Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

"Uncle Yuan is here, welcome, welcome," Gu Jin'an hurriedly greeted him.

Gu Dewang was in the hall tidying up the bowls and chopsticks. Seeing the Yuan Family People arrive, he quickly ran to the kitchen and said to Mrs. Chen, "Mom, the Yuan Family People are here, and they brought two women, an older one and a younger one."

"Oh dear, it must be Yuan's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. I said the Yuan Family might also be interested in Sister Mei. Look, the Yuan's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have taken this opportunity to come over and check her out." Mrs. Chen hurriedly took off her apron, turned to Gu Yumei who was making bean dregs cakes, and said, "Stop making the cakes, go wash your hands and face, tidy yourself up, and come with me to meet the guests."

"When you meet the Yuan Family People later, smile more. Dare to show a displeased face, and I'll flatten you."

"Be insightful, speak well of Yuan's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, don't say anything sarcastic."

Reluctantly, Gu Yumei stood up. Before she took a few steps, Mrs. Chen fiercely slapped her back twice, scolding, "Are you deaf? I told you to look happy. You dare to look dead, believe it or not, I'll whip you."

After being hit, Gu Yumei had no choice but to change her expression, raised a smile, and obediently washed her hands and face. She looked at herself in the water tank, and seeing that she did not look too bad, she smiled with satisfaction.

Mrs. Chen rolled her eyes at her side, thinking how vain the girl was.

She turned back to Gu Dewang and said, "Go quickly to the back house and tell Sister Xiu to stop cleaning the room and come to the front shop kitchen to help. Don't go to the back house for now. Mom needs to take care of Yuan's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law."

Goods compared lose favor, people compared die. Sister Mei and Sister Xiu are not only different in appearance, but also in temperament and skills, if Yuan's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law see Sister Xiu, how could they still fancy Gu Yumei.

"Got it." Gu Dewang immediately ran to find Gu Jinxiu in the back house and told her everything.

Gu Jinxiu already knew that Mrs. Chen was interested in the Yuan Family Issue, and upon hearing Gu Dewang's words, she immediately understood Mrs. Chen's intentions. Not daring to delay, she said to Jin Niu, who was playing in the room, "Jin Niu, watch your sister closely. Soon, Aunt Da Gui will bring guests over. Don't be scared or cry. Be good."

Jin Niu responded, "Understood, Sister Xiu."

Gu Jinxiu smiled, hurriedly left the back house, and went to the front shop kitchen to help.

Mrs. Chen had already brought Gu Yumei to the front shop and immediately saw the middle-aged woman standing behind Elder Yuan, while Third Grandma was talking to the woman.

Seeing this situation, Mrs. Chen did not rush over but walked slowly with Gu Yumei. First, she smiled at Elder Yuan's wife, then said to Third Grandma, "Third Aunt, we've finished our tasks in the kitchen. This sister looks unfamiliar, where is she from?"

When Mrs. Chen spoke, her voice was several degrees gentler than usual, making Third Grandma gave her a peculiar look.

Thinking that she was putting on this act to improve Gu Yumei's marriage prospects and make her appealing to the Yuan Family, Third Grandma did not disdain her but replied, "This is Village Chief Yuan's daughter-in-law. You can just call her Sister-in-law Yuan. This one is Village Chief Yuan's elder daughter-in-law, Mrs. Yuan Xu."

Mrs. Chen's smile brightened even more, and she said, "So, it's Sister-in-law Yuan. I am the daughter-in-law of the Gu Family, my maiden name is Chen, and my husband is Gu Dagui."

Elder Yuan Laorong's wife had a round face with a naturally smiling appearance, which made her very comfortable to look at. Hearing this, she looked at Mrs. Chen and said, "So, you're Little Sister-in-law Dagui. Your husband has been to my house with uncle. We're practically acquainted."

While conversing, Elder Yuan Laorong's wife's gaze shifted to Gu Yumei standing beside Mrs. Chen and asked, "And who is this young lady?"

Mrs. Chen was eager for her to ask, quickly responding, "This is my niece, called Sister Mei. She was just helping me in the kitchen, and right after we finished, we saw Sister-in-law Yuan arriving. Really fateful. Sister Mei, say hello."

In saying this, Mrs. Chen conveyed to Elder Yuan Laorong's wife that Gu Yumei was capable of doing chores, having been busy in the kitchen just before.

Gu Yumei courteously bowed to Yuan Lao Rong's wife, softly saying, "Greetings to Aunt Yuan, greetings to Sister-in-law Yuan."

"Sister Mei," Mrs. Yuan Xu smiled and nodded.

Yuan Lao Rong's wife helped Gu Yumei up and laughed, "Good girl, we farmers don't bother with such empty formalities."

She then praised Mrs. Chen, "Little Sister-in-law Da Gui, you've raised this girl well. I hear your children are studying; no wonder the girl appears so educated and even knows the etiquette of wealthy young ladies."

Mrs. Chen hurriedly replied, "We are farmers, toiling in the fields. We can't compare to those wealthy young ladies. Sister Mei learned these manners back in our hometown, taught by my elder sister-in-law. Her uncle is a Scholar, and since she was little, she loved visiting her uncle's place and learned some from her cousins. When Mei came along, she taught her a bit too."

Mrs. Chen was secretly sweating bullets, hoping desperately that Yuan Lao Rong's wife wouldn't perceive Mei as a maid with a lady's demeanor, as that would surely lead to disdain.

Farmers selecting daughters-in-law don't favor overly delicate ladies.

Chang Errui, following his father and elder brother, couldn't help but glance over upon hearing Mrs. Chen, and seeing a pretty young lady in a water-red summer outfit beside Mrs. Chen, his face blushed, and he quickly averted his gaze.

That's Uncle Da Fu's daughter, looks... quite nice.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Chen said, "Sister-in-law Yuan, there are many people here. Let's go to the inner quarters to talk."

Third Grandma looked around at the guests filling the shop and nodded, "Da Gui's wife is right. You are ladies, and our families are acquainted; it's proper to sit in the inner quarters."

"Let's follow Third Aunt Gu," said Yuan Lao Rong's wife, leading her daughter-in-law as they followed Mrs. Chen through the shop to the inner quarters.

Along the way, Yuan Lao Rong's wife observed Gu's Restaurant. Upon reaching the inner quarters, she exclaimed, "Third Aunt Gu, Little Sister-in-law Da Gui, your shop is really quite big, equivalent to two shops of other people."

The front shop has three rooms, beyond a small door is a courtyard with four wing rooms on both sides. Moving further leads to a dividing high wall, through a side door into the inner quarters.

The inner quarters, just like the front shop, consist of three main rooms and four wing rooms.

Wow, a total of fourteen rooms, it's really quite large.

"Third Grandma, Aunt Da Gui, Sister Yu Mei," Jin Niu, holding Gui Niu, stood in the inner quarter's main room calling out politely.

Gui Niu, being younger, called out in a babyish voice following Jin Niu.

Mrs. Yuan Xu, having no children of her own yet, was very fond of Jin Niu and Gui Niu, and while holding Gui Niu, she asked, "What's your name?"

"My name is Gui Niu, what do I call you, sister-in-law?" Gui Niu, comfortably nestled in Mrs. Yuan Xu's arms, wrapped her little hands around her neck, staring unblinkingly with her round eyes.

Mrs. Yuan Xu's heart melted by her look, Yuan Lao Rong's wife, pointing at her, laughed and said, "My eldest daughter-in-law loves children, she can't help but to hold them whenever she sees them, Third Aunt Gu, Little Sister-in-law Da Gui, I hope you don't mind."

Mrs. Chen, about to say, 'if you love children then have one of your own,' remembered Gu Dafu mentioning that the Yuan family had no grandchildren yet, quickly swallowed her words and laughed, "Why would we mind? All young wives and girls love children. My Sister Mei also loves kids; she practically raised my two sons from when they were little. Without her help, I'd be worn out."