

Seeing that no one was around, Li Ayu nodded slightly.

Li Xiang excitedly tried to hug Li Ayu, but Li Ayu quickly pushed him away.

"Be careful of the baby in my belly. There are too many people around. Don't hug and kiss me here, or it might be bad if someone sees us."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiang raised his head proudly and said:

"You're my wife, why can't I hug and cuddle with you?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ayu quickly stepped forward and covered his mouth. She looked around to make sure no one was watching before she felt relieved.

"I haven't even married you yet, how can I be your wife?"

Li Xiang frowned and said:

"Now that you're pregnant with my child, do you really want to marry someone else?"

Li Ayu looked around, fearing that someone might be listening, so she quickly pulled Li Xiang behind a large tree.

"Brother Xiangzi, to tell you the truth, after you left me for so many months, I thought you wouldn't come back, so I... I found another family..."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiang immediately became enraged and said:

"Li Ayu, how could you take my child to someone else's house? Aren't you cheating on me?"

Li Ayu glared at Li Xiang and cursed:

"You left without a word. I thought you'd found another wife and abandoned me. What can a pregnant woman like me rely on? You can't just let me and this baby starve to death!"

Seeing that Li Ayu was angry, Li Xiang quickly took her hand and said gently:

“Ayu, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left without saying goodbye. I was tricked by a friend. That day, I went to Lianxianglou for drinks and ran into an old friend. He told me about a lucrative business and asked if I wanted to do it.”

Li Xiang then let out a heavy sigh.

“I was drunk at the time, thinking about making some money to marry you, so I agreed. We drank all night at Lianxiang Restaurant, and the next morning he took me to the dock and boarded a merchant ship. I followed that merchant ship for several months.”

Li Xiang released Li Ayu's hand, scratched his hair helplessly,

"Who knew it was a black ship? When they saw I was sick, they threw me ashore, not caring whether I lived or died, and didn't pay me. They just left. Later, I was rescued by a kind person. I've been thinking about you. Now that I'm better, I'm going back to Fuping County to find you."