C3 The Original Owner's Fault!

Old Madam Han spoke with a stern tone, yet Ann Yan remained unbothered. Given the previous actions of the original owner, Old Madam Han's current demeanor was quite generous. The things the original owner had done were unspeakable, utterly foolish. Now, even though Ann Yan had taken her place, they shared the same body, and she was left to bear the original owner's burdens.

"Mother, I've come to my senses. I was misguided a few days ago, which led me to act out. It won't happen again," Ann Yan sincerely expressed. She wasn't like the original owner, obsessing over things she couldn't have. To the Hereditary Prince, the original owner was no more significant than a pet, casually played with when it suited him, and easily discarded when it didn't. When the old lady of the Marquis of Annan's household had sold the original owner, it hadn't been done in secret; the commotion was quite noticeable. Surely, the Hereditary Prince must have been aware, yet he showed no concern.

Old Madam Han's heart lifted at Ann Yan's words. She had feared that Laoliu's Wife would remain obstinately headstrong, making life difficult for her son. It was a relief to see her willing to change her ways.

"That's good to hear. As long as you live a peaceful life with Laoliu, our Han Family will not let you down," Old Madam Han said, her expression softening. She had no further expectations as long as Laoliu's Wife was committed to a harmonious life. She had considered Laoliu's Wife's inability to do farm work when she was brought into the family. Laoliu was different from his brothers who toiled in the fields; he was bound for greater things and would be able to provide for his wife and children. There was no need for her to work the land. What mattered was that she could handle the household chores, and if not, she could learn—after all, nobody starts out knowing everything.

"Thank you, Mother, for your understanding. I was wrong about yesterday's incident; I shouldn't have argued with you. Please accept my apology, and don't hold it against me," Ann Yan continued, seeing her mother-in-law soften further. She had managed to handle many challenging clients before; she was confident she could win over an old lady, especially since the original owner's memories suggested that Old Madam Han was a worthwhile ally.

First and foremost, the Han Family was under the rule of Old Madam Liu, and winning over Old Madam Han was key; secondly, aside from her partiality toward her eldest son, Old Madam Han was quite sensible in her dealings with others. She wasn't the type of mother-in-law who meddled excessively in her daughter-in-law's life. Although she could be harsh at times, the daughters-in-law in the Han Family generally had a better lot than those in other village households. Most importantly, in this household, due to the original owner's antics, only Old Madam Han held any semblance of goodwill toward Ann Yan, making her the easiest to sway.

"Enough about the past. I'm a mother-in-law, not someone who stoops to petty squabbles with my daughter-in-law. I do hope you'll live up to your promises. You must be hungry by now, so go to the kitchen and grab a bite to eat. You're quite frail as it is; you need to nourish yourself well if you're going to bear me a healthy, chubby grandson." Old Madam Han's face beamed with joy at the mention of a big, fat grandson, her demeanor becoming much more affectionate.

Old Madam Han wasn't short on grandsons or granddaughters; the family had seen a steady stream of births over the years. Yet, despite the abundance of grandchildren, she found little joy in them, except for those born to Ann Yan. Her favoritism was based on looks—she had no interest in the burly, simple-minded offspring that seemed to proliferate. Old Madam Han had a penchant for beauty and took pride in attractive things, a trait that extended even to her expectations for her progeny. Unfortunately, most of her children had inherited her less desirable attributes, with the exception of her sixth son, who was passable in looks despite his robust build.

Old Madam Han had placed great hopes on her grandsons, eagerly awaiting one that would meet her standards. Yet, time and again, she was disappointed by the sturdy, unrefined lot they turned out to be. She longed for a grandchild with charm and grace, regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl.

Ultimately, Old Madam Han reached a simple conclusion: "You reap what you sow! If the parents are clods, their offspring will be clods too." The only hope for the family lay with her sixth son, and with such a beautiful wife like Ann Yan, the children she bore were bound to be exceptional.

Old Madam Han's favoritism towards her eldest son and his wife wasn't without reason. After all, she had her lifelong fixation.

Ann Yan was oblivious to Mrs. Liu's inner thoughts. Upon hearing her words, she felt a twitch at the corner of her mouth. "Mother, I've got it. I'm heading to the kitchen now."

With a sense of urgency, Ann Yan dashed to the kitchen, ignoring her aches. The last thing she wanted was for the old lady to corner her about bearing a grandson. It was awkward enough, considering she hardly knew what her husband was like. Thoughts of children could wait.

Old Madam Han's face bloomed into a wider smile as she watched her daughter-in-law's awkward gait, reminiscent of a chrysanthemum in full bloom. Judging by Laoliu's Wife's demeanor, last night must have been a success, and her dream of cradling a grandchild seemed closer than ever.

Liao Xiaofang and Wang Dongying had anticipated their mother-in-law finally losing patience and giving Laoliu's Wife a stern talking-to. They were ready for some drama, but to their surprise, whatever Laoliu's Wife said had left their mother-in-law beaming with joy, much to their chagrin.

Ann Yan took note of her sisters-in-law's reactions in the courtyard. With the memories of her predecessor in mind, she had a good idea of the family dynamics. In the kitchen, she lifted the pot lid to find a bowl of knobbly soup and a potato still warm. The soup had a few yellowed noodles and some wild greens floating in it, devoid of even a speck of oil, and the potato was no larger than half a palm.

It wasn't that the Han family meant to make things difficult for Ann Yan. She knew from the original owner's memories that this was the usual fare, and with the lean times of farming life, they had to make their provisions last until the autumn harvest.

Ann Yan placed the humble meal on the table without a hint of disdain, taking the potato and eating it with the soup, bite by bite. Despite the lackluster taste, it was enough to fill her empty stomach. After the previous day's upheaval, she had missed dinner and was now famished.

"Mother."

Ann Yan had barely finished her meal when a seven-year-old boy led a five-year-old girl into the kitchen. The boy had a basket on his back, brimming with wild greens they had gathered.